Years of darkness and disgrace for a scissors so highly born as I.But one day I was hauled out.

A bell tinkled in the street.

An Italian scissors-grinder wanted a job.

I was put upon the stone, and the grinder put his foot upon the treadle, and the bands pulled, and the wheel sped, and the fire flew, and it seemed as if, in the heat and pressure and agony, I should die.

I was ground, and rubbed, and oiled, and polished, till I glittered in the sun; and one day, when young Harriet was preparing for the season, I plunged into the fray.