the last leaf of marjorie’s surprise book was very, very thin. it did not make marjorie poke and feel and wonder what was inside its pocket. it was marked to open at the christmas tree. so the first thing that she did was to pull its christmas seals off and read what was written inside:

“i hope you will always be happy—

as happy as you can be,

as happy as all the happy times

that you have shared with me.”

“i made that up,” said dotty, proudly. “i did it all myself.” really, i think that marjorie’s surprise book belonged to both little girls, don’t you? but which one do you suppose liked it best? was it marjorie or was it dotty? what do you think? for myself, i think it was the one who made it and gave it and thought it and planned it all. so,[pg 210] maybe, there is somebody that you love to whom, you, too, would like to give a surprise book like this of marjorie’s.

and because i myself love all you children, i am giving you the story of a surprise book right here—now!