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.
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