If there were any fairies, Patty would have been sure they had done something to her bed-cover, for when she proudly unrolled it, what do you think she saw?
Right in the middle of the white star, which was the centre-piece, delicately drawn with indelible ink, was a smiling little cherub, all head and wings, and under it these lines—
'While sister dear lies asleep,
Baby careful watch will keep.'
Then in each of the four gay squares that were at the corners of the strip that framed the star, was a white bit bearing other pictures and couplets that both pleased and abashed Patty as she saw and read them.
In one was seen a remarkably fine bun, with the lines—
'Who stole the hot bun
And got burnt well?
Go ask the lilac bush,
Guess it can tell.'
In the next was a plump, tailless bird, who seemed to be saying mournfully—
'My little tail, my little tail!
This bitter loss I still bewail;
But rather ne'er have tail again
Than Patty should deceive Aunt Pen.'
The third was less embarrassing, for it was a pretty bunch of flowers so daintily drawn one could almost think they smelt them, and these lines were underneath—
'Every flower to others given,
Blossoms fair and sweet in heaven.'