e in both cheeks and her double Chin was
doubter than ever, when she told the children what a dear, nice teacher
Miss Crutcher was, and how fond she was of them, and wouldn't they like
to make a Christmas present to their dear, kind teacher? They all said
"Yes, mam." Well, now, the way to do would be for each child to bring
money (if Miss Munsell had smiled at a bird in the tree as she did then,
it would have had to come right down and perch in her hand), just as
much money as ever they could, and all must bring something, because it
would make Miss Crutcher feel so bad to think that there was one
little boy or one little girl that didn't love her enough to give her a
Christmas present. And if everybody brought a dime or maybe a quarter,
they could get her such a nice present. If their papas wouldn't let
them have that much money, why surely they would let them have a penny,
wouldn't they, children? And the children said: "Yes, mam."

"And now all that love their dear, kind teacher, raise their hands. Why,
there's a little girl over that hasn't her hand up! That's right, dear,
put it up, bless your little heart! Now, we mustn't say a word to Miss
Crutcher, must we? No. And that will be our secret, won't it? And all be
sure to have your money ready by to-morrow. Now, I wonder if you can be
just as still as little mice. I'm going to give this little girl a pin
to drop and see if I can hear it out in the hall."

Then she tiptoed down the hall clear to her own room and Mary Ellen
Waldo let the pin drop, and Miss Mussell didn't come back to say whether
she heard the pin drop or not. The children sat in breathless
silence. Selma Morgenroth knocked her slate off and bit her lip with
mortification while the others looked at her as much as to say: "Oh,
my! ain't you 'shamed?" Then Miss Crutchet came back and smiled at the
children, and they smiled back at her because they knew something she
didn't know and couldn't guess at all. It was a secret.

The next morning Miss Crutchet traded rooms again, and the little
children gave Miss Mussell their money, and she counted it, and it came
to $2.84. The next day she came again because there were three that
hadn't their money, so there was $2.88 at last. Miss Mussell had three
little girls go with her after school to pick out the present. They
chose a silver-plated pickle caster, which is exactly what girls of
seven will choose, and, do you know, it came exactly to $2.88?

Then, on th