"Again forgive me if I have done wrong, and believe me, as ever, "Yours, sincerely,

"ELLA BARKER."

But for her own foolishness that sweet little child might have been

hers, she thought, as her heart went after the little one with an

indescribable yearning which made her stretch out her arms as if to take

the baby to her bosom and hold it there forever. Guy had called it for

her, and that touched her more than anything else. He had not forgotten

her then. She had never supposed he had, but to be thus assured of it

was very sweet, and as she thought of it and read again little Daisy's

letter, the tightness about her heart and the choking sensation in her

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throat began to give way, and one after another the great tears rolled

down her cheeks, slowly at first, but gradually faster and faster, until

they fell in torrents and a tempest of sobs shook her slight frame as

with her head bowed upon her dressing-table she gave vent to her grief.

It seemed to her she never could stop crying or grow calm again, for as

often as she thought of the touching words, "I p'ays for you," there

came a fresh burst of sobs and tears, until at last nature was

exhausted, and with a low moan Daisy sank upon her knees and tried to

pray, the words which first sprang to her lips framing themselves into

thanks that somewhere in the world there was one who prayed for her and

loved her, too, even though the love might have for its object merely

dolls and candies and toys. And these the child should have in such

abundance, and Miss McDonald found herself longing for the morrow in

which to begin again the shopping she had thought was nearly ended.

It was in vain next day that her mother remonstrated against her going

out, pleading her white, haggard face and the rawness of the day. Daisy

was not to be detained at home, and before ten o'clock she was down on

Broadway, and the dolly with the "shash" and "pairesol" which she had

seen the day before under its glass case was hers for twenty-five

dollars, and the plainer bit of china, who was to be dollie's mother and

perform the parental duty of "panking her when she was naughty," was

also purchased, and the dishes and the table and stove and bedstead,

with ruffled sheets and pillow-cases and blue satin spread and the

washboard and clothes bars and tiny wringer, with divers others toys,

were bought with a disregard of expense which made Miss McDonald a

wonder to those who waited on her. Such a Christmas box was seldom sent

to a child as that which Daisy packed in her room that night, with her

mother looking on and wondering what Sunday-school was to be the

recipient of all those costly presents and suggesting that cheaper

articles would have answered just as well.




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