d you to see little Bella "helping." She ran all
round the room, to find something to put in the trunks. She tucked a
little cake of soap into one corner, and half a dozen hair pins in
another; and then hunting in her funny little pocket, she found two gum
drops, which her Cousin George had given to her--these she did up in a
scrap of paper, and very carefully stowed away under the fold of a pair
of stockings.

Well, at last the time came to say "good-bye," and poor little Bella
clung to her mother, and the great sobs _would_ come, and no one could
blame her, for her mamma was crying too--and her little Bella's face was
covered with tears as well as kisses. But this dear mamma had to go--and
the steamship went swiftly away with her, and in a little while she
could no longer see the great city of New York, where her darling lived.

Bella cried a long time, and did not want to go back into her mamma's
room. At last she thought she would go. On the bed was a large paper
parcel. Something was written on the paper, and she called her sister to
"read the reading" to her.

"Why! what's this?" exclaimed Edith. "'For my little Bella.' How very
strange."

"Dear me," cried Bella, giving a jump; "it must be for me--'spose I
look? I want to look so much."

"Certainly," said Edith. Then the paper was taken off by the little
girl's dimpled fingers, and there was displayed a most beautiful
bedstead, with a lovely baby tucked up in it, fast asleep!

I only wish you could have seen the dimples on Bella's face then! and
the sparkles in her eyes! She softly lifted the baby up--and pop! her
blue eyes opened as wide as possible--and she never cried a bit, but
just looked at Bella, not the least afraid of being among strangers.

Then Bella laid her gently down, and the good little thing shut her eyes
and went fast asleep again.

"My pasense!" said Bella, "I'm _apprised_! What a dear baby! Is it for
me?"

"It must be," said Edith; "but wait, here is a little letter pinned fast
to her sleeve. Let's see what it says."

"A letter," cried Bella; "must I pay two cents for it?" and she ran to
get her little velvet purse.

"You will not have to pay for this one, because the baby brought it--it
is only the postman that wants two cents."

So Edith opened the letter, and Bella jumped up and down all the time
her sister was reading these loving words:--

FIRST LETTER.

"DEAR DARLING BELLA:

"Here is a present for you of this l