|Little Fannie said she did wish her aunt wouldn't have a headache when mamma was busy, for then there was nobody to play with her. Perhaps the headache was better. She would go and see. So she tiptoed softly up the stairs, and rapped at aunty's door with the back of her hand; but it was just like rapping with a little pink cushion. No answer; and then she rapped with her finger-nails.
Aunty raised herself on one elbow and listened. She thought it might be a mouse nibbling at her Albert biscuits in the closet. Then she heard the noise again, and it seemed like two mice.
"O," said she, laughing, "I do believe it's Fannie. Come in."
"How you do?" said the little girl, walking up to her and looking very sorry. "How do you do? I have n't seen you since day 'fore yes' d'y to-mor' mornin'."
Then she searched in her pocket a long time, and at last found a red sugar-plum.
She gave it to aunty to cure the headache.
"Don't you think," said she, tucking it into her aunt's hand, "that will make you mos' pretty well, and you can comed down nex' week las' year?"
Aunty said she hoped so, and laid the sugar-plum on the table. But, strange to say, she never saw it again. Perhaps a mouse may have got it. What do you think?
|I am the mother of three little children, not three chickens. I am quite sure the little chickens would be easier to take care of, for all they wish is plenty to eat and drink, and a warm nest to sleep in.
I never heard of a chicken that wished to be amused or played with. They never say, "Mamma, what can I do no!" I wish to help the little girls and boys, who, like my own, are sometimes at a loss what to do. I must first of all ask one question. Can you use scissors?
I wish you to make a book, not to write it, but to make it all of pictures. This is the way to go about it. Ask your mother and friends for illustrated papers and books which they would be willing to give you to cut the pictures from. Black and white pictures are as good as colored, and the two look well together.
Cut these out neatly and carefully, with smooth edges. Torn and worn-out picture-books usually have something left which will do to cut out, and thus save from being wholly lost. Then there are the Christmas, New-Year, and Birthday cards, of which nearly all of us have some.