`` Now , what I say is this , '' continued Mrs. Wing impressively . `` If I were that man , I 'd make myself useful at once . There is poor little Will getting more and more lame every day , because his mother ca n't send him where he can be cured . A trifle of that man 's money would do it , and he ought to give it . Old Father Winter is half starved , alone there in his miserable hovel ; and no one thinks of the good old man . Why do n't that lazy creature take him home , and care for him , the little while he has to live ? Pretty Nell is working day and night , to support her father , and is too proud to ask help , though her health and courage are going fast . The man might make hers the gayest heart alive , by a little help . There in a lonely garret lives a young man studying his life away , longing for books and a teacher . The man has a library full , and might keep the poor boy from despair by a little help and a friendly word . He mourns for his own lost baby : I advise him to adopt the orphan whom nobody will own , and who lies wailing all day untended on the poor-house floor . Yes : if he wants to forget sorrow and find peace , let him fill his empty heart and home with such as these , and life wo n't seem dark to him any more . '' `` Dear me ! how well you express yourself , Mrs. Wing ; it 's quite a pleasure to hear you ; and I heartily wish some persons could hear you , it would do 'em a deal of good , '' said Mrs. Skim ; while her husband gave an approving nod as he dived off the beam , and vanished through the open doors . `` I know it would comfort that man to do these things ; for I have tried the same cure in my small way , and found great satisfaction in it , '' began little Madame Dart , in her soft voice ; but Mrs. Wing broke in , saying with a pious expression of countenance : `` I flew into church one day , and sat on the organ enjoying the music ; for every one was singing , and I joined in , though I did n't know the air . Opposite me were two great tablets with golden letters on them . I can read a little , thanks to my friend , the learned raven ; and so I spelt out some of the words . One was , ` Love thy neighbor ; ' and as I sat there , looking down on the people , I wondered how they could see those words week after week , and yet pay so little heed to them . Goodness knows , I do n't consider myself a perfect bird ; far from it ; for I know I am a poor , erring fowl ; but I believe I may say I do love my neighbor , though I am ` an inferior creature . ' '' And Mrs. Wing bridled up , as if she resented the phrase immensely .
`` Indeed you do , gossip , '' cried Dart and XXXXX ; for Wing was an excellent bird , in spite of the good opinion she had of herself .
Dart Father Nell Skim day garret night poor-house raven week