“I don’t know, sir. Mamma, can you suggest something?”
“Laces, ribbons, gloves, handkerchiefs; a lady can hardly have too many of any of those.”
“Or of books of the right sort,” added Mr. Dinsmore; “or of ornaments for the hair and dress. A handsome party fan makes a nice present too. But we need not decide fully until we see what the merchants have; it is sufficient for the present to have an idea of what we want. And now it is high time for my little daughter to go to bed. Good-night, my darling.”
Aunt Chloe’s busy hands were preparing her nursling for bed, when Annis came dancing in, holding up her double eagle.
“See, Elsie, what Brother Charlie has just given me! Wasn’t he kind? and isn’t it pretty? I never before had a larger gold piece than a quarter eagle. It’s so bright and new it seems too pretty to spend; but I mean to spend it to-morrow, for it will buy ever so many nice things for mother and the rest.”
“It’s a beauty!” Elsie said, taking it in her hand for a moment. “I remember papa gave me one three years ago when I was starting off to buy Christmas gifts, and I was so glad; for my purse wasn’t nearly so full as I wished it was.”
“But this year you have a bank to fill it from,” laughed Annis. “O Elsie, I do think that must be ever so nice!”
“But it doesn’t make much difference when you can’t get any out without leave,” Elsie responded with a smile and a little shake of her pretty head. “I hadn’t told papa I wanted more money that time and didn’t expect it in the least, because he had given me fifty dollars extra for Christmas just a few weeks before; but somehow papa always seems to know what I want. And he is sure to give it to me if he thinks it good for me to have it.”
“Yes, he’s a very nice father; and so is mine;” Annis said, “though he can’t afford to give me so much money—partly, I guess, because he has ’most as many children as the old woman that lived in a shoe. O dear! I forgot I wasn’t going to say guess any more, Elsie. I’m afraid I shall spoil you entirely, and Cousin Horace will feel like sending me home in disgrace, if he doesn’t actually do it.”
“No danger of that; I should be less surprised to hear him say he feared I should spoil you. But he told me to go to bed, and if I’m not there pretty soon he may say I shall not go to the city to-morrow. And besides I don’t want to disobey my dear father, though he should not so much as say I’m not pleased with you.”