14 



My pride forced me to say this. It was not strictly true ; 

 yet I had been shopping, as a seller. 



After they had gone to school, I put away my things, 

 and carefully locked up the still fragrant bandbox. I did 

 not wish my children to know what I had done. It was a 

 foolish pride, that, after a fall or two, was quite cured. 

 Taking my purse from my pocket, I unrolled the bill I re- 

 ceived for the flowers. It was a two-dollar bill. To tell 

 the truth, I was a little disappointed. From the sum I had 

 received from Miss Dwight, I expected to get more than 

 two dollars. But then, I remembered that Miss Dwight 

 took them at first-hand, whereas the man bought at whole- 

 sale to sell again. However, I put the two dollars with 

 Miss D wight's five, and, going to market, I procured 

 enough to supply our table for several days. After bring- 

 ing my purchases home, I found I had still one dollar left. 

 Quite overjoyed at the new turn affairs had taken, I put on 

 my sun-bonnet and went out, ostensibly to walk in the 

 garden, but really to take an account of stock in my new 

 trade. I went carefully over the whole ground ; counted 

 every plant, and tried to estimate how much money I could 

 cut from my flower-beds. If I could do as well as I had 

 this morning, I might snap my fingers at the sewing-shops, 

 keep my house, and be independent of Joseph and every 

 one else. Soon I was surprised to hear the factory-bell 

 ring for dinner, and directly the children returned from 

 school. Going into the house, I spread a bountiful table, 



