"Now, what is to go in this other square place, opposite the inkstand?" said Mrs. Montgomery.
"That is the place for the box of lights, Mamma."
"What sort of lights?"
"For sealing letters, Mamma, you know. They are not like your wax taper at all; they are little wax matches, that burn just long enough to seal one or two letters; Miss Allen showed me how she used them. Hers were in a nice little box, just like the inkstand on the outside; and there was a place to light the matches, and a place to set them in while they are burning. There, Mamma, that's it," said Ellen, as the shopman brought forth the article which she was describing, "that's it exactly; and that will just fit. Now, Mamma, for the wax."
"You want to seal your letter before you have written it," said Mrs. Montgomery "we have not got the pens yet."
"That's true, Mamma let us have the pens. And some quills too, Mamma?"
"Do you know how to make a pen, Ellen?"
"No, Mamma, not yet; but I want to learn very much. Miss Pichegru says that every lady ought to know how to make her own pens."
"Miss Pichegru is very right; but I think you are rather too young to learn. However, we will try. Now, here are steel points enough to last you a great while and as many quills as it is needful you should cut up for one year at least; we haven't a pen-handle yet."
"Here, Mamma," said Ellen, holding out a plain ivory one, "don't you like this? I think it is prettier than these that are all cut and fussed, or those other gay ones either."