ONE evening the little nightcap mother said: "Children, I have had a
most charming present. It is a copy of some letters and stories that
were written and told to your little friend, Bella Curtis. They are a
kind of baby stories, for children like Minnie. Do you think you shall
like them? Do _you_ Charley?"
Then the children all shouted out "Certainly! Of course! the baby
stories are the best! no, not the best, but just as good as the _old_
stories--yes, mamma, do read them. Letters! why that is something
new--how very nice."
"But I don't want to hear A--B--C," cried little Minnie, who was just
learning her letters, and thought it very hard work--"I don't like
letters a bit."
How the children did laugh when they saw Minnie's long face, and heard
her queer speech; but they soon explained to her, that these letters
were a new sort of delightful story--upon which she folded her little
fat hands and sat down quite comforted, that these letters had nothing
to do with her A, B, C.
And Charley said: "I love that dear little Bella, mamma, and I shall be
so pleased to hear her letters. I thank her very much for sending them
to you."
Then the children seated themselves, and puckered up their mouths--so as
to keep all the little laughs in. They couldn't keep their eyes from
sparkling; but as that could be done without making a noise--it was
rather a help, as it showed how delighted they expected to be--and gave
the little mother such a happy look, that they came very near all
rushing upon her to kiss her; but they managed to keep still, and the
new nightcap letters began as follows:--