It is not much with which to dry Not much in your empty hands to lie Yet he has not lived and died in vain, He has left name without a stain And evermore shall your life be blest, Though your treasures now are few, Since you gave for your country's good the best God ever gave to you! THE MOTHER'S RETURN BY DOROTHY WORDSWORTH A month, sweet little ones, is past O blessed tidings! thought of joy! Louder and louder did he shout, "Nay, patience! patience, little boy! Your tender mother cannot hear." I told of hills, and far-off towns, No strife disturbs his sister's breast; Of time and distance, night and day; Her joy is like an instinct, joy Her brother now takes up the note, Then, settling into fond discourse, We told o'er all that we had done,- We talked of change, of winter gone, To her these tales they will repeat, But see, the evening star comes forth! 'Tis gone and in a merry fit I could have joined the wanton chase. Five minutes past-and, O the change! SOME LITTLE LETTERS * From Louisa M. Alcott: Her Life, Letters and Journals. The Alcott children were required to keep their journals regularly, and although these were open to the inspection of father and mother, they were very frank, and really recorded their struggles and desires. The Mother had the habit of writing little notes to the children when she wished to call their attention to any fault or peculiarity. Louisa preserved many of them, headed, (EXTRACTS from letters from Mother, received during these early years. I preserve them to show the ever tender, watchful help, she gave to the child who caused her the most anxiety, yet seemed to be the nearest to her heart till the end.-L. M. A.) No. 1.- MY DEAR LITTLE GIRL,- Will you accept this doll from me on your seventh birthday? She will be a quiet playmate for my active Louisa for seven years more. Be a kind mamma, and love her for my sake. Beach Street, Boston, 1839. YOUR MOTHER. FROM HER MOTHER DEAR DAUGHTER, Cottage in Concord, 1842. Your tenth birthday has arrived. May it be a happy one, and on each returning birthday may you feel new strength and resolution to be gentle with sisters, obedient to parents, loving to every one, and happy in yourself. I give you the pencil-case I promised, for I have observed that you are fond of writing, and wish to encourage the habit. Go on trying, dear, and each day it will be easier to be and do good. You must help yourself, for the cause of your little troubles is in yourself; and patience and courage only will make you what mother prays to see you,- her good and happy girl. Concord, 1843. DEAR LOUY,- I enclose a picture for you which I always liked very much, for I imagined that you might be just such an industrious daughter and I such a feeble but loving mother, looking to your labor for my daily bread. Keep it for my sake and for your own, for you and I always liked to be grouped together. MOTHER. The lines I wrote under the picture in my journal: TO MOTHER I hope that soon, dear mother, In the quiet room my fancy Has so often made for thee, The pleasant, sunny chamber, |