not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret : and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly." Matt. vi. 1—4.

CHAPTER V.

Charity is not puffed up.

WHEN Emma and Caroline were again alone, the latter seemed sincerely sorry for her past conduct, and asked her sister what she could now do for Jane Thomas, for she was really grieved that she had spent the half-crown intended for her.

"You might ask papa to give you another half-crown," said Emma, in a tone of self-satisfaction," and then, you know Jane would be none the worse, only she would have to thank papa, and not you, for the present."

"I do not want any thanks," replied Caroline, humbly; "I have done what my aunt and Mrs. Colton must think a selfish thing, and I should like to do something that would make them think better of me."

"Take care, Caroline," exclaimed Emma, "you are just going to do the very thing William bid you not do."

"What did he bid me not do, sister?" she asked.

"He told you not to boast of what you were going to do."

Caroline, being much vexed at what had happened, burst into tears, as she said, "Emma, you are very unkind, for it was all owing to you that I got into this trouble, for I should never have thought of Jane Thomas and her mother if you had not proposed it first." "And I am sure no one need be ashamed of such a thought," replied Emma.

Caroline did not answer her sister, for she was in no mood to quarrel with her; she therefore merely wished her good night, and soon afterwards fell asleep, satisfied that her papa was not angry with her, and that her aunt had forgiven her.

In the meanwhile the last speech uttered by Caroline still rung in the ears of Emma, and she said to herself over and over again, "I am sure no one need be ashamed of such a thought;" and her mind being puffed up with this idea, she fell into a disturbed sleep, in which she fancied that her papa, her

aunt, Mrs. Colton, and William, were all praising her for the good deed she had done.

Emma awoke very early, long before Mary came to dress them, and again these naughty thoughts took possession of her mind, and she said to herself, "I have acted like mamma, I have denied myself a pleasure to give sixpence to a poor person, and I did not even tell Mrs. Colton that it was all my own money, for she heard Caroline tell papa she would give three-pence, so that she thought I need give only half my allowance;" and again it suggested itself to her mind that she must have been a very good girl to have done this of her own thought, for every body that knew how her mamma had acted praised her for it, and she herself was only a little girl; and then she whispered to herself that if her papa had praised Caroline for thinking of giving half her allowance to Jane Thomas, what would he think of her who had given the whole, and had not mentioned it to any body?

Now, thought Emma, if William could. but know of it, he would repeat it again to papa, and Aunt Isabella; but then, if I were myself to tell him, he would be sure to remind me that charity vaunteth not itself; for he said those words two or three times

I

after Mrs. Colton last night. Well, I must wait patiently, satisfied that I am doing right, and perhaps, when I am dead, like dear mamma, they will find out how good and generous I have been, and Aunt Isabella will be very sorry for ever having spoken unkindly to me; and then she will tell every body how generous her eldest niece used to be. To think that Caroline was not able to keep her word: how foolish she must be, and yet she is not two years younger than I am; but Aunt Isabella calls my sister a good girl, -I wonder what she would say if she knew what I have done!

Just as Emma had arrived at this wonderful discovery of her own superior goodness, Mary entered, and told the little girls it was time to get up. Caroline arose as fresh as a lark, for she had forgotten her troubles of the last night, knowing she should hear no more of her fault now it had been forgiven; but Emma felt puffed up and elated with herself, and she was proud and conceited in her manner, so that Mary asked her what was the matter with her that morning.

"Are you ill, Miss Emma?" said Mary; 'for your answers are so short and quick I can hardly understand you."