Lolla by Lucy Ellen Guernsey

"SEEMS to me Lolla does not eat any breakfast," said Aunt Delight, looking at a little girl who sat opposite to her at the table, with a well-filled plate before her, upon which, however, she did not seem to be making any impression.

"She never does," said Lolla's mother. "She never seems to have any appetite in the morning. She complains that nothing tastes good to her; and she almost always gets up tired and feverish."

"That is a pity," said Aunt Delight. "Little folks ought to be hungry in the morning, and to be as fresh and lively as birds and lambs are. We must see if we cannot cure that when we get her down in Dorchester."

"I dare say the sea-air will help her," said Lolla's mother. "I remember how hungry it used to make me when I was a little girl. I am very uneasy about Lolla, sometimes. It seems so unnatural for a child to be so languid in the morning. But you are quite sure, Aunt Delight, that you do not want to take nurse with you?"

"I am quite sure, my dear Laura. In the first place, I have no room for her; and in the second place, I have nothing for her to do."

"Then who will take care of me, Aunt Delight? " asked Lolla, very much interested in the discussion.

"I expect you will take care of yourself and of me too," replied Aunt Delight, smiling.

Lolla looked as if she were doubtful whether to be pleased or alarmed at this project. But she was very much delighted at the idea of the long journey, and the summer in Dorchester with Aunt Delight, and not displeased at being spoken to as if she were something more than a baby: so she made no further objections.

Lolla's father and mother lived in a very fine place near one of the great Western cities; but they were expecting to break up and remove to California during the summer, and it had been settled that Lolla was to go to Dorchester and spend a year at least with her mother's aunt, Miss Delight Wentworth, who had a pretty place of her own and was famous for her skill in nursing the sick and managing and teaching children. Lolla was considered rather a delicate child, and her mother had been out of health ever since her daughter was born; for which reasons it was thought best for both that they should be separated for a time.

About ten o'clock, as Aunt Delight was passing through the kitchen, she saw nurse giving Lolla a large piece of loaf-cake.

"Eating so soon after breakfast? " said Aunt Delight.

"Why, you know, aunt, I did not eat any breakfast," replied Lolla, in rather a tone of apology.

"She has got into a bad way about eating, that's a fact," said nurse. "She doesn't eat at meals, and she is always wanting something between-times; but her mother thinks there is no help for it. Now you will see that she won't want any thing at dinner; and by-and-by she will be asking for another piece of cake."

"Do you think it is good for her to eat in that way?"

"Well, no, I don't. She is spoiling her teeth, for one thing. But, being the only child for so long,-and delicate besides,-Mrs. Lane has got in the way of indulging her. She is a good child, too, in most things; but it won't do her any harm to have a change. She cares Were for eating than for any thing else."

As nurse had predicted, Lolla had no appetite for her dinner,-at least for the solid parts of it; but she ate two plates of rich pudding, and then she had almonds and raisins, besides filling her pocket with the nuts, which she was munching all the afternoon. A large piece of fresh maple-sugar helped the almonds to fill up the interval between dinner and tea, when Lolla supped upon pound-cake, preserved melon and cottage-cheese.

In the evening some friends came in, and about ten o'clock Lolla had her share of the supper prepared for them.

As Aunt Delight noted all these things, she no longer wondered that Lolla did not sleep well and had no appetite for her breakfast. She was not one of those people who think that children should never have any thing that they like; but she made up her mind that when Lolla came under her own care she should make some change in her habits.

"Well, Lolla, have you said good-by to all your pets? " asked Aunt Delight, as she met Lolla at breakfast on the day set for their journey.

Lolla did not seem as languid as usual, this morning. Her cheeks had a little colour, her eyes were bright, and she ate her bread-and-butter as if she liked it.