84 THE DOLL AND HER FRIENDS.

any news to bring of the family, but one day she

called on us in even more flurry than usual. She
was quite out of breath with eagerness.

“ Sit down and rest a minute before you begin
to speak,” said her quiet sister-in-law. “ There
must be some great news abroad. It seems almost
too much for you.”

Susan nodded, and began to unpack a great
parcel she had brought with her.

“Tt don’t seem bad news, to judge by your
face,” said the other; for now that Sarah had re-
covered breath, her smiles succeeded one another so
fast, that she seemed to think words superfluous.

“T puess, I guess,” cried Susan. “ They are
coming’ home.”

“ They are, indeed,” answered Sarah at last;
“they are coming home as fast as steam-engines
can bring them: and here is work more than enough
for you and mother till they come. Miss Margaret
is going to be married, and you are to make the
wedding~-clothes.”

So saying, she finished unpacking her parcel,
and produced various fine materials which required
Susan’s neatest work.

“ These are for you to begin with,” said she,
“ but there is more coming.” She then read a let-
ter from the ladies with directions about the needle-