"But, Medoline does not wish to keep hers. She acted quite strangely
about it; and insists that I must ask you, if she shall keep it."
"Mr. Bovyer would feel aggrieved if we returned his present. I think you
must keep it," he said, turning to me.
"Most young ladies I have known are proud to get keepsakes from your
sex."
"I hope Medoline is not going to be a regulation young lady."
"Why, Mr. Winthrop, what has caused you to change your mind? You used to
condemn me for being so very unconventional."
"I have made the discovery that you have something better in its stead,"
he said, quietly. I looked up quickly to speak my thanks, but kept
silent.
"Yes, Medoline is the only one of us that tries to do her duty by others.
She has helped the poor more in the few months she has been here, than I
have done in nearly twenty years."
"But she confines her benefits to the poor and bereaved solely. She seems
to forget the prosperous may be heavy-hearted," Mr. Winthrop suggested
with a smile.
"I do not intermeddle with that which lies beyond my skill to relieve.
Any person can relieve poverty if they have money."
"Possibly you are wise to confine your helpfulness to the simpler cases
of sorrow."
"I think the griefs of the rich are mostly imaginary and selfish. In this
beautiful world, if we have our freedom, and health, and plenty of money,
we are simply foolish to be down-hearted; only when death takes away our
dear ones; and after a time the pain he gives ceases to smart.
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