In the very next house to Lillie's grandfather's, lived "little Alice," about whom you have heard in "Nightcaps."
Alice always knew when Lillie had arrived. Every sweet summer morning Alice would jump out of bed, and her mother would throw the window open, letting in the delicious perfume from the strawberry bed next door, and the joyous morning hymns of the little birds, and then, if Lillie had come all at once, 'midst the songs of the birds, a small clear musical voice would be heard, singing (for she made a little song of it)—"Al—lie! Al—lie!" Then Alice would give a jump, and answer, imitating her song, "What—ee! What—ee!" and then the bird outside would sing, "Where's you? Where's you?" and Alice would answer, "Here's I, Here's I!" and that would finish the duet, for Alice would run to the window, and there, just below, would be Lillie, standing on the daisy-spangled grass-plot, looking, in her white dress and golden curls under that blue sky, fairer and lovelier far, than any lily ever looked, in any earthly gardener's conservatory. It is true, that God made them both, but this Lillie was a flower blooming for immortality, while the others would perish in one short summer.
Then Alice would run down stairs, and out of the house, and scramble through a little hole in the fence at the back of the house, and rush up to Lillie, and Lillie would rush up to Alice, and they would knock each other down, without meaning to, on the soft grass, and roll over together, and jump up again, as good as new, and laugh! you never heard any thing sweeter! and report themselves ready for any play that Annie might propose.
Lillie was very fond of singing. She could sing most delightfully, "Old Dog Tray," "I want to be an Angel," "Pop goes the Weasel," and many other beautiful airs. She had taught Willie to sing "Pop—go—a—dee—sell," as he called it, and was unwearied in her efforts to amuse him, for he was a delicate little fellow, and had been sick a great deal. In this, Lillie was imitating her sister Annie, (do you see the importance of a good example?) and it was perfectly beautiful to observe the care she took of him: she would tie the bib round his neck, when he was to eat his dinner, so tight, as almost to choke him to death, but with the most loving intentions, and would comb his soft curls down on his face, and nearly scratch his eyes out with the comb, but Willie never cried; not he! because he knew perfectly well, baby as he was, from the sweet affectionate expression beaming from Lillie's blue eyes, that she did it all in love, and it is really amazing what a deal of knocking about, children will stand and laugh at, if they know it to be done in love or play, when a slight touch in punishment will set them crying.
One pleasant morning, just before last Christmas, Lillie was conversing with Willie while they were eating their breakfast with the family; for Willie had been promoted to the dignity of a high chair, and had commenced the business of feeding himself, and did it very well, considering. About once in five times he would stick the spoonful of hominy in the middle of his cheek, or on the tip of his chin, expecting to find an extra mouth or two, I suppose; so that in a little while his face would be ornamented with a variety of white patches, which made Lillie laugh, and Willie laugh back; so upon the whole he fed himself in what might be called an entertaining manner, and began to grow fat upon it.
Lillie was older, and of course ate her breakfast like a dainty little maiden, as she was, in the neatest possible way, but for all that, she liked plenty to eat, and presently she held out her plate for some more cakes.
"Why, Lillie!" said her father, pretending to be astonished, "more cakes? you're just like Oliver! I am sure you must be full up to here," and he pointed to his throat.
"Oh! no, papa, you are mistaken, only look here, how loose my skin is," and she grasped the skin of her white neck, and pulled it up, and cried, "see papa, quite a big room left."