Cousin Alice's birthday!"

"Is it?" said Mrs. Ashford calmly. "What then?"

"Why, you know that letter-rack of silver cardboard that I have been
making for her birthday, and counted so on giving her, isn't finished."

"It is all ready but the ribbon, isn't it? It wont take long to finish.
I will make the bows for you."

"But the ribbon isn't bought yet, and I haven't got a cent!" exclaimed
Marty despairingly.

There were two very strict rules in connection with the money Marty
received each week. One was she was never to ask for it in advance, and
the other that she was not to borrow from any one, expecting to pay when
she got her dime. If she spent all her money the first of the week, she
had to do without things, no matter how badly she wanted them, till the
next allowance came in. This was to teach her foresight and carefulness,
her father said. Now she had no money and no expectation of any until
Saturday, when the birthday would be over. Of course there was all the
money in the red box, but she did not dream of touching that. It was
just as much missionary money as if it was already in the hands of the
Board that Miss Agnes talked about.

"If I had any ribbon that would suit," said Mrs. Ashford, "I would give
it to you; but I haven't. Besides, for a present it would be better to
have new ribbon. How much would it cost?"

"Rosa Stevenson paid eight cents a yard for hers, and it takes a yard
and a half--narrow ribbon, you know."

"Then you will want twelve cents. I am sorry I cannot lend you the
money, but it is against the rule, you know."

"Yes, ma'am, I know," Marty replied sorrowfully.

She was sadly disappointed, as she had been looking forward for several
weeks to the time when she should have the pleasure of presenting the
nicely-made letter-rack to her cousin. She did not grudge the money she
had devoted to missions; she would like to have given much more if she
could; but she began to see that Edith's way of giving according to
system was the best. She was still very much interested in the heathen,
but they seemed a little farther off than on Saturday, while Cousin
Alice and the letter-rack now absorbed most of her thoughts. She stood
dolefully gazing out the window, not paying any attention to Freddie's
invitation to come and play cable cars.

"Well, cheer up!" said her mother. "We will find some way out of the
difficulty. You try to think of some plan to get twelve cents, and so
will I. Betwe