Part 14 (1/2)

”Once you said to me that a present was something that any one ought to be very happy to receive,” she said.

”Yes, I remember. And I know you are happy over your father's gift,”

replied Mrs. Scott.

Louise nodded, and began unwrapping the bundle.

”This is my present to Faith,” she said, struggling to untie the heavy string.

”Let me, Louise; let me,” and Donald was down on his knees and in a moment the bundle was opened, and Donald exclaimed:

”My! It's a coat exactly like Louise's.”

”There's a cap too, and mittens,” said Louise eagerly. ”Do try it on.”

Donald stood holding the coat; and Faith, as excited and happy as Louise, slipped on the coat, put the cap on her head and held out her hands for the mittens.

”Oh, Louise! They are lovely. I may keep them, mayn't I, Aunt Prissy?”

she asked, turning about for her aunt to see how nicely the coat fitted.

Neither of the little girls noticed that Mrs. Scott looked grave and a little troubled, for she was thinking that this was almost too fine a present for her little niece to accept from the shoemaker's daughter.

But she knew that to refuse to let Faith accept it would not only make both the girls very unhappy, but that Mr. Trent would forbid Louise coming to the house, and so stop all her friendly efforts to help Louise; so she added her thanks to those of Faith, and the two little friends were as happy as it is possible to be over giving and receiving a beautiful gift. Faith even forgot her blue beads in the pleasure of possessing the pretty coat and cap.

CHAPTER XIV

A BIRTHDAY

”Can you skate, Cousin Faith?” asked Donald, on their way to school one morning in late December. There had been a week of very cold weather, and the ice of the lake glittered temptingly in the morning sun.

”No, I never had any skates, and there wasn't a very good chance for skating at home,” answered Faith regretfully; for many of the school children were eager for the sport, and told her of their good times on the ice.

”Mother has a pair of skates for you; I heard her say so; and father is going to teach you to skate,” responded Donald. ”I can skate,” he added, ”and after you learn we'll have a fine time. Nat Beaman comes across the lake on the ice in no time.”

It was rather difficult for Faith to pay attention to her studies that day. She wondered when Aunt Prissy would give her the skates, and Uncle Phil teach her how to use them. And when the schoolmaster announced that there would be no school for the remainder of the week Faith felt that everything was planned just right for her. Now, she thought, she could begin the very next day, if only the cold, clear weather would continue.

The sun set clear and red that night, and the stars shone brightly.

Faith was sure the next day would be pleasant. Donald found a chance to tell Faith that the skates were a ”secret.” ”But I didn't know it until just a few minutes ago,” he explained, adding briefly: ”I hate secrets.”

Faith agreed heartily. If the skates were a secret who could tell when Aunt Prissy would give them to her? She went to bed a little despondent, thinking to herself that as soon as she was clear of one secret another seemed ready to interfere with her happiness. But she was soon asleep, and woke up to find the sun s.h.i.+ning in at her windows, and Aunt Prissy starting the fire with a shovelful of coals from the kitchen hearth. And what were those s.h.i.+ning silver-like objects swinging from the bed-post?

”Skates! My skates!” she exclaimed, sitting up in bed. ”Oh, Aunt Prissy! I did want them so to-day.”

”They are your birthday present from your father and mother,” said Aunt Prissy, coming to the side of the bed, and leaning over to kiss her little niece. ”Eleven years old to-day! And you had forgotten all about it!”

”Why, so I am! Why, so I did!” said Faith. ”Well, I like secrets that end this way. May I go skating right away, Aunt Prissy?”

”Breakfast first!” laughed Aunt Prissy, and was out of the room before Faith had noticed that lying across the foot of her bed was a dress of pretty plaided blue and brown wool. A slip of paper was pinned to it: ”For Faith to wear skating,” she read.