s
in your round face come out, or rather come _in_, and cause
you to look perfectly lovely: for the happy laughing face of a
little child, is the loveliest sight in the world; and if _I_
should see those dimples, do you know what I would do? why I
would just catch you up in my arms, and give you a good
kissing.

Then I have heard other little stories, that are sad; because
you know in this world we cannot always have perfect happiness:
things will sometimes happen to grieve even a tender little
child; but although your sweet lip may tremble as mine does
when I am writing, or listening to a sad story, you will not
love me less, I hope, because I have told the truth; for
remember, every thing is true in this little book, and all the
dear little boys and girls are living at this very moment.
What would you say if you knew some of them? Wouldn't it be
funny if you should exclaim, while your mamma was reading:

"Why, mamma, _I_ know Lily; why that's the very Lily that
lives next door:" or, "Oh, mamma! stop! look here! that very
Willy goes to my school, he's got a kite as big as any thing!
and he said he would let me fly it, as soon as kite time
came. _Won't_ he stare, when I tell him he's in a book? I wish
Aunt Fanny knew _me_."

You precious pet! Just ask Mr. Appleton to tell you where I
live, then come with a hop, skip, and jump to my house, and
you and I will have a nice little talk, and after that, take
care! you will find yourself in my next "Nightcap book." Won't
that be funny?

I have a little daughter, named Alice; once upon a time she gave
away all the clothes she had on to a poor little shivering
child, without any clothes, only old rags. You see, Alice felt
so sorry for her; she had plenty of clothes in her drawer, but
she did not think of those, she just took off all she had on.
She is a dear "little Alice," and I call her by a great many
pet names; sometimes she is "my rosebud," sometimes I say,
"Come here, Mrs. Frizzlefits." When she is sick, it is always
"darling," and when she is well and hopping about, it is "you
precious little old toad." But they all mean the same thing.
She likes to be my "old toad" just as much as my "rosebud,"
for she knows perfectly well, that they all mean LOVE.

One day, when I felt as if I could not find a word to express
how much I loved her, I came out with, "Come and kiss me, you
dear little _donkey_!" How she laughed! and how I laughed! You
may be sure she told her pa