To soothe and sympathize.’
I do think that’s lovely, now; don’t you?”
“Yes, indeed!” cried the children, both together, and Tiny added, warmly,—
“It’s all lovely, as lovely as it can be, and that hymn is one of mamma’s favoritest hymns—aren’t you glad of that? Dear Miss Ann, I wonder if we can grow up like you, if we begin to try right away?”
Miss Ann looked absolutely startled.
“Oh, my dears!” she said, softly, “like me! You don’t know what you’re saying. When I think of the Perfect Pattern, and my poor blundering—” she stopped, and hid her face in her hands, and they both fell upon her and hugged her so hard that it was a good thing that the distant sound of the tea bell made her spring up and rush to the house, saying, in conscience-stricken tones,—
“I declare! While I’ve been sitting here, chattering like a magpie, mother and Julie have been doing all my work! I ought to be ashamed of myself.”
“Umph?” grunted Johnny, as Tiny and he followed her more slowly. “She ought to be ashamed of herself! I wonder what we ought to be? Tiny, let’s begin right straight off. I kept the best whistle myself, when I made those two to-day; here it is, and you needn’t say a word—you must just swap with me right away, whether you want to or not.”