egular tasks; they were taught to use their
hands as well as their eyes and thoughts, and Ruth was very proud that
she could hemstitch nicely, and "set the heel" of a stocking, and finish
off its toe.

After Vinal brought the letter from Ruth's father Mrs. Pennell seemed
more cheerful, and often said that she was sure it would not be many
months before Philadelphia would be rid of the enemy.

Ruth and Winifred counted the days until the last day of April, when
they were to make the candy as a present for Betty. The pretty
heart-shaped box that was to hold it was already finished. Mrs. Pennell
had helped them make it. She had carefully shaped it from pasteboard,
and then, with a flour paste, the little girls had covered it carefully
with some pretty bits of wall-paper. The cover had three tiny hearts cut
from gilt paper, and Ruth and Winifred were both sure that Betty would
be much pleased by their gift, especially when she opened it and found
it full of sweets.

Ruth had just finished her lesson hour on the morning of the day before
the May-day picnic, when Winifred appeared. She brought a package of
sugar that her mother had given her as her share for the candy, and the
two little girls ran to the kitchen, which they were to have quite to
themselves for their candy-making.

The family cooking was done over the bed of coals in the fireplace, and
Ruth brought out a saucepan, a big spoon, and some sugar from the
pantry, and talking happily of the pleasures of the coming day the two
little friends measured their sugar and set the saucepan over the coals,
while Ruth, spoon in hand, watched it carefully, while Winifred stood
close by ready to help.

It was a great event to be permitted to make candy, and both Winifred
and Ruth decided that it would be a much more acceptable present than a
table.

In a short time the melted sugar, flavored with rose leaves, was ready
to be turned into the tiny heart-shaped molds, and set to cool on the
window ledge.

"Let's go out in the garden," suggested Ruth. "If we stay in here we
shall keep looking at the candy to see if it is ready to turn out, and
it will seem forever." So they went out to the seat under the maple
tree, played with Hero, talked about the May party and the time, now
near at hand, when Ruth would go to visit Aunt Deborah, and nearly an
hour passed before they returned to the kitchen.

"Why, where are the molds?" exclaimed Ruth. "Where is the candy?"
demanded W