Eight cousins : or, The aunt-hill

;A HAPPY BIRTHDAY. 163Alec had not forgotten her; for on the table stooda delicate little easel, holding two miniatures set invelvet. She knew them both, and stood looking atthem till her eyes brimmed ovei- with tears that wereboth sweet and sad ; for they were the faces of herfather and mother, beautifully co^jied from j^ortraitsfastfading away.Presently she knelt down, and, putting her armsround the little shrine, kissed one after the other,saying with an earnest voice, " I '11 truly try to makethem glad to see me by and by."And that w\as Rose's little prayer on the night ofher fourteenth birthday.Two days later, the Campbells went home, a largerparty than when they came ; for Dr. Alec was escort,and Kitty Comet was borne in state in a basket, witha bottle of milk, some tiny sandwiches, and a doll'sdish to drink out of, as well as a bit of carpet to lieon in her palace car, out of which she kej)t poj^pingher head in the most fascinating manner.There was a great kissing and cuddling, weavingof handkerchiefs, and last good-bys, as they wentand when they had started. Mother Atkinson camerunning after them, to tuck in some little pies, hotfrom the oven, " for the dears, who might get tiredof bread and butter during that long day's travel."Another start, and another halt ; for the Snowchildren came shrieking up to demand the threekittens that Pokey was coolly carrying off in atravellmg-bag. The unhappy kits were rescued, halfsmothered, and restored to their lawful owners, amiddire lamentation from the little kidnapper, who de-