back,--a sort of true-love knot, done in gold of different tints. The
girls were excessively pleased with these watches. They wore them with
guard-chains of black watered ribbon, and every other minute they
looked to see what the time was.

Elsie had been in papa's confidence, so her presents were watch cases,
embroidered on perforated paper. Johnnie gave Katy a case of pencils,
and Clover a pen-knife with a pearl handle. Dorry and Phil clubbed to
buy a box of note-paper and envelopes, which the girls were requested
to divide between them. Miss Petingill contributed a bottle of ginger
balsam, and a box of opodeldoc salve, to be used in case of possible
chilblains. Old Mary's offering was a couple of needle-books, full of
bright sharp needles.

"I wouldn't give you scissors," she said; "but you can't cut love--or,
for the matter of that, any thing else--with a needle."

Miss Finch, the new housekeeper, arrived a few days before they
started: so Katy had time to take her over the house and explain all
the different things she wanted done and not done, to secure papa's
comfort and the children's. Miss Finch was meek and gentle. She
seemed glad of a comfortable home. And Katy felt that she would be
kind to the boys, and not fret Debby, and drive her into marrying
Alexander and going away,--an event which Aunt Izzie had been used to
predict. Now that all was settled, she and Clover found themselves
looking forward to the change with pleasure. There was something new
and interesting about it which excited their imaginations.

The last evening was a melancholy one. Elsie had been too much
absorbed in the preparations to realize her loss; but, when it came