r gift; while Anna and Luretta
urged Rebecca to try them on at once, which she was quite ready to do.
They fitted exactly, and Lucia was as proud and happy as Rebecca herself
that her gift was so praised and appreciated.

"They came from France," she said. "Look on the box, Rebby, and you will
see 'Paris, France.' My father bought them of a Boston merchant, and I
have a pair for myself."

"Are any more girls coming, Mother?" Rebecca asked as Mrs. Weston led
the way to the living-room.

"No, my dear. And I only----" Mrs. Weston hesitated. She had started to
say that she had only remembered Rebecca's birthday a few moments
earlier; but she stopped in time, knowing it would cloud the afternoon's
pleasure; and Rebecca, smiling and delighted with Lucia's gift, and sure
that her mother had some treat ready for them, exclaimed:

"I do not mind now so much that the _Polly_ has not arrived; for I could
have no gift finer than a pair of silk mitts."

Anna had taken off her sunbonnet and was sitting on one of the low
rush-bottomed chairs near a window. She was very quiet, reproaching
herself in her thoughts that she had no gift for her sister. What could
she give her? For little girls in revolutionary times, especially those
in remote villages, had very few possessions of their own, and Anna had
no valued treasure that might make a present. If she had remembered in
time, she thought, she would have asked her mother to help her make a
needle-book.

Suddenly she jumped up and ran across the room and kissed her sister,
first on one cheek and then on the other, saying:

"If I had golden beads in strings,
I'd give you these, and other things.
But Rebby, dear, I've only this
To give to-day: a birthday kiss."

Lucia and Luretta were sure that Anna must have had her verse all ready
to repeat; and even Rebecca, who knew that Anna rhymed words easily,
thought that Anna had prepared this birthday greeting, and was very
proud of her little sister. But at the words, "golden beads," a great
hope came into Rebecca's heart. Perhaps that was what the _Polly_ was
bringing for her.

"I am to have a rabbit," said Anna happily. "What shall I name it?"

Lucia did not seem much interested in anything so ordinary as a rabbit,
and had no suggestion to offer, and while Anna and Luretta were deciding
this question Lucia whispered to Rebecca: "When I go home be sure and
walk a little way; I want to tell you something important."