Julia wrote stories herself, too,--very wonderful stories, we all thought, and, indeed, I think so still. She began when she was a little girl, not more than six or seven years old. There lies beside me now on the table a small book, about five inches square, bound in faded pink and green, and filled from cover to cover with writing in a cramped, childish hand. It is a book of novels and plays, written by our Julia before she was ten years old; and I often think that the beautiful and helpful things she wrote in her later years were hardly more remarkable than these queer little romances. They are very sentimental; no child of eight, save perhaps Marjorie Fleming, was ever so sentimental as Julia,--“Leonora Mayre; A Tale,” “The Lost Suitor,” “The Offers.” I must quote a scene from the last-named play. SCENE I. Parlor at MRS. EVANS’S. FLORENCE EVANS _alone_. _Enter_ ANNIE. A. Well, Florence, Bruin is going to make an offer, I suppose. F. Why so? A. Here’s a pound of candy from him. He said he had bought it for you, but on arriving he was afraid it was too trifling a gift; but hoping you would not throw it away, he requested me to give it to that virtuous young lady, as he calls you. F. Well, I am young, but I did not know that I was virtuous. A. I think you are. SCENE II. Parlor. MR. BRUIN _alone_. MR. B. Why doesn’t she come? She doesn’t usually keep me waiting. _Enter_ FLORENCE. F. How do you do? I am sorry to have kept you waiting. MR. B. I have not been here more than a few minutes. Your parlor is so warm this cold day that I could wait. [_Laughs._ F. You sent me some candy the other day which I liked very much. MR. B. Well, you liked the candy; so I pleased you. Now you can please me. I don’t care about presents; I had rather have something that can love me. You. F. I do not love you. [_Exit_ MR. BRUIN. SCENE III. FLORENCE _alone_. _Enter_ MR. CAS. F. How do you do? MR. C. Very well. F. It is a very pleasant day. MR. C. Yes. It would be still pleasanter if you will be my bride. I want a respectful refusal, but prefer a cordial acception. F. You can have the former. [_Exit_ MR. CAS. SCENE IV. FLORENCE _with_ MR. EMERSON. MR. E. I love you, Florence. You may not love me, for I am inferior to you; but tell me whether you do or not. If my hopes are true, let me know it, and I shall not be doubtful any longer. If they are not, tell me, and I shall not expect any more. F. They are. [_Exit_ MR. EMERSON. The fifth scene of this remarkable drama is laid in the church, and is very thrilling. The stage directions are brief, but it is evident from the text that as Mr. Emerson and his taciturn bride advance to the altar, Messrs. Cas and Bruin, “to gain some private ends,” do the same. The Bishop is introduced without previous announcement.