EMMA'S COUSIN--MY NEXT MAMMA.
Next day Emma dressed herself very neatly, and rode over to her
cousin's, which was about five miles from her father's house. Emma
cried all the way, and I, in spite of myself, could not help crying
too. At last we arrived at a very splendid mansion-house, where Emma's
cousin lived. Her aunt was very glad to have Emma come, and Celeste
was very much pleased with her doll, although she said she was almost
too old to have a doll. By and by Emma went home, and I was left in
the hands of my new mamma. She then called her brother, Maximilian
Belmont, to see her doll, which he thought was very pretty indeed.
My last mother had told me that her aunt was a "baroness," and her
uncle a "baron," which I was very glad to hear, as I thought I should
see some very high life. The next day my new mother went out with her
governess to buy some things for me, and as they could not buy any
thing fit for me in the country, they went into town. They went to
the very same place where I was first bought by my first mamma, Lucy,
and bought me a swinging bed, with mattress, and all complete; also a
tea-set, bureau, piano, a set of parlor furniture, and a most beautiful
bracelet, necklace, ring, and a pair of ear-rings. We next drove to
a jeweller's, and had my ears pierced, and the bracelet was marked
"Josephine Arnoldson." I forgot to say that my mother bought me a most
beautiful little house that I could live in, and had it carpeted,
papered, painted and furnished. The next day my mother's governess cut
out some dresses for me. I had morning dresses, afternoon, visiting,
riding, party and ball dresses. My party and ball dresses were so very
handsome indeed, that I think I must let my readers know what I had.
My party dress was a pink silk, looped up in front, showing a white
satin skirt embroidered up and down with flowers over the silk. My ball
dress was a white satin with white crape over it, and small bouquets
down the front, white kid gloves, an embroidered handkerchief, white
silk stockings, and white satin slippers. Also a most beautiful wreath
of orange flowers and forget-me-nots for my hair, for I had real hair
which curled.
[Illustration: _Celeste Belmont's house P 20_]