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 neck, and his mother could not persuade him to retire that night until he had given “Sister Abby” a hundred kisses.

“Father,” said Abby, as she arose to retire when the tall clock struck eleven, “may I not some time go back to Lowell? I should like to add a little to the sum in the bank, and I should be glad of one silk gown.”

“Yes, Abby, you may do anything you wish. I shall never again be afraid to let you spend a year in Lowell. You have shown yourself to be possessed of a virtue, without which no one can expect to gain either respect or confidence—.”