1."It was very kind of my aunt to give me so pretty a present on my birthday,"said Hattie Foster,as she sat looking at a lovely wax doll;"but I have already four nice dolls,and it seems a pity that she couldn't have chosen something else."
2.Hattie had always been so petted that it never seemed to occur to her that any other child would like some of the toys which she cared for so little.Her friend Edith,a girl of sixteen,sat thinking for a few minutes.
3."I heard a very touching one,too,"she said at last.story yesterday;a true"What was it?Do tell it to me."
"One of the nurses at the hospital was telling mamma about one of her patients,little Nannie Ryan,who will be kept in bed for ever so long.She is very poor;her mother is a widow with three girls younger than herself.
4."The other day she woke up from a nap,and said to the nurse,'Oh,I've had such a lovely dream!I dreamed that I was sick in bed,as I am now;and that I was so tired,for I had nothing to play with.
5."'Presently I heard a soft noise at my pillow ;and
when I looked round,the fairies had laid there beside me such a beautiful dolly!She had real hair,soft and yellow,and a fine silk dress on,and even little shoes on her feet.Oh!I can see her now,if I just shut my eyes;so it's almost as good as if I really had her,isn't it?'The poor child has never had a nice doll,so,of course,it is the one thing she longs for."
6."Poor little Nannie!"said Hattie,wiping the tears from her eyes."And here I am grumbling because I have too many dolls!Don't you think this is like the one she dreamed of ?"-and as she spoke she held up her pretty new doll.
last!It's the very one I saw in my dream!Just look at her,nurse!See her curls,and her little shoes!And,nurse,take her just a minute over to little Mary Brady,because she can't turn round to see her."7.This touching little scene was too much for Hattie.Although she was a little spoiled by having too many nice things,she did not wish to be selfish,and she did not know how selfish she had been until now.She took Edith's hand and slipped quietly out of the room;but the nurse brought her back,and she went and talked with Nannie for a little while.
8.That first visit to the hospital was by no means the last.Hattie now found a pleasant way of disposing of the toys and books she did not need;and they carried a ray of joy to more than one little sufferer.
