r. Children had better tear their frocks a little, jumping,
climbing over fences, and getting fat and healthy, than to sit in the
house, looking pale and miserable. My Alice often comes in, a perfect
object to behold! I sometimes wonder the ragman, who drives the old
cart with a row of jingling bells strung over the top, don't mistake her
for a bundle of rags gone out for a walk. I don't feel _worried_ about
it; for if he _should_ happen to make this mistake, and pop her in his
cart some day, Alice would make one of her celebrated Indian "yoops," as
she calls it, and I rather think he would pop her out, quicker than she
went in.

When September had come, Helen returned home; and soon after, the mother
said, "Lillie, there is a young lady in town, who wishes to make your
acquaintance. She is quite grand and fashionable in her ideas, so we
must make a little flourish for her. What do you think of having a party
to receive her?"

"A party!" screamed Lillie, clapping her hands with delight; "I would
like that _very_ much; and oh! please have candy, and oranges, and oh!
mottoes--lots of snapping mottoes for the party! That would be most
delightful! And please ask Nattie, and Kittie, and Lina, and Emily, and
oh! everybody."

"You must ask them yourself. See, here is a quantity of pretty buff and
pink note paper, and here is a nice new pen: sit down and write your
invitations."

This was a tremendous business! and Lillie, spreading herself in great
grandeur, with her head on one side, took the pen and wrote very nicely,
_for her_, all the notes, in this way:

"Miss Lillie B---- wishes you To Come to A party
to-morrow to Meet A young Lady. Her name Is--i
Don't Know Yet. Please Come At Seven-o-Clock. LILLIE."

Then she doubled them up into little squares, and put them into the
envelopes; and Margery, the maid, who loved Lillie dearly, and _would_
have rode off with the notes on a broomstick to Jerusalem, if her little
lady had wanted her to--trotted about all the morning, leaving them at
the children's houses, telling the waiters who answered the doors, on no
account to stop a single moment, but rush right up stairs with them, as
they were of the greatest importance.

The next morning, Lillie got all the answers. I should think there were
about twenty little notes, all directed to her. Was ever anything known
to equal it? A lady getting so many letters at once! It was almost too
much happi