they think I 'm rich , and envy me , when I 'm only a milliner earning my living . I ought to have taken more notice of them , for their mother has a hard time , I fancy , but never complains . I 'm sorry they heard what I said , and if I knew how to do it without offending her , I 'd trim a nice bonnet for a Christmas gift , for she is a lady , in spite of her old clothes . I can give the children some of the things they want anyhow , and I will . The idea of those mites making a fortune out of shirts at six cents apiece ! '' Miss Kent laughed at the innocent delusion , but sympathized with her little neighbors , for she knew all about hard times . She had good wages now , but spent them on herself , and liked to be fine rather than neat . Still , she was a good-hearted girl , and what she had overheard set her to thinking soberly , then to acting kindly , as we shall see . `` If I had n't spent all my money on my dress for the party to-morrow night , I 'd give each of them a half-dollar . As I can not , I 'll hunt up the other things they wanted , for it 's a shame they should n't have a bit of Christmas , when they tried so hard to please the little ones . '' As she spoke she stirred about her room , and soon had a white apron , an old carnelian heart on a fresh blue ribbon , and two papers of bonbons ready . As no stockings were hung up , she laid a clean towel on the floor before the door , and spread forth the small gifts to look their best . Miss Kent was so busy that she did not hear a step come quietly up stairs , and Mr. Chrome , the artist , peeped at her through the balusters , wondering what she was about . He soon saw , and watched her with pleasure , thinking that she never looked prettier than now . Presently she caught him at it , and hastened to explain , telling what she had heard , and how she was trying to atone for her past neglect of these young neighbors . Then she said good-night , and both went into their rooms , she to sleep happily , and he to smoke as usual . But his eye kept turning to some of the `` nice little bundles '' that lay on his table , as if the story he had heard suggested how he might follow Miss Kent 's example . I rather think he would not have disturbed himself if he had not heard the story told in such a soft voice , with a pair of bright eyes full of pity looking into his , for little girls were not particularly interesting to him , and he was usually too tired to notice the industrious creatures toiling up and down stairs on various errands , or sewing at the long red seams . Now that he knew something of their small troubles , he felt as if it would please Miss Kent , and be a good joke , to do his share of the pretty work she had begun . So presently he jumped up , and , opening his parcels , took out two oranges and two bunches of grapes , then he looked up two silver half-dollars , and stealing into the hall , laid the fruit upon the towel , and the money atop of the oranges .
This addition improved the display very much , and Mr. Chrome was XXXXX back , well pleased , when his eye fell on Miss Kent 's door , and he said to himself , `` She too shall have a little surprise , for she is a dear , kind-hearted soul . ''
Chrome balusters bonbons errands half-dollar half-dollars milliner mites stealing toiling