The second packet from aunt Harding was received with not less joy
than the first; for there was in it a letter for Louisa and Emma; and
that she might show no favor to one above the other, she had directed
it to both. Louisa, however, claimed and was allowed the privilege of
breaking the seal. I wish you could have seen their happy faces, as
Emma leaned upon her sister's shoulder to read the welcome letter
which had been sent to them from a country so distant, and by a friend
whom they loved so well.




CHAPTER VII.


AUNT HARDING'S LETTER.

Would you like to know what aunt Harding Wrote to her nieces? Here
then is the letter, word for word:--


"MY DEAR CHILDREN, LOUISA AND EMMA,--It is with great pleasure that I
read in your mamma's letter the account of your improvement, and I am
glad to fulfill the promise which I made of writing to you when that
should be the case. I hope that you will go on trying to grow better
and better; and for this end you should pray daily for the grace of
God to help you every moment of your lives. Without his grace the evil
desires of your sinful hearts will lead you from the right way; and as
one sin always brings on others, you would, if left to yourselves,
wander further and further from that which is good, until you lost all