“I was thinking of going to see her soon, and if you wish you may go too and carry her a picture-book or something of the sort.”
Marty in her usual wholesale way would have carried half her possessions to Jennie, but Mrs. Ashford prevailed upon her to limit her gift to a small book and a few bright cards.
“You would better see Jennie first,” she said. “She may not care for books and may be too miserable to care much for playthings.”
It happened the day they fixed upon to go Mrs. Ashford brought home from market a small measure of strawberries, though they were yet somewhat expensive. Marty, seeing them on the lunch-table, nearly went wild over them, being very fond of the fruit, but her mother noticed that after she was served she barely tasted them, and then sat with the spoon in her hand gravely thinking.
“Don't you like them after all, Marty?”
“O mamma, they're perfectly delicious! I was just thinking how good they would taste to Jennie. Can't we take her some of them?”
“I am afraid there are none to spare. You know Katie must have some, and I want to save a few for your papa.”
“I might take her mine,” said Marty slowly. “I've only eaten one.” But she looked at the berries longingly.
“That would be too much of a sacrifice, I fear,” said Mrs. Ashford, “but I'll tell you what we will do if you are willing. You set yours aside for Jennie and I will give you half of mine, and then we will all have some.”
Marty was afraid it would not be fair to have her mother make a sacrifice also, but Mrs. Ashford declared she should like it of all things, and was very glad Marty had thought of taking some berries to Jennie.