in
teasing the younger ones, instead of joining in their plays, and doing
everything to add to their happiness. So the doll and all sorts of
pretty muslins and silks, and materials for under garments, were
mysteriously packed away in Helen's trunk, and she went off to her
grandmother's pleasant country house, without Lillie's having the
slightest suspicion of what she was going to do. She was very busy all
summer making the clothes, with her grandmamma's help. Many of the
pleasant mornings she sat on the steps of the door, listening to the
singing of the birds as she sewed.

[Illustration]

And now this is a very good place to tell you about Lillie and her
sisters; for she had three dear sisters--Helen, Mary, and sweet little
Maggie; and no brother at all. The only one she ever had, went to live
with Jesus in heaven, after staying only fifteen months here in this
world.

You know already what a kind mother the children had; and I am very
certain their papa loved them just as much. When he is with them, his
dark, bright, and piercing eyes droop and soften into an expression of
so much affection, that one day, when I was visiting at his house, I
caught myself repeating the words of a perfect little poem, which seemed
to have been written expressly for him. It is so beautiful, and
describes the children so well, with the change of one or two words,
that I have ventured to copy it here for you. It was written by Gerald
Massey.

"There be four maidens; four loving maidens;
Four bonny maidens, mine;
Four precious jewels are set in Life's crown,
On prayer-lifted brows to shine.
Eight starry eyes, all love-luminous,
Look out of our heaven so tender;
Since the honeymoon glowing and glorious
Arose in its ripening splendor.

"There's Lillie bell, the duchess of wonderland,
With her dance of life, dimples and curls;
Whose bud of a mouth into sweet kisses bursts,
A-smile with the little white pearls:
And Mary our rosily-goldening peach,
On the sunniest side of the wall;
And Helen--mother's own darling,
And Maggie, the baby of all."

The summer was passed by our dear little Lillie in playing and
frolicking, and sometimes tearing her frocks; which last, her mother
minded not the least bit, as long as it was an accident. I don't,
eithe