with care and precision what she had to tell; then, directing the
missive, she went to the old teapot in search of the two cents to pay
its postage.

As she lifted the lid and peered in, a sigh escaped her, for the little
store of silver and copper was getting low; soon it would be necessary
to take another bill from the roll of greenbacks so carefully hoarded;
and the thought alarmed her, for already it was greatly reduced in size;
then, remembering the lesson of dependence she was trying to teach
herself, she took out two of the pennies, and resolutely replaced the
lid, resolving not even to think of what it was, apparently, beyond her
power to remedy.

Yet she could not keep herself quite free from worry these days. Each
change of season in our fickle climate means expense; and now the spring
was coming on, bringing its especial needs, her feeling was often one of
sick despair. It is so hard for the young to learn simply to wait; and
poor Sara felt that, to make the outlay necessary for the reception of
summer boarders, would actually impoverish them, and then--what if the
boarders never came? The thought was appalling!

In this frame of mind she was putting on their frugal supper of dried
herring, with baked potatoes and salt, a few weeks later, when Morton
dashed in.

"My gracious, Sara! I believe you get more mail than even Squire
Scrantoun. Just look at these!"

There was another roll, evidently pamphlets, and two letters,--one from
Professor Grandet, the other in an unknown hand. She hurriedly opened