It had been worn out as a dipper, and so they used to let Mary Bell have it to carry her fire in.

There were several small holes in the bottom of the dipper, so completely was it worn out: but this made it all the better for a fire-pan, since the air which came up through the holes, fanned the coals and kept them alive.

This dipper was very valuable, too, for another purpose.

Mary Bell was accustomed, sometimes, to go down to the brook and dip up water with it, in order to see the water stream down into the brook again, through these holes, in a sort of a shower.
Mary Bell went, accordingly, for her fire-pan, which she found in its place in the open stoop or shed.

She came into the house, and Mary Erskine, raking open the ashes in the fire-place, took out two large coals with the tongs, and dropped them into the dipper.