she handed him the money. "No, that's all for
to-day. But Aunt Maria said I dare look around a little if I don't touch
things."

"Look all you want," said the clerk and turned away, smiling.

Phoebe began a slow tramp about the big store. There was the same glass
case filled with jewelry. The rings and pins rested on satin that had
faded long since, the jewelry itself was tarnished but it held Phoebe's
interest with its meagre glistening. One little ring with a tiny
turquoise aroused her desire but she realized that she was longing for
the impossible, so she moved away from the coveted treasures and paused
before the ribbons. Some of those same ribbons had been in the tall
revolving case ever since she could remember going to that store. The
pale sea-green and the crushed-strawberry were faded horribly, yet she
looked at them with longing. "Suppose," she thought, "I dared pick out
any ribbon I want for a sash--guess I'd take that funny pink one, or
mebbe that nice blue one. But I kinda think I'd rather have a set of
dishes or a doll. But then I got that rag doll at home and that pretty
one that pop got for me in Lancaster and that Aunt Maria won't leave me
play with. That's funny now, that she says still I daren't play with it
for I might break it, that I shall keep it till I'm big. But when I'm
big I won't want a doll, and then I vonder what! What will I do with it
then?"

She stood a long time before a table crowded with a motley gathering of
toys, dolls and books. With so much coveted treasure before her it was
hard to remember Aunt Maria's injunction to refrain from touching.

"Well, anyhow," she decided finally, "I won't need any of these things
to play with now, for I'm going to be out in the garden and the yard
with the flowers and birds. So I guess my old rag doll will be plenty
for playin' with. But I mustn't look too long else Aunt Maria won't
leave me come in soon again. I'll walk down the other side of the store
now yet and then I must go."

She passed slowly along, her keen eyes noticing the varied assortment of
articles displayed for sale. A long line of red handkerchiefs was
fastened to a cord high above one counter. Long shelves were stacked
high with ginghams, calicoes and finer dress materials. There were gaudy
rugs and blankets tacked to the walls near the ceiling. Counters were
filled with glassware, china and crockery; other counters were laden
with umbrellas, hats, shoes----

"Ach," she sigh