“Nothing is further from my wishes, Florry, than to make her home other than happy.  Aunt Lizzy has every opportunity of informing herself on this important question.  Yet she prefers the easier method, of committing her conscience to the care of the priest; she has chosen her path in life, and determinately closes her eyes to every other.  The state of the Mexicans around us is by no means analogous.  They were allowed no choice:  bred from infancy in the Romish faith, they are totally unacquainted with the tenets of other creeds.  Implicit obedience to the Padre is their primary law, the grand ruling principle of life, instilled from their birth.  To lay before them the truths of our own ‘pure and undefiled religion,’ is both a privilege and duty.”

“You spoke just now, Miss Florence, of the ‘despised sect;’ allow me, in all modesty, to say, that to the true and earnest Christian there is no such class.  Believe me, when I say, that though deeply commiserating their unhappy condition, and resolved to do all in my power to alleviate it, still I would as cheerfully assist the conscientious Papist, and tender him the hospitalities of my home, as one of my own belief.”

“You have expressed my feelings exactly, Mrs. Carlton, and there are times when I wish myself a missionary, that I might carry light to this benighted race,” exclaimed Mary, enthusiastically.

“We are very apt, my dear child, to consider ourselves equal to emergencies, and capable of great actions, when a strict examination would declare that the minor deeds and petty trials which test the temper and the strength too often destroy our equanimity, and show our inability to cope with difficulties.  Woman’s warfare is with little things, yet we are assured by the greatest of all female writers, that ‘trifles make the sum of human things;’ therefore, let us strive more and more earnestly to obtain perfect control of ourselves; then shall we be enabled to assist others.”

“I often think,” replied Mary, thoughtfully, “that we make great sacrifices with comparative ease, because we feel our own insufficiency, and rely more on God for assistance; while in lesser troubles we are so confident of success, that we neglect to ask his blessing, and consequently fail in our unaided attempts.”

“You are right, Mary, and it should teach us to distrust our powers, and lead us to lean upon ’Him, who is a very precious help in time of need.’”

A long silence ensued, broken at length by the entrance of Mrs. Carlton’s two children, who carried a large basket between them.  Hastily they set it down, on seeing Mary, and sprung to her side:  the little girl clung around her neck, and kissed her repeatedly.

“Maria, you are too boisterous, my little girl; Miss Mary will have no cause to doubt your affection.  Elliot, why do you not speak to Miss Florence, my son?”

Blushing at his oversight, the boy obeyed, and, joined by his sister, stood at his mother’s side.  Maria whispered something in his ear, but he only shook his head and replied,