"_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.
[Illustration: A LETTER FOR MISS BELLA CURTIS! TWO CENTS!!]