"Oh, yes!" said Maggie; "I wish every day was my birthday or Bessie's."
"Then in sixty days you would be old ladies. How would you like that?" said Uncle John.
"Not a bit," answered Maggie; "old ladies don't have half so much fun as children."
"So you will be content with one birthday in a year?"
"Yes, Uncle John."
"And you liked all your presents, Maggie?" asked the colonel.
"Yes, sir, except only one."
"And what was that?"
"Mrs. Jones gave me a white Canting flannel rabbit, with black silk for its nose, and red beads for its eyes. Idea of it! just as if I was a little girl, and I am seven! I told nurse if baby wanted it, she could have it; and I didn't care if she did put it in her mouth. Nurse said I was ungrateful; but I am not going to be grateful for such a thing as that."
The colonel and Uncle John seemed very much amused when Maggie said this, but her father looked rather grave, though he said nothing.