Arthur was seated on a bench, just within the garden gate. He was so busy with his book he did not see Minnie until she was close to him. Then he looked up, and when he saw who it was, he smiled, and said,—
“Did you get your letter, Minnie?”
“Yes; and it was from my aunt Amy, who is coming to see me next week.”
“I’m glad for you,” replied Arthur; “because I’ve heard you say you love your aunt. But come here and sit on my bench, while I read you this interesting chapter in the Bible.” Then Minnie sat down beside Arthur, and he read some beautiful verses from the book of Daniel. After listening a while to Arthur’s reading, Minnie arose, and said,—
“I must go now, Arthur. Good by.”
“Good by, Minnie, if you must go,” replied Arthur; and then, with a glad heart, Minnie hurried home again.
The days seemed very long to the little girl during the next week. Old Time always seems to move slowly when any one wishes him to quicken his pace. But, like all other days, they were gone at last; and when the time drew near for aunt Amy’s arrival, Minnie took her work and sat down by the parlor window. I don’t think she did much work, however, for every sound which fell on her ear caused her to raise her head and look down the street to see if her aunt’s carriage was coming. Sometimes she laid her work on the table, and went into the street, looking in every direction, and whispering to herself,—
“I wonder why aunt Amy don’t come.”
You may think all this was very silly in my gentle Minnie. Perhaps it was; but you know she was only a child; and I have known some grown up people to do just as Minnie did when they expected visitors. Minnie’s mother thought of this, and did not chide her daughter. She thought of her own days of childhood, and only smiled at Minnie’s eagerness.