She knew now how poor
Esther felt.
On the following Monday afternoon everything was ready
for Pearl's departure. Her small supply of clothing was
washed and ironed and neatly packed in a bird-cage. It
was Mary who thought of the bird-cage "sittin' down there
in the cellar doin' nothin', and with a handle on it,
too." Mary was getting to be almost as smart as Pearl to
think of things.
Pearl had bidden good-bye to them all and was walking to
the door when her mother called her back to repeat her
parting instructions.
"Now, mind, Pearlie dear, not to be pickin' up wid
strangers, and speakin' to people ye don't know, and
don't be showin' yer money or makin' change wid anyone."
Pearl was not likely to disobey the last injunction. She
had seventeen cents in money, ten cents of which Teddy
had given her, and the remaining seven cents had come in
under the heading of small sums, from the other members
of the family.
She was a pathetic little figure in her brown and white
checked dress, with her worldly effects in the bird-cage,
as she left the shelter of her father's roof and went
forth into the untried world. She went over to Mrs.
Francis to say good-bye to her and to Camilla.
Mrs. Francis was much pleased with Pearl's spirit of
independence and spoke beautifully of the opportunities
for service which would open for her.
"You must keep a diary, Pearl," she said enthusiastically.
"Set down in it all you see and feel.
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