ke in
your lap, mustn't hang on a nail; if you do, you'll lose it. I'm sure
'twill please you, Susy, because it's a mute, and can't speak. You--"

"O, hush talking about dumb people! I shouldn't think you'd make sport
of Freddy Jackson! If _you_ was a little _deaf-and-dumber_ than you are
now, I'd like you better!

"O, dear, dear!" cried she, dancing about the room; "what can it be? I
can't wait!"

"Only think; all night before I'll know," thought she, as she touched
her pillow. "O, Prudy, to-morrow morning! Only think of to-morrow
morning I All my other presents are just nothing at all. Anything is
_so_ much nicer when you don't know what it is!"

CHAPTER IV.

SUSY'S WINGS.

Susy awoke next morning very much surprised to find the sun so high.
Prudy was lying beside her, talking to herself.

"I don't feel very well," said the child; "but I'm pleasant; I mean to
be good all day."

"Why didn't you speak to me?" cried Susy, springing out of bed, "when
you knew how I couldn't wait to see my present?"

"I would have woke you up, Susy, but I ain't well; I'm sick in my
knees."

And Prudy limped about the room to show her sister how lame she was.
But Susy was in too great a hurry to pay much attention to her, or to
help her dress.

"Good morning, papa!" she exclaimed, the moment she entered the parlor;
"now may I see the present?"

"Do you suppose you could wait till after breakfast, Susy?"

Aunt Madge smiled as she looked at the little eager face.

"I see you are going on with your lessons," said she.

"What lessons, auntie? Why, it is the holidays!"

"Lessons in patience, my dear. Isn't something always happening which
you have to be patient about?"

Susy thought of Prudy's habit of disclosing secrets, Dotty's trying way
of destroying playthings; and now this long delay about her present. She
began to think there were a great many vexations in the world, and that
she bore them remarkably well for such a little girl.

"Yes, thee must let patience have her perfect work, Susan," said grandma
Read, after the "silent blessing" had been asked at the table.

"Mayn't I go, too?" said Prudy, when she saw her father, her auntie, and
Susy leaving the house just after breakfast.

And she went, as a matter of course; but the pavements were a little
slippery from sleet; and Prudy, who was never a famous walker, had as
much as she could do, even with the help of her father's hand, to keep
from falling.