en us we ought to devise something."

Marty brightened up instantly and looked eagerly at her mother, sure
that relief was coming immediately. "What is your plan, mamma?" she
asked.

"Oh! I didn't say I had one yet," said Mrs. Ashford, laughing. "You must
give me time to think; and you must think yourself."

That was all she would say then, and Marty spent a very restless
afternoon and evening trying to think of some way to earn or save that
money, but could think of nothing that would bring it in time for
Friday. At bedtime her mother inquired, "Have you got a plan yet?"

"No, indeed. I can't think of a thing," answered Marty, nearly as
doleful as ever.

"How do you like this plan?" said Mrs. Ashford. "I have some rags up in
the storeroom that I want picked over, the white separated from the
colored, and if you will do it to-morrow afternoon, I will give you
fifteen cents."

"Oh, I'll do it! I'll do it!" cried Marty in delight, kissing her
mother. "You're the best mamma that ever was!"

"It is not pleasant work, and will probably take all your playtime,"
cautioned her mother.

"Oh! I don't mind that," said Marty.

So, although the next afternoon was remarkably pleasant, and it would
have been delightful to be playing with her sled in the snow-heaped
little park near by, where the other girls were, she very cheerfully
spent it in the dull storeroom with an old calico wrapper over her
dress, sorting rags. There were a good many to do--though she candidly
said she didn't think there was more than fifteen cents' worth--and she
got pretty tired. Katie offered to help, but Marty heroically refused,
and earned her money fairly.

The letter-rack was completed in good time, and presented. Cousin Alice
said it was the very prettiest of all her gifts, besides being extremely
useful.

"Mamma," said Marty that evening, "I believe after all I'll go back to
Edith's plan of giving 'tenths' and 'offerings' to missions."

"I think that would be the better way," said her mother.

"Not that I'm tired of the heathen or the mission-band, or of giving,
you know, but just because--"

"Yes, I understand," said her mother, as she hesitated; "you are just as
much interested in the matter as ever, but you now see that there are
more ways than one of doing good with money, and that it is better to
give systematically, as Mrs. Howell says. Then you know what you are
doing, and I dare say, taking it all in all, you will give more t