The Little Nightcap Letters
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The next day was Sunday. Bella was old enough to go to church, and she behaved very well.
Just before they went in, her father said: "Bella, there will be a collection taken up to-day, and here is a nice new penny for you to put in the plate."
"What plate, papa?"
"Why, the plate for the money that is given to the poor. You will see six of them on the table just under the pulpit."
Bella had never put any money in the plate before, and she was quite pleased.
When they were seated in their pew in the middle aisle, a little bit of a boy wanted to come in, because his papa's pew was quite crowded. His name was Eddie; and he knew Bella very well. So in he came, and the two children sat next the door.
Presently, Bella whispered: "Look, Eddie, look at my new penny. I am going to put it in the plate for the poor peoples."
"Why, I've got a penny, too, most as bright as yours; but where is the plate?"
They looked all over the church, and at last spied the plates on the table.
"When will we put it in?" said Bella.
"Why, now; let's go now," said Eddie.
"Why, of course," said Bella.
Then, before her father could stop her, she opened the pew door, and stepped out with Eddie, and hand in hand the two little children marched gravely up the aisle, to the table under the pulpit; and standing on tiptoe, put their bright pennies into the plate; and then hand in hand gravely marched back.1
They did not know that they were doing what would make everybody look at them in astonishment. No, indeed! they were in a hurry to help the poor people; and I think everybody in the church understood it, and looked with loving eyes upon the little ones.
The next day Bella told her papa what to say, and he wrote her mother this letter:
"Dear, Darling Mamma:
"Yesterday I gave the poor peoples a penny in church. So did Eddie. We went together and put it in the plate. Aren't you glad, the poor peoples have so much money? I am.
"Sister Edith showed me such a 'lightful play. She did put me on the end of the sofa, and I go backward and forward, backward and forward, and she sings:
'Grandmamma's sick,And is going to die,And nothing will cure herBut a turn-over pie;'and then I go tumbledy over backward on the sofa so nice! Don't you wish you could play it?
"Georgia told the story the wrong way; it was Blue Beard's wife, not his sister. Of course it was! She is a funny girl. I wish she would come and play with me.
"O dear, darling mamma! when will you come? I want you so bad. I hope you are most well this day. Can you bring me a kitten? Please do; and put it in a piece of paper, and tie it up tight, so it won't get out. Miss Hattie's head is most torn off; but I don't care, 'cause she's only made of paper, and she is so ugly. I have painted her all over with red spots – and now she looks just like a leopard – I call her a pig-leopard – don't tell anybody.
"How funny for Hannah to tickle your toes! My toes make me squeal, too, when they are washed; and – and – I don't know any more, papa."
So this letter was finished – and Bella's mother thought this and the others were lovely letters – and I should not be surprised if she keeps them as long as she lives.
SIXTH LETTER
"A letter for Miss Bella Curtis," shouted the postman; "four cents." It was quite a thick letter this time, and Bella had to pay twice two cents for it. How much was that? If you will give me a kiss I will tell you – two and two make four.
But, dear me! she was just as glad to get it – and I do believe if she had had four dollars she would have given every speck of it for one letter. Why, certainly! A letter from your mother? —you would do so, too. Of course you would, you sweet little Ba-be-bi-bo-BOO!!!
So it was taken to Edith, and if you had been an hundred years old, you would have felt quite young again – only to have watched Bella's eyes while the letter was read – diamonds don't sparkle half as much, and I for one would rather have had her bright eyes to look at, than a whole bushel of diamonds, each as big as my head.
The delightful letter commenced thus:
"Charleston."Dear, Darling Bella:
"I have your sweet little letter, and I am so much obliged to you for telling papa such nice things to write to me, that I have sent you a long, long answer in return, which I hope will please you.
"I left Savannah yesterday. When I was leaving, I kissed little Richard, and said: 'Good-bye, Richard; don't forget Aunt Fanny.'
"'I forgot you already,' he shouted. Then I kissed Sallie, the twin-girl, and she said so sweetly: 'Aunt Fanny, can you remember where Bella lives? If you can find her house, go and tell her I am coming to see her – next day before to-morrow.'
"Wasn't it funny that she should think I had been so long away from you, my little darling, that I had forgotten where you lived?
"Do you remember a story I once read to you, about 'Good Little Henry,' in a book called 'Nightcaps'? Well, strange to say, I know this Henry, and love him very much. He is now almost a young man, and just as good as ever; yes! better than ever, for he is the comfort and joy of his father and mother. Only think, dear Bella! that from a good and lovely little child he has grown better and lovelier every year, till now he is almost a man. God loves Henry; and He has helped him to be good, and He will love you and help you to be good, if you will ask Him.
"I tell you all this now, because in looking over my writing-desk a moment ago, I came upon an amusing story Henry wrote to me, about some little cousins of his."
Of course you would like to know what he wrote, and here it is:
"One day my dear Aunt Sarah was sitting up-stairs with the children, when the front door bell rang, and the servant came up and said: 'Mr. Robinson wants to see you, ma'am.' So aunt put on her best collar, and a little lace cap, and down she went.
"'My!' said Loulou, 'I should like to see him, too.'
"'So should I,' said Bolton, whose pet name is 'Pepper.'
"'Dear me! I, too,' cried Anna, whose pet name is 'Tot.'
"'And me! me! me!' said little Walter, jumping up and down.
"So Loulou, in a great state of delight, rushed up to the washstand and washed her face and hands; then she took Pepper and scrubbed him well – rubbing his nose almost off to get his face dry – and dressed him in all his best Sunday clothes, and told him to sit down in his little chair, perfectly stiff and straight, till the rest were ready; and down little Pepper sat, and hardly dared to wink, for fear of getting his clothes tumbled.
"Then she took little Tot, and polished her face, and brushed her hair as hard as she could, and Tot never cried the least bit, when Loulou accidentally turned the brush round and gave her a thump with the back of it; but just sat down by Pepper when her dressing was over, and kept as still and looked as grave as if she were in church.
"And now Loulou took dear little Walter in hands, and made him as fine as you please; and then they all marched down stairs on tip-toe, trembling with expectation.
"They opened the parlor door and entered very softly, and stared with all their eyes. But where was he?
"There was nobody there but their mamma, and a very quiet-looking gentleman in a plain black coat, and a pair of spectacles, set on the very end of his nose, who appeared to be showing her some curious coins.
"The children stood perfectly still for a moment. They seemed to be struck dumb. Then Loulou exclaimed:
"'Why, mamma, we have come down on purpose to see Robinson Crusoe!! all dressed in fur, with his monkeys and parrots, and Man Friday. Where is he, mamma? where has he gone?' and they looked again in every corner of the room.
"How her mamma did laugh! and how Mr. Robinson did laugh! when they found that the children thought that Robinson Crusoe had come to see them; but Loulou and the rest of the dear little children were dreadfully disappointed. Wasn't that a pity?
"And now I have a great secret to tell you; I am so much better, and I want to see you s – o much, that I mean to return home in the steamship which leaves on Saturday. This is Thursday – you will get this long letter next Monday – and on Tuesday have ready at least a hundred kisses, and fifty squeezes for your loving
"Mamma."THE RETURN
"Oh!" screamed Bella, joyfully, "mamma coming home? Oh! oh! oh!" and she commenced to dance about the room, and laugh, and sing so many little songs, that Edith thought there must be a musical snuff-box inside of her; particularly as she stopped to give two funny little sneezes, and then went on again. She could hardly sit still a moment all the rest of the day; and she begged to be put to bed earlier than usual, so that the "next day might come faster."
Sure enough! the next day a carriage drove up to the door. It was raining, and Bella had to stay in the room for fear she would take cold. She fastened her face to the window, and trembling with eagerness, saw the coachman open the door. A gentleman got out – Bella's face looked as if somebody had thrown a pail of cold water in it – but, the next moment, the gentleman handed out her mamma, her very own mamma! and then in an ecstasy of delight, the little girl rushed to the door, and then it was worth more than all Barnum's Museum to see the meeting. I believe I can't tell it – I cannot write it well enough; but all you dear little children know how glad you are to see your kind mothers after they have been away from you; and you can feel this, much better than I can write it.
And so ended the Little Nightcap Letters; and though Bella cherished them as her dearest treasures, and means to keep them, she says, to show to her children; yet, she would rather have her own "real, true" mamma to kiss, and love, and keep close to; and she never means to part with her again, if she can help it.
That is just the way you feel, isn't it, you little darling?
THE END1
A fact.