though William did not literally make hay while the sun shone, he at
least gathered a harvest somewhat resembling hay in general character.

Thus:

One afternoon, having locked his door to secure himself against
intrusion on the part of his mother or Jane, William seated himself at
his writing-table, and from a drawer therein took a small cardboard box,
which he uncovered, placing the contents in view before him upon the
table. (How meager, how chilling a word is "contents"!) In the box were:

A faded rose.

Several other faded roses, disintegrated into leaves.

Three withered "four-leaf clovers."

A white ribbon still faintly smelling of violets.

A small silver shoe-buckle.

A large pearl button.

A small pearl button.

A tortoise-shell hair-pin.

A cross-section from the heel of a small slipper.

A stringy remnant, probably once an improvised wreath of daisies.