The minute Elder Merton set his eyes on ’em, “Why,” says he, “my wife sold these to a peddler to-day.”
“Yes,” says Tirzah Ann, “these are the very ones; she sold them for a dozen shirt buttons and a paper of pins.”
“I do not believe it,” says Betsey wildly.
“It is so,” said the minister. “My wife’s father got them for her, they proved to be brass, and so she never wore them; to-day the peddler wanted to buy old jewelry, and she brought out some broken rings, and these were in the box, and she told him he might have them in welcome, but he threw out the buttons and a paper of pins.”
“I do not believe it—I cannot believe it,” says Betsey gaspin’ for breath.
“Well, it is the truth,” says Maggie Snow (she can’t bear Betsey), “and I heard him say he would get ’em off onto some fool, and make her think—”
“I am in such a hurry I must go,” said Betsey, and she left without sayin’ another word.
