I shall never forget the delightful, untroubled days which I spent in that beautiful house.

I was almost as much loved and petted as if I had been Lili's own sister.

Her parents had come from North Germany.
Her father had been induced to buy the factory by the advice of an acquaintance, and they expected to remain permanently in our neighborhood.
Lili was an only child, and having been hitherto without companionship of her own age, she clung to me very closely, and I returned her affection with equal fervor.
"What good, kind people her parents were! They asked as a great favor that I might make long visits at their house, and my parents allowed me to pass weeks at a time with my newly found friends.

Those visits seemed to me like prolonged festivals.

Such lovely toys and playthings as Lili had! I had never even dreamed of anything like them.