pretty! — and a bodkin! this is a great nicer than yours,
Mamma — yours is decidedly the worse for wear; — and what's
this? — oh, to make eyelet-holes with, I know. And oh, Mamma!
here is almost everything, I think — here are tapes, and
buttons, and hooks and eyes, and darning-cotton, and silk-
winders, and pins, and all sorts of things. What's this for,
Mamma?"

"That's a scissors to cut button-holes with. Try it on that
piece of paper that lies by you, and you will see how it
works."

"Oh, I see!" said Ellen, "how very nice that is! Well, I shall
take great pains now to make my button-holes very handsomely."

One survey of her riches could by no means satisfy Ellen. For
some time she pleased herself with going over and over the
contents of the box, finding each time something new to like.
At length she closed it, and keeping it still in her lap, sat
awhile looking thoughtfully into the fire; till, turning
towards her mother, she met her gaze, fixed mournfully, almost
tearfully, on herself. The box was instantly shoved aside, and
getting up and bursting into tears, Ellen went to her.

"Oh, dear mother," she said, "I wish they were all back in the
store, if I could only keep you!"

Mrs. Montgomery answered only by folding her to her heart.

"Is there no help for it, Mamma?"