and I went the very next day to the jeweller in
New York, and said:

"See here, Mr. Jeweller, here are all your breastpins, and I am very
much obliged to you; but I want you to _give_ me one, for a darling."

"What kind of a darling, Mrs. Aunt Fanny?"

"Well, she is four years old, and has rosy cheeks, dark brown hair,
large blue eyes, and a little dimpling, dainty mouth, full of small
white pearls. They are not set in gold, like the pearls in your glass
case. No, indeed! they grew fast in her dear little head; and she eats
bread and milk with them.

"But let me tell you, Mr. Jeweller, that she has something far more
precious than what I have been relating. Shut up in her innocent breast
is a beautiful heart, which is full of love to all around her; and it
gently whispers to her, 'Ilken Annie, be obedient to your parents, kind
to everybody, and faithful in praying night and morning, to the dear
Saviour, to watch over and protect His little lamb, and all she loves.'
Oh, Mr. Jeweller, you cannot find such a precious jewel as ilken Annie's
heart, in all your store."

Something came into the good jeweller's eyes, and fell upon his cheeks.
They were two bright tears; and he softly said, "No; I have no such
treasures here, and none now in my home; for, not long ago, God took my
one little white lamb, my wee darling. She has gone to heaven, and my
house is empty."

I felt very, very sorry for him--but I could not speak. He wrapped up
the breastpin in a piece of paper, and gave it to me for Annie; and I
sent it to her with this fine poetry:

My dear "ilken" Annie,
Your loving Aunt Fanny
Has got this fine breastpin
On purpose for you;
So that, when in town,
With your new hat and gown,
And this red and white breastpin,
You'll be quite a view.

Then the girls and the boys
Will make a great noise,
And cry, "Goody gracious!
_What_ a breastpin! just see!
'Tis the color of roses!
And real, I supposes;
I wish your Aunt Fanny
Would buy one for _me_."

Then you'll say, "But she can't,
For she isn't _your_ aunt,
But _my_ little auntie
That lives down the lane;
And I'm ilken Annie,
So winsome and cannie,
With my 'hankfun' and 'too bad!'
'And try, try again.'

"I have a dear mamma,
And good and grave papa,
And such a kind grandmamma,
Gentle and sweet,
And my three, four, five brothers,