The Little Nightcap Letters

It would have delighted you to see little Bella "helping." She ran all round the room, to find something to put in the trunks. She tucked a little cake of soap into one corner, and half a dozen hair pins in another; and then hunting in her funny little pocket, she found two gum drops, which her Cousin George had given to her – these she did up in a scrap of paper, and very carefully stowed away under the fold of a pair of stockings.

Well, at last the time came to say "good-bye," and poor little Bella clung to her mother, and the great sobs would come, and no one could blame her, for her mamma was crying too – and her little Bella's face was covered with tears as well as kisses. But this dear mamma had to go – and the steamship went swiftly away with her, and in a little while she could no longer see the great city of New York, where her darling lived.

Bella cried a long time, and did not want to go back into her mamma's room. At last she thought she would go. On the bed was a large paper parcel. Something was written on the paper, and she called her sister to "read the reading" to her.

"Why! what's this?" exclaimed Edith. "'For my little Bella.' How very strange."

"Dear me," cried Bella, giving a jump; "it must be for me – 'spose I look? I want to look so much."

"Certainly," said Edith. Then the paper was taken off by the little girl's dimpled fingers, and there was displayed a most beautiful bedstead, with a lovely baby tucked up in it, fast asleep!

I only wish you could have seen the dimples on Bella's face then! and the sparkles in her eyes! She softly lifted the baby up – and pop! her blue eyes opened as wide as possible – and she never cried a bit, but just looked at Bella, not the least afraid of being among strangers.

Then Bella laid her gently down, and the good little thing shut her eyes and went fast asleep again.

"My pasense!" said Bella, "I'm apprised! What a dear baby! Is it for me?"

"It must be," said Edith; "but wait, here is a little letter pinned fast to her sleeve. Let's see what it says."

"A letter," cried Bella; "must I pay two cents for it?" and she ran to get her little velvet purse.

"You will not have to pay for this one, because the baby brought it – it is only the postman that wants two cents."

So Edith opened the letter, and Bella jumped up and down all the time her sister was reading these loving words: —

FIRST LETTER

"Dear Darling Bella:

"Here is a present for you of this little bedstead, and the pretty doll baby; who will go to sleep the moment you put her in bed. Don't cry any more, my little kitten, and rosebud, and pearl, and dove. I will pray to our Heavenly Father to take care of us both, and before long you will be clasped tight in the arms of your loving mother."

The little girl's lip trembled, as Edith finished the letter; but she lifted up the baby just then – and the blue eyes opened so suddenly, that it set Bella laughing – and she said lovingly: "Pessus keeter, come to mamma," and so the little mamma that couldn't say "precious creature" plain, forgot to cry.

"Why! only see here!" exclaimed Edith, "here is another bundle under the bedstead! It must have come from the moon;" and drawing it out, she handed it to Bella.

"Oh! how 'lightful," cried Bella. "Two bundles! I shall jump out of the window for joy."

And now the paper was eagerly taken off, and lo! and behold! there was a most beautiful pair of little brown gaiter boots.

"With heels!" screamed Bella. "How grandy! like a big lady! look, Edith – heels!"

"Did I ever!" said Edith, lifting up her hands, "you will tumble down stairs the very first time you wear them."

"Boots with heels!" and Bella began to try them on. Something stiff rattled inside – and she put in her hand and pulled out – another letter! It was almost too good to be true.

But Edith soon read these kind words:

SECOND LETTER

"My little Darling:

"Here are a pair of boots for your dear little feet, with the heels on them, that you wanted so much.

"Be careful to go down stairs very slowly, for fear you might catch your heels on the edge, and fall and hurt yourself.

"Don't let your little heel,
Bump your little head;
That would hurt a deal,
And make it very red.
Then so bad 'twould feel,
Like a lump of lead.
First with careful zeal,
Very gently tread;
Do not jump or squeal,
Precious little maid.
But, when at your meal,
Eating milk and bread,
Sing a merry peal,
Without any dread.
Dance a little reel,
Then skip up to bed."

"Oh, how nice," cried Bella, when Edith had finished. "I like that. It is so jingly and jangly."

"Why! how you talk!" said Edith, laughing. "It's poetry."

"Is it?" said Bella. "O – h!"

She put both her precious letters in her drawer, and then played with her baby all the rest of the day. I believe the good little thing went to sleep, and woke up again that day about fifty-nine times – maybe sixty.

THE FIRST LETTER FROM CHARLESTON

About a week after this, there came such a tremendous ring at the bell, that both the fat cook and the waiter rushed to the door, and when it was opened, there stood the postman! bawling out, "A letter for Miss Bella Curtis! Two cents!"

How Miss Bella Curtis did scamper for her two cents to pay the postman! and how delighted she looked when he gave her the letter! The postman thought there must at least be a gold watch inside of it, she seemed so pleased.

Bella tore the envelope all to pieces in her hurry to open her letter; and then she fell over sideways from the little bench in her hurry to sit down – but at last she was settled as still as you could expect under such delightful circumstances – and Edith read this.

THIRD LETTER

    "Charleston, March.

"Dear Darling Bella:

"Here I am all safe, sitting in a pleasant room, with the window opened – listening to the singing of the pretty birds, and looking at three little black picaninnies over the way, playing with a small white dog. They throw a little stick as far as ever they can, and then the little dog rushes after it, in such a hurry, that you would think he was going to leave his tail behind him; but he don't, because it is fastened on so very tight. The next minute he trots back with the stick in his mouth, and hands it with his mouth, you know, very politely to the children, while they jump up and down, and squeal, because they are so pleased.

"Now they have all scrambled heels over head into the yard, and shut the dog's tail in the gate; but he pulled it through, and so I can't see them any more.