have been written there and then. As it was, it certainly went the next
day. It was our first piece of anything like charity, and we waited
eagerly for the answer from Lottie's papa, which, of course, did not
arrive directly it was wanted.

At last the morning came, when the postman, met by three eager children
half-way down the drive, was greeted by the happy cry, "Oh, there it is!
I see it in his hand!" And the much-longed-for prize was snatched from
him, and triumphantly carried off to the nursery.

"Oh, children, do keep off! You must let Susette hear!" cried Lottie,
and then she read this. But first let me say that this wonderful letter,
having been put away with other more important old papers, has become
very worn and yellow, and you must forgive me if I leave out a piece
here and there, where it is too torn to read.

"'My dear Lottie and all the Chicks,--Your letter came very safely all
by itself the other day, just as well as if it had been in grandmamma's
as usual; and papa knew what an eager little woman his Lottie was, and
so he made his discoveries as soon as possible, and here they are! Poor
Susette, I don't wonder she was anxious to know all about her poor
father, and the rest of them. They have had a hard time of it since she
left them, but they are all so fond of her, and so glad to get news of
her. Such a good girl as she is to them all! Mind, children, you make
much of her, and don't add to all she has to worry about."

[Illustration: SUSETTE'S SISTER.]

At this point we all looked at Susette, and little Murray squeezed her
hand. Her black eyes were overflowing, and her rosy lips were pressed