silk; but these are too brittle to spin into thread. This last kind, Lady
Mary, which is called Milk-weed flytrap, I will show you in summer."
[Footnote: Asclepia Syriaca.]

But while Mrs. Frazer was talking about these plants, the little lady was
examining the contents of the small birch-box. "If you please, nurse, will
you tell me what these dark shining seeds are?"

"These seeds, my dear, are Indian rice; an old squaw, Mrs. Peter Noggan,
gave me this as a present for 'Governor's daughter,'" and Mrs. Frazer
imitated the soft, whining tone of the Indian, which made Lady Mary laugh.

"The box is called a 'mowkowk.' There is another just like it, only there
is a white bird,--a snow-bird, I suppose it is intended for--worked on the
lid." The lid of this box was fastened down with a narrow slip of
deer-skin; Lady Mary cut the fastening, and raised the lid,--"Nurse, it is
only yellow sand; how droll, to send me a box of sand!"

"It is not sand; taste it, Lady Mary."

"It is sweet--it is sugar! Ah! now I know what it is that this kind old
squaw has sent me; it is maple-sugar; and is very nice. I will go and show
it to mamma."

"Wait a little, Lady Mary, let us see what there is in the basket besides
the rice and the maple-sugar."

"What a lovely thing this is! dear nurse, what can it be?"

"It is a sheath for your scissors, my dear; it is made of doe-skin,