"Just for the fun of bidding," said Phœbe, laughing. "Will you let me give it to you?"
"I'll give you half a dollar for it," offered the woman.
"No, I mean it. I want to give it to you. I'll consider it a favor if you'll take it from me."
"Well, if you want it that way. But don't you want the quilt and the feather pillows?"
"No, take it just as it is."
"Why, thanks," said the woman as she went to the spot where the cradle stood. She soon walked away with the clumsy gift in her arm. "Now don't it beat all," she said as she set it down near her friends. "I just knew that I'd get a present to-day. This morning I put my stocking on wrong side out and I just left it for they say still that it means you'll get a present before the day is over, and here I get this cradle!"
With a bright smile illumining her face, Phœbe rejoined the preacher.
"I see you disposed of the cradle," he greeted her.
"Yes. But I felt like a hypocrite when she thanked me, for I was giving her what I didn't want."
Here the busy auctioneer called again, "Attention, everybody! This piece of furniture we are going to sell now dates back to ante-bellum days."