"DEAR ZEPHINA: —

"Mrs. Whately did not laugh at your bonnet. I do not believe she would make fun of any body, let them wear what they would. I should like to tell you a great many sweet, pretty things that she says of you, but I have not time, for that good woman, as you call her, goes home to-morrow, and I want to see her as much as I can. I must tell you, though, she says we must still be good friends, and that I must let her know all about our post-office, and every thing we do, after she is at home again. Only think, Zephina, I have got to write to her, and you see what a poor hand I am at letter-writing. In a great hurry. From yours, always, BEULAH.

"P. S. Leave the little basket with your next letter, that I may fill it again."

Beulah had fortunately had a good master at the district-school that she attended every winter; she wrote a pretty, neat hand, and her partial friend was even more delighted with the note than with the seedcakes.

Mrs. Whately's visit had given great pleasure to all the Morris family. Medad said, she had

such a kind way of persuading him into it, that he could not help giving up spirits and cider. The Squire thought he should come round in time, and even Azariah said there was no holding out against such a woman's good advice.

Beulah felt very lonely after her departure, and daily went to the old oak-tree for a letter from her young friend. To her great joy, on the third morning the empty basket was there and a full letter.

"There is no end of funny things. Mamma has now got her hands full. An old acquaintance of hers a man who has some way or other made considerable property in the country, and has lately moved to New York- has sent his daughter to be taught good manners. Actually sent her for two months to be taught 'good breeding, good manners, and all that sort of thing,' as he expresses it.

"Now I always thought that good breeding meant the way in which a person was brought up, all the way along; but I do n't know but Harriet Ann Gunn (for that 's her name) can take it

suddenly, just as one does the measles or whooping-cough. I wish you could see this Harriet Ann make a courtesy. Out slides the right foot about a yard, then up jerks the other behind it, then down, down, slowly goes the little lady till you do n't know where she will stop; then she comes up with a sudden flying out of both hands to help her rise. O, dear! It is enough to kill a body to see this performance. But I have n't told you how she looks:- Hair, white and straight as candles; eyes, blue as glass beads, staring right at you; neck, long and thin; nose, just enough of it to be called a nose; mouth, good enough for every purpose; ears, large and white.

"There, now, you have Harriet Ann. She looks in the glass forty times a day to practise that amazing courtesy, and tumbles over on her face almost as often, trying to stand with her toes turned straight out. She has just left off pantalettes, and feels very consequential in long dresses; but does not know yet how to manage them. However, she thinks long dresses make her at once a young lady. O Beulah! but you ought to hear her say 'beaucheful,' and 'I keant,' and garding,' and 'kitching,' and ever so many such

words. You must see her; I declare you must. To-morrow morning I will walk by just after breakfast with her, and if Mr. Medad could only be at home, it would be capital fun to see that courtesy that can't be described.

"I could n't write before because of the coming of this Harriet Ann. Do n't trouble yourself to fill the basket. I am afraid you think I am a greedy little thing for a girl of thirteen.

"Remember, to-morrow morning by seven o'clock be on the look out. Your loving

"ZEPHINA."

CHAPTER V.

AIRS AND GRACES.

"SURE enough, there they come!" said Medad the next morning, as Beulah and himself were at the window.

The tall, thin girl, with China-blue eyes, was dressed in a bright pink merino, and her winter bonnet, with red feathers, though it was June, because the country folks would not know but that was the city fashion.

As soon as Zephina saw Medad and Beulah, she said, "There are some acquaintances of mine; make your courtesy, Harriet Ann."

And accordingly out went the foot for a long slide, and all the rest just as Zephina described it, and down went the long, pink merino into the dust, leaving a dark border around it. Beulah could not refrain from smiling, and Medad's