to-day that she might come along before night."

"Cousin Betty" was a distant relation of Mrs. Wharton's, a lonely old
body, who lodged with a relative in a village about ten miles distant
from Brook Farm. She was very eccentric--so much so, that she was by
some thought crazy; but Mrs. Wharton was of opinion that cousin Betty
had never possessed sufficient _mind_ to subject her to such a
calamity. She was more silly than crazy, very good-natured, very
inquisitive as to the affairs of others, and very communicative as to
her own.

In a few minutes cousin Betty had received a hearty welcome, and was
seated by the bright fire, asking and answering questions with the
utmost rapidity.

"I've been looking for you, cousin Betty," said Mrs. Wharton.

"Have! What made you?"

"Oh, I thought you could hardly let Christmas go by without coming to
see the fun."

"Did! Well, I never thought nothing about comin' till yesterday, when I
sat in my little room, and I got feelin' pretty dull; and thinks I to
myself, I'll just borrow Mr. White's old horse, and take my old gig, and
drive up to the farm, and see the folks."

"Cousin Betty, who do you think is coming to see us to-night?" asked
little Grace.