Yes, it was a very nice party! There were cakes, and games, and sweets,
and crackers--crackers with caps in them! And little Elsie enjoyed it
all, and felt very grand in her embroidered muslin frock, with a yellow
paper cap out of one of the said crackers perched on the top of her
curly brown head. If only Alfy had been there to enjoy it all with her!
Alfy was her twin brother, and they always did everything together. But
to-day poor Alfy must stop at home: he is ill, very ill, with
"inflammation of the _tongue_," Elsie says, but the doctor calls it
"lungs." Anyway, there is nothing the matter with Elsie's tongue; it
wags fast enough, and she tells everybody about Alfy, and how ill he is.
"But he is better to-day, and I shall bring him my 'tracker.'"
Elsie goes home quite laden with "trackers" and toys for Alfy, and is
far more pleased with these than with anything for herself.
But when she gets home a disappointment awaits her. Alfy is asleep, fast
asleep, and must on no account be disturbed, for sleep is his best
medicine.
"But I want so to give him these things," and Elsie clasps tightly her
armful of treasures.
"You shall give them him to-morrow," Mother promises, and Elsie has to
be content.
When to-morrow dawns, Elsie can hardly wait to be dressed, so anxious
is she to go to Alfy and present the soldier doll and the rest of the
things.
Nurse is so slow this morning, Elsie really cannot wait; and whilst
Nurse turns to the drawer to pull out her clean frock, Elsie toddles
quickly out of the nursery, and runs to Alfy's room. She can hardly
reach the door, but manages somehow to stand on tip-toe and turn the
handle.
"There, Alfy! See!" she cries gayly, as she runs up to his cot. "All
these are for you!"
Alfy is better, and quite able to enjoy his presents, which are spread
out on his white quilt, and Elsie stands by, quite satisfied with his
pleasure.
"What have _you_ got?" he asks at last, as, somewhat tired, he leans
back on his pillows.
"Nothing," says Elsie promptly, "'cause I have the fun of giving, you
know."
A simple answer, but one in which a great truth is hidden.
Are there not, in these hard times, some children who might learn the
"fun," or rather the blessing, of giving?
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