THE PRESENTS. 3

 

 

The stage. Parcel for Phonny. Description of the package.

 

 

 

«“ And besides, here is the stage coming now, and you
will get run over.”

Hearing this, Phonny jumped up and sobered himself
in an instant. The stage-cpach was really coming.

It advanced very rapidly. Phonny and Malleville
stood out on one side of the road to let it go by. ‘There
was a lady and a small boy on the outside seat of the
stage, with the driver, and Phonny’s attention was at-
tracted by them, so that he forgot to point out the off
leader to Malleville, until the stage got opposite to him,
and then he was surprised at seeing the driver suddenly
rein up his horses and stop the stage.

“ Phonny,” said the driver, “is that you? I have got
something for you here.”

“For me?” said Phonny, surprised.

The driver put his hand under the seat and drew out
a small package, whieh was tied up very securely in
brown paper. He threw the package out to the bank
where Phonny was standing.

“Tt is all paid,” said he.

Then he drove on.

Phonny ran to the place where the package had fallen,
and took it up- Malleville followed him.

“ Tet me see,” said she. “ Whatis it?”

The package was about eight inches long, four inches
wide, and, perhaps, two inches thick. It was enveloped in
thick wrapping-paper, and tied with a strong cord, which
was passed round the parcel in both directions. ‘The knot
of the cord was sealed with sealing-wax, and the cord itself
was secured to the paper by sealing-wax in two or three
other places besides. In fact, the whole appearance of

BZ