"Here," said she. "Your father has been over to Gerrish's, and here's
something he bought you. I hope you'll be careful and not lose it."

And Comfort opened the box, and there was a beautiful gold ring,
which just fitted her third finger; and she wore it to school, and
the girls all seemed to see it at once, and exclaimed, "Comfort Pease
has got a new gold ring that fits her finger!"

And that was not all, for Matilda and Rosy Stebbins also wore gold
rings. "Mother said I might as well spend Uncle Jared's dollar for
it, 'cause your mother didn't want you to have it," said Matilda,
holding her finger up; "and father bought one for Rosy, too."

Then the two little girls took their seats, and presently went
forward to be examined in spelling before the committee-men, the
doctor, the minister, and all the visiting friends.

And Comfort Pease, with all the spelling lessons of the term in her
head, her gold ring on her finger, and peace in her heart, went to
the head of the class, and Miss Tabitha Hanks presented her with a
prize. It was a green silk pincushion with "Good Girl" worked on it
in red silk, and she had it among her treasures long after her finger
had grown large enough to wear her Aunt Comfort's ring.