"Dear, Darling Bella:
"I was so delighted with your letter that I kissed every word once, and the dear littlescratch, that meant your name, about a dozen times. Yesterday was Sunday, and I went to church. Just in front of me sat a dear little girl so like you, that I wanted to lift her over the back of the pew and kiss her. She was such a little thing, that she did not know how to sit still. She had on a pair of worsted sleeves, and the very first thing she did, was to poke all the fingers of one littlehand through the ruffle round the other, just as you do with your sleeves. Then she smiled at me, and I smiled at her; then she spread out her little pocket handkerchief, and found a small hole in the corner, about as big as a three-cent piece. She stuck her finger through that, and held it up, and danced it up and down; then she dusted the pew with it, which made it rather dirty. She was such alittle bit of a thing that you could hardly expect her to sit quite still; but this that I am going to tell you now, was really naughty.
"There was a boy in the pew just in front. She gave him three pretty hard taps on the back of his head, and when he looked round, she pretended to be asleep. What a girl!
"When we came out I shook hands with her, and said: 'Ihave a little girl at home in the North, her name is Bella; what is your name?'
"'My name is Bella, too,' she said. Wasn't that wonderful?
"As I walked home, I saw such a sweet little white girl, carried in the arms of a great black woman, whose head looked like an immense butterfly, fastened on her shoulders; for she had a handkerchief on it, of all the colors of the rainbow,and it was spread out on either side like wings.
"The sweet little child seemed to love her black nurse dearly, for as I walked behind, I saw her press her tender, lovely, pink and white cheek, close against the dusky face of her nurse, and I heard her say in a sweet lisping tone: 'Oh, Binah, I love you. When I go to Heaven, I will take you with me. Oh, B-i-n-a-h!' she said thislast word just like the cooing of a little dove.
"'Bress de darlin' chile,' said Binah. 'I am gwine backnow, little missis. Ole Binah hab to go to Heben fust, and wait dere for little darlin' missis.'
"You see Binah meant by 'gwine back now,' that she was old. When people are old, they say, they are going 'down hill,' but Binah said, 'going back.' You are climbingupthe hill oflife, my dear little Bella; and I pray that God will lead you in the right path, and then the hill both up and down will end in a happy home in Heaven.
"Dear me! what a long letter. Give my best love to papa and sister; and kiss yourself on your dear little cheek if you can, for your loving
"Mother."
Here is Bella's answer:
"Darling Mamma,
"I was so glad to get your letter! What a naughty little girl that was in the church! She behaved twice as bad as me. I speak out loud sometimes, not very often; only sometimes. I had a party yesterday—Minnie, and Lilly, and Jeannie; and we had tea out of my cups and saucers that Cousin Caroline gave me—real tea—and one orange that papabrought home—it was all pulled to pieces, and we eat it all up.
"We played with my paper dolls; and one of them, Miss Hattie Smith, knocked down a little table andbrokeone of my glass candlestickers, that Cousin Caroline gave me.
"Really, and truly, Ifoundit broke; but we made believe that she broke it because she is so ugly.
"Dolly has been very naughty. She fighted with sister's Kitty, and Kitty tore all the lace off her cap. Kitty slapped her first. Then sister Edith told dolly and Kitty about 'dogs delight to bark and bite,' and dolly was so sorry, and Kitty too; and they never mean to do so any more—never—sister Edith mended the cap, and she is good now—next time papa brings me candy, Iwill give her a big piece—only pretend, you know—for her mouth can't open like mine, it is all shut up tight—what a pity! Oh mamma! I want to see you so much, I don't know what to do. Why can't the postman bring you home? Oh mamma, I can't wait any longer."
Here poor little Bella began to cry; and her papa thought her letter was long enough, andthat the little thing was tired, as well as grieved. So he folded up the letter, and took Bella upon his knee, and kissed her, and wiped away her tears, and said: "My darling little pet, would you like to hear a story that I know?"
"Oh yes, papa," said Bella, lifting her head from his breast, and smiling: though a great tear still trembled on her long lashes, "I love a story."
"And I love you," said her papa; "so here it is."
PAPA'S STORY.THE DINNER PARTY.
"Once upon a time, there lived a little girl, named Edith. She was a dear good little puss, and that was the reason everybody loved her. Don't you think it was a very good reason?"
"Yes, papa," said Bella; and she squeezed her soft cheek lovingly against him, and he gave her a little hug; and then they went on again quite comfortable with the story.
"Well, one day her papa said to her mamma, 'My dear, I shall not be home to-day to dinner; but what shall I order for yours?'
"'Well, dear,' she answered, 'I think one beef-steak, andsome green peas, and potatoes, will do for Edith and me; and the cook shall make a poor man's pudding, with raisins in it; that will be a very nice little dinner.'
"'If I see any thing very nice, I will send that too.'
"'Very well.' Then Edith's papa kissed all the family. It did not take him very long, for he had only Edith and her mamma for a family atthat time; and then he went away.
"Pretty soon after, Edith said: 'Mamma, will you please to let me go next door, and play with Annie, and Mary?'
"'Yes, dear,' answered her mother; 'but do not forget to come home at five o'clock to dinner.'
"Edith promised to come, and then skipped joyfully off—withher best doll, Miss Polly Dolly Adeline, and two big apples to play 'party' with, and in a few minutes her mother thought there must be at least twenty children next door, instead of three; for they were having such a good time that they made noise enough to frighten the crows into fits, if any crows happened that way.
WHO SHOULD COME IN BUT THE FAT COOK, WITH A GREAT GOOSE.WHO SHOULD COME IN BUT THE FAT COOK, WITH A GREAT GOOSE.
"As her mother was sitting at her sewing, some one knockedat the door, and who should come in, but the fat cook, with a great goose, fatter than she was; who cried out: 'Only see what a big goost, mum; and only you and Miss Edith to eat it; besides a beef-steak to brile, and peas and potatoes.'
"'Dear me,' said her mistress, 'we could not eat a quarter of that goose. Save it for to-morrow, Mrs. Jellybag. Only cookthe beef-steak and vegetables; and make a poor man's pudding, with raisins, for dessert; that will do nicely.' So the fat cook put the fat goose carefully away in the refrigerator; then she shelled enough peas for a small dish, and peeled about a dozen potatoes, and prepared the raisins for the pudding, and had them all nicely done in time.
"When five o'clock came, the bell rang for dinner, and Edith'smother went down, and took her seat at the table.
"Just then she heard a whole chorus of merry little voices, and to her great surprise, in marched Edith, and seven little girls after her! They were all nearly of the same size, with their hair braided in two tails apiece, as fine as you please.
"'Why, Edith!!' exclaimed her mother.
"'Yes, mamma,' said Edith,'I told them to come in and get some dinner, and some nice poor man's pudding, with raisins in it; they are Annie's and Mary's cousins. They are real nice, and we are having such fun!'
"You see Edith had no idea that her mother would not like her bringing the little girls in to dine with her; she did notmeanto do wrong; and her eyes glittered so brightly withpleasure at having so many friends, that her mamma burst out laughing; and then Edith and all the children giggled in such a funny way, that I do believe if the Mayor of New York could have seen their happy faces, he would have given his best wig, to have such pleasant people athisdinner parties.
"And now the children began to stare at the beef-steak with hungry eyes; and Edith's motherthought it grew smaller and smaller, and was afraid if she gave each one a piece, they would swallow the whole of it at once like a pill. Dear me! how she did wish the goose had been cooked; but there was no help for it now: so seven extra plates were set, like buttons round the table, and seven extra knives and forks were laid across like button holes, and seven extragoblins(as littleEdith called the 'goblets') stared down at the plates, and seven extra chairs were rattled up and scratched up to the table, by the children themselves, because the waiting-maid was almost crazy with so much company; and down they sat in a prodigious hurry, and the dinner began.
"Such a famous dinner as it was! Perfectly delicious. If there had only been a little more of it. But never mind, theknives and forks rattled merrily, and the children laughed, and the two long braids of hair on each head flew right and left so fast, that the flies couldn't get near the table to taste of a thing, and were almost distracted when they saw every single crumb eaten up, and the plates nearly scraped into holes.
"Here is the portrait of the cook as she looked when thewaiter brought the beef-steak dish.
Beef-steak dish
"But when the poor man's pudding came in, smoking like a Turk, and speckled in every direction with great black raisins, oh! then was the time for brightlooks! and when one little girl clapped her hands, and exclaimed, 'My! that looks good!' all the rest laughed, and whisked their heads round so, that it was quite fortunate their braids were fast at one end, or they would have been shaken off up the chimney, and out of the door, and nobody knows where else.
"The best thing was, that there was plenty of pudding, and the children thought it wasthe very nicest they had ever eaten, particularly as the maid brought to each one the bowl of powdered sugar—so that they mighthelp themselvesto as much as they liked—thatmade a great difference, I can tell you! and they showered down the sugar in grand style—they put it on good and thick, just as much sugar as pudding, and that was what made it so very nice; besides, Edith had whisperedto her mamma to give the company 'all the raisinest parts!!because that was the way to be polite to company,' and so her mother did—and they had a grand time picking out the raisins to eat by themselves—and the little spoons went so fast, chopping at the pudding, and clicking on the plates, that Edith's mother said it sounded like little stone-cutters at work—at which theygrew perfectly red in their faces laughing at themselves.
"Didn't they have a fine time? I think so—and I laughed very much—oh!—I mean, Edith's papa laughed, when he came home and heard about the grand dinner-party, all out of one small beef-steak, and a poor man's pudding. There! how do you like that story?"
"Oh, papa!Iknow," exclaimedBella, laughing, and patting his cheek. "I found you out! it was sister Edith! wasn't it? Dear me! what a funny girl! Did you ever!"
"Yes, it was her, and she was a funny girl—and you are a little darling—and now, kiss papa, and run off to bed."
"A letterfor Miss Bella Curtis; two cents!" bawled the postman.
He was in a hurry this time, and Bella had to run so fast for the money, that it was quite a wonder that she did not getthin after it—only she laughed, too, just as much—and perhaps that may be the reason.
She began to feel as if she was quite a big woman, to be giving the postman so much business to do; and she carried her new letter in great state to her sister, and listened to the reading of it with all her heart and both her ears.
It began thus:—
"Savannah.
"Dear, Darling Bella:
"I was perfectly delighted with your funny little letter, telling me all the news about your party, and dolly, and Kitty.
"I am now in Savannah. It is a most beautiful city, and the people in it are very good and kind. The evening before I left Charleston, a lady came to see me, bringing with her adear little boy who looked and acted just like Stanny. I told him the story of 'Little Red Ridinghood,' and I thought his eyes would pop out of his head when the wolf eat her up. You see, I growled and snapped my teeth, just like a wolf.
"Then I drew him a picture of the wolf in a bob-tailed coat, talking to Little Red Ridinghood in the wood; and I madehim a paper fly-cage, and a paper windmill.
"He looked at them very much pleased, and said: 'But—say—Idon't know which to give to my little brother.'
"I laughed, for I saw that he wanted them all himself, and yet loved his little brother so much that he wanted to give them to him, so I said: 'If you will kiss me and call me "Aunt Fanny," I will make some for him, too.'
"Then he put his arms round my neck, and kissed me so hard, that it made his dear little nosequite flat for a moment, and said: 'Thank you, Mrs. Aunt Fanny;' and I made him another picture, and cage, and windmill, and then he was delighted.
"There are two beautiful little children in this house, who are twins, because they came into this world at the very same time. They are each six years old—a boy and a girl.
"I asked Richard where hecame from? He said: 'Why, don't you know? Sally and I were dug up from under a cotton tree.' Wasn't that funny?
"Then his mamma said: 'Richard, sing "Morning's ruddy beams, in the Eastern sky,"' and he shouted out—
"'Morning'sreadybeamsEascum eascum skri,'
then stopped, and giving one eye a queer little twist, said:'How doesthatsuit you?' In the afternoon the children went to a party, and Richard brought home an orange for his mother, and said: 'I'm going to save this for your Christmas present,' which sounded very funny as Christmas was eight months off.
"The next morning we had flannel cakes for breakfast. Really, and truly, they are made of eggs, milk, and flour;but just for fun I pretended to be astonished, and exclaimed: 'Flannel Cakes! Dear me! who ever heard of such a thing? Why, Richard, whatarethey made of? Flannel?'
"'Why, no, you goose,' said Richard, 'they are made offlannel flour.'
"I could not help laughing when he called me a goose; but his mother said he was very naughty; and then he ranand hid his head in her dress and began to cry. You see, he was a little bit of a boy—and did not mean to be impolite—and I think myself, I would have been a goose, if Ihadreally and truly believed the cakes were made of flannel; don't you, you little darling?
"I have a very curious snake-skin to show you when I return. Edward, Richard's big brother, found it in thewoods, and made it a present to me. A snake! What a present! and to think of a snake wanting to wriggle out of his skin! You wouldn't do such a thing, would you?
"Yesterday a beautiful little mulatto girl came to see me, and brought me, from her mistress, a basket full of splendid flowers. She was about five years old. A great black man with his head covered withwhite wool came with her to take care of her, because she was so little. He looked as if he had been out in a snowstorm without his hat; but really his head was white because he was so old. His name was Jeringo. 'Well, little one,' said I, 'what is your name?'
"'My name Georgia, and I can tell you a story. It is about Blue Man's Beard.'
"'Oh,' said I, 'I would like to hear that very much indeed.'
"Then she put one little fat hand over the other, drew a long breath, and began: 'Blue Man's Beard, he dreffel cross, I tell you; and he say to hesister, "Now, don't you go in de rooms; you hear?" and she say, "No, neber;" but she tell story, and go; and oh, my! she drop de key, and de key he cum all over wid blood, andshe try, try, try, to wipe um off. But he no cum off—and Blue Man's Beard, he say: "If you don't cum down I gib you popping." Den her brother he cum and tote her off to he home, and make a big fire, and burn Blue Man's Beard all up in de fire.'
"'Oh,' said I, 'how glad I am! Aren't you glad?'
"'Ah, no,' she replied, 'I don't want any body to beburn up—make 'em hurt:' which answer made me feel quite ashamed, because I was more cruel than she; then I gave Georgia some money, and sent her home quite happy. What do you think of that story? Don't the little mulatto girl talk queerly? All the black people talk so.
"The other night I felt quite ill, and the dear friend with whom I am staying sent Hannah,a black girl, up to me with a tub of warm water to bathe my feet. She dropped a little bobbing courtesy, and said: 'Please missis, you ain't berry well, I'se want to wash you foot.'
"'Oh dear, no, Hannah, I cannot let you bathe my feet; I always do that for myself.'
"'Ohdo, please missis; I ain't got noting to do. Iliketo wash um.'
"'But, Hannah, I shall feel very funny to have you poking at my toes.'
"'Now missis,do,' said Hannah, in a coaxing tone; 'I'll do um fust rate.'
"Her eyes looked so big, and she made such a queer face at me, that I turned round to laugh; when I looked back she was standing at the long glass making courtesies to herself; then she turned round,and twisted her head till I thought she would crack it off—and stared at her back and made some more courtesies—and I had to laugh out loud, and she looked quite ashamed.
"Then I said: 'Hannah, do you really want to bathe my feet?'
"''Strue as you live, missis.'
"'Would you like me to read to you?'
"'Oh do, missis! tank you.'
"'Well, then, you may, and I will read Little Susy's Six Birthdays to you.'
"That seemed to be a most delightful idea—and she pulled off my boots and stockings in a great hurry, and lifted my feet into the water, and passed her hands so gently over my ankles that it really seemed to do me good; but when she poked between my toes, she tickled me so dreadfully that I squealed,and laughed, and came very near upsetting the tub of water.
"But she liked the book very much, and her great black eyes were full of love and gratitude as she thanked me; and I thanked her, and gave her a penny; but she liked mythanking herbetter than the penny.
"I have bought you a pretty little green parasol; and I love you, oh! so dearly! you precious little roly-poly tweedle-dediamond-darling! What do you think of that for a love name? you sweet little humpy-dumpy tweedle-dum rosebud robin! there's another; from your loving
"Mother."
How Bella laughed at the love-names, and how happy they made her, is more than I can describe; but she cuddled up to Edith, and whispered:
"Dearlittlemamma," and that was all she said.
The next day was Sunday. Bella was old enough to go to church, and she behaved very well.
Just before they went in, her father said: "Bella, there will be a collection taken up to-day, and here is a nice new penny for you to put in the plate."
"What plate, papa?"
"Why, the plate for themoney that is given to the poor. You will see six of them on the table just under the pulpit."
Bella had never put any money in the plate before, and she was quite pleased.
When they were seated in their pew in the middle aisle, a little bit of a boy wanted to come in, because his papa's pew was quite crowded. His name was Eddie; and he knew Bella very well. So in he came, andthe two children sat next the door.
Presently, Bella whispered: "Look, Eddie, look at my new penny. I am going to put it in the plate for the poor peoples."
"Why, I've got a penny, too, most as bright as yours; but where is the plate?"
They looked all over the church, and at last spied the plates on the table.
"When will we put it in?" said Bella.
"Why, now; let's go now," said Eddie.
"Why, of course," said Bella.
Then, before her father could stop her, she opened the pew door, and stepped out with Eddie, and hand in hand the two little children marched gravely up the aisle, to the table under the pulpit; and standing on tiptoe, put theirbright pennies into the plate; and then hand in hand gravely marched back.[A]
They did not know that they were doing what would make everybody look at them in astonishment. No, indeed! they were in a hurry to help the poor people; and I think everybody in the church understood it, and looked with loving eyes upon the little ones.
The next day Bella told her papa what to say, and he wrote her mother this letter:
"Dear, Darling Mamma:
"Yesterday I gave the poor peoples a penny in church. So did Eddie. We went together and put it in the plate. Aren't you glad, the poor peoples have so much money? I am.
"Sister Edith showed me such a 'lightful play. She didput me on the end of the sofa, and I go backward and forward, backward and forward, and she sings:
'Grandmamma's sick,And is going to die,And nothing will cure herBut aturn-over pie;'
and then I go tumbledy over backward on the sofa so nice! Don't you wish you could play it?
"Georgia told the story the wrong way; it was Blue Beard'swife, not his sister. Of course it was! She is a funny girl. I wish she would come and play with me.
"O dear, darling mamma! when will you come? I want you so bad. I hope you are most well this day. Can you bring me a kitten? Please do; and put it in a piece of paper, and tie it up tight, so it won'tget out. Miss Hattie's head is most torn off; but I don't care, 'cause she's only made of paper, and she is so ugly. I have painted her all over with red spots—and now she looks just like a leopard—I call her apig-leopard—don't tell anybody.
"How funny for Hannah to tickle your toes! My toes make me squeal, too, when they are washed; and—and—I don't know any more, papa."
So this letter was finished—and Bella's mother thought this and the others were lovely letters—and I should not be surprised if she keeps them as long as she lives.
FOOTNOTE:[A]A fact.
[A]A fact.
[A]A fact.
"A letterfor Miss Bella Curtis," shouted the postman; "four cents." It was quite a thick letter this time, and Bella had to pay twice two cents for it. How much was that? If you will give me a kiss I willtell you—two and two make four.
But, dear me! she was just as glad to get it—and I do believe if she had had four dollars she would have given every speck of it for one letter. Why, certainly! A letter from yourmother?—youwould do so, too. Of course you would, you sweet little Ba-be-bi-bo-BOO!!!
So it was taken to Edith, andif you had been an hundred years old, you would have felt quite young again—only to have watched Bella's eyes while the letter was read—diamonds don't sparkle half as much, and I for one would rather have had her bright eyes to look at, than a whole bushel of diamonds, each as big as my head.
The delightful letter commenced thus:
"Charleston.
"Dear, Darling Bella:
"I have your sweet little letter, and I am so much obliged to you for telling papa such nice things to write to me, that I have sent you a long, long answer in return, which I hope will please you.
"I left Savannah yesterday. When I was leaving, I kissed little Richard, and said: 'Good-bye,Richard; don't forget Aunt Fanny.'
GOOD-BYE, RICHARD, DON'T FORGET AUNT FANNY.GOOD-BYE, RICHARD, DON'T FORGET AUNT FANNY.
"'I forgot you already,' he shouted. Then I kissed Sallie, the twin-girl, and she said so sweetly: 'Aunt Fanny, can you remember where Bella lives? If you can find her house, go and tell her I am coming to see her—next day before to-morrow.'
"Wasn't it funny that she should think I had been solong away from you, my little darling, that I had forgotten where you lived?
"Do you remember a story I once read to you, about 'Good Little Henry,' in a book called 'Nightcaps'? Well, strange to say, I know this Henry, and love him very much. He is now almost a young man, and just as good as ever; yes! better than ever, for he is the comfort and joy of his father andmother. Only think, dear Bella! that from a good and lovely little child he has grown better and lovelier every year, till now he is almost a man. God loves Henry; and He has helped him to be good, and He will love you and help you to be good, if you will ask Him.
"I tell you all this now, because in looking over my writing-desk a moment ago, I came upon an amusing storyHenry wrote to me, about some little cousins of his."
Of course you would like to know what he wrote, and here it is:
"One day my dear Aunt Sarah was sitting up-stairs with the children, when the front door bell rang, and the servant came up and said: 'Mr. Robinson wants to see you, ma'am.' So aunt put on her best collar, and a littlelace cap, and down she went.
"'My!' said Loulou, 'I should like to see him, too.'
"'So should I,' said Bolton, whose pet name is 'Pepper.'
"'Dear me! I, too,' cried Anna, whose pet name is 'Tot.'
"'And me! me! me!' said little Walter, jumping up and down.
"So Loulou, in a great state of delight, rushed up to thewashstand and washed her face and hands; then she took Pepper and scrubbed him well—rubbing his nose almost off to get his face dry—and dressed him in all his best Sunday clothes, and told him to sit down in his little chair, perfectly stiff and straight, till the rest were ready; and down little Pepper sat, and hardly dared to wink, for fear of getting his clothes tumbled.
"Then she took little Tot, and polished her face, and brushed her hair as hard as she could, and Tot never cried the least bit, when Loulou accidentally turned the brush round and gave her a thump with the back of it; but just sat down by Pepper when her dressing was over, and kept as still and looked as grave as if she were in church.
"And now Loulou took dearlittle Walter in hands, and made him as fine as you please; and then they all marched down stairs on tip-toe, trembling with expectation.
"They opened the parlor door and entered very softly, and stared with all their eyes. But where was he?
"There was nobody there but their mamma, and a very quiet-looking gentleman in a plain black coat, and a pair ofspectacles, set on the very end of his nose, who appeared to be showing her some curious coins.
ROBINSON CRUSOE.ROBINSON CRUSOE.
"The children stood perfectly still for a moment. They seemed to be struck dumb. Then Loulou exclaimed:
"'Why,mamma, we have come down on purpose to seeRobinson Crusoe!! all dressed in fur, with his monkeys and parrots, and Man Friday. Whereishe, mamma? wherehashe gone?' and they looked again in every corner of the room.
"How her mamma did laugh! and how Mr. Robinson did laugh! when they found that the children thought that Robinson Crusoe had come to see them; but Loulou and the rest of the dear little children were dreadfully disappointed. Wasn't that a pity?
"And now I have a greatsecret to tell you; I am so much better, and I want to see you s—o much, that I mean to return home in the steamship which leaves on Saturday. This is Thursday—you will get this long letter next Monday—and on Tuesday have ready at least a hundred kisses, and fifty squeezes for your loving
"Mamma."
"Oh!"screamed Bella, joyfully, "mamma coming home? Oh! oh! oh!" and she commenced to dance about the room, and laugh, and sing so many little songs, that Edith thought there must be a musicalsnuff-box inside of her; particularly as she stopped to give two funny little sneezes, and then went on again. She could hardly sit still a moment all the rest of the day; and she begged to be put to bed earlier than usual, so that the "next day might come faster."
Sure enough! the next day a carriage drove up to the door. It was raining, and Bella had to stay in the room for fear shewould take cold. She fastened her face to the window, and trembling with eagerness, saw the coachman open the door. Agentlemangot out—Bella's face looked as if somebody had thrown a pail of cold water in it—but, the next moment, the gentleman handed out her mamma, her very own mamma! and then in an ecstasy of delight, the little girl rushed to the door, and then it was worthmore than all Barnum's Museum to see the meeting. I believe I can't tell it—I cannot write it well enough; but all you dear little children know how glad you are to see your kind mothers after they have been away from you; and you canfeelthis, much better than I can write it.
And so ended the Little Nightcap Letters; and though Bella cherished them as herdearest treasures, and means to keep them, she says, to show to her children; yet, she would rather have her own "real, true" mamma to kiss, and love, and keep close to; and she never means to part with her again, if she can help it.
That is just the way you feel, isn't it, you little darling?
Transcriber's Notes:Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.