that I was not a little too fond of boys' play.

I remember feeling rather disappointed one day when she said to me in
the garden--

"Sissy, let's come and have a nice quiet walk together, and leave the
boys to play by themselves."

[Illustration: GOING TO THE WARS.]

Now, three of the boys were just preparing for a military march, one
with a bright flag, another with a trumpet, and another with a
sword-stick, so-called; and there was a most refreshing prospect of
shouting, stamping, and huzzahs! Do you wonder that I turned away rather
unwillingly?

However, Lottie's confidences soon made up for it all. Such beautiful
stories Lottie could tell! When she began to talk about the Alps, and
the blue lake and the mountain flowers, I thought it seemed almost as
good as my hymns and verses. I know I looked up at her with eyes full of
admiration, and when she put her arms round me, and gave me a loving
kiss, I thought I had never been so happy before.

And then she listened to all I had to tell her about Bobbie, and baby
Willie, and Rosalinda, and gave me her advice about dressing Rosalinda
like the Queen.

My letters, too, she read, and said they were very nice, which made me
love mamma for writing them all the more. And she showed me her own
letter that had just come across the sea, with its foreign stamps and