IT was cold weather; but the day was bright and beautiful. Baby Lily in her warm bed rubbed her eyes, and tried to wake herself up. She knew something pleasant was going to happen; but for a minute or two she couldn't recollect what it was, and lay digging into her sleepy eyes with her tiny, dimpled hand, when a soft voice across the chamber, whispered—
"Baby Lily! Baby Lily! Wake up! Wake up! It's your birthday!"
"Oh, yes, Helen!" cried the child, starting up. "So it is!"
Helen rose from her couch and, walking softly across the chamber, kissed her sister four times.
"Aren't you glad, you little darling, that the day has come; and wont we have a splendid time at your birthday party?"
Baby Lily's eyes sparkled,—I wish you could have seen them,—and her cheeks grew such a pretty pink, you would have thought the roses had been kissing them. It was still very early; but Lily was impatient for the pleasures of the day to begin; so she slipped down the side of the bed, saying,—
"Sarah! Sarah! Can't I go downstairs? I want to. Oh, I'm so glad my birthday has come!"
"I'm afraid you'll wake baby brother, pet."
"Oh," exclaimed Helen, "I heard him cooing long ago."
So Sarah reached from the chair at the side of the bed a pair of stockings, and oh, such tiny shoes! And, having arrayed her little charge in them, sent her down to the nursery to be dressed, while she herself took another nap.