By the author of _Moral Tales_ and _Practical Education_.
Feb. 16_.
I hope my dearest aunt will not disdain the work of my little bungling
hands. The vandykes of this apron are such as Vandyke would scorn; poor
little pitiful things they be! and will be in rags in a fortnight no
doubt. But if you knew the pains I have taken with them, and what
pleasure I have had in doing them, even all wrong, you would hang them
round you with satisfaction. By the time it is completely _roved_ away I
shall be with you and _bind_ it over to its good behaviour, so that it
shall never rove _again_ me. Love me and laugh at me as you have done
many is the year.
The crocuses and snowdrops in my garden are beautiful; my
green-board-edged beds and green trellis make it absolutely a wooden
paradise.