She
has carried it with her all day all over the house, just to look at it,
she says. She has always wanted some such thing, but never thought she
ought to take the money to buy one. She and two or three other old
ladies in the neighborhood have a way of exchanging afternoon visits
with their work; and mother is as pleased as a child now, and is
impatiently awaiting the next "meet" so she can show off her new
treasure. Yet, to see her with it, one would think she had always
carried silk workbags, scented with lavender.

Joe is more than delighted with his handsome set of books. And really
they do lighten our dull sitting-room wonderfully, and we are all proud
of them. He is planning to read them aloud to us all this winter, and
I am so glad. I am particularly glad, for we not only shall have the
pleasure of hearing the stories themselves, but I shall have the
satisfaction of knowing where my boy is evenings. Joe is a good lad
always, but he has been worrying me a little lately, for he seemed to
like to be away so much. Yet I could n't wonder, for I had so little
to offer him at home for entertainment. Now I have these books.

Carrie is wild over her necklace of pretty stones. She says they're
"all the rage" at school among the girls, and the very latest thing
out. Dear child! she does so love pretty things, and of course I can't
give them to her. It is the same with Jennie, and she is equally
pleased with that dainty lace-edged handkerchief. It is such a nice
handkerchief, and Jennie, like her mother, does so love nice things!

Tom was almost speechless with joy when he discovered that sumptuous
knife. But he has n't been speechless since--not a bit of it! There
is n't any one anywhere within the radius of a mile, I guess, to whom
he has n't shown every blade and corkscrew and I don't-know-what-all
that that wonderful knife can unfold.

I've left Nellie till the last, but not because she is the least. Poor
dear little girlie! My heart aches now that I realize how she has
longed for a beautiful doll, one that could open and shut its eyes, say
"Papa" and "Mamma," and one that was daintily dressed. I had no idea
the little thing would be so overcome. She turned white, then red, and
actually sobbed with joy when the doll was put into her arms, though
since then she has been singing all over the house, and has seemed so
happy. I 'm sure you will believe this when I tell you that I
overheard her last