"Sister Edith showed me such a 'lightful play. She did put me on the end of the sofa, and I go backward and forward, backward and forward, and she sings:
'Grandmamma's sick,
And is going to die,
And nothing will cure her
But a turn-over pie;'
and then I go tumbledy over backward on the sofa so nice! Don't you wish you could play it?
"Georgia told the story the wrong way; it was Blue Beard's wife, not his sister. Of course it was! She 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.