While Miss Lydia was at work with her Mamma, a servant came in, and said, a little girl and boy at the gate asked for Miss Lydia. Lydia coloured; and upon her Mamma’s asking who they were? said, with great eagerness, It is little Sally and her brother, Madam: may I go down to them? Pray let me go by myself? You shall see the little girl before she goes home.

Mamma’s consent was soon obtained, and Lydia, having first stepped into her room, and hastily taken a little bundle out of the drawer, flew down stairs.

When she got to the gate, she saw Sally holding a pretty little basket made of rushes, with little tufts of silk at the four corners, and covered at top with green leaves.

As soon as Sally saw Miss Lydia, she presented the basket to her, and told her, that the maid, who had bidden her to come to the house this morning, told her it was Miss Lydia’s birth-day; and she had made that basket, and taken the liberty to bring it to her.

It is a very pretty basket, indeed, said Miss Lydia; and lifting up the leaves on the top, she saw the basket was almost full of little cakes and lozenges, and on them Sally had put some bunches of services.

Lydia.

Where did you get all these things, Sally? I will not take them from you.

Sally.

Yes, pray do Miss, I brought them on purpose for you. My mother makes the cakes and the lozenges herself, and sells them; and my brother and I were out all yesterday afternoon to look for services on the hedges; and then I made the basket and put them into it; and I shall be very sorry if you will not accept of it.

Lydia.

You made that pretty basket, Sally! I wish you would teach me to make such nice baskets.

Sally.

That I will with great pleasure, Miss, if your Mamma likes it.

Lydia.

I am much obliged to you for your nice present. I have something for you, Sally; and that is the reason why I sent for you to come to-day. So saying, Lydia opened the band-box, and took out a new straw hat, with a nice green ribbon round the crown, and one small neat bow behind, and green strings to tie it. Lydia desired the little girl to pull off her own hat, and then sit down and let her put this on: nor had Sally more delight in being thus dressed, than Lydia had in dressing her.

Lydia then went again to her box, and took out a very pretty cotton frock, which she put on the little boy, with more pleasure than she had ever dressed a doll; though the little fellow was not quite so quiet as a doll, but was moving and twisting about to see as much as possible of the flowers upon his frock.

When their things were adjusted, Miss Lydia led them to the door, and desired her Mamma to step down.

Mamma, said she, I told you I had a secret; this is it. I read in the Children’s Friend, that people should do some good-action on their birth-day. Do you like Sally’s hat, Mamma?

Mamma.

Yes, my dear, it is very neat indeed: but where did you get these things? you could not buy them yourself.

Lydia.

No, Mamma, my sister was so good as to get the hat and the ribbon for me when she went to school, and to put the ribbon on for me. I have been saving up my money a great while. Do not you remember I would not buy a basket when the others did? and look now what a pretty basket Sally has brought me! a great deal prettier than that at the door. Still I should not have had money enough if my aunt had not happened to give me a shilling the other day.

Mamma.

But where did you get the frock?

Lydia.

Do not you remember the piece of cotton Miss Friend gave me to make my great doll a gown? My sister said, there was enough to make the little boy a frock, and she was so good as to cut it out and fit it for me, and I made it up myself.

Mamma.

It is very nicely made, I am sure; and you, my love, are a proof of what I was saying just now, of the pleasure there is in doing kind actions; you appear so cheerful and satisfied. I am sure you never had half so much enjoyment of a new hat for yourself or a fine doll.

Lydia.

Because the little boy and girl look so happy; and there is so much pleasure in seeing people happy.

Mamma.

Blessed indeed are those whose countenances, like a mirror, reflect the brightness which shines in the face of their neighbour: or, to speak more plainly, my little dear, blessed both of God and man are those who are cheerful and happy, because they see another person glad; “Who rejoice with them that do rejoice.” But, my dear, your little friends, I dare say, are impatient to show the presents to their mother: you had better dismiss them.

Lydia, who had now learned to mind her Mamma the moment she spoke, thanked Sally for her pretty basket, and told her she must come one day and teach her to make such; and then desired them to go home.

Sally made a dozen courtesies, and the little boy as many bows; and thanked her again and again as they went away.

Miss Lydia then put away her basket with cakes, saying, that should make part of the feast in the afternoon.

A half holiday had been procured for Gilbert, so that he joined the cheerful circle at dinner; and in the afternoon some young folk were expected to tea.

Miss Lydia, therefore, was abundantly busy in setting out cakes, fruit, &c. amidst which Sally’s little basket was introduced, and was to Lydia the most agreeable part of the entertainment, as it was connected with the remembrance of a benevolent action. As she was not big enough to cut the large cake which her Mamma had provided, one of her brother’s very obligingly cut some slices for her, which she offered to the company with great politeness and propriety.

Just before tea, a servant brought in a little box, and delivered it to Miss Lydia; she looked, and saw it directed to her, and very eagerly set about opening it; this was very easily effected, as the nails were not driven very tight; and on lifting up the lid, the first thing she saw was hay, that being removed, she found a complete set of doll’s tea-china, a tea board, an urn, a tea-chest, a waiter, a pair of tea-tongs, and half a dozen spoons; with a little note to tell her, that these were the joint presents of her elder brothers and sisters.

Here was a fresh scene of pleasure to the sweet girl: her presents were shown to every body; were admired; and her delight expressed in the warmest manner, yet not so as to importune or disturb any body by her joy.

The tea-chest was then filled with tea, the sugar-bason with sugar, the urn with water, and Miss Lydia made tea in a very composed and becoming manner. The evening was passed in cheerful and inoffensive amusement, where the chief contest was, who should please and oblige the other most.