Outpost

he last day of my favorite month, and the birthday of

ectly, and sweep the sky as clear as a bell; and bid all the clouds, whether big white mountains, little pinky islands, sweeping mares'-tails, or freckled ma

ou may go to bed again in the Mountains of the Moo

n sky, flecking the waves with diamond spray, touching up the gay-colored leaves still clinging to the forest-trees, blazing on the town and city

ten their breakfasts, and half cleared it away by this time; and here are you just beginning to dress yoursel

satisfied; for through the windows of the dining-room he saw a lady and gen

, and sparkled in the cut glass of the goblets and egg-glasses; flickered across the white and gilt china; pierced the fiery heart of the diamond upon the first finger of the lady's le

y," said Mr. Legrange, admiring the color i

the sunshine shut out," replied

ttle Sunshine. And where is she?" asked Mr. Legrange, half turning his chair

. Hark! I hear her." And the Sun, drawing his finger across the moth

our share of Sunshine, or at

the lady bent a little toward her

in childish costume, but with all her beauty intensified by the condensation: for the blue eyes were as large and clear, and even deeper in their tint; the clustering hair was of a brighter gold; and the fair skin pearlier in its whiteness, and richer in its rosiness; while t

old! One, two, three, four, five, six years old! Susan told them all to me, and

d a little fistful of the comfits, first to her father, and then to her mother. Both smilingly declined the treat, explaining that they had but just do

ward him. "So Susie thought I hadn't forgotten your birthday, eh? W

child promptly, as she desperatel

always pull their ears as many times as they are yea

travelled swiftly toward her mother's face

me much, papa," said she,

tly in his arms, lifting h

sometimes, instead of pinches, they give little girls a

ring for a kiss, answ

the dimpled face betw

e; one for each cheek makes five; and now the last and best for the lips makes six. Next yea

shine any kisses for h

Leg

ee to the floor, and, with her arms

se kisses papa just gave

elonged, or which pair of lips was the kisser's, and which the kissed; while the Sun fairly dan

n, laughing, for a mo

ple get presents on th

ine

from her mother, but still clinging round

e, and didn't forgotten about

kind," said Mr. Legrange, gravely considering; "bu

tle tremble across the lips. But the instinct of native refinement and delicacy overcame the disappointm

ever so many pretty things up in the

ge looked

bless me! what is this in the pocket of my dressing-gown? Let me take it out, lest i

e table a long, flat box of red morocc

box?" asked 'Toinette, s

ou think,

's some cig

one already, and mamma says I ought not to have any. Let us peep

placed the casket in 'Toinette's hands. She raised the lid, and utter

acelets of coral cameos, linked with go

Legrange, smiling at the eage

ely pretty. O pap

nnie Wall's; and so, as I had heard that people sometimes liked presents on their birthda

te's rapture would no

eping over her sh

o get. I told you common coral beads, strung

some value when she grows up, as the others would not. At

t of the clasp, opening upon a hinge, showed a plate

as possible. They will be just right to loop up her sleeves while she is so lit

afternoon at my party,

to clasp one upo

re we!" exclaimed Mr. Legrange

with 'Toinette, and to go home after

ry likely: so it will all be over when I arrive.

my party, papa. Tell him to co

ng the Liliputians. He would tread on a dozen of

and he's my little wife, and I

nge. "Cousin Tom wouldn't want to com

inette, going back to her bracelets with a shadow

nd he can do as he likes about accepting," sai

as a woman's possessed of a tear, She'll alwa

course, papa; but here

e for he

tly, and a fresh, pretty-lookin

e ready to come u

ts, pet; but, when you go out, leave

ma and papa; and don't fo

e, laughing, as he followed the child and nu