ou was to send one of your
bedsteads to Mr. Nethersole's little Miss. He's kind to Sam, and it
seems only a dutiful way of thanking for all these nice bits. You've got
enough and to spare.'

"'Take one and welcome, Sam,' said Jemmie, limping off to the cupboard
and bringing one out; 'you shall have this here for little Miss. It's
the king of the lot, and is worked in the last bit of magenter wool I've
got.'

"Sam quite approved of this offering to his ruling powers, and on Monday
morning he set off early to his work, refreshed and brightened by his
brief holiday, and very proud of the bedstead, which he carried
carefully in a paper bag.

"It was duly presented, and not only admired, but brought Sam a message
which made him tear home at headlong speed after his day's work, and
face the stairs with the desperate energy that helps a soldier to storm
a wall, and that carried Sam, hot and breathless, into the room to tell
the good news in gasps that frightened Susan out of her wits, and nearly
drove his mother frantic. At last, by patting his back, and making him
sit in her low chair by the open window, the calmer Jemmie found out
that Mrs. Nethersole had sent to say she liked the doll's bedstead so
much that she should be glad to have three dozen like them, for which
she would give five-and-twenty shillings a dozen, as she was going to
have a stall at a very large bazaar, and had not much time to work for
it herself.

"'And you can make a lot of balls, mother, and she'll try and sell 'em
for you, and will guarantee two dozen at sixpence each. She's a jolly
brick, mother, that she is! But the best of it is to come, for they had
me into the parlour and asked me all about us; and master has riz my
wages a shilling a week. I'm the happiest chap in London, and I'll never
call him "old skinny" no more, that I won't! Hurray, Jemmie! Up ye goes
Sue.'

"I am sorry, my friends," said the Ball, "I can tell you no more of
them; for you see I was packed up with the rest and sent off to the
Crystal Palace, where Mrs. Spenser bought me on the bazaar day, and I
have lived among you ever since. But I should like to know how Sam, and
Jemmie, and little Sue are getting on."

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER III.

THE HOOP'S ROUND OF ADVENTURES.

When the Ball had concluded his story, and had modestly taken a leap
backwards out of the way, he was eagerly accorded the warm thanks of the
party, and desired in his tu