Reed a kindly manner which pleased all who knew
her. Although very poor, she took much interest in her young friends and
tried to make them happy.
Mrs. Reed had not always been poor. Her husband when alive was supposed
to be rich; but after his death, it was found that nothing was left to
his widow but two small cottages.
In one of these cottages, Mrs. Reed lived; the other, she rented. But
the rent received was no more than enough to enable her to live with
moderate comfort. She had little or nothing left with which to do for
others.
One cold winter morning, two persons were talking together in the cozy
sitting-room of the cottage. One was Mrs. Reed, and the other, Alice
Brown, a poor orphan girl, who lived with some distant relatives in
Fairfield.
"You are very kind to come to see me so often, Alice," said Mrs. Reed.
"I wonder why you do; because there is nothing attractive here."
"Why, Mrs. Reed!" replied Alice; "how can you talk so? are you not here?
do I not always receive a kind word and a welcome smile from you?"
"Well, you know I love you, Alice, and am always delighted to have you
come," said Mrs.
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