Harry was silent a few moments,—he was two years older than Effie, and although sometimes dazzled by appearances, as in the case of the attractive toy shop, when he waited to think, his judgment was usually very good for one so young. At last he looked up with a smile, 'I've thought it out, Effie, we don't need any new toys; we might buy books for our little library, but father has promised us two or three more soon. Then our subscriptions to the Missionary Society, and the Bible Society, and the Colporteur Society, are paid (to be sure it wouldn't hurt us to give a little more), but I have just thought what to do with this money (that is, yours and mine together, you know), which I think is better than all the rest.'
'What is it?'
'We'll make a New Year's present of it.'
'To whom?'
'Can't you think?'
'To father, or mother?'
'No, I should love to buy them something, but they would rather not.'
'To old Phillis, then?'
'Old Phillis!—it would be a good notion to buy her a gown, wouldn't it, but I was thinking of John Frink.'