Maggie and Bessie looked at each other, and Maggie shook her head very knowingly; but they waited to hear what papa would say next.
"I told him I thought I knew of two such young damsels, and what do you think he did then?"
"What?" asked both the little girls at once.
"He handed me these two parcels and told me if I could find any such little letter-writers, to ask them if they would prove useful."
As Mr. Bradford spoke, he produced two parcels. Like the letters, they were directed one to Miss Maggie Bradford, and the other to Miss Bessie Bradford. They were quickly opened, and inside were two purple leather writing cases, very small, but as Bessie said, "perfaly pretty." They had steel corners and locks, and a plate with each little girl's name engraved upon her own. In each were found a small inkstand, a pen, and two pencils, two sticks of sealing wax, and best of all, tiny note paper and envelopes stamped M. S. B., and B. R. B.
It would have done Grandpapa Duncan good to have seen his pets' pleasure. Maggie fairly screamed with delight. "Oh, such paper, such lovely stamped paper."
"And such embelopes," said Bessie, "with our own name letters on them."
"I am going to write to every one I know in the world," cried Maggie.
"Mamma," said Bessie, when they had looked again and again at their beautiful presents, "I do think God has made all my people the very best people that ever lived. I don't think any little girls have such people as mine."
"I suppose every other little girl thinks the same thing, Bessie."