long the sidewalk. When she reached home,
she was nearly out of breath. Finding her mother in the parlor, she
exclaimed,--

"O mother! I've got a letter! I've got a letter!" and throwing her
bonnet on the chair, she eagerly opened the letter, and, after looking
at it a moment, cried out,--

"Ma, it's from aunt Amy!"

"From aunt Amy!" repeated Mrs. Brown.

"Yes, mother, and she says she is coming to see us next week. O, I am so
glad--ain't you, mother?"

"Yes, Minnie, I shall be very glad to see my sister."

"She wants me to write to her directly, and tell her if it will be
convenient for you to have her come. What shall I write, mother?"

"You may say we shall be very happy to see her at that time."

"Shall I answer the letter at once, mother?"

"You may, Minnie. Though, perhaps, you had better let me read it
first."

Minnie blushed a little, as she handed the letter to her mother. She had
been too hurried, and her mother's request sounded like a kind rebuke.
Minnie's gentle spirit felt it, and she grew more quiet, as she waited
for her mother to read the letter.

"There, my child, that will do," said Mrs. Brown, giving her the letter
again. "Now you may go to your chamber and write as pretty a reply as
you can to your aunt, inviting her to come, as she proposes."

Minnie carried the letter to her room, where she had some nice writing
materials of her own. She spread a clean sheet of white paper on the
table, and began her letter. When she wanted a thought, she stood the
pen in the ink-stand while she read over her aunt's letter anew. When an
idea came, she wrote it down, and so kept on until she finished her
answer.

[Illustration]

And a nice little letter it was, written in neat style, without a single
blot. Minnie took it to her mother, who said it would please aunt Amy
very much. The thought of adding to her aunt's pleasure increased
Minnie's joy. So, after folding the letter very smoothly, she directed
it in large, bold writing to her aunt, and, with her mother's consent,
took it to the post office.

When she had placed her letter in the box, Minnie thought she should
like to tell Arthur Ellerslie that her aunt Amy was coming to Rosedale.
So she walked round by Arthur's house. Her gentle rap at the door was
answered by Arthur's mother, with whom Minnie was a great favorite.
Taking the little girl's hand, and printing a kiss on her lips, Mrs.
Ellerslie said,--

"Come in, Minnie. I am very glad