Good luck! Uncle Fred gave me two dollars to buy something for Mrs. Kump. Didn't have time to consult you or Ivy but I know you will be pleased! It's on top of the hamper. Be sure and look at it.
Good-bye!
"Alene D."
"Candy! Let's look at it!"
Laura, still wearing a look of disgust, opened the package, displaying a box of pale blue and silver tied with narrow ribbons, which after a careful untying and lifting of the lid disclosed a splendor of lace-work and tinsel-paper, over layer upon layer of bon bons and candied fruit, with a cute little silver tongs.
"Delicious! And what a beautiful box!"
"It's certainly very fine!"
"But for old Mrs. Kump!" cried Laura. "The money or something substantial would do so much better!"
"There's plenty of substantials in Alene's hamper," said Mrs. Lee. "Butter, coffee, tea."
"But this fine candy and the ribbons and fixings! It's like throwing the money away!" said Laura sharply, as she wrapped up the box and replaced it on the hamper.
Though Ivy had doubts of the usefulness of Alene's gift, she felt a certain satisfaction in having it to send along with the more practical things; she wished she had a volume of her own poetry, bound in blue with the name just as she had often pictured it in silver letters, "Early Blossoms," to send; it would go so well with Alene's box. Laura's condemnation, however, made this seem a foolish desire, which she would not dare to mention.