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“The girl stood for some moments, looking at me with an expression of surprise on her face, and then walked away. This was a victory over myself, and I felt, also, a victory over her. Not half an hour elapsed, before, on passing near the kitchen, she said to me, in a very respectful manner:

“‘I forgot to tell you, this morning, that the tea was all out. But I can run round to the store and get some in a few minutes.’

“‘Do so, if you please, Hannah,’ I returned, without evincing the slightest feeling of annoyance at her neglect; ‘and try, if you can, to have tea ready precisely at six o’clock.’

“‘I will have it ready, ma’am,’ she replied. And it was ready.

“Had I not exercised patience and self-control, the interview would have been something after this fashion: about ten minutes before tea-time, Hannah would have come to me and said, with provoking coolness–

“‘The tea’s all out.’

“To which I would have replied sharply–

“‘Why, in the name of goodness, did not you say so this morning? You knew that you had used the last drawing! I declare you are the most provoking creature I ever knew. You’ll have to go to the store and get some.’

“‘I’m not fit to be seen in the street,’ she would in all probability have replied.

“And then I, losing all patience, would have soundly scolded her, and gained nothing but a sick-headache, perhaps, for my pains. Tea, in all probability, would have been served at about eight o’clock. You see the difference.”

“And a very material one it is.”

“Isn’t it? As you well said, there is a power in patience undreamed of by those who seek not its exercise. Next morning, when I had any occasion to speak to Hannah, I did so with much mildness, and if I had occasion to find fault, requested a change rather than enunciated a reproof. The girl changed as if by magic. She became respectful in her manner toward me, and evinced a constant anxiety to do every thing as I wished to have it done. Not once since have we had a meal as much as ten minutes later than the appointed time.”

I could not but express the happiness I felt at the change, and urge my excellent friend to persevere. This she has done, and the whole aspect of things in her family has changed.

There are times, however, when, from ill-health, or a return of old states, she recedes again into fretfulness; but the reaction upon her is so immediate and perceptible, that she is driven in self-defence to patience and forbearance, the result of which is order and quiet in her family just in the degree that patience and forbearance are exercised.