"What a pretty child she is!" said the lady. "I hope she is none the worse for her fright?"
"Ye didn't break any bones, if that's what ye mean," the mother responded.
"And how old is she?" was the next question.
"She'll be three years old come Christmas," was the answer.
The lady in the carriage felt in her pocket, and brought out her purse and looked through it.
"Here," she said at last, as she took out a five-dollar gold-piece; "here is something I wish you would give her on Christmas morning as a present from me. Will you?"
"I will that," the mother replied, taking the money, "and gladly too. It's richer than her sisters she'll be now."
"How many children have you?" the lady inquired.
"Six; thank ye, ma'am, for askin'," was the response, "an' all well and hearty."
"Six?" echoed the woman in the victoria, with a hungry gleam in her eyes. "You have six children?"