lainer attire,
But she is not selfish and cold;
And her love and affection more pleasure impart
Than all your fine purple and gold.

So you see, Mister Peacock, you must not be proud,
Although you can boast such a train;
For many a bird is more highly endowed,
And not half so conceited and vain.'"

"I think I like that ever so much better," said Ruby, jumping up as
Miss Abigail finished, and handing back the sleeve, from which she had
pulled all the basting-threads.

"Now can I go over to Ruthy's, Miss Abigail? Aunt Emma told me that I
must ask you before I went away anywhere, for fear you would want me."

"No, I shall not want you any more until nearly tea-time," Miss Abigail
answered, as she scrutinized the sleeve to see whether Ruby had left
any bastings in it. "Now remember what I have told you, Ruby, child,
about setting your heart upon your fine clothes. Clothes do not make
people, and if you are not a well-behaved child, polite and respectful
to your betters, it will not make any difference to any one how well
you may be dressed."

"Yes 'm," Ruby answered, as she ran away to find Ruthy, thinking that
little girls in Miss Abigail's time must have been very different from
the little girls she knew, and wondering whether Miss Abigail looked as
tall and thin when she was a little girl as she did now, and whether
she used to be just as proper and precise.

It was so funny to think of Miss Abigail as a little girl that Ruby
laughed aloud at the thought, as she looked for her little friend. She
was quite sure of one thing: if she had been a little girl when Miss
Abigail was a little girl, she would not have chosen her for a friend.
Ruthy was the only little girl in all the world that she could wish to
have always for a friend, for who else would be always willing to give
up her own way, and yield so patiently to impetuous little Ruby in
everything.

CHAPTER VIII.

READY.

Ruby thoroughly enjoyed all the preparations that were being made for
her departure. Every day, and a great many times a day, the little
trunk would be opened and something more put into its hungry mouth, and
it was soon quite full of the things which Ruby was to take with her.
Of course she did not get into mischief during these busy days,--there
was no time for it. It was only when Ruby had nothing else to think
about that she devised plans for mischief. At last everything was
ready the evening bef