138 LUCY AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.

“Why, that’s what it means,” said her mother.
“ T’ve just explained it to you. It is seeking for
pay where we ought not to. Once there was a
lady who was sick, and a boy named Jerry, who
lived pretty near, came to the door, and asked how
she did, and wanted to know if he could do any
thing for her. Now, I suppose you would think
that that was a very kind, generous boy.”

* Yes, mother, I should think so,” said Lucy.

** He would have been so if his motive had
been as good as it appeared to be. But the fact
was, his motive was mercenary. He had heard
another boy say, that his mother sent him to ask
if he could do any thing for the lady, one day
whien she was sick, and that she thanked him, and
gave him a cake. So Jerry thought that, if he
went, perhaps he should get a cake too.”

*O,” said Lucy, “ what a boy!”

“The spirit which he was acting under was
not a benevolent, but a mercenary one.”

“ Yes,” said Lucy, “I thought he really wanted
to know what he could do for the sick lady.”

* That was the appearance,” replied her mother,
“but it was a false appearance. In fact, appear-
ances, in such cases, are often deceptive. Some-
times, for instance, children go and wish people
a merry Christmas, or a happy new year, when