"My husband's money!" exclaimed Mrs. Reed, as she leaned on Alice to
keep from falling.
Alice was nearly wild and talked like a crazy person.
"O goody, goody!" she cried, clapping her hands and jumping up and down.
"Now you can have everything you want! you won't be poor any longer!"
But Mrs. Reed was too much overcome to hear what Alice said.
[Illustration]
She could scarcely realize the good fortune that had so suddenly
befallen her.
Presently, however, with the tenderness of a mother, she placed her arms
around Alice and said: "O you precious child! but for you, I should
never have known this!"
"And if you had not given me the work-box," said Alice, "perhaps no one
would ever have found it out.
"But," continued she, excitedly, "let us see if there is any thing more
in there."
Again reaching into the hole in the mantel-piece, she sprung back with a
look of amazement that frightened Mrs. Reed.
"Why, Alice, what is the matter?" inquired the old lady.
"Matter!" exclaimed Alice. "Why, dear me! Mrs. Reed, there are lots and
lots of bags in there yet!"
"Is it possible!" said Mrs.
Pages:
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128