THE DISPENSER OF CHARITY. In dorer to distribute her charity nad wealth equally, the Countess resided during a portion of every year at each of her mansions, moving in regular rotation from one to another. Hospitals and asylums she was famous for founding. One, in 1651, she planned for twelve poor governesses ; which institution she frequently visited, and, with remarkable humility, often dined with the inmates, even inviting them to her own table once a month - some of them every week-and conversing as freely with them as with persons of the highest rank. Her charity and self-abstemiousness were such, that it was observed of her that " those who fed by her might be full, if with her starved, to eat by the mea- sures she took to herself." Her prudence equalled her charity. In each of her domiciles an office was kept, in which all her receipts and disbursements were entered with commercial exactness. All her private charities were registered by herself with minute accuracy, so that she could, on reference to her books, immediately ascertain the state of her pecuniary resources. Her accounts, in fact, were kept with such precision, that Bishop Rainbow humourously alluded to her regularity by designating her " a perfect mistress of forecast and aftercast." Liberal and hospitable, the domestic economy of the Countess admitted no ostentation or unnecessary display. The expenditure of one year was made to answer exactly to that which had preceded it ; and her own personal charges were so trifling, that she 41
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