break up the habit before
Nelly left her.
The little girl was to have a small room, opening out of her aunt's
chamber. There her trunks were carried for Sally to unpack, and put the
clothes into the wardrobe and drawers.
"Come in here!" said Nelly to her little cousin, "and we will take out
the playthings. This trunk is full of them."
Frankie's eyes grew very round and large as Sally selected the right
key, and displayed a great variety of toys packed as closely as
possible into the large trunk.
"Goodness me!" exclaimed nurse, holding up both hands. "Why, you'll be
able to set up a toy shop, miss."
"I have more at home," said Nelly. "Maria couldn't get them all in."
Maria was the name of the colored woman who had taken care of Nelly ever
since she was a tiny baby. She had wished to come with her to Mrs.
Gray's, and cried bitterly when she knew that she could not. But her
aunt was sure that if Maria was there, Nelly would be too much indulged,
that is, she would have her own way, and would be spoiled. She loved her
little niece, and was sorry that her brother's wife did not take more
pains to teach her little girl to be good and kind. She hoped Nelly
would learn, while her mother was away, to wait upon herself, and to be
generous and truthful.
When Sally had unlocked the trunk of playthings for the little miss, she
went on unpacking the other one. She took out the dresses, and laid them
on the bed. There was a pink muslin, and a blue tarleton, and a white
one with the skirt tucked up to the waist. Then there were two silks,
and one or two delaines, and ever so many French calicoes.
Mrs. Gray came in at this moment, and Sally exclaimed, "Where I am to
put all these dresses, ma'am, is more than I can tell. The wardrobe
won't hold half of them."
The lady glanced toward the bed, and said, "You may hang the best ones
in the parlor-chamber closet."
By this time Frankie had helped his cousin to take out the toys; and
they were spread all over the floor, so that neither his mamma nor nurse
could walk at all without stepping on them.
"Why, Nelly," said her aunt, "what a quantity of playthings you have
there!"
"May we play with them here?" asked Frankie.
"I am afraid you will be in Sally's way," replied mamma.
"She can wait, then, till we are done," said Nelly, taking up a large
dolly.
"No," said her aunt; "nurse has a great deal to do; and first of all she
wants to clear up this room. See how u
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