Miss Page gave each a little New Testament. There was also from Miss Page a cunning bouquet. At a distance it looked like a bunch of flowers, but each flower was a bit of candy wrapped in oiled paper. About the bouquet was some paper lace. Both Lucy and Dora were delighted.
Lucy liked her pincushion very much. She had made for Dora a little silk bag in which to carry a purse or a handkerchief.
Uncle Dan gave each a box of candy, besides making the stage for the marionettes. The stage was finished and painted. It stood back against the parlor wall.
And as though Father were not making them a big present by whittling the puppets for the theatre, he gave them each a book. Lucy’s was “When Mother Lets Us Cook.”
Only the fact that she was not dressed kept Lucy from rushing into the kitchen and trying a receipt. Besides, Mother said quite emphatically that she wasn’t doing any “letting” at that hour in the morning. Later in the day, she would see about it.
What do you think was the name of Dora’s book? She could scarcely believe her eyes. When she did believe them, she could not speak, only look at Father and then hug him hard.
Father had gone to the Public Library and asked Miss Perkins which book Dora liked best. Miss Perkins remembered. Indeed, it would be strange if she did not know, for Dora had borrowed the book five times since September. Father had bought her the “Story of Doctor Dolittle.”
“It was the biggest surprise, Mother!” Dora said, when she had thanked Father again and again and looked at the pictures for about the fortieth time.
“Oh, that isn’t the surprise,” said Mrs. Merrill.