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re the Merry Mother left her the Little Cousin felt almost happy,
sitting up among her soft pillows, and wearing her new, pink, birthday
sacque, with its pretty ribbons.

"I am sorry I must be away all the morning," the Merry Mother said; "but
I hope your pleasant company will keep you from missing me. I am going
to shut your door for a minute, and when it opens you can pull in your
visitors as fast as you please." She laughed to see the Little Cousin's
astonished face, for the doctor had said that the children must not come
in to see her as long as Mumps stayed. Then the door closed.

There was a slight commotion outside. The Little Cousin listened
eagerly. What could it mean? Hushed voices, bits of laughter, the
sliding of something over the polished floor, scurrying footsteps here
and there--the Little Cousin heard it all, and waited breathlessly.

At last the feet retreated, the door opened, and the Merry Mother's face
appeared. Something attached to a string came flying toward the bed.

"Catch it!" she called.

The Little Cousin grabbed it--only a small block of wood, on which was
printed, "PULL."

Eagerly the little hands obeyed, when in through the doorway slid an
oblong package. Across the rug and up on the bed the Little Cousin drew
it, till her excited fingers clasped the package tight--what could it
be?

Fastened to the further end of the bundle was another block of wood, and
attached to it was another string which led outside the door. On this
block was printed. "When you are ready, PULL again!"

"I'll open this first," said the Little Cousin to herself, untying the
block, and laying it aside with its dangling cord. Eagerly she tore off
the wrappings--it was, it _was_ a doll, such a darling of a doll! It had
brown eyes and fluffy yellow curls, and--this seemed very strange--the
only thing in the way of clothing that it possessed was a little blanket
that was wrapped around it.

Never mind! she was learning to sew, and she would make it a dress as
soon as she was well again. She cuddled Dolly down against the pillows.
She would not be lonely any more, even if Mumps should stay for a longer
visit than was expected. Her dolls had all been left for the Little
Sister in Constantinople, and it was so nice to have a dolly of her own
again!

Then her eyes fell on the block of wood, with its inscription, and she
began to pull in the string.

A square package appeared in the doorway, and she drew it toward her.
Attached to it was a third block. This she untied as before, and removed
the paper from her gift. It was a small trunk. She lifted the cover, and
there were Dolly's missing garments! A blue dress, a pink dress, a white
dress, dainty underwear, sash ribbons, a coat and hat, and even a tiny
comb and brush, were found in that wonderful trunk. Of course, Dolly had
to come out from her nook in the pillows, and be dressed. It took some
time, because Little Cousin must stop to admire every separate garment.
At last, however, the third present was pulled in, and it was a chair
for Dolly to sit in.

The fourth package was big and rather heavier than the others. The
Little Cousin wondered what it could be, and she found out just as soon
as she could get it open. It was a dining-table for Dolly, with a real
little table-cloth, and napkins, and a set of pretty china dishes.

"Oh, oh!" gasped the Little Cousin, in sheer delight. It is a pity there
was no one there to see the shining of her eyes. She rested awhile among
her pillows; but not long, for Dolly must have her table set for
luncheon--she might be hungry.

Ready for the make-believe repast, string number five was pulled, and
when the box was opened the Little Cousin fairly squealed, for there was
a real luncheon for Dolly and herself, all in twos! There were two tiny
buttered biscuits, two very small apple turnovers, and two little
frosted cakes. There were, also, two small bottles containing a brownish
liquid. It was chocolate! Oh, how glad the Little Cousin was that she
had passed the stage where she could not eat! It would have been hard,
indeed, to have left all those goodies for Dolly. As it was she had to
take food in very small bits, but that only made it last the longer; and
if it did hurt a little once in a while she did not mind, it tasted so
good. So on the whole, the luncheon was a very happy affair.

When the sixth present was pulled upon the bed the Little Cousin said,
"Oh!" to the accompaniment of very bright eyes, for the shape of it told
her that must be a carriage--a carriage for Dolly, and it proved to be
one of the very prettiest that ever a small doll rode in. She was put on
the seat in a twinkling, and had only one tumble--which did not even
muss her dress, and the next time she was strapped in so that she could
not fall.

The seventh gift was a little white bedstead, with mattress and sheets,
a dear little puffy comfortable, and a dainty coverlet and two pillows.
Of course, Dolly was tired enough after her ride to be undressed and go
to bed, and very sweet she looked as she was tucked snugly in.

"Now shut your eyes and go right to sleep!" Dolly was bidden, and she
obeyed at once.

"What a perfectly lovely birthday!" murmured Little Cousin, drawing her
darling--bed and all--close to her pillow. Then she shut her own eyes,
to keep Dolly company.

When the Merry Mother peeped in, the Little Cousin from Constantinople
lay quite still among her treasures--fast asleep.

LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD

RETOLD FROM GRIMM

There was once a sweet little girl, who had gained the love of every
one, even those who had only seen her once. She had an old grandmother,
who knew not how to do enough for her, she loved her so much. Once she
sent her a little cloak with a red velvet hood, which became her so well
that she obtained the name of Little Red Riding-Hood.

One day her mother said to her: "Come, Red Riding-Hood, I want you to go
and see your grandmother, and take her a piece of cake and a bottle of
wine; for she is ill and weak, and this will do her good. Make haste and
get ready before the weather gets too hot, and go straight on your road
while you are out, and behave prettily and modestly; and do not run, for
fear you should fall and break the bottle, and then grandmother would
have no wine. And when you pass through the village, do not forget to
courtesy and say 'Good-morning' to every one who knows you."

"I will do everything you tell me, mother," said the child as she wished
her good-by and started for her long walk.

It was quite half an hour's walk through the wood from the village to
the grandmother's house, and no sooner had Red Riding-Hood entered the
wood than she met a wolf.

Red Riding-Hood did not know what a wicked animal he was, and felt not
the least afraid of him.

"Good-day, Red Riding-Hood," he said.

"Good-morning, sir," replied the little girl, with a courtesy.

"Where are you going so early, Red Riding-Hood?" he asked.

"To my grandmother, sir," she replied. "Mother baked yesterday, 

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