and mother many a time.
So, Mabel, you take mamma her fruit;" and with that, Johnnie handed her
the basket, and made a low bow.

Miss Simms seated herself in the window, took out her scissors and a
great roll of patterns, and then said,

"Edith, dearie, will you ask your grandma or Aunt Catharine, if they
know where the merino is for your new dresses?"

"Are we to have new dresses?" said Edith; "it's the first I've heard of
it."

"Oh, children don't know everything in _this_ house," said Miss
Simms, laughing. Grandma came bustling in with bundles nearly as big as
herself.

"You had better measure Edie first, as she is on the spot; and then I'll
help sew on her skirt, while you are cutting out for Mabel."

"I'm glad I'm not a girl," said Johnnie, "always having to bother with
new frocks."

"Mrs. Evans is wise to go South now," said Miss Simms to grandma. "I've
been hoping she would, it's far too bleak for her here."

Edith opened her blue eyes very wide, and then they filled with tears.
She hid her head in her grandma's bosom.

"Why, child, you little goose, it is to make your dear mother well. And
you three small folks are going part way with her."

At this Edith's sudden tears dried up very quickly, and her face made
itself into a question mark.

"You three children, and I myself, are going to see your Aunt Maria, in
Virginia."

Johnnie began to turn somersaults to show his delight at the news. He
ran off for further information, and came back saying, "I never heard
anything so splendid in my life. We are to start a week from to-day
Edith. Mamma's going South to get well, and we're going South too, to
get acquainted with our Aunt Maria."

The children thought they must pack up their treasures at once; and as
everybody was just then too busy to notice them very much, they made a
remarkable collection. Edith brought out her Paris doll, and its
wardrobe, her baby carriage hung with blue satin, and its pillows
trimmed and ruffled with lace, her favorite books, and her best china
tea-set.

"I could not travel in comfort without Miss Josephine," she said with
much dignity, as she seated herself in the parlor, with her treasures
around her. "I could not stir a step without her."

Mabel brought her Maltese kitten, and her Spitz dog, and tied a cherry
ribbon round Fido's neck, and a blue one round Queenie's.

"Now I am ready to go!" she said.

As for Johnnie, he had so large a collection of must-haves, an