"And we told Harry how much it was, and he put it in his little book," said Bessie; "he always keeps how much we have in his little book, mamma."
"Some one has meddled with it," said Mr. Bradford. "The notes I gave the children were all new ones on the —— Bank."
"Will we never find our own dollars, do you think, papa?" said Maggie, with a very long face.
"Yes, indeed, my darling,—at least, you shall have others in their place. This loss must not fall on you after all your efforts."
"I should have locked up the box," said Mrs. Bradford. "I wish I had taken your advice, Henry."
Mr. Bradford took from his pocket-book two other bank-notes, and gave them to the children.
"I do not wish you to speak of this to any one," he said to them; and they promised to obey.
Then mamma counted up all the money and it came to seven dollars, sixty-nine cents,—five for the library, and the rest for Mary's sack; for Mrs. Bradford said there was quite enough to buy some warm, cheap cloth, and she would let Jane make it at once, that it might be ready. They should go out with her that day and help choose the cloth.
Mr. Bradford carefully put away the counterfeit note, thinking that it might help to find out the guilty person, and when he went down-stairs, called Harry and Fred into the library.