CHAPTER IV.
SOMETHING NEW.
h, what a darling it is!" said Nannie to Belle, as they stood looking at the little bundle sister Mary was holding. "What wee bits of hands!" she said, as she opened the blanket. "I'm so glad it's a little sister; I haven't any little one, you know, and it's so much nicer than a brother."
"So much nicer than a brother!" exclaimed Jack, who was looking on with affected indifference. "I'd like to know how many snowballs that 'dear little hand,' as you call it, will make for you. I'm sure I'd like as good a brother as you've got."
"Oh," said Nannie, "a brother will do very well; but I think a little sister is nicer. Oh, just see," she added in a whisper, "it's going to sleep."
"Going to sleep!" said Jack; "I'd like to know how you can tell. It looks just as it did before."
"Why, Jack, its eyes are shut."
"Its eyes shut!—do let me see. I didn't know it had any."