Robinson wants to see you, ma'am.' So aunt put on her best collar, and a little lace cap, and down she went.
"'My!' said Loulou, 'I should like to see him, too.'
"'So should I,' said Bolton, whose pet name is 'Pepper.'
"'Dear me! I, too,' cried Anna, whose pet name is 'Tot.'
"'And me! me! me!' said little Walter, jumping up and down.
"So Loulou, in a great state of delight, rushed up to the washstand and washed her face and hands; then she took Pepper and scrubbed him well--rubbing his nose almost off to get his face dry--and dressed him in all his best Sunday clothes, and told him to sit down in his little chair, perfectly stiff and straight, till the rest were ready; and down little Pepper sat, and hardly dared to wink, for fear of getting his clothes tumbled.
"Then she took little Tot, and polished her face, and brushed her hair as hard as she could, and Tot never cried the least bit, when Loulou accidentally turned the brush round and gave her a thump with the back of it; but just sat down by Pepper when her dressing was over, and kept as still and looked as grave as if she were in church.
"And now Loulou took dear little Walter in hands, and made him as fine as you please; and then they all marched down stairs on tip-toe, trembling with expectation.
"They opened the parlor door and entered very softly, and stared with all their eyes. But where was he?
"There was nobody there but their mamma, and a very quiet-looking gentleman in a plain black coat, and a pair of spectacles, set on the very end of his nose, who appeared to be showing her some curious coins.
[Illustration: ROBINSON CRUSOE.]
"The children stood perfectly still for a moment. They seemed to be struck dumb. Then Loulou exclaimed:
"'Why, _mamma_, we have come down on purpose to see ROBINSON CRUSOE!!
all dressed in fur, with his monkeys and parrots, and Man Friday. Where _is_ he, mamma? where _has_ he gone?' and they looked again in every corner of the room.
"How her mamma did laugh! and how Mr. Robinson did laugh! when they found that the children thought that Robinson Crusoe had come to see them; but Loulou and the rest of the dear little children were dreadfully disappointed. Wasn't that a pity?
"And now I have a great secret to tell you; I am so much better, and I want to see you s--o much, that I mean to return home in the steamship which leaves on Saturday. This is Thursday--you will get this long letter next Monday--and on Tuesday have ready at least a hundred kisses, and fifty squeezes for your loving
"MAMMA."
THE RETURN.
"OH!" screamed Bella, joyfully, "mamma coming home? Oh! oh! oh!" and she commenced to dance about the room, and laugh, and sing so many little songs, that Edith thought there must be a musical snuff-box inside of her; particularly as she stopped to give two funny little sneezes, and then went on again. She could hardly sit still a moment all the rest of the day; and she begged to be put to bed earlier than usual, so that the "next day might come faster."
Sure enough! the next day a carriage drove up to the door. It was raining, and Bella had to stay in the room for fear she would take cold. She fastened her face to the window, and trembling with eagerness, saw the coachman open the door. A _gentleman_ got out--Bella's face looked as if somebody had thrown a pail of cold water in it--but, the next moment, the gentleman handed out her mamma, her very own mamma! and then in an ecstasy of delight, the little girl rushed to the door, and then it was worth more than all Barnum's Museum to see the meeting. I believe I can't tell it--I cannot write it well enough; but all you dear little children know how glad you are to see your kind mothers after they have been away from you; and you can _feel_ this, much better than I can write it.
And so ended the Little Nightcap Letters; and though Bella cherished them as her dearest treasures, and means to keep them, she says, to show to her children; yet, she would rather have her own "real, true"
mamma to kiss, and love, and keep close to; and she never means to part with her again, if she can help it.
That is just the way you feel, isn't it, you little darling?
THE END.