THE PRESENTS. 5

Opening it. The cord. No knife. The box. Beechnut’s note.

 

“Tt is for you, after all,” said Phonny, looking a little
disappointed.

“ Yes,” said Malleville, “ give it tome. I want to break
it open, and see what is inside.”

«“ Let me open it for you,” said Phonny. “I can open
it’ better.”

“No,” replied Malleville, « I want to open it myself,—
if you will only get the string off.”

So Malleville and Phonny sat down upon a large stone,
which lay by the side of the road, and proceeded to open
the parcel.

Phonny had no knife to cut the cord, and so he was
obliged to gnaw it off with his teeth. This took some
time. <At last, however, the cord was divided, and then
Phonny handed back the parcel to Malleville.

Malleville proceeded to remove the wrappers with
which the contents of the parcel were enveloped. After
a time, there came out a large and beautiful japanned
tin box. It was rounded at the end and edges, and it
had a large lid in one side. Malleville opened the lid, and
found the box full of other parcels, and immediately
under the lid, as they opened it, was a note addressed to
Malleville. Malleville opened the note, and Phonny
looked at the bottom of it for the signature.

“ Beechnut,”’ said he. “It is from Beechnut. Let me
read it to you, Malleville.”

“ Well,” said Malleville.

So Phonny took the note and read as follows :-—

“My DEAR MALLEVILLE :
“ T send you what I call an Excursion-box. It
i to take with you when you go on excursions. You