full of flowers, and when I left home it was white with snow; and the kitten which I left dancing all on one side across the hall, is now a large sober cat, sitting gravely by the fire." "But do you find any other change? Because, let me tell you, there is yet a better change than any of these?" deed, Julia! what can it be?" you can not guess, Alfred." "In "Try if "It is not that the swallows are come back, which left our eaves last autumn, is it?" "Oh! no." "Let me see, then, what can it be. Old William has not had a new cottage built, has he?" "No." "O! now I think I know I believe papa has had some fishes put into the pond, for he said he would. Now is Now is not that it, Julia ?" "No." "Well, then I can not guess; do tell me." "Guess once more, Alfred, and then if you are not right, I will tell you." "You have not had a house built for the robin against winter, have you ?" "Oh! Alfred, what a poor guesser you are; well, I suppose I must tell you;-it is a little brother who has made this great change." "A little brother!-O how happy I shall be; do take me to see him." "Here he is, and has been all the time we have been talking; but you see he is asleep." "Oh, Julia, what a pretty baby." "Yes, Alfred, you will say so when he is awake, and you see his sweet blue eyes, and happy smile; besides, he is such a dear good little creature, mamma says we ought to love him very dearly, and never look crossly at him, nor be in the least unkind, and that we should be very careful in our conduct, for we are to be his teachers; how very mindful should we be in every look and word, and action, that we teach him no sin. Will you think of this, Alfred?" "Yes, Julia, I will not forget that he is only just come from heaven, and that he is like the angels are, and I will thank God for sending us such a dear baby." |