as of china-ware; and Uncle Roger
raised it in his hand when every one had sat down all round the
table, and there--what do you think? Phoebe saw the wonderful pie
filled, not with apples, but with beautiful birthday gifts--Bob's
doll, dressed all in pink ribbons and lace; a little straw-hat,
trimmed with bright blue ribbons, from Aunt Leyton; a pretty china
cottage, covered with roses, from Mary-Anne; a beautiful little
work-box, lined with red silk, and filled with every pretty, useful
thing for sewing, and also a crown-piece in it, from her father and
mother; and better than all these, a small Bible, beautifully bound
in purple velvet, with gold clasps, from Uncle Roger; and beside
this lay _another book_, and with a cry of surprise Phoebe saw
before her, torn and stained, her own lost lesson-book! What a
cheer rose up all round the table! And sailor Jem cheered louder
than any one. But all this joy was too much for poor Phoebe, and
she fell a-crying on Uncle Roger's shoulder.

If any of you wish to know how the lost book was found again, I
must tell you what Jem Heywood said about it, though it won't be in
his own words.

He had been down the evening before at Mrs. Prettyman's (Margaret's
mother), and one of the little ones having come toddling into the
room, Jem had lifted it on his knee, taking as he did so a crushed,
torn book out of its hand. On the fly-leaf, though almost torn
away, Jem read, to his surprise, the first letters of Phoebe's
name. The child said it had got the book "in Maggie's bag." Then
Margaret came in herself, and Jem asked her what was the meaning of
this. Her angry, guilty face and confused replies immediately
roused his suspicions; and on going home he took care to let his
sister Esther know all he had seen and heard. The truth was soon
found out. It was Margaret who had done this spiteful thing, to
bring disgrace upon Phoebe.

Can you all picture to yourselves Phoebe's joy on this happy
evening? How grateful she was to Jem Heywood, and how the hours
flew away, supper-time coming before the games seemed half done!
Phoebe found time, though, for a long, happy talk with Uncle Roger;
and it was then she told him how she had made up her mind not to
quarrel with Margaret because of all this, but to try, if possible,
to be better friends than before; for she now saw, she said, that
their quarrelling had brought all this about.

I may as well add here, as some of you may wish to know, that