"They're coming on nice, aint they?" she said; "don't they look pretty?"
Maggie and Bessie were rather uncomfortable, for they did not think the forlorn marigolds pretty, and they did not wish to hurt Dolly's feelings by saying so; but mamma came to their relief, by saying, as she could with truth,—
"It has agreed with your pets to be up here, Dolly; they have done better since you came."
"Yes," said Dolly; and then asked, "Could you give me a nice bit of white paper and a scissor?"
"Certainly," said Mrs. Bradford, and sent Maggie over to the house for these things.
When Maggie came back, Dolly wanted to raise herself and take the things from her, but could not do it. Mrs. Bradford put her arm under the pillow and lifted her. Then the child tried to fold and cut the paper; but the trembling fingers had no power, and paper and scissors fell from them; while Dolly looked about her with a piteous, disappointed air.
"What is it you want, Dolly?" asked Mrs. Bradford; "cannot we do it for you?"
"I know," said Lem; "she wants to fix up her posy, like the gardener fixes 'em up to the big farm." Lem meant the homestead. "She seen him through the hedge, one day, doin' of it, and she said this mornin' she wanted hers fixed up that way."
Mrs. Bradford understood at once. Poor, simple Dolly had seen the gardener shielding his choice blossoms by a circlet of fringed paper; and she would fain do as much for the stunted little favorite which was so lovely in her eyes.