"I got Aunt Laura's curly, light wig for her," ex-
plained Lily, and Mrs. Jennings laughed again.

It was not long before Amelia, in her gingham,
went home, led by her mother -- her mother, who
was trembling with weakness now. Mrs. Diantha
did not scold. She did not speak, but Amelia felt
with wonder her little hand held very tenderly by
her mother's long fingers.

When at last she was undressed and in bed, Mrs.
Diantha, looking very pale, kissed her, and so did
both grandmothers.

Amelia, being very young and very tired, went to
sleep. She did not know that that night was to mark
a sharp turn in her whole life. Thereafter she went
to school "dressed like the best," and her mother
petted her as nobody had ever known her mother
could pet.

It was not so very long afterward that Amelia,
out of her own improvement in appearance, devel-
oped a little stamp of individuality.

One day Lily wore a white frock with blue rib-
bons, and Amelia wore one with coral pink. It was
a particular day in school; there was company, and
tea was served.