precious letters in her drawer, and then played with
her baby all the rest of the day. I believe the good little thing went
to sleep, and woke up again that day about fifty-nine times--maybe
sixty.

[Illustration: A LETTER FOR MISS BELLA CURTIS! TWO CENTS!!]

THE FIRST LETTER FROM CHARLESTON.

ABOUT a week after this, there came such a tremendous ring at the bell,
that both the fat cook and the waiter rushed to the door, and when it
was opened, there stood the postman! bawling out, "A letter for Miss
Bella Curtis! Two cents!"

How Miss Bella Curtis did scamper for her two cents to pay the postman!
and how delighted she looked when he gave her the letter! The postman
thought there must at least be a gold watch inside of it, she seemed so
pleased.

Bella tore the envelope all to pieces in her hurry to open her letter;
and then she fell over sideways from the little bench in her hurry to
sit down--but at last she was settled as still as you could expect under
such delightful circumstances--and Edith read this.

THIRD LETTER.

"+CHARLESTON, _March._+

"DEAR DARLING BELLA:

"Here I am all safe, sitting in a pleasant room, with the window
opened--listening to the singing of the pretty birds, and looking at
three little black picaninnies over the way, playing with a small white
dog. They throw a little stick as far as ever they can, and then the
little dog rushes after it, in such a hurry, that you would think he was
going to leave his tail behind him; but he don't, because it is fastened
on so very tight. The next minute he trots back with the stick in his
mouth, and hands it with his _mouth_, you know, very politely to the
children, while they jump up and down, and squeal, because they are so
pleased.

"Now they have all scrambled heels over head into the yard, and shut the
dog's tail in the gate; but he pulled it through, and so I can't see
them any more.

"I hope the doll baby has been good, and the little heels on the boots
have behaved themselves. Good-bye, my darling. Pray to God every night
and morning for your loving

"MOTHER."

Bella smiled, and patted one little hand with the other, and a sweet
loving expression came into her eyes as the last words of the letter was
read to her, and she said: "Darling mamma. I love her. I want to go to
Heaven with her."

The dear little child had b