“I’m a messender, you see,
     Fwom Hymen’s Expwess Tumpany. 
     All these little bundles are
     For my Aunty Taty Tarr;
     If she knows wot’s dood for her
     She will tiss the messender.”

[Illustration: 

    “I’m a messender, you see,
     Fwom Hymen’s Expwess Tumpany.”]

“You sweet thing!” cried Katy, “tissing the messender” with all her heart.  “I never heard such a dear little poem.  Did you write it yourself, Roslein?”

“No.  Mamma wote it, but she teached it to me so I tould say it.”

The bundles of course contained wedding gifts.  Rose seemed to have brought her trunk full of them.  There were a pretty pair of salt-cellars from Mrs. Redding, a charming paper-knife of silver, with an antique coin set in the handle, from Sylvia, a hand-mirror mounted in brass from Esther Dearborn, a long towel with fringed and embroidered ends from Ellen Gray, and from dear old Mrs. Redding a beautiful lace-pin set with a moonstone.  Next came a little repousse pitcher marked, “With love from Mary Silver,” then a parcel tied with pink ribbons, containing a card-case of Japanese leather, which was little Rose’s gift, and last of all Rose’s own present, a delightful case full of ivory brushes and combs.  Altogether never was such a satisfactory “fardel” brought by Hymen’s or any other express company before; and in opening the packages, reading the notes that came with them and exclaiming and admiring, time flew so fast that Rose quite forgot the hour, till little Rose, growing sleepy, reminded her of it by saying,—­

“Mamma, I dess I’d better do to bed now, betause if I don’t I shall be too seepy to turn to Aunt Taty’s wedding to-mowwow.”

“Dear me!” cried Rose, catching the child up.  “This is simply dreadful! what a mother I am!  Things are come to a pass indeed, if babes and sucklings have to ask to be put to bed.  Baby, you ought to have been christened Nathan the Wise.”

She disappeared with Roslein’s drowsy eyes looking over her shoulder.

Next afternoon came Ned, and with him, to Katy’s surprise and pleasure, appeared the good old commodore who had played such a kind part in their affairs in Italy the year before.  It was a great compliment that he should think it worth while to come so far to see one of his junior officers married; and it showed so much real regard for Ned that everybody was delighted.  These guests were quartered with Mrs. Ashe, but they took most of their meals with the Carrs; and it was arranged that they, with Polly and Amy, should come to an early breakfast on the marriage morning.

After Ned’s arrival things did seem to grow a little fuller and busier, for he naturally wanted Katy to himself, and she was too preoccupied to keep her calm grasp on events; still all went smoothly, and Rose declared that there never was such a wedding since the world was made,—­no tears, no worries, nobody looking tired, nothing disagreeable!