The next morning two children might have been seen going down the street leading to the little home of Mrs. O’Higgins, a poor, bedridden old soul for whom nobody seemed to care.

The boy, who was holding something in his right hand, knocked gently on the door. There was no answer. The boy peeped in at the window. Mrs. O’Higgins was fast asleep. Quietly opening the door, the boy walked in, followed by his sister. Tiptoeing across the room, the boy placed the parcel he was carrying upon the table beside the bed and went out. The little girl was so excited that she fell over the doorstep.

“Gwen, do be careful!” said the boy. The noise had awakened the old lady.

“Who is that?” she called. But the door was shut, and the two children were scampering away as fast as their legs would carry them.

Mrs. O’Higgins picked up the parcel. It contained three eggs. “What a mercy!” she said to herself. “But who sent them?” Looking at the wrapper, she read, “With love from the Surprise Package Company.”

* * * * *

Frank Morley, a school friend of Wil’s, was ill with mumps. Of course he had to stay indoors and was very miserable. One afternoon he was gazing vacantly out of the window when all of a sudden he saw a square box topple over the garden wall, and slide down to the ground, held by a stout string.

“Mother, quick!” he called. “Do see what that is in the yard.” Mother, all surprised, brought the parcel, and Frank opened it. Inside were four smaller packages. One was labeled, “Open Monday”; the second, “Open Wednesday”; the third, “Open Friday”; the fourth, “Open Sunday.”

As it was Monday, Frank opened the first package. It was a box of paints—just what he had been longing for! Frank thought he had seen the box before but did not know where.

Inside the box were the words: “With best wishes from the Surprise Package Company.” “Whatever is that?” asked Frank. Nobody knew.

* * * * *

On one occasion the Surprise Package Company was caught.
Wil and Gwen were paying a second visit to Mrs. O’Higgins. This time they had taken with them some flowers as well as eggs. As quiet as mice they crept in, placed their gifts upon the table, and left.

The children were so anxious to get in and out without awakening the old lady that they did not notice a gentleman sitting quietly in an adjoining room. It was the doctor.

No sooner had the door closed behind the children than he went across to the table, picked up the parcel, and read the note: “With love from the Surprise Package Company.”

“So this explains what the old lady has been talking about!” he said. “And now I can understand what Frank Morley told me yesterday.”

And this explains, too, how it came about that a few days later a letter arrived at the home of Wil and Gwen, addressed to the Surprise Package Company and containing an invitation to luncheon at Dr. Brown’s.

The children had a wonderful time at the doctor’s, and there were two surprise packages that made up for all they had given away.

Of course the children could not understand how the doctor had come to know about their secret, and he wouldn’t say a word. It was all a delightful mystery. Wil and Gwen were as happy as children could be. Wil even said that it was much better than being pirates.

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*Adapted from Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories, Vol. 1, Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington, D.C. Copyright © 1964. By Arthur Maxwell.