His name is Bumble Bee!" At the close of a letter to her older nephew away on a visit as a child, she writes:
Dear Ned-Bird—
It will be good to hear you again. Not a voice in the woods is so sweet as yours. The robbins have gone, all but a few infirm ones,—and the Cricket and I keep house for the frost. Goodnight little brother. I would love to stay longer. Vinnie and Grandma and Maggie all give their love. Pussy her striped respects.
When sending him a tiny pie:
Dear Ned:
You know that pie you stole? Well, this is that pie's brother. Mother told me when I was a boy, that I must turn over a new leaf. I call that the foliage admonition. Shall I commend it to you?
On the birthday of her little niece she sends a knot of her choicest flowers and this word of greeting—
Dear Mattie—
I am glad it is your birthday. It is this little bouquet's birthday too. Its Father is a very old man by the name of Nature, whom you never saw. Be sure to live in vain, dear. I wish I had.
The following chronicle came to Gilbert's mother after the rescue of a favorite cat by his Aunt Lavinia:
Memoirs of little boys that Live
"Weren't you chasing Pussy?" said Vinnie to Gilbert.
"No, she was chasing herself."
"But wasn't she running pretty fast?"
"Well, some fast and some slow," said the beguiling villain. Pussy's Nemesis quailed. Talk of hoary reprobates! Your urchin is more antique in wiles than the Egyptian sphinx. Have you noticed Granville's letter to Lowell? "Her Majesty has contemplated you, and reserved her decision."
