ressing table!
and the queer little thing looked so funny with the lace cap perched on
top of her head, that Mr. Lacy laughed heartily, and said, "Why, Kitty!
are you the old woman that lived in a shoe? or have you got bald all of
a sudden, that you have taken to caps?"

"Oh, I'm Little Mother!" said Kitty; "mamma has gone to the city, and
left me to take care of _the children_, and the house, and Dody, and
Trip, until she comes back; and I'm Little Mother to all of them."

"Well, Little Mother," said Mr. Lacy, who was none of your cross,
crabbed old ministers, with faces as sour as vinegar, and voices as
sharp as a needle, who frighten children half out of their wits,
forgetful that "of such is the kingdom of heaven;" "I hope your children
will be well brought up, and learn all they should. What does this one
know?" lifting Luly to his knee.

"I know 'ittle hymn," said Luly, smiling up confidently in his face.

"Can't you say it for me?" asked the minister. "What is it all about?"

"'Bout 'at a 'ittle child can do," lisped Luly.

"Say it, Luly," said Kitty.

Luly folded her cunning fat hands over each other, and crossed her feet.
Then she looked up sideways in Mr. Lacy's face, and sucked her tongue a
little bit, and at last, all at once, in a little singing voice, she
began:

"I'm a very 'ittle maid;
Hardly can I talk, 'tis true;
Yet mamma I'd love to aid--
What can 'ittle Luly do?

"I can go, on busy feet,
Errands for her all day through;
Work for her, I feel, is sweet--
This can 'ittle Luly do!

"I can hold the gate long skein
When 'tis tangled and askew;
Never wanting to _compain_[A]--
This can 'ittle Luly do!

"I can search, her book to find,
And be _glad_ to do it, too!
I can always _quickly mind_--
This can 'ittle Luly do!

"I can ever go up stairs
Cheerfully, when falls the dew;
And with _yev'yence_[B] say my prayers--
This can 'ittle Luly do!

"GOD will help me, if I try;
He good children loves to view;
Dear Lord Jesus, from on high,
_Pease_ tell Luly what to do!"

"Ah! that is a beautiful hymn," said the good minister. "Don't you know
any, Little Mother?"

"I am learning a beautiful hymn," said Kitty, "but