Kirk's lead
to the little pond at the foot of the apple-orchard. And then what did they
see! but a truly beautiful great flock of white geese. Some were sailing
gracefully around the pond, some were pluming their snowy breasts on the shore
beside it, and three, the finest of them all, and each with a bow of ribbon
tied round its long neck, were confined within a little picket-fence apart
from the others.
"Why, what beauties, Mrs. Kirk!" exclaimed Tattine, the minute she spied them,
"and what are the ribbons for? Do they mean they have taken a prize at some
show or other? And why do they each have a different color?"
"They mane," said Mrs. Kirk proudly, standing with her hands upon her hips and
her face fairly beaming, "they mane as how they're to be presinted to you
three children. The red is for Master Rudolph, the white is for Miss Mabel,
and the blue is for you, Miss Tattine."
"Oh, Mrs. Kirk!" the three children exclaimed, with delight, and Mabel added
politely, "But do you really think you can spare them, Mrs. Kirk?"
"Why, of course she can! can't you, Mrs. Kirk?" cut in Rudolph warmly, for the
idea of relinquishing such a splendid gift was not for a moment to be thought
of. "I wonder how we can get them home," he added, by way of settling the
matter.
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