[XVIII.]
THE PURCHASE OF THE LIBRARY
ON the Sunday morning following Christmas, Mrs. Rush asked her little scholars if they all had their money ready for the library. Each one answered "Yes," and she told them she would allow them to choose what books they would send; and that on the next day she would take them all down town to a large store, where they would find a great number of pretty and suitable children's books. Accordingly, on Monday morning, she drove up to Mr. Bradford's door at the appointed hour. Maggie and Bessie, ready for the ride, were watching for her, and did not keep her a moment waiting. Then they stopped at Mr. Howard's door to take up Gracie, and next at Mr. Norris' for Lily. Each little girl, as she entered the carriage, would offer Mrs. Rush her share of the money; but she told them they had better keep it until they had bought the books, and then pay for them with their own hands.
"Please don't say 'the books,'" said Maggie.
"And why not?" asked Mrs. Rush. "Are you not going to buy books?"
"Yes'm," said Maggie; "but then it is a great deal more satisfaction to say 'library.'"
"Oh! that is it," said Mrs. Rush, laughing. "Well, hereafter, I shall be careful to say your 'library.'"
"Not ours; the log-cabin children's library," said Gracie.