The birthday party could not be expected to go off well, unless that very considerate "little angel" took part in it; and so Aunt May had been coaxed to let her come for a short time. And certainly no young lady ever received a greater share of attention at her first party than did this little queen, who took it all in the most dignified manner, and as if it were a thing to which she was quite accustomed.
May Bessie had just been carried away by her nurse, when Gracie Howard came in, carrying in one hand a lovely bouquet, in the other a roll of paper neatly tied with a scarlet ribbon. The former she presented to Bessie; and the other children, supposing the latter to be some pretty picture, expected to see that placed in the same hands.
But that did not follow; and presently, when Maggie asked, "What would you all like to play first?" Gracie untied the ribbon, and said,—
"I've brought my prize composition, and I'll read it aloud. Don't you want to hear it?"
"No," said Dora Johnson and Mamie Stone; "we don't."
"Oh, but you must!" said Gracie, unrolling her paper and jumping upon a chair.
"Proudy! Proudy!" said Fanny Leroy; "you are always wanting to show off your own compositions."
"Before I'd think so much of myself!" cried another. But Gracie, nothing daunted, turned to Bessie and said,—
"You want to hear it, don't you, Bessie? and it's your party."
"No," said Bessie, her politeness struggling with her truthfulness and resentment at Gracie's vanity, "I don't want to hear it; but I'll let you read it, if you are so very anxious."