Madeline Leslie

“ Then he remembered it was his birthday; but some how the thought of his party gave him no pleasure." [36]
"I guess Satan was whispering to him," said Frankie. "If I had been there, I would open the door, and say, 'Satan, go wight out.'"
"Who is Satan?" asked Nelly, who had been listening with great interest.
"Satan's naughty man," said Frankie. "He don't love good boys."
"He is the evil spirit," replied aunty, "who tries to make boys [37] and girls, and men and women too, behave naughty and sin against God."
"Does he live in Moses' house?" asked the little girl. ”

“ Yes, dear, when children do [49] one naughty thing, they almost always do another. Moses had stolen his mother's orange, and now he told a lie to hide it. His mother did not think he would act so wickedly. ”

“ By this time Frankie had [16] helped his cousin to take out the toys; and they were spread all over the floor, so that neither his mamma nor nurse could walk at all without stepping on them.
"Why, Nelly," said her aunt, "what a quantity of playthings you have there!"
"May we play with them here?" asked Frankie.
"I am afraid you will be in Sally's way," replied mamma. [17]
"She can wait, then, till we are done," said Nelly, taking up a large dolly.
"No," said her aunt; "nurse has a great deal to do; and first of all she wants to clear up this room. ”

“ When he had finished it, she said, 'Wipe your hands on the towel, and take off your clothes.' [105]
"'Are you going to whip me, mamma? I never will be so naughty again,' exclaimed the boy, beginning to cry louder than ever.
"'No,' said his mother, 'I am going to put you to bed.'
"'I can't see my party, then,' screamed Moses, catching hold of his mother's dress.
"'Nor eat any of the good things, my child. You have been a wicked boy, and broken [106] God's holy commands; and I must punish you. You don't know how you've made mother's heart ache,' said the lady, trying to keep back her tears. ”

“ The horses can take out too. When I first had it, I used to play 'get to the tavern, and put them up in the barn.'"
"O Nelly!" exclaimed the little fellow, "let us play that as soon as we get up stairs."
"I'm tired," said Nelly, sitting down on the floor, and putting her finger in her mouth. [20]
"I'll carry the things up then," said Frankie, running into the next room for a basket. "See, I'm real strong."
"If you are tired, you had better go and lie down on the lounge," said her aunt.
"No," said Nelly; "I want to stay here, and see Sally put away my clothes." ”

“ All at once she looked at Moses, and said, 'I hope you have not eaten one of mother's oranges, my dear.'
"'No,' said the little boy, 'I haven't touched one.'"
"O, dear!" said Frankie. "I'm afraid God won't love Moses any more, he is so naughty, and tells so many lies."
Frankie jumped up when he said this, and Ponto took the [54] opportunity to turn himself over. ”

“ See how untidy it looks, with the clothes all lying about."
"Can't we go up in Willie's play room, then?" asked the little boy.
"Yes, my dear; there is a large case up there, which will [18] make a nice play house for Nelly. You can have one shelf for the parlor, and put these little sofas and chairs in it. Then have another for the closet, and set out the cups and saucers. You and your cousin may carry them up stairs; and when Margie comes home, she will love to help you arrange them."
"O mamma, see this pretty carriage!" cried Frankie. ”

“ Gray then took the child in her lap, and spread a large cloth under her chin, at the same time telling Sally to bring a cup of blackberry jelly from the store closet. "Now, my little Nelly," she said, "you must take this to make you well. If you will open your mouth and swallow it all down like a good girl, I will give you some nice jelly to take the taste out, for it is very bad. ”

“ Gray's, and cried bitterly when she knew that she could not. But her aunt was sure that if Maria was there, Nelly would be too much indulged, that is, she would have her own way, and would be spoiled. She loved her little niece, and was sorry that her brother's wife did not take more pains to teach her little girl to be good and kind. She hoped Nelly would [14] learn, while her mother was away, to wait upon herself, and to be generous and truthful.
When Sally had unlocked the trunk of playthings for the little miss, she went on unpacking the other one. ”

“ The little girl was to have a small room, opening out of her aunt's chamber. There her trunks were carried for Sally to unpack, and put the clothes into the wardrobe and drawers.
"Come in here!" said Nelly to her little cousin, "and we will take out the playthings. This trunk is full of them."
Frankie's eyes grew very round and large as Sally selected the right key, and displayed a [12] great variety of toys packed as closely as possible into the large trunk.
"Goodness me!" exclaimed nurse, holding up both hands. "Why, you'll be able to set up a toy shop, miss." ”

“ Then his mother washed his face, and neck, and arms, and hands, very clean, and brushed his hair smoothly off his forehead, so that he looked very nicely indeed. And all the time Moses was talking about his party, and telling what a pleasant time he should have.
"'It's your birthday,' said his [99] mother, kissing him, 'and you must remember to be a very good boy. Be kind to your dear little cousins and playmates, and let them play with any of your toys. ”

“ She then threaded a needle for the little girl, and showed her how to put the stitches through, and afterwards gave Frankie a darning needle with some yarn. He had often sewed before, and he liked the business very much. There was no knot in the thread, and so he pulled it through and through. But he thought it was sewing for all that. ”

“ In the middle of the afternoon [51] she began to arrange for her little feast. First, she took the nut-cracker and cracked the large walnuts, the almonds, and the filberts, and put them in the glass dishes ready to set them on the table. ”

“ Nelly cried; and promised over and over again to be a good girl, and she really tried to improve. She saw how happy her cousins were, and how every body loved them, and she said to herself, "I mean to try to be just as good as I can."
[88]
CHAPTER VI.
THE LOST ORANGE FOUND.
When little girls or boys try to do right, every body loves to help them. Mrs. ”