When his birthday came around in March , the two little chaps put their heads together in a grave consultation as to what they could give him . `` You know he gave us presents on our birthdays , '' said Frank . `` So we must give him something . '' `` I 'll div him my pottet-knife , '' said Danny , taking the somewhat battered and loose-jointed affair from his pocket , and gazing at it affectionately . `` I 'll give him one of Papa 's books , '' said Frank . `` That pretty one with the red covers and the gold letters . '' A few of Mr. Sinclair 's books had been saved for the boys , and were stored in a little box in their room . The book Frank referred to was an old History of the Turks , and its gay cover was probably the best of it , since its contents were of no particular merit . On Ernest 's birthday both boys gave him their offerings after breakfast . `` Here 's a pottet-knife for you , '' said Danny graciously . `` It 's a bully pottet-knife . It 'll cut real well if you hold it dust the wight way . I 'll show you . '' `` And here 's a book for you , '' said Frank . `` It 's a real pretty book , and I guess it 's pretty interesting reading too . It 's all about the Turks . '' Ernest accepted both gifts gravely , and after the children had gone out he and his mother had a hearty laugh . `` The dear , kind-hearted little lads ! '' said Mrs. Duncan . `` It must have been a real sacrifice on Danny 's part to give you his beloved ` pottet-knife . '
I was afraid you were going to refuse it XXXXX first , and that would have hurt his little feelings terribly .
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