CHAPTER VIII.

DOLL'S CORRESPONDENCE.

DEAR JOSEY,--

I at last thought that I would write you. I hope you have not quite forgotten your last mamma, for I have not forgotten you. Your sister Ellen still continued the same bad girl, and so I sent her to a ragman who gave me a shilling for her, though I guess he will repent of his bargain before long, if she acts as naughty as she has with me. I am very busy now. I help my mother in a great many things, and am quite useful to her.

From EMILY ARTHURST.

I wrote back an answer which was this:--

Dear Mother Emily,--

Indeed I have not forgotten you, as you thought. Although I have every thing I can wish for, jewelry, clothes, and food, yet I can never forget the happy year I passed with you. I had hoped that my sister Ellen would have reformed, but I am very sorry that she has not. My present mamma is very kind to me; she has taken me to the opera and to balls and parties.

From your affectionate daughter, that was,

JOSEPHINE ARNOLDSON.

About a week after I received another letter which read thus:--

My dear Daughter,--

I am very much pleased to hear that you still remember me as well as I remember you, and that you hoped that Ellen would reform. I hope you enjoy yourself where you are, and see as many nice things as you can wish. Inclosed I send you a nice little pen for you to write me letters with once a week, if your mamma will let you.

From your late mother,

EMILY ARTHURST.

I answered it:--

Dear mother,--

I am very much pleased with my pen, and my present mother has given me leave to write once a week.

JOSEPHINE ARNOLDSON.