She made three little bags, each with draw strings. On one she sewed a
red J; on the second a blue M; on the third a pink H. You can probably
guess for whom each was meant.

By this time it was too dark to see. Mother lit the lamp and started
supper. And of course they ate it--they seldom skipped that of their
own free will--but after it was over, the Toyman kneeled down on the
floor, and Father got down on the floor, too, and they played marbles
on the rag rug.

That was pretty nice and interesting, but they looked forward to the
real game in the morning, for the real game must be played, not on a
rug, but on the good brown earth.

Again the Toyman took a little, oh, just a little time from his
work--that is, he meant to, but it turned out a longer "spell" than he
had intended.

First they sorted the marbles. And when the sorting was over, each had
nine of the little gray ones, which the Toyman told them were called
"Migs"; two of the dappled brown ones which he said were "Croakers";
and two of the blue; three "Chineys"; three "Glasseys" with the pink
and blue streaks; and one each of the most beautiful of all,--the
agates. The blue and cream-colored agate Marmaduke took to match the
blue M on his bag; Jehosophat the reddest one to match his letter J;
and Hepzebiah the agate that looked most like a strawberry--almost
pink it was, like her letter H.

These last beautiful ones, their old friend informed them, were
agates, but had other names.