hen
his task was completed the two baskets contained:

One "heavy-weight winter suit of clothes."

One "light-weight summer suit of clothes."

One cap.

One straw hat.

Two pairs of white flannel trousers.

Two Madras shirts.

Two flannel shirts.

Two silk shirts.

Seven soft collars.

Three silk neckties.

One crocheted tie.

Eight pairs of socks.

One pair of patent-leather shoes.

One pair of tennis-shoes.

One overcoat.

Some underwear.

One two-foot shelf of books, consisting of several sterling works
upon mathematics, in a damaged condition; five of Shakespeare's plays,
expurgated for schools and colleges, and also damaged; a work upon
political economy, and another upon the science of physics; Webster's
Collegiate Dictionary; How to Enter a Drawing-Room and Five Hundred
Other Hints; Witty Sayings from Here and There; Lorna Doone; Quentin
Durward; The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, a very old copy of Moths,
and a small Bible.

William spread handkerchiefs upon the two over-bulging cargoes, that
their nature might not be disclosed to the curious, and, after listening
a moment at his door, took the baskets, one upon each arm, then went
quickly down the stairs and out of the house, out of the yard, and into
the alley--by which route he had modestly chosen to travel.

... After an absence of about two hours he returned empty-handed
and anxious. "Mother, I want to speak to you," he said, addressing Mrs
Baxter in a voice which clearly proved the strain of these racking days.
"I want to speak to you about something important."

"Yes, Willie?"

"Please send Jane away. I can't talk about important things with a child
in the room."

Jane naturally wished to stay, since he was going to say something
important. "Mamma, do I HAF to go?"

"Just a few minutes, dear."

Jane walked submissively out of the door, leaving it open behind her.
Then, having gone about six feet farther, she halted and, preserving a
breathless silence, consoled herself for her banishment by listening to
what was said, hearing it all as satisfactorily as if she had remained
in the room. Quiet, thoughtful children, like Jane, avail themselves of
these little pleasures oftener than is suspected.

"Mother," said William, with great intensity, "I want to ask you please
to lend me three dollars and sixty cents."

"What for, Willie?"

"Mother, I just ask you to lend me three dollars and sixty cents."

"But what FOR?"