"But I must pour it out, and fill the flower-pot with water."

"As you please, my dear."

"Will you lend me a bowl to pour it into, mamma?"

"That was more than I promised you, my dear; but I will lend you a
bowl."

The bowl was produced, and Rosamond proceeded to empty the purple
vase. But she experienced much surprise and disappointment, on
finding, when it was entirely empty, that it was no longer a purple
vase. It was a plain white glass jar, which had appeared to have that
beautiful color merely from the liquor with which it had been filled.

Little Rosamond burst into tears.

"Why should you cry, my dear?" said her mother; "it will be of as much
use to you now as ever, for a flower-pot."

"But it won't look so pretty on the chimney-piece. I am sure, if I
had known that it was not really purple, I should not have wished to
have it so much."

"But didn't I tell you that you had not examined it; and that perhaps
you would be disappointed?"

"And so I am disappointed, indeed. I wish I had believed you at once.
Now I had much rather have the shoes, for I shall not be able to walk
all this month; even walking home that little way hurt me exceedingly.
Mamma, I will give you the flower-pot back again, and that purple
stuff and all, if you'll only give me the shoes."

"No, Rosamond; you must abide by your own choice; and now the best
thing you can possibly do is to bear your disappointment with good
humor."

"I will bear it as well as I can," said Rosamond, wiping her eyes; and
she began slowly and sorrowfully to fill the vase with flowers.

But Rosamond's disappointment did not end here. Many were the
difficulties and distresses into which her imprudent choice brought
her, before the end of the month.

Every day her shoes grew worse and worse, till as last she could
neither run, dance, jump, nor walk in them.

Whenever Rosamond was called to see anything, she was detained pulling
her shoes up at the heels, and was sure to be too late.

Whenever her mother was going out to walk, she could not take Rosamond
with her, for Rosamond had no soles to her shoes; and at length, on
the very last day of the month, it happened that her father proposed
to take her with her brother to a glass-house, which she had long
wished to see. She was very happy; but, when she was quite ready, had
her hat and gloves on, and was making haste downstairs to her brother
and father, who were waiting for her at the hall door, the