Annie, who was accustomed to the work, finished her pile first; she then
assisted Charlotte, and they each received a penny; there was plenty of
time beside for Annie to walk home with her friend.
The two following days passed in the same manner, but on Thursday
Charlotte went out with a party of girls, blackberrying, thinking she
could make it up on Friday; but it was as much as she could do to earn
the penny with Annie's assistance, and Saturday was a busy day, so her
mother could not spare her, and Charlotte had but fourpence at the end
of the week. Annie had worked steadily, and on Saturday afternoon
received the last penny from her mother. She had now six cents, and
after supper went with a light heart to get them changed for a sixpenny
piece, at the village store.
On the way she met Charlotte. "I could not come to-day," said the
latter. "Mother could not spare me, and I cried enough about it. I might
have earned another penny, and then I would have changed it for a silver
fivepence. Is it not too bad? How much have you got?"
"I have six pennies," answered Annie, "And I am going to change them
now; but if you feel so bad about it, I will give you one of them, and
then we will each have alike; it makes no difference, you know, who puts
it in the box, so that it all goes for the one good purpose."
"How kind you are! How much I love you!" exclaimed Charlotte,
gratefully, as she took the money, and kissed her friend.
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