hat I may enter a training-school for kindergartners
next year; so I am taking the studies that will give me the best
preparation, and I hope to earn part of my tuition fees, when the time
comes, by teaching as assistant. . . .

I go over to Berkeley once a week to talk Spanish with kind Professor
Salazar and his wife. They insist that it is a pleasure, and will not
allow mamma to pay anything for the lessons. I also go every Tuesday
to tell stories at the Children's Hospital. It is the dearest hour of
the week. When I am distracted about bills and expenses and mamma's
health and Mrs. Chadwick's mismanagements and Yung Lee's mistakes (for
he is beautiful as an angel and stupid as a toad), I put on my hat and
go out to the children, poor little things! They always have a welcome
for me, bless them! and I always come back ready to take up my trials
again. Edgar is waiting to take this to the post-box, so I must say
good-night. He is such a pleasure to us and such a comfort to mamma.
I know for the first time in my life the fun of having a brother.

Ever your affectionate POLLYKINS.

The foregoing extracts from Polly's business letters give you an idea
only of her financial difficulties. She was tempted to pour these into
one sympathizing ear, inasmuch as she kept all annoyances from her
mother as far as possible; though household economies, as devised by
her, lost much of their terror.

Mrs. Oliver was never able to see any great sorrow in a monthly deficit
when Polly seated herself before her cash-boxes and explained her
highly original financial operations. One would be indeed in dire
distress of mind could one refrain from smiling when, having made the
preliminary announcement,--"The great feminine financier of the century
is in her counting-room: let the earth tremble!"--she planted herself
on the bed, oriental fashion, took pencil and account-book in lap,
spread cigar-box, sugar-bowl, and ginger-jar before her on the pillows,
and ruffled her hair for the approaching contest.

CHAPTER VI.

POLLY TRIES A LITTLE MISSIONARY WORK.

One change had come over their life during these months which, although
not explained in Polly's correspondence, concerns our little circle of
people very intimately.

The Olivers had been in San Francisco over a month, but though Edgar
Noble had been advised of the fact, he had not come over from Berkeley
to see his old friends. Polly had at length written