skipped, and crawled up the plank
in such quantities, that it was quite a wonder they were not all
suffocated in such a crowd. But didn't the children clap their hands
and cry: "Look! look!" when Noah and his wife, and his three sons,
Shem, Ham, and Japhet, and their families, marched gravely past, looking
straight before them, and went into the ark, and the ark sailed slowly
off! It was perfect! they wished they could have gone into the ark, too,
to put apples into the elephant's trunk, and play with the monkeys, and
count all the animals--George guessed there must have been at least a
thousand--while Annie thought a million went in. How many do you think,
you dear little darling?

The magic lantern was a great success, and Minnie said: "the magic
_nightcat_ was the bestest of all."

After the show was over, I kissed everybody, and went home quite happy
in the promise of my new stories--and you may be sure, you dear little
poppet, that Kitty, and you, and all the darling children shall have
them as fast as the printer can print them. If you like them, just go to
Mr. Appleton's, and coax him to tell you where I live; and then run up
to my house on your dear little feet, and give one real good kiss to
your loving Aunt Fanny.

INTRODUCTION.

ONE evening the little nightcap mother said: "Children, I have had a
most charming present. It is a copy of some letters and stories that
were written and told to your little friend, Bella Curtis. They are a
kind of baby stories, for children like Minnie. Do you think you shall
like them? Do _you_ Charley?"

Then the children all shouted out "Certainly! Of course! the baby
stories are the best! no, not the best, but just as good as the _old_
stories--yes, mamma, do read them. Letters! why that is something
new--how very nice."

"But I don't want to hear A--B--C," cried little Minnie, who was just
learning her letters, and thought it very hard work--"I don't like
letters a bit."

How the children did laugh when they saw Minnie's long face, and heard
her queer speech; but they soon explained to her, that these letters
were a new sort of delightful story--upon which she folded her little
fat hands and sat down quite comforted, that these letters had nothing
to do with her A, B, C.

And Charley said: "I love that dear little Bella, mamma, and I shall be
so pleased to hear her letters. I thank her very much for sending them
to you."

Then the children seated themselve