ever he pleases, he will take us all to heaven, if we only learn to trust him and love him, and try always to please him while here below. Meantime, may our dear merciful Saviour make you sweetly patient, gentle, submissive, and happy under his loving discipline, which older people find it very hard sometimes to bear.

My darling child, if I were not afraid of tiring you by too long a letter while you are so ill, I would tell you something about your bright and cheery little bantam, and how he goes about among the hens, crowing like the biggest rooster and shining like a peacock, his wings are so beautifully colored, red, yellow, and gold. He is one of the prettiest, sweetest little fellows you ever saw, and he stands up so firm and soldier-like when he crows, and pours forth his musical voice with such evident pleasure and artless pride that it is a sight worth coming from Stamford to see. And now, dearest boy, may God grant you new health and strength to come and see for yourself, as soon as you are well enough, what a blessed robe of loveliness the spring season is throwing over everything. The birds are building their nests already, and the buds will soon break forth in blossoms, oh, how sweet and fragrant! God bless you and keep you, dear Wyatt, and your dear parents, and all the dear children, and make you all well and happy forevermore. This is the prayer

of

Your tenderly loving, anxious Aunt and Uncle.

Another Letter during Wyatt's Absence.

MY DARLING WYATT, - I am very lonely, and long to see you. We all miss you, and hope you will be ready to come back in two weeks, for we cannot live all winter without seeing your dear, bright little face. Your dear uncle wants you back too, and we hope you will feel willing to come, and will be a good little boy and a comfort. to us. Your little bantam comes every morning for some crumbs, and reminds me of your dear little self. Hsays it seems very lonely at the barn and wood-house without seeing you. John arrived last evening, and we hope to see him to-day; if he brings anything for you I will send it. I am sorry you did not take your ship in the bag, so as to let Hiram see it. It was a beautiful gift from Maria. Let your mamma see your book from Mrs. F. We have the toys you left, all in a safe place with the tools, which you will need when you come back. I was in hopes we should have some snow yesterday, so you and Hiram could enjoy coasting. I will have a new sled for you when you return, and other things. Good-by. Evelina and Maria send you a great deal of love, and your dear uncle sends a thousand kisses with mine.

Ever your loving Aunty.

Beware of dogs; and don't take cold.

His Aunty's Letter of Invitation.

When will you, my own dear little Wyatt, be ready and willing to come back to us? for we want to see you so

We cannot wait till spring, much; we are very lonely

without you, and want to see your bright little face and hear you talk. We hope you have done with striking, and are willing to obey. You can be the best little boy in the whole world if you will quit all naughty little ways. God will love and bless you, and everybody will love you, and you will grow up a good and useful man, if God spares you. So try, dear little Wyatt, and tell Hiram to try also, and Zenobia, and Bessie.

We will not mind your noise, and would rather hear it, if you are not too boisterous, than the stillness now in our house. The servants say so too; and they want you back. Maria and Evelina send their love to you, and will be delighted to see you. We are all ready to welcome you back. The ice is thick on the pond, and we have plenty of snow, and you shall have a beautiful sled, and choose it yourself, and there will be plenty of boys and girls to skate on the pond.

I must now tell you something that will make you laugh. Our little kitten is getting very playful and mischievous. She lately jumps on Daisy's back and plays with Daisy's tail. Daisy was very uneasy at first in having her tail pulled by the kitten, but does n't seem to mind it now. The kitten follows the man-servant all about, and goes into the chicken-house and jumps on the roostingpoles with the chickens. Your uncle says she is the prettiest and most playful little kitten he ever saw, and he loves to watch her at play. Now, do come back, dear little Wyatt, as soon as your dear mamma and papa can spare you? You can go home again for a visit any day, and I will pay all the expenses of your trip. We are having a good many eggs now, and you can sell them, for we

can get fifty cents a dozen; and you shall have the money. We want you to find the eggs and chase away the pigs. Love and kisses to you all from your loving Aunty; and Uncle sends you his kisses the same with hers.

MY DEAR LITTLE WYATT, I want to tell you what your dear uncle dreamed about you last night, which will, I am sure, please you. He told it to Zenobia and your aunty this morning.

He dreamed that Wyatt's papa and himself, with dear little Wyatt, went out on the river in a boat sailing, and a terrible fog came on, and they could hardly see, and were afraid they would never reach land; but they all pulled hard for the shore, and God brought them safely home at last. When they got home, all felt very tired, and their clothes were all wet, and Uncle said little Wyatt must be put in bed, for he was so tired and sleepy. But not so! Little Wyatt said, "I must pray to God first ;" and down he went on his little knees, and with uplifted hands thanked God for his kind care.

Uncle said dear little Wyatt looked like an angel, with his little white nightgown on, and his dear little hands raised to Heaven.

A Child's Prayer, written for Wyatt.

O merciful Heavenly Father, may a little child like me venture to call thee mine? Oh, make me thine, thy dear, loving child, cleansed from all sin and forgiven for Jesus' sake, who died for me that I might live forever in heaven with the angels of God and all the dear, loving

children in thy heavenly kingdom. Oh, take my heart and make it pure and holy, and take away all evil thoughts and feelings out of it. Teach me, O Lord, and give me grace to love my God and Saviour with all my heart and soul and strength, and my neighbor as myself. May I be meek and lowly, and of gentle mind and manners, and loving God and his sweet and blessed word in the Bible, as Jesus did when he was a little child on earth, and lived and died for us, that we might be like him, and love him, and be kept and loved by him forever. Make me always loving and obedient to my dear father and mother, and tender and gentle and loving to my dear brothers and sisters. Make me good and kind and patient and true to all my playmates, and to everybody around me, for Jesus' sake. Show me how to believe in him, and teach me to pray always, in his dear name, trusting in him. Keep me always in his love, and give me more and more of his blessed Spirit, every day on earth; and when I die, take me, O Father, washed in his most precious blood, a lamb of his fold, to be forever with him, and with all his redeemed little ones in the kingdom of heaven.

S