ese must be _useful_
things. But the three had their own definitions of "useful." So they
worked with all their might, running, breathless, up stairs and down,
loaded with most extraordinary articles, most of which were rejected by
the packers as utterly unsuitable, and consigned to the places whence
they came.

Fred came first with four great boxes under each arm, which were tied up
with so many strings, that no accident could have opened them if they
had gone all the way round the world. These he brought to his aunt,
while Emma was, at the same time, pressing upon her mother a heavy roll,
which she had brought under one arm, and an enormous package which she
could scarcely carry.

"Those can't go, Fred," said his aunt, decidedly. "I couldn't possibly
get those eight boxes into this bag, and what's the use? You certainly
can't need whatever there is in them."

"Yes, I do, aunty; six of them are full of living creatures which I must
carry with me to take care of them, or they would all die. The other two
have in them specimens of beetles and snails and other things of the
same kinds as those I expect to find near the Rhine, but, of course,
they are somewhat different, and I want to carry these to compare with
those, don't you see, aunty? Perhaps if we squeeze the boxes with all
our might we can get them in, except those that have the live
creatures."

"No, Fred, it can't be done," said his aunt, kindly. "Take them back
into your room; and you needn't be in the least anxious. I'll take care
of the live ones while you are gone, and, as to the others, when you
want to compare any of them with what you find, write to me about it,
and I will send you as good a description as I can make."

Meantime, Mrs. Stein had been gazing in despair at the two huge,
misshapen packages which Emma had placed upon the table to be put into
her hand-bag.

"What have you in that big roll? It is too large to go even into the
trunk! What are you thinking about?" she cried.

"Oh, mamma, can't they be tied on the outside of the bag? I could carry
them all together myself. I do want to take them with me so much. In the
roll are ever so many drawing-copies, such as we had at school, and some
that were given us on the Christmas-tree. Fani spoke of them in one of
his letters, and I'm sure he'll be delighted to have them. I put in all
ours, and I borrowed some from the master, who said I could have them if
I would take great care of them and br