Mabel, Vol. I (of 3)

ot, the thing yo

ime, without making himself acquainted with its details, the time when it arrives and leaves? And who ever entirely lose

re brought by a man-who could hardly be dignified by the tit

irection to secure any letters there might be for them, without waiting for their tardy delivery. They were often joined b

them with a smile, "we are all going t

eems to have sufficient interest to make even

ing the man turn the corner, besides, as he is so uncertain, one is

t him, and yet there is seldom more than

hich is often worth more to me than a letter. I used to think when a person took great in

t think so sti

outer world till the letters of the day have been read. Good and bad news must frequently come by letter, and, therefor

is is sometimes carried too far, and may

ifferent on common subjects, but too great at

quite anxious on seeing the man coming, and then when I open my lette

ally hoping for, dear

ance, but at this moment the postman himself

ters, and being anxious to convey one home to his ne

im, "let us see which will get home first, for mamm

ut Mabel quickly followed

r from aunt Villars," sa

think it can be from Caroline, for there is

see if they are at Ch

re they are, but you must not hurry me, or my head will b

enty of time; come, Amy dear

ore she again ventured to ask a

ars at Chelte

ut only for a we

ee us now she is so

Mrs. Lesly, taking up the letter, (some part of the au

it

er some how on Monday, and remain till Tuesday. If not asking too much of my dear sister, I shall leave Lucy with you; she is not quite well, and a run in the cou

ce, mamma,"

id Mrs. Lesly, "but I do not know what to say to

kind to refuse

her mother. "I quite forget how old Lucy i

and says she will be very good; if she were grown

naughty as little ones; so either way she was right to promise. Well, we must have

he windows every morning, myself, so t

er, I suppose," replied her mother

there to-day, and I will see

nything like arrangements, "who is to sleep in Lucy's roo

, "and if she is afraid to sleep by herself Betsy must sleep

ber once going down to Weymouth, when you were a baby. I could not tell what I should do there, being obliged to sleep at an hotel, for the first night, for we could not find a lodging, the town was so very full. So when we c

anything better than your tears-leave every

ink about it; and the next morning he was up early, managed to secure us a lodging, and made u

but you must not tease yourself about anything. Did I not promise to try and supply his place? I do not mean to let you have any trouble at all. Here is y

n never write if there is the least noise-so, perhaps, you had better go, and t

will go and look to the spare room. I will s

commodations necessary for visitors, with B

," she began, "that

k she is little at

lled her, my little

talk of grown up chi

few minutes in silence, "I had better put some of my books

ll look pretty, you may

will like the sw

r not, we must both try and make her pass her time pleasantly, yo

ith the most careful attention to comfort and convenience. Everything, in the careful arrangement which Mabel had bestowed

le?" said Mabel, appealing

age; but," added she, returning to the former subject

n do, I think, if you try; you must not talk to

abel, dear, when I

love you," said her sister, "a

u think she wi

n upon her affectionately, "if you are good; but not till she knows

presents?" said Amy, looking

presents certainly,"

t th

e them your love, before you co

rtain way of

rything that is kind; we are not easily offended by little things that might annoy us, if we did not love; and then the wish to avoid giving offence, will le

?" said Amy, who always li

ing them in any bad thing; for if we must not do wrong, we must not let

you think it would be better to wait and see? We o

tle girls, who could not teach her any good; but still, I think, if, for some reason, we were obliged to have Mary Watson here, you mig

know her now-could I

ation, is taking one step to evil; so I thought it best to avoid Mary Watson, as

l," said Amy; "when do you fi

n I ask myself if I have been as kind to

imes, and look so very sad, and I come in, a

it is not

so vexed when it is.

with tears as she spoke, "somebody lov

"I am sure that can't be true, and it is naughty to fancy unkind things; Mabel, dear, dear, Mabel," said

bel, hiding her face on Amy's shoulder, "my go

me, you could not get

on, "but we have been a long time away, and mamma must have finished her letter-come and let u

almost to a whisper, "never tell mamma o

u know I can k

mise," s

romise fa