“ They are glad to go, the more so as it is half-holiday to-day, and as it is fine weather they want to be at their games in the fields. The little girl coming down the stone stairs is leaning over the rails looking for her brother, who is just below and does not see her. He will wait for her, I am sure, for he would not be so unkind as to go home without her, for he is very fond of his little sister. ”

“ So Susan and Emma are sitting in the wheelbarrow, at the kitchen door, and enjoying themselves as much as if they were sitting in a fine arbour. They have got puss with them, who seems to like it as much as they do. When the sun sets they will water their flowers, for they have got a nice flower-bed of their own, and some of the flowers are just beginning to blossom.
[Pg 85]
BEING WASHED. Baby brother is being washed this morning. He does not sit so quiet as he ought to do, and so his sister has, quite by accident, put the sponge in his eye. ”

“ WASHING HANDS. Mama does not like to see her children dirty, so she is washing their hands, and then they can play about again. Baby is looking at his hands to see if they are dirty, and Alice is examining her doll’s hands.
[Pg 70]
A ROUGH RIDE. Baby is having a ride this morning on his brother’s back. It is a rather rough ride, and shakes him very much when his brother runs. But he likes the fun, and will be sorry when his brother is tired, and puts him down. ”

“ TAKING A WALK. It is a pleasant spring morning, and the children are out early, taking a walk with mama. She is carrying the baby, and little Alice is taking her new doll by the hand to try and teach her to walk. Albert is riding his wooden horse, and Rover is barking at him, he is so pleased. They are not going far, and will turn back to breakfast presently.
[Pg 103]
WIND AND RAIN. How it rains! I am afraid our party in the picture will all be wet to the skin. It is a pity they have only one umbrella among them, and they have a long distance to go before they reach home. ”

“ SHOWING BABY THE PICTURES. Mama is always ready to please her little baby girl in any way she can. She has just got a nice picture-book, and is going to show baby the pictures. Baby is so eager to see them that she has thrown aside her little mug, and trumpet, and woolly lamb, in order to look at them. How pleased she will be for mama to take her on her knee, and explain them to her! ”

“ BABY BROTHER. Our little baby brother is quite a romp. He is full of fun, and it is hard to keep him out of mischief. He kicks his boots off, pulls off his socks, and his new little woolly lamb and cart were soon torn to pieces. ”

“ THE HARVEST FIELD. It is very hot in the open fields to-day, and the reapers are weary. So they are sitting in the shadow of the sheaves, and are drinking some water, as working in the heat has made them very thirsty. The sun will go down presently, and then it will be cool and pleasant for them to walk home over the fields. ”

“ DON’T BE GREEDY. Harriet has had some apples given her, but she is so greedy she wishes to keep them all herself. She has two lying on the sofa already, and yet she does not seem willing to give the third to her little brother. I am ashamed of you, greedy girl!
[Pg 19]
THE PUMP. Lucy is trying to pump up some water for her little sister, but she should be careful, for the water may run out suddenly and wet little Mary’s dress. If this happens mama will be angry, for her dress is a very nice one indeed, and almost new. ”

“ THE PLAYTHINGS. Little Ellen seems ill at ease just now. She has got a nice doll, a chest of drawers, and a doll’s cradle. But she is coveting her little brother’s playthings besides, and seems cross because she cannot have his horse and stable, and little cart. This is very wrong. We should be content with what we have, and not covet what belongs to others.
[Pg 156]
GRANDMAMA. Mama has brought the children to see grandmama this afternoon. She is so glad to see them. One of them is handing her some tea. ”

“ But they do not seem to like to trust one another, and so each is holding out her hand to the other, and neither of them seems willing to give her doll first. Even the dog looks as if he was surprised at them. ”

“ And Susan is asking her what she will buy, as her scales are all ready to weigh up anything she wants. Baby is asking her if she sells barley-sugar, as, if she does, she would like to have some.
[Pg 91]
IN THE NURSERY. The two little sisters are having fine fun in the nursery this morning. Baby dolly is to have a bath presently. The other dolls have at last got dressed in their new clothes, that have been so long making, and they are being jumped about and walked along as if they were really alive. The children are so fond of their dolls, they seem never tired of playing with them. ”

“ MAKING SNOW-BALLS. It is very cold, and the fields are all covered with snow. The children are on their way to school, but they have laid their books down for a few minutes. The boys are in high glee, for they cannot make snow-balls every day, and there is plenty of snow on the ground just now. I dare say they will be sorry when the snow melts. ”

“ LUCY’S NEW BONNET. That bonnet is too smart, Lucy. I fear you are too fond of dress.
[Pg 36]
THE CONCERT. The children have got papa’s music books, and are pretending to sing from them. Even dolly is stuck up against the wall, as if she were one of the singers. The dog is listening, as though he would ask what is the meaning of all this strange noise, and is barking, himself, very dismally, to add to it.
[Pg 37]
THE BROKEN DOLL. This is a sad affair indeed. Little Jane dropped her pretty new doll on the floor while she was playing with her cousin, and now it is broken and spoiled. ”

“ The two little sisters are quarrelling over their playthings, and I am afraid the dolls will get damaged in their angry strife. The little lamb lies upset on the chair, the little dolly is sprawling on the floor, and the dress of the bigger one will certainly be torn. ”

“ Reuben is a clever little boy, and for his age knows very much. He has mounted a tree-stump in the garden, and is asking his brothers and sisters some questions. Whoever gives him the best answers is to have that nice apple he is holding up. They all seem puzzled, even the dog and cat. ”

“ They have got papa’s great boots on the floor, and Emma has dressed the boot-jack like a doll, and placed mama’s bonnet on her head. Mama down-stairs will wonder presently what has become of her two little pets.
[Pg 27]
THE WASHING-TUB. Our little friends are busy this morning, for dolly’s washing must be done before dinner. But there are two of them, and they have got a nice large tub, so they will soon get it done. It will be well for poor dolly when her clothes are washed and ironed, for she must be very uncomfortable lying there on the floor. ”

“ BREAKFAST FOR MAMA. Mama is not well this morning, for she took cold yesterday going over the wet fields to visit the poor man who is dying. So she is not up so early as usual, and Harriet is taking her a cup of hot coffee. Harriet will not let the servant wait on her mama when she is ill, because she can herself pay her more attention. She is walking on tip-toe to avoid making a noise, as sick persons like to be quiet. ”

“ UNDER THE UMBRELLA. Ellen and Maria are enjoying themselves in-doors this afternoon. They are sitting on the floor in the nursery, and have put up cook’s old market umbrella to cover them. It is so large it makes quite a tent for them to sit under. They have two apples beside them, so I suppose they will have a feast presently.
[Pg 109]
THE MEETING. Susan has long been expecting her little cousin from the country, and she has just arrived. When Susan has done kissing her, she will tell her how glad she is to see her, and show her her pretty doll and her playthings. ”

“ All young folks should learn music.
[Pg 10]
THE LITTLE COOKS. Lucy and Jane are fond of playing at cooks, and seem very busy this morning. Lucy is standing on a stool stirring something in a pot, and Jane is watching the cups on the little stove. I hope the children will not burn themselves, nor make a mess on the floor, or mama will be very cross.
[Pg 11]
THE WHEEL OFF. Oh dear, another accident! Only yesterday the third wheel came off the lamb that little sister used to drag about the room. And now a wheel has come off the pretty chaise in which dolly rides. But do not cry, baby ”

“ Arthur is telling his little sister he thinks he should like to be a bookbinder, it seems such a nice business.
[Pg 96]
HOW DARK IT IS! Mama is going to put baby to bed, but she is taking her first to the window to show her how dark it is. And now baby must go to bed, for it is late. The little birds are already asleep beneath the roof, for they go to rest early at night, and rise very early in the morning. It is not so dark as this every night, but to-night the moon is not visible.
[Pg 97]
playing at see-saw. ”

“ JUST THE SIZE. Our two little friends have been out to-day with their mama, to buy some stockings for their dolls. They have just returned, and are fitting them on, and find they are just the size. The youngest of the doll family is snug in her cradle; but the doll lying on her face on the drawers, must, I fear, be very uncomfortable. ”

“ I hope he will grow up to be as good a man as his grandpapa is. I can wish nothing better for him, I am quite sure.
[Pg 136]
OFF TO SCHOOL. The clock has just struck, and Amy, with her school satchel behind her, is just bidding good-bye to her little sister. She wanted to tell her how to dry her doll’s clothes, but she cannot stay now.
[Pg 137]
FLOATING THE DUCKS. Baby is highly amused this evening. Papa has brought him home two little toy ducks, and mama has put them in some water in a large tub, where they are floating about. ”

“ He would have learned them earlier but he has been to tea with his cousins, and so when he came home just now he lit the lamp, and sat down to his work. When Herbert leaves school I dare say he will get a good situation, as any one will be glad to employ him.
[Pg 162]
WAITING. Maria is waiting for her little cousin to come and play with her in papa’s bed-room. She is standing on the top of the stairs listening, and is wondering why she does not come. She will come up presently, I suppose, and then they will have a nice game all to themselves, without disturbing any one in the house. ”

“ Susan is sitting outside pretending to be keeping a coffee-stall.
[Pg 77]
HOW POLITE! Richard’s little cousin has called in this afternoon, and Richard, who is very kind and polite, is handing her some cake, and asking her to have a slice.
[Pg 78]
TEASING. Master Sydney is, I am sorry to tell you, very fond of teasing. This is not a nice habit, for, although it may begin in fun, it often ends in a quarrel. His little sister does not like it, and he has been teasing her so long that she is now crying. ”

“ THE BROKEN CUP. Laura looks very grave this morning, and no wonder, for she has broken a tea-cup.
[Pg 13]
BABY AND HIS DOLL. Baby is busy this morning with his doll. “Bruno” is watching by his side, ready to bark at any one who comes near.
[Pg 14]
THE KIND BROTHER. Edward is a good kind brother, for, though he has his own lessons to learn, he is holding the thread for his sister Kate, whom he is very fond of, and tries to please as much as he can. ”

“ She has two of them, and places a pillow in her little basket chaise, and draws them about the garden. She is as attentive to them as if they were two little babies, and takes more care of them than some thoughtless mothers do of their children. She is going to take them out for a ride this morning, and is kissing them. I hope she will make them a comfortable seat on the pillows, or else they will not have a very nice ride. ”

“ The boys are at home just now for their holidays, and mama is half distracted with their noise. When it is fine they prefer to be in the fields, but when it is wet they are chasing one another about all the day long. ”

“ FEEDING THE RABBITS. The children are busy in the yard this morning feeding the rabbits. They have opened the rabbit-hutch, and are going to give the rabbits some fresh vegetables. The cat behind is looking slyly on, as though she would like to pounce down among them. ”

“ The bell is rather high up for her to reach it, but she can just stretch her little fat fingers up to it, and pull it, and then some one opens the door for her. She is very fond of going to school, and always contrives to be there early. ”