It suddenly struck Daisy, who was to do the honours of the strawberry feast?
She ran down stairs to find her father; she could not find him, he was out; so Daisy went to see that the setting the table was going on all right, and then came and planted herself in the library, to wait for Mr.Randolph's coming in.
And while she waited eagerly, she began to think about its being her birthday.
"Nine years old," thought Daisy; "there isn't much of my life passed.
Perhaps, if I live a good while, I may do a great deal to serve the Lord.

I wonder if I know all the things I can do now! all my 'talents'?
I am afraid of missing some of them, for not knowing.

Everything I have, Mr.Dinwiddie said,--so Nora said,--is a talent of some sort or other.

How strange Nora was to-day! But I suppose she will come and tell me what was the matter.

Now about the talents--I wish papa would come! This birthday was one talent, and I thought it would be a good thing if papa's people could be made to know that he is not 'stuck up,' if he is rich,--but if neither he nor mamma come out to speak to them at all, I wonder what they will think ?" Daisy ran out again to view the table.