note. "What good times I shall have with my cousins! I'm so glad I don't
know what to do with myself."

"You are a happy little puss generally, and I am glad to see you made
happier than usual by this pleasant letter from your cousin. But are you
sure, my dear Jessie, that you will enjoy your cousins' visit?"

"Why, Uncle!" cried Jessie, with an air of surprise. "How can you ask me
such a question? I am sure I shall love my cousins very much, and we shall
enjoy ourselves very finely together."

"Well! Well! I hope it may be so," said Uncle Morris, with a sigh which
made Jessie think that the good old man's hope was not a very strong one.
She said nothing, however, and Uncle Morris asked--

"When are your cousins coming?"

Jessie looked at her letter and read, "'We are to start
Thursday,'"--pausing, and looking up, she exclaimed--

"Why, that's this very day! I declare they will be here this afternoon.
Won't it be nice!"

"Yes, to-day _is_ Thursday. Your letter has been delayed. Perhaps you had
better take your mamma's letter to her room. She may require time to make
preparations for her young guests. They will be here--let me see (looking
at his watch), in two hours. Run Jessie and tell your mother!"

Jessie hurried to her mother's apartment with the unopened letter and the
news. Mrs. Carlton's letter was from Emily's mother and contained the same
information.

Jessie was in ecstasies during the next two hours. To be sure, there was
that question and that sigh of Uncle Morris to cast a slight shadow on her
joy. But shadows never tarried long on Jessie's spirit, which was so
bright and joyous that it seemed as if it was made of sunshine. Happy
little Jessie Carlton!

Emily's letter had put all thought of her work out of Jessie's head. Her
patchwork lay on the floor beside the overturned work-basket, until her
mother going to prepare the parlor for company, picked both up and put
them away. In fact, Jessie's little wizard had her in his chains again.
She was once more the simple-hearted child of impulse.

Having fixed her hair and changed her dress, Jessie ran out on to the
piazza to watch for the coming of her cousins. First she seated herself on
the settee, which stood there, and made the air ring again with her joyous
song. After a few minutes, she sprang from her seat and seizing old Rover
by the head, began to tell him that her cousins were coming, and,
therefore, he must be the very best behaved dog in