which is her just due.'

'Mother,' said Harry, 'Elisha Otis told me to-day that his father thinks
people who talk so much of giving, are all hypocrites.'

'People who make a great noise about any good act which they perform
appear somewhat pharisaical, but we have no right to condemn them upon
that score _alone_, for it often proceeds from a great desire to do
good. You know we are very apt to talk of that which most occupies our
thoughts, Harry. But where did Elisha Otis's father get such notions of
charitable people?'

'That is what I was going to tell you about, mother. You know how much
Deacon Brown, gives--he heads all the subscription papers, and I heard
father say the other day that he was a great help to the church; but Mr
Otis says that he is never willing to pay people that work for him their
full price, and then they have to wait, and dun, and dun, before they
can get anything.'

'I am sorry to hear this, my son, very sorry.'

'Isn't it true mother?'

'It is true that Deacon Brown in some instances has seemed more generous
than just, and this case is very good to illustrate what I before said;
but Mr Otis makes it appear much worse than it is.'

'Then he don't cheat his workmen, mother?'

'No; but, by procrastination, thoughtlessness, or even perhaps the