fans, but they were just the things for his Grandmothers, who, after
this, sat beside the fireplace, very prim and fine, in stiff silk
gowns, with China crape shawls over their shoulders, and Chinese fans
in their hands, and queer shoes on their feet. Julia liked their
presents just as well as he did his own, and probably the Ambassador
knew that he would.

The Mayor had filled one stocking himself with bonbons, and Julia
picked out all the peppermints amongst them for his Grandmothers. They
were very fond of peppermints. Then he went to work to find their
spectacles, which had been lost ever since he had been away.






THE SQUIRE'S SIXPENCE.


Patience Mather was saying the seven-multiplication table, when she
heard a heavy step in the entry.

"That is Squire Bean," whispered her friend, Martha Joy, who stood at
her elbow.

Patience stopped short in horror. Her especial bugbear in mathematics
was eight-times-seven; she was coming toward it fast--could she
remember it, with old Squire Bean looking at her?