We went into Duckford's dry-goods store,
and Chris unwrapped all his presents and
showed them to me -- something for each of
the six younger than himself, even a rubber
pig for the baby. Lena had given him one of
Tiny Soderball's bottles of perfume for his
mother, and he thought he would get some
handkerchiefs to go with it. They were cheap,
and he hadn't much money left. We found a
tableful of handkerchiefs spread out for view
at Duckford's. Chris wanted those with
initial letters in the corner, because he had
never seen any before. He studied them seri-
ously, while Lena looked over his shoulder,
telling him she thought the red letters would
hold their color best. He seemed so perplexed
that I thought perhaps he hadn't enough
money, after all. Presently he said gravely, --

"Sister, you know mother's name is Berthe.
I don't know if I ought to get B for Berthe, or
M for Mother."

Lena patted his bristly head. "I'd get the
B, Chrissy. It will please her for you to think
about her name. Nobody ever calls her by it
now."

That satisfied him. His face cleared at once,
and he took three reds and three blues. When

[[195]]

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v?