If what we spend on all our brood could be confined to one child, we could easily duplicate all her luxuries, and I think she has the good sense to realize the fact as quickly as any one.

I've no doubt she would gladly exchange half she has for the companionship of a sister or a brother in her lonely life." Laddie turned to father, and father's smile was happy again.

Mother was little but she was mighty.

With only a few words she had made Leon feel how unkind and foolish he had been, quieted Laddie's alarm, and soothed the hurt father's pride had felt in that he had not been able to furnish her with so fine a turnout as Pryors had.
Next morning when the excitement of gifts and greetings was over, and Laddie's morning work was all finished, he took a beautiful volume of poems and his popcorn ball and started across the fields due west; all of us knew that he was going to call on and offer them to the Princess, and ask to take her to the spelling bee.

I suppose Laddie thought he was taking that trip alone, but really he was surrounded.