hoeing in the
garden. She went to him, thrust a note into his hand, and was off like a
dart.

It was a long, hard, lonely run down to the village. How lonely in the
grove at the hollow tree! How like a thief, with the bundles openly on
her arm! No little girl's pocket would hold them, nothing but a great
Judas-bag. She went straight to the stone store. It was just sunset.
How thankful she was to find nobody in the store but Mr. Hampshire
himself, reading the evening paper. He looked up, and recognized the red
little face. He glanced at the bundles as she threw them, with a letter,
down on the counter, and whisked out through the door. He called after
her, "Here, here, Roxy; here, my dear! Come back. I have some figs for
you!"

But no Roxy came back. He heard her little heels clattering down the
sidewalk fast as they could go. So he got up and read the letter, for it
was directed to himself.

Here are the four notes Roxy wrote:--

"Dear Father: I Will paye you every Cent if I Live. I shall always
be a Good Girl, and never hanker after Only what I have Got. Please
forgive Me, and Not Talk It Over with Mother. It will make her Sick.
Roxy."

"Dear Mother: Please love me until I am Bad once More. If I ever,
Ever, should be Bad again, then you may give me Up. Don't get Sick.
Roxy."

"Mr. MarkHam: I have been Very Wicked. I have made father and Mother
wretched. I am sorry. Please don't be Hard on Me, and Set every
body against me, because My Mother would settle right down and be
very Sick. I am only a Little girl, and a Big Man might let me go. I
have taken the Things back to the Store. Also father has Paid for
them. _You_ may Want something some day, and do Wrong to get it, and
Then you will know How good it is. R. Gildersleeve."

"Mr. HamPshire: Please Not tell the folks that come into the Store
what I did. I want a Chance to be good. If you Ever hear of my
stealing again, Then you can tell, of course. R. Gildersleeve."

And here is what they said:--

_Mr. Gildersleeve_ (crying). "Here, mother, put this away. Never speak
of it to her. Poor child, I _did_ mean to whip her!"

_Mrs. Gildersleeve_ (crying). "Bless her heart, Tom, this is true
repentance! Our child will not soon forget this lesson. Let us be very
go