MAMSEY’S GIGLIO SPOON.

for three centuries grinned over the mercantile transactions of the Old Market,
was to have been placed in the National Museum ; but there is a rumor that it
has been sold out of Italy.

Mamsey’s fifth spoon came as a Christmas gift from Rome, bearing, as it
needs must, the Roman wolf and the Roman twins. Somewhat longer and
larger and heavier than the spoon of Sienna, befitting the superior grandeur of
the Eternal City and her condescending acknowledgment of Sienna as a younger
sister.

The sixth was a tiny bit of elegance from Paris, tipped with transparent
colored stones which, held against the light, was suggestive of a stained glass
window. Reading upon the pasteboard box the name of “ Tiffany,” gave
Mamsey the sensation as of walking down Broadway.

Six pretty spoons and a story about each one of them.

Sunday evenings at tea the children were each allowed to use one as an
historically-artistic treat.

But now comes our little Folly’s inspiration.

One morning early he appeared at Mamsey’s bedside.

“ Mamsey,” he said, “ please tell me when your birthday will be. I know it
comes in March — but which day, please?”

Mamsey had been making up her mind to discard birthdays, so she answered
whimsically :

“ve decided not to have one this year!”

“Not have a birthday, Mamsey!” cried the child, with widening eyes.
“Why, how can you help it?”

Mamsey smiled.

“ve thought of a way,’ she said. “You see, dear, I’ve had so many of
them ; one every year for such a long time. One may weary of anything. I
shall halve mine and discount them after this.”

Mamsey laughed to herself, but the boy persisted.

“ Please tell me, Mamsey !”

Mamsey reflected as though over an abstruse problem.

“« After all, I may as well submit to one more not to disappoint you. It will
be on the twentieth, Folly.”

Two days later Mamsey found a note in her work-basket. It was written
with a stubby lead pencil in big blurred letters on a scrap of wrapping paper.

Precious MaMsEY :

Didn’t you say once that I might walk into Florence some day all alone? When you let me goI would
like to take my ten francs with me if you willlet me. The ten francs that the Princess May gave me for
Christmas. I would rather not tell you for what I want the ten francs. Will you let me take the ten
francs? It is very necessary for me to take the ten francs. I can go alone because it is only as far as the
Via Tornabuoini.

Your Affectionate Son,
FOLLY.