Litchfield enquirer., 1881-04-28
-HI sEIT7@E no7Bt1 .VHI0Ir ROUND DELIA'S BASKET.

take them with us. but how crufd you ever bear to have agreat rough collie spraw ling or, your mat and hPseltlng yonr saucer? They say that dogs grow like their masters. Ger tainly that dog is very like Tom. Dear Tom He certainly does make d great noise. He is 8" big: and his boots are SD big and he c,mes l clattering intothat big hall of his; he always leaves The door open. Men are SD clumsy: and. "f Course, woman does get little s.: | in her ways, as sl'e grows -w when she is get tinp 10 be not SD young as she as she used to h. Then the dog cs'mes jumping in at the window there is always q window open somewhere frightening one to death; and there are all sorts of dranghts, and a great fire fit to roast an OK. N', Pussy, an quite sure yon never could be happy there. Dear Pussy: l dear Della s.,a. ; s,e..s...'-.,.
 Wlla, shall say if he asks-what should l say if he were to He is such an old friend, ! and am SD fond have always been so fond nf him since we were bny and girl together. Oh. Pussy, do wish you could advise ,iIe! Dear, dear, how silly am to he considering l what shall say before anybody-w when no body has asked-when there has been no l question. l am old enough to know better yes, old enough. If he had wis.ed-if h.. had meant anything, he might have said s"ihething years ago or more. Inave known him all my life. Dear Tom! And yeti really do think that he mus: mean something. He comes almost ever, | day. We have been near neighbors aud dea l friends all these years, and yet he never used to come nearly so often. And then he dOesr'I come for anything particular; that is, unless He just cnInes in and strides about, and begins l 10 say things, and doesn't finish and asks nu the same questions every day about little Lily Dear Lily!
 l l don't believe that there is another man in 1 the world who would have done what he has done for little Lily. To adopt child is such serious thing. No relation whatever to him. Just because her father was his friend, and nobdy wanted to take charge of the pcor .r- phan baby, and he scarcely more than Toy at he time; yes: it was good. 1 do think Pussy. that be is the best man in the world.
 But then no guardian, however good he may | be, wants to come every day and talk about a little girl, and say the sarDe things and ask il," same questions. And then his wanting me t,, keep Lily here when she comes back from her l friends! D0esn't that look as if-oh, hut must not think of it. Is that the front dr,r l bell? Oh dear! There, there. Pussy ii'si nothing don't disturb yourself It's noth l ing-nothing. Miss Dorcthy Hstens anrsously; she gives htth tunep as Lily comes in.) 7 D-Lily!
 L.-Ddn't you expect me Didn't you ge, Teddie's telegram?
 D,-No, dear And my dear, who is Ted. die? '" >a.#f I | L.-Tm very sorry, dear Miss Dorothy, bu, hey call him Teddie. He's Teddy Armstrong kitty's brother he's an awfully nice boy; | don't call him Tedde h, his face, you know. dear <; but that comes of trusting a boy h. promised to send you telegram the very mo
 ment he got to London. But how are you. I. .<N M .ls- T. D.-Yes. dear but please don't touch her thsnk she's asleep ,i.s- ... -.t. '. .,. L.-I think she's always asleep. D.-Ste does sleep good deal but when she is awake she is the cleveresI, dearest creature, the best cOmpafiOn- But, Lily, l dear, don't understand now why you art. here. To day is the day when you were to l have gone on to the Blakes Or course an 0ery glad to see you. Dear child! -3 to ssi L.-An the Blakes have got the mumps- even old Mrs. Blake; at least they think she has only she's 8" fat that they can't>be sure and SD I've come straight t0 you sand sm SD tired of visiting; and am 90 glad to be al home --almos. at houe. s ...- si F., D.-Dear Lily! And you must he q,t;te at home here. You are to make me a nice long l visit. settled it all with Tom. May l stay with You always7 ..t
 D. Dear Lily! But what would your guardian say to that? Tom would never for give me. Of course the Hall IS your home till you are old enough to be married. L-l shall never marry. D.-Never is a long word. But you are quite right not to think of such nonsense for q long time. There is plenty of time for such a ] child as you. -'a L-When does one give up heinz child D.-Why, of course. dear, when you are , grown up. What an odd question. And why don't you ask after Tom, dear? You | really ought to ask after you good, kind guardian. He is SD good and kind. L.-How is he?
 D What a way to ask And why don't you say Uncle Tom?"
 l.. Because it's silly. He's not my nncIr. He's not the least bit of relation. Uncle Tom! It's as if he was black
 D.-You always used to call him ''uncle."
 L.-When was a little thing, and didn't know any better. Miss Dorothy, why did h.. send me away to make these stupid visits: And why does he want me to stay here witt, you instead of going home? Tell me- please.
 Dit is all because he is SD good. You know how fond he is of you dear Tom . he always was SD fond of children but h.. thought that you ought to see some yOdnger s"cie'y an,i so 1 am afraid Ire has been very lonely sometimes, for he has been over here d good deal lately; and Oh Lily am really afraid, my dear, that you don't half know how good your guardian is Well, you know, anyway.
 D.-Lil.
 And 80 he sent me away to play with the other. children. He thinks me child still he
 D.-Why, of course, dear, you arc child.
 L. And when does one hecomc a girl9
 D.-Why, of course, dear, when you come out. and are young lady.
 Il shant come out. I've seen the world now, and think it's silly. You can't think wila. nonsense those boys talk.
 D.-Ynu wont think so, always, dear; that is, when they Yes. dear. dare say they will talk nonsense to you some day.
 L'-They talk nonsense to nie now
 D-Lily!
 L.-They do-at least some of them do sometimes. They are so silly They cer tainly don't say much. They only stare when they are with ns, and yawn and then one of them says, Come on, Charlie, or "Regy,' or ''Beftfe,' or whatever it is, land have smoke;" and then they go away, and get quite lively, and we hear them laughing. Boys seem to have most fun by themselves Boys aitft like girls 5@:i 4s+7 -aa" .s4s
 D. But thought, dear, you said that they talked to you.
 L -so they cid Oh. Miss Dorothy. do gou know R-gy -Mr Reginald Chalmers? la !
 D.-No, dear.,eazs .rat.,s aHj Ii: 4... -p.-
 L.--He is such a dear!
 D.-Lilyi I
 L.--Oh, but he is. He has got little tiny mustaolle aud he wsxes the points; and his man takes him tea in the. morning before he gets up; and for two days he didn't seem to know that was alive; and the third day, just after luncheon, he said quite loud that wasn't'.a haif-bad looking little girl" and could have killed him. And after that he be- came quite friendly and the next evening he stood staring, and twisting that llttle mus. iache, and at last he said. quite suddenly, By George, you are in looks ts, night" { D. think that Mr Chalmers must he very rude" yssing2 2anany sif des ought ts know better ttauto1 speak like s.hatfto girl in the scLOol room. 5e.s, si .,,.,,,,y;t..,,
 Well, anyway, he knows that I'm not child. That's sonet hing. sss 1ssfI s7 Aa 9 si