Annie now unfolded her plan to her mother, and asked her consent, which was readily given, and then Annie told her of Charlotte’s request.  And her mother said that although she did not require Charlotte’s help, still she would not refuse her, as she liked to encourage every good inclination.  And when Charlotte came in the evening, Annie had the pleasure of telling her that her mother had consented, and would give them a little pile of wool to card every day, for which each should receive a penny.

“And that will be sixpence a-piece, you know,” continued Annie, “and we can change it to a silver piece, for fear we might drop a penny by the way.”

“Oh, how nice that will be,” cried Charlotte.  “Do you think many of the girls will put in as much?  I hope, at any rate, that none will put in any more.”

Then, thanking Annie, she ran home, leaving her friend not a little puzzled to know why Charlotte should wish to make a show.

The difference between the little girls was this; Charlotte only sought to please others from a selfish feeling to obtain praise, while Annie had been taught that God is the searcher of all hearts, and to please him should be our first and only aim.

The next morning Annie was up bright and early, and it seemed to her that the wool was never so free from knots before.  After she had said her prayers in the morning, and read a chapter with her mother, the little girl ate her frugal breakfast, and seated herself at her work, and so nimbly did she ply the cards, that her task was accomplished full half an hour before the usual time.  She was just beginning her own pile when Charlotte came in; they sat down together, and worked away diligently.  Charlotte said that her mother laughed at her, but told her she might do as she pleased, for it was something new for her to prefer work to play, and availing herself of this permission she came.

Annie, who was accustomed to the work, finished her pile first; she then assisted Charlotte, and they each received a penny; there was plenty of time beside for Annie to walk home with her friend.

The two following days passed in the same manner, but on Thursday Charlotte went out with a party of girls, blackberrying, thinking she could make it up on Friday; but it was as much as she could do to earn the penny with Annie’s assistance, and Saturday was a busy day, so her mother could not spare her, and Charlotte had but fourpence at the end of the week.  Annie had worked steadily, and on Saturday afternoon received the last penny from her mother.  She had now six cents, and after supper went with a light heart to get them changed for a sixpenny piece, at the village store.

On the way she met Charlotte.  “I could not come to-day,” said the latter.  “Mother could not spare me, and I cried enough about it.  I might have earned another penny, and then I would have changed it for a silver fivepence.  Is it not too bad?  How much have you got?”