NELLY'S PRESENT.
When Mrs. Gray reached home, she found a letter there for her from her
brother. She read it through, looking very much pleased; and then she
told Nelly that her father and mother sent their love to her, and hoped
she would come home very soon.
It was now more than a year since she came to live with her aunt; and
she was delighted with the idea of the visit. "But I shall come right
back again with you, shan't I?" and she gazed earnestly in her aunt's
face.
"We will see about that," said the lady, "when we get there." And then
she added, "I couldn't spare you at all, my little girl. I hope to have
you with me for a good many years yet."
Nelly was so much pleased at this, that she jumped up and kissed her
aunt, and exclaimed, "I love you dearly, dearly!"
Two days later, when they were a little rested from their journey, the
same carriage and horses came to the door, and they drove away toward
Nelly's old home. It was only twelve miles, and the horses trotted over
the road very quickly, so that in less than two hours they came in sight
of the pleasant orchards and gardens surrounding Mr. Nelson's house.
Then Mrs. Gray, after a smiling glance at her husband, said, "Nelly,
your mamma has a pretty present for you at home."
"What is it, aunty? I can't think of any thing that I want."
"It is the best present you ever had, my dear," said the lady, smiling.
"O, I guess it's a watch," cried Frankie, in an animated tone.
"No, it's a little brother," said aunty; "a darling baby brother."
Nelly opened wide her bright blue eyes, and then gave a scream of joy.
It was well they were just riding up the avenue to the house, or they
might not have been able to keep the excited child in the carriage.
"Where's my baby? Where's my brother?" she called out, running up the
steps and into the front door.
Fortunately her father was in the library. He came quickly to the door
to welcome Nelly and his friends.
She could scarcely stop to give him a kiss, before she said, "I want to
see my baby, papa--where is it?"
"Run very softly up in the nursery," said the gentleman, laughing at her
impatience. "You will find it there with Maria."
Nelly darted up the stairs, and was presently kneeling on the floor by
the cradle which held the tiny form of the baby. When her aunt gently
followed her into the room, she saw her, with flushed cheeks and
wondering eyes, still gazing at the sleeping babe.
Presently she turned away with an air of disappointment. "It isn't as
large as my great dolly," she said.
Maria, who had charge of the infant, now returned from the next room,
and began to welcome Nelly home again. She courtesied to Mrs. Gray,
though the lady could see that she had never forgiven her for not
allowing her to remain with the little girl.
"How is Mrs. Nelson?" asked Mrs. Gray.
"Very poorly as yet, ma'am. She is in the next room."
"Why, mamma, are you sick?" inquired Nelly, running into the chamber,
and climbing on the side of the bed.
"Take care, Nelly," cried her aunt. "Don't jar the bed so; your mamma
has been very ill."
"I'm sorry," said the little girl, affectionately, and she kissed her
mother's pale hand. "May I show Frankie my baby now?" she asked, turning
to her aunt.
"If you will go very softly, dear. Remember, noise will make your mamma
worse." Then Mrs. Gray went into the next room, and took off her bonnet
and shawl. After this, she returned to the nursery, where the baby was
still sleeping.
Nelly and her cousin were just going out, each walking on tip-toe, so as
not to hurt mamma.
"I never saw a child so much changed," said the old lady who took care
of Mrs. Nelson. "I was here two years ago to nurse her mother; and she
was the torment of the house."
"She is very easily managed, now," answered Mrs. Gray. "She obeys my
slightest look."
"We've a little mite of a fellow in there," said the good nurse; "he
only weighed three pounds and a quarter with his clothes on. I never
thought he would live till this time."
"Is he quiet?" asked the aunt.
"He has turns of screaming dreadfully," answered the nurse. "That is
what has kept his mother so ill."
At this moment they heard Mr. Gray and Mr. Nelson coming up the stairs,
and the nurse opened the door and beckoned them into the nursery, as the
sick lady was trying to get some sleep while the baby was quiet.
Maria had been sitting in the room with her work; but now she arose and
said, "Baby will be likely to sleep a spell now, and I'll go down to the
kitchen and do my ironing."
"I will take care of him till you return," said Mrs. Gray.
Her husband and Willie were to ride home in the afternoon, and so her
brother had invited them up to see his little son. He seemed very
anxious about the baby, and asked his sister whether she thought it
would live.
Before she answered, the lady bent gently over the cradle, and put her
ear down to its chest. It was in such a deep sleep that it almost seemed
as if it were already dead. "I cannot tell," she said, seriously, "until
I have seen it when awake."
After dinner, before her husband returned home, she called him into the
parlor, and told him she was afraid Maria gave the baby something to
make it sleep so heavily, and she was determined to stay and watch her,
and try to save the dear child.