Such a find ! Such a discovery ! A bedstead with carved posts , a claw-footed table , real old willow-ware plates with the birds ' bills meeting ! Here was luck , if you like ! When Willard and Ray came home to tea Sara was sitting on the stairs counting her wealth . `` Sally , where did you discover all that long-lost treasure ? '' demanded Ray . `` Mrs. Stanton of Boston was here today , '' said Sara , enjoying the moment of revelation hugely . `` She makes a hobby of collecting old furniture . I sold her every blessed thing in the blue north room except Mother 's carpet and Grandma 's mats and sampler . She wanted those too , but I could n't part with them . She bought everything else and , '' Sara lifted her hands , full of bills , dramatically , `` here are two hundred and fifty dollars to take you to the Valley Academy next fall , Ray . '' `` It would n't be fair to take it for that , '' said Ray , flushing . `` You and Will -- '' `` Will and I say you must take it , '' said Sara . `` Do n't we , Will ? There is nothing we want so much as to give you a college start . It is an enormous burden off my mind to think it is so nicely provided for . Besides , most of those old things were yours by the right of rediscovery , and you voted first of all to have Aunt Josephina come . '' `` You must take it , of course , Ray , '' said Willard . `` Nothing else would give Sara and me so much pleasure .
A blessing XXXXX Aunt Josephina . ''
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