There was an awful pause, every one staring at the smooth layer of brown paper.
"I'm goin' to peek first," announced Elvira, finding her tongue.
This unloosed all the others. "She shan't; Elviry's always a-pushin' first."
"Mammy, mayn't I?"
"No, let me." It was a babel in a minute.
"You be still." It was Matthew who commanded silence. "Mother's goin' to look first; it's her box," he added convincingly.
The little widow would much rather have allowed this privilege to one of her brood, but it was difficult to choose between the five; so she put out her hand tremblingly, then drew it back.
"We'll let Susan do it," she said; "she couldn't go out to the wagon with the rest of you."