Now, if I only unearth a box of shoe-laces, I'll
think my cup of joy quite full."
"Shoe-laces! and they so cheap!" Dexie exclaimed in surprise.
"But I have to buy mine with my pocket-money. I break so many of the
tiresome things, that mother thinks it will make me more careful if I have
to replace them myself. But they are always in knots, and when I have to
keep them neat and tidy at my own expense it leaves me little enough for
chocolate creams. Dear me! I think they might have sent me a few dozen, so
that I might get a chance to have one good 'tuck in' for once, as the
street arabs say."
"Why, Elsie, I am surprised at you," was the mother's mild rebuke. "Surely
you can feel grateful, without requiring shoe-laces to 'fill up your cup
with joy,'" and there was a faint smile around the mouth that reproved in
such quiet tones.
"Ah! I know what ails me, mother dear. 'From all selfishness, envy,
uncharitableness,--and all the rest of it, good Lord, deliver me.' I'll say
it next Sunday with a different meaning to it, particularly if I get the
shoe-laces."
"Why, Elsie Gurney! how dare you speak those words so flippantly!" said
Cora severely, looking at her sister in surprise and displeasure.
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