laughing, to Rosy's father one day.

Not that Rosy always wore it. It was kept for dress occasions, but to
her great delight her mother let her take care of it herself, instead
of putting it away with the gold chain and locket her aunt had given
her on her last birthday, and the pearl ring her other godmother had
sent her, which was much too large for her small fingers at present,
and her ivory-bound prayer-book, and various other treasures to be
enjoyed by her when she should be "a big girl." And many an hour the
children amused themselves with the lovely beads, examining them till
they knew every one separately. They even, I believe, had a name for
each, and Fixie had a firm belief that inside each crystal ball a
little fairy dwelt, and that every moonlight night all these fairies
came out and danced about Rosy's room, though he never could manage to
keep awake to see them.

Altogether, there was no end to the pretty fancies and amusement which
the children got from "Mr. Furniture's present."




CHAPTER VIII.

HARD TO BEAR.


"Give unto me, made lowly-wise,
The spirit of self-sacrifice."
--ODE TO DUTY.