So he left Mary to make her examination; going downstairs, he shook his head once, pursed up his lips, and then smiled doubtfully, as a man may do when he has made up his mind to take a chance.

The man told her that the fowls didn't mind, and she pursed up her small mouth and showed the band how she said to him, "I would prefer the opinion of the hens."

Was this a story to purse up people's hearts, and pennies, against giving an alms to the blind?or not rather a beautiful moral of well-directed charity on the one part, and noble gratitude upon the other?

Well, the devil never blesses a man better, when he purses up angels by owl-light.