Miss Simms measured two breadths of silk; "snip, snip," went her shining
scissors, and she threaded her needle. "Dear me, what a hard needle to
thread; my eyes are beginning to fail me," she said.

"I'll thread it for you, let me. My eyes are bright and sharp," said
Johnnie.

"Thank you," she said. "Now, Johnnie, don't you want to know Edith's
secret. It is a word of four letters, LOVE. Love to God, and
love to everybody else. That makes Edie's good time."

"How can I get it too?" said Johnnie.

"I must tell you some of my verses, I think:

"'Ask, and ye shall receive.

"'Seek, and ye shall find.

"'Knock, and it shall be opened to you.

"'For every one that asketh receiveth.

"'And he that seeketh findeth.

"'And to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.'"

"I'll ask," said Johnnie.