"I can remember the beginning of the opening one," she said; "it was a six-line-eights, and we sang it to a tune called Stella; it began thus: "How can we sing like little birds, And hop about among the boughs?
How can we gambol with the herds, Or chew the cud among the cows?
How can we pop with all the weasles Now Christopher has got the measles ?" "Bravo!" exclaimed the subject of the hymn.

"You are a born hymn-writer, Elisabeth.

The shades of Charles Wesley and Dr.Watts bow to your obvious superiority." "Well, at any rate, I don't believe they ever did better at fourteen; and it shows how anxious I was about you even then when you were ill.

I am just the same now--quite as fond of you as I was then; and you are of me, too, aren't you ?" "Quite." Which was perfectly true.
"Then that's all right," said Elisabeth contentedly; "and, you see, it is because I am so fond of you that I tell you of your faults.

I think you are so good that I want you to be quite perfect." "I see." The missionary spirit is an admirable thing; but a man rarely does it full justice when it is displayed--toward himself--by the object of his devotion.
"If I wasn't so fond of you I shouldn't try to improve you." "Of course not; and if you were a little fonder of me you wouldn't want to improve me.