"Why," answered Maggie, slowly, as she considered how she might make one of her favorite proverbs fit the occasion, "it means--well--it means--that a foolish mother is apt to have a foolish child, and things of that kind. Do you understand, Bessie?" "Oh, yes!" said Bessie, looking at her sister with admiring pride: "you always make every thing plain to understand, Maggie. Don't she, Belle?" "Yes," said Belle: "she's an excellent explainer. And, Maggie, do you know I told papa what nice things you said about being sunbeams, and told him those verses you made; and, oh! didn't he think it was splendid?" "I don't believe Mabel is much of a sunbeam to her people," said Bessie. "I'm 'fraid her mother don't teach her to be." "No, indeed, I guess she isn't!" said Belle; "and I wouldn't want to be a sunbeam to her." "But our Father in Heaven makes His sun to shine on the evil and on the good," said Mrs. Bradford, softly. "Does not my little Belle want to copy Him?" Just the words her father had used yesterday when she was talking with him on this very subject. They set Belle thinking; and she walked more quietly on towards the house, trying to make up her mind if she could "be a sunbeam" to such a disagreeable child as the one she had just seen. She had not quite decided when they reached Mrs. Bradford's door, and there for the time her thoughts were taken up with her play and playmates. But Mrs. Bradford was rather amused when, one of the dolls being supposed to have behaved badly, Belle was overheard to say,-- "This child must be punished severely, she is so very nervous." [Illustration] [Illustration] III. _AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE._ The "public rejoicing" had not nearly come to an end, when, at a much earlier hour than she was accustomed to go home, Belle saw Daphne entering the play-room. Daphne's turbaned head was thrown back, and her lips pursed up in a manner which showed Belle that she was not pleased with something or some one. But whatever might be the cause of the old nurse's displeasure, Belle knew well enough that it would never be visited on her; and Daphne's appearance just at the moment when she was so delightfully engaged did not suit her at all. "You haven't come to take me home a'ready?" she said. "But I has, honey: more's de shame," said Daphne, with a look of mingled pity and affection at her little mistress, while a chorus of exclamations arose from all the children. "I shan't go, now! It's too early," said Belle. "Why, it isn't near dark, Daphne. Did papa send you?" "S'pose he tinks he did," replied Daphne; "but I specs dere's a new missis come to han', what tinks she's goin' to turn de worl' upside down. 'Pears like it." "What?" said Belle, not understanding such mysterious hints, yet seeing something was wrong; and Mrs. Bradford asked, "What are you talking about, Daphne?"