CHAPTER I.
AUNT KITTY'S GREETING.
Nearly a year has passed, my dear young friends, since first Aunt Kittymet you with a "Merry Christmas or Happy New-Year." The snow, which thenspread a veil over all things, has long since melted away. The springflowers which succeeded it have withered. The summer and autumn fruitshave been gathered. Again winter has stripped even the leaves from thetrees, and we awake each morning expecting to find that again he hasclothed them in robes of spotless white. And now that the season forholidays and merriment has returned,--now that your friends greet younot only with smiling faces and pleasant words, but with presents, asmarks of their affection and approbation, Aunt Kitty, too, comes withher token of remembrance.
Before she presents it, will you permit her to ask how you have receivedthose which she has already sent you. Have you learned from "BlindAlice" and her young friend Harriet, that to do right is the only way tobe happy, and from "Jessie Graham," that it is true wisdom to speak thesimple truth always, and from "Florence Arnott," that selfishness is agreat evil, and will, if you indulge it, bring great sufferings onyourselves and others? If you have learned these lessons and practisethem, then am I sure that your Christmas will be merry and your New-Yearhappy,--that the good-humored tones and ringing laughter of your youngcompanions will never be changed into wrangling and fretful cries, orthe smiles of your older friends into grave and disapproving looks. ThatI think of you, this little book will prove, and though I may not seeyou, I shall probably hear of your improvement and enjoyment, and myholidays will be the pleasanter for them.
These holidays I shall pass in the country at the house of my friendMrs. Wilmot, to whom I have already made a very long visit. There areresiding here six young girls, the eldest little over twelve, and theyoungest under ten years of age. Already they have learned to regard awalk with Aunt Kitty, as a reward for a well-recited lesson, and tocluster around her by the evening fire, with wishful eyes and earnestvoices asking for one story more. At any hint of my going home, theirremonstrances and entreaties are so vehement, that, I think, when itbecomes absolutely necessary to leave them, I shall have to steal away.
I am about to introduce these little girls to you by name, to tell youhow their time is generally employed, how their holidays are passed, andthus to make you quite well acquainted with them.
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