The woman turned, and went quickly away.

"Run home to nurse the baby and give the children something to eat!"
The words went through and through me. So unexpected a request,
revealing, as it did, the existence of such biting poverty in one
who was evidently bearing her hard lot without a murmur, made me
feel ashamed of myself for complaining at things which I ought to
have borne with a cheerful spirit. I had a comfortable, in fact a
luxurious, home, a kind and provident husband, and servants to do
every thing in my house. There was no lack of the means for
procuring every natural good I might reasonably desire. But, between
the means and the attainment of the natural blessings I sought,
there were many obstacles; and, instead of going to work in a
cheerful, confident spirit to remove those obstacles, I suffered
their interposition to make me unhappy; and not me alone, but my
husband and all around me. But here was a poor woman, compelled to
labour hard with her hands before she could obtain even the means
for supplying nature's most pressing wants, doing her duty with an
earnest, resigned, and hopeful spirit!

"It is wicked in me to feel as I do," I could not help saying, as I
made an effort to turn away from the picture that was before me.

When Mrs. Partridge came back, which was in about half an hour, I
said to her--

"Did you find all safe at home?"

"Yes, ma'am, thank you," she answered cheerfully.