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 It did sound sort of sensible, and I remembered how much more my compasses meant, coming as a surprise, and only because she knew I 'wanted them, than as if she'd held them back for Christmas, when I'd have been expecting something. Besides, I'd had a chance to get a lot of good out of them during the Fall.

"I'm going to give Mother a gold thimble," I said. "I heard her say, one day last Summer, that when she was a little, little girl, she wanted a gold thimble,—and she'd wanted one ever since. She had always intended to get one, but people kept giving her silver ones, and keeping her supplied, and she guessed she'd never get her stock low enough to warrant buying one for herself. So I made up my mind that I'd get her a gold one for Christmas. But since she's lost two or three of her 'stock,' I've been desperately worried for fear she would buy one herself, before the time came, because I know she's needed one.'one." [sic]

"It will make a nice gift," said Bess.

I was thinking. "Isn't it funny," I said, at last, "that I never even thought of getting it for her right then,—or anyway, as soon as I knew