2 Mamsie’s Birthday Surprise

CHAPTER 2 Mamsie's Birthday Surprise Polly bundled Phronsie's foot into one of Mamsie's old slippers. Phronsie looked sadly at her tiny little shoe. "Will I ever be able to wear my new shoes again?" she asked. "You'll be good as new in a week," Polly told her, handing Phronsie her favorite doll.

Phronsie hugged the old, worn doll close and smiled a bright little smile. She knew everything would be all right, because Polly had told her so. "Now, we must begin," Polly said cheerfully. She put on her apron and bustled about the kitchen as Phronsie and her doll watched. Polly stepped over Joel and Davie, who wrestled on the kitchen floor, arguing over who would be more help. "Boys, go and get me some cinnamon from the basement cupboard," Polly asked, even though she didn't need any more cinnamon for the cake. Davie and Joel went down to the basement. Polly carefully measured the brown flour, water, butter, and cinnamon. She mixed it together with Grandma's raisins. She poured the batter into the cake tin, put it in the cranky, black stove and happily banged the door shut. Polly took Phronsie into her arms and sat back to wait until the cake was done. That's when

Polly heard a THUMP from the basement. "Joel, Davie," Polly called. "Come up here this instant!" Joel and Davie trooped up the stairs and into the kitchen. Their faces were dusty with cinnamon. "What happened?" Polly asked. Phronsie's eyes grew round and large. "We were wrestling—" Davie began. "The sack just fell over on us. Honest it did, Polly," Joel interrupted. "Goodness. Let's get you cleaned up before Mamsie comes home," Polly said. She jumped up and cleaned off their faces with a wet dishrag. Phronsie saw it first. A wispy curl of black smoke rose above the cranky, old stove. "Mamsie's cake!" Phronsie cried. Polly raced over to the stove, yanked out the cake, and set it on the table. Their beautiful cake was ruined. It was black

on the top and the center had fallen in. Polly turned around and shouted at the stove. "I hope you're happy. You've spoiled our Mamsie's birthday, you mean, old thing!" Without warning, Polly sank down to the middle of the floor and began to cry as hard as she could. Phronsie, Davie, and Joel didn't know what to do. "Well, well, what's happening here?" asked a kindly and cheery voice. Everyone turned around. "Mrs. Beebe!" cried Davie. "Look, Polly. It's Mrs. Beebe." Mr. and Mrs. Beebe owned the shoe shop in town. They had gone out for a ride to pick some flowers and buy some candies. On their way back to town, they heard the fuss in the Little Brown House and stopped to see if they could help. Polly hopped to her feet, ashamed. She wiped

away her tears. The children explained to Mrs. Beebe about Mamsie's birthday the next day and why Polly was crying. "My goodness, you poor things," Mrs. Beebe said over and over as she heard the sad story. "Here, my dear. Here are some flowers for you," Mrs. Beebe said, handing a bunch to Polly. "Thank you, Mrs. Beebe," Polly said, smiling through her tears. Polly looked sadly at the black top and deep hole in the center of the cake. Then she looked at the flowers in her hand. "I know!" Polly exclaimed. Polly placed the bunch of flowers in the hollow center of the cake. The flowers covered up the hole and the black top! "It's beautiful," Phronsie said. "It's perfect!" Mrs. Beebe agreed. "Thank you, Mrs. Beebe," Polly said again, this time with a wide smile. "We must get back to the shoe shop," Mrs.

Beebe said, pleased that all was well. "Oh, one more thing," she said, reaching into her pocket. "Here's a peppermint candy for each of you." After Mrs. Beebe was gone, the Little Brown House was quiet once again. "I wish the world were made of peppermint candy," Joel said as the last bit of peppermint melted on his tongue. "I'm going to hide the cake away till tomorrow morning, so Mamsie can't find it," Polly said. She climbed on a chair and gently placed the cake on the top shelf of the highest cupboard. "Now, during dinner, make sure that none of you look up at the cupboard and give away the surprise," Polly told them. "Can't I open it a little crack and take one smell when Mamsie isn't looking?" Joel asked. "No!" Polly said firmly. "Not one peek! Or she will guess the surprise." But that evening Mrs. Pepper was too busy