hing, father!" exclaimed Rose. "Now Aunt Anne Rose
can ride to the village and see her friends whenever she wishes. She
will not be so lonely."

"I thought of that," said Mr. Freeman.

"You girls must make up a little package for the colt to carry to your
new aunt," suggested Mrs. Freeman.

Anne had her golden guinea and several shillings besides in a pretty
knit purse that Rose had given her, and she was very happy to think
that, out of her very own money, she could buy something for Aunt Anne
Rose.

"I know what she'd like," said Anne. "I told her about the fine book
that my Aunt Martha keeps in the chest. 'Tis called 'Pilgrim's
Progress.' And Aunt Anne Rose said that if she had a book to read at
times 'twould be as good as company."

"You girls shall step into Mistress Mason's and select a suitable book,"
said Mrs. Freeman. "You can write her name in it and put 'From Anne and
Rose to Aunt Anne Rose'; no doubt 'twill please her. And this evening we
will make some sweets to send her. We wish her to be very sure that we
do not lack in gratitude."

Mistress Mason's shop in Cornhill seemed a very wonderful place to Anne,
with its shelves filled with bright pewter, tall brass candlesticks, and
large and small boxes. On a lower shelf at the back of the small room
was a row of books. On a narrow counter stood boots, shoes, and
slippers. Above this counter, fastened to a stout cord, were hung a
number of dolls dressed in the latest fashion. Each one of these dolls
had a small white card fastened to its sleeve.

When the girls entered they did not at first see any one in the shop,
but in a moment Anne noticed that a very tiny old lady was standing
behind the further counter.

"Why, she isn't any bigger than I am!" thought the little girl.

"Good-afternoon, Mistress Mason," said Rose; "this is my friend, little
Anne Nelson, from Province Town."

"Not so very little, as I view it. Fully as large as I am myself. I
should call her large; that is, large for a girl," responded the little
white-haired woman, who was rather sensitive in regard to her size. "I
see you wear good shoes," she continued, peering over the low counter
and pointing a tiny finger toward Anne's feet. "I know my own shoes when
I see 'em," and she laughed pleasantly. "My brother makes every shoe I
sell; makes 'em right back here in his own shop, as Miss Rose Freeman
well knows."

"Yes, indeed," answered Rose, "and Mistress Mason makes dolls, Anne--a