When Hugh returned with his empty basket, they surveyed the present results of their labours. A heap of already mended toys, carefully bound together with thin string; a lot of pictures and scraps to be pasted into old copy books, of which several lay at hand; two or three very old dolls, which were to be freshened up, some with a little soap and water, some with a bit of odd ribbon, some with a new glazed lining frock, just run together and snipped out at the bottom; a few boxes containing the remains of dolls' furniture, dominoes, little cups and saucers, and the like; an old six-penny watch, with a bit of pink tape for a guard; and last, an old doll's perambulator, which John was now busily engaged in renovating.
Minnie looked at the things, while a deep sigh escaped her, "I wish we could do more," she said, "but we have so little money."
"We must remember," said Agnes, "that God accepts, not according to what we have not, but according to what we have."
"Yes," said Hugh; "and if we were to sit down to do nothing because we have no money to spend, quite thirty little children would go without what will give them a good many hours' pleasure."
"So they would," answered Minnie, looking more cheerful; "so now I will set about making the best of what I have."
It took a good many days before all the things were really completed; and sometimes they were tempted to get tired and give up; but one or other of them would remember for whom they had agreed to work, and this nerved them to make a fresh endeavour.
At last all was done. A box was found to send the things in, and the pleasant task of actually packing it was begun.
Agnes told them to let her know when everything was ready, and now came in, bearing a little tray-full of tiny bags of net, filled with sugar-plums.
She proceeded to tie one on each toy or doll, and placed one in a sly corner in the various toy boxes.
"Oh, Agnes, how kind of you!" they all exclaimed.