"
"You will excuse me for keeping you in waiting so long," said Mrs.
Cotting, as she entered the room where Dora and Emma had been seated
for nearly an hour; "I understood the maid that it was Mrs. Lindsay
herself, and I was in _dishabille_. My duties are so numerous and so
pressing," continued Mrs. Cotting. "One might think that the cares of a
family were sufficient for a wife and mother; but added to this, to
have a whole parish upon one's hands." Here she paused and sighed.
"Your situation," replied Dora, "is indeed one of earnest duty and
responsibility; but the abundant grace provided for our utmost need is
found, I trust, sufficient for you."
Mrs. Cotting bowed, and Dora continued: "We will not take your time,
madam, which must be fully occupied. We called to inquire respecting a
family called Graffam, living upon the plain."
"I know them," said Mrs. Cotting, "as indeed I do every other poor
family in town. These Graffams are very strange people. I called there
with Mrs. Jefferson Motley, the wealthiest lady at the mills. Graffam
had a child at that time lying at the point of death. He was at home,
and, what is a rare thing, was sober; but neither he nor his wife
seemed at all grateful for this attention from myself and Mrs. Motley.
We were at that time hunting up children for the Sabbath school; and in
our charitable work were not unwilling to visit the most degraded.
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