Five Happy Weeks | Page 5

the green branches far and near.
"'Pears like," said Uncle Moses, after one of these expeditions, "'pears
like God must love posies, de way he scatter dem roun' dis yer land."

For all that Miss Josephine had been left at home, the little girls had not
been obliged to live without a doll. Kind Aunt Maria had given them
each one soon after their arrival. Out in the garden, then, with the
dollies, Luce full of enthusiasm, and barking and rolling like an
animated puff-ball, or else sitting up as straight as a judge, they were
playing queen. Mabel had just fastened the wreath on Edith's head,
when Johnnie very gravely observed,
"I think we are heartless wretches."
"Johnnie, where do you learn those big words?"
"Well, we're having such nice times, and never thinking of poor
mamma. We ought to be miserable, if we had any feeling. I heard Aunt
Chloe the other day say, 'Pore things, dey a'n't ole 'nuff to know what
dey'd lose, if dey done lose dere mudder.'"
[Illustration]
Mabel's ready tears began to flow.
"O dear! O dear!" she sobbed, "mamma is going to die! What shall we
do?"
"Hush, Mabel!" said Edith. "If we ought not to play, why we'll stop; but
there isn't any use in crying so. Do please hush this instant."
A quick step came down the walk. The children, looking up, saw the
young lady who lived in the next house. She had a sunbonnet on her
head, and a light shawl was thrown around her, and in her hand was a
pretty little bark canoe, in which was her knitting-work.
"O Miss Rose, beautiful Miss Rose!" exclaimed Edith, "you're the very
person we wanted to see."
"Mith Rothe, when thith canoe geth too old for you, you'll give it to me,
won't you?" said Mabel, putting her hands lovingly up towards the
fanciful basket.

"Mabel," Johnny said in a tone of reproof, "how often has mamma told
you never to ask for things in that way?"
"Never mind your little sister, Johnnie," the young lady said, "but sit
down and let me hear why you were all looking so serious when I came
up. What lovely garlands you have made, and what a charming
morning this is! God is very good to give us so many bright days, and
so much joy in them, isn't he?"
Before any one could reply, a servant came up, with a request that the
children would go to their Aunt Maria on the porch, and hear a message
from their mother.
"Good! good!" Johnnie said, clapping his hands; but Edith and Mabel
went more soberly. Miss Rose seated herself in a favorite spot of hers, a
rustic chair under the oak-tree, and waited their return. She was fond of
children, and since the little visitors had been there, she had often gone
in with her knitting to talk and play with them.
After they had heard the letter, they were dismissed by Mrs. MacLain,
who had her key-basket on her arm, and was very busy with her
housekeeping. They trooped back to their friend Miss Rose, and
grouped themselves around her, and the little girls began to weave a
wreath for her hair, while Johnnie made her a bouquet.
"The question is, Miss Rose, whether we ought to be happy while we
are away from mamma and papa."
"And while mamma is sick."
"And perhaps might die."
Miss Rose put her work down on her lap, and with one soft hand
smoothed away the thick curls that had a way of falling over and
shading Johnnie's forehead and eyes. She thought to herself, "What a
pretty boy he is! How noble and open and candid those eyes and that
brow!" Johnnie was a very truthful little fellow, and though he had
faults, he would have scorned to tell a lie or do anything mean. At this

moment Charlie Hill, Aunt Chloe's boy, passed by with his fishing-rod
and line. So Johnnie could not stay to hear Miss Rose then. He caught
up his straw hat, seized his shrimp-net, and ran off, without even saying,
"Excuse me."
"That wath very imperlite," observed Mabel. "And Johnnie began
asking the questions too! He ithn't very thad."
"Dear children," said Miss Rose, "you are only little and young, to be
sure, but you may as well learn that God never wants you to try to be
miserable. He means you to be as merry and happy as you can be.
Consider a minute. Have you ever been very unhappy when you have
been good?"
"No," said Edith.
"I have," said Mabel, "when I've had the teethache."
Miss Rose laughed.
"Well, that was a pretty good cause; but generally, when children are
not naughty, they are happy. You would only