"Is any life well lived,
however humble, quite lost to the world? And does not God know better
than I where to put her?" and thus ending her reflections, she turned
with a brighter look to say,
"My dear, don't let _anything_ discourage you from carrying out
your views! I believe this life of ours is like a flight of steps
leading to a throne. When we have performed all that is required of us
on the first step, we must go on and up But sometimes, alas! we will not
do what we should, and have to be ordered back. Then how painfully slow
seems the climb to our former position! But, if we can only always hear
that 'Come up higher,' and keep steadily on, slowly it may be, so slowly
the steps seem but an inch high, we will surely reach the throne in
time--or in eternity."
Sara's luminous eyes rested intently on her face.
"The steps may not all be beautiful or easy," she breathed.
"No, nor will be, my dear. There is a little book of essays I have, and
one is called 'The Gospel of Drudgery;' I want you to read it."
Miss Plunkett rose and stepped to the book-case on the opposite side of
the room, being enjoined, sleepily, by Mistress Polly meanwhile, to
"Come again, and don't be long!" When old Hester appeared in the
doorway, to bob a courtesy, and announce,--
"Tea is served, Miss Prue.
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