present. Isn't it the
most _fun_ not to know what it is?"

Mr. Evringham took her up in his arms and weighed her up and down
thoughtfully. "Yes," he said, "I believe you are a little heavier than you
were yesterday."

The child laughed again.

"Now remember, Jewel, you're to go slow on this birthday business. Once in
two or three years is all very well."

"Grandpa! people _have_ to have birthdays every year," she replied as he
set her down, "but after they're about twenty or something like that, it's
wrong to remember how old they are."

"Indeed?" the broker stroked his mustache. "Ladies especially, I suppose."

"Oh, no," returned Jewel seriously. "Everybody. Mother's just twenty years
older than I am and that's so easy to remember, it's going to be hard to
forget; but I've most forgotten how much older father is," and Jewel
looked up with an expression of determination that caused the broker to
smile broadly.

"I can understand your mother's being too self-respecting to pass thirty,"
he returned, "but just why your father shouldn't, I fail to understand."

"Why, it's error to be weak and wear spectacles and have things, isn't it?"
asked Jewel, with such swift earnestness that Mr. Evringham endeavored to
compose his countenance.

"Have things?" he repeated.

Jewel's head fell to one side. "Why, even you, grandpa," she said lovingly,
"even you thought you had the rheumatism."

"I was certainly under that impression."

"But you never would have expected to have it when you were as young as
father, would you?"

"Hardly."

"Well, then you see why it's wrong to make laws about growing old and to
remember people's ages."

"Ah, I see what you mean. Everybody thinking the wrong way and jumping on a
fellow when he's down, as it were."

At this moment Jewel's father and mother entered the room, and she
instantly forgot every other consideration in her interest as to what
charming surprise might be bunched up under the tablecloth.

"Anna Belle can hardly wait to see my present," she said, lifting her
shoulders and smiling at her mother.

"She ought to know one thing that's there, certainly," replied Mrs.
Evringham mysteriously.

Jewel held the doll up in front of her. "Have you given me something,
dearie?" she asked tenderly. "I do hope you haven't been extravagant."

Then with an abrupt change of manner, she hopped up into her chair
eagerly, and the others took their places.

The very first package tha