BERTHA AND NURSE BEVAN. 9

placing a large mug of milk before Bertha. I
hope you were not disturbed too early "
 Oh no, thank you, nurse! I slept so sound
till the birds began to waken up; and they sang
and chirped so sweetly that I couldn't wait for
Martha, but had to get up. May I go out after
breakfast to see the birds and everything ? "
 "Certainly, dear; you may go out and do just
as you please. Martha will be done with the work
in-doors, and will be going out to milk the cows.
Should you like to go with her ? "
 "Oh, very much indeed!" replied Bertha, jump-
ing about.
 Martha will have a few minutes, I dare say
to show you your hen and chickens. You are to
have them all to yourself; but you must not
forget to feed them, remember."
 "Oh, thank you, Nurse Bevan, so much cried
Bertha. I will never forget them, poor dears.
Hadn't mamma some chickens all to herself when
she was little ? "
 "Yes, dear," said nurse, laughing; "but I am
sorry to say she sometimes forgot them, and other
people had to look after them lest they should die
altogether."
 "Was mamma a forgetful little girl, nurse?"