Everybody else was working for Christmas; Dotty alone was idle; for no one had time to give her a daily stint, and see that she accomplished it.
"After the holidays I shall have to go to school; so now is my time to play," said she to herself, "and I ought to play every minute, as tight as I can spring." But she tried so hard to be happy that the effort was really very tiresome.

If she had only had something to do, I am almost sure she would not have fallen into the misfortune which I am about to record.
One day her mother sent her to a worsted store to pattern some worsteds.
A girl behind the counter gave her the right shades, and she slowly started for home.

It was about four o'clock of a November day.

Dotty, glancing idly at the sky, saw that the sun was already getting low.
"How queer it is!" thought she; "it seems as if the sun grows sleepy very early nowadays, and goes to bed right in the middle of the afternoon.
Well, I declare, if there isn't Lina Rosenberg!" The beautiful little Jewess was just turning an opposite corner, and, as usual, the sight of her face bewitched Dotty in a minute.
[Illustration: LINA ROSENBERG INVITES DOTTY TO HER HOUSE.] "O, Lina Rosenberg, come over here! How do you do ?" "I'm very well, Dotty: how do YOU do?
Only I wish you wouldn't call me a BUG!" "Well, then, Lina, you mustn't have bugs in your name if you don't want to be called by 'em.

Did you know I'd been Out West ?" "No; you haven't, Dotty Dimple!" "Yes, I have; you may ask my father.