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Rh silk hung all around on walls or racks, it was truly astonishing that girls could do such first-class work, having had long hours of labor in Broadway’s shops all day.

Although most of our standard occupations found room for activity, an occasional oddity was run across. So His Honor’s party found two boys and two girls working at that always fascinating art of glass-blowing. And what a dainty trick it is! And what an opportunity to burn a thumb or two, if you don’t wait for things to cool! Things of charming form and fragility, grow as by a magician’s wand, from small glass tubings of various colors. Birds with glorious wings, ships of crystal sailing on dark billows, tiny buildings in a thick glass ball which upon agitation, stirs up a snowstorm which softly lands on pink roof-tops; many a fancy drinking glass and bowl, oil lamps, ash trays, and gaudy strings of tiny crystal balls for adorning party gowns. And did Nancy want to buy out this shop? And did Frank doubt his ability to do so? And did Kathlyn ask: “How about it, Johnny?” and did John Smith say: “Nothing doing”? It was just that. But it only shows that good old Branton Hills’ inclination for aiding anything which looks worthy; and such a school I know you will admit, looks that way. [ 150 ]