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244 "I am setting you a bad example," at last exclaimed the elder sister, and Edith, seeing that her lips moved, remained with her eyes fixed on her face, and unclasping her hands, traced a few words hastily on the slate that hung at her wrist: "My sister, I shall die, and so will Mamma, if you leave us." Fanny clasped the little affectionate creature in her arms, and, taking her hand, walked towards the open fields. The fresh air, the glad open sunshine revived her, she relied on the care of the Heaven which spread so brightly over all around, she then explained to her sister the necessity of their situation, the absolute necessity of some support, and perhaps expressed a little more hope than she really felt of everything turning out for the best. "You must," said she, "take my place with my mother, you must dress her, and be house-keeper and every-thing, I know I can trust my little Edith."

The child swallowed down her tears, and turned to her sister with a stedfast, earnest look, "Let me dress Mamma to-morrow," asked she, and