e is a funny girl. I wish she would come
and play with me.

"O dear, darling mamma! when will you come? I want you so bad. I hope
you are most well this day. Can you bring me a kitten? Please do; and
put it in a piece of paper, and tie it up tight, so it won't get out.
Miss Hattie's head is most torn off; but I don't care, 'cause she's only
made of paper, and she is so ugly. I have painted her all over with red
spots--and now she looks just like a leopard--I call her a
_pig_-leopard--don't tell anybody.

"How funny for Hannah to tickle your toes! My toes make me squeal, too,
when they are washed; and--and--I don't know any more, papa."

So this letter was finished--and Bella's mother thought this and the
others were lovely letters--and I should not be surprised if she keeps
them as long as she lives.

FOOTNOTE:

[A] A fact.

SIXTH LETTER.

"A LETTER for Miss Bella Curtis," shouted the postman; "four cents." It
was quite a thick letter this time, and Bella had to pay twice two cents
for it. How much was that? If you will give me a kiss I will tell
you--two and two make four.

But, dear me! she was just as glad to get it--and I do believe if she
had had four dollars she would have given every speck of it for one
letter. Why, certainly! A letter from your MOTHER?--_you_ would do so,
too. Of course you would, you sweet little Ba-be-bi-bo-BOO!!!

So it was taken to Edith, and if you had been an hundred years old, you
would have felt quite young again--only to have watched Bella's eyes
while the letter was read--diamonds don't sparkle half as much, and I
for one would rather have had her bright eyes to look at, than a whole
bushel of diamonds, each as big as my head.

The delightful letter commenced thus:

"+CHARLESTON.+

"DEAR, DARLING BELLA:

"I have your sweet little letter, and I am so much obliged to you for
telling papa such nice things to write to me, that I have sent you a
long, long answer in return, which I hope will please you.

"I left Savannah yesterday. When I was leaving, I kissed little Richard,
and said: 'Good-bye, Richard; don't forget Aunt Fanny.'

[Illustration: GOOD-BYE, RICHARD, DON'T FORGET AUNT FANNY.]

"'I forgot you already,' he shouted. Then I kissed Sallie, the
twin-girl, and she said so sweetly: 'Aunt Fanny, can you remember where
Bella lives? If you can find her house, go and tell her I am coming to
see her--nex