dly."

"So do I," said Hattie, "and I haven't any money either, but I'm going
to tease mamma night and day till she gives me twelve cents."

"It's no use to tease my mamma," said Marty. "If she wont let me do a
thing, she wont, and that's the end of it. But of course I'll tell her
about the chairs, and see what she says. Maybe she'll let me have one."

As soon as she reached home Marty gave her mother a glowing description
of the chairs, winding up with,

"And, O mamma! I do want one awfully."

"But you have so many playthings already, Marty," objected her mother.
"Just look at those closet shelves! Besides, you got a complete set of
dolls' furniture Christmas."

"Oh, I know I don't _need_ another chair at all, but those red ones are
so cunning, and one would look so well mixed in among my blue ones. I
should _love_ to have one."

"I am sorry your mind is so set on it," said Mrs. Ashford, "for I
dislike to have you disappointed, but when you have so many playthings,
I really don't feel like giving you money, even if it is only a
trifle."

"May I buy a chair if I have money enough of my own?" Marty asked.

"Oh, yes--if you wish to spend your money that way; but I would rather
save it for something else if I were you."

Marty had no very clear idea where "money of her own" was to come from
just at that time, but thought it possible the necessary amount might
appear before the chairs were all sold.

The next morning Rosa and Edith came to school with money to buy chairs,
and at recess all their special friends went with them to Harrison's to
make the purchase. When Marty had a nearer view of the chairs and
handled them, she was more anxious than ever to possess one. This
anxiety increased as the days passed and the chairs gradually
disappeared.

Nobody gave her any money and her mother did not offer her any more
"paid" work. She was very, very sorry that she had spent all of her
allowance on Monday morning--at least all but two cents and the one in
the red box. That, of course, she took with her to the meeting Saturday
afternoon.

Saturday evening she received her next week's supply, and that, with the
two cents she had over, was exactly enough to get the longed-for toy.
But one cent was tenths.

"That just spoils the whole thing," she said to herself. "I might as
well have none at all as only eleven cents."

Then she wondered if it would not do to borrow that tenth. She had not
thought of taking out an