In the winter of 1870, Lavinia and her family lived in a traditional American village, known for its rich artistic and historical charm, with numerous shops offering old items, drawings, paintings, and handmade crafts. Lavinia often walked through the village centre with her younger brother, Dob, after school, stopping at the French bakery to buy fresh bread.

One day, on their way home, Lavinia noticed an antique shop called “The Gilded Age Emporium” displaying a beautiful toy horse with dark red wheels. Both she and Dob were captivated by it. “Lavinia, wow! Look at this horse, it’s so beautiful! Can we see it up close?” Dob eagerly asked. “Yes, little one, it’s stunning. Let’s take a closer look,” Lavinia replied. Dob then asked if he could ride the horse for a few minutes, and Philo, the kind shop owner, was happy to oblige. Philo, who had a passion for collecting antiques, loved children deeply and longed to have one of his own, although fate had not yet blessed him with that gift. He believed that God would eventually grant him a child with his devoted wife. [read more]

“Do you like the ride, kid?” Philo asked Dob. “Yeah, it’s wonderful! Thank you, Uncle,” Dob responded, delighted. From that day on, Dob would stop by the shop to ride the horse daily after school, with Philo generously allowing him to do so without any concern.

As spring approached, so did Dob’s birthday. Lavinia wanted to surprise him with the toy horse he loved so much. She broke open her porcelain piggy bank to see how much she had saved since summer. “It’s $5, and the horse costs $5 just as Philo mentioned. Thank God,” Lavinia said, feeling deeply grateful. She then asked her mother what they would prepare for Dob’s birthday the next day. Her mother requested that she buy an Italian pizza from the bakery before 3:00 pm, as it closed early on weekends. “Mom, what about the cake? Aren’t we baking a chocolate cake?” Lavinia asked in surprise. “I’m sorry, dear, our chickens haven’t laid any eggs for two days, so no cake this time,” her mother replied sadly. “It’s okay, Mom, we’ll make do,” Lavinia said, trying to stay positive.

The next day, Lavinia rushed to “The Gilded Age Emporium” to purchase the toy horse, only to find it missing from the window display. Panicking, she hurried inside, fighting back tears, and anxiously asked Philo if the horse had been sold. “Hey there, what’s wrong? Are you okay? Oh, the horse! It’s still here. I was just marking items for sale, and the horse is included, it’s now discounted from $5 to $3,” Philo explained.

Overwhelmed with relief, Lavinia realized how fortunate she was. “Thank God! I’m so happy it’s still available. I want to buy it right away for Dob’s birthday,” she told Philo. “Oh, really? Is today his birthday? How wonderful! Would you also accept this handmade bear as a gift for Dob? It’s made from 100% pure cotton, and your brother deserves it,” Philo offered with a smile. “Thank you so much, Philo! Dob will love it, especially because it’s from you,” Lavinia responded gratefully.

With $5, Lavinia purchased the toy horse for $3 and used the remaining $2 to buy a chocolate cake. She returned home, her heart overflowing with joy, ready to surprise both her brother and her mother. [/read]