Then Comfort’s mother carried her almost bodily back to the warm kitchen and sat her before the fire to toast her feet, while she made some cream-toast for her supper.

Her grandmother had a peppermint in her pocket, and she slid it into Comfort’s hand.  “Grandma knew she would tell, and she won’t never do such a thing again, will she?” said she.

“No, ma’am,” replied Comfort.  And the peppermint in her mouth seemed to be the very flavor of peace and forgiveness.

After Comfort was in bed and asleep that night her elders talked the matter over.  “I knew she would tell finally,” said Mrs. Pease; “but it’s been a hard lesson for her, poor child, and she’s all worn out—­that long tramp to Bolton, too”

“I ’most wish her Aunt Comfort hadn’t been so dreadful careful about getting her a ring big enough,” said Grandmother Atkins.

Mr. Pease looked at his wife and cleared his throat.  “What do you think of my getting her a ring that would fit her finger, Em’ly?” he asked, timidly.

“Now, father, that’s all a man knows!” cried Mrs. Pease.  “If you went and bought that child a ring now it would look just as if you were paying her for not minding.  You’d spoil all the lesson she’s got, when she’s worked so dreadful hard to learn it.  You wait awhile.”

“Well, I suppose you know best, Em’ly,” said Mr. Pease; but he made a private resolution.  And so it happened that three months later, when it was examination day at school, and Comfort had a new blue tibet dress to wear, and some new ribbon to tie her hair, that her mother handed her a little box just before she started.

“Here,” said she.  “Your father has been over to Gerrish’s, and here’s something he bought you.  I hope you’ll be careful and not lose it.”

And Comfort opened the box, and there was a beautiful gold ring, which just fitted her third finger; and she wore it to school, and the girls all seemed to see it at once, and exclaimed, “Comfort Pease has got a new gold ring that fits her finger!”

And that was not all, for Matilda and Rosy Stebbins also wore gold rings.  “Mother said I might as well spend Uncle Jared’s dollar for it, ’cause your mother didn’t want you to have it,” said Matilda, holding her finger up; “and father bought one for Rosy, too.”

Then the two little girls took their seats, and presently went forward to be examined in spelling before the committee-men, the doctor, the minister, and all the visiting friends.

And Comfort Pease, with all the spelling lessons of the term in her head, her gold ring on her finger, and peace in her heart, went to the head of the class, and Miss Tabitha Hanks presented her with a prize.  It was a green silk pincushion with “Good Girl” worked on it in red silk, and she had it among her treasures long after her finger had grown large enough to wear her Aunt Comfort’s ring.