smart curious to know what it 's all about. What air you in these
parts for, anyhow, and how come you to come?"

"We are here," began Miss Shippen, quietly, "first and foremost
because we want to educate the children who have never had the
chance they deserve--"

"That 's so; they hain't, more shame to the State," interrupted Aunt
Dalmanutha. "Take me, now; I were raised forty-five mile' from a
school-house or church-house, and never had no chance to l'arn 'a'
from 'izard.' And these few pindling present-day district-schools
scattered here and yan they only spiles the young uns for work, and
hain't no improvement on nothing."

"Next," proceeded the trained nurse, "we want to be friendly and
helpful to the grown-up people who need it, especially to the sick
and suffering."

"I heared of the nursing you done in these parts in the typhoid last
summer," said Aunt Dalmanutha, "and certainly it sounded good. But,
women, one more question I crave to put to you. Do you mix in
religion and preachifying as you go along?"

"We do not preach at all," replied Miss Shippen; "we let our deeds
speak for us."

Aunt Dalmanutha extended a swift hand. "I am proud to make your
acquaintance then," she said. "I have had my 'nough of religion and
preachifying, but of plain human friendliness not, because there is
little of it on the ramble."