AMY. 157

time she heard the bell ring and listened for every footstep
upon the stair.

The days went by till Amy’s birthday came. Early in the
morning the little girls were about to run to their mamma’s
room, when a strange woman met them at the door, saying,
“Ssh! ssh!’ They looked up wonderingly.

“Don’t make a noise, dears,” she said; “you may see
your mamma after a while.”

They went sorrowfully down to breakfast: no papa; no
mamma; no birthday greetings; no merry-making.

“T feel dess like one of zose ’ittle norphans,” said Amy,
“as if I had to wear a b’ue fwock all ’e time. Don’t you,
May ?” i
“Yes,” said May, sighing. “Here comes Bethiah; she
looks natural, anyhow ; let us eat breakfast in the kitchen with
her.”

So forlorn and lonely did they feel that they slipped down
from their chairs, despite the maid’s protests, and took their
plates. to the kitchen, where they sat up to the table, while
Bethiah in the goodness of her heart made an extra effort to
give them tidbits, and after breakfast took Amy up on her lap.

“Siah’s baby shall have its birthday,” she said, for she
had been Amy’s nurse till a year pefore, and the dear old soul
was devoted to the little one. “Siah will make her a nice
cake,” she continued, “and she shall. have a party, so she
shall.” .