Three years have passed, and what has been the result of the widow’s new experiment?  The school prospered from the beginning.  The spirit with which Edith and Miriam went to work made success certain.  Parents who sent their children were so much pleased with the progress they made, that they spoke of the new school to their friends, and thus gave it a reputation, that, ere a year had elapsed, crowded the rooms of the sisters.  Mrs. Darlington was a woman who had herself received a superior education.  Seeing that the number of scholars increased rapidly, and made the pressure on her daughters too great, she gave a portion of her time each day to the instruction of certain classes, and soon became much interested in the work.  From that time she associated herself in the school with Edith and Miriam.

Three years, as we said, have passed, and now the profits on the school are more than sufficient to meet all expenses.  Henry has left his clerkship, and is a member of the bar.  Of course he has little or no practice—­only a few months having elapsed since his admission; but his mother and sisters are fully able to sustain him until he could sustain himself.

“How much better this is than keeping boarders!” said Edith, as she sat conversing with her mother and uncle about the prospects of the school.

“And how much more useful and honourable!” remarked Mr. Ellis.  “In the one case, you fed only the body, but now you are dispensing food to the immortal mind.  You are moreover independent in your own house.  When the day’s work is done, you come together as one family, and shut out the intruding world.”

“Yes, it is better, far better,” replied Mrs. Darlington.  “Ah, that first mistake of mine was a sad one!”

“Yet out of it has come good,” said Mr. Ellis.  “That painful experience corrected many false views, and gave to all your characters a new and higher impulse.  It is through disappointment, trial, and suffering, that we grow wise here; and true wisdom is worth the highest price we are ever called upon to pay for it.”

Yes, it is so.  Through fiery trials are we purified.  At times, in our suffering, we feel as if every good thing in us was about being consumed.  But this never happens.  No good in our characters is ever lost in affliction or trouble; and we come out of these states of pain wiser and better than when we entered them, and more fitted and more willing to act usefully our part in the world.

PLAIN SEWING; OR, HOW TO ENCOURAGE THE POOR.

“Do you know of any poor body who does plain sewing?” asked Mrs. Lander of a neighbour upon whom she called for the particular purpose of making this inquiry.  “I have a good deal of work that I want done, and I always like to give my plain sewing to people that need it.”

“I think I know of a person who will suit you,” replied Mrs. Brandon, the lady to whom the application had been made.  “She is a poor widow woman, with four children dependent upon her for support.  She sews neatly.  Yesterday she brought me home some little drawers and night-gowns that were beautifully made.  I am sure she will please you, and I know she deserves encouragement.”