“But I see other people’s children sit down quietly and behave themselves when there is company.”

“All children are not alike,” said the (sic) visiter.  Some are more restless and impetuous than others.  We have to consult their dispositions and pay regard thereto, or it will be impossible to manage them rightly.  I find a great difference among my own children.  Some are orderly, and others disorderly.  Some have a strong sense of propriety, and others no sense of propriety at all.”

“It’s a great responsibility; is it not, Mrs. Peters?”

“Very great.”

“It makes me really unhappy.  I am sometimes tempted to wish them all in heaven; and then I would be sure they were well off and well taken care of.  Some people appear to get along with their children so easy.  I don’t know how it is.  I can’t.”

Mrs. Peters could have given her friend a useful hint or two on the subject of managing children, if she had felt that she dared to do so.  But she knew Mrs. Elder to be exceedingly sensitive, and therefore she thought it best not to say any thing that might offend her.

There was a quiet-looking old gentleman in the room where the two ladies sat conversing.  He had a book in his hand, and seemed to be reading; though, in fact, he was observing all that was said and done.  He had not designed to do this, but the interruption of little Mary threw his mind off his book, and his thoughts entered a new element.  This person was a brother of Mrs. Elder, and had recently become domesticated in her family.  He was a bachelor.

After the (sic) visiter had retired, Mrs. Elder sat down to her work-table in the same room where she had received her company, and resumed her sewing operations, which the call had suspended.  She had not been thus engaged long, before Mary came back into the room, looking sad enough.  Instead of going to her mother; she went up to the old gentleman, and looking into his face with her yet tearful eyes, said—­

“Uncle William?”

“What, dear?” was returned in a kind voice.

“Something sticks my neck.  Won’t you see what it is?”

Uncle William laid down his book, and, turning down the neck of Mary’s frock, found that the point of a pin was fretting her body.  There was at least a dozen little scratches, and an inflamed spot the size of a dollar.

“Poor child!” he said, tenderly, as he removed the pin.  “There now!  It feels better, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, it feels better; thank you, dear uncle!” and Mary put up her sweet lips and kissed him.  The old gentleman was doubly repaid for his trouble.  Mary ran lightly away, and he resumed his book.

In about ten minutes, the child opened the door and came in pulling the dredging-box, to which she had tied a string, along the floor, and marking the progress she made by a track of white meal.

“You little torment!” exclaimed the mother, springing up, and jerking the string and box angrily from Mary’s hand.  “It is too bad! you know well enough that you had no business to touch this.  Just see what a condition the floor is in!  Oh dear!  Shall I never teach the child any thing?”