"There, Uncle True says it's for you," said Willie; "and I can't think what 'tis, can you?"
Gerty felt, and looked wonderingly in True's face.
"Undo it, Willie," said True.
Willie produced a knife, cut the string, took off the paper, and disclosed one of those white plaster images, so familiar to every one, representing the little Samuel in an attitude of devotion.
"Oh, how pretty!" exclaimed Gerty, full of delight.
"Why didn't I think?" said Willie; "I might have known what 'twas by feeling."
"Why! did you ever see it before?" said Gerty.
"Not this same one; but I've seen lots just like it."
"Have you?" said Gerty. "I never did. I think it's the beautifullest thing that ever was. Uncle True, did you say it was for me? Where did you get it?"
"It was by an accident I got it. A few minutes before I met you, Willie, I was stoppin' at the corner to light my lamp, when I saw one of those furrin boys with a sight o' these things, and some black ones too, all set up on a board, and he was walking with 'em a-top of his head. I was just a wonderin how he kept 'em there, when he hit the board agin my lamp-post, and the first thing I knew, whack they all went! he'd spilt them everyone. Lucky enough for him, there was a great bank of soft snow close to the side-walk, and the most of 'em fell into that and wasn't hurt. Some went on to the bricks, and were smashed. Well, I kind o' pitied the feller; for it was late, and I thought like enough he hadn't had much luck sellin' of 'em, to have so many left on his hands——"