girl, you are a patient girl.'

'As for patience,' she would reply with a shrug, 'not much of that,
godmother. If I had been patient, I should never have called him names.
But I hope I did it for his good. And besides, I felt my responsibility
as a mother, so much. I tried reasoning, and reasoning failed. I tried
coaxing, and coaxing failed. I tried scolding and scolding failed. But I
was bound to try everything, you know, with such a charge upon my hands.
Where would have been my duty to my poor lost boy, if I had not tried
everything!'

With such talk, mostly in a cheerful tone on the part of the industrious
little creature, the day-work and the night-work were beguiled until
enough of smart dolls had gone forth to bring into the kitchen,
where the working-bench now stood, the sombre stuff that the occasion
required, and to bring into the house the other sombre preparations.
'And now,' said Miss Jenny, 'having knocked off my rosy-cheeked young
friends, I'll knock off my white-cheeked self.' This referred to her
making her own dress, which at last was done. 'The disadvantage of
making for yourself,' said Miss Jenny, as she stood upon a chair to look
at the result in the glass, 'is, that you can't charge anybody else for
the job, and the advantage is, that you haven't to go out to try on.
Humph! Very fair indeed! If He could see me now (whoever he is) I hope
he wouldn't repent of his bargain!'

The simple arrangements were of her own making, and were stated to Riah
thus:

'I mean to go alone, godmother, in my usual carriage, and you'll be so
kind as keep house while I am gone. It's not far off. And when I return,
we'll have a cup of tea, and a chat over future arrangements. It's a
very plain last house that I have been able to give my poor unfortunate
boy; but he'll accept the will for the deed if he knows anything about
it; and if he doesn't know anything about it,' with a sob, and wiping
her eyes, 'why, it won't matter to him. I see the service in the
Prayer-book says, that we brought nothing into this world and it is
certain we can take nothing out. It comforts me for not being able to
hire a lot of stupid undertaker's things for my poor child, and seeming
as if I was trying to smuggle 'em out of this world with him, when of
course I must break down in the attempt, and bring 'em all back again.
As it is, there'll be nothing to bring back but me, and that's quite
consistent, for I shan't be brought back, some day!