Part 5 (1/2)

”You go in and ask, Rosa,” said Edith.

”Yes, do, do,” urged the others.

Rosa went, and came back with the information that they were twelve cents apiece.

”Well, that isn't so much,” said Edith. ”I think I can afford to get one. I'll see when I go home.”

”I know I have enough money to buy one,” said Rosa, ”but I never buy anything without asking mamma about it first.”

”She'll let you get it,” said Edith.

”Oh, you girls always have some money saved up, and I never have,”

sighed Marty. ”And I do want one of those chairs so badly.”

”So do I,” said Hattie, ”and I haven't any money either, but I'm going to tease mamma night and day till she gives me twelve cents.”

”It's no use to tease my mamma,” said Marty. ”If she wont let me do a thing, she wont, and that's the end of it. But of course I'll tell her about the chairs, and see what she says. Maybe she'll let me have one.”

As soon as she reached home Marty gave her mother a glowing description of the chairs, winding up with,

”And, O mamma! I do want one awfully.”

”But you have so many playthings already, Marty,” objected her mother.

”Just look at those closet shelves! Besides, you got a complete set of dolls' furniture Christmas.”

”Oh, I know I don't _need_ another chair at all, but those red ones are so cunning, and one would look so well mixed in among my blue ones. I should _love_ to have one.”

”I am sorry your mind is so set on it,” said Mrs. Ashford, ”for I dislike to have you disappointed, but when you have so many playthings, I really don't feel like giving you money, even if it is only a trifle.”

”May I buy a chair if I have money enough of my own?” Marty asked.

”Oh, yes--if you wish to spend your money that way; but I would rather save it for something else if I were you.”

Marty had no very clear idea where ”money of her own” was to come from just at that time, but thought it possible the necessary amount might appear before the chairs were all sold.

The next morning Rosa and Edith came to school with money to buy chairs, and at recess all their special friends went with them to Harrison's to make the purchase. When Marty had a nearer view of the chairs and handled them, she was more anxious than ever to possess one. This anxiety increased as the days pa.s.sed and the chairs gradually disappeared.

n.o.body gave her any money and her mother did not offer her any more ”paid” work. She was very, very sorry that she had spent all of her allowance on Monday morning--at least all but two cents and the one in the red box. That, of course, she took with her to the meeting Sat.u.r.day afternoon.

Sat.u.r.day evening she received her next week's supply, and that, with the two cents she had over, was exactly enough to get the longed-for toy.

But one cent was tenths.

”That just spoils the whole thing,” she said to herself. ”I might as well have none at all as only eleven cents.”

Then she wondered if it would not do to borrow that tenth. She had not thought of taking out any of the money when she was in such straits about Cousin Alice's ribbon, but this seemed different. It was only one penny, and she was sure of being able to replace it.

But borrowing was against the rule, and it must be especially wrong to borrow missionary money. She felt ashamed and her cheeks burned when the thought came to her.