The house in which they lived stood on a pleasant and delightful spot, from which all the surrounding country could be viewed. In rear of the house stood a beautiful and stately sugar maple-tree, the branches of which spread over nearly all of the yard, and extended over a part of the roof of the house. Under this large tree, Eliza and Harriet spent a great deal of time, when they were not in school and the weather was pleasant. There they sometimes amused themselves with their dolls and other playthings, and sometimes Eliza would amuse Harriet with little stories which had been told to her, or which she had read in her little books. When they took a walk together, Eliza would take Harriet by the hand, and lead her along very carefully, always keeping her out of the dirt and wet places.
One fine morning they arose very early, and took a walk to inhale the pure air of the hills and mountains, just as the sun came forth to look upon the beauties of creation, while the lark soared high above them on its happy wings. Eliza was delighted with the sight; and, putting her left hand gently on Harriet's shoulder, pointed to the Lark with her right hand. Harriet took off her bonnet, and put up her right hand to screen her eyes from the dazzling rays of the sun, while she looked at the beautiful bird. After they had walked a little farther, they returned home very cheerful and much refreshed.
Eliza pointing to the Lark, soaring in the sky.
One day her little sister Harriet wished her to teach her how to sew. So Eliza very patiently threaded the needle for her, made the knots in the ends of the thread, and basted down the hems for her, until Harriet was able to do these things herself.
Eliza takes care of her own clothes and always folds them up neatly, and shows her little sister to do so too; and, therefore, she knows where they are and can find them in the dark as well as in the light. When she and Harriet come home from school, she takes the school books out of the basket, and puts them in their proper place, and never leaves them scattered about, to be in the way of her mamma.
Eliza and Harriet were both such excellent children, that their mamma scarcely ever had any occasion to chide them or find fault with them; and, all who were acquainted with them, esteemed them very highly.