Before you put down in black and white, The pledge that the angels in Heaven will write. Yes, I’m going to do it! I’ve counted the cost: There is _all_ to gain, and nothing lost. Now Christmas may come—come slow, or come fast— I’m ready to meet it, ready at last; Who in this town has a finer show Than “Archibald II.,” I’d like to know! EMILY BAKER SMALLE. “WE TWELVE GIRLS.” BY PANSY. THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD. THE HARVEST IS THE END OF THE WORLD, AND THE REAPERS ARE THE ANGELS. SO SHALL IT BE AT THE END OF THE WORLD: THE ANGELS SHALL COME FORTH, AND SEVER THE WICKED FROM AMONG THE JUST. MORRISVILLE, _December, 1887_. DEAR GIRLS: I took that first verse for mine: not because it was short, but because the talk we had in Sunday-school kept me thinking about it. We were planning the next Sunday’s lesson, and one of the girls said she didn’t see how Bible verses could be called seeds: that set Mrs. Wheeler off into an explanation; she told some lovely stories about how Bible words dropped into human hearts had borne flowers and fruit; then she suggested that we girls try it, and see what fruit we could raise for Christmas. [Illustration: Polly put the Kettle on EMMELINE IS CONVINCED.] As you may imagine, I liked the plan ever so much, for it made me think of you all; and I decided to take just that verse and see how many seeds I could sow. I had a half-dozen plans which, if I had carried them out, would have been splendid fruit, I am sure; and would have made a lovely letter to write you, but they were all spoiled, and all I can do is to tell you about it. Last Tuesday was a lovely winter day, just the one for beginning some of my beautiful plans, and I had been wishing I could get Aunt Helen to go down town with me to help me do some shopping. I thought of asking her, but she is a rather new auntie, you know, and I didn’t quite like to. Just after dinner mamma asked me if I didn’t want to take a basket of tea rolls to Grandma Dunlap. She isn’t my grandma, but a very nice old lady whom everybody calls grandma; she is quite poor and people send her things very often. I like to go there; the little house is so cunning, and everything as neat as wax, and old-fashioned. I asked mamma if I must hurry back, and she said, “Just as you please; if you want to take a walk in this crisp air, there is nothing to hinder you from being gone for a couple of hours.” Then up spoke Aunt Helen, “But if you _should_ happen to come back in time to go out shopping with me, I have some Christmas errands which I think you might like to help about.” Just think how glad I was! I said, “O Aunt Helen! that is just exactly what I want; and could you find time to give me a little Christmas advice?” She laughed and said she was good for any amount of advice.