mother, how happy I should be," she said, as she passed a
toy-shop, "if I had all these pretty things!"

"What, all! Do you wish for them all, Rosamond?"

"Yes, mamma, all."

As she spoke they came to a milliner's shop, the windows of which were
decorated with ribbons and lace, and festoons of artificial flowers.

"Oh, mamma, what beautiful roses! Won't you buy some of them?"

"No, my dear."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want them, my dear."

They went a little farther, and came to another shop, which caught
Rosamond's eye. It was a jeweler's shop, and in it were a great many
pretty baubles, ranged in drawers behind glass.

"Mamma, will you buy some of these?"

"Which of them, Rosamond?"

"Which? I don't know which; any of them will do, for they are all
pretty."

"Yes, they are all pretty; but of what use would they be to me?"

"Use! Oh, I am sure you could find some use or other for them if you
would only buy them first."

"But I would rather find out the use first."

"Well, then, mamma, there are buckles; you know that buckles are
useful things, very useful things."

"I have a pair of buckles; I don't want another pair," said her
mother, and walked on.

Rosamond was very sorry that her mother wanted nothing. Presently,
however, they came to a shop, which appeared to her far more beautiful
than the rest. It was a chemist's shop, but she did not know that.

"Oh, mother, oh!" cried she, pulling her mother's hand, "look, look!
blue, green, red, yellow, and purple! Oh, mamma, what beautiful
things! Won't you buy some of these?"

Still her mother answered, as before, "Of what use would they be to
me, Rosamond?"

"You might put flowers in them, mamma, and they would look so pretty
on the chimney-piece. I wish I had one of them."

"You have a flower-pot," said her mother, "and that is not a
flower-pot."

"But I could use it for a flower-pot, mamma, you know."

"Perhaps if you were to see it nearer, if you were to examine it you
might be disappointed."

"No, indeed, I'm sure I should not; I should like it exceedingly."

Rosamond kept her head turned to look at the purple vase, till she
could see it no longer.

"Then, mother," said she, after a pause, "perhaps you have no money."

"Yes, I have."

"Dear me, if I had money I would buy roses, and boxes, and buckles,
and purple flower-pots, and everything." Rosamond was obliged to pause
in the midst of her speech.

"Oh, mamma, would you stop a mi