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Page 51
Mrs. Reed had not always been poor. Her husband when alive was supposed
to be rich; but after his death, it was found that nothing was left to
his widow but two small cottages.
In one of these cottages, Mrs. Reed lived; the other, she rented. But
the rent received was no more than enough to enable her to live with
moderate comfort. She had little or nothing left with which to do for
others.
One cold winter morning, two persons were talking together in the cozy
sitting-room of the cottage. One was Mrs. Reed, and the other, Alice
Brown, a poor orphan girl, who lived with some distant relatives in
Fairfield.
"You are very kind to come to see me so often, Alice," said Mrs. Reed.
"I wonder why you do; because there is nothing attractive here."
"Why, Mrs. Reed!" replied Alice; "how can you talk so? are you not here?
do I not always receive a kind word and a welcome smile from you?"
"Well, you know I love you, Alice, and am always delighted to have you
come," said Mrs. Reed; "I am sure that were it in my power to do so, I
would have you here all the time.
"I would like to give you books, have you attend school, and do every
thing to make you happy. But alas! Alice, you know I am too poor to do
what I wish, and at times it makes me feel very sad."
"O, indeed you are too good, Mrs. Reed! My greatest pleasure is to come
and see you, and I hope you will always love me.
"I wish I could stay here all day; but you know that the day after
to-morrow will be Christmas, and I must hurry home now, as auntie wants
me to help her prepare for it. So good-by."
"But, Alice, you will come to see me Christmas morning, will you not?"
asked Mrs. Reed.
"Yes," replied Alice, "for a little while." And with a kiss and another
good-by, she left Mrs. Reed alone.
"What a dear good girl she is," said Mrs. Reed to herself, as she
watched Alice tripping down the street toward her home.
"She was so good to me last summer when I was ill! and here is Christmas
and I have no money with which to buy her a present.
"O dear, dear! why was I left so poor! I am sure my husband had some
money; what could he have done with it!"
Mrs. Reed sat down in her rocking-chair and for a full half hour looked
thoughtfully into the fire. Starting up suddenly, she again exclaimed to
herself:
"I do really believe that if I go up into the garret, I can find,
something for a Christmas present, that will please Alice.
"I remember a curious old box that Mr. Reed had, that was sent to him
from India. If I can find some bits of ribbon, and silk, I will line it
and make it into a nice little work-box for Alice."
Then Mrs. Reed climbed up the narrow stairway into the garret, and,
after searching some time among the rubbish that lay around in all the
nooks and corners, discovered the box.
Taking it down-stairs and finding some pieces of silk, she spent the
rest of the day in making it into a work-box.
She made a pretty needle-book, a tiny pincushion, and an emery bag like
a big strawberry. Then from her own scanty stock she added needles,
pins, thread, and her only pair of small scissors, scoured to the last
extreme of brightness.
One thing only she had to buy--a thimble; and that she bought for a
penny. The thimble was of brass and so bright that it was quite as
handsome as gold.
When full, the little box was very pretty. In the bottom lay a quilted
lining, which had always been there, and upon which she had placed the
fittings.
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