They looked all over the church, and at last spied the plates on the table.
"When will we put it in?" said Bella.
"Why, now; let's go now," said Eddie.
"Why, of course," said Bella.
Then, before her father could stop her, she opened the pew door, and stepped out with Eddie, and hand in hand the two little children marched gravely up the aisle, to the table under the pulpit; and standing on tiptoe, put their bright pennies into the plate; and then hand in hand gravely marched back.[A]
They did not know that they were doing what would make everybody look at them in astonishment. No, indeed! they were in a hurry to help the poor people; and I think everybody in the church understood it, and looked with loving eyes upon the little ones.
The next day Bella told her papa what to say, and he wrote her mother this letter:
"Dear, Darling Mamma:
"Yesterday I gave the poor peoples a penny in church. So did Eddie. We went together and put it in the plate. Aren't you glad, the poor peoples have so much money? I am.