by thesunlight of love and sympathy."
"Yes, but you know, aunt, that every body is not rich enough to givegold pieces to the poor, as you are."
"That is true, Minnie; but all can speak _golden_ words, and look withfriendly smiles upon the poor and sad."
"_Golden_ words, aunt! What are _golden_ words?" asked Minnie, gazingwith surprise into her aunt's face.
"_Kind_ words are _golden_ words, Minnie, because they are precious tothe heart. They are often worth more than gold to the unfortunate."
This Minnie could not deny. Indeed, it pleased her very much to thinkthat she could speak golden words, if she could not give gold pieces.
Having finished their walk, aunt Amy and her delighted little niecereturned home. After tea, they worked again upon Kate's dress, and itwas decided that they should take it, the next day, with some otherthings, to Mrs. Button's cottage.
So the next day, early in the afternoon, they started for the old stonequarry, to visit Mrs. Button and her daughter Kate. At Minnie's request,Arthur Ellerslie went with them to carry the bundle, which was quite alarge one. Aunt Amy was very much pleased with Arthur. As they walked,he told her all about his history, and she gave him much good advice.
Presently they reached the cottage. There was quite a change in itslooks since aunt Amy's last visit, a few days before. The floor had beennicely cleaned, the shingles which formerly covered the broken windowshad been taken away, and clean paper pasted over the broken placesinstead. The bed in the corner was "made up." The pine stools were setalong the sides of the cottage; and it was quite plain that Mrs. Buttonhad been trying to make her poverty appear as respectable as possible.In her person, too, she was greatly improved. Her face was now clean,her hair neatly combed, her gown mended, and she wore a hopeful look,which wonderfully changed her appearance. Her manners, also, were morecivil. When her guests entered, she spoke to them with respect, andinvited them to be seated. Her only chair she offered to aunt Amy. As toKate, she seemed to have caught her mother's spirit, and looked as wellas rags and bad habits would allow her to do.
The gifts brought by aunt Amy were produced, and many kind words ofadvice offered by that good lady. Kate seemed half wild with joy whenMinnie spread her new calico frock out for her to look at, and when shesaw the nice little bonnet, the new shoes, and many other things whichwere meant for her. Mrs. Button was very thankful. And when aunt Amytold her of certain plans, which she had arranged through Minnie'smother, by which she would have employment, and when she placed a bankbill in her hand as she arose to go, the poor woman was so overcome withgrateful feeling she could not speak. She modestly raised the hand ofher kind friend to her lips, kissed it, turned away, sunk into a seat,and buried her face in her apron. Aunt Amy found her hand wet with thepoor woman's tears.
After they left the cottage, Arthur hurried to school. Aunt Amy andMinnie walked leisurely, and, for a time, silently along. At last Minniesaid,--
"Aunt, I am very glad you came to see us."
"I believe you, Minnie, for you have given me full proof of that. Butwhy are you glad?"
"Because you have taught me how to be a sunbeam, and how to speakgolden words. I used to think a little girl, like me, could not do muchgood. You have taught me that I may."
"I am glad to see you so willing to learn, Minnie. I hope you will tryto practise the precious lesson after I return home. Whatever your lotin life may be, you must always try to be a sunbeam to others. I know apoor old lady who is so lame she cannot leave her house; yet she notonly makes every one happy who comes near to her, but she contrives togive a handsome little sum of money every year to benevolent objects."
"How can she do so, aunt, if she is poor?"
"She does it by the help of her dog."
"By the help of her dog!" exclaimed Minnie, laughing.
"Yes; she has a little dog, named Fido. She has so trained the littlefellow that he brings home all the bones he finds in the street. Theseshe hoards very carefully, sells them at a junk shop, and gives awaythe money."
"That is a capital scheme," said Minnie, clapping her hands, "but Ishould never have thought of it."
"Perhaps not; but you may find other ways of gaining means to do good.If not, you can make smiles serve for sunbeams, and gentle words will dofor gold."
"It makes me so happy to be kind, aunt Amy, I think I shall try to be soalways," said Minnie.
"Do, my dear child, and be kind to _every one_ with whom you have todo."
"I must speak kindly to my enemies, too, mustn't I, aunt?"
"Yes, Minnie, you must; for so Christ has taught us, you know. And thereis nothing like kindness to change enemies into friends. It melts awaytheir enmity when they see us returning their evil with good."
"But suppose my heart won't let me love them, aunt, what shall I do?"
"You must pray to God for aid. He will help you. So that you may be asunbeam in the path of the worst enemy who may seek to injure you."
In a few days after this visit to Mrs. Button's cottage, aunt Amyreturned to her home. Minnie was sorry to have her go, but she knew itwas proper for her to do so, and she did not complain. She feltlonesome at first; but she did not forget the precious lesson her aunthad taught her. She had been a good and gentle girl before; now she wasa light in her home, and her presence was as sunshine to all who knewher, and especially to Kate Button, who became a bright scholar in herSunday school. She had her little failings, it is true; but she triedhard to subdue them; and henceforth the purpose of her life was
TO BE AS A SUNBEAM, ALWAYS SHINING ON THE HEARTS OF OTHERS.
Aunt Amy; or, How Minnie Brown learned to be a Sunbeam Page 4