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Page 50
"No, not yet," answered Uncle Steve for his niece, "but I think
it's about time for us to see if we can find it."
"All right," cried Marjorie, "let's all go to the orchard!"
"I don't see, Midget," said her uncle, "why you think the surprise
is down at the orchard, just because I told you I was making it
down there. In fact I have my birthday gift for you right here in
my pocket."
Marjorie looked rather blank. She knew Uncle Steve loved to tease
her, but she had certainly expected some out-of-door gift, and to
receive a little trinket that could be carried in a pocket was a
surprise indeed.
In proof of his words Uncle Steve drew a neatly-tied parcel from a
pocket of his morning coat and handed it to Marjorie. It was about
the size of a one-pound box of candy, and sure enough, when
Marjorie eagerly pulled off the paper, the gilt letters on the
cover proclaimed it a candy-box. Marjorie felt positive that her
uncle would not offer her candy as a birthday gift, for he often
brought her that on any ordinary day of the year. But she was
mystified, and she took off the cover, not knowing herself what
she expected to see. To her surprise, inside the box was another
parcel, a trifle smaller, and on the paper which wrapped it was
written:
"I am not candy as you thought, I bring you joys that can't be
bought."
Marjorie began to understand that it was one of Uncle Steve's
elaborate jokes, and she didn't know whether further search would
reveal a valuable, though tiny gift, or some absurd hoax.
She took out the second box and tore off the wrappings. Molly
eagerly helped her pull off the ribbon and paper, and though
Stella sat quietly by, she, too, almost held her breath to see
what would happen next.
Marjorie opened the second box, and this time was not so much
surprised to see that it contained another wrapped and tied box.
On this one was written:
"Oho, Miss Mopsy, fooled again! Suppose you keep on trying, then."
"Indeed, I will," cried Mopsy; "I expect there are a thousand
boxes, each smaller than the other, and when I get to the end I'll
find a bright penny, or something like that!"
"If you think that," said Uncle Steve, "I'll offer you two cents
for the bundle as it is now; and then, you see, you'll double your
money!"
"No siree!" cried Marjorie, "for, you see, I don't know. It MAY be
a diamond ring, but that wouldn't do me much good, as I couldn't
wear it until I'm grown up."
"Hurry up," cried Molly, who was dancing about, both helping and
hindering Marjorie, "let's see what the next box says."
On the next box was written:
"Just a hint I'll give to you; I'm of metal, tied with blue."
"Metal, tied with blue!" screamed Molly, "What can that be? A hoe,
perhaps, tied up with a blue ribbon."
"What kind of a hoe could you get in such a little box?" said
Stella.
"_I_ think it's a locket," said Marjorie, "on a blue ribbon to
hang round your neck."
The next box said:
"Very seldom you will use me, But you'd cry if you should lose
me."
"Ho!" said Marjorie, "if I'm going to use this thing so seldom I
don't think I'd cry if I should lose it."
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