“SHE STRETCHETH OUT HER HAND TO THE POOR; YEA, SHE REACHETH FORTH HER HANDS TO THE NEEDY.”
There was still another box, within this, with its engraving, thus inscribed:
“STRENGTH AND HONOR ARE HER CLOTHING; AND SHE SHALL REJOICE IN TIME TO COME.”
And within this another box appeared, with this for its motto:
“SHE OPENETH HER MOUTH WITH WISDOM; AND IN HER TONGUE IS THE LAW OF KINDNESS.”
Marcus opened this box, and found within it yet another, with a vignette illustrating this verse:
“MANY DAUGHTERS HAVE DONE VIRTUOUSLY, BUT THOU EXCELLEST THEM ALL.”
Within this, a tenth box was found, on the cover of which was inscribed:
“GIVE HER OF THE FRUIT OF HER HANDS; AND LET HER OWN WORKS PRAISE HER IN THE GATES.”
As Marcus opened these boxes, and read the inscriptions to the company, he freely gave expression to exclamations of surprise, mingled with running comments on the pictures. All present watched the proceedings with much interest, but none more than Jessie, to whom the whole affair was an enigma. She even asked a young lady at her side what Marcus could do with all those little boxes. She could imagine that a lady might find them useful, but the gift did not strike her as particularly appropriate for a young gentleman. It was not until the opening of the tenth box, that Jessie began to understand the matter. On opening this box, Marcus took from it a piece of paper, and read aloud the following: