Page 103 - Purple Butterfly Book 2

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Mrs. Reed turned deadly pale. “Yes,” she replied, scarcely knowing what she expected or dared hope.
Alice thrust her hand into the hole to pull the hag out, but as it was very old, it fell apart, and O wonder of wonders! As many as a hundred pieces of gold coin fell with a jingle on the hearth and rolled every way.
“My husband’s money!” exclaimed Mrs. Reed, as she leaned on Alice to keep from falling.
Alice was nearly wild and talked like a crazy person.
“O goody, goody!” she cried, clapping her hands and jumping up and down. “Now you can have everything you want! You won’t be poor any longer!”
But Mrs. Reed was too much overcome to hear what Alice said.
She could scarcely realize the good fortune that had so suddenly befallen her.
Presently, however, with the
tenderness of a mother, she
placed her arms around Alice and said: “O you precious child! But for you, I should never have known this!”
“And if you had not given me the workbox,” said Alice, “perhaps no one would ever have found it out.
“But,” continued she, excitedly, “let us see if there is anything more in there.”
Again reaching into the hole in the mantel piece, she sprung back with a look of amazement that frightened Mrs. Reed.
“Why, Alice, what is the matter?” inquired the old lady. 101
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