“Isie had not noticed that Uncle Tom
q carried a brown paper parcel in his
coat pocket. Uncle and niece seated
themselves at the trunk of a great,
big tree, near the water’s edge. Elsie
leaned back against the moss-covered bark
of the tree. How lovely and comfortable it felt.
But she was a young lady who wanted always
to be busy. She never liked sitting still unless
she had a doll, a picture-book or a work-basket
with which to occupy herself. She was growing:
restless when Uncle Tom produced the paper
parcel. It was a gift for Elsie, of course, and he
handed it to her.

She took it with neither seeming show of
interest nor surprise, and Uncle Tom felt dis-
appointed; but Elsie really wondered what the
parcel contained. She got up and walked away
from Uncle Tom, taking the parcel, still un-
opened, with her. Uncle Tom gave her so
many presents! It was very kind of him.

This felt like a book. When Elsie thought
Uncle Tom wasn't looking she broke the string,
and tore open the paper. It was a book, and a
beautiful book, too. It had a green cover, on
which, in bright colors, were frogs, mice, grass-
hoppers and squirrels, all dressed up in funny