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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20043-8.txt b/20043-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c072cf3 --- /dev/null +++ b/20043-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3619 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Angel Children, by Charlotte M. Higgins + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Angel Children + or, Stories from Cloud-Land + +Author: Charlotte M. Higgins + +Release Date: December 6, 2006 [EBook #20043] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ANGEL CHILDREN *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Labyrinths and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: THE GARDEN OF GOD.--See pp. 40, 41.] + +[Illustration: + +Rosy Diamond Story Books For Girls +Illustrated +THE ANGEL CHILDREN +BOSTON, LEE & SHEPARD.] + + + + +THE + +ANGEL CHILDREN; + +OR, + +STORIES FROM CLOUD-LAND. + +BY + +CHARLOTTE M. HIGGINS. + +BOSTON: +LEE AND SHEPARD. + + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by +PHILLIPS, SAMPSON & CO., + +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of +Massachusetts. + +Stereotyped by +HOBART & ROBBINS, +New England Type and Stereotype Foundery +BOSTON. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE +HEPSA AND GENEVIEVE, 5 +THE GARDEN OF GOD; OR, THE BABY'S FIRST SMILE, 26 +CYBELE, THE TAMBOURINE GIRL, 44 +THE STORY OF MAGGIE'S JOURNEY, 63 +THE OLD WOMAN AND THE ENCHANTED SONG, 84 +THE OLD MAN'S STORY, 102 +A STORY OF THE CHRIST-CHILD, 118 + + + + +VACATION STORY BOOKS. + +6 volumes. Each volume handsomely illustrated. 80 cents. + +WORTH NOT WEALTH. + COUNTRY LIFE. + THE CHARM. + KARL KEIGLER. + WALTER SEYTON. + HOLIDAYS AT CHESTNUT HILL. + + +ROSY DIAMOND STORY BOOKS. + +6 volumes. Each volume handsomely illustrated. 80 cents. + +THE GREAT ROSY DIAMOND. + DAISY; or, The Fairy Spectacles. + VIOLET: A Fairy Story. + MINNIE; or, The Little Woman. + THE ANGEL CHILDREN. + LITTLE BLOSSOM'S REWARD. + +These volumes are finely and profusely illustrated from designs by +Hoppin and other eminent artists. They are elegantly bound, and neatly +packed in ornamental boxes. As gifts for holidays and birthdays, where a +uniform value and appearance is desired, they are excellent. + + +=LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.= + + + + +STORIES. + +HEPSA AND GENEVIEVE. + + +Genevieve lived in a large, handsome house, which had beautiful gardens +all about it. She had no brother or sister, but she had a large +play-room, filled with the nicest toys, so that a good many children who +came to play in it thought she must be perfectly happy; but Genevieve +had often thought how willingly she would give the room and all its +playthings for a little brother of her own, whom she might take out in +the garden for a walk, and watch carefully, just as her mother watched +her. + +One day, while she was walking in the garden, thinking of the little +brother she so much wanted, who she was sure would look like her dear +mother, with her blue eyes, and golden curls, what should she hear but +the noise of some one crying outside the garden fence. Now, as she +could not look through the fence,--for it was quite high and made of +thick boards,--she ran quickly to the gate, and then round to the place +where she had heard the crying. There she saw a little girl sitting upon +the side-walk, with bare feet and legs, which were none of the whitest, +wearing a dress of brown cloth with many tatters in it, and short black +hair hanging over her face and head. Genevieve looked at her in +amazement. + +"Dear me!" she at last exclaimed, "where do you live?" + +At this question the child stopped her crying, and pulling away her hair +with both of her hands from her face, disclosed a pair of large black +eyes, which, swollen with tears, regarded little Genevieve with sly, +sleepy wonder. + +It was not wonderful she should be astonished to behold so neat and +pretty a child close by her side. Genevieve wore a blue frock and white +apron, neat stockings and slippers, and pantalettes with broad ruffles. +So she only gazed at Genevieve, without dreaming of answering her +question. + +"What is your name?" asked Genevieve. + +"What is yours?" demanded the child. + +"Mine is Genevieve. Tell me what yours is?" + +"Hepsa. Do you live in there?" and Hepsa nodded her head towards the +fence. Genevieve replied that she did. + +"But tell me why you were crying?" she asked. + +"Because Tom beat my black cat this morning and threw her into the pond, +and she was everything I had." Hepsa burst into tears again, and little +Genevieve's heart was so filled with compassion, that she sat down upon +the dirty ground, at the side of the afflicted child, without ever +thinking of the blue frock and clean pantalettes she was soiling. + +"O, dear, dear!" she cried, shocked at Tom's cruelty. "How wicked he +was! What made him do so,--your brother, too?" Genevieve thought in her +heart that little brother, of whom she so often thought, never would +have done such a thing. + +Hepsa looked up half angrily, as she replied: + +"You needn't keep telling me he is my brother! I'm sure I don't want +him to be, and wish he wasn't. I don't love him a bit, he always plagues +me so much." + +"O, Hepsa, don't say so; pray don't!" cried Genevieve, shocked at +Hepsa's passion. "If he is your brother, you ought to love him, you +know." + +"I don't know any such thing, I tell you! You may love him yourself if +you want to; but I guess, when he kicks you, and beats you, and steals +your things, and knocks your mud-houses down, you won't love him. I'd +like to know why _I've_ got to love him?" Hepsa demanded this of +Genevieve in a very fierce manner. + +"Because he is your brother I suppose, and because he ought to be good; +and perhaps he plagues you because you don't love him," answered +Genevieve, somewhat perplexed how she should answer the question, +thinking in her own heart Hepsa had a very wicked brother. "At any +rate," she continued, "God gave him to you; and I have read how he tells +us all to love each other." + +"I never did," replied Hepsa; "and if God gave Tom to me, I wish he'd +take him back, for I don't want him." + +"Why, Hepsa; how wicked you are! You shall not talk so!" almost shrieked +Genevieve. The tears came fast into her eyes, she was so grieved to hear +Hepsa talk in that way. + +"But I'm not wicked!" retorted Hepsa indignantly. "I don't know who God +is. Why should I? He never comes to see me. I suppose he comes to see +you, and is some great person; while I am poor and live in a mean house, +and nobody comes to see me, of course." Hepsa looked away from +Genevieve's blue frock, and seemed to be searching for something away +down the street. + +Genevieve could not sit still any longer, but, rising, she remonstrated +with Hepsa in this manner: + +"God is not a man, Hepsa; and he goes into poor houses as often as into +rich ones." + +Hepsa looked very sharply upon little Genevieve as she replied, + +"Ha! Don't you be telling me stories; why don't I see him ever, I'd like +to know? Haven't I got eyes?" + +"I don't know," said Genevieve, doubtfully. "Father was reading this +morning about people who had eyes, but could not see." + +Hepsa looked at her a moment, and then nodded her head towards her, and +said, speaking low as to a third person, "She's cracked a little, I +think;" then, as she looked towards the fence, she remembered the garden +which was behind it, and asked Genevieve for some flowers. But Genevieve +only said "O, yes," and went on to say, "Of course you can't see God, +Hepsa! He lives in the skies." + +"I shouldn't think he would come down here, then. I wouldn't!" + +"But, Hepsa, God loves us; then, too, he is everywhere at once." + +"Mercy!" said Hepsa to herself, in a low tone. "Worse and worse!" + +"And he made everything you see, Hepsa, and a great deal more beside," +continued Genevieve. + +"There, there!" said Hepsa, impatiently; "don't talk any more; it sounds +odd." Genevieve looked at Hepsa, and the wild, petulant look of her +face grieved and shocked her so much, that she burst into tears. + +"What is the matter?" said Hepsa. "I thought you were going to get me +the flowers." + +"And so I will," said Genevieve, wiping up her tears as well as she +could; and she ran into the garden, and picked a large bunch of flowers. +There were the sweet mignonette and heliotrope, the pink verbena, and +the beautiful white scented verbena, the gay phlox, the pure candytuft, +bits of lemon blossoms, and the faithful pansies. It was such a +beautiful bunch as to melt poor Hepsa's heart to gratitude. + +"I do think I should love to kiss you," she said to Genevieve, "if my +face were not so dirty, and you look _so_ clean." + +"I don't care!" said Genevieve, and so she kissed Hepsa and said, +"Hepsa, I wish you would never again talk so about God, for I love him +very dearly, and so do my father and mother." + +Hepsa began to think Genevieve was not crazy, and so she became more +serious. + +"But did you never read about Him, Hepsa?" asked Genevieve. + +"No, indeed; I can't read at all!" exclaimed Hepsa, astonished at +Genevieve's questions. + +"Not read! Why, Hepsa, why don't you go to school?" + +"I can't; mother keeps me at home to tend the baby while she goes to +washing." + +A bright thought came into Genevieve's little head. + +"Where do you live?" she asked. + +"O, away down that lane, the other side of the village! I work nearly +all the time, some way or other." + +"Have you any father?" + +"Yes;" and Hepsa looked as though she did not love him better than she +loved Tom. + +"May I teach you to read?" asked Genevieve, looking into Hepsa's eyes +entreatingly. The child turned away her head as she answered, + +"I haven't any time. I have to stay at home." + +"But," pursued Genevieve, "I'll come down to your house, and bring some +books, and help you tend the baby. O! don't you love the baby?" + +"No! he is _too_ cross," was the crusty reply. + +"But, he is a baby; he don't know any better." + +"That don't make any difference." + +"Yes it does, too; your big brother knew better than to kill your pretty +pussy, and that is why it was so naughty in him to do it." This was a +new kind of argument for Hepsa; but she thought over it a moment, and +then told her little teacher she thought she might be right. "I almost +wish you would come to teach me to read. I don't know but I might like +it; and then it would be rather good to see you. Now, are you sure there +is such a person as God?" said Hepsa, glancing at Genevieve from the +corners of her eyes. + +"Of course I am, Hepsa; who do you think made the sky and the ground, +the trees and grass?" + +"I don't know," replied Hepsa. + +"And the sun and the moon, and the stars," continued Genevieve, with a +mysterious tone. Hepsa shook her head by way of saying no. + +"And all the fathers and mothers and children?" at which question Hepsa +looked _so_ perplexed. + +"I asked mother once," she said, musingly, "who made all these things; +but she told me I'd better be minding the cradle. I guess she didn't +know; but I've always had spells of wondering about it." + +Genevieve looked very gravely at Hepsa as she said, + +"It was God who made all these things." + +"Well, I don't know but it was," replied Hepsa. + +"But I _know_ it was; the Bible says so, and father and mother say so, +too; beside, I feel it in my heart, when I see the sun and the flowers, +and everything looks so pretty." + +"Do you?" cried Hepsa, seeming to feel a new interest in her companion. +"I wonder if you ever hear pretty voices in the trees when the wind +blows, and in the night when it is warm, and you are looking up to the +moon, and see the light that comes down through the holes in the sky, +does something great seem to come close to you?" + +"Why, yes, Hepsa, ever so many times, and I think it is God. And when +Katie leaves me to go to sleep, and it is all dark, I know God comes +then, for I feel him all around, and the room seems so big--bigger than +it ever did before, bigger than the garden, bigger than the fields, +bigger than the sky. I can't tell you how big." + +"O, well--and--what did you say your name was?" asked Hepsa. + +"Genevieve;" and she pronounced it very slowly. + +"It is rather odd," said Hepsa, trying to repeat the name; "but I want +to know if you ever laid down on the ground when it rained, and +listened." + +"No!" + +"Well, it is real beautiful; in the grass, it sounds _like bells_--it +sounds better where the grass is tall." + +"I wish I could hear it," said Genevieve, sadly; "but my mother wouldn't +like to have me lie on the ground when it rained." + +"How would she know it," asked Hepsa, "if you didn't tell her?" + +"Why, Hepsa, I shouldn't want to if she wouldn't like it--I shouldn't +want to at all." + +"I suppose, then, she won't let you come to hear me read?" + +"O, yes she will, I know! I'll ask her, and she will kiss me, and say +yes." + +So Hepsa told her where she lived, and Genevieve went into the house, +and Hepsa went home, feeling very happy about the flowers, and thinking +of the things her new friend had told her. + +"She says I must love Tom, and that is so queer; but if the God who gave +me Tom, is the One who comes so near to me sometimes, I'll try; and, +perhaps, if I hadn't called Tom such names this morning, he wouldn't +have killed my poor cat." So Genevieve's words had sunk into Hepsa's +heart already. + +Genevieve went to her mother, and told her what a strange little girl +she had found that morning, and that she had promised to go and teach +her to read, that she might know about God. + +[Illustration: GENEVIEVE READING THE BIBLE TO HEPSA.] + +On the next day she took some of her books, and, with some of her +prettiest playthings for a present to Hepsa, she went in search of +the house down the lane, on the other side of the village. + +She found a gentler pupil than on the day before; and Hepsa's hair was +laid smoothly upon her forehead, her face clean, and though there were +some tatters in her dress, Genevieve did not much mind them. + +The baby was in his cradle, fast asleep, and Genevieve went and knelt +down by the side of it, and looked at it carefully, as though she was +afraid of awaking it, and then whispered to Hepsa her admiration of the +little hands, which lay cunningly upon the quilt, and said how much she +wanted to kiss him; would he wake, she wondered, if she just kissed his +cheek, and didn't make any noise? Hepsa told her no; so she kissed him; +and then, after looking at him to see how sweetly he slept,--now +frowning, and now smiling in his dreams,--she went away with Hepsa, and +they talked a great while together, telling each other what the other +didn't know. Genevieve was often shocked and grieved at Hepsa's +undutiful remarks about her father, mother and brother; and when she +felt they didn't love Hepsa, as her own dear father and mother loved +her, still she could not understand why Hepsa did not love them better. +She was often a good deal perplexed to know what she should say to the +strange child; but of one thing she felt always certain, that her new +companion needed to have her heart cleansed and purified before she +could be loved well. She felt a strong love for Hepsa, and longed to +teach her more of God, and show her how to read, that she might teach +herself. + +Hepsa was amazed when her friend took out the playthings from the bag +and gave them to her; no one had before shown her such kindness; and +Genevieve thought in her heart she was just as happy giving those things +to Hepsa, as when they were given to her. + +Poor Hepsa had never been to school, and so she didn't even know the +alphabet; but Genevieve sat down patiently to teach her, and found truly +that much patience was necessary to accomplish the work she had +undertaken. Hepsa would soon grow discouraged when she found so much to +learn, and saw her little teacher reading so readily; and her mother +would often scold when she saw Hepsa with a book in her hand, declaring +it was foolish nonsense; but, as time went on, and the first +difficulties were overcome, and her mother began to find Hepsa growing +very gentle, and Tom had less occasion to plague his sister, they all +felt that the books Hepsa had studied, and the little girl who came so +often to see her, were kind friends, and love began to bind them all +together. Hepsa no longer wore torn clothes; Genevieve's mother had +given her some neat dresses, and Genevieve had given her needles and +thread, and taught her to sew, and now many a rent was carefully mended, +and even Tom began to look neater than formerly. She was careful too to +keep the room nicely, and one day was amply rewarded for this, when Tom +came in before she had had time to do it, and complained of its being +dirty. "Tom begins to like a clean room," she said to herself with joy, +and received his few harsh words as though they had been those of love. +The baby too was always clean, for she knew Genevieve always depended +upon kissing him. + +Hepsa's father was not a good man; he was unkind to his poor wife and +children; so it was no wonder Tom had gone on, following the example +constantly placed before him; but he was a child yet, and when he saw +how Hepsa began to love him, that she grieved without being angry when +he was unkind to her, it could not but touch his heart. He was half +ashamed, too, when she saved for him some of the good things Genevieve +had brought her. At first, 't is true, he thought little about it, but +when often, after he had been so ugly to her, she came just the same, +and offered him half of her orange, or a part of her nuts, he began to +feel that he was a naughty boy, and that Hepsa was better than she used +to be. + +It was very natural he should ask her the reason of this, and very +natural, too, that she should answer in this way: + +"Why, Tom, I have learned a great deal about God from Genevieve, and +then she has taught me to read, and I have learned a great deal that +way. Tom, where do you think Susan went when she died?" + +Tom couldn't tell. Susan was an elder sister of theirs, whom they had +loved very dearly, and who had died some two years before. + +"Well, Tom; there are angels who take all the children, as soon as they +die, and show them wonderful things, and teach them, so they can go into +a beautiful place called heaven, and live with God. Well, if you begin +to be good here, and love people, you will go into that heaven sooner, +when you die, than if you are naughty, and don't think about these +things while you are here. I want to go there very much, and so I try to +be good, though I don't always make out well." Tom looked thoughtful at +his sister's words, and then said: + +"I think that little Genevieve will go very fast, when she dies. But I +don't think father will get there very soon, now I tell you!" + +"O, but Tom," said Hepsa sadly, "we must not think who will not go, but +how _we_ may go." + +"I wish I knew how to read," said Tom; "but I never can go to school, +father makes me saw so much wood." + +Then Hepsa asked him to let her teach him; and, after a good deal of +hesitation, he told her he didn't care if she did. + +Some time after this, Genevieve's father and mother went away from that +place, and she parted from Hepsa with many tears in her eyes, and much +grief in her heart. "If I never see you again," she said, "don't forget +we are both going into the gardens up there," and Hepsa always +remembered. + +Genevieve was a very quiet girl, but she was always ready to do +something to please her dear mother, and at night brought her father's +slippers from the closet, and placed them ready by his chair. She did, +too, many little things for the servants, who all loved her very dearly; +so when, a few years afterwards, she fell sick, and nothing they could +do for her was able to make her any better, but the doctor said she must +die, they all wept very much, and no comfort or joy could come into +their hearts. But Genevieve gently kissed them, and told them a +beautiful peace had come into her heart, for that, in the night, Christ +often came to her, and told her how the angel was all ready to take her +into his beautiful garden, and teach her out of his great golden books. + +At last, one morning she died, and they laid her away in the garden near +by the fountain; and they planted the mignonette and myrtle, that, +mingling with the moss, it might grow over her grave. + +And her mother said in her heart, "Let her lie here, that, as often as I +come hither, I may be reminded of the more beautiful gardens of God, to +which she has flown. And when, in the cool night, the stars look down, +the soft fragrance of the mignonette shall tell them of her loveliness, +and the myrtle and the moss of the constant love twining together the +souls of the mother and the daughter." + +It was as Christ had said; the angel stood ready, and when Genevieve +closed her eyes in death, he caught her in his arms, and placed her +before the Great Gate, which led into the gardens around the kingdom of +heaven. A great many men, women and children stood about it, waiting for +it to be opened, when suddenly a very bright angel, brighter than any +she had ever seen in her dreams, came among them, seated on glorious +clouds. + +Then one by one did the crowd go before him, telling him what things +they had done on earth, in order to be admitted into the gardens, to be +prepared still more for the heavens. One said he had built a large +college, given it a large sum of money, and called it by his name, that +the world might see his works, and praise the Lord. Another told him how +he had toiled in heathen lands, and dwelt among savages, that they might +know and love God; another that he had prophesied; another that he had +built a hospital for the poor, and had sheltered them from the cold +winds; another still that he had delivered slaves from cruel masters, +and brought them to the light of freedom. O, there cannot be counted all +the men and women who came before the angel, and told of the things they +had accomplished! And, as the words came upon Genevieve, her heart +trembled for fear, and had it not been for the remembrance of those kind +tones of Christ, poor Genevieve would have shrieked aloud. + +What should she do? Rapidly she recalled every act of her life; but +nowhere in it could she find one act worthy to be brought before the +great bright angel. Alas! she had neither founded colleges nor +hospitals; she had never toiled in heathen lands, nor prophesied, nor +delivered slaves from bondage. Alas! must she lose those gardens when +still so near? + +The angel's glance fell upon Genevieve, and she drooped down in fear; +but what was her surprise when the angel came down from the cloud, and +raising her up, said, in tones of loving cadence, + +"Look, little one, thy work was accepted long ago!" and, looking as he +bade her, she saw Hepsa at her side, to whom, so long ago, she had +spoken of heaven, when she had found her a dirty, ignorant girl. + +"You have worked well," said the angel tenderly. "Go now into the +garden, and ere long I will come to put you into the Christ's arms." + +So Hepsa and Genevieve together walked through the gates, and the angels +who would be their teachers went with them; but I cannot tell you of the +beauty and glory of those scenes. I only beg you too to work well, that +the angel may speak as lovingly to you. + + + + +THE GARDEN OF GOD; + +OR, + +THE BABY'S FIRST SMILE. + + +In a very lovely little cottage, around which grew sweet-briers and +rose-trees, and up whose windows climbed honeysuckles and jessamines, +lived a mother with her baby. + +The mother was a young woman, with golden hair, kind blue eyes, and fair +white skin. There was always a look of love in her eye, and in the +gentle tones of her voice the most soothing tenderness. People said the +baby looked like her; but he cried so much that his face was continually +distorted, and so the resemblance was not of any use to him. + +Now there was a great deal of discussion about the baby's looks, as to +which he most resembled, his father or mother; some decided in favor of +his father, who was a tall man, with black hair, and black eyes, and +large, sharp features. It was a difficult question to answer, inasmuch +as the baby had yet but a very few hairs on his head, and his features +were not easily distinguishable; and as each person's decision affected +only his own opinion, there was a great deal of discussion and comparing +of the poor baby's little face with those of his parents, and, through +dint of being often shown them, the father and mother began to find the +most remarkable resemblance to each other in their little child. + +Well, one day he had been crying very hard, and his poor mother was +nearly worn sick with trying to quiet him. She had walked all over the +house, shown him everything on the tables, taken up books and shaken +them before his eyes, carried him to the windows and cried "See there! +see there!" with fresh tones of love and pity, without his seeming to be +in the least edified by it all. She tossed him before the looking-glass; +but he did not seem to be comforted by the glimpse of himself, done up +in a blanket, which he caught; until, at last, after putting everything +into every place in which it didn't belong, and trying to make him look +at things he didn't care to see, she resolutely put him in the cradle, +rocked him with his head moving now on this and now on that side of the +pillow, until he fell fast asleep. + +He had no sooner closed his eyes to sleep than he left his baby's body +in the cradle, and ran straight off to the gardens of God in heaven, +towards that place where dwell the angel-children who are yet to go down +and live upon the earth. As he came near the tall flowers, whose golden +petals were spread, and in whose cups lay sweet dew, he clapped his +hands with joy, and a bright smile lay on his lips, which before had +been distorted with grief. + +Not far from him there rose a bright fountain, which, falling, dashed +its water gently down into a broad, silvery basin beneath. In the midst +of the falling spray a large bird, with long, blue plumage, played, now +diving beneath the water, and now catching the drops as they fell from +the fountain. Then came other birds, some in gay scarlet plumage, with +white feathers about their necks and at the tips of their wings and +tails; they, too, played in the fountain, and chased each other over +the sparkling waters. + +Then there were tall trees, of such a bright green as is seldom seen on +the earth, and on them were fruits which looked a little like those we +see here, but a thousand times more beautiful, for they shone like +precious stones. About everything was a glory which it is impossible to +describe. + +At a little distance was a troop of fair children at play, and when they +had seen the little child from the earth they ran towards him, and would +have kissed him joyously, but that they saw the tears he had so recently +shed still standing upon his cheeks; at this, sorrow shone over their +faces, and tears like pearls entered their own eyes, as, in the +tenderest manner, they asked him the cause of his grief. + +"Do not ask me, dear brothers and sisters," he entreated; "I wish only +to think how I am with you now for a little while, and I long to forget +the earth-scenes." Speaking thus he kissed them all, and led them away +off among the bright fields. + +Very gayly they played a long time; they plucked the golden apples from +the trees, and threw them far up in the sky, and the apples bounded so +lightly that they still went on, till at last they dropped down to the +earth into some dark rooms where poor people lived, who, when they found +them, rejoiced exceedingly. + +Then they went riding on the clouds, and the light of their faces gave a +brightness to the edge of the clouds, so that the people on the earth +loved to stand watching them, never fancying what a troop of +angel-children were frolicking on them. + +At last they became weary of this sport, and bent their way quite +towards the earth. At this our earth-child saddened, and did not wing +his flight as quickly as the others did. Upon this they looked around +upon him and said: + +"Why tarry you? Do you not know we go to the earth, to do there what our +dear Teacher bids us? You have played with us, and will you not now do +the work which you have so often done with us before?" So he sped on +with them, but his voice was silent and his heart wept. + +They soon came to the earth, and then, unseen by any one, they made +their way towards a little, dingy house, in one room of which sat a +little boy upon a bench, driving pegs into the sole of a boot. On one +side lay all the boots in which he had driven pegs, and on the other a +great many more in which he must still drive them. He looked sad and +pale, and the sweat lay in large drops upon his forehead. By his side +sat a large, stout man, with his shirt-sleeves rolled up, displaying +strong, brawny arms, while his face was red and stern. He was also at +work, but watched the boy well, and if he saw his arm rested for a +moment he would give him a little push, bidding him mind his work; and +so the poor boy had to drive the pegs into the soles of the boots, even +though he was weary and his face pale and sad. + +Then the angel-children, seized with one feeling of love and pity (for +they could remember how the poor boy used to be one of them and play in +the garden of God), soared above him. One came down and wiped off the +drops of sweat from his brow; another passed his soft hands over the +boy's face, and rested him; and another put comforting thoughts into his +soul. + +Then the master looked up, and when he saw how the boy seemed suddenly +refreshed, he told him it was good to work and silly to be tired; and +when the boy heard these hard words, tears came into his eyes, and he +thought of his mother who used so tenderly to care for him, but had now +been gone long to the home of the angels. + +Then some of the angel-children wiped away the tears which had come into +the boy's eyes, and another shook his beautiful wings over his head, so +that at once a cool breeze fell over him and hopeful words entered his +soul. Some of the children moved his arm up and down as he drove the +pegs into the boot, and he wondered how easily he was able to work. + +All this time our earth-child stood apart, nodding his head sadly, and +when the others asked him the cause, he answered, "O, you do not know +how hard it is to live on the earth! See this poor boy; how far +different was it with him when he played with us in the gardens up +there!" + +The children were silent; they knew not how to comfort him. They +thought, too, of the time when they should live on the earth. + +Then they flew along and came to a large city, in which lived many +homeless children, who were led about by unkind and evil spirits; and +passed constantly by men and women, who did not so much as give them one +kind word. + +As the angel-children wandered among them they shuddered: such strange +words filled the air, and so dark and dingy looked the houses where they +went in and out. Could it be that these children, who talked together in +angry moods, who rather sought the opportunity to trouble each other, +had ever played in that fountain, and laughed together in the heavenly +fields? "O," they sighed, "could we but once drive the evil spirits from +one of them, and whisper in his ear of the kind love of God!" + +Then their wings fluttered and folded themselves over the head of a +large boy, whose clothes were dirty and tattered, his hair matted and +disordered, his body thin and wan, while the expression of his face was +very old and vacant. A slight girl, holding a little pail in her hand, +came along near him, and made as if she would go by him; but the boy +would not suffer her to pass on, and, stopping her, said to her, + +"Well, and what have you got?" + +The child looked at him fearfully, and remained silent; but the boy did +not heed her half-imploring look, but proceeded to lay hold of her pail, +in which she had had hot corn to sell, and, opening it, discovered there +six pennies instead. + +"Ah," he cried exultingly, "that is what I wanted! You have done well +with your corn; you may go on now;" and, despite the poor child's cries, +he took away the pennies, and, in resisting the little struggle the +child was able to make, he threw her down upon the pavement. + +This was in a dark street, filled with people wicked like this boy, and +where was no one who cared to take the child's part. + +But those angel-children were silent witnesses of this scene, and they +put out their hands, so the little girl was not much hurt in her fall. +Then they looked at each other in dismay; the pearly tears again came +into their bright eyes, and they asked each other what they might do for +this wretched boy. They remembered when the boy and girl played together +in the fair garden of God; and it was not possible for them to remember +that, and look unmoved upon this fearful change which had come over +him. "O, this is a sad earth-life!" murmured the baby's spirit; and he +nodded his head again in sorrow. "Why may not I, too, become like this +boy?" + +"But _must_ the earth-life bring this change?" asked another of the +angel-children, who saw the anguish of his friend, but knew not how to +comfort him. "Do we not remember the poor boy who worked so hard, and +had no rest, yet he was patient and good, and kept bright, and hung the +cord which tied his soul to heaven with the tear-drops which fell for +his dear, dead mother? When tried, he gave back no hard words. He was +better than we, who are happy always and have no trials." + +Not long after, they found the wicked boy asleep; he had thrown himself +down, in the corner of a dirty alley, on a little straw. The children +hovered over him, trying how they might approach him. They drove hence +the dark spirits, one by one, who hindered their approach, and then they +carried him off by the sea-shore in a dream; they made him sit upon the +sand and listen to the roaring of the waters; the large rocks stood +scattered on the beach, and the sea-mosses and shells were thrown up by +the waves. Afar off, upon the water, he saw a long line of bright +clouds, which seemed to climb up to heaven to meet the bright, twinkling +stars. The moonlight shone softly down upon him. + +Then they laid him down upon the sand, and made him look up into the sky +to feel the rest and peace of it; still more came the moonlight upon +him, and the stars seemed to open and close their eyes for pity. The +wind came towards him and passed along his brow and over his heart. Then +came into his soul an indescribable longing, such as he had never felt +before--a longing which the noise of the sea, the beauty of the clouds, +the peace of the sky, and the tenderness of the wind, had aroused in +him. + +He felt that something inexpressibly dear had been lost to him, and he +feared never again to regain it; the quiet moon and the pitying stars +made him fear. A deep grief entered his heart, and he wept as from an +everlasting sorrow. As he wept the angels rejoiced, and hovered over his +head in a halo of light; for they knew that these tears would bring him +into the path that led to heaven! + +Not far off lived a man who cared for destitute and ignorant children; +the angel-band flew to bring him, and when the boy opened his eyes, in +which the tears of repentance still lay, the ocean and bright clouds had +disappeared; but there was bent upon him a pitying, benignant look, +which went to the boy's heart, and a kind voice lingered in his ear, +subduing him by its very strangeness. So he at once received the +proffered hand, and arose and went with him to his home. + +After that, the angel-children went into a splendid mansion, where, in a +large, handsome chamber, lay a little girl suffering under severe pain. +Her little couch was hung in blue silk, and rich laces adorned her +pillows. On a little table by the side of her bed stood golden goblets, +to refresh her parched mouth with pleasant drinks. Yet, still the little +girl moaned in pain. Her eyelids were closed, and her weary hand lay +still upon the bed. At her side sat her nurse, watching her wants and +longing to relieve them. Costly toys lay uncared for on the rich, heavy +carpet. The flowers had lost their charm, the delicious fruit lay, full +and ripe, neglected on their dish. + +Sleep would not come to the child; weary and in pain, she had laid there +a long, long time, her poor little body wasting slowly away towards the +grave. + +"Let us give her rest and comfort," said the angel-children; and, waving +their wings over her, she fell to sleeping. + +The nurse said, then, there might be hope. Listen and hear,--what bright +hope there was, indeed! + +They whispered to her, that soon her pain should cease, and that, for +her trust and patience, she should go to God's beautiful garden. They +showed her the fountains and the birds; they told her how she should +again ride upon the clouds, and study from the great books of God. Then +in her sleep she smiled, and the nurse, who was watching her face, wept +for joy, and exclaimed, + +"There is hope! there is hope!" + +Yes, there was hope! + +When the little girl awoke, there was a more heavenly patience still, +in her soul, and a longing to meet the loving glances of the +angel-children again. + +As the children wended their flight back to the gardens, and sat down +beneath the green trees, and ate of their delicious fruit, they strove +in vain to bring back the brightness to the face of the earth-baby. + +"Ah, it would be so beautiful to stay with you!" he said. "I would like +always to comfort these afflicted ones; but, alas! I shall need comfort +myself, and you will come to me, as we have been to others. When I am on +the earth there seems something gone and lost, and what is before me is +confused and dim. I find myself so weak and helpless, when here I am so +sprightly and strong! I cannot move myself at all, and when I remember +these gardens I have left, and you with whom I have played, I can but +cry all the time! It looks cold and bleak there, as it never does here. +Then, should I grow up to be wicked, like those children we have seen, +and so go far away from heaven, how wretched should I become,--how much +better that I never had left these gardens!" + +Thus he complained, and the other children were silent, for they knew +how they, too, at some time, must go down and try their fortunes upon +the earth; and, too, they sorrowed to lose their companion, for they +knew that soon he could not come to them any more;--and while they told +him, very eagerly, how they would come to watch over him, a soft tread +fell on their ears, and their dear teacher approached them. + +Her hair floated in long curls upon the cool air, and her eyes were bent +down in sorrow upon the earth-child. + +"Have you so soon forgotten the lessons you have learned from the book +of God?" she asked; and the tones of her voice were like the soft +harmonies of heaven. She held in her hand a book, along whose pages the +letters sparkled in the brightness of gold and silver. At the sight of +her, the earth-child threw himself at her feet, and besought her thus: + +"Keep me with you, dear teacher, and teach me from your book! Why +should I go to the earth-home again?" + +Tenderly did the angel-teacher embrace and uplift the imploring child. +She pointed to a distant part of the garden, towards a grate of +lattice-work, in gold, silver and pearls, whence issued a glorious +light. Beyond this they saw angels walking, in their hands bearing still +more glorious books than the one she held. + +"When I taught you, long ago, how beautiful was the life there, how +_pure_ the love, did you not long to go thither? And when I told you +that the way thither was only through the earth,--that it was long and +difficult and narrow,--that many troubles must make you strong to walk +in it,--did you not long to go, promising not to complain? Do you so +soon falter? Have I not told you that the book you carry in your hands +there must first be formed on the earth?--that there you shall pick up +one by one the shining letters which compose it? Why do you +complain?--have you forgotten that your home is better than those +miserable ones which have been given to those who were your beloved +playmates here? This is your last visit to the garden of God. The +angel-children shall come and whisper to you in your dreams; and, when +they in their turns go down to live upon the earth, hold your arms out +to them, and, when their steps are weak, help them along. And when you +see children with tattered clothes, in poor cottages, look not proudly +on your own, but remember that here, in the garden of God, you played +together in the same fountain, drank the same dew; and think no more of +yourself or your beautiful earth-home, for God gave it to you for the +same purpose he gave the wretched cottage to the other. Remember, too, +the good mother, who has patiently hushed your cries, and will yet bear +you through many dark places. She has never yet tired in caring for you, +and you have given her little else but trouble. Go; be henceforth +patient and loving." + +Sorrow came into the heart of the child for his selfishness; and, as he +thought of his beautiful mother, how she always smiled upon him, and +would help him to heaven, his heart filled up with love to her. + +At that moment he opened his eyes, and there by his side sat the +mother, watching for his awaking; a heavenly smile stole over his +features, and he held up his arms to her. The mother caught him from the +cradle, and wept over him in the ecstasy of a new-found joy and love; +for it was the _First Smile_ her baby had given her. + + + + +CYBELE, THE TAMBOURINE GIRL. + + +Cybele was a little girl; she had large gray eyes, and brown hair +smoothly parted over her forehead, while there was a pitiful expression +round her mouth, that pleaded with you so earnestly, you could scarce +help stopping, as you met her, to give her a few pennies. + +Her real home was not in this country. Long ago she had come over from +the bright land of Italy,--from its warm, sunny skies and beautiful +gardens, where the birds sang so joyfully, and gay music sounded on the +air,--all which she longed to see and hear again; and as all things +there had been so beautiful, and here so dreary, all beauty grew to be +the same thing as that dear Italy, so that when she even saw flowers in +the window of some lordly house, she would stand, gazing tearfully +through them at the far-off home! + +Cybele's mother had died in that beautiful land, and it was in one of +its lovely gardens her body rested while her spirit soared heavenward. +The little girl knew this place so well;--the orange-trees grew about +it, and the song of the waterfall, near by, played and sparkled in the +tones of the birds. But Cybele's aunt had taken the little girl with her +to this distant land, and the child could no longer go and weep over the +grave where her mother's body had been laid; but her heart was there--it +could not forget. She dreamed of it in the long nights; and, when she +played upon her tambourine, the remembrance inspired her notes, making +people love to listen to her. + +Away down in an uncomfortable, out-of-the-way part of the city dwell a +great many poor people, who have come from distant countries to find +here some bread, which may keep them from starving. The streets where +they dwell are dirty, and the houses look smoky and wretched. There are +queer little shops, with oranges and cigars, bread and tobacco, in the +windows, and if you go in you smell yeast, and see milk-cans standing +about, while a man in a green jacket sells you what you ask for. To such +shops do the people near by come for their bread and cent's worth of +milk. To such a shop little Cybele came, early in the morning, and late +at night; and so dingy looked the shops and people, that her aunt's room +seemed bright and cheerful in comparison. This room, nevertheless, was +small and quite dark, having but one window, which looked down into a +brown back-yard; but her aunt kept the room neat and clean; the bed +stood off by itself, in one corner, the two chairs on either side of the +table, and in the cupboard were a few plates and cups, with which the +scanty table was spread; yet was this room dear to the child, since the +dreams she had dreamed there hung over her still with their light and +love. + +It chanced, one day, that her aunt fell sick--so sick as to be obliged +to lie on the bed. For a long time she had not been able to do any hard +work, but had sat at home and made little brooms for Cybele to take out +with her when she went to play the tambourine about the streets. And +Cybele had seen how her aunt grew pale, day by day, but she had not +dreamed the time would come when her aunt must lay still on the bed for +weariness. + +With a heavy heart she took the brooms and the tambourine, and went out, +hoping to get a few pennies, and bring home a doctor for her aunt. + +But it was a sad day for Cybele. She was rudely sent away from the doors +at which she stopped, and though she stood long before the windows of +lordly houses, in which she felt were many persons, still the sashes +were left down, and no kind group appeared to encourage her. So she +passed on, through quiet squares and noisy streets, but everywhere met +with a repulse. + +What should she do? It was impossible to go home without money. She +thought of the poor aunt who was sick, and of the mother who lay away in +the gardens of Italy, and new courage came into her soul. A gentleman +came toward her, with ruddy cheeks and smooth, rich clothes. Surely he +will not turn away from the little child. So she stepped forward, and, +when he came near, she looked up in his face, saying, + +"Please, sir, will you not buy one of my brooms?" + +But he brushed by her, unheeding her gentle tones, and leaving her eyes +filled with tears. + +Then came along a careless boy, whistling a merry tune, and with his +hands thrust into his pockets. Confidence and hope made her ask him +also. + +"Please, will you buy a broom?" + +The boy stopped, and, still whistling, looked into her face, glanced +over her dress, tambourine and brooms; and, as his eyes rested upon +these last, he replied: + +"Buy a broom! Pray, what think you I want with one of those flimsy +things?" And then he looked at her as though he thought her so absurd! + +Cybele was abashed by his manner, and began to think she had asked him +to do a very foolish thing, so she hurried to reply: + +"I don't know, I'm sure; but they brush away flies with them." + +"Flies!" he repeated, contemptuously, at the same time taking one of the +brooms from her little bundle, and thrusting it about him in all +conceivable ways; pulling open the brush, and altogether ruining it. +"Flies! it is getting too cool for flies; and, besides, my mother never +lets any get into the house; so it's no use any way. Why don't you go +home? It's a shame to be walking round the streets so. You ought to be +in school, or at work, or something else." + +[Illustration: CYBELE THE TAMBOURINE GIRL.] + +"I don't know how to do anything else," replied Cybele, the blood +rushing to her cheeks; "my aunt is sick, and I want to get some money." + +"Tush!--always sick!" replied the boy, contemptuously; "how silly! I +wonder the beggars don't all die some day, they've been sick so long!" + +"We are not beggars!" said Cybele, raising her head somewhat proudly, +and preparing to move away. "If you don't want the broom, I'll take it, +if you please." + +The boy seemed half pleased, as he looked at her, and said: + +"Proud, too--if it isn't funny! Here, don't go away--I want to hear your +tambourine." + +So she laid down her bundle of brooms, and, arranging her tambourine, +played him some merry tunes. + +"Can't you dance, too?" asked the boy, when she had finished. So she +danced and played to him; and, when she stopped, he placed a penny in +her hand, and coolly walked away. + +She looked at the penny lying in her hand, and then after the boy, who +was walking up the street, and she couldn't help thinking how very +little it was, and how she hoped he would have given her more. She +looked at the little broom he had ruined, and everything seemed sadder +than before. Then, by some strange freak, her mind ran off to the +gardens where her mother slept, as it always did when darkness gathered +round her, and she longed, more than ever before, to throw herself on +the ground there, and quietly sleep a long, long time. During the whole +day she had received but a few pennies; so few, they would not induce a +doctor to go down to her sick aunt. If she only could have met some kind +heart, which would have gone home with her, and given kind words and +soothing draughts to the sick one! But it was not brought into her path. + +When she came home and saw how much worse her aunt was than when she had +left her in the morning, her little heart grew sick; and Cybele, who had +seen her mother grow thin and die, began to be terrified, lest the aunt +too would be taken. + +So, she went up to her gently, and kissed her brow, and the poor aunt +opened her eyes and smiled mournfully; and when she heard how little +money the tambourine had brought that day, she tried to conceal her +sorrow lest the little child should be grieved. + +Then Cybele lighted a small fire in their bit of a fireplace, and made a +little tea for her aunt. It was the very last she had; but when she +thought how much her aunt needed it, and how she would need still more +on the morrow, hope whispered, quite cheerfully, that with the +tambourine she would win from people's pockets many a bright cent. With +these thoughts, she looked very lovingly towards the tambourine, which +lay quietly upon the floor in the corner, its gay bells silent, as if +it, too, felt sorrow for the aunt's sickness. + +After Cybele had toasted a bit of bread, and given it, with the tea, to +the aunt--had received the kind kiss, and saw her close her eyes--she +thought she slept, and new courage filled her heart; she began to think +of the pleasant people she should see to-morrow. What a kind crowd she +drew about her! They looked on her with loving eyes, and the sweet +smiles played about their lips. There were the groups of pretty +children, in gay frocks and rosy cheeks, which should gather about the +parlor-window, when she should stop before it and strike the tambourine +with her hand; and they would smile upon her, and then the elder sister, +who should be so mild and gentle, would come and throw up the sash, and +speak with her; and, perhaps, even she would throw down to her a sprig +of the geranium which stood near by on the flower-stand. Then she was +lured further on, to think of a great fortune which was to be obtained, +that she might go back to the laughing skies of Italy, and spend her +days in the lovely garden where her mother slept. + +But when Cybele arose in the morning, and told her aunt how she was +going out to gather in the pennies, the poor aunt sighed, and bade her +stay at home a while, for she could not bear to be alone. + +So Cybele sat down upon the floor, and, taking the tambourine, sang and +played the softest and sweetest airs she could remember; and, as she +played, it seemed as though new tones, and words even, were given to +speak out of it. + +She astonished herself, and a kind of sorrowful ecstasy came into her +soul. She played on, and on, and forgot that the day was passing off, in +which she was to earn so many bright pennies, in order to bring home the +kind physician who was to make the dear aunt well at once. She went to +the far-off land, and sang of the vineyards and the soft, warm air; of +the gently-moving waters, and the fragrant blossoms around the banks of +the lakes. O, the moon rose up before her, and she drank from its loving +beams; the stars sent down their misty light, as if shrouded because of +their great beauty! Once in that land, how had she forgotten all things +else! A holy inspiration had come down over her; an angel of light +appeared to her enchanted eyes, beckoning her to rest her head upon his +bosom. + +"Fear not!" he said, "for I will yet take you to the lovely gardens +where your mother dwells." + +But, when she eagerly stretched out her arms and cried, "Take me now," +he disappeared, and she found the song stayed upon her lips, the room +hushed, and only the glory, which the angel's presence had shed about, +still lingered there. The holy stillness came into her heart also, and +she sat quietly upon the floor a long time; and when, at last, she rose +and went up to her aunt's bedside, she found the brow she kissed was +cold, the hand she clasped was chilly; and, in looking with fear upon +the aunt's face, she found the dews of death resting there. + +The aunt was dead! Those songs, which flowed so easily from Cybele's +lips, had become the requiem of the dead, and those soft tones had been +the last sigh of a passing soul. + +Cybele knew that when the angel had over-shadowed her, as she sang, he +had borne hence her aunt's spirit. + +But, O, it was so hard to be left all alone! And when the people from +the other room came in and prepared her aunt for the burial; when they +took her from the bed and put her in the rude coffin, the child's heart +felt like breaking, and, had it not been for the words the angel had +spoken to her when he came to bear hence the dear aunt, she would have +wept without ever smiling again. + +Then they carried away the coffin into a dismal place, where was neither +green grass nor pleasant brook, nor even a flower, might it be ever so +little; and there was a row of square, black doors against the walls, +one of which they opened, and shoved the coffin into a dark place. + +O, it was so dreary a place, with the high fence all about it, and the +cold, dismal, gray clouds above! It did not seem to Cybele that she +could leave the aunt there. Could she only lie away in the beautiful +land where the mother slept, where the birds rested their wings upon the +lemon-trees, and the blue sky smiled in quiet peacefulness! + +But the people who stood around could not understand her grief, and so +they hurried her from the yard and locked up the gate. + +That night Cybele lay alone upon the bed on which her aunt had died, and +the lonely grief came so fast upon her that she could not sleep, and the +morning found her weary and heart-broken. + +Then there came into her room a coarse man, who told her she must go +out, for she could no longer live there; that she might be allowed to +take her tambourine with her, but all the rest,--and there was little +enough, the two chairs, the bed, the kettle and the few things in the +cupboard,--were his, to pay for the rent of the room and he told her, if +she brought a few pennies to the people who lived in the next room, when +night was come, they would take care of her. + +Now the man had no sooner spoken these words, than Cybele decided to +have nothing to do with the people in the next room, for she could not +love them. The father and mother were so coarse and cross, and the boys +were so rude and big;--they had often refused to help her aunt, and +while she was sick they had never come with kind words to smooth her +pillow. Even after she had died, they had but come to put her in a rude +coffin, and carry her to a dismal place, from which they thrust out the +only heart who yearned for her. + +So Cybele did not think of going to them. She tied the large silk +handkerchief over her head, which had served her for a bonnet since she +had left Italy, and, taking her dear tambourine in her hand, and the +poor, neglected brooms, she went away out of the rooms where she had +lived so long, where she had seen the angel, and where her aunt had +died. Then, after standing upon the sill of the door a few moments, +looking down the long staircase, out into the world to which she was +going, she raised her gray eyes, and sweetly said, as though replying to +the angel's admonition, "I'm not afraid." Ah, dearest one, you need not +fear when the heavenly Father is so near unto your heart! + +Without more hesitation she said "Good-by" to the room, and quickly sped +down the staircase out into the world, while thus she talked to her +tambourine: + +"Don't you be afraid either, dear little Tambourine!" and she held it +tenderly in her arms; "nor you, dear Brooms! We shall have happy times +together yet. Only think of the beautiful tunes I'll play on you, and +how the children will clap their hands when they hear your bells! No, +don't be in the least afraid; I'll play on you as I never have before +since once,"--here the little lip quivered in spite of itself,--"only +try and play real pretty--do, so I shan't ever be lonesome with thinking +of the lovely gardens at home! Ah, Tambourine! Tambourine! you and I are +all alone!" Just then, a sweet tone came from the bells of the +tambourine, and comforted Cybele's heart. + +She wandered up the streets, and stopped to look in upon the windows of +the toy-shops; but the toy-carts, and those wonderful witches, who would +always stand on their heads, had no charm for her longer. Her heart was +saddened, and when she tried to strike out gay tunes, they would not +come--only sad ones, and sad words from her lips. The children pitied +her grave looks, and, when they could not persuade her to dance for +them, they would leave her in silence. + +When she looked about her and saw all the children, how they were never +alone, that their eye's danced, and their voices were mirthful, she +would ask herself why she, too, was not happy. Then courage would come +to her, and she would strike a gay air, and call the children to her +side; but, when she had finished, she was glad to creep away by +herself, and lean her head upon her tambourine to weep. Then, when the +voice of the angel sounded in her heart, she would raise her head to +reply, meekly, "No, I'm not afraid." + +It chanced, one day, that she wandered into the obscure corner of a +church. It was evening service, and at first she was only glad to get +away from the cold, biting air; but she had not been there long before a +strange feeling of gladness rose up in her heart. The organ awoke from +its stillness, and the tones gladdened her as the tambourine, dear as it +was, had never done. The hazy light poured in through the windows, and +lit up the faces of the scattered worshippers with seraphic beauty, and +it gave golden edges to the spotless robe of the priest in the chancel, +played upon his white, flowing hair, and shone upon his uplifted +countenance. The priest spoke out blessed words of the Father in heaven, +how he calls the tired and weary to come and be folded up in his arms; +how he even says, "Suffer little children to come unto mo, and forbid +them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." These words fell into +the parched heart of little Cybele, and ran all along there in low +sobs, and, stretching up her tiny arms, she murmured: + +"Take me, take me now,--I want to come!" And she began to think of the +angel who had said to her: + +"Fear not, for I will yet take you to the lovely gardens where your +mother dwells." + +The organ ceased, the priest went out from the chancel, one by one the +people passed out from the church, the sexton closed up the doors and +went away, and Cybele sat in her corner, longing to see again the angel +who was so often in her thoughts, until the hazy light had faded away in +the darkness. + +Then the moon rose, and streamed into the church, down the long aisles, +and up into the chancel; and from the window above the place where the +priest had spoken those holy words there flooded a glory of light, while +the columns and galleries stood still in their deepened shadows. It was +so holy a calm as to fill Cybele with a joyful awe. The tambourine slid +from her lap; she crossed her hands upon her breast, and bent forward +her head with closed eyes. Low notes of the sweetest music swelled on +the air; louder they grew; until they seemed like the voices of those +rejoicing for deliverance from great sorrow. Louder, louder yet the +voices of angels mingled with them. As Cybele looked up there she saw +great bands of holy angels rejoicing over her; among them the very one +whose words of consolation had been with her so many days. Quickly to +him she stretched out her arms, and he reached low down and raised her +up to him. And they soared up, up to the region of the sun and the moon, +hearing about them the soft voices of loving angels; the air was loaded +with the perfumes of celestial flowers, while every angel they met gave +them a word of welcome. + +The angel did as he had promised, and the heavenly Father, whom Cybele +had prayed to take her, gave her into the loving arms of the mother, who +dwelt in lovelier gardens than those of fair Italy, even the gardens of +heaven. + + * * * * + +When the people next opened the church, they found a dead child in one +of its corners. A little tambourine lay by its side, which, when they +picked it up, gave out pleasant, cheering tones; but, when they laid the +dead body of the child in a cold, damp grave, they little thought what +happy songs the living spirit of it sang with its mother in the lovely +gardens of God. + + + + +THE STORY OF MAGGIE'S JOURNEY. + + +Little Maggie lived all alone in a small house which contained but one +room. She had lived alone ever since the time her mother had gone to the +palace of the Great King. At first Maggie had cried very bitterly to +think of living alone without her mother; so did her mother, too, as for +that matter, for no mother ever loved her child more dearly than she did +Maggie. + +"Maggie," she had said to her, when she knew she must go, "I shall love +you just as tenderly as ever, and always think of you, even while I am +in the Great King's palace. It is a long journey thither, and I expect I +shall be obliged to go through a great many dark and strange places +before coming there; and I fear, the most of all, to leave you in this +little old house all alone; but you know I cannot disobey the King, and +so must follow this servant whom he has sent to bring me. But, O, +Maggie, do follow me _some time_, for I shall be anxiously watching for +you till you come! Be sure, now, and don't disappoint me; and when you +come I think you had better start early in the morning, for the road is +a long and dangerous one." + +Perhaps this was a long speech to make; but when mothers go on such +journeys as Maggie's mother was to go on, it is not an unusual custom +for them to do so,--and especially when we remember how she would leave +Maggie all alone; it was only to be wondered she said no more. + +When her mother had really gone, the first thing Maggie did was to sit +down upon the door-step and cry bitterly. She could not bear to think +her mother had really gone, and that if ever she wanted to see her she +must start upon that long, long journey. At first I don't think she +loved to think about the Great King who had taken her mother away, and +she was obliged to think over the beautiful things her mother had said +of him many times, before she could be glad he had called her mother. +But at last she rose from the door-step, and went into the house. She +had not much in it, 'tis true; she hadn't much to put in it; and if she +had had more, the house was so small there would have been no place for +anything but what already was there. The principal thing in the room was +the chimney-place. It was so large as to cover the whole of one side of +the room. There was a broad stone hearth, on which sometimes Maggie +would place a few sticks she had picked up in the streets, and light +them; but the little fire they made looked just as if it were ashamed of +itself for burning in such a great fireplace; and the winds, indignant +at its presumption, would rush down the chimney at a more desperate rate +than usual, blowing the ashes into Maggie's eyes, as she sat before the +little fire, and sending the smoke curling in funny forms about the +room. So Maggie would run and cover herself in her poor bed, and say to +herself that it was a comfort to have ashes and smoke; for, though they +did blow in her eyes, still they came from the fire. Sometimes she would +gather up sawdust, and by this fire she was able to warm her feet a +little, though not much; for, as fast as she warmed them, the winds +blew down again, so they were as cold as before. + +You see it was a cold kind of a place in which Maggie lived; so cold +that, although it was summer, still a good many people's hearts were +frozen quite stiff, so their friends despaired of their ever being +thawed out; and their tongues too were affected, so they could not speak +gentle, kind words. I don't mean to say the cold ever dealt quite so +shabbily by Maggie or Maggie's mother, which was rather strange, +perhaps, since they could have but little fire; and the frost could walk +very boldly in through the cracks all about the house. Still it was +almost as bad that such things should happen to their neighbors, as +every one knows it is uncomfortable to behold such misery. + +Beside the chimney-place and bed, Maggie had some cracked plates and +saucers, which she arranged on the chimney-shelf, and some bits of +china, which she had found in piles of rubbish, and which she thought +very beautiful. Now the chimney-shelf was very high, and she managed to +put these things up there by climbing up the bed-post, which was rather +a dangerous thing for her to do, and as it was a very little difficult, +too, she did not often take down those things. + +Now those cracked plates and saucers, and bits of china, were all the +ornaments Maggie had for her house; and they were very precious to her. +She would sit and look at them, _wondering_ what people did who hadn't +got any, and thinking how strange it would seem there in her house if +they were taken away. You see Maggie knew how to prize little things; +and so some day great ones may fall to her. + +I did wrong to say she lived all alone; for she had a beautiful white +Dove. Wasn't it nice? It was very white, and nestled close in Maggie's +bosom when she carried it out of the house, and in the night it lay +close to her heart. O, there was nothing Maggie prized like the Dove; +for it was given her by her mother just before she went away, and she +told her it would guide her when she began her journey; so it was not +strange Maggie should love it so well. + +It was a lovely, sensitive thing. When Maggie had become thoroughly +weary and tired of living all alone by herself, she told her grief to +the Dove, and it would press nearer and nearer to her heart, and when +its mistress' tears fell on its head, its moans were so sorrowful that +Maggie quickly forgot her own grief, and strove to comfort it. + +Now it was in the summer time, and Maggie got along pretty well, for all +the cold winds which blew in that region; but winter was coming on, and +she feared it might be more uncomfortable for her. It happened, one +night, that she heard a great noise, and awoke in a great fright. The +moon shone very brightly, and, by its light, she saw a tall, +strong-looking man carrying away her door. At first she thought she must +be mistaken, and that, if she waited a while, she would see that he was +about to do something very different. But no; he took first the door +well off the hinges, put the hinges in his pocket, the door on his back, +and went off. Then Maggie jumped quickly from her bed, and, running to +the open doorway, cried out, + +"Don't take my door; I live here." + +But the man certainly did not hear Maggie; at all events he did not once +turn back, but went away quite out of sight. + +"But what could he want with my door?" said Maggie, in a high state of +amazement. "Houses all have doors; so he can't want it for his house." +She stood a long time, wondering and perplexed; and I must acknowledge, +if I had been there, I should have wondered too. It was quite a long +time before Maggie could persuade herself to go to bed again, and sleep +till morning, which she finally did, feeling very thankful the man +didn't take the bed. + +In the morning a new joy was in store for her; she found that the sun +now, when it rose, could look directly in upon her, and his warm rays +would give warmth to her little room. As she looked up to the +mantel-shelf, on which her bits of broken china were glowing from the +sunshine, she jumped out of bed in an ecstasy of delight. + +"O, dear, dear!" she cried, "what if that man had taken away those?--how +I should have cried! But now he has, by taking the door, given the sun a +chance to make them look more beautiful!" + +Now she began to love the sun better than ever, for he had become one of +the things which beautified her little home; and she always woke early, +so as to meet his first look, when he came into the room. + +Still it must be confessed that the absence of her door did at times +make her poor home more desolate; when, for instance, the winds went +mad, and the rain came down in torrents from the clouds, O, such a +frolicking as there was down her large chimney, and out through the +doorway! Then round and round the house they would run, chasing each +other,--now bursting into a boisterous mirth, now howling in low, dull +tones, until in again at the door they swept, and up through the +chimney. + +In Maggie's mind, the chimney and open doorway belonged especially to +the winds. She always thought of them in connection, and, when they +began their frolicking, she would seat herself in one corner, and +listen. Sometimes it seemed as though the winds rushed at one +another,--one coming down the chimney, and the other in at the door; +then, when they met, there was a kind of explosion, a thick, quick +quarrel, and then they would draw off in merry laughter; then would +Maggie clap her hands with glee, thinking it fine sport; but when a +whole blast burst at once upon the house, and seemed desperately to +struggle through every crevice, she would crouch with fear, and upbraid +the winds with their sudden freaks. + +There was one mystery which Maggie found herself unable to unravel; it +was this: She felt perfectly certain the chimney was made for the winds +to come down through, and still she knew it was intended for her to make +a smoky kind of fire once in a while on its hearth, with which the winds +quarrelled, and destroyed it. Here were two things irreconcilable. Often +would she stand on the hearth, and look up the black throat of the +chimney, wondering how this inconsistency happened, wishing again and +again that the winds would like the fire, and let it burn well; but she +never thought of asking them to desist. She looked upon their freaks as +privileged. + +To the dear Dove did Maggie always turn for comfort and relief. Its love +was a guarantee of her mother's, and, as often as she looked upon and +held it to her heart, so often did she feel sure that one day she would +feel the pressure of her mother's hand upon her head. + +Once, when Maggie was talking to the Dove, and thinking of her mother, +it came into her head to begin that journey to the Great King's palace. +"Why not?" said she; "why do I live here? The cold winter is coming, and +my door is gone, and the sun already gives me warning that he shall not +look in at the door as usual; the neighbors will be colder than ever, +and some of them will quite freeze. I've a mind to go away. What do you +think, Dovey?" + +The Dove nestled close to her heart, and cooed joyfully. + +"Would you like it? Well, I don't know but I had better start. But I +should have to leave the house,--and that would be rather bad,--and the +chimney where the winds play. I think it would seem lonesome for them, +and I don't know as they would like it, for there would be no one to +listen to them; still I do want to go, and I think I'd better." + +"I'm sure," said Maggie, after some pause, during which she lovingly +caressed the Dove's head, "I'm sure I don't see why I didn't go before. +I don't know why I should have lived here so long alone. I can take some +of the best china, and leave all the rest. Perhaps some little child may +like to live here after I am gone, and watch the winds as I have done; +but I do hope they won't frighten her at first, or she will want to go +away." + +Maggie was an expeditious child, and when she had decided to do +something, she went at once about accomplishing it. So she left the +door-step on which she had been sitting, and went in the house, to see +what she wanted to take; and, as she had so few things, the preparations +were not long, but she soon found herself with her blanket pinned over +her head, ready to start. + +'Tis true a few tears came into her eyes as she bid farewell to the bed +which had been her shelter against every unpleasant sight and sound; but +when she turned to the chimney, and some perplexing thought of the +quarrels of the wind and the fire came over her, she rather rejoiced she +would soon be away from it, where this one mystery of their +disagreement should never again trouble her. + +Laying the white Dove in her bosom, she turned from the house, and so +beheld herself fairly launched on her journey. + +A little while she found it pleasant; the road was straight, and lined +with flowers; the Dove raised his head, and looked in Maggie's eyes with +delight. + +But soon she came to a place where two roads met, forming the one she +had been travelling. Here was a perplexity: which should she take--which +would lead her where she wanted to go? + +There was a house close by; so she stepped up to the door of it, and +knocked. A lady, who was very pretty to look at, and who wore a very +rich dress, opened the door; but just at the moment when Maggie asked, +"Will you tell me which road leads to the palace of the Great King?" +that same terrible cold wind came round and blew directly into the +lady's mouth, so that she replied, "I know nothing about it, and very +much doubt if there be any Great King at all;" and then she shut the +door in great haste, leaving poor Maggie in much distress and doubt. + +She was astonished at the woman's words, and wondered why she shut the +door so soon; for, if she had not, she would have told her about the +King; how she was sure he was alive, and had a great palace. And, too, +she could have told her, his servant had come once and taken her mother +with him, and she could never forget him; he had been dressed in black, +but on his head he wore a crown of the most glorious stars, and their +brightness had filled the little house with holy light, so that, even +after he had departed, it still lingered around. + +She thought some of knocking again and telling the poor lady, for she +thought it was sad enough not to know about the Great King; but, though +she knocked a long time, no one came to the door, and, finally, she was +obliged to leave the steps of the house and gather some directions +else-where. + +One of the roads seemed cold, and looked narrow, and Maggie, who had +suffered so much from the cold, turned from it with a shudder towards +the other, which looked much gayer, and many more people walked in it; +but the Dove looked anxiously towards the narrow one, which grieved +Maggie, and made her cry out, "O, Dovey, Dovey! how can you love the +cold so well, or ask me to go where it is? Let us rather walk this way a +little, and do you not see there are plenty of cross-roads?--so, if we +wish, we can go on to that narrow road at any time." + +So, notwithstanding the Dove's remonstrances, Maggie entered this road, +and found the air so pleasant and warm, that she liked nothing better +than to walk in it. + +She saw a great many people here; but they took no notice of the little +girl, who walked along so quietly, with her Dove in her bosom, and the +bits of china in her pocket. But, if they did not notice her, she +noticed them well, and thought them strange enough. + +To her surprise she found the air, which had at first seemed so warm, +began to grow cold, and more like the air about the old house; and, +shivering with cold, and seeing the people about her wearing large +cloaks, it was quite natural she should ask them to let her in beneath +the warm folds of them. To her civil request some of them paid no +attention; others looked at her in wonder, and some were so rude as to +speak cruel words to her, and bid her not dare speak to them again. + +So Maggie saw them walk on, wrapped in their warm cloaks, and complained +not. Indeed, she had lived too long in the little house without a door, +not to be able to bear the cold bravely--only she could not help wishing +sometimes that she had the bed with her, that she might jump in between +its clothes and warm herself a while; but she was patient, remembering +that she was journeying towards the Great King's palace, where her +mother lived. Suddenly it occurred to her that the road to the Great +King's palace lay through a remarkably cold country, and that the people +who were travelling thither seemed in no haste, for they often sat down +by the road-side and played; and some even went back, instead of +forward, while all those little side-roads, which she thought she had +seen before, had vanished. So, one day, she said to one of the people +who sat down: + +"Why do you not hasten that you may see the Great King?" + +"The Great King, indeed!" he said whom she had addressed. "I am in no +hurry to see him." + +And others intimated as much as the lady long ago had said, that they +themselves doubted very much if there were any Great King at all. + +"What shall I do?" cried Maggie. "I cannot be in the right way. O, how +shall I get to the Great King's palace!" And, upon this, the Dove rose +up from Maggie's bosom, and turned backwards whither they had come. +Though long and dreary seemed the cold road she must retrace, yet, such +was her confidence in the Dove, she turned very gladly; and though not +one of those people had cared for Maggie before, now they clustered +around her, begging her not to leave them, and seeking to draw her away +from her purpose. And when she saw how they seemed to love her, and feel +sorrow at her going, she said to them: + +"I am grieved to leave you, since you have just begun to love me; but I +promised my mother I would go to the Great King's palace, and I must go +where Dovey leads me." + +"How silly to mind a bird!" cried one; and, picking up a stone, he +hurled it at the Dove, who was hovering in the air, and broke its wing, +so it could not fly. + +Then, indeed, it seemed as though her grief was very great, and she +could not help wishing she were already in the Great King's palace, or +that he would send his servant for her, who was dressed in the black +robe, and wore the crown of stars. She often saw this servant now; he +came to bear many away; but the crown of stars was not on his brow, and +his face shed no light around, only gloom. + +Well, Maggie was obliged to stop and bind up the Dove's wing, and tend +it a little before she could proceed on her journey. All delay was +unwelcome to her; for, as the journeying thus far had been in pain, the +true journey was still to begin. She was so hungry and thirsty, too! So +it seemed impossible she could proceed when once she had started +forward. There was no one to give her a crust of bread, or offer her a +cup of cold water; nevertheless, she wouldn't tell the poor Dove, who +was moaning with pain, for she thought, and well enough, that he had as +much of his own trouble as he could well endure. + +She had another trouble, too; there were some people whom she could not +think desired to go away from the King's palace, and so she would tell +them how they were going altogether in the wrong path; but they would +either laugh or stare at her in wonder. Then she would almost have stood +weeping in the road at their strange conduct, but the Dove would +incessantly warn her to go on. At last, between grief and hunger, she +fell sick, and thought she should die there, without ever seeing her +mother or the Great King. But, lo! a gentle being, clothed in a white, +spotless garment, came and put to her lips a cup of medicine, which she +told Maggie, if she would but drink, would make her quite well again, +and protect her against hunger and thirst for the rest of the journey. +Upon this, Maggie drank it all but the dregs, and she found it so bitter +that she thought it far worse than any cold she had ever endured. But, +when the bright being saw she left the dregs in her cup, she was not +satisfied, and bade her drink those, even with tears in her eyes. Maggie +drank them as she bade her, and then the bright one vanished, leaving +the child quite well and vigorous. The weariness vanished from her +frame, the parching thirst from her mouth, and, what was yet more +amazing, she found the little Dove quite well, and she stood with it in +her arms before the two roads again. + +So she commenced her journey upon the road she had so long ago rejected, +and soon found that the snow vanished from the ground and shook itself +from the tree-tops; the grass sprang up, the flowers played beneath her +footsteps, and gay birds hopped among the boughs of the trees, making +the air melodious with their songs; the brooklets ran murmuring by the +road-side, and Maggie's Dove cooed with joy. + +O, Maggie knew this was the road leading to the palace of the Great +King--the very one her mother had travelled--the road, too, which she +had been told did not exist! She met many children here, who sought the +same she did; and they talked with Maggie, and she loved them, and with +them thanked the King who had made for them such a lovely road to his +palace. + +At last, one day, there came the same servant who had carried away her +brother, and gently, softly, took her in his arms. So often had she +thought of his coming that she felt no kind of fear. He told her that +the Great King wanted her, and that her mother was all ready to receive +her. O, how her heart leaped at this, to hear a real word from her +mother, and to think the Great King wanted her! As she lay in his arms, +the servant, who wore on his head his bright stars, kissed her eyes and +her brow. He carried her a long distance, sped through many a long, dark +valley, and then they came out upon a bright shore, where were many +people dressed in shining clothes. + +Maggie looked at herself, and saw, with amazement, that she too was +dressed likewise, and that the servant who had brought her hither had no +longer a black robe, but a silver one, which sparkled so, Maggie was +scarce able to look upon it. She had soon crossed the sea, and then her +mother caught her in her arms, and wept for joy. + +"O, Maggie, Maggie!" she said; "I have watched your journey all along, +and my sorrow was so deep when I saw you mistake the roads. It was I +whom the Great King sent when you was sick, that I might bear his love +to you, and make you well. Come, now, and go with me before his throne." + +Upon this they joined the crowd who were entering the palace;--but we +cannot enter it,--we must first finish our journey. + + + + +THE OLD WOMAN AND THE ENCHANTED SONG. + + +Ruth had two sisters,--Grace and Jessie. Now Grace and Jessie were +twins, and everybody praised their blue eyes and rosy cheeks, and when +they laughed, people said, "How sweetly they smile!"--and when they +wept, people said, "Poor little ones!" and immediately took them in +their arms, and strove to bring back the dimpling smile to their faces. + +Grace and Jessie played together always, and little Ruth, who was +younger than either of them, was left often alone. No one ever called +her beautiful, nor stroked her hair, nor kissed her brow; and when she +stood by the side of the twin sisters at the gate, and the people, in +passing, praised the flaxen curls of Grace and Jessie, then they would +turn towards her, and, their smiles vanishing, they would regard her +with a pitiful air, turning silently away. Then she would creep off by +herself into some favorite nook of the garden, thoroughly ashamed that +she should so far have forgotten herself as to stand by the side of her +beautiful sisters. + +Her mother, too, often took her in her lap, and, kissing her brow +sorrowfully, would exclaim, in sad tones: + +"My poor, plain child,--my dear homely Ruth!" + +Her father never caressed her. His love seemed to be kept for the twins, +whose two bright faces peered over his chair, and whose glad voices were +always ready to greet him on his return home. + +And still Ruth loved her father so much, and, nestling close in the +corner of the garden away off by herself, mourned that he never kissed +her, nor called her his dear, pretty Ruth. + +"O," thought the child, "how I do wish I could do something for my +father, which might please him, so that only once he might call me his +dear child! O, why was not I made a twin?" Thus the poor child mourned +to herself. + +She had a doll, which she made her constant companion, and she played it +was very lovely like Grace and Jessie; she told it all her griefs, and +really came to feel that the doll understood all she said to it. + +She had also another pleasure; it was that of reading. Her mother had +given her many books, and she loved to sit among the rose-bushes, and +read their beautiful stories. She liked to read about a man who lived +off alone upon an island, and had only some cats and monkeys for his +companions; how the cave was his house, and the skins of beasts were his +garments; how he looked off upon the ocean, and saw not one sail, and +wandered about upon his island, without hearing one human sound. + +This story had a wild fascination for our little Ruth, so that she read +it again and again; yet still the book was as new to her in its interest +as at first. + +Then there were other stories she loved to read; some about lonely, +patient, lovely young girls, who went out into the world alone to seek +their fortunes, and returned home with wealth and honor. She often +wished she might go forth in this way, so that when she came back no one +should dare call her plain or unlovable. Then she longed to hold some +secret charm, so that whoever she should desire to do so, should love +and caress her. But still no bright fairy stooped down from the skies to +change her black, stiff hair into shining ringlets, or her dark-brown +skin into the fairness of that of her sisters; and so Ruth only read, +and wondered, and wished. + +One day when, as usual, Ruth had found herself quite alone,--Grace and +Jessie had gone to take a walk, and her mother was reading by +herself,--she had taken her book, and sat down beneath the shade of a +broad tree in the garden. She was reading the story of a fair princess, +who had many suitors and splendid gifts, and who was called the Queen of +Beauty. + +"Alas!" she cried, "why was not I beautiful, so I might be loved! Then I +should not be the sober, odd thing I am now!" + +"Would you, then, so much like to be beautiful, dear child?" said a +voice close at her side, and, when Ruth looked up, she saw an old woman +whom she never had seen before. She was clothed in a long blue dress, +and her face was full of motherly love. Ruth's heart was filled with +gladness, for seldom had so affectionate a glance been shed on her; and +when the old woman bent down and kissed her, how all remembrance of the +indifference of father, mother, friends, vanished from her mind, and it +seemed that her whole life was given to her new friend, that she might +do with her whatever she willed! + +All strangeness at her sudden appearance vanished, too, as soon as she +had kissed her. Ruth felt under the control of a great power, and +watched her movements with as much love as confidence. + +When the old woman had looked into Ruth's eyes, and had seen the +thoughts which beamed there, she looked up into the sky, and beckoned to +a very light, beautiful cloud, which was sailing carelessly along. + +She had no sooner done this than the cloud began to descend slowly +towards them, just as though it understood her summons, and, when it +had reached the place where she stood, it remained motionless. + +[Illustration: THE OLD WOMAN AND THE ENCHANTED SONG.] + +Then she took up little Ruth in her arms, and stepped on to the cloud +and sat down; and, after arranging herself and Ruth quite comfortably, +she said something, which Ruth could not understand, and then the cloud +began to rise, moving as easily as it had done before it came down from +the sky. + +While they were going up, Ruth was amazed to see how the garden and the +beloved tree below became continually smaller and smaller; how, +by-and-by, she could only distinguish the house, and how that became +dimmer and dimmer, until it entirely disappeared from her sight. + +Then she turned towards the old woman, and saw that her kind blue eyes +lovingly regarded her; and so she still more forgot the home below, +where, without doubt, her departure would pass unnoticed. + +New objects began to attract her attention. The cloud on which they sat +did not, like the others, just float over the earth, but it went proudly +on, and came among the stars, and constellations of stars, and she saw +how many were clustered together, and no tongue could describe their +beauty; and then the deep blue was ever about her, and she saw it away +off in the distance, growing to a darker and darker shade, until it +became like the air of midnight; while ever from its darkness shone out +those immense stars, and clusters of stars. + +Then the most beautiful sight of all was when some star glided past her, +and shot afar off into the dark blue beyond--there was such dazzling +glory in it! + +Sometimes they would be quite near enough to the stars they passed to +discern the people who dwelt upon them, and she felt for them a +friendship at once, and only longed that she might go down and tell them +so. + +The child had forgotten she was plain and odd; she did not think to ask +herself whether the people on those bright stars, so beautiful and +happy, might not repulse her for her homeliness. + +At last they did approach one bright star, and Ruth saw, to her delight, +that, when the cloud had come down into a lovely garden, the old woman +stepped off from it, then took her up also, and placed her on the +ground. Then the cloud, which had been their chariot (and a far better +one it was than ever king had to be drawn in), rose upward, and began +its gentle course in the sky. + +When the old woman saw how Ruth looked after it, she said to her: + +"I use all the clouds in that way, more or less, and all those about +your earth do many such a service while the people little dream of it. +In fact, every one there looks down upon the ground too much; they have +no idea of the goodly things they would find if they searched upwards +more." + +The old woman sighed as she said this. Such a happy and pleasant looking +old woman to have sighed so deeply! + +Then she took Ruth's hand, and led her towards her cottage, which was +the most beautiful thing you ever could imagine. Without, it had the +tints of the mother-of-pearl, while its framework was of silver. The +windows and doors were of diamonds, and there sparkled from them +continually all the rich tints of the rainbow. Within, everything was +wrought of the finest silver, and the rooms were hung, some in delicate +blue silk, others in rose colors. + +Ruth was entirely overwhelmed with the beauty of the house,--so much so, +as to stand still, looking at the things about her. + +"You must be tired with your long ride," the woman said, "and I wish you +to rest well; for there are many things I will show you. After you have +rested, I will bring you some food." + +And, with this, she put Ruth upon a sofa, and made her lay quite down, +to refresh herself with sleep. But Ruth thought, in her heart, "Rest! +Does she think I can be tired, when I have been sitting upon that soft +cloud, looking at the wonderful stars? How could I ever be either tired +or hungry?" But she said nothing aloud, for the charm of the old woman's +presence hovered over her, and, as soon as she closed her eyes, she fell +into a soft and beautiful slumber. + +O the dreams Ruth dreamed then! Strangely enough, she thought her father +and mother, as well as Grace and Jessie, were riding and playing on +clouds; and they were all so happy together, and they seemed to love her +very dearly; so that, in her dream, she remembered nothing of their +former neglect. She dreamed how her father called her to him, and laid +his hand upon her head; and it was _such_ a gentle pressure, and it made +her so happy, that she awoke,--and there really was a gentle hand upon +her head, and a soft kiss fell upon her lips,--such a touch, and such a +kiss, as poor Ruth had scarce ever known before, and which made her +quickly twine her arms around the old woman's neck, and kiss her warmly. + +Then the old woman put her in one of the silver-wrought chairs, and put +before her, on plates sparkling with precious stones, soft, ripe fruit, +with a delicious flavor, such as she had never before tasted. She could +not help thinking how glad Grace and Jessie would be to see such before +them; and so, as at that moment she looked up, and saw the old woman +smiling upon her, she took two of the most beautiful and the largest of +the fruit and put them in her pocket, for she had no doubt but what, at +some time, all too soon, she should go back to the earth. + +When she had done this, and finished her delicious repast, which, +however, was slowly, for she was so filled with delight, the old woman +bade her leave her chair, and come to her; upon which she took her in +her arms, and, looking lovingly down upon her, said: + +"My dear Ruth, I am going to show you all the treasures which the +children upon the earth gather together, in order some time to take with +them to heaven. I call their treasures what they love most in their +hearts, and put into actions. Everything they do or say is kept very +carefully; for one day they will want them. So you see they cannot lose +anything. Everything in nature, every cloud that seems only leisurely +floating in the sky, is serving some purpose. And all that is done below +is borne up here." + +Ruth could not help thinking that the old woman might show her some very +beautiful and some very curious things to keep; and in sorrow she began +to think what unpleasant things of her own were treasured up, to be +given back to her some day when she least expected or desired them. + +But the old woman said nothing about Ruth's things, but, taking her +hand, led her forth into the garden again. + +"I am going to show you some things there are here," said her friend; +"and if they seem ridiculous to you, don't laugh at them. For my part, I +think it sad children will treasure up such miserable things." + +They had soon passed into the garden, where Ruth saw the most delicate +flowers she had ever seen--they were so tall, and nodded their heads +gayly to each other; but when she came to a bed of violets--white ones +and blue, _so large_, larger than she thought it was possible for them +to grow--she stopped to gaze upon them in complete admiration; the +fragrance, too, was delicious--more so than those her brother had, +although those were very fine ones. + +"Take some, my child," said the old woman, who watched her delight with +a kind smile. So down upon her knees she dropped, and took them, and she +could not help thinking how beautiful and lovely a smile would fall upon +her from her mother's face, as she gave them to her. So the violets, +too, were carefully laid in her pocket for her mother. + +Then they passed out from the garden, and came to a gray house; withered +flowers lay about it, while briers and nettle-bushes clung to its walls; +but, worse than all this, there came forth from the house angry, hateful +words, and noises of a mad strife. Ruth feared to pass this place, and +clung closely to the old woman's side. + +"Here," said the old woman, kindly putting her arm around Ruth, "are +kept all those angry words which children speak to each other and their +friends; all their little fretful words when they are impatient, and +which they will never wish to see again, but which, alas! will be given +back to them at a most unwelcome time." + +Then they went on to another house, the walls of which were black, and +not a green thing grew about it. + +"There," said the old woman, "are the treasures of those children who +care most for themselves, and do not think of others' pleasures. Those +things which they have so loved are kept carefully for them; but they +will only tell them of what they have done for themselves." So she +opened the door, and Ruth looked in. There was such a medley of things! +Candies of gay colors, nice waxen dolls, a great many broken toys, nice +fruit, and, indeed, I could not begin to tell you of all Ruth saw there. +There had come, too, a mould upon many of the things, so many of them +had grown tarnished; and a bad stench rose from some fruit which had +been there a long time. + +"You see, my child," said the old woman, as she locked up the door, +"these things cannot be preserved to look so brightly as when they were +first brought here; they all grow rotten; and I cannot prevent the worms +creeping in to corrupt them." + +Then they met some very black-looking clouds, loaded with things like +those Ruth had seen in the two houses, and they were put in with the +rest. + +"Alas," she sighed, "that the children will send up these things!" + +Ruth rejoiced to see that, with quick step, her kind guide passed by +many more such houses; for they terrified her. She feared she might +hear, if she listened well, some complaint she had uttered, or should +see some tarnished toy which she had selfishly treasured. No wonder she +liked to hasten by the houses! + +Then they passed away from the dreary desert places where black houses +were, into beautiful plains where the grass was mingled with bright and +lovely flowers, and rivulets gracefully flowed along; and here were +lovely temples, shining with precious stones, so that Ruth clapped her +hands at beholding them. "Here," said the old woman, "are more beautiful +treasures, which are my great glory and delight." + +She showed Ruth one, round which the whitest blossoms grew among green +leaves, in which were treasured all the smiles ever given to comfort +people who had grief in their heart; and these smiles shed about the +whole temple a light like a halo of glory. + +In another were the soft, loving words which many children had given +others, poorer and lowlier than themselves, to encourage their weak +hearts; words which they had given and forgotten, but which had yet been +carefully gathered up, and put in this temple. From this temple a low +sound of sweet music rose, which filled Ruth's heart with a perfect +peace, as if she had found everything she could ever desire. + +In another temple yet were all the words of love, which children express +and feel in their hearts to each other. From this temple proceeded +louder tones, but yet those of sweetest harmony. + +In another, all the gentle, loving words ever whispered to the animals. + +"I prize these highly," said the old woman. + +"It is very strange," said she, looking upon the temples, "that I find +these precious treasures thrown about very carelessly upon the earth. +The children never dream of their worth, and were I not always ready +there, some would be lost. But remember, Ruth, none are suffered to be +lost; and so, when the children to whom these belong are going into +heaven, they shall find there many a treasure they did not dream of +possessing. Thus shall the treasures they had forgotten grow brighter +and brighter, while others they had perhaps remembered have grown +corrupted and vain!" + +At these words, Ruth longed to lay many treasures in the temples, and +she heard a song, which the different tones of the temple formed in the +air. It melted her heart with its divine harmony. + +"O," cried Ruth "could I but sing such a song to my father! he who loves +songs so well. What joy it would be to him!" + +"And would you patiently sing the song though he thanked you not?" asked +the old woman. + +"I desire him only to hear it," replied Ruth; and at that moment the +power came to her, and such a song poured from her throat! + +She was so enchanted! But, when glancing in the brook, she saw her own +figure so lit up with beauty as scarcely to be able to recognize it. The +old woman saw her amazement, and replied to it: + +"I will send you back to your home that you may sing this song to your +father; and remember, little Ruth, that beauty only is worthy to have +which proceeds from the sweetness of thy words and the loveliness of thy +smile. In heaven thou mayst be as lovely as thou wilt. Send up, then, +fit treasures for the temple, and they will be kept safely until thou +needest them." + +Then, as the tones of the old woman's voice died away, Ruth found +herself in the garden again, near her mother's house, and, had it not +been for the fruit and bunch of violets in her pocket, she would have +believed it a dream; but, when she went into the house, and gave Grace +and Jessie the peaches, and her mother the big, beautiful violets, and +began doing all sorts of kind things for every one, she felt how very +real it all had been. And then, too, she would sing that beautiful song +she had heard in the old woman's star, and her father, delighted, caught +her up in his arms, kissing her again and again. + +Ruth did not forget what the old woman had told her--how she might bring +the beauty of heaven about her form; and when she grew up people loved +her, and said, "I would rather look like Ruth, to smile and speak like +her, than to have the brightest hair and bluest eyes of any court +beauty." + + + + +THE OLD MAN'S STORY. + + +Come about me, little ones, and I will tell you my story. I seem old to +you now; but once I was as young as you. I had twelve brothers and +sisters; but now they are all gone before me into the better land, and I +remain here alone upon the earth without them. + +I am very old. My teeth have fallen away from my mouth one by one, until +they are all gone. My bald head has a very few gray hairs; my ears are +deaf, so I can scarcely hear your young, sweet voices: and the bright +sky is dimmed to my eyes. Slowly my footsteps totter along the earth, as +when I first stepped into my mother's outstretched arms. + +My wife long ago went before me to the grave, and I have left many +children there. Many a time have I seen the green sod laid over the +grave of loved ones. Often have I wept at the sight of God's servant, +Death; but when next he comes I shall hail him with joy, for he will be +to me the beloved friend who bears me to my home above. + +Now that I am grown old, God lovingly carries me back to the days of my +childhood. He sends many a loving spirit upon the wings of consolation +to bear me into the fair region of youth. The scenes of the few years +since--all the noise and bustle of my manhood's prime--are banished far +away from me, and only the stillness and quiet of my childhood close +around the last moments of my earthly existence. Thus, dear children, +bathing me in the innocence and trustful spirit of my childhood, does +God prepare me for my home in his beautiful garden. + +I told you I had twelve brothers and sisters. O, well do I recall them +all! They come near, and I feel their presence as of old! I am glad to +linger mostly on their early days; for, in after life, their hearts were +filled with sorrow, their fresh spirits wearied, and care brought and +filled their souls with other feelings than those of love and sympathy +to others. + +Our fairest and brightest brother was Fred. I was only one year younger +than he, and I remember well how I watched my mother while she nursed +him, and sent me away from the arms which a little before had been my +sole possession. I could not understand it, and my little heart was +filled with dismay. I would creep away by myself, sit down, and in the +most pitiful manner repeat to myself, "Poor Sammy! poor Sammy!" The +sense of desolation was very great; and in the whole course of my life I +do not remember to have known a more distressing grief. When I grew to +be a man, and disappointments came upon me; when I laid my wife and +children in their graves, and knew there was not one left of my line but +myself--a miserable old man--there was hope in my sorrow, light in my +darkness; for I knew the love of God and the life of eternity. These +deep sorrows had, also, bright heights; but it was not so then. I could +not feel God's love. My mother's care had been all I knew; and, now that +it seemed given to another, I was alone and wretched. There was a +terrible sense of injustice, which nearly broke my heart. I could not +understand how my little brother could have the right to what was +denied me. + +I have always tenderly pitied children who had griefs; then they need +our care more than the grown children, who feel God's love and wisdom. +But these little ones grope in a kind of darkness. Suffering is a +mystery to them; they can perceive no cause or end for it; they only +know they suffer. + +After a while, I, too, was allowed to sit on my mother's lap with this +brother, and then I began to love him, he was _so_ beautiful. There was +no child in the county which could be compared with him, and, simply +because of his beauty and his cunning ways, he gained the power of a +king over the household, so that as soon as he began to run about he +ruled it, and me even more than the rest. + +The country was very new then, and all the gay, flourishing towns and +villages, which are now scattered in every direction, scarcely existed +even in the minds of the first sanguine settlers. Dark woods and sombre +swamps covered the surface; and what do you think we had instead of +roads, when we wanted to go from one town to another? The first one who +found his way along cut pieces of bark out of the trees, and others +followed these marks, until after a time they cut down the trees and +made a road. I think this is the reason old roads in this country are so +crooked; for you know a man cannot walk very straight through a forest. + +Our near neighbors lived a mile from us, and it was quite a little +journey to go and see them. We had a village, too, in which were but two +buildings, the meeting-house and blacksmith's shop. You children would +hardly think you could live in such a place; yet such was the state of +things ninety-three years ago. + +Well, my father and mother had come up from a town near Boston, because +my grandfather could give them some land here, and they built their +house, and made it their home. The house stands now; it is the very one +in which my brothers and sisters were all born. + +In her parlor my mother had a very nice piece of furniture, which her +mother had given her as a wedding present, and of which she was very +proud, inasmuch as no parlor in the county could boast the like. It was +a looking-glass! + +Well, laugh! No wonder it seems funny to you that any one should so +prize a looking-glass, when you all have so many of them; but you can +have no idea how different everything was then. The people were very +poor, and, although they owned many acres of land, yet they could +frequently sell it but for one dollar an acre, and thought that a fine +bargain. You see we had no money to buy the elegant luxuries you have in +your houses--the carpets, and sofas, and rocking-chairs. Our floors were +hard, covered now and then with a little sand, perhaps, as a great +luxury. The chairs were straight and high, while our tables were small +and low, and the cups from which we drank our tea as small as those you +play with. But, before I say any more, I want to tell you of the fate of +mother's looking-glass. + +The _great room_ (as mother's parlor was called) was always kept +carefully closed, and a very sacred, awful and mysterious place it was +to us children. It so happened, one day when mother had gone away, that +my little brother Fred began to be acted upon very powerfully by a +desire to take one peep into that room. By some strange neglect mother +had left the door unlatched--for she kept her bonnet in there, and +always put it on before the glass. The temptation to go in was +altogether too powerful for Fred to withstand, and, especially as others +had never pronounced the little monosyllable no, to him, he had no mind +to begin by saying it to himself. So in he went, and almost the first +thing he saw was mother's looking-glass, hanging over the table between +the two front windows. As he went towards it he saw a little boy, who +seemed to be peering and staring at him from between the windows. He had +no idea it was himself he saw, never having seen the looking-glass +before, nor his own reflected image. You may be sure he looked right +earnestly upon the strange child. If he stepped forward, so did the boy; +if he turned away, and then looked cautiously back to watch the boy, +there he was, looking at him in a very sly manner. Freddy, enraged at +this, rushed out for a stone, and, bringing it in, hurled it at the +looking-glass. But it was all in vain, for, even after the glass +rattled down and strewed the floor with its many pieces, that impudent +boy peeped at him from every bit of glass in which he looked. + +When my mother came home, and went to put away her bonnet in the great +room, as usual, she found her beautiful looking-glass lying on the +floor, broken into a hundred pieces. When she came out, and demanded of +us what it meant, Fred told her of a little boy he saw behind it, at +whom he was offended and hurled a stone, but that still the boy looked +at him from the pieces of glass and made him very angry. + +Then mother laughed when she heard Fred's story, and, catching him up in +her arms, kissed him again and again. She forgot to chide him for his +disobedience in going where he had been forbidden to go, and for his +foolish anger at the supposed boy. She was so much amused at his version +of the story, that she did not explain to him what the boy was, and how +the looking-glass reflected figures before it, but he was left to find +that out by his experience afterwards. + +If my brother, long before that, had learned lessons of love and +forbearance, this circumstance, slight as it may seem, would never have +occurred. Instead of the threatening and distrustful look in the mirror, +he would have found a laughing face, and a tiny, loving hand would have +been given him. O, my dear children, this story has a higher meaning +than I thought of when I commenced! In the feelings of those whom we +approach we see the reflection of our own; if we approach any one with +love, it is given to us from them. Think of this: it will serve you +well, and teach you to be careful, ere you hurl the stone, to know what +is the object of your anger. + +I have often thought that we all helped to make my brother selfish. He +was so very beautiful that we indulged him in every whim he had; so he +came to look upon us at last as bound to serve him. I do not blame him +only; they who had the nurturing of him, they to whom his young spirit +was sent so fair from God's heavenly gardens, in their unwise love +taught him to think of himself, and make others serve his purposes. + +These dear, helpless little ones--they come to us in fresh beauty like a +spring morning, and we taint their spirits with selfishness, and darken +them with worldly care! + +Years after, when my brother and myself had grown to men, we bound our +interests in one. He had quicker parts than I--was a much better +scholar; so I trusted all our business confidently in his hands. But I +grieve to say he did not meet my confidence with honor--he took from my +purse to enrich his own; and when I stood by his bedside, at last, and +saw how the deep wrinkles were worn in by care upon his once round +cheek, I wept. I wept that he should die without having found in life +that peace which any one would have predicted for him over his cradle, +when the rosy cheeks sank into the soft pillow, and the long lashes of +his baby eyelids rested upon them! I love that brother now, and his +child, who had become penniless after his death, I warmed in my +chimney-corner, and held to my heart as though she had been my own +child. Brother, I know thou hast repented, long ago, of the wrongs thou +didst inflict, and that some time, in the presence of God, I shall clasp +thee in my arms, pure again as when we sat together on our mother's +knee! + +See how I have wandered away off from my story! + +Let me tell you how we got our clothes. Did you ever ask yourself what +we could do then, when there were so few shops, and so little money to +carry to the shops? + +We had sheep, who gave us wool, which my mother spun, and wove it into +cloth. Just think of that! Do you imagine you would have as fine +clothes, if your mothers had to spin all the cloth? She knit, too, O, so +fast! as well in the dark as the light. I have known her to knit a +coarse stocking easily of an evening--her fingers _flew_ along the +needles! Cotton cloth was a great rarity among us. I remember once my +mother had a cotton gown, and it was esteemed very precious. + +Father made our shoes, and rough ones they were too, and which we only +wore in the coldest part of the winter. The long winter evenings were so +beautiful to us! Father taught us to read and spell, and chalked out +sums on the wall for us; then we would draw profiles on the wall, for +the great blaze of the wood-fire cast a bright light, and, consequently, +the shadow was well marked. A huge chimney-place we had, with a broad +hearth, and all about this would we sit, roasting apples and popping +corn by the heat of the fire. + +So we lived; in the summer, playing "hi-spy" around the corners of the +barn, and, in the winter, living snugly in the chimney-corner, telling +stories. + +When the revolutionary war broke out,--you've heard of that, of course; +but then I'm afraid you'll never know how much we endured then; our +feeling against the injustice of Mother England was very great. You do +not know how we had loved her, nor how we children used to listen to +stories of that beautiful country beyond the sea. Our father and mother +spoke of it as "Home," and we all hoped that some time, when we were men +and women, we might go "Home." Then, when she began to tax us for more +money than we were able to pay, in order to build grand palaces, it +seemed hard to us; and, even after we had remonstrated again and again, +she took no notice of our petitions. She laid a heavy tax on some little +comforts we had, such as _sugar_ and molasses; and then, when we refused +to buy them rather than pay the tax, she imposed a heavy tax on tea, +and sent a great deal of it here to force us to buy it. We wouldn't have +the tea, however, and you must have heard how a party of men, disguised +as Indians, threw it all into Boston harbor. + +All these things seemed the more cruel because they came from "Home." +And, finally, worn out with the injustice constantly experienced at +their hands, we prepared to resist them by war. + +The declaration of independence, which you celebrate every fourth of +July, was received with mingled emotions of joy and sorrow. It was +severing an old tie which had once been sweet; but yet it promised us, +through the doubtful conflict, freedom and independence. + +How enthusiastic we children were! Father made us rude wooden guns; and +drilled us every morning, for no one knew how long the war would last; +but we were determined to conquer, even though our fathers died in the +war, and our children succeeded to it. I remember when the recruiting +army came round. I seized my gun, and manfully joined its ranks. But to +my dismay I was sent back; my wooden gun, and extreme youth, were +thought insufficient to meet the demands of a soldier's duty. I remember +well when the battle was fought on Bunker Hill. A great part of the town +was gathered upon a slight elevation, from which we could distinctly +hear the roaring of the cannons and the clashing of the artillery. It +was a terrible day! There was many a woman there who had a father or +husband in the battle; and, at each report which filled their ears, they +fancied they saw them falling before the foe, and trampled beneath the +feet of the conquerors. + +Those were trying times. Children, I pray God you may never know such; +and you never can, for you will not struggle with poverty as we did. +When I look upon your happy faces, and see the satchel full of books on +your arm,--when I look in upon your happy homes, upon the career of +honor and usefulness before you in the future,--I am, by the strong +contrast, transported to those "trying times" when we lived in the cold +houses, and wore the coarse cloth; when we sacrificed the refinements of +knowledge, and the pleasures of luxury, to the bold struggle of liberty +against tyranny; when our hard-working mothers at home melted their +last pewter plate, that the guns should know no lack of bullets, and +sent all the little comforts of food and clothing they could find, to +bless the husbands and fathers toiling in the war; and when the fathers +fought with the fangs of thirst and hunger fast upon them, and leaving +behind them, upon the sharp ice, the traces of their footsteps, engraven +by their bleeding feet. Then, children, tears of joy and gratitude fill +my eyes; for we did not toil in vain. In you all do I behold the fruits +of our labor. We were ignorant, that you might be wise; poor, that you +might be rich; outlawed and disgraced, that you might build up a free +and generous nation. And, in reaping these privileges, do not forget the +old man, and the old woman, who, bowed and wrinkled with age, need your +kind hand. _We_ have given you these things gladly; and now, before we +go to our further toil in eternity, let us hear your blessed voices +speaking to us in kind tones of love; let us feel your young lips +pressed upon our old brows; let us clasp your little hands, and feel the +gladness with which your attentions come to us. And when you see an old +man, alone, with those of his generation passed away, treat him +tenderly. Guide his tottering footsteps, and bear with him when he is +slow; for he is waiting for the kind servant, Death. He is thinking of a +dear little girl, who, long ago, with her blue eyes and golden hair, her +light step and soft embrace, went up to live with the angels; and the +tears fall fast over his worn cheeks, as he remembers the lone place she +left in his heart, for she was the last thing which had been left him +from his broken family. Speak to the old man gently, for his heart is +often in converse with the beautiful past! Speak to him gently, for his +soul dwells among the angels of heaven! + + + + +A STORY OF THE CHRIST-CHILD. + + +In one of those tall, splendid houses, standing in proud streets, in +which some poor people imagine heaven to dwell, lived a little girl by +the name of Helen. + +It was Christmas-day; and early in the morning did she jump from her +bed, and run to look at her stocking by the fireplace, where it was hung +that Santa Claus need not be troubled to hunt for it. + +There it hung, filled full, and all about on the sides had fallen the +presents it was not large enough to hold. O, how quickly did she empty +its contents; and how delighted were her exclamations! + +"A beautiful bracelet!" she said to herself, sitting down on the carpet +and drawing her little white feet under her; "just such a one, with the +opal stone, as I saw in the window, yesterday, when I went to walk with +mamma on Washington-street; and she sent me home, I know, so she could +buy it. O, and this beautiful book! how its edges shine! What pictures! +Let me see;--'From your affectionate father,'--I knew father gave me +that;--and see the pretty cushion, and the box, and the china cups and +plates for my doll; and O, a new silk dress for dolly, and something +little, away down!" continued Helen, drawing out her hand and peeping +into the little stocking; then, putting her hand back, drew out a pretty +ring for her finger. "If this is not nice! I never _did see_ anything so +pretty,--a ring and a bracelet! O, dear, dear! how happy I am!" She +actually danced about the room for joy; and, when Katie came to wash and +dress her, she scampered around and around her, for she could not keep +still. + +There was ever so much candy too, and she wanted only to sit down and +eat it, unmindful of Katie's remonstrances. + +She had been so delighted with her presents as almost to forget the +merry Christmas she was to bid her father and mother; and so, when she +went down stairs into the breakfast-room, where the hot rolls were +smoking, and the loving parents waiting, they had almost surprised her +with their wishes before she bethought herself. + +Then she began to think of a party which was to be at her teacher's +house, and of the Christmas-tree and the Christ-child, which so many +children would go to see in their best frocks and best looks. + +So, after the famous Christmas-dinner with its nice roast-meats, and +puddings, and pies,--after the game of romps with her father, and the +ride on the rocking-horse with her brother, who, at last, from mere +mischief, had tipped her off, and sent her crying to her mother,--she +began to think about going there. She had seen herself nicely arrayed in +the pretty plaid dress, with the ring on her finger, and the opal +bracelet on her arm, which she had found in her stocking that morning. +Then she bethought herself of how all the children were to bring a few +pieces of silver for an offering to the Christ-child, that it might be +sent off into distant lands to children who knew nothing of the blessed +Christ-child and the Christmas he brought. + +It is true Helen had a bright box with a hole in the lid, through which +she had dropped many a bright piece of silver; and it is also true that +the box had a lock, and the key of the lock lay quietly in one of +Helen's drawers; but the money there was destined to some very great and +vague purpose; and she never would have dreamed of unlocking the box and +taking from it any silver for the Christ-child. She knew well enough +papa would give her money for that purpose. So to papa she went, and +told him what she wanted; and he, proud that his little girl should +carry as much as others whom she would meet there, gave her a beautiful +gold piece of money--a veritable five dollars! + +Then did Helen speed along with exultation in her heart--exultation for +the gold in her tiny pocket, and exultation in the very bright dress, +quilted pink bonnet, and pretty white furs. And she was so often +thinking, "What will Mary say when she sees this?" Not once did Helen +ask herself what the Christ-child, or he whom the Christ-child +represented, the Saviour in heaven would say to the gold she brought. + +Poor Helen! + +She was not bringing the gold for the children so far away. She was +bringing it because the others would bring some, and she wanted hers +seen of them! + + * * * * + +Away down in an obscure street, where you would not look for anything +kind or beautiful, lived a brother and sister, who made each other very +happy in their love. Their names were Johnny and Susan. Johnny was a +lame, sick boy, who could not run out of doors and play like other +children. It was Christmas morning there too, even, and early had Susan, +his sister, awoke to think of the pleasant visit she should make in the +afternoon at her teacher's house; and she had even stolen from her bed +up to Johnny's bedside to see if he, too, was awake; and when she saw +that he was awake and his countenance thoughtful, they began to talk +together about the day's pleasure, and how Susan was to remember +everything to tell it over by night to Johnny. + +"O," said Susan, "to think how beautiful it will be, and I never in a +fine house before, and the two sixpences we have earned this week! How +glad shall I be to put them in my teacher's hand! Johnny dear," said +the little Susan, looking tenderly on her poor brother, "do you not +think you need the sixpence yourself? I could buy you a sweet orange, or +something nice for you to eat, it is so long since you had anything but +bread and water." + +"No," said Johnny, "I'd rather much give it to the Christ-child. I love +to lie here and think about it, and of those children so far away, who +will be glad when they, too, know of this beautiful day. I think of them +so much that I love them, Susan, and I wish I had more than the sixpence +to send them." + +Susan busied herself in preparing the breakfast of bread and water, and +then, when it was over and the work done up, she sat down by the side of +Johnny's bed, and read to him out of the little book she had brought +from her Sunday-school; and Johnny forgot, in the quiet peace of the +day, how hard it was to lie still upon the bed, when he so often longed +to run out and play; thoughts of love came into his heart, and tears of +gentleness into his eyes. + +Their dinner was very different from the one Helen had eaten; but they +were happy, their hearts were full of expectation,--and Susan had got +herself quite ready, and, wrapping the two pieces of silver in a piece +of paper, she kissed Johnny, and set off on her way to the teacher's +house. + +But when Susan came among the children there, somehow they all shunned +her. In their plays, if they had occasion to speak to her, they passed +on quickly, with a suppressed smile and hurried glance on each other. +If, by any means, she spoke to them, they looked upon her in +astonishment, without answering her words. They often whispered one to +another, casting curious looks upon her; so she knew easily they spoke +of her. What could it mean? What had she done? + +I cannot answer this well. She had a gentle, sweet face; her manners +were neither rude nor obtrusive, and when she spoke, though her tones +were low, half fearful and trembling, still were her words as kind and +polite, if not kinder and politer, than those of the other children. + +Poor Susan! and she had thought to be so happy that afternoon; she had +anticipated only kindly faces, and loving glances, and kind hands +stretched out to her in the plays. For once she had thought to mingle +with those pretty children as if they had been her sisters, and, when +she went back to dear Johnny, to tell him of their loving words. But +now--what! could she tell Johnny, to grieve him, of the sad afternoon +she was passing? She looked upon them more closely, trying to find out +what it was that separated her from them. 'Tis true she wore no bright +plaid dress and delicate cloth boots; she wore no bracelets on her arm; +she had not found them in her stocking that morning. There was no +necklace about her neck; her hair was not bright and curling; yet, +still, what could be the reason they shunned her so? + +Susan tremblingly looked over her own dress. Her gown was scanty and of +cotton, her pantalets were long and narrow, but they were the best she +had; her mother had made them long ago, and Susan had so carefully +preserved them. On her feet she wore thick leather shoes; but she knew +how the money had been saved, little by little, from week to week, that +they might be bought. If they were thick, it was that they might last +the longer; and her hair was combed smoothly over her brow and braided +on her neck. Her hands, it is true, were not delicate, like theirs--they +were hard and red; but they had become so in working for the home, to +keep it clean, and working early and late, that the mother might not be +detained from her work out, and that the lame, sick brother should have +no little want unsupplied. + +And was it that her hands were red and her clothes coarse that the +children shunned her--even, too, before they looked into her little +home, and saw what she did there, how she comforted Johnny, and swept +clean the floor, and even found some time to read out of her books? +Could they, with their bright frocks and rosy cheeks, have such very +weak and wicked causes for their displeasure against this poor child? +Could they so willingly hurt her heart, when she had come from so many +days of toil to what she had thought would be a day of pleasure, so that +she must often turn her head to wipe off the tears with her little red +hand? And these children, had they come to honor the Christ-child? + +Their teacher had watched their games, and saw how they played among +themselves, and cast out the little Susan from their play; and she +thought that not only did they dishonor the Christ-child, but her who +had brought them all together. + +But Susan still thought of the Christmas-tree, the present it should +bear for her, and how she should take hers home for Johnny; and she +thought, too, of the two little sixpences done up in the paper in her +pocket. Helen, too, was not unmindful of her bright gold-piece, and had +taken good care to show it before the eyes of all the children; and +Susan had seen it, and thought of Johnny,--how he had said he wished he +had still more to send to the children so far away,--and she thought the +little girl with the gold-piece must be happy enough to send it; and she +began to feel half ashamed that she had no more money, and, as their +unkind looks continued, she asked herself if she had any right to be +there. + +But the Christmas-tree was ready. A servant came in and closed tightly +the shutters, so the room was all dark, and then the parlor-doors were +thrown open, and there stood the tall, beautiful tree, with candles of +all colors, which were burning like so many stars, and above it hung +the Christ-child, with a smile as of love, and his arms stretched out as +he would call them to him. And on the tree were nice gifts, books and +toys, pictures, and lace bags, tied with gay ribbons, filled with +candies. But Helen, and all the children who had found rich gifts in +their stockings that morning, turned indifferently from these, admiring +the novelty of the Christmas-tree. + +But to the child they had neglected,--the little girl in the cotton gown +and coarse, thick shoes, the little Susan,--these gifts, as well as the +tree, were very precious; for she had not jumped eagerly from her bed +that morning to find rich presents in her stockings, for she did not +expect them to be there; she had awoke early to think of the visit to +the teacher's house, the sight at the tree, and the gifts it should bear +for her and Johnny. + +So she prized her gift more than all! + +When the children saw how carefully she put the little bags of +sweetmeats in her pocket, instead of eating them as they did, they +laughed among themselves, and said something about her which was _so +cruel_ and so unjust, that I shall not even tell you what it was. They +did not know she was saving the candy to eat with Johnny. Then, when she +pondered over her little book, in admiration, and held it carefully in +her hands, as though she was fearful of stretching it, they said to +themselves, she must be very ignorant to care for such a thing. But +Susan only shrank off by herself, thankful to have her portion in these +things. + +After this, came the time when they would bring their offerings for +those children who live in the far-off lands, where there is no +Christmas; and the children began to wonder if Susan had any money, and +to show each other what they had. Then their teacher drew her chair +among them, and began to tell them what it really was to wish that +others might enjoy what we did; what it was to help them to do so, and +be careful not to rob them of one smile. + +"This money which you would send to those children, that they may be +happy as you are, if it does not tell them of your love, is useless to +them. And if, to obtain it, you have, in any way, denied yourself of one +little thing, be sure God will look very lovingly upon you; and those +children, when you meet them in heaven, will put their arms about you, +and tell you of their gratitude." + +When the teacher said these last words, Susan's lip quivered, and her +eye sparkled, for they were words of meaning to her; but they did not +affect the other children, for they were words of no meaning to them. + +But Susan saw those children in heaven, in her fancy, and Johnny was +there, no longer lame and sick; they ran and played over bright fields, +and no one laughed at them, or repulsed them, or wore brighter clothes +than they. They threw garlands of flowers to each other, and when they +laughed the tones of their voices were like music. + +Then the teacher called Susan to her side, and Susan put in her hand the +two little pieces of silver; and the children, when they saw how +carefully they had been wrapped in the bit of paper, exchanged glances, +and they who had the most money in their pockets smiled scornfully, as +children can, upon one another. The teacher asks Susan how the little +money was got, and the child answers in a low tone: + +"Please, ma'am, they are Johnny's and mine; we saved them since you told +us so long ago." + +And the teacher, as she thinks of the lame, sick Johnny, and what those +pennies might have bought him--how he had denied himself--feels the +tears come into her eyes, and she speaks to the children of Johnny, and +tells Susan that when she comes into heaven, she shall certainly see the +children she blesses now. But when she calls the others to her, and they +show her the money so easily obtained, the teacher will not take it. + +"Since you denied yourself not one thing for it, how do I know _love_ +made you bring it. And if love did not send it, how could it make the +far-off children happy? And how can you love those so far off, when you +have all helped to make this Christmas afternoon so unhappy a one to one +of the children I invited here with you? If you love not those close by +you, you cannot love those at a distance." + +She told them how Susan nursed her sick brother; how she read to him, +watched over him with cheerful smile and kind love; what she did for her +brother's comfort, and she showed them that the two pieces of silver +from Johnny and Susan were really worth more in the sight of God than +their silver dollars and gold pieces. + +Then she told them a story. When Christ was one day sitting in the +temple, he looked upon all those who came to put money in the treasury. +Many rich people, with proud airs and haughty hearts, threw in large +sums of money; people called them benevolent, and sang loud praises to +them. + +But Jesus did not call them benevolent, neither did he praise them. + +At last came a poor widow, bringing with her two mites, which made one +penny. She had saved them of all she had, and humbly, with love in her +heart, she threw them into the treasury. What a little, in comparison +with what the others had thrown there! and yet Jesus, who before had not +spoken, said of her: + +"I say unto you, this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which +have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of their +abundance, but _she_, of her want, did cast in all that she had, even +her living!" + +And the teacher was careful to tell them, it was the spirit of love in +which the two mites were brought, not simply that they were two mites, +which made Christ bless the woman; for if, in the same spirit, she had +brought twenty mites, her blessing would have been the same. + +The children saw, then, how shameful had been their conduct, and it +seemed just to them that the Christ-child should refuse their offerings. + +But they asked if they might not give their money to Susan and Johnny? + +"No," replied the teacher; "she does not need your money; she could give +you nothing in return for it. But, instead, you may give her your +love;--that she would like, and can return;--and, by-and-by, when you +have learned well your lessons of kindness, give the money where love +prompts you." + +And, from that time, they began to learn these lessons; they saw how +Susan, if her clothes _were_ coarse, had in her heart what was worth +more than fine clothes, and all the riches which are in the world; and +if they would have their gifts acceptable to the Christ-child, they +must have such in their hearts! + + * * * * + +Susan went home happy--bearing on her arm a basket of grapes and oranges +for Johnny, to tell him how the teacher had sent them to him, and that +they must be more and more loving and self-denying, since their God +would love them. + + + + +The only Original Illustrated Juvenile Magazine published Once a Week. + + * * * * + +OLIVER OPTIC'S MAGAZINE, + +OUR BOYS AND GIRLS, + +EVERY WEEK. EDITED BY OLIVER OPTIC, + +Who writes for no other Juvenile Publication, and who contributes + +Four Serial Stories Every Year, + +The cost of which, in book form, would be $5.00,--double the +subscription price of the Magazine. Every number contains part of a new +Story by Oliver Optic, illustrated by designs from the best artists, +headed by Thomas Nast, the great American Artist. Then follow + +Poems and Stories + +By other well-known authors, who know how to write for Young Folks. + +The Orator, + +A department exclusively in charge of Oliver Optic, gives every other +week a selection for Declamation, marked for delivery according to the +most approved rules of elocution; 26 MARKED DECLAMATIONS EACH YEAR. + + +Original Dialogues. + +Some of the best writers find a place under this head every other week, +giving the subscriber 26 ORIGINAL DIALOGUES EVERY YEAR. + + +Head Work, + +Containing Geographical Rebuses, Puzzles, Syncopations, Geographical +Questions, Proverbial Anagrams, Enigmas, Charades, and Numerical +Puzzles, contributed by the subscribers, and rendered unusually +attractive by original features NOT TO BE FOUND IN ANY OTHER MAGAZINE. + +In addition to the above-mentioned departments, there are regular +contributions on Natural History, History, the Sciences, Facts and +Figures from some of the most learned men in the country. + +OLIVER OPTIC'S MAGAZINE contains more reading matter than any other +juvenile publication, and is the CHEAPEST and the BEST Periodical of the +kind in the United States. + +Any boy or girl who will write to the publishers shall receive a +specimen copy by mail, free. + +_=TERMS, IN ADVANCE.=_--Single Subscriptions, One Year, $2.50; One +Volume, Six Months, $1.25; Single copies, 6 cents. 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The Introduction in the first chapter +contains a brief synopsis of the principal events of the first season; +so that those who have not read the "_Boat Club_" will labor under no +disadvantage on that account. + +NOW OR NEVER; or, the Adventures of Bobby Bright. $1.25. + +The author has been for many years a successful teacher in one of the +Boston Public Schools, and the knowledge of youthful character thus +obtained has been used to good advantage in his works. + +TRY AGAIN; or, the Trials and Triumphs of Harry West. $1.25. + +The story of Harry West is a record of youthful experience designed to +illustrate the necessity and the results of perseverance in well doing. +The true success of life is the attainment of a pure and exalted +character; and he who at three-score-and-ten has won nothing but wealth +and a name, has failed to achieve the noblest purpose of his being. This +is the moral of the story contained in this volume. + +LITTLE BY LITTLE; or, the Cruise of the Flyaway. $1.25. + +Paul Duncan, the hero of this volume, is a nautical young gentleman, and +most of the events of the story occur upon the water, and possess that +exciting and captivating character for which this author's books are +famous. But the author hopes that something more than exciting incidents +will be found upon his pages; that though he has seldom, if ever, gone +out of his way to define the moral quality, or measure the moral +quantity, of the words and deeds of his characters, the story will not +be found wanting in a true Christian spirit. + +POOR AND PROUD; or, the Fortunes of Katy Redburn. $1.25. + +The history of a smart girl, where fortunes are made to depend upon her +good principles, her politeness, her determined perseverance, and her +over-coming that foolish pride, which is a snare to the feet. 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The young scholar will get a truer and +fuller conception of these countries by reading this unpretentious +journal of travel, than by weeks of hard study upon the geographies and +histories." + +RED CROSS; or, Young America in England and Wales. $1.50. + +"The third volume of Oliver Optic's Library of travel and adventure +chronicles the doings of the Young America and her crew in British ports +and waters, and is replete with thrilling adventures and descriptions of +noted places." + +DIKES AND DITCHES; or, Young America in Holland and Belgium. $1.50 + +"The author takes his readers on voyages up the rivers and canals of +Holland and Belgium, on tramps through the cities, their schools, their +art galleries, and their wonderful buildings, giving at every turn vivid +impressions of what is seen and heard therein and thereabouts." + +PALACE AND COTTAGE; or, Young America in France and Switzerland. $1.50 + +"This volume relates the history of the American Squadron (_Young +America_ and _Josephine_) in the waters of France, with the journey of +the students to Paris and through a portion of Switzerland. As an +episode, the story of the runaway cruise of the Josephine is introduced, +inculcating the moral that 'the way of the transgressor is hard.'" + +DOWN THE RHINE; or, Young America in Germany. $1.50. + +This volume concludes the first series of Young America, and is as +interesting and instructive as the preceding volumes. So great has been +the success of this series, that Oliver Optic is now preparing a second. +"Up the Baltic" will be the first volume, to be followed by "Northern +Lands," "Vine and Olive," "Sunny Shores," "Cross and Crescent" and +"Isles of the Sea." Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent +by mail on receipt of price. + + * * * * + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + +LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + + * * * * + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. + +WOODVILLE STORIES. + +_16mo. Handsomely Illustrated. In sets or separate._ + + * * * * + +RICH AND HUMBLE; or, the Mission of Bertha Grant. $1.25. + +"No author is more welcomed by the young, and no books can be more +safely placed in their hands. His writings, as in this volume of 'Rich +and Humble,' inspire the reader with a lofty purpose. They show the +wrong courses of life only to present, by contrast, the true and right +path, and make it the way which youth will wish to walk in, because of +its being the most pleasant and inviting."--_Mass. Teacher._ + +IN SCHOOL AND OUT; or, The Conquest of Richard and Grant. $1.25. + +"Oliver Optic is as well known and as highly appreciated among the young +people of our land as Charles Dickens is among the older folks. 'In +School and Out' is equal to anything he has written. It is a story that +will deeply interest boys particularly, and make them better."--_Notices +of the Press._ + +WATCH AND WAIT; or, The Young Fugitives. $1.25. + +The author has used, to the best advantage, the many exciting incidents +that naturally attend the career of a fugitive slave, and the seeds that +he may sow in youthful hearts will perhaps bear a hundred-fold. + +WORK AND WIN; or, Noddy Newman on a Cruise. $1.25. + +"A nautical story of adventure and endurance, written to delineate the +upward progress of a boy whose moral attributes were of the lowest +order, in consequence of neglected education, but in whom high religious +principles were afterwards developed."--_Notices of the Press._ + +HOPE AND HAVE; or, Fanny Grant among the Indians. $1.25. + +"This is a story of Western adventure and of peril among the Indians, +and contains the experience of Fanny Grant, who, from a very naughty +girl, became a very good one, by the influence of a pure and beautiful +example exhibited by an erring child, in the hour of her greatest +wandering from the path of virtue."--_Philadelphia Age._ + +HASTE AND WASTE; or, The Young Pilot of Lake Champlain. $1.25. + +"This is a story of boyish daring and integrity upon Lake Champlain, and +older heads than those of sixteen may read and profit by it." + +The stories in the "Woodville" series are hinged together only so far as +the same characters have been retained in each. + +Sold by all booksellers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of +price. + + * * * * * * * * + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + +LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + + * * * * + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. + + * * * * + +STARRY FLAG SERIES. + +_Each volume handsomely illustrated. In sets or separate._ + + * * * * + +THE STARRY FLAG; or, the Young Fisherman of Cape Ann. $1.25. + +"The early history of Levi Fairfield, the boy hero of this volume, as it +is graphically traced by Oliver Optic, will be apt to hold boy-readers +spell-bound. His manly virtue, his determined character, his superiority +to mean vice, his industry, and his stirring adventures, will suggest +good lessons for imitation."--_Presbyterian._ + +BREAKING AWAY; or, the Fortunes of a Student. $1.25. + +"In this volume Oliver Optic opens the school-room door, and shows the +nature, construction, and workings of the school system; its lights and +shadows; its discipline, and the serious consequences that come from +want of discipline."--_Patriot._ + +SEEK AND FIND; or, the Adventures of a Smart Boy. $1.25. + +Earnest Thornton, the "smart boy" of this story, is a clear headed, well +intentioned, plucky boy, that has a high aim and means right even where +he is wrong, and his adventures will be read with interest. + +FREAKS OF FORTUNE; or, Half around the World,--a sequel to "The Starry +Flag." $1.25. + +"The adventures of Levi Fairfield, the noble young Captain of the Starry +Flag, excited such an interest among the young folks that the +continuance of his story was called for, with which demand the ever +ready author has complied, with a story equally attractive and +interesting." + +MAKE OR BREAK; or, the Rich Man's Daughter. $1.25. + +"This is a lively, stirring volume, full of interest and instruction +from one cover to the other. Just the book a smart, wide-awake boy will +enjoy intensely."--_Press._ + +DOWN THE RIVER; or, Buck Bradford and his Tyrants. $1.25. + +"These stories are not only written in a manner well calculated to +enchain the attention of young readers, but teach at the same time such +important lessons of sobriety, industry and cheerfulness, that we should +like to see them in the hands of every boy in the land."--_Galesburg +Free Press._ + +Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price. + + * * * * + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + +LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + + * * * * + +SOPHIE MAY'S BOOKS. + + * * * * + +LITTLE PRUDY STORIES. + +_Six volumes. Illustrated. In Sets or separate. Per volume, 75 cents._ + +LITTLE PRUDY. + LITTLE PRUDY'S Sister Susy. + LITTLE PRUDY'S Captain Horace. + LITTLE PRUDY'S Cousin Grace. + LITTLE PRUDY'S Story Book. + LITTLE PRUDY'S Dotty Dimple. + + * * * * + +DOTTY DIMPLE STORIES. + +By the author of "Little Prudy Stories." + +_Six volumes. Illustrated. In Sets or separate. Per volume_, 75 _cents_. + +DOTTY DIMPLE at her Grandmother's. + DOTTY DIMPLE at Home. + DOTTY DIMPLE out West. + DOTTY DIMPLE at Play. + DOTTY DIMPLE at School. + DOTTY DIMPLE'S Flyaway. + +Read the high commendation of the _North American Review_, which places +Sophie May's Books at the + +=Head of Juvenile Literature.= + +"Genius comes in with 'Little Prudy.' Compared with her, all other +book-children are cold creations of Literature only; she alone is the +real thing. All the quaintness of childhood, its originality, its +tenderness and its teasing,--its infinite, unconscious drollery, the +serious earnestness of its fun, the fun of its seriousness, the natural +religion of its plays, and the delicious oddity of its prayers,--all +these waited for dear Little Prudy to embody them. Sam Weller is not +more piquant; Hans Anderson's nutcrackers and knitting-needles are not +more thoroughly charged with life. There are six little green volumes in +the series, and of course other _dramatis personæ_ must figure; but one +eagerly watches for every reappearance of Prudy, as one watches at the +play for Owens or Warren to re-enter upon the stage. Who is our +benefactress in the authorship of these books, the world knows not. +Sophie May must doubtless be a fancy name, by reason of the spelling, +and we have only to be greatful that the author did not inflict on us +the customary alliteration in her pseudonyme. The rare gift of +delineating childhood is hers, and may the line of 'Little Prudy' go out +to the end of the earth.... To those oversaturated with transatlantic +traditions we recommend a course of 'Little Prudy,'" + +Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price. + + * * * * + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + +LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + + * * * * + +VACATION STORY BOOKS. + +6 volumes. Each volume handsomely illustrated. 80 cents. + +WORTH NOT WEALTH. + COUNTRY LIFE. + THE CHARM. + KARL KEIGLER. + WALTER SEYTON. + HOLIDAYS AT CHESTNUT HILL. + + * * * * + +ROSY DIAMOND STORY BOOKS. + +6 volumes. Each volume handsomely illustrated. 80 cents. + +THE GREAT ROSY DIAMOND. + DAISY; or, The Fairy Spectacles. + VIOLET: A Fairy Story. + MINNIE; or, The Little Woman. + THE ANGEL CHILDREN. + LITTLE BLOSSOM'S REWARD. + +These volumes are finely and profusely illustrated from designs by +Hoppin and other eminent artists. They are elegantly bound, and neatly +packed in ornamental boxes. As gifts for holidays and birthdays, where a +uniform value and appearance is desired, they are excellent. + + * * * * + +=_Mrs. Madeline Leslie's Books._= + +PLAY AND STUDY SERIES. + +4 volumes. Each volume illustrated. Price, $1.50. + +PLAY AND STUDY. + THE MOTHERLESS CHILDREN. + HOWARD AND HIS TEACHER. + JACK, THE CHIMNEY-SWEEP. + + * * * * + +LITTLE AGNES' LIBRARY. + +4 volumes. Each volume illustrated. Price, $1.50. + +LITTLE AGNES. + TRYING TO BE USEFUL. + I'LL TRY. + ART AND ARTLESSNESS. + +For family reading and Sabbath School libraries there are no better +books written than these by Mrs. Leslie. With attractive and interesting +stories are mingled wholesome truths and moral lessons. Of all these +books large editions have been printed, and they may be found largely +circulated in Sabbath Schools. + +Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price. + + * * * * + +=LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.= + +LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + + * * * * + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. + + * * * * + +RIVERDALE STORY-BOOKS. + +Six volumes, profusely illustrated from new designs by Billings. In neat +box. Cloth. Per vol., .45. + +COMPRISING + +Little Merchant. +Young Voyagers. +Dolly and I. +Proud and Lazy. +Careless Kate. +Robinson Crusoe, Jr. + +These little volumes are very interesting and attractive, and they carry +a moral with them, which, if heeded, there is no doubt will set Youth in +the right direction for its own benefit. + +FLORA LEE STORY BOOKS. + +Companions to the above. Six volumes, profusely illustrated from new +designs by Billings. In neat box. Cloth. Per volume, .45. + +COMPRISING + +Christmas Gift. +Uncle Ben. +Birthday Party. +The Picnic Party. +The Gold Thimble. +The Do-Somethings. + +These stories are written in "Oliver Optic's" best style, and all are +interesting and attractive. + +OUR STANDARD BEARER; Or, The Life of Gen'l Ulysses S. Grant: His Youth, +His Manhood, His Campaigns, and his eminent Services in the +Reconstruction of the Nation his Sword has redeemed. As seen and related +by Captain Bernard Galligasken, Cosmopolitan, and written out by Oliver +Optic. Illustrated by Thos. Nast. 16mo. Cloth. $1.50. + +"This is a book for young men to read; for boys to read; and old men +will find their dull blood stirred by its graphic descriptions, its +thrilling narrative, and its hearty enthusiasm."--_New Bedford Mercury._ + +THE WAY OF THE WORLD. + +By William T. Adams (Oliver Optic). 12mo. $2.00. + +"This excellent writer for children has here tried his hand at writing +for grown people, and has succeeded admirably."--_Times._ + +"It is long since we have read a more interesting book."--_Gazette._ + +"The Way of the World is a popular story of the intense class, full of +thrilling incidents and exciting scenes, such as boys delight to +read."--_Congregationalist._ + +Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, +on receipt of price. + + * * * * + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + +LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + + * * * * + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. + +ARMY AND NAVY STORIES. + + * * * * + +THE SOLDIER BOY; or, Tom Somers in the Army. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50. + +"This is a story of the rebellion, narrating the adventures of a +patriotic youth, who left the comforts of home to share the dangers of +the field. He is carried through several battles, and for a while shared +the hospitalities of the rebels as a prisoner. The story is true to +history, giving in the form of personal adventure correct accounts of +many stirring scenes of the war."--_Hartford Courant._ + +THE SAILOR BOY; or, Jack Somers in the Navy. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50. + +"Jack is the brother of Tom, the Soldier Boy, whose adventures in the +army were so much enjoyed. We have only to repeat that there are few +better stories for boys than these of Mr. Adams'. Always bright and even +sparkling with animation, the story never drags; there are no stupid +tasks or tiresome descriptions; the boys whose characters are drawn are +real boys, impulsive, with superabundant animal life, and the heroes are +manly, generous, healthy creations."--_Hartford Press._ + +THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT; or, The Adventures of an Army Officer. 16mo. +Illustrated. $1.50 + +"The Young Lieutenant" is a sequel to "The Soldier Boy," and carries the +reader through the stormy scenes of the rebellion, creates Thomas Somers +an officer, and as such he performs much difficult work in the +rebellion. + +YANKEE MIDDY; or, Adventures of a Naval Officer. 16mo. Illustrated. +$1.50. + +"The incidents of the story are those which have occurred on the ocean, +and on the bays, inlets, and rivers of the South, common in the +experience of all our naval officers who have been actively employed +during the war."--_Notices of the Press._ + +FIGHTING JOE; or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer. 16mo. Illustrated. +$1.50. + +"The description of battles and sieges, of picket and skirmishing, of +camp life and marching, are wrought out with thrilling detail, making +the story truly fascinating; while, in connection with this, useful and +practical information respecting men and places is conveyed, and a +proper spirit of morality and patriotism inculcated."--_Notices of the +Press._ + +BRAVE OLD SALT; or, Life on the Quarter-Deck. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50. + +A book of adventure, of personal experience, describing a living hero, +and exhibiting the great truth that, by fidelity of conscience, country, +and God, earthly and heavenly blessings are secured. + +Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price. + + * * * * + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Angel Children, by Charlotte M. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/20043-8.zip b/20043-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f75 --- /dev/null +++ b/20043-8.zip diff --git a/20043-h.zip b/20043-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..767ce50 --- /dev/null +++ b/20043-h.zip diff --git a/20043-h/20043-h.htm b/20043-h/20043-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fa1e947 --- /dev/null +++ b/20043-h/20043-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3703 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Angel Children, by Charlotte M. 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Higgins + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Angel Children + or, Stories from Cloud-Land + +Author: Charlotte M. Higgins + +Release Date: December 6, 2006 [EBook #20043] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ANGEL CHILDREN *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Labyrinths and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<table border="0" summary="Title pages"> + <tr> + <td><img src="images/acillus1.jpg" width="340" height="500" alt="THE GARDEN OF GOD.—See pp. 40, 41." title="" /> </td> + <td> <img src="images/acillus2.jpg" width="350" height="500" alt="Title Page" /> +</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1><a name="THE" id="THE"></a>THE ANGEL CHILDREN;</h1> + +<h3>OR,</h3> + +<h2>STORIES FROM CLOUD-LAND.</h2> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>CHARLOTTE M. HIGGINS.</h2> + +<h3>BOSTON:<br /> +LEE AND SHEPARD.</h3> + + +<p>Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by<br /> +PHILLIPS, SAMPSON & CO.,<br /> +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.</p> + +<p>Stereotyped by<br /> +HOBART & ROBBINS,<br /> +New England Type and Stereotype Foundery<br /> +BOSTON.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<table border="0" summary="Contents"> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td align="right">PAGE</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#hepsagenevieve">Hepsa and Genevieve</a>,</span> </td> + <td align="right">5</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#gardenofgod">The Garden of God; or, the Baby's First Smile,</a></span> </td> + <td align="right">26</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#cybeletambourinegirl">Cybele, the Tambourine Girl,</a></span> </td> + <td align="right">44</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#maggiesjourney">The Story of Maggie's Journey,</a></span> </td> + <td align="right">63</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#oldwomanenchantedsong">The Old Woman and the Enchanted Song,</a></span> </td> + <td align="right">84</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#oldmansstory">The Old Man's Story,</a></span> </td> + <td align="right">102</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#christchild">A Story of the Christ-Child,</a></span> </td> + <td align="right">118</td> + </tr> +</table> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>VACATION STORY BOOKS.</h2> + +<p>6 volumes. Each volume handsomely illustrated. 80 cents.</p> + +<p>WORTH NOT WEALTH.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">COUNTRY LIFE.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">THE CHARM.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">KARL KEIGLER.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">WALTER SEYTON.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">HOLIDAYS AT CHESTNUT HILL.</span><br /> +</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ROSY DIAMOND STORY BOOKS.</h2> + +<p>6 volumes. Each volume handsomely illustrated. 80 cents.</p> + +<p>THE GREAT ROSY DIAMOND.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">DAISY; or, The Fairy Spectacles.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">VIOLET: A Fairy Story.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">MINNIE; or, The Little Woman.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">THE ANGEL CHILDREN.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">LITTLE BLOSSOM'S REWARD.</span><br /></p> + +<p>These volumes are finely and profusely illustrated from designs by +Hoppin and other eminent artists. They are elegantly bound, and neatly +packed in ornamental boxes. As gifts for holidays and birthdays, where a +uniform value and appearance is desired, they are excellent.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p class="center"><b>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</b><!-- Page 5 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span><!-- Page 5 --></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>STORIES.</h2> + +<h1><a name="hepsagenevieve" id="hepsagenevieve"></a>HEPSA AND GENEVIEVE.</h1> + + +<p>Genevieve lived in a large, handsome house, which had beautiful gardens +all about it. She had no brother or sister, but she had a large +play-room, filled with the nicest toys, so that a good many children who +came to play in it thought she must be perfectly happy; but Genevieve +had often thought how willingly she would give the room and all its +playthings for a little brother of her own, whom she might take out in +the garden for a walk, and watch carefully, just as her mother watched +her.</p> + +<p>One day, while she was walking in the garden, thinking of the little +brother she so much wanted, who she was sure would look like her dear +mother, with her blue eyes, and golden curls, what should she hear but +the noise of some one crying<!-- Page 6 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> outside the garden fence. Now, as she +could not look through the fence,—for it was quite high and made of +thick boards,—she ran quickly to the gate, and then round to the place +where she had heard the crying. There she saw a little girl sitting upon +the side-walk, with bare feet and legs, which were none of the whitest, +wearing a dress of brown cloth with many tatters in it, and short black +hair hanging over her face and head. Genevieve looked at her in +amazement.</p> + +<p>"Dear me!" she at last exclaimed, "where do you live?"</p> + +<p>At this question the child stopped her crying, and pulling away her hair +with both of her hands from her face, disclosed a pair of large black +eyes, which, swollen with tears, regarded little Genevieve with sly, +sleepy wonder.</p> + +<p>It was not wonderful she should be astonished to behold so neat and +pretty a child close by her side. Genevieve wore a blue frock and white +apron, neat stockings and slippers, and pantalettes with broad ruffles. +So she only gazed at Genevieve, without dreaming of answering her +question.<!-- Page 7 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What is your name?" asked Genevieve.</p> + +<p>"What is yours?" demanded the child.</p> + +<p>"Mine is Genevieve. Tell me what yours is?"</p> + +<p>"Hepsa. Do you live in there?" and Hepsa nodded her head towards the +fence. Genevieve replied that she did.</p> + +<p>"But tell me why you were crying?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Because Tom beat my black cat this morning and threw her into the pond, +and she was everything I had." Hepsa burst into tears again, and little +Genevieve's heart was so filled with compassion, that she sat down upon +the dirty ground, at the side of the afflicted child, without ever +thinking of the blue frock and clean pantalettes she was soiling.</p> + +<p>"O, dear, dear!" she cried, shocked at Tom's cruelty. "How wicked he +was! What made him do so,—your brother, too?" Genevieve thought in her +heart that little brother, of whom she so often thought, never would +have done such a thing.</p> + +<p>Hepsa looked up half angrily, as she replied:</p> + +<p>"You needn't keep telling me he is my<!-- Page 8 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> brother! I'm sure I don't want +him to be, and wish he wasn't. I don't love him a bit, he always plagues +me so much."</p> + +<p>"O, Hepsa, don't say so; pray don't!" cried Genevieve, shocked at +Hepsa's passion. "If he is your brother, you ought to love him, you +know."</p> + +<p>"I don't know any such thing, I tell you! You may love him yourself if +you want to; but I guess, when he kicks you, and beats you, and steals +your things, and knocks your mud-houses down, you won't love him. I'd +like to know why <i>I've</i> got to love him?" Hepsa demanded this of +Genevieve in a very fierce manner.</p> + +<p>"Because he is your brother I suppose, and because he ought to be good; +and perhaps he plagues you because you don't love him," answered +Genevieve, somewhat perplexed how she should answer the question, +thinking in her own heart Hepsa had a very wicked brother. "At any +rate," she continued, "God gave him to you; and I have read how he tells +us all to love each other."</p> + +<p>"I never did," replied Hepsa; "and if God<!-- Page 9 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> gave Tom to me, I wish he'd +take him back, for I don't want him."</p> + +<p>"Why, Hepsa; how wicked you are! You shall not talk so!" almost shrieked +Genevieve. The tears came fast into her eyes, she was so grieved to hear +Hepsa talk in that way.</p> + +<p>"But I'm not wicked!" retorted Hepsa indignantly. "I don't know who God +is. Why should I? He never comes to see me. I suppose he comes to see +you, and is some great person; while I am poor and live in a mean house, +and nobody comes to see me, of course." Hepsa looked away from +Genevieve's blue frock, and seemed to be searching for something away +down the street.</p> + +<p>Genevieve could not sit still any longer, but, rising, she remonstrated +with Hepsa in this manner:</p> + +<p>"God is not a man, Hepsa; and he goes into poor houses as often as into +rich ones."</p> + +<p>Hepsa looked very sharply upon little Genevieve as she replied,</p> + +<p>"Ha! Don't you be telling me stories; why don't I see him ever, I'd like +to know? Haven't I got eyes?"<!-- Page 10 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Genevieve, doubtfully. "Father was reading this +morning about people who had eyes, but could not see."</p> + +<p>Hepsa looked at her a moment, and then nodded her head towards her, and +said, speaking low as to a third person, "She's cracked a little, I +think;" then, as she looked towards the fence, she remembered the garden +which was behind it, and asked Genevieve for some flowers. But Genevieve +only said "O, yes," and went on to say, "Of course you can't see God, +Hepsa! He lives in the skies."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't think he would come down here, then. I wouldn't!"</p> + +<p>"But, Hepsa, God loves us; then, too, he is everywhere at once."</p> + +<p>"Mercy!" said Hepsa to herself, in a low tone. "Worse and worse!"</p> + +<p>"And he made everything you see, Hepsa, and a great deal more beside," +continued Genevieve.</p> + +<p>"There, there!" said Hepsa, impatiently; "don't talk any more; it sounds +odd." Genevieve looked at Hepsa, and the wild, petulant look of<!-- Page 11 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> her +face grieved and shocked her so much, that she burst into tears.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" said Hepsa. "I thought you were going to get me +the flowers."</p> + +<p>"And so I will," said Genevieve, wiping up her tears as well as she +could; and she ran into the garden, and picked a large bunch of flowers. +There were the sweet mignonette and heliotrope, the pink verbena, and +the beautiful white scented verbena, the gay phlox, the pure candytuft, +bits of lemon blossoms, and the faithful pansies. It was such a +beautiful bunch as to melt poor Hepsa's heart to gratitude.</p> + +<p>"I do think I should love to kiss you," she said to Genevieve, "if my +face were not so dirty, and you look <i>so</i> clean."</p> + +<p>"I don't care!" said Genevieve, and so she kissed Hepsa and said, +"Hepsa, I wish you would never again talk so about God, for I love him +very dearly, and so do my father and mother."</p> + +<p>Hepsa began to think Genevieve was not crazy, and so she became more +serious.</p> + +<p>"But did you never read about Him, Hepsa?" asked Genevieve.<!-- Page 12 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, indeed; I can't read at all!" exclaimed Hepsa, astonished at +Genevieve's questions.</p> + +<p>"Not read! Why, Hepsa, why don't you go to school?"</p> + +<p>"I can't; mother keeps me at home to tend the baby while she goes to +washing."</p> + +<p>A bright thought came into Genevieve's little head.</p> + +<p>"Where do you live?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"O, away down that lane, the other side of the village! I work nearly +all the time, some way or other."</p> + +<p>"Have you any father?"</p> + +<p>"Yes;" and Hepsa looked as though she did not love him better than she +loved Tom.</p> + +<p>"May I teach you to read?" asked Genevieve, looking into Hepsa's eyes +entreatingly. The child turned away her head as she answered,</p> + +<p>"I haven't any time. I have to stay at home."</p> + +<p>"But," pursued Genevieve, "I'll come down to your house, and bring some +books, and help<!-- Page 13 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> you tend the baby. O! don't you love the baby?"</p> + +<p>"No! he is <i>too</i> cross," was the crusty reply.</p> + +<p>"But, he is a baby; he don't know any better."</p> + +<p>"That don't make any difference."</p> + +<p>"Yes it does, too; your big brother knew better than to kill your pretty +pussy, and that is why it was so naughty in him to do it." This was a +new kind of argument for Hepsa; but she thought over it a moment, and +then told her little teacher she thought she might be right. "I almost +wish you would come to teach me to read. I don't know but I might like +it; and then it would be rather good to see you. Now, are you sure there +is such a person as God?" said Hepsa, glancing at Genevieve from the +corners of her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Of course I am, Hepsa; who do you think made the sky and the ground, +the trees and grass?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied Hepsa.</p> + +<p>"And the sun and the moon, and the stars," continued Genevieve, with a +mysterious tone. Hepsa shook her head by way of saying no.<!-- Page 14 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And all the fathers and mothers and children?" at which question Hepsa +looked <i>so</i> perplexed.</p> + +<p>"I asked mother once," she said, musingly, "who made all these things; +but she told me I'd better be minding the cradle. I guess she didn't +know; but I've always had spells of wondering about it."</p> + +<p>Genevieve looked very gravely at Hepsa as she said,</p> + +<p>"It was God who made all these things."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know but it was," replied Hepsa.</p> + +<p>"But I <i>know</i> it was; the Bible says so, and father and mother say so, +too; beside, I feel it in my heart, when I see the sun and the flowers, +and everything looks so pretty."</p> + +<p>"Do you?" cried Hepsa, seeming to feel a new interest in her companion. +"I wonder if you ever hear pretty voices in the trees when the wind +blows, and in the night when it is warm, and you are looking up to the +moon, and see the light that comes down through the holes in the sky, +does something great seem to come close to you?"<!-- Page 15 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, yes, Hepsa, ever so many times, and I think it is God. And when +Katie leaves me to go to sleep, and it is all dark, I know God comes +then, for I feel him all around, and the room seems so big—bigger than +it ever did before, bigger than the garden, bigger than the fields, +bigger than the sky. I can't tell you how big."</p> + +<p>"O, well—and—what did you say your name was?" asked Hepsa.</p> + +<p>"Genevieve;" and she pronounced it very slowly.</p> + +<p>"It is rather odd," said Hepsa, trying to repeat the name; "but I want +to know if you ever laid down on the ground when it rained, and +listened."</p> + +<p>"No!"</p> + +<p>"Well, it is real beautiful; in the grass, it sounds <i>like bells</i>—it +sounds better where the grass is tall."</p> + +<p>"I wish I could hear it," said Genevieve, sadly; "but my mother wouldn't +like to have me lie on the ground when it rained."</p> + +<p>"How would she know it," asked Hepsa, "if you didn't tell her?"<!-- Page 16 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, Hepsa, I shouldn't want to if she wouldn't like it—I shouldn't +want to at all."</p> + +<p>"I suppose, then, she won't let you come to hear me read?"</p> + +<p>"O, yes she will, I know! I'll ask her, and she will kiss me, and say +yes."</p> + +<p>So Hepsa told her where she lived, and Genevieve went into the house, +and Hepsa went home, feeling very happy about the flowers, and thinking +of the things her new friend had told her.</p> + +<p>"She says I must love Tom, and that is so queer; but if the God who gave +me Tom, is the One who comes so near to me sometimes, I'll try; and, +perhaps, if I hadn't called Tom such names this morning, he wouldn't +have killed my poor cat." So Genevieve's words had sunk into Hepsa's +heart already.</p> + +<p>Genevieve went to her mother, and told her what a strange little girl +she had found that morning, and that she had promised to go and teach +her to read, that she might know about God.</p> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/acillus3.jpg" width="350" height="500" alt="GENEVIEVE READING THE BIBLE TO HEPSA." title="" /><br /> +<span class="caption">GENEVIEVE READING THE BIBLE TO HEPSA.</span> +</div> +<p>On the next day she took some of her books, and, with some of her +prettiest playthings for a <!-- Page 17 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>present to Hepsa, she went in search of the house down the +lane, on the other side of the village.</p> + +<p>She found a gentler pupil than on the day before; and Hepsa's hair was +laid smoothly upon her forehead, her face clean, and though there were +some tatters in her dress, Genevieve did not much mind them.</p> + +<p>The baby was in his cradle, fast asleep, and Genevieve went and knelt +down by the side of it, and looked at it carefully, as though she was +afraid of awaking it, and then whispered to Hepsa her admiration of the +little hands, which lay cunningly upon the quilt, and said how much she +wanted to kiss him; would he wake, she wondered, if she just kissed his +cheek, and didn't make any noise? Hepsa told her no; so she kissed him; +and then, after looking at him to see how sweetly he slept,—now +frowning, and now smiling in his dreams,—she went away with Hepsa, and +they talked a great while together, telling each other what the other +didn't know. Genevieve was often shocked and grieved at Hepsa's +undutiful remarks about her father, mother and brother; and when she +felt they didn't love Hepsa, as her own dear father<!-- Page 18 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> and mother loved +her, still she could not understand why Hepsa did not love them better. +She was often a good deal perplexed to know what she should say to the +strange child; but of one thing she felt always certain, that her new +companion needed to have her heart cleansed and purified before she +could be loved well. She felt a strong love for Hepsa, and longed to +teach her more of God, and show her how to read, that she might teach +herself.</p> + +<p>Hepsa was amazed when her friend took out the playthings from the bag +and gave them to her; no one had before shown her such kindness; and +Genevieve thought in her heart she was just as happy giving those things +to Hepsa, as when they were given to her.</p> + +<p>Poor Hepsa had never been to school, and so she didn't even know the +alphabet; but Genevieve sat down patiently to teach her, and found truly +that much patience was necessary to accomplish the work she had +undertaken. Hepsa would soon grow discouraged when she found so much to +learn, and saw her little teacher reading so readily; and her mother +would often scold when she saw Hepsa<!-- Page 19 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> with a book in her hand, declaring +it was foolish nonsense; but, as time went on, and the first +difficulties were overcome, and her mother began to find Hepsa growing +very gentle, and Tom had less occasion to plague his sister, they all +felt that the books Hepsa had studied, and the little girl who came so +often to see her, were kind friends, and love began to bind them all +together. Hepsa no longer wore torn clothes; Genevieve's mother had +given her some neat dresses, and Genevieve had given her needles and +thread, and taught her to sew, and now many a rent was carefully mended, +and even Tom began to look neater than formerly. She was careful too to +keep the room nicely, and one day was amply rewarded for this, when Tom +came in before she had had time to do it, and complained of its being +dirty. "Tom begins to like a clean room," she said to herself with joy, +and received his few harsh words as though they had been those of love. +The baby too was always clean, for she knew Genevieve always depended +upon kissing him.</p> + +<p>Hepsa's father was not a good man; he was unkind to his poor wife and +children; so it was no<!-- Page 20 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> wonder Tom had gone on, following the example +constantly placed before him; but he was a child yet, and when he saw +how Hepsa began to love him, that she grieved without being angry when +he was unkind to her, it could not but touch his heart. He was half +ashamed, too, when she saved for him some of the good things Genevieve +had brought her. At first, 't is true, he thought little about it, but +when often, after he had been so ugly to her, she came just the same, +and offered him half of her orange, or a part of her nuts, he began to +feel that he was a naughty boy, and that Hepsa was better than she used +to be.</p> + +<p>It was very natural he should ask her the reason of this, and very +natural, too, that she should answer in this way:</p> + +<p>"Why, Tom, I have learned a great deal about God from Genevieve, and +then she has taught me to read, and I have learned a great deal that +way. Tom, where do you think Susan went when she died?"</p> + +<p>Tom couldn't tell. Susan was an elder sister of theirs, whom they had +loved very dearly, and who had died some two years before.<!-- Page 21 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, Tom; there are angels who take all the children, as soon as they +die, and show them wonderful things, and teach them, so they can go into +a beautiful place called heaven, and live with God. Well, if you begin +to be good here, and love people, you will go into that heaven sooner, +when you die, than if you are naughty, and don't think about these +things while you are here. I want to go there very much, and so I try to +be good, though I don't always make out well." Tom looked thoughtful at +his sister's words, and then said:</p> + +<p>"I think that little Genevieve will go very fast, when she dies. But I +don't think father will get there very soon, now I tell you!"</p> + +<p>"O, but Tom," said Hepsa sadly, "we must not think who will not go, but +how <i>we</i> may go."</p> + +<p>"I wish I knew how to read," said Tom; "but I never can go to school, +father makes me saw so much wood."</p> + +<p>Then Hepsa asked him to let her teach him; and, after a good deal of +hesitation, he told her he didn't care if she did.</p> + +<p>Some time after this, Genevieve's father and<!-- Page 22 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> mother went away from that +place, and she parted from Hepsa with many tears in her eyes, and much +grief in her heart. "If I never see you again," she said, "don't forget +we are both going into the gardens up there," and Hepsa always +remembered.</p> + +<p>Genevieve was a very quiet girl, but she was always ready to do +something to please her dear mother, and at night brought her father's +slippers from the closet, and placed them ready by his chair. She did, +too, many little things for the servants, who all loved her very dearly; +so when, a few years afterwards, she fell sick, and nothing they could +do for her was able to make her any better, but the doctor said she must +die, they all wept very much, and no comfort or joy could come into +their hearts. But Genevieve gently kissed them, and told them a +beautiful peace had come into her heart, for that, in the night, Christ +often came to her, and told her how the angel was all ready to take her +into his beautiful garden, and teach her out of his great golden books.</p> + +<p>At last, one morning she died, and they laid her away in the garden near +by the fountain; and<!-- Page 23 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> they planted the mignonette and myrtle, that, +mingling with the moss, it might grow over her grave.</p> + +<p>And her mother said in her heart, "Let her lie here, that, as often as I +come hither, I may be reminded of the more beautiful gardens of God, to +which she has flown. And when, in the cool night, the stars look down, +the soft fragrance of the mignonette shall tell them of her loveliness, +and the myrtle and the moss of the constant love twining together the +souls of the mother and the daughter."</p> + +<p>It was as Christ had said; the angel stood ready, and when Genevieve +closed her eyes in death, he caught her in his arms, and placed her +before the Great Gate, which led into the gardens around the kingdom of +heaven. A great many men, women and children stood about it, waiting for +it to be opened, when suddenly a very bright angel, brighter than any +she had ever seen in her dreams, came among them, seated on glorious +clouds.</p> + +<p>Then one by one did the crowd go before him, telling him what things +they had done on earth, in order to be admitted into the gardens, to be<!-- Page 24 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +prepared still more for the heavens. One said he had built a large +college, given it a large sum of money, and called it by his name, that +the world might see his works, and praise the Lord. Another told him how +he had toiled in heathen lands, and dwelt among savages, that they might +know and love God; another that he had prophesied; another that he had +built a hospital for the poor, and had sheltered them from the cold +winds; another still that he had delivered slaves from cruel masters, +and brought them to the light of freedom. O, there cannot be counted all +the men and women who came before the angel, and told of the things they +had accomplished! And, as the words came upon Genevieve, her heart +trembled for fear, and had it not been for the remembrance of those kind +tones of Christ, poor Genevieve would have shrieked aloud.</p> + +<p>What should she do? Rapidly she recalled every act of her life; but +nowhere in it could she find one act worthy to be brought before the +great bright angel. Alas! she had neither founded colleges nor +hospitals; she had never toiled in heathen lands, nor prophesied, nor +delivered slaves from<!-- Page 25 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> bondage. Alas! must she lose those gardens when +still so near?</p> + +<p>The angel's glance fell upon Genevieve, and she drooped down in fear; +but what was her surprise when the angel came down from the cloud, and +raising her up, said, in tones of loving cadence,</p> + +<p>"Look, little one, thy work was accepted long ago!" and, looking as he +bade her, she saw Hepsa at her side, to whom, so long ago, she had +spoken of heaven, when she had found her a dirty, ignorant girl.</p> + +<p>"You have worked well," said the angel tenderly. "Go now into the +garden, and ere long I will come to put you into the Christ's arms."</p> + +<p>So Hepsa and Genevieve together walked through the gates, and the angels +who would be their teachers went with them; but I cannot tell you of the +beauty and glory of those scenes. I only beg you too to work well, that +the angel may speak as lovingly to you.<!-- Page 26 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="gardenofgod" id="gardenofgod"></a>THE GARDEN OF GOD;</h2> + +<h3>OR,</h3> + +<h2>THE BABY'S FIRST SMILE.</h2> + + +<p>In a very lovely little cottage, around which grew sweet-briers and +rose-trees, and up whose windows climbed honeysuckles and jessamines, +lived a mother with her baby.</p> + +<p>The mother was a young woman, with golden hair, kind blue eyes, and fair +white skin. There was always a look of love in her eye, and in the +gentle tones of her voice the most soothing tenderness. People said the +baby looked like her; but he cried so much that his face was continually +distorted, and so the resemblance was not of any use to him.</p> + +<p>Now there was a great deal of discussion about the baby's looks, as to +which he most resembled, his father or mother; some decided in favor of<!-- Page 27 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +his father, who was a tall man, with black hair, and black eyes, and +large, sharp features. It was a difficult question to answer, inasmuch +as the baby had yet but a very few hairs on his head, and his features +were not easily distinguishable; and as each person's decision affected +only his own opinion, there was a great deal of discussion and comparing +of the poor baby's little face with those of his parents, and, through +dint of being often shown them, the father and mother began to find the +most remarkable resemblance to each other in their little child.</p> + +<p>Well, one day he had been crying very hard, and his poor mother was +nearly worn sick with trying to quiet him. She had walked all over the +house, shown him everything on the tables, taken up books and shaken +them before his eyes, carried him to the windows and cried "See there! +see there!" with fresh tones of love and pity, without his seeming to be +in the least edified by it all. She tossed him before the looking-glass; +but he did not seem to be comforted by the glimpse of himself, done up +in a blanket, which he caught; until, at last, after putting everything +into every<!-- Page 28 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> place in which it didn't belong, and trying to make him look +at things he didn't care to see, she resolutely put him in the cradle, +rocked him with his head moving now on this and now on that side of the +pillow, until he fell fast asleep.</p> + +<p>He had no sooner closed his eyes to sleep than he left his baby's body +in the cradle, and ran straight off to the gardens of God in heaven, +towards that place where dwell the angel-children who are yet to go down +and live upon the earth. As he came near the tall flowers, whose golden +petals were spread, and in whose cups lay sweet dew, he clapped his +hands with joy, and a bright smile lay on his lips, which before had +been distorted with grief.</p> + +<p>Not far from him there rose a bright fountain, which, falling, dashed +its water gently down into a broad, silvery basin beneath. In the midst +of the falling spray a large bird, with long, blue plumage, played, now +diving beneath the water, and now catching the drops as they fell from +the fountain. Then came other birds, some in gay scarlet plumage, with +white feathers about their necks and at the tips of their wings and +tails;<!-- Page 29 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> they, too, played in the fountain, and chased each other over +the sparkling waters.</p> + +<p>Then there were tall trees, of such a bright green as is seldom seen on +the earth, and on them were fruits which looked a little like those we +see here, but a thousand times more beautiful, for they shone like +precious stones. About everything was a glory which it is impossible to +describe.</p> + +<p>At a little distance was a troop of fair children at play, and when they +had seen the little child from the earth they ran towards him, and would +have kissed him joyously, but that they saw the tears he had so recently +shed still standing upon his cheeks; at this, sorrow shone over their +faces, and tears like pearls entered their own eyes, as, in the +tenderest manner, they asked him the cause of his grief.</p> + +<p>"Do not ask me, dear brothers and sisters," he entreated; "I wish only +to think how I am with you now for a little while, and I long to forget +the earth-scenes." Speaking thus he kissed them all, and led them away +off among the bright fields.</p> + +<p>Very gayly they played a long time; they<!-- Page 30 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> plucked the golden apples from +the trees, and threw them far up in the sky, and the apples bounded so +lightly that they still went on, till at last they dropped down to the +earth into some dark rooms where poor people lived, who, when they found +them, rejoiced exceedingly.</p> + +<p>Then they went riding on the clouds, and the light of their faces gave a +brightness to the edge of the clouds, so that the people on the earth +loved to stand watching them, never fancying what a troop of +angel-children were frolicking on them.</p> + +<p>At last they became weary of this sport, and bent their way quite +towards the earth. At this our earth-child saddened, and did not wing +his flight as quickly as the others did. Upon this they looked around +upon him and said:</p> + +<p>"Why tarry you? Do you not know we go to the earth, to do there what our +dear Teacher bids us? You have played with us, and will you not now do +the work which you have so often done with us before?" So he sped on +with them, but his voice was silent and his heart wept.</p> + +<p>They soon came to the earth, and then, unseen by any one, they made +their way towards a little,<!-- Page 31 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> dingy house, in one room of which sat a +little boy upon a bench, driving pegs into the sole of a boot. On one +side lay all the boots in which he had driven pegs, and on the other a +great many more in which he must still drive them. He looked sad and +pale, and the sweat lay in large drops upon his forehead. By his side +sat a large, stout man, with his shirt-sleeves rolled up, displaying +strong, brawny arms, while his face was red and stern. He was also at +work, but watched the boy well, and if he saw his arm rested for a +moment he would give him a little push, bidding him mind his work; and +so the poor boy had to drive the pegs into the soles of the boots, even +though he was weary and his face pale and sad.</p> + +<p>Then the angel-children, seized with one feeling of love and pity (for +they could remember how the poor boy used to be one of them and play in +the garden of God), soared above him. One came down and wiped off the +drops of sweat from his brow; another passed his soft hands over the +boy's face, and rested him; and another put comforting thoughts into his +soul.</p> + +<p>Then the master looked up, and when he saw<!-- Page 32 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> how the boy seemed suddenly +refreshed, he told him it was good to work and silly to be tired; and +when the boy heard these hard words, tears came into his eyes, and he +thought of his mother who used so tenderly to care for him, but had now +been gone long to the home of the angels.</p> + +<p>Then some of the angel-children wiped away the tears which had come into +the boy's eyes, and another shook his beautiful wings over his head, so +that at once a cool breeze fell over him and hopeful words entered his +soul. Some of the children moved his arm up and down as he drove the +pegs into the boot, and he wondered how easily he was able to work.</p> + +<p>All this time our earth-child stood apart, nodding his head sadly, and +when the others asked him the cause, he answered, "O, you do not know +how hard it is to live on the earth! See this poor boy; how far +different was it with him when he played with us in the gardens up +there!"</p> + +<p>The children were silent; they knew not how to comfort him. They +thought, too, of the time when they should live on the earth.</p> + +<p>Then they flew along and came to a large city,<!-- Page 33 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> in which lived many +homeless children, who were led about by unkind and evil spirits; and +passed constantly by men and women, who did not so much as give them one +kind word.</p> + +<p>As the angel-children wandered among them they shuddered: such strange +words filled the air, and so dark and dingy looked the houses where they +went in and out. Could it be that these children, who talked together in +angry moods, who rather sought the opportunity to trouble each other, +had ever played in that fountain, and laughed together in the heavenly +fields? "O," they sighed, "could we but once drive the evil spirits from +one of them, and whisper in his ear of the kind love of God!"</p> + +<p>Then their wings fluttered and folded themselves over the head of a +large boy, whose clothes were dirty and tattered, his hair matted and +disordered, his body thin and wan, while the expression of his face was +very old and vacant. A slight girl, holding a little pail in her hand, +came along near him, and made as if she would go by him; but the boy +would not suffer her to pass on, and, stopping her, said to her,<!-- Page 34 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, and what have you got?"</p> + +<p>The child looked at him fearfully, and remained silent; but the boy did +not heed her half-imploring look, but proceeded to lay hold of her pail, +in which she had had hot corn to sell, and, opening it, discovered there +six pennies instead.</p> + +<p>"Ah," he cried exultingly, "that is what I wanted! You have done well +with your corn; you may go on now;" and, despite the poor child's cries, +he took away the pennies, and, in resisting the little struggle the +child was able to make, he threw her down upon the pavement.</p> + +<p>This was in a dark street, filled with people wicked like this boy, and +where was no one who cared to take the child's part.</p> + +<p>But those angel-children were silent witnesses of this scene, and they +put out their hands, so the little girl was not much hurt in her fall. +Then they looked at each other in dismay; the pearly tears again came +into their bright eyes, and they asked each other what they might do for +this wretched boy. They remembered when the boy and girl played together +in the fair garden of God; and it was not possible for them to remember +that,<!-- Page 35 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> and look unmoved upon this fearful change which had come over +him. "O, this is a sad earth-life!" murmured the baby's spirit; and he +nodded his head again in sorrow. "Why may not I, too, become like this +boy?"</p> + +<p>"But <i>must</i> the earth-life bring this change?" asked another of the +angel-children, who saw the anguish of his friend, but knew not how to +comfort him. "Do we not remember the poor boy who worked so hard, and +had no rest, yet he was patient and good, and kept bright, and hung the +cord which tied his soul to heaven with the tear-drops which fell for +his dear, dead mother? When tried, he gave back no hard words. He was +better than we, who are happy always and have no trials."</p> + +<p>Not long after, they found the wicked boy asleep; he had thrown himself +down, in the corner of a dirty alley, on a little straw. The children +hovered over him, trying how they might approach him. They drove hence +the dark spirits, one by one, who hindered their approach, and then they +carried him off by the sea-shore in a dream; they made him sit upon the +sand and listen to the roar<!-- Page 36 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>ing of the waters; the large rocks stood +scattered on the beach, and the sea-mosses and shells were thrown up by +the waves. Afar off, upon the water, he saw a long line of bright +clouds, which seemed to climb up to heaven to meet the bright, twinkling +stars. The moonlight shone softly down upon him.</p> + +<p>Then they laid him down upon the sand, and made him look up into the sky +to feel the rest and peace of it; still more came the moonlight upon +him, and the stars seemed to open and close their eyes for pity. The +wind came towards him and passed along his brow and over his heart. Then +came into his soul an indescribable longing, such as he had never felt +before—a longing which the noise of the sea, the beauty of the clouds, +the peace of the sky, and the tenderness of the wind, had aroused in +him.</p> + +<p>He felt that something inexpressibly dear had been lost to him, and he +feared never again to regain it; the quiet moon and the pitying stars +made him fear. A deep grief entered his heart, and he wept as from an +everlasting sorrow. As he wept the angels rejoiced, and hovered over his +head in a<!-- Page 37 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> halo of light; for they knew that these tears would bring him +into the path that led to heaven!</p> + +<p>Not far off lived a man who cared for destitute and ignorant children; +the angel-band flew to bring him, and when the boy opened his eyes, in +which the tears of repentance still lay, the ocean and bright clouds had +disappeared; but there was bent upon him a pitying, benignant look, +which went to the boy's heart, and a kind voice lingered in his ear, +subduing him by its very strangeness. So he at once received the +proffered hand, and arose and went with him to his home.</p> + +<p>After that, the angel-children went into a splendid mansion, where, in a +large, handsome chamber, lay a little girl suffering under severe pain. +Her little couch was hung in blue silk, and rich laces adorned her +pillows. On a little table by the side of her bed stood golden goblets, +to refresh her parched mouth with pleasant drinks. Yet, still the little +girl moaned in pain. Her eyelids were closed, and her weary hand lay +still upon the bed. At her side sat her nurse, watching her wants and +longing to relieve them. Costly toys lay uncared for on the rich, heavy +carpet. The flowers had lost their<!-- Page 38 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> charm, the delicious fruit lay, full +and ripe, neglected on their dish.</p> + +<p>Sleep would not come to the child; weary and in pain, she had laid there +a long, long time, her poor little body wasting slowly away towards the +grave.</p> + +<p>"Let us give her rest and comfort," said the angel-children; and, waving +their wings over her, she fell to sleeping.</p> + +<p>The nurse said, then, there might be hope. Listen and hear,—what bright +hope there was, indeed!</p> + +<p>They whispered to her, that soon her pain should cease, and that, for +her trust and patience, she should go to God's beautiful garden. They +showed her the fountains and the birds; they told her how she should +again ride upon the clouds, and study from the great books of God. Then +in her sleep she smiled, and the nurse, who was watching her face, wept +for joy, and exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"There is hope! there is hope!"</p> + +<p>Yes, there was hope!</p> + +<p>When the little girl awoke, there was a more<!-- Page 39 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> heavenly patience still, +in her soul, and a longing to meet the loving glances of the +angel-children again.</p> + +<p>As the children wended their flight back to the gardens, and sat down +beneath the green trees, and ate of their delicious fruit, they strove +in vain to bring back the brightness to the face of the earth-baby.</p> + +<p>"Ah, it would be so beautiful to stay with you!" he said. "I would like +always to comfort these afflicted ones; but, alas! I shall need comfort +myself, and you will come to me, as we have been to others. When I am on +the earth there seems something gone and lost, and what is before me is +confused and dim. I find myself so weak and helpless, when here I am so +sprightly and strong! I cannot move myself at all, and when I remember +these gardens I have left, and you with whom I have played, I can but +cry all the time! It looks cold and bleak there, as it never does here. +Then, should I grow up to be wicked, like those children we have seen, +and so go far away from heaven, how wretched should I<!-- Page 40 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> become,—how much +better that I never had left these gardens!"</p> + +<p>Thus he complained, and the other children were silent, for they knew +how they, too, at some time, must go down and try their fortunes upon +the earth; and, too, they sorrowed to lose their companion, for they +knew that soon he could not come to them any more;—and while they told +him, very eagerly, how they would come to watch over him, a soft tread +fell on their ears, and their dear teacher approached them.</p> + +<p>Her hair floated in long curls upon the cool air, and her eyes were bent +down in sorrow upon the earth-child.</p> + +<p>"Have you so soon forgotten the lessons you have learned from the book +of God?" she asked; and the tones of her voice were like the soft +harmonies of heaven. She held in her hand a book, along whose pages the +letters sparkled in the brightness of gold and silver. At the sight of +her, the earth-child threw himself at her feet, and besought her thus:</p> + +<p>"Keep me with you, dear teacher, and teach<!-- Page 41 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> me from your book! Why +should I go to the earth-home again?"</p> + +<p>Tenderly did the angel-teacher embrace and uplift the imploring child. +She pointed to a distant part of the garden, towards a grate of +lattice-work, in gold, silver and pearls, whence issued a glorious +light. Beyond this they saw angels walking, in their hands bearing still +more glorious books than the one she held.</p> + +<p>"When I taught you, long ago, how beautiful was the life there, how +<i>pure</i> the love, did you not long to go thither? And when I told you +that the way thither was only through the earth,—that it was long and +difficult and narrow,—that many troubles must make you strong to walk +in it,—did you not long to go, promising not to complain? Do you so +soon falter? Have I not told you that the book you carry in your hands +there must first be formed on the earth?—that there you shall pick up +one by one the shining letters which compose it? Why do you +complain?—have you forgotten that your home is better than those +miserable ones which have been given to those who were your beloved +playmates here? This is your<!-- Page 42 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> last visit to the garden of God. The +angel-children shall come and whisper to you in your dreams; and, when +they in their turns go down to live upon the earth, hold your arms out +to them, and, when their steps are weak, help them along. And when you +see children with tattered clothes, in poor cottages, look not proudly +on your own, but remember that here, in the garden of God, you played +together in the same fountain, drank the same dew; and think no more of +yourself or your beautiful earth-home, for God gave it to you for the +same purpose he gave the wretched cottage to the other. Remember, too, +the good mother, who has patiently hushed your cries, and will yet bear +you through many dark places. She has never yet tired in caring for you, +and you have given her little else but trouble. Go; be henceforth +patient and loving."</p> + +<p>Sorrow came into the heart of the child for his selfishness; and, as he +thought of his beautiful mother, how she always smiled upon him, and +would help him to heaven, his heart filled up with love to her.</p> + +<p>At that moment he opened his eyes, and there<!-- Page 43 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> by his side sat the +mother, watching for his awaking; a heavenly smile stole over his +features, and he held up his arms to her. The mother caught him from the +cradle, and wept over him in the ecstasy of a new-found joy and love; +for it was the <i>First Smile</i> her baby had given her.<!-- Page 44 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="cybeletambourinegirl" id="cybeletambourinegirl"></a>CYBELE, THE TAMBOURINE GIRL.</h2> + + +<p>Cybele was a little girl; she had large gray eyes, and brown hair +smoothly parted over her forehead, while there was a pitiful expression +round her mouth, that pleaded with you so earnestly, you could scarce +help stopping, as you met her, to give her a few pennies.</p> + +<p>Her real home was not in this country. Long ago she had come over from +the bright land of Italy,—from its warm, sunny skies and beautiful +gardens, where the birds sang so joyfully, and gay music sounded on the +air,—all which she longed to see and hear again; and as all things +there had been so beautiful, and here so dreary, all beauty grew to be +the same thing as that dear Italy, so that when she even saw flowers in +the window of some lordly house, she would stand, gazing tearfully +through them at the far-off home!</p> + +<p>Cybele's mother had died in that beautiful land,<!-- Page 45 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> and it was in one of +its lovely gardens her body rested while her spirit soared heavenward. +The little girl knew this place so well;—the orange-trees grew about +it, and the song of the waterfall, near by, played and sparkled in the +tones of the birds. But Cybele's aunt had taken the little girl with her +to this distant land, and the child could no longer go and weep over the +grave where her mother's body had been laid; but her heart was there—it +could not forget. She dreamed of it in the long nights; and, when she +played upon her tambourine, the remembrance inspired her notes, making +people love to listen to her.</p> + +<p>Away down in an uncomfortable, out-of-the-way part of the city dwell a +great many poor people, who have come from distant countries to find +here some bread, which may keep them from starving. The streets where +they dwell are dirty, and the houses look smoky and wretched. There are +queer little shops, with oranges and cigars, bread and tobacco, in the +windows, and if you go in you smell yeast, and see milk-cans standing +about, while a man in a green jacket sells you what you ask for. To such +shops do the people<!-- Page 46 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> near by come for their bread and cent's worth of +milk. To such a shop little Cybele came, early in the morning, and late +at night; and so dingy looked the shops and people, that her aunt's room +seemed bright and cheerful in comparison. This room, nevertheless, was +small and quite dark, having but one window, which looked down into a +brown back-yard; but her aunt kept the room neat and clean; the bed +stood off by itself, in one corner, the two chairs on either side of the +table, and in the cupboard were a few plates and cups, with which the +scanty table was spread; yet was this room dear to the child, since the +dreams she had dreamed there hung over her still with their light and +love.</p> + +<p>It chanced, one day, that her aunt fell sick—so sick as to be obliged +to lie on the bed. For a long time she had not been able to do any hard +work, but had sat at home and made little brooms for Cybele to take out +with her when she went to play the tambourine about the streets. And +Cybele had seen how her aunt grew pale, day by day, but she had not +dreamed the time would come when her aunt must lay still on the bed for +weariness.<!-- Page 47 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<p>With a heavy heart she took the brooms and the tambourine, and went out, +hoping to get a few pennies, and bring home a doctor for her aunt.</p> + +<p>But it was a sad day for Cybele. She was rudely sent away from the doors +at which she stopped, and though she stood long before the windows of +lordly houses, in which she felt were many persons, still the sashes +were left down, and no kind group appeared to encourage her. So she +passed on, through quiet squares and noisy streets, but everywhere met +with a repulse.</p> + +<p>What should she do? It was impossible to go home without money. She +thought of the poor aunt who was sick, and of the mother who lay away in +the gardens of Italy, and new courage came into her soul. A gentleman +came toward her, with ruddy cheeks and smooth, rich clothes. Surely he +will not turn away from the little child. So she stepped forward, and, +when he came near, she looked up in his face, saying,</p> + +<p>"Please, sir, will you not buy one of my brooms?"</p> + +<p>But he brushed by her, unheeding her gentle tones, and leaving her eyes +filled with tears.<!-- Page 48 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then came along a careless boy, whistling a merry tune, and with his +hands thrust into his pockets. Confidence and hope made her ask him +also.</p> + +<p>"Please, will you buy a broom?"</p> + +<p>The boy stopped, and, still whistling, looked into her face, glanced +over her dress, tambourine and brooms; and, as his eyes rested upon +these last, he replied:</p> + +<p>"Buy a broom! Pray, what think you I want with one of those flimsy +things?" And then he looked at her as though he thought her so absurd!</p> + +<p>Cybele was abashed by his manner, and began to think she had asked him +to do a very foolish thing, so she hurried to reply:</p> + +<p>"I don't know, I'm sure; but they brush away flies with them."</p> + +<p>"Flies!" he repeated, contemptuously, at the same time taking one of the +brooms from her little bundle, and thrusting it about him in all +conceivable ways; pulling open the brush, and altogether ruining it. +"Flies! it is getting too cool for flies; and, besides, my mother never +lets any get into the house; so it's no use any way. Why don't you go +home? It's a shame to be walking round the streets so. You ought to be +in school, or at work, or something else."</p> + +<p><!-- Page 49 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p><div class="figleft"> +<img src="images/acillus4.jpg" width="330" height="500" alt="CYBELE THE TAMBOURINE GIRL." title="" /><br /> +<span class="caption">CYBELE THE TAMBOURINE GIRL.</span> +</div> + +<p>"I don't know how to do anything else," replied Cybele, the blood +rushing to her cheeks; "my aunt is sick, and I want to get some money."</p> + +<p>"Tush!—always sick!" replied the boy, contemptuously; "how silly! I +wonder the beggars don't all die some day, they've been sick so long!"</p> + +<p>"We are not beggars!" said Cybele, raising her head somewhat proudly, +and preparing to move away. "If you don't want the broom, I'll take it, +if you please."</p> + +<p>The boy seemed half pleased, as he looked at her, and said:</p> + +<p>"Proud, too—if it isn't funny! Here, don't go away—I want to hear your +tambourine."</p> + +<p>So she laid down her bundle of brooms, and, arranging her tambourine, +played him some merry tunes.</p> + +<p>"Can't you dance, too?" asked the boy, when she had finished. So she +danced and played to<!-- Page 50 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> him; and, when she stopped, he placed a penny in +her hand, and coolly walked away.</p> + +<p>She looked at the penny lying in her hand, and then after the boy, who +was walking up the street, and she couldn't help thinking how very +little it was, and how she hoped he would have given her more. She +looked at the little broom he had ruined, and everything seemed sadder +than before. Then, by some strange freak, her mind ran off to the +gardens where her mother slept, as it always did when darkness gathered +round her, and she longed, more than ever before, to throw herself on +the ground there, and quietly sleep a long, long time. During the whole +day she had received but a few pennies; so few, they would not induce a +doctor to go down to her sick aunt. If she only could have met some kind +heart, which would have gone home with her, and given kind words and +soothing draughts to the sick one! But it was not brought into her path.</p> + +<p>When she came home and saw how much worse her aunt was than when she had +left her in the morning, her little heart grew sick; and Cybele, who had +seen her mother grow thin and die,<!-- Page 51 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> began to be terrified, lest the aunt +too would be taken.</p> + +<p>So, she went up to her gently, and kissed her brow, and the poor aunt +opened her eyes and smiled mournfully; and when she heard how little +money the tambourine had brought that day, she tried to conceal her +sorrow lest the little child should be grieved.</p> + +<p>Then Cybele lighted a small fire in their bit of a fireplace, and made a +little tea for her aunt. It was the very last she had; but when she +thought how much her aunt needed it, and how she would need still more +on the morrow, hope whispered, quite cheerfully, that with the +tambourine she would win from people's pockets many a bright cent. With +these thoughts, she looked very lovingly towards the tambourine, which +lay quietly upon the floor in the corner, its gay bells silent, as if +it, too, felt sorrow for the aunt's sickness.</p> + +<p>After Cybele had toasted a bit of bread, and given it, with the tea, to +the aunt—had received the kind kiss, and saw her close her eyes—she +thought she slept, and new courage filled her heart; she began to think +of the pleasant people<!-- Page 52 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> she should see to-morrow. What a kind crowd she +drew about her! They looked on her with loving eyes, and the sweet +smiles played about their lips. There were the groups of pretty +children, in gay frocks and rosy cheeks, which should gather about the +parlor-window, when she should stop before it and strike the tambourine +with her hand; and they would smile upon her, and then the elder sister, +who should be so mild and gentle, would come and throw up the sash, and +speak with her; and, perhaps, even she would throw down to her a sprig +of the geranium which stood near by on the flower-stand. Then she was +lured further on, to think of a great fortune which was to be obtained, +that she might go back to the laughing skies of Italy, and spend her +days in the lovely garden where her mother slept.</p> + +<p>But when Cybele arose in the morning, and told her aunt how she was +going out to gather in the pennies, the poor aunt sighed, and bade her +stay at home a while, for she could not bear to be alone.</p> + +<p>So Cybele sat down upon the floor, and, taking the tambourine, sang and +played the softest and<!-- Page 53 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> sweetest airs she could remember; and, as she +played, it seemed as though new tones, and words even, were given to +speak out of it.</p> + +<p>She astonished herself, and a kind of sorrowful ecstasy came into her +soul. She played on, and on, and forgot that the day was passing off, in +which she was to earn so many bright pennies, in order to bring home the +kind physician who was to make the dear aunt well at once. She went to +the far-off land, and sang of the vineyards and the soft, warm air; of +the gently-moving waters, and the fragrant blossoms around the banks of +the lakes. O, the moon rose up before her, and she drank from its loving +beams; the stars sent down their misty light, as if shrouded because of +their great beauty! Once in that land, how had she forgotten all things +else! A holy inspiration had come down over her; an angel of light +appeared to her enchanted eyes, beckoning her to rest her head upon his +bosom.</p> + +<p>"Fear not!" he said, "for I will yet take you to the lovely gardens +where your mother dwells."</p> + +<p>But, when she eagerly stretched out her arms<!-- Page 54 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> and cried, "Take me now," +he disappeared, and she found the song stayed upon her lips, the room +hushed, and only the glory, which the angel's presence had shed about, +still lingered there. The holy stillness came into her heart also, and +she sat quietly upon the floor a long time; and when, at last, she rose +and went up to her aunt's bedside, she found the brow she kissed was +cold, the hand she clasped was chilly; and, in looking with fear upon +the aunt's face, she found the dews of death resting there.</p> + +<p>The aunt was dead! Those songs, which flowed so easily from Cybele's +lips, had become the requiem of the dead, and those soft tones had been +the last sigh of a passing soul.</p> + +<p>Cybele knew that when the angel had over-shadowed her, as she sang, he +had borne hence her aunt's spirit.</p> + +<p>But, O, it was so hard to be left all alone! And when the people from +the other room came in and prepared her aunt for the burial; when they +took her from the bed and put her in the rude coffin, the child's heart +felt like breaking, and, had it not been for the words the angel had +spoken to her<!-- Page 55 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> when he came to bear hence the dear aunt, she would have +wept without ever smiling again.</p> + +<p>Then they carried away the coffin into a dismal place, where was neither +green grass nor pleasant brook, nor even a flower, might it be ever so +little; and there was a row of square, black doors against the walls, +one of which they opened, and shoved the coffin into a dark place.</p> + +<p>O, it was so dreary a place, with the high fence all about it, and the +cold, dismal, gray clouds above! It did not seem to Cybele that she +could leave the aunt there. Could she only lie away in the beautiful +land where the mother slept, where the birds rested their wings upon the +lemon-trees, and the blue sky smiled in quiet peacefulness!</p> + +<p>But the people who stood around could not understand her grief, and so +they hurried her from the yard and locked up the gate.</p> + +<p>That night Cybele lay alone upon the bed on which her aunt had died, and +the lonely grief came so fast upon her that she could not sleep, and the +morning found her weary and heart-broken.</p> + +<p>Then there came into her room a coarse man,<!-- Page 56 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> who told her she must go +out, for she could no longer live there; that she might be allowed to +take her tambourine with her, but all the rest,—and there was little +enough, the two chairs, the bed, the kettle and the few things in the +cupboard,—were his, to pay for the rent of the room and he told her, if +she brought a few pennies to the people who lived in the next room, when +night was come, they would take care of her.</p> + +<p>Now the man had no sooner spoken these words, than Cybele decided to +have nothing to do with the people in the next room, for she could not +love them. The father and mother were so coarse and cross, and the boys +were so rude and big;—they had often refused to help her aunt, and +while she was sick they had never come with kind words to smooth her +pillow. Even after she had died, they had but come to put her in a rude +coffin, and carry her to a dismal place, from which they thrust out the +only heart who yearned for her.</p> + +<p>So Cybele did not think of going to them. She tied the large silk +handkerchief over her head, which had served her for a bonnet since she +had<!-- Page 57 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> left Italy, and, taking her dear tambourine in her hand, and the +poor, neglected brooms, she went away out of the rooms where she had +lived so long, where she had seen the angel, and where her aunt had +died. Then, after standing upon the sill of the door a few moments, +looking down the long staircase, out into the world to which she was +going, she raised her gray eyes, and sweetly said, as though replying to +the angel's admonition, "I'm not afraid." Ah, dearest one, you need not +fear when the heavenly Father is so near unto your heart!</p> + +<p>Without more hesitation she said "Good-by" to the room, and quickly sped +down the staircase out into the world, while thus she talked to her +tambourine:</p> + +<p>"Don't you be afraid either, dear little Tambourine!" and she held it +tenderly in her arms; "nor you, dear Brooms! We shall have happy times +together yet. Only think of the beautiful tunes I'll play on you, and +how the children will clap their hands when they hear your bells! No, +don't be in the least afraid; I'll play on you as I never have before +since once,"—here the little<!-- Page 58 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> lip quivered in spite of itself,—"only +try and play real pretty—do, so I shan't ever be lonesome with thinking +of the lovely gardens at home! Ah, Tambourine! Tambourine! you and I are +all alone!" Just then, a sweet tone came from the bells of the +tambourine, and comforted Cybele's heart.</p> + +<p>She wandered up the streets, and stopped to look in upon the windows of +the toy-shops; but the toy-carts, and those wonderful witches, who would +always stand on their heads, had no charm for her longer. Her heart was +saddened, and when she tried to strike out gay tunes, they would not +come—only sad ones, and sad words from her lips. The children pitied +her grave looks, and, when they could not persuade her to dance for +them, they would leave her in silence.</p> + +<p>When she looked about her and saw all the children, how they were never +alone, that their eye's danced, and their voices were mirthful, she +would ask herself why she, too, was not happy. Then courage would come +to her, and she would strike a gay air, and call the children to her +side; but, when she had finished, she was glad to creep<!-- Page 59 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> away by +herself, and lean her head upon her tambourine to weep. Then, when the +voice of the angel sounded in her heart, she would raise her head to +reply, meekly, "No, I'm not afraid."</p> + +<p>It chanced, one day, that she wandered into the obscure corner of a +church. It was evening service, and at first she was only glad to get +away from the cold, biting air; but she had not been there long before a +strange feeling of gladness rose up in her heart. The organ awoke from +its stillness, and the tones gladdened her as the tambourine, dear as it +was, had never done. The hazy light poured in through the windows, and +lit up the faces of the scattered worshippers with seraphic beauty, and +it gave golden edges to the spotless robe of the priest in the chancel, +played upon his white, flowing hair, and shone upon his uplifted +countenance. The priest spoke out blessed words of the Father in heaven, +how he calls the tired and weary to come and be folded up in his arms; +how he even says, "Suffer little children to come unto mo, and forbid +them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." These words fell into +the parched heart of little Cybele, and ran all along<!-- Page 60 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> there in low +sobs, and, stretching up her tiny arms, she murmured:</p> + +<p>"Take me, take me now,—I want to come!" And she began to think of the +angel who had said to her:</p> + +<p>"Fear not, for I will yet take you to the lovely gardens where your +mother dwells."</p> + +<p>The organ ceased, the priest went out from the chancel, one by one the +people passed out from the church, the sexton closed up the doors and +went away, and Cybele sat in her corner, longing to see again the angel +who was so often in her thoughts, until the hazy light had faded away in +the darkness.</p> + +<p>Then the moon rose, and streamed into the church, down the long aisles, +and up into the chancel; and from the window above the place where the +priest had spoken those holy words there flooded a glory of light, while +the columns and galleries stood still in their deepened shadows. It was +so holy a calm as to fill Cybele with a joyful awe. The tambourine slid +from her lap; she crossed her hands upon her breast, and bent forward +her head with closed eyes. Low notes of<!-- Page 61 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> the sweetest music swelled on +the air; louder they grew; until they seemed like the voices of those +rejoicing for deliverance from great sorrow. Louder, louder yet the +voices of angels mingled with them. As Cybele looked up there she saw +great bands of holy angels rejoicing over her; among them the very one +whose words of consolation had been with her so many days. Quickly to +him she stretched out her arms, and he reached low down and raised her +up to him. And they soared up, up to the region of the sun and the moon, +hearing about them the soft voices of loving angels; the air was loaded +with the perfumes of celestial flowers, while every angel they met gave +them a word of welcome.</p> + +<p>The angel did as he had promised, and the heavenly Father, whom Cybele +had prayed to take her, gave her into the loving arms of the mother, who +dwelt in lovelier gardens than those of fair Italy, even the gardens of +heaven.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When the people next opened the church, they found a dead child in one +of its corners. A little tambourine lay by its side, which, when they<!-- Page 62 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +picked it up, gave out pleasant, cheering tones; but, when they laid the +dead body of the child in a cold, damp grave, they little thought what +happy songs the living spirit of it sang with its mother in the lovely +gardens of God.<!-- Page 63 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="maggiesjourney" id="maggiesjourney"></a>THE STORY OF MAGGIE'S JOURNEY.</h2> + + +<p>Little Maggie lived all alone in a small house which contained but one +room. She had lived alone ever since the time her mother had gone to the +palace of the Great King. At first Maggie had cried very bitterly to +think of living alone without her mother; so did her mother, too, as for +that matter, for no mother ever loved her child more dearly than she did +Maggie.</p> + +<p>"Maggie," she had said to her, when she knew she must go, "I shall love +you just as tenderly as ever, and always think of you, even while I am +in the Great King's palace. It is a long journey thither, and I expect I +shall be obliged to go through a great many dark and strange places +before coming there; and I fear, the most of all, to leave you in this +little old house all alone; but you know I cannot disobey the King, and +so must<!-- Page 64 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> follow this servant whom he has sent to bring me. But, O, +Maggie, do follow me <i>some time</i>, for I shall be anxiously watching for +you till you come! Be sure, now, and don't disappoint me; and when you +come I think you had better start early in the morning, for the road is +a long and dangerous one."</p> + +<p>Perhaps this was a long speech to make; but when mothers go on such +journeys as Maggie's mother was to go on, it is not an unusual custom +for them to do so,—and especially when we remember how she would leave +Maggie all alone; it was only to be wondered she said no more.</p> + +<p>When her mother had really gone, the first thing Maggie did was to sit +down upon the door-step and cry bitterly. She could not bear to think +her mother had really gone, and that if ever she wanted to see her she +must start upon that long, long journey. At first I don't think she +loved to think about the Great King who had taken her mother away, and +she was obliged to think over the beautiful things her mother had said +of him many times, before she could be glad he had called her mother. +But at last she rose<!-- Page 65 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> from the door-step, and went into the house. She +had not much in it, 'tis true; she hadn't much to put in it; and if she +had had more, the house was so small there would have been no place for +anything but what already was there. The principal thing in the room was +the chimney-place. It was so large as to cover the whole of one side of +the room. There was a broad stone hearth, on which sometimes Maggie +would place a few sticks she had picked up in the streets, and light +them; but the little fire they made looked just as if it were ashamed of +itself for burning in such a great fireplace; and the winds, indignant +at its presumption, would rush down the chimney at a more desperate rate +than usual, blowing the ashes into Maggie's eyes, as she sat before the +little fire, and sending the smoke curling in funny forms about the +room. So Maggie would run and cover herself in her poor bed, and say to +herself that it was a comfort to have ashes and smoke; for, though they +did blow in her eyes, still they came from the fire. Sometimes she would +gather up sawdust, and by this fire she was able to warm her feet a +little, though not much;<!-- Page 66 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> for, as fast as she warmed them, the winds +blew down again, so they were as cold as before.</p> + +<p>You see it was a cold kind of a place in which Maggie lived; so cold +that, although it was summer, still a good many people's hearts were +frozen quite stiff, so their friends despaired of their ever being +thawed out; and their tongues too were affected, so they could not speak +gentle, kind words. I don't mean to say the cold ever dealt quite so +shabbily by Maggie or Maggie's mother, which was rather strange, +perhaps, since they could have but little fire; and the frost could walk +very boldly in through the cracks all about the house. Still it was +almost as bad that such things should happen to their neighbors, as +every one knows it is uncomfortable to behold such misery.</p> + +<p>Beside the chimney-place and bed, Maggie had some cracked plates and +saucers, which she arranged on the chimney-shelf, and some bits of +china, which she had found in piles of rubbish, and which she thought +very beautiful. Now the chimney-shelf was very high, and she managed to +put these things up there by climbing up the bed-post, which was rather +a dangerous thing for her to do, and<!-- Page 67 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> as it was a very little difficult, +too, she did not often take down those things.</p> + +<p>Now those cracked plates and saucers, and bits of china, were all the +ornaments Maggie had for her house; and they were very precious to her. +She would sit and look at them, <i>wondering</i> what people did who hadn't +got any, and thinking how strange it would seem there in her house if +they were taken away. You see Maggie knew how to prize little things; +and so some day great ones may fall to her.</p> + +<p>I did wrong to say she lived all alone; for she had a beautiful white +Dove. Wasn't it nice? It was very white, and nestled close in Maggie's +bosom when she carried it out of the house, and in the night it lay +close to her heart. O, there was nothing Maggie prized like the Dove; +for it was given her by her mother just before she went away, and she +told her it would guide her when she began her journey; so it was not +strange Maggie should love it so well.</p> + +<p>It was a lovely, sensitive thing. When Maggie had become thoroughly +weary and tired of living all alone by herself, she told her grief to +the Dove,<!-- Page 68 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> and it would press nearer and nearer to her heart, and when +its mistress' tears fell on its head, its moans were so sorrowful that +Maggie quickly forgot her own grief, and strove to comfort it.</p> + +<p>Now it was in the summer time, and Maggie got along pretty well, for all +the cold winds which blew in that region; but winter was coming on, and +she feared it might be more uncomfortable for her. It happened, one +night, that she heard a great noise, and awoke in a great fright. The +moon shone very brightly, and, by its light, she saw a tall, +strong-looking man carrying away her door. At first she thought she must +be mistaken, and that, if she waited a while, she would see that he was +about to do something very different. But no; he took first the door +well off the hinges, put the hinges in his pocket, the door on his back, +and went off. Then Maggie jumped quickly from her bed, and, running to +the open doorway, cried out,</p> + +<p>"Don't take my door; I live here."</p> + +<p>But the man certainly did not hear Maggie; at all events he did not once +turn back, but went away quite out of sight.<!-- Page 69 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But what could he want with my door?" said Maggie, in a high state of +amazement. "Houses all have doors; so he can't want it for his house." +She stood a long time, wondering and perplexed; and I must acknowledge, +if I had been there, I should have wondered too. It was quite a long +time before Maggie could persuade herself to go to bed again, and sleep +till morning, which she finally did, feeling very thankful the man +didn't take the bed.</p> + +<p>In the morning a new joy was in store for her; she found that the sun +now, when it rose, could look directly in upon her, and his warm rays +would give warmth to her little room. As she looked up to the +mantel-shelf, on which her bits of broken china were glowing from the +sunshine, she jumped out of bed in an ecstasy of delight.</p> + +<p>"O, dear, dear!" she cried, "what if that man had taken away those?—how +I should have cried! But now he has, by taking the door, given the sun a +chance to make them look more beautiful!"</p> + +<p>Now she began to love the sun better than ever, for he had become one of +the things which beautified her little home; and she always woke early,<!-- Page 70 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +so as to meet his first look, when he came into the room.</p> + +<p>Still it must be confessed that the absence of her door did at times +make her poor home more desolate; when, for instance, the winds went +mad, and the rain came down in torrents from the clouds, O, such a +frolicking as there was down her large chimney, and out through the +doorway! Then round and round the house they would run, chasing each +other,—now bursting into a boisterous mirth, now howling in low, dull +tones, until in again at the door they swept, and up through the +chimney.</p> + +<p>In Maggie's mind, the chimney and open doorway belonged especially to +the winds. She always thought of them in connection, and, when they +began their frolicking, she would seat herself in one corner, and +listen. Sometimes it seemed as though the winds rushed at one +another,—one coming down the chimney, and the other in at the door; +then, when they met, there was a kind of explosion, a thick, quick +quarrel, and then they would draw off in merry laughter; then would +Maggie clap her hands with glee, thinking it fine<!-- Page 71 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> sport; but when a +whole blast burst at once upon the house, and seemed desperately to +struggle through every crevice, she would crouch with fear, and upbraid +the winds with their sudden freaks.</p> + +<p>There was one mystery which Maggie found herself unable to unravel; it +was this: She felt perfectly certain the chimney was made for the winds +to come down through, and still she knew it was intended for her to make +a smoky kind of fire once in a while on its hearth, with which the winds +quarrelled, and destroyed it. Here were two things irreconcilable. Often +would she stand on the hearth, and look up the black throat of the +chimney, wondering how this inconsistency happened, wishing again and +again that the winds would like the fire, and let it burn well; but she +never thought of asking them to desist. She looked upon their freaks as +privileged.</p> + +<p>To the dear Dove did Maggie always turn for comfort and relief. Its love +was a guarantee of her mother's, and, as often as she looked upon and +held it to her heart, so often did she feel sure that<!-- Page 72 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> one day she would +feel the pressure of her mother's hand upon her head.</p> + +<p>Once, when Maggie was talking to the Dove, and thinking of her mother, +it came into her head to begin that journey to the Great King's palace. +"Why not?" said she; "why do I live here? The cold winter is coming, and +my door is gone, and the sun already gives me warning that he shall not +look in at the door as usual; the neighbors will be colder than ever, +and some of them will quite freeze. I've a mind to go away. What do you +think, Dovey?"</p> + +<p>The Dove nestled close to her heart, and cooed joyfully.</p> + +<p>"Would you like it? Well, I don't know but I had better start. But I +should have to leave the house,—and that would be rather bad,—and the +chimney where the winds play. I think it would seem lonesome for them, +and I don't know as they would like it, for there would be no one to +listen to them; still I do want to go, and I think I'd better."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure," said Maggie, after some pause, during which she lovingly +caressed the Dove's<!-- Page 73 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> head, "I'm sure I don't see why I didn't go before. +I don't know why I should have lived here so long alone. I can take some +of the best china, and leave all the rest. Perhaps some little child may +like to live here after I am gone, and watch the winds as I have done; +but I do hope they won't frighten her at first, or she will want to go +away."</p> + +<p>Maggie was an expeditious child, and when she had decided to do +something, she went at once about accomplishing it. So she left the +door-step on which she had been sitting, and went in the house, to see +what she wanted to take; and, as she had so few things, the preparations +were not long, but she soon found herself with her blanket pinned over +her head, ready to start.</p> + +<p>'Tis true a few tears came into her eyes as she bid farewell to the bed +which had been her shelter against every unpleasant sight and sound; but +when she turned to the chimney, and some perplexing thought of the +quarrels of the wind and the fire came over her, she rather rejoiced she +would soon be away from it, where this one<!-- Page 74 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> mystery of their +disagreement should never again trouble her.</p> + +<p>Laying the white Dove in her bosom, she turned from the house, and so +beheld herself fairly launched on her journey.</p> + +<p>A little while she found it pleasant; the road was straight, and lined +with flowers; the Dove raised his head, and looked in Maggie's eyes with +delight.</p> + +<p>But soon she came to a place where two roads met, forming the one she +had been travelling. Here was a perplexity: which should she take—which +would lead her where she wanted to go?</p> + +<p>There was a house close by; so she stepped up to the door of it, and +knocked. A lady, who was very pretty to look at, and who wore a very +rich dress, opened the door; but just at the moment when Maggie asked, +"Will you tell me which road leads to the palace of the Great King?" +that same terrible cold wind came round and blew directly into the +lady's mouth, so that she replied, "I know nothing about it, and very +much doubt if there be any Great King at all;" and then she<!-- Page 75 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> shut the +door in great haste, leaving poor Maggie in much distress and doubt.</p> + +<p>She was astonished at the woman's words, and wondered why she shut the +door so soon; for, if she had not, she would have told her about the +King; how she was sure he was alive, and had a great palace. And, too, +she could have told her, his servant had come once and taken her mother +with him, and she could never forget him; he had been dressed in black, +but on his head he wore a crown of the most glorious stars, and their +brightness had filled the little house with holy light, so that, even +after he had departed, it still lingered around.</p> + +<p>She thought some of knocking again and telling the poor lady, for she +thought it was sad enough not to know about the Great King; but, though +she knocked a long time, no one came to the door, and, finally, she was +obliged to leave the steps of the house and gather some directions +else-where.</p> + +<p>One of the roads seemed cold, and looked narrow, and Maggie, who had +suffered so much from the cold, turned from it with a shudder towards +the<!-- Page 76 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> other, which looked much gayer, and many more people walked in it; +but the Dove looked anxiously towards the narrow one, which grieved +Maggie, and made her cry out, "O, Dovey, Dovey! how can you love the +cold so well, or ask me to go where it is? Let us rather walk this way a +little, and do you not see there are plenty of cross-roads?—so, if we +wish, we can go on to that narrow road at any time."</p> + +<p>So, notwithstanding the Dove's remonstrances, Maggie entered this road, +and found the air so pleasant and warm, that she liked nothing better +than to walk in it.</p> + +<p>She saw a great many people here; but they took no notice of the little +girl, who walked along so quietly, with her Dove in her bosom, and the +bits of china in her pocket. But, if they did not notice her, she +noticed them well, and thought them strange enough.</p> + +<p>To her surprise she found the air, which had at first seemed so warm, +began to grow cold, and more like the air about the old house; and, +shivering with cold, and seeing the people about her wearing large +cloaks, it was quite natural she<!-- Page 77 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> should ask them to let her in beneath +the warm folds of them. To her civil request some of them paid no +attention; others looked at her in wonder, and some were so rude as to +speak cruel words to her, and bid her not dare speak to them again.</p> + +<p>So Maggie saw them walk on, wrapped in their warm cloaks, and complained +not. Indeed, she had lived too long in the little house without a door, +not to be able to bear the cold bravely—only she could not help wishing +sometimes that she had the bed with her, that she might jump in between +its clothes and warm herself a while; but she was patient, remembering +that she was journeying towards the Great King's palace, where her +mother lived. Suddenly it occurred to her that the road to the Great +King's palace lay through a remarkably cold country, and that the people +who were travelling thither seemed in no haste, for they often sat down +by the road-side and played; and some even went back, instead of +forward, while all those little side-roads, which she thought she had +seen before, had vanished. So, one day, she said to one of the people +who sat down:<!-- Page 78 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why do you not hasten that you may see the Great King?"</p> + +<p>"The Great King, indeed!" he said whom she had addressed. "I am in no +hurry to see him."</p> + +<p>And others intimated as much as the lady long ago had said, that they +themselves doubted very much if there were any Great King at all.</p> + +<p>"What shall I do?" cried Maggie. "I cannot be in the right way. O, how +shall I get to the Great King's palace!" And, upon this, the Dove rose +up from Maggie's bosom, and turned backwards whither they had come. +Though long and dreary seemed the cold road she must retrace, yet, such +was her confidence in the Dove, she turned very gladly; and though not +one of those people had cared for Maggie before, now they clustered +around her, begging her not to leave them, and seeking to draw her away +from her purpose. And when she saw how they seemed to love her, and feel +sorrow at her going, she said to them:</p> + +<p>"I am grieved to leave you, since you have just begun to love me; but I +promised my mother I<!-- Page 79 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> would go to the Great King's palace, and I must go +where Dovey leads me."</p> + +<p>"How silly to mind a bird!" cried one; and, picking up a stone, he +hurled it at the Dove, who was hovering in the air, and broke its wing, +so it could not fly.</p> + +<p>Then, indeed, it seemed as though her grief was very great, and she +could not help wishing she were already in the Great King's palace, or +that he would send his servant for her, who was dressed in the black +robe, and wore the crown of stars. She often saw this servant now; he +came to bear many away; but the crown of stars was not on his brow, and +his face shed no light around, only gloom.</p> + +<p>Well, Maggie was obliged to stop and bind up the Dove's wing, and tend +it a little before she could proceed on her journey. All delay was +unwelcome to her; for, as the journeying thus far had been in pain, the +true journey was still to begin. She was so hungry and thirsty, too! So +it seemed impossible she could proceed when once she had started +forward. There was no one to give her a crust of bread, or offer her a +cup of<!-- Page 80 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> cold water; nevertheless, she wouldn't tell the poor Dove, who +was moaning with pain, for she thought, and well enough, that he had as +much of his own trouble as he could well endure.</p> + +<p>She had another trouble, too; there were some people whom she could not +think desired to go away from the King's palace, and so she would tell +them how they were going altogether in the wrong path; but they would +either laugh or stare at her in wonder. Then she would almost have stood +weeping in the road at their strange conduct, but the Dove would +incessantly warn her to go on. At last, between grief and hunger, she +fell sick, and thought she should die there, without ever seeing her +mother or the Great King. But, lo! a gentle being, clothed in a white, +spotless garment, came and put to her lips a cup of medicine, which she +told Maggie, if she would but drink, would make her quite well again, +and protect her against hunger and thirst for the rest of the journey. +Upon this, Maggie drank it all but the dregs, and she found it so bitter +that she thought it far worse than any cold she had ever endured. But, +when the bright being saw she left the dregs<!-- Page 81 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> in her cup, she was not +satisfied, and bade her drink those, even with tears in her eyes. Maggie +drank them as she bade her, and then the bright one vanished, leaving +the child quite well and vigorous. The weariness vanished from her +frame, the parching thirst from her mouth, and, what was yet more +amazing, she found the little Dove quite well, and she stood with it in +her arms before the two roads again.</p> + +<p>So she commenced her journey upon the road she had so long ago rejected, +and soon found that the snow vanished from the ground and shook itself +from the tree-tops; the grass sprang up, the flowers played beneath her +footsteps, and gay birds hopped among the boughs of the trees, making +the air melodious with their songs; the brooklets ran murmuring by the +road-side, and Maggie's Dove cooed with joy.</p> + +<p>O, Maggie knew this was the road leading to the palace of the Great +King—the very one her mother had travelled—the road, too, which she +had been told did not exist! She met many children here, who sought the +same she did; and they talked with Maggie, and she loved them, and with<!-- Page 82 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +them thanked the King who had made for them such a lovely road to his +palace.</p> + +<p>At last, one day, there came the same servant who had carried away her +brother, and gently, softly, took her in his arms. So often had she +thought of his coming that she felt no kind of fear. He told her that +the Great King wanted her, and that her mother was all ready to receive +her. O, how her heart leaped at this, to hear a real word from her +mother, and to think the Great King wanted her! As she lay in his arms, +the servant, who wore on his head his bright stars, kissed her eyes and +her brow. He carried her a long distance, sped through many a long, dark +valley, and then they came out upon a bright shore, where were many +people dressed in shining clothes.</p> + +<p>Maggie looked at herself, and saw, with amazement, that she too was +dressed likewise, and that the servant who had brought her hither had no +longer a black robe, but a silver one, which sparkled so, Maggie was +scarce able to look upon it. She had soon crossed the sea, and then her +mother caught her in her arms, and wept for joy.<!-- Page 83 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + +<p>"O, Maggie, Maggie!" she said; "I have watched your journey all along, +and my sorrow was so deep when I saw you mistake the roads. It was I +whom the Great King sent when you was sick, that I might bear his love +to you, and make you well. Come, now, and go with me before his throne."</p> + +<p>Upon this they joined the crowd who were entering the palace;—but we +cannot enter it,—we must first finish our journey.<!-- Page 84 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="oldwomanenchantedsong" id="oldwomanenchantedsong"></a>THE OLD WOMAN AND THE ENCHANTED SONG.</h2> + + +<p>Ruth had two sisters,—Grace and Jessie. Now Grace and Jessie were +twins, and everybody praised their blue eyes and rosy cheeks, and when +they laughed, people said, "How sweetly they smile!"—and when they +wept, people said, "Poor little ones!" and immediately took them in +their arms, and strove to bring back the dimpling smile to their faces.</p> + +<p>Grace and Jessie played together always, and little Ruth, who was +younger than either of them, was left often alone. No one ever called +her beautiful, nor stroked her hair, nor kissed her brow; and when she +stood by the side of the twin sisters at the gate, and the people, in +passing, praised the flaxen curls of Grace and Jessie, then they would +turn towards her, and, their smiles<!-- Page 85 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> vanishing, they would regard her +with a pitiful air, turning silently away. Then she would creep off by +herself into some favorite nook of the garden, thoroughly ashamed that +she should so far have forgotten herself as to stand by the side of her +beautiful sisters.</p> + +<p>Her mother, too, often took her in her lap, and, kissing her brow +sorrowfully, would exclaim, in sad tones:</p> + +<p>"My poor, plain child,—my dear homely Ruth!"</p> + +<p>Her father never caressed her. His love seemed to be kept for the twins, +whose two bright faces peered over his chair, and whose glad voices were +always ready to greet him on his return home.</p> + +<p>And still Ruth loved her father so much, and, nestling close in the +corner of the garden away off by herself, mourned that he never kissed +her, nor called her his dear, pretty Ruth.</p> + +<p>"O," thought the child, "how I do wish I could do something for my +father, which might please him, so that only once he might call me his<!-- Page 86 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +dear child! O, why was not I made a twin?" Thus the poor child mourned +to herself.</p> + +<p>She had a doll, which she made her constant companion, and she played it +was very lovely like Grace and Jessie; she told it all her griefs, and +really came to feel that the doll understood all she said to it.</p> + +<p>She had also another pleasure; it was that of reading. Her mother had +given her many books, and she loved to sit among the rose-bushes, and +read their beautiful stories. She liked to read about a man who lived +off alone upon an island, and had only some cats and monkeys for his +companions; how the cave was his house, and the skins of beasts were his +garments; how he looked off upon the ocean, and saw not one sail, and +wandered about upon his island, without hearing one human sound.</p> + +<p>This story had a wild fascination for our little Ruth, so that she read +it again and again; yet still the book was as new to her in its interest +as at first.</p> + +<p>Then there were other stories she loved to read; some about lonely, +patient, lovely young girls,<!-- Page 87 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> who went out into the world alone to seek +their fortunes, and returned home with wealth and honor. She often +wished she might go forth in this way, so that when she came back no one +should dare call her plain or unlovable. Then she longed to hold some +secret charm, so that whoever she should desire to do so, should love +and caress her. But still no bright fairy stooped down from the skies to +change her black, stiff hair into shining ringlets, or her dark-brown +skin into the fairness of that of her sisters; and so Ruth only read, +and wondered, and wished.</p> + +<p>One day when, as usual, Ruth had found herself quite alone,—Grace and +Jessie had gone to take a walk, and her mother was reading by +herself,—she had taken her book, and sat down beneath the shade of a +broad tree in the garden. She was reading the story of a fair princess, +who had many suitors and splendid gifts, and who was called the Queen of +Beauty.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" she cried, "why was not I beautiful, so I might be loved! Then I +should not be the sober, odd thing I am now!"</p> + +<p>"Would you, then, so much like to be beauti<!-- Page 88 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>ful, dear child?" said a +voice close at her side, and, when Ruth looked up, she saw an old woman +whom she never had seen before. She was clothed in a long blue dress, +and her face was full of motherly love. Ruth's heart was filled with +gladness, for seldom had so affectionate a glance been shed on her; and +when the old woman bent down and kissed her, how all remembrance of the +indifference of father, mother, friends, vanished from her mind, and it +seemed that her whole life was given to her new friend, that she might +do with her whatever she willed!</p> + +<p>All strangeness at her sudden appearance vanished, too, as soon as she +had kissed her. Ruth felt under the control of a great power, and +watched her movements with as much love as confidence.</p> + +<p>When the old woman had looked into Ruth's eyes, and had seen the +thoughts which beamed there, she looked up into the sky, and beckoned to +a very light, beautiful cloud, which was sailing carelessly along.</p> +<div class="figleft"> +<img src="images/acillus5.jpg" width="350" height="500" alt="THE OLD WOMAN AND THE ENCHANTED SONG." title="" /><br /> +<span class="caption">THE OLD WOMAN AND THE ENCHANTED SONG.</span> +</div> +<p>She had no sooner done this than the cloud began to descend slowly +towards them, just as though it understood her summons, and, when it +had <!-- Page 89 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>reached the place where she stood, it remained motionless.</p> + +<p>Then she took up little Ruth in her arms, and stepped on to the cloud +and sat down; and, after arranging herself and Ruth quite comfortably, +she said something, which Ruth could not understand, and then the cloud +began to rise, moving as easily as it had done before it came down from +the sky.</p> + +<p>While they were going up, Ruth was amazed to see how the garden and the +beloved tree below became continually smaller and smaller; how, +by-and-by, she could only distinguish the house, and how that became +dimmer and dimmer, until it entirely disappeared from her sight.</p> + +<p>Then she turned towards the old woman, and saw that her kind blue eyes +lovingly regarded her; and so she still more forgot the home below, +where, without doubt, her departure would pass unnoticed.</p> + +<p>New objects began to attract her attention. The cloud on which they sat +did not, like the others, just float over the earth, but it went proudly +on, and came among the stars, and constellations of<!-- Page 90 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> stars, and she saw +how many were clustered together, and no tongue could describe their +beauty; and then the deep blue was ever about her, and she saw it away +off in the distance, growing to a darker and darker shade, until it +became like the air of midnight; while ever from its darkness shone out +those immense stars, and clusters of stars.</p> + +<p>Then the most beautiful sight of all was when some star glided past her, +and shot afar off into the dark blue beyond—there was such dazzling +glory in it!</p> + +<p>Sometimes they would be quite near enough to the stars they passed to +discern the people who dwelt upon them, and she felt for them a +friendship at once, and only longed that she might go down and tell them +so.</p> + +<p>The child had forgotten she was plain and odd; she did not think to ask +herself whether the people on those bright stars, so beautiful and +happy, might not repulse her for her homeliness.</p> + +<p>At last they did approach one bright star, and Ruth saw, to her delight, +that, when the cloud had come down into a lovely garden, the old woman<!-- Page 91 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +stepped off from it, then took her up also, and placed her on the +ground. Then the cloud, which had been their chariot (and a far better +one it was than ever king had to be drawn in), rose upward, and began +its gentle course in the sky.</p> + +<p>When the old woman saw how Ruth looked after it, she said to her:</p> + +<p>"I use all the clouds in that way, more or less, and all those about +your earth do many such a service while the people little dream of it. +In fact, every one there looks down upon the ground too much; they have +no idea of the goodly things they would find if they searched upwards +more."</p> + +<p>The old woman sighed as she said this. Such a happy and pleasant looking +old woman to have sighed so deeply!</p> + +<p>Then she took Ruth's hand, and led her towards her cottage, which was +the most beautiful thing you ever could imagine. Without, it had the +tints of the mother-of-pearl, while its framework was of silver. The +windows and doors were of diamonds, and there sparkled from them +continually all the rich tints of the rainbow. Within, everything was +wrought of the finest silver, and the<!-- Page 92 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> rooms were hung, some in delicate +blue silk, others in rose colors.</p> + +<p>Ruth was entirely overwhelmed with the beauty of the house,—so much so, +as to stand still, looking at the things about her.</p> + +<p>"You must be tired with your long ride," the woman said, "and I wish you +to rest well; for there are many things I will show you. After you have +rested, I will bring you some food."</p> + +<p>And, with this, she put Ruth upon a sofa, and made her lay quite down, +to refresh herself with sleep. But Ruth thought, in her heart, "Rest! +Does she think I can be tired, when I have been sitting upon that soft +cloud, looking at the wonderful stars? How could I ever be either tired +or hungry?" But she said nothing aloud, for the charm of the old woman's +presence hovered over her, and, as soon as she closed her eyes, she fell +into a soft and beautiful slumber.</p> + +<p>O the dreams Ruth dreamed then! Strangely enough, she thought her father +and mother, as well as Grace and Jessie, were riding and playing on +clouds; and they were all so happy together, and they seemed to love her +very dearly; so that,<!-- Page 93 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> in her dream, she remembered nothing of their +former neglect. She dreamed how her father called her to him, and laid +his hand upon her head; and it was <i>such</i> a gentle pressure, and it made +her so happy, that she awoke,—and there really was a gentle hand upon +her head, and a soft kiss fell upon her lips,—such a touch, and such a +kiss, as poor Ruth had scarce ever known before, and which made her +quickly twine her arms around the old woman's neck, and kiss her warmly.</p> + +<p>Then the old woman put her in one of the silver-wrought chairs, and put +before her, on plates sparkling with precious stones, soft, ripe fruit, +with a delicious flavor, such as she had never before tasted. She could +not help thinking how glad Grace and Jessie would be to see such before +them; and so, as at that moment she looked up, and saw the old woman +smiling upon her, she took two of the most beautiful and the largest of +the fruit and put them in her pocket, for she had no doubt but what, at +some time, all too soon, she should go back to the earth.</p> + +<p>When she had done this, and finished her delicious repast, which, +however, was slowly, for she<!-- Page 94 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> was so filled with delight, the old woman +bade her leave her chair, and come to her; upon which she took her in +her arms, and, looking lovingly down upon her, said:</p> + +<p>"My dear Ruth, I am going to show you all the treasures which the +children upon the earth gather together, in order some time to take with +them to heaven. I call their treasures what they love most in their +hearts, and put into actions. Everything they do or say is kept very +carefully; for one day they will want them. So you see they cannot lose +anything. Everything in nature, every cloud that seems only leisurely +floating in the sky, is serving some purpose. And all that is done below +is borne up here."</p> + +<p>Ruth could not help thinking that the old woman might show her some very +beautiful and some very curious things to keep; and in sorrow she began +to think what unpleasant things of her own were treasured up, to be +given back to her some day when she least expected or desired them.</p> + +<p>But the old woman said nothing about Ruth's<!-- Page 95 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> things, but, taking her +hand, led her forth into the garden again.</p> + +<p>"I am going to show you some things there are here," said her friend; +"and if they seem ridiculous to you, don't laugh at them. For my part, I +think it sad children will treasure up such miserable things."</p> + +<p>They had soon passed into the garden, where Ruth saw the most delicate +flowers she had ever seen—they were so tall, and nodded their heads +gayly to each other; but when she came to a bed of violets—white ones +and blue, <i>so large</i>, larger than she thought it was possible for them +to grow—she stopped to gaze upon them in complete admiration; the +fragrance, too, was delicious—more so than those her brother had, +although those were very fine ones.</p> + +<p>"Take some, my child," said the old woman, who watched her delight with +a kind smile. So down upon her knees she dropped, and took them, and she +could not help thinking how beautiful and lovely a smile would fall upon +her from her mother's face, as she gave them to her. So the<!-- Page 96 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> violets, +too, were carefully laid in her pocket for her mother.</p> + +<p>Then they passed out from the garden, and came to a gray house; withered +flowers lay about it, while briers and nettle-bushes clung to its walls; +but, worse than all this, there came forth from the house angry, hateful +words, and noises of a mad strife. Ruth feared to pass this place, and +clung closely to the old woman's side.</p> + +<p>"Here," said the old woman, kindly putting her arm around Ruth, "are +kept all those angry words which children speak to each other and their +friends; all their little fretful words when they are impatient, and +which they will never wish to see again, but which, alas! will be given +back to them at a most unwelcome time."</p> + +<p>Then they went on to another house, the walls of which were black, and +not a green thing grew about it.</p> + +<p>"There," said the old woman, "are the treasures of those children who +care most for themselves, and do not think of others' pleasures. Those +things which they have so loved are kept carefully for them; but they +will only tell them<!-- Page 97 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> of what they have done for themselves." So she +opened the door, and Ruth looked in. There was such a medley of things! +Candies of gay colors, nice waxen dolls, a great many broken toys, nice +fruit, and, indeed, I could not begin to tell you of all Ruth saw there. +There had come, too, a mould upon many of the things, so many of them +had grown tarnished; and a bad stench rose from some fruit which had +been there a long time.</p> + +<p>"You see, my child," said the old woman, as she locked up the door, +"these things cannot be preserved to look so brightly as when they were +first brought here; they all grow rotten; and I cannot prevent the worms +creeping in to corrupt them."</p> + +<p>Then they met some very black-looking clouds, loaded with things like +those Ruth had seen in the two houses, and they were put in with the +rest.</p> + +<p>"Alas," she sighed, "that the children will send up these things!"</p> + +<p>Ruth rejoiced to see that, with quick step, her kind guide passed by +many more such houses; for they terrified her. She feared she might +hear,<!-- Page 98 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> if she listened well, some complaint she had uttered, or should +see some tarnished toy which she had selfishly treasured. No wonder she +liked to hasten by the houses!</p> + +<p>Then they passed away from the dreary desert places where black houses +were, into beautiful plains where the grass was mingled with bright and +lovely flowers, and rivulets gracefully flowed along; and here were +lovely temples, shining with precious stones, so that Ruth clapped her +hands at beholding them. "Here," said the old woman, "are more beautiful +treasures, which are my great glory and delight."</p> + +<p>She showed Ruth one, round which the whitest blossoms grew among green +leaves, in which were treasured all the smiles ever given to comfort +people who had grief in their heart; and these smiles shed about the +whole temple a light like a halo of glory.</p> + +<p>In another were the soft, loving words which many children had given +others, poorer and lowlier than themselves, to encourage their weak +hearts; words which they had given and forgotten, but which had yet been +carefully gathered<!-- Page 99 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> up, and put in this temple. From this temple a low +sound of sweet music rose, which filled Ruth's heart with a perfect +peace, as if she had found everything she could ever desire.</p> + +<p>In another temple yet were all the words of love, which children express +and feel in their hearts to each other. From this temple proceeded +louder tones, but yet those of sweetest harmony.</p> + +<p>In another, all the gentle, loving words ever whispered to the animals.</p> + +<p>"I prize these highly," said the old woman.</p> + +<p>"It is very strange," said she, looking upon the temples, "that I find +these precious treasures thrown about very carelessly upon the earth. +The children never dream of their worth, and were I not always ready +there, some would be lost. But remember, Ruth, none are suffered to be +lost; and so, when the children to whom these belong are going into +heaven, they shall find there many a treasure they did not dream of +possessing. Thus shall the treasures they had forgotten grow brighter +and brighter, while others they had perhaps remembered have grown +corrupted and vain!"</p> + +<p>At these words, Ruth longed to lay many treas<!-- Page 100 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>ures in the temples, and +she heard a song, which the different tones of the temple formed in the +air. It melted her heart with its divine harmony.</p> + +<p>"O," cried Ruth "could I but sing such a song to my father! he who loves +songs so well. What joy it would be to him!"</p> + +<p>"And would you patiently sing the song though he thanked you not?" asked +the old woman.</p> + +<p>"I desire him only to hear it," replied Ruth; and at that moment the +power came to her, and such a song poured from her throat!</p> + +<p>She was so enchanted! But, when glancing in the brook, she saw her own +figure so lit up with beauty as scarcely to be able to recognize it. The +old woman saw her amazement, and replied to it:</p> + +<p>"I will send you back to your home that you may sing this song to your +father; and remember, little Ruth, that beauty only is worthy to have +which proceeds from the sweetness of thy words and the loveliness of thy +smile. In heaven thou mayst be as lovely as thou wilt. Send up, then, +fit treasures for the temple, and they will be kept safely until thou +needest them."<!-- Page 101 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then, as the tones of the old woman's voice died away, Ruth found +herself in the garden again, near her mother's house, and, had it not +been for the fruit and bunch of violets in her pocket, she would have +believed it a dream; but, when she went into the house, and gave Grace +and Jessie the peaches, and her mother the big, beautiful violets, and +began doing all sorts of kind things for every one, she felt how very +real it all had been. And then, too, she would sing that beautiful song +she had heard in the old woman's star, and her father, delighted, caught +her up in his arms, kissing her again and again.</p> + +<p>Ruth did not forget what the old woman had told her—how she might bring +the beauty of heaven about her form; and when she grew up people loved +her, and said, "I would rather look like Ruth, to smile and speak like +her, than to have the brightest hair and bluest eyes of any court +beauty."<!-- Page 102 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="oldmansstory" id="oldmansstory"></a>THE OLD MAN'S STORY.</h2> + + +<p>Come about me, little ones, and I will tell you my story. I seem old to +you now; but once I was as young as you. I had twelve brothers and +sisters; but now they are all gone before me into the better land, and I +remain here alone upon the earth without them.</p> + +<p>I am very old. My teeth have fallen away from my mouth one by one, until +they are all gone. My bald head has a very few gray hairs; my ears are +deaf, so I can scarcely hear your young, sweet voices: and the bright +sky is dimmed to my eyes. Slowly my footsteps totter along the earth, as +when I first stepped into my mother's outstretched arms.</p> + +<p>My wife long ago went before me to the grave, and I have left many +children there. Many a time have I seen the green sod laid over the +grave of loved ones. Often have I wept at the sight<!-- Page 103 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> of God's servant, +Death; but when next he comes I shall hail him with joy, for he will be +to me the beloved friend who bears me to my home above.</p> + +<p>Now that I am grown old, God lovingly carries me back to the days of my +childhood. He sends many a loving spirit upon the wings of consolation +to bear me into the fair region of youth. The scenes of the few years +since—all the noise and bustle of my manhood's prime—are banished far +away from me, and only the stillness and quiet of my childhood close +around the last moments of my earthly existence. Thus, dear children, +bathing me in the innocence and trustful spirit of my childhood, does +God prepare me for my home in his beautiful garden.</p> + +<p>I told you I had twelve brothers and sisters. O, well do I recall them +all! They come near, and I feel their presence as of old! I am glad to +linger mostly on their early days; for, in after life, their hearts were +filled with sorrow, their fresh spirits wearied, and care brought and +filled their souls with other feelings than those of love and sympathy +to others.</p> + +<p>Our fairest and brightest brother was Fred. I<!-- Page 104 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> was only one year younger +than he, and I remember well how I watched my mother while she nursed +him, and sent me away from the arms which a little before had been my +sole possession. I could not understand it, and my little heart was +filled with dismay. I would creep away by myself, sit down, and in the +most pitiful manner repeat to myself, "Poor Sammy! poor Sammy!" The +sense of desolation was very great; and in the whole course of my life I +do not remember to have known a more distressing grief. When I grew to +be a man, and disappointments came upon me; when I laid my wife and +children in their graves, and knew there was not one left of my line but +myself—a miserable old man—there was hope in my sorrow, light in my +darkness; for I knew the love of God and the life of eternity. These +deep sorrows had, also, bright heights; but it was not so then. I could +not feel God's love. My mother's care had been all I knew; and, now that +it seemed given to another, I was alone and wretched. There was a +terrible sense of injustice, which nearly broke my heart. I could not +under<!-- Page 105 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>stand how my little brother could have the right to what was +denied me.</p> + +<p>I have always tenderly pitied children who had griefs; then they need +our care more than the grown children, who feel God's love and wisdom. +But these little ones grope in a kind of darkness. Suffering is a +mystery to them; they can perceive no cause or end for it; they only +know they suffer.</p> + +<p>After a while, I, too, was allowed to sit on my mother's lap with this +brother, and then I began to love him, he was <i>so</i> beautiful. There was +no child in the county which could be compared with him, and, simply +because of his beauty and his cunning ways, he gained the power of a +king over the household, so that as soon as he began to run about he +ruled it, and me even more than the rest.</p> + +<p>The country was very new then, and all the gay, flourishing towns and +villages, which are now scattered in every direction, scarcely existed +even in the minds of the first sanguine settlers. Dark woods and sombre +swamps covered the surface; and what do you think we had instead of +roads,<!-- Page 106 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> when we wanted to go from one town to another? The first one who +found his way along cut pieces of bark out of the trees, and others +followed these marks, until after a time they cut down the trees and +made a road. I think this is the reason old roads in this country are so +crooked; for you know a man cannot walk very straight through a forest.</p> + +<p>Our near neighbors lived a mile from us, and it was quite a little +journey to go and see them. We had a village, too, in which were but two +buildings, the meeting-house and blacksmith's shop. You children would +hardly think you could live in such a place; yet such was the state of +things ninety-three years ago.</p> + +<p>Well, my father and mother had come up from a town near Boston, because +my grandfather could give them some land here, and they built their +house, and made it their home. The house stands now; it is the very one +in which my brothers and sisters were all born.</p> + +<p>In her parlor my mother had a very nice piece of furniture, which her +mother had given her as a wedding present, and of which she was very +proud,<!-- Page 107 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> inasmuch as no parlor in the county could boast the like. It was +a looking-glass!</p> + +<p>Well, laugh! No wonder it seems funny to you that any one should so +prize a looking-glass, when you all have so many of them; but you can +have no idea how different everything was then. The people were very +poor, and, although they owned many acres of land, yet they could +frequently sell it but for one dollar an acre, and thought that a fine +bargain. You see we had no money to buy the elegant luxuries you have in +your houses—the carpets, and sofas, and rocking-chairs. Our floors were +hard, covered now and then with a little sand, perhaps, as a great +luxury. The chairs were straight and high, while our tables were small +and low, and the cups from which we drank our tea as small as those you +play with. But, before I say any more, I want to tell you of the fate of +mother's looking-glass.</p> + +<p>The <i>great room</i> (as mother's parlor was called) was always kept +carefully closed, and a very sacred, awful and mysterious place it was +to us children. It so happened, one day when mother had gone away, that +my little brother Fred began<!-- Page 108 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> to be acted upon very powerfully by a +desire to take one peep into that room. By some strange neglect mother +had left the door unlatched—for she kept her bonnet in there, and +always put it on before the glass. The temptation to go in was +altogether too powerful for Fred to withstand, and, especially as others +had never pronounced the little monosyllable no, to him, he had no mind +to begin by saying it to himself. So in he went, and almost the first +thing he saw was mother's looking-glass, hanging over the table between +the two front windows. As he went towards it he saw a little boy, who +seemed to be peering and staring at him from between the windows. He had +no idea it was himself he saw, never having seen the looking-glass +before, nor his own reflected image. You may be sure he looked right +earnestly upon the strange child. If he stepped forward, so did the boy; +if he turned away, and then looked cautiously back to watch the boy, +there he was, looking at him in a very sly manner. Freddy, enraged at +this, rushed out for a stone, and, bringing it in, hurled it at the +looking-glass. But it was all in vain, for, even after the glass +rattled<!-- Page 109 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> down and strewed the floor with its many pieces, that impudent +boy peeped at him from every bit of glass in which he looked.</p> + +<p>When my mother came home, and went to put away her bonnet in the great +room, as usual, she found her beautiful looking-glass lying on the +floor, broken into a hundred pieces. When she came out, and demanded of +us what it meant, Fred told her of a little boy he saw behind it, at +whom he was offended and hurled a stone, but that still the boy looked +at him from the pieces of glass and made him very angry.</p> + +<p>Then mother laughed when she heard Fred's story, and, catching him up in +her arms, kissed him again and again. She forgot to chide him for his +disobedience in going where he had been forbidden to go, and for his +foolish anger at the supposed boy. She was so much amused at his version +of the story, that she did not explain to him what the boy was, and how +the looking-glass reflected figures before it, but he was left to find +that out by his experience afterwards.</p> + +<p>If my brother, long before that, had learned lessons of love and +forbearance, this circumstance,<!-- Page 110 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> slight as it may seem, would never have +occurred. Instead of the threatening and distrustful look in the mirror, +he would have found a laughing face, and a tiny, loving hand would have +been given him. O, my dear children, this story has a higher meaning +than I thought of when I commenced! In the feelings of those whom we +approach we see the reflection of our own; if we approach any one with +love, it is given to us from them. Think of this: it will serve you +well, and teach you to be careful, ere you hurl the stone, to know what +is the object of your anger.</p> + +<p>I have often thought that we all helped to make my brother selfish. He +was so very beautiful that we indulged him in every whim he had; so he +came to look upon us at last as bound to serve him. I do not blame him +only; they who had the nurturing of him, they to whom his young spirit +was sent so fair from God's heavenly gardens, in their unwise love +taught him to think of himself, and make others serve his purposes.</p> + +<p>These dear, helpless little ones—they come to us in fresh beauty like a +spring morning, and<!-- Page 111 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> we taint their spirits with selfishness, and darken +them with worldly care!</p> + +<p>Years after, when my brother and myself had grown to men, we bound our +interests in one. He had quicker parts than I—was a much better +scholar; so I trusted all our business confidently in his hands. But I +grieve to say he did not meet my confidence with honor—he took from my +purse to enrich his own; and when I stood by his bedside, at last, and +saw how the deep wrinkles were worn in by care upon his once round +cheek, I wept. I wept that he should die without having found in life +that peace which any one would have predicted for him over his cradle, +when the rosy cheeks sank into the soft pillow, and the long lashes of +his baby eyelids rested upon them! I love that brother now, and his +child, who had become penniless after his death, I warmed in my +chimney-corner, and held to my heart as though she had been my own +child. Brother, I know thou hast repented, long ago, of the wrongs thou +didst inflict, and that some time, in the presence of God, I shall clasp +thee in my arms, pure again as when we sat together on our mother's +knee!<!-- Page 112 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<p>See how I have wandered away off from my story!</p> + +<p>Let me tell you how we got our clothes. Did you ever ask yourself what +we could do then, when there were so few shops, and so little money to +carry to the shops?</p> + +<p>We had sheep, who gave us wool, which my mother spun, and wove it into +cloth. Just think of that! Do you imagine you would have as fine +clothes, if your mothers had to spin all the cloth? She knit, too, O, so +fast! as well in the dark as the light. I have known her to knit a +coarse stocking easily of an evening—her fingers <i>flew</i> along the +needles! Cotton cloth was a great rarity among us. I remember once my +mother had a cotton gown, and it was esteemed very precious.</p> + +<p>Father made our shoes, and rough ones they were too, and which we only +wore in the coldest part of the winter. The long winter evenings were so +beautiful to us! Father taught us to read and spell, and chalked out +sums on the wall for us; then we would draw profiles on the wall, for +the great blaze of the wood-fire cast a bright light, and, consequently, +the shadow was well marked. A<!-- Page 113 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> huge chimney-place we had, with a broad +hearth, and all about this would we sit, roasting apples and popping +corn by the heat of the fire.</p> + +<p>So we lived; in the summer, playing "hi-spy" around the corners of the +barn, and, in the winter, living snugly in the chimney-corner, telling +stories.</p> + +<p>When the revolutionary war broke out,—you've heard of that, of course; +but then I'm afraid you'll never know how much we endured then; our +feeling against the injustice of Mother England was very great. You do +not know how we had loved her, nor how we children used to listen to +stories of that beautiful country beyond the sea. Our father and mother +spoke of it as "Home," and we all hoped that some time, when we were men +and women, we might go "Home." Then, when she began to tax us for more +money than we were able to pay, in order to build grand palaces, it +seemed hard to us; and, even after we had remonstrated again and again, +she took no notice of our petitions. She laid a heavy tax on some little +comforts we had, such as <i>sugar</i> and molasses; and then, when we refused +to buy them rather than<!-- Page 114 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> pay the tax, she imposed a heavy tax on tea, +and sent a great deal of it here to force us to buy it. We wouldn't have +the tea, however, and you must have heard how a party of men, disguised +as Indians, threw it all into Boston harbor.</p> + +<p>All these things seemed the more cruel because they came from "Home." +And, finally, worn out with the injustice constantly experienced at +their hands, we prepared to resist them by war.</p> + +<p>The declaration of independence, which you celebrate every fourth of +July, was received with mingled emotions of joy and sorrow. It was +severing an old tie which had once been sweet; but yet it promised us, +through the doubtful conflict, freedom and independence.</p> + +<p>How enthusiastic we children were! Father made us rude wooden guns; and +drilled us every morning, for no one knew how long the war would last; +but we were determined to conquer, even though our fathers died in the +war, and our children succeeded to it. I remember when the recruiting +army came round. I seized my gun, and manfully joined its ranks. But to +my dismay I was sent back; my wooden gun, and extreme<!-- Page 115 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> youth, were +thought insufficient to meet the demands of a soldier's duty. I remember +well when the battle was fought on Bunker Hill. A great part of the town +was gathered upon a slight elevation, from which we could distinctly +hear the roaring of the cannons and the clashing of the artillery. It +was a terrible day! There was many a woman there who had a father or +husband in the battle; and, at each report which filled their ears, they +fancied they saw them falling before the foe, and trampled beneath the +feet of the conquerors.</p> + +<p>Those were trying times. Children, I pray God you may never know such; +and you never can, for you will not struggle with poverty as we did. +When I look upon your happy faces, and see the satchel full of books on +your arm,—when I look in upon your happy homes, upon the career of +honor and usefulness before you in the future,—I am, by the strong +contrast, transported to those "trying times" when we lived in the cold +houses, and wore the coarse cloth; when we sacrificed the refinements of +knowledge, and the pleasures of luxury, to the bold struggle of liberty +against tyranny; when our hard-working mothers at home<!-- Page 116 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> melted their +last pewter plate, that the guns should know no lack of bullets, and +sent all the little comforts of food and clothing they could find, to +bless the husbands and fathers toiling in the war; and when the fathers +fought with the fangs of thirst and hunger fast upon them, and leaving +behind them, upon the sharp ice, the traces of their footsteps, engraven +by their bleeding feet. Then, children, tears of joy and gratitude fill +my eyes; for we did not toil in vain. In you all do I behold the fruits +of our labor. We were ignorant, that you might be wise; poor, that you +might be rich; outlawed and disgraced, that you might build up a free +and generous nation. And, in reaping these privileges, do not forget the +old man, and the old woman, who, bowed and wrinkled with age, need your +kind hand. <i>We</i> have given you these things gladly; and now, before we +go to our further toil in eternity, let us hear your blessed voices +speaking to us in kind tones of love; let us feel your young lips +pressed upon our old brows; let us clasp your little hands, and feel the +gladness with which your attentions come to us. And when you see an old +man, alone, with those of his gen<!-- Page 117 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>eration passed away, treat him +tenderly. Guide his tottering footsteps, and bear with him when he is +slow; for he is waiting for the kind servant, Death. He is thinking of a +dear little girl, who, long ago, with her blue eyes and golden hair, her +light step and soft embrace, went up to live with the angels; and the +tears fall fast over his worn cheeks, as he remembers the lone place she +left in his heart, for she was the last thing which had been left him +from his broken family. Speak to the old man gently, for his heart is +often in converse with the beautiful past! Speak to him gently, for his +soul dwells among the angels of heaven!<!-- Page 118 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="christchild" id="christchild"></a>A STORY OF THE CHRIST-CHILD.</h2> + + +<p>In one of those tall, splendid houses, standing in proud streets, in +which some poor people imagine heaven to dwell, lived a little girl by +the name of Helen.</p> + +<p>It was Christmas-day; and early in the morning did she jump from her +bed, and run to look at her stocking by the fireplace, where it was hung +that Santa Claus need not be troubled to hunt for it.</p> + +<p>There it hung, filled full, and all about on the sides had fallen the +presents it was not large enough to hold. O, how quickly did she empty +its contents; and how delighted were her exclamations!</p> + +<p>"A beautiful bracelet!" she said to herself, sitting down on the carpet +and drawing her little white feet under her; "just such a one, with the +opal stone, as I saw in the window, yesterday, when<!-- Page 119 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> I went to walk with +mamma on Washington-street; and she sent me home, I know, so she could +buy it. O, and this beautiful book! how its edges shine! What pictures! +Let me see;—'From your affectionate father,'—I knew father gave me +that;—and see the pretty cushion, and the box, and the china cups and +plates for my doll; and O, a new silk dress for dolly, and something +little, away down!" continued Helen, drawing out her hand and peeping +into the little stocking; then, putting her hand back, drew out a pretty +ring for her finger. "If this is not nice! I never <i>did see</i> anything so +pretty,—a ring and a bracelet! O, dear, dear! how happy I am!" She +actually danced about the room for joy; and, when Katie came to wash and +dress her, she scampered around and around her, for she could not keep +still.</p> + +<p>There was ever so much candy too, and she wanted only to sit down and +eat it, unmindful of Katie's remonstrances.</p> + +<p>She had been so delighted with her presents as almost to forget the +merry Christmas she was to bid her father and mother; and so, when she +went down stairs into the breakfast-room, where the hot<!-- Page 120 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> rolls were +smoking, and the loving parents waiting, they had almost surprised her +with their wishes before she bethought herself.</p> + +<p>Then she began to think of a party which was to be at her teacher's +house, and of the Christmas-tree and the Christ-child, which so many +children would go to see in their best frocks and best looks.</p> + +<p>So, after the famous Christmas-dinner with its nice roast-meats, and +puddings, and pies,—after the game of romps with her father, and the +ride on the rocking-horse with her brother, who, at last, from mere +mischief, had tipped her off, and sent her crying to her mother,—she +began to think about going there. She had seen herself nicely arrayed in +the pretty plaid dress, with the ring on her finger, and the opal +bracelet on her arm, which she had found in her stocking that morning. +Then she bethought herself of how all the children were to bring a few +pieces of silver for an offering to the Christ-child, that it might be +sent off into distant lands to children who knew nothing of the blessed +Christ-child and the Christmas he brought.</p> + +<p>It is true Helen had a bright box with a hole<!-- Page 121 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> in the lid, through which +she had dropped many a bright piece of silver; and it is also true that +the box had a lock, and the key of the lock lay quietly in one of +Helen's drawers; but the money there was destined to some very great and +vague purpose; and she never would have dreamed of unlocking the box and +taking from it any silver for the Christ-child. She knew well enough +papa would give her money for that purpose. So to papa she went, and +told him what she wanted; and he, proud that his little girl should +carry as much as others whom she would meet there, gave her a beautiful +gold piece of money—a veritable five dollars!</p> + +<p>Then did Helen speed along with exultation in her heart—exultation for +the gold in her tiny pocket, and exultation in the very bright dress, +quilted pink bonnet, and pretty white furs. And she was so often +thinking, "What will Mary say when she sees this?" Not once did Helen +ask herself what the Christ-child, or he whom the Christ-child +represented, the Saviour in heaven would say to the gold she brought.</p> + +<p>Poor Helen!<!-- Page 122 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + +<p>She was not bringing the gold for the children so far away. She was +bringing it because the others would bring some, and she wanted hers +seen of them!</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Away down in an obscure street, where you would not look for anything +kind or beautiful, lived a brother and sister, who made each other very +happy in their love. Their names were Johnny and Susan. Johnny was a +lame, sick boy, who could not run out of doors and play like other +children. It was Christmas morning there too, even, and early had Susan, +his sister, awoke to think of the pleasant visit she should make in the +afternoon at her teacher's house; and she had even stolen from her bed +up to Johnny's bedside to see if he, too, was awake; and when she saw +that he was awake and his countenance thoughtful, they began to talk +together about the day's pleasure, and how Susan was to remember +everything to tell it over by night to Johnny.</p> + +<p>"O," said Susan, "to think how beautiful it will be, and I never in a +fine house before, and the two sixpences we have earned this week! How +glad shall I be to put them in my teacher's<!-- Page 123 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> hand! Johnny dear," said +the little Susan, looking tenderly on her poor brother, "do you not +think you need the sixpence yourself? I could buy you a sweet orange, or +something nice for you to eat, it is so long since you had anything but +bread and water."</p> + +<p>"No," said Johnny, "I'd rather much give it to the Christ-child. I love +to lie here and think about it, and of those children so far away, who +will be glad when they, too, know of this beautiful day. I think of them +so much that I love them, Susan, and I wish I had more than the sixpence +to send them."</p> + +<p>Susan busied herself in preparing the breakfast of bread and water, and +then, when it was over and the work done up, she sat down by the side of +Johnny's bed, and read to him out of the little book she had brought +from her Sunday-school; and Johnny forgot, in the quiet peace of the +day, how hard it was to lie still upon the bed, when he so often longed +to run out and play; thoughts of love came into his heart, and tears of +gentleness into his eyes.</p> + +<p>Their dinner was very different from the one<!-- Page 124 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> Helen had eaten; but they +were happy, their hearts were full of expectation,—and Susan had got +herself quite ready, and, wrapping the two pieces of silver in a piece +of paper, she kissed Johnny, and set off on her way to the teacher's +house.</p> + +<p>But when Susan came among the children there, somehow they all shunned +her. In their plays, if they had occasion to speak to her, they passed +on quickly, with a suppressed smile and hurried glance on each other. +If, by any means, she spoke to them, they looked upon her in +astonishment, without answering her words. They often whispered one to +another, casting curious looks upon her; so she knew easily they spoke +of her. What could it mean? What had she done?</p> + +<p>I cannot answer this well. She had a gentle, sweet face; her manners +were neither rude nor obtrusive, and when she spoke, though her tones +were low, half fearful and trembling, still were her words as kind and +polite, if not kinder and politer, than those of the other children.</p> + +<p>Poor Susan! and she had thought to be so happy that afternoon; she had +anticipated only<!-- Page 125 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> kindly faces, and loving glances, and kind hands +stretched out to her in the plays. For once she had thought to mingle +with those pretty children as if they had been her sisters, and, when +she went back to dear Johnny, to tell him of their loving words. But +now—what! could she tell Johnny, to grieve him, of the sad afternoon +she was passing? She looked upon them more closely, trying to find out +what it was that separated her from them. 'Tis true she wore no bright +plaid dress and delicate cloth boots; she wore no bracelets on her arm; +she had not found them in her stocking that morning. There was no +necklace about her neck; her hair was not bright and curling; yet, +still, what could be the reason they shunned her so?</p> + +<p>Susan tremblingly looked over her own dress. Her gown was scanty and of +cotton, her pantalets were long and narrow, but they were the best she +had; her mother had made them long ago, and Susan had so carefully +preserved them. On her feet she wore thick leather shoes; but she knew +how the money had been saved, little by little, from week to week, that +they might be bought. If they were thick, it was that they might last +the<!-- Page 126 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> longer; and her hair was combed smoothly over her brow and braided +on her neck. Her hands, it is true, were not delicate, like theirs—they +were hard and red; but they had become so in working for the home, to +keep it clean, and working early and late, that the mother might not be +detained from her work out, and that the lame, sick brother should have +no little want unsupplied.</p> + +<p>And was it that her hands were red and her clothes coarse that the +children shunned her—even, too, before they looked into her little +home, and saw what she did there, how she comforted Johnny, and swept +clean the floor, and even found some time to read out of her books? +Could they, with their bright frocks and rosy cheeks, have such very +weak and wicked causes for their displeasure against this poor child? +Could they so willingly hurt her heart, when she had come from so many +days of toil to what she had thought would be a day of pleasure, so that +she must often turn her head to wipe off the tears with her little red +hand? And these children, had they come to honor the Christ-child?</p> + +<p>Their teacher had watched their games, and saw<!-- Page 127 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> how they played among +themselves, and cast out the little Susan from their play; and she +thought that not only did they dishonor the Christ-child, but her who +had brought them all together.</p> + +<p>But Susan still thought of the Christmas-tree, the present it should +bear for her, and how she should take hers home for Johnny; and she +thought, too, of the two little sixpences done up in the paper in her +pocket. Helen, too, was not unmindful of her bright gold-piece, and had +taken good care to show it before the eyes of all the children; and +Susan had seen it, and thought of Johnny,—how he had said he wished he +had still more to send to the children so far away,—and she thought the +little girl with the gold-piece must be happy enough to send it; and she +began to feel half ashamed that she had no more money, and, as their +unkind looks continued, she asked herself if she had any right to be +there.</p> + +<p>But the Christmas-tree was ready. A servant came in and closed tightly +the shutters, so the room was all dark, and then the parlor-doors were +thrown open, and there stood the tall, beautiful tree, with candles of +all colors, which were<!-- Page 128 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> burning like so many stars, and above it hung +the Christ-child, with a smile as of love, and his arms stretched out as +he would call them to him. And on the tree were nice gifts, books and +toys, pictures, and lace bags, tied with gay ribbons, filled with +candies. But Helen, and all the children who had found rich gifts in +their stockings that morning, turned indifferently from these, admiring +the novelty of the Christmas-tree.</p> + +<p>But to the child they had neglected,—the little girl in the cotton gown +and coarse, thick shoes, the little Susan,—these gifts, as well as the +tree, were very precious; for she had not jumped eagerly from her bed +that morning to find rich presents in her stockings, for she did not +expect them to be there; she had awoke early to think of the visit to +the teacher's house, the sight at the tree, and the gifts it should bear +for her and Johnny.</p> + +<p>So she prized her gift more than all!</p> + +<p>When the children saw how carefully she put the little bags of +sweetmeats in her pocket, instead of eating them as they did, they +laughed among themselves, and said something about her which<!-- Page 129 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> was <i>so +cruel</i> and so unjust, that I shall not even tell you what it was. They +did not know she was saving the candy to eat with Johnny. Then, when she +pondered over her little book, in admiration, and held it carefully in +her hands, as though she was fearful of stretching it, they said to +themselves, she must be very ignorant to care for such a thing. But +Susan only shrank off by herself, thankful to have her portion in these +things.</p> + +<p>After this, came the time when they would bring their offerings for +those children who live in the far-off lands, where there is no +Christmas; and the children began to wonder if Susan had any money, and +to show each other what they had. Then their teacher drew her chair +among them, and began to tell them what it really was to wish that +others might enjoy what we did; what it was to help them to do so, and +be careful not to rob them of one smile.</p> + +<p>"This money which you would send to those children, that they may be +happy as you are, if it does not tell them of your love, is useless to +them. And if, to obtain it, you have, in any way, denied yourself of one +little thing, be sure God will look<!-- Page 130 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> very lovingly upon you; and those +children, when you meet them in heaven, will put their arms about you, +and tell you of their gratitude."</p> + +<p>When the teacher said these last words, Susan's lip quivered, and her +eye sparkled, for they were words of meaning to her; but they did not +affect the other children, for they were words of no meaning to them.</p> + +<p>But Susan saw those children in heaven, in her fancy, and Johnny was +there, no longer lame and sick; they ran and played over bright fields, +and no one laughed at them, or repulsed them, or wore brighter clothes +than they. They threw garlands of flowers to each other, and when they +laughed the tones of their voices were like music.</p> + +<p>Then the teacher called Susan to her side, and Susan put in her hand the +two little pieces of silver; and the children, when they saw how +carefully they had been wrapped in the bit of paper, exchanged glances, +and they who had the most money in their pockets smiled scornfully, as +children can, upon one another. The teacher asks Susan how the little +money was got, and the child answers in a low tone:<!-- Page 131 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Please, ma'am, they are Johnny's and mine; we saved them since you told +us so long ago."</p> + +<p>And the teacher, as she thinks of the lame, sick Johnny, and what those +pennies might have bought him—how he had denied himself—feels the +tears come into her eyes, and she speaks to the children of Johnny, and +tells Susan that when she comes into heaven, she shall certainly see the +children she blesses now. But when she calls the others to her, and they +show her the money so easily obtained, the teacher will not take it.</p> + +<p>"Since you denied yourself not one thing for it, how do I know <i>love</i> +made you bring it. And if love did not send it, how could it make the +far-off children happy? And how can you love those so far off, when you +have all helped to make this Christmas afternoon so unhappy a one to one +of the children I invited here with you? If you love not those close by +you, you cannot love those at a distance.</p> + +<p>She told them how Susan nursed her sick brother; how she read to him, +watched over him with cheerful smile and kind love; what she did for her +brother's comfort, and she showed them<!-- Page 132 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> that the two pieces of silver +from Johnny and Susan were really worth more in the sight of God than +their silver dollars and gold pieces.</p> + +<p>Then she told them a story. When Christ was one day sitting in the +temple, he looked upon all those who came to put money in the treasury. +Many rich people, with proud airs and haughty hearts, threw in large +sums of money; people called them benevolent, and sang loud praises to +them.</p> + +<p>But Jesus did not call them benevolent, neither did he praise them.</p> + +<p>At last came a poor widow, bringing with her two mites, which made one +penny. She had saved them of all she had, and humbly, with love in her +heart, she threw them into the treasury. What a little, in comparison +with what the others had thrown there! and yet Jesus, who before had not +spoken, said of her:</p> + +<p>"I say unto you, this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which +have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of their +abundance, but <i>she</i>, of her want, did cast in all that she had, even +her living!"<!-- Page 133 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + +<p>And the teacher was careful to tell them, it was the spirit of love in +which the two mites were brought, not simply that they were two mites, +which made Christ bless the woman; for if, in the same spirit, she had +brought twenty mites, her blessing would have been the same.</p> + +<p>The children saw, then, how shameful had been their conduct, and it +seemed just to them that the Christ-child should refuse their offerings.</p> + +<p>But they asked if they might not give their money to Susan and Johnny?</p> + +<p>"No," replied the teacher; "she does not need your money; she could give +you nothing in return for it. But, instead, you may give her your +love;—that she would like, and can return;—and, by-and-by, when you +have learned well your lessons of kindness, give the money where love +prompts you."</p> + +<p>And, from that time, they began to learn these lessons; they saw how +Susan, if her clothes <i>were</i> coarse, had in her heart what was worth +more than fine clothes, and all the riches which are in the world; and +if they would have their gifts accept<!-- Page 134 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>able to the Christ-child, they +must have such in their hearts!</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Susan went home happy—bearing on her arm a basket of grapes and oranges +for Johnny, to tell him how the teacher had sent them to him, and that +they must be more and more loving and self-denying, since their God +would love them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_only_Original_Illustrated_Juvenile_Magazine_published_Once_a_Week" id="The_only_Original_Illustrated_Juvenile_Magazine_published_Once_a_Week"></a>The only Original Illustrated Juvenile Magazine published Once a Week.</h2> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>OLIVER OPTIC'S MAGAZINE,</p> + +<p>OUR BOYS AND GIRLS,</p> + +<p>EVERY WEEK. EDITED BY OLIVER OPTIC,</p> + +<p>Who writes for no other Juvenile Publication, and who contributes</p> + +<p>Four Serial Stories Every Year,</p> + +<p>The cost of which, in book form, would be $5.00,—double the +subscription price of the Magazine. Every number contains part of a new +Story by Oliver Optic, illustrated by designs from the best artists, +headed by Thomas Nast, the great American Artist. Then follow</p> + +<p>Poems and Stories</p> + +<p>By other well-known authors, who know how to write for Young Folks.</p> + +<p>The Orator,</p> + +<p>A department exclusively in charge of Oliver Optic, gives every other +week a selection for Declamation, marked for delivery according to the +most approved rules of elocution; 26 <span class="smcap">Marked Declamations each Year</span>.</p> + + +<p>Original Dialogues.</p> + +<p>Some of the best writers find a place under this head every other week, +giving the subscriber 26 <span class="smcap">Original Dialogues every Year</span>.</p> + + +<p>Head Work,</p> + +<p>Containing Geographical Rebuses, Puzzles, Syncopations, Geographical +Questions, Proverbial Anagrams, Enigmas, Charades, and Numerical +Puzzles, contributed by the subscribers, and rendered unusually +attractive by original features <span class="smcap">NOT TO BE FOUND IN ANY OTHER MAGAZINE</span>.</p> + +<p>In addition to the above-mentioned departments, there are regular +contributions on Natural History, History, the Sciences, Facts and +Figures from some of the most learned men in the country.</p> + +<p>OLIVER OPTIC'S MAGAZINE contains more reading matter than any other +juvenile publication, and is the CHEAPEST and the BEST Periodical of the +kind in the United States.</p> + +<p>Any boy or girl who will write to the publishers shall receive a +specimen copy by mail, free.</p> + +<p><i><b>TERMS, IN ADVANCE.</b></i>—Single Subscriptions, One Year, $2.50; One Volume, +Six Months, $1.25; Single copies, 6 cents. Three copies, $6.50; five +copies, $10.00; ten copies (with an extra copy <i>free</i>), $20.00.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> +<p><b>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</b></p> + +<p>LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS.</p> + +<p>THE BOAT CLUB SERIES.</p> + +<p>A library for Young People. Each volume illustrated. In sets or +separate.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>THE BOAT CLUB; or, the Bunkers of Rippleton. $1.25.</p> + +<p>"One noticeable feature of this author's books is their purity. Not a +line is to be found in any work of his but what will tend to elevate and +purify the mind of the boy or girl who may peruse it."</p> + +<p>ALL ABOARD; or, Life on the Lake. $1.25.</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">All Aboard</span>" was written to gratify the reasonable curiosity of the +readers of the "<i>Boat Club</i>," to know what occurred at Woodlake during +the second season; and though it is a sequel, it has no direct +connection with its predecessor. The Introduction in the first chapter +contains a brief synopsis of the principal events of the first season; +so that those who have not read the "<i>Boat Club</i>" will labor under no +disadvantage on that account.</p> + +<p>NOW OR NEVER; or, the Adventures of Bobby Bright. $1.25.</p> + +<p>The author has been for many years a successful teacher in one of the +Boston Public Schools, and the knowledge of youthful character thus +obtained has been used to good advantage in his works.</p> + +<p>TRY AGAIN; or, the Trials and Triumphs of Harry West. $1.25.</p> + +<p>The story of Harry West is a record of youthful experience designed to +illustrate the necessity and the results of perseverance in well doing. +The true success of life is the attainment of a pure and exalted +character; and he who at three-score-and-ten has won nothing but wealth +and a name, has failed to achieve the noblest purpose of his being. This +is the moral of the story contained in this volume.</p> + +<p>LITTLE BY LITTLE; or, the Cruise of the Flyaway. $1.25.</p> + +<p>Paul Duncan, the hero of this volume, is a nautical young gentleman, and +most of the events of the story occur upon the water, and possess that +exciting and captivating character for which this author's books are +famous. But the author hopes that something more than exciting incidents +will be found upon his pages; that though he has seldom, if ever, gone +out of his way to define the moral quality, or measure the moral +quantity, of the words and deeds of his characters, the story will not +be found wanting in a true Christian spirit.</p> + +<p>POOR AND PROUD; or, the Fortunes of Katy Redburn. $1.25.</p> + +<p>The history of a smart girl, where fortunes are made to depend upon her +good principles, her politeness, her determined perseverance, and her +over-coming that foolish pride, which is a snare to the feet. In these +respects she is a worthy example for the young.</p> + +<p>Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> + +<p>LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD.</p> + +<p>A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. 16mo. Illustrated by +Nast, Stevens, Perkins, and others.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>OUTWARD BOUND: or, Young America Afloat. $1.50.</p> + +<p>"In Outward Bound," "the Ship Young America, sails for Europe, with a +school of eighty-seven boys aboard her, who pursue the studies of a +school, and at the same time work the ship across the Atlantic, being +amenable to regular naval discipline."</p> + +<p>SHAMROCK AND THISTLE; or, Young America in Ireland and Scotland. $1.50.</p> + +<p>"This volume continues the history of the academy ship and her crew of +boys, with their trips into the interior as well as voyages along the +coast of Ireland and Scotland. The young scholar will get a truer and +fuller conception of these countries by reading this unpretentious +journal of travel, than by weeks of hard study upon the geographies and +histories."</p> + +<p>RED CROSS; or, Young America in England and Wales. $1.50.</p> + +<p>"The third volume of Oliver Optic's Library of travel and adventure +chronicles the doings of the Young America and her crew in British ports +and waters, and is replete with thrilling adventures and descriptions of +noted places."</p> + +<p>DIKES AND DITCHES; or, Young America in Holland and Belgium. $1.50</p> + +<p>"The author takes his readers on voyages up the rivers and canals of +Holland and Belgium, on tramps through the cities, their schools, their +art galleries, and their wonderful buildings, giving at every turn vivid +impressions of what is seen and heard therein and thereabouts."</p> + +<p>PALACE AND COTTAGE; or, Young America in France and Switzerland. $1.50</p> + +<p>"This volume relates the history of the American Squadron (<i>Young +America</i> and <i>Josephine</i>) in the waters of France, with the journey of +the students to Paris and through a portion of Switzerland. As an +episode, the story of the runaway cruise of the Josephine is introduced, +inculcating the moral that 'the way of the transgressor is hard.'"</p> + +<p>DOWN THE RHINE; or, Young America in Germany. $1.50.</p> + +<p>This volume concludes the first series of Young America, and is as +interesting and instructive as the preceding volumes. So great has been +the success of this series, that Oliver Optic is now preparing a second. +"Up the Baltic" will be the first volume, to be followed by "Northern +Lands," "Vine and Olive," "Sunny Shores," "Cross and Crescent" and +"Isles of the Sea." Sold by all book-sellers and news-dealers, and sent +by mail on receipt of price.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> + +<p>LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS.</p> + +<p>WOODVILLE STORIES.</p> + +<p><i>16mo. Handsomely Illustrated. In sets or separate</i>.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>RICH AND HUMBLE; or, the Mission of Bertha Grant. $1.25.</p> + +<p>"No author is more welcomed by the young, and no books can be more +safely placed in their hands. His writings, as in this volume of 'Rich +and Humble,' inspire the reader with a lofty purpose. They show the +wrong courses of life only to present, by contrast, the true and right +path, and make it the way which youth will wish to walk in, because of +its being the most pleasant and inviting."—<i>Mass. Teacher</i>.</p> + +<p>IN SCHOOL AND OUT; or, The Conquest of Richard and Grant. $1.25.</p> + +<p>"Oliver Optic is as well known and as highly appreciated among the young +people of our land as Charles Dickens is among the older folks. 'In +School and Out' is equal to anything he has written. It is a story that +will deeply interest boys particularly, and make them better."—<i>Notices +of the Press</i>.</p> + +<p>WATCH AND WAIT; or, The Young Fugitives. $1.25.</p> + +<p>The author has used, to the best advantage, the many exciting incidents +that naturally attend the career of a fugitive slave, and the seeds that +he may sow in youthful hearts will perhaps bear a hundred-fold.</p> + +<p>WORK AND WIN; or, Noddy Newman on a Cruise. $1.25.</p> + +<p>"A nautical story of adventure and endurance, written to delineate the +upward progress of a boy whose moral attributes were of the lowest +order, in consequence of neglected education, but in whom high religious +principles were afterwards developed."—<i>Notices of the Press</i>.</p> + +<p>HOPE AND HAVE; or, Fanny Grant among the Indians. $1.25.</p> + +<p>"This is a story of Western adventure and of peril among the Indians, +and contains the experience of Fanny Grant, who, from a very naughty +girl, became a very good one, by the influence of a pure and beautiful +example exhibited by an erring child, in the hour of her greatest +wandering from the path of virtue."—<i>Philadelphia Age</i>.</p> + +<p>HASTE AND WASTE; or, The Young Pilot of Lake Champlain. $1.25.</p> + +<p>"This is a story of boyish daring and integrity upon Lake Champlain, and +older heads than those of sixteen may read and profit by it."</p> + +<p>The stories in the "Woodville" series are hinged together only so far as +the same characters have been retained in each.</p> + +<p>Sold by all booksellers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of +price.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> + +<p>LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>STARRY FLAG SERIES.</p> + +<p><i>Each volume handsomely illustrated. In sets or separate.</i></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>THE STARRY FLAG; or, the Young Fisherman of Cape Ann. $1.25.</p> + +<p>"The early history of Levi Fairfield, the boy hero of this volume, as it +is graphically traced by Oliver Optic, will be apt to hold boy-readers +spell-bound. His manly virtue, his determined character, his superiority +to mean vice, his industry, and his stirring adventures, will suggest +good lessons for imitation."—<i>Presbyterian</i>.</p> + +<p>BREAKING AWAY; or, the Fortunes of a Student. $1.25.</p> + +<p>"In this volume Oliver Optic opens the school-room door, and shows the +nature, construction, and workings of the school system; its lights and +shadows; its discipline, and the serious consequences that come from +want of discipline."—<i>Patriot</i>.</p> + +<p>SEEK AND FIND; or, the Adventures of a Smart Boy. $1.25.</p> + +<p>Earnest Thornton, the "smart boy" of this story, is a clear headed, well +intentioned, plucky boy, that has a high aim and means right even where +he is wrong, and his adventures will be read with interest.</p> + +<p>FREAKS OF FORTUNE; or, Half around the World,—a sequel to "The Starry +Flag." $1.25.</p> + +<p>"The adventures of Levi Fairfield, the noble young Captain of the Starry +Flag, excited such an interest among the young folks that the +continuance of his story was called for, with which demand the ever +ready author has complied, with a story equally attractive and +interesting."</p> + +<p>MAKE OR BREAK; or, the Rich Man's Daughter. $1.25.</p> + +<p>"This is a lively, stirring volume, full of interest and instruction +from one cover to the other. Just the book a smart, wide-awake boy will +enjoy intensely."—<i>Press</i>.</p> + +<p>DOWN THE RIVER; or, Buck Bradford and his Tyrants. $1.25.</p> + +<p>"These stories are not only written in a manner well calculated to +enchain the attention of young readers, but teach at the same time such +important lessons of sobriety, industry and cheerfulness, that we should +like to see them in the hands of every boy in the land."—<i>Galesburg +Free Press</i>.</p> + +<p>Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> + +<p>LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>SOPHIE MAY'S BOOKS.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>LITTLE PRUDY STORIES.</p> + +<p><i>Six volumes. Illustrated. In Sets or separate. Per volume, 75 cents.</i></p> + +<p>LITTLE PRUDY.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">LITTLE PRUDY'S Sister Susy.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">LITTLE PRUDY'S Captain Horace.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">LITTLE PRUDY'S Cousin Grace.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">LITTLE PRUDY'S Story Book.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">LITTLE PRUDY'S Dotty Dimple.</span><br /></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>DOTTY DIMPLE STORIES.</p> + +<p>By the author of "Little Prudy Stories."</p> + +<p><i>Six volumes. Illustrated. In Sets or separate. Per volume</i>, 75 <i>cents</i>.</p> + +<p>DOTTY DIMPLE at her Grandmother's.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">DOTTY DIMPLE at Home.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">DOTTY DIMPLE out West.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">DOTTY DIMPLE at Play.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">DOTTY DIMPLE at School.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">DOTTY DIMPLE'S Flyaway.</span><br /></p> + +<p>Read the high commendation of the <i>North American Review</i>, which places +Sophie May's Books at the</p> + +<p><b>Head of Juvenile Literature.</b></p> + +<p>"Genius comes in with 'Little Prudy.' Compared with her, all other +book-children are cold creations of Literature only; she alone is the +real thing. All the quaintness of childhood, its originality, its +tenderness and its teasing,—its infinite, unconscious drollery, the +serious earnestness of its fun, the fun of its seriousness, the natural +religion of its plays, and the delicious oddity of its prayers,—all +these waited for dear Little Prudy to embody them. Sam Weller is not +more piquant; Hans Anderson's nutcrackers and knitting-needles are not +more thoroughly charged with life. There are six little green volumes in +the series, and of course other <i>dramatis personæ</i> must figure; but one +eagerly watches for every reappearance of Prudy, as one watches at the +play for Owens or Warren to re-enter upon the stage. Who is our +benefactress in the authorship of these books, the world knows not. +Sophie May must doubtless be a fancy name, by reason of the spelling, +and we have only to be greatful that the author did not inflict on us +the customary alliteration in her pseudonyme. The rare gift of +delineating childhood is hers, and may the line of 'Little Prudy' go out +to the end of the earth.... To those oversaturated with transatlantic +traditions we recommend a course of 'Little Prudy,'"</p> + +<p>Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> + +<p>LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>VACATION STORY BOOKS.</p> + +<p>6 volumes. Each volume handsomely illustrated. 80 cents.</p> + +<p>WORTH NOT WEALTH.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">COUNTRY LIFE.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">THE CHARM.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">KARL KEIGLER.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">WALTER SEYTON.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">HOLIDAYS AT CHESTNUT HILL.</span><br /></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>ROSY DIAMOND STORY BOOKS.</p> + +<p>6 volumes. Each volume handsomely illustrated. 80 cents.</p> + +<p>THE GREAT ROSY DIAMOND.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">DAISY; or, The Fairy Spectacles.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">VIOLET: A Fairy Story.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">MINNIE; or, The Little Woman.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;">THE ANGEL CHILDREN.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">LITTLE BLOSSOM'S REWARD.</span><br /></p> + +<p>These volumes are finely and profusely illustrated from designs by +Hoppin and other eminent artists. They are elegantly bound, and neatly +packed in ornamental boxes. As gifts for holidays and birthdays, where a +uniform value and appearance is desired, they are excellent.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><b><i>Mrs. Madeline Leslie's Books.</i></b></p> + +<p>PLAY AND STUDY SERIES.</p> + +<p>4 volumes. Each volume illustrated. Price, $1.50.</p> + +<p>PLAY AND STUDY.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">THE MOTHERLESS CHILDREN.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">HOWARD AND HIS TEACHER.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">JACK, THE CHIMNEY-SWEEP.</span><br /></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>LITTLE AGNES' LIBRARY.</p> + +<p>4 volumes. Each volume illustrated. Price, $1.50.</p> + +<p>LITTLE AGNES.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">TRYING TO BE USEFUL.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">I'LL TRY.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">ART AND ARTLESSNESS.</span><br /></p> + +<p>For family reading and Sabbath School libraries there are no better +books written than these by Mrs. Leslie. With attractive and interesting +stories are mingled wholesome truths and moral lessons. Of all these +books large editions have been printed, and they may be found largely +circulated in Sabbath Schools.</p> + +<p>Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><b>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</b></p> + +<p>LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>RIVERDALE STORY-BOOKS.</p> + +<p>Six volumes, profusely illustrated from new designs by Billings. In neat +box. Cloth. Per vol., .45.</p> + +<p>COMPRISING</p> + +<p>Little Merchant. +Young Voyagers. +Dolly and I. +Proud and Lazy. +Careless Kate. +Robinson Crusoe, Jr.</p> + +<p>These little volumes are very interesting and attractive, and they carry +a moral with them, which, if heeded, there is no doubt will set Youth in +the right direction for its own benefit.</p> + +<p>FLORA LEE STORY BOOKS.</p> + +<p>Companions to the above. Six volumes, profusely illustrated from new +designs by Billings. In neat box. Cloth. Per volume, .45.</p> + +<p>COMPRISING</p> + +<p>Christmas Gift. +Uncle Ben. +Birthday Party. +The Picnic Party. +The Gold Thimble. +The Do-Somethings.</p> + +<p>These stories are written in "Oliver Optic's" best style, and all are +interesting and attractive.</p> + +<p>OUR STANDARD BEARER; Or, The Life of Gen'l Ulysses S. Grant: His Youth, +His Manhood, His Campaigns, and his eminent Services in the +Reconstruction of the Nation his Sword has redeemed. As seen and related +by Captain Bernard Galligasken, Cosmopolitan, and written out by Oliver +Optic. Illustrated by Thos. Nast. 16mo. Cloth. $1.50.</p> + +<p>"This is a book for young men to read; for boys to read; and old men +will find their dull blood stirred by its graphic descriptions, its +thrilling narrative, and its hearty enthusiasm."—<i>New Bedford Mercury</i>.</p> + +<p>THE WAY OF THE WORLD.</p> + +<p>By William T. Adams (Oliver Optic). 12mo. $2.00.</p> + +<p>"This excellent writer for children has here tried his hand at writing +for grown people, and has succeeded admirably."—<i>Times</i>.</p> + +<p>"It is long since we have read a more interesting book."—<i>Gazette</i>.</p> + +<p>"The Way of the World is a popular story of the intense class, full of +thrilling incidents and exciting scenes, such as boys delight to +read."—<i>Congregationalist</i>.</p> + +<p>Sold by all book-sellers and news-dealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, +on receipt of price.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> + +<p>LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS.</p> + +<p>ARMY AND NAVY STORIES.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>THE SOLDIER BOY; or, Tom Somers in the Army. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50.</p> + +<p>"This is a story of the rebellion, narrating the adventures of a +patriotic youth, who left the comforts of home to share the dangers of +the field. He is carried through several battles, and for a while shared +the hospitalities of the rebels as a prisoner. The story is true to +history, giving in the form of personal adventure correct accounts of +many stirring scenes of the war.<i>—Hartford Courant</i>.</p> + +<p>THE SAILOR BOY; or, Jack Somers in the Navy. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50.</p> + +<p>"Jack is the brother of Tom, the Soldier Boy, whose adventures in the +army were so much enjoyed. We have only to repeat that there are few +better stories for boys than these of Mr. Adams'. Always bright and even +sparkling with animation, the story never drags; there are no stupid +tasks or tiresome descriptions; the boys whose characters are drawn are +real boys, impulsive, with superabundant animal life, and the heroes are +manly, generous, healthy creations.—<i>Hartford Press</i>.</p> + +<p>THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT; or, The Adventures of an Army Officer. 16mo. +Illustrated. $1.50</p> + +<p>"The Young Lieutenant" is a sequel to "The Soldier Boy," and carries the +reader through the stormy scenes of the rebellion, creates Thomas Somers +an officer, and as such he performs much difficult work in the +rebellion.</p> + +<p>YANKEE MIDDY; or, Adventures of a Naval Officer. 16mo. Illustrated. +$1.50.</p> + +<p>"The incidents of the story are those which have occurred on the ocean, +and on the bays, inlets, and rivers of the South, common in the +experience of all our naval officers who have been actively employed +during the war."—<i>Notices of the Press</i>.</p> + +<p>FIGHTING JOE; or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer. 16mo. Illustrated. +$1.50.</p> + +<p>"The description of battles and sieges, of picket and skirmishing, of +camp life and marching, are wrought out with thrilling detail, making +the story truly fascinating; while, in connection with this, useful and +practical information respecting men and places is conveyed, and a +proper spirit of morality and patriotism inculcated."—<i>Notices of the +Press</i>.</p> + +<p>BRAVE OLD SALT; or, Life on the Quarter-Deck. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50.</p> + +<p>A book of adventure, of personal experience, describing a living hero, +and exhibiting the great truth that, by fidelity of conscience, country, +and God, earthly and heavenly blessings are secured.</p> + +<p>Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Angel Children, by Charlotte M. 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Higgins + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Angel Children + or, Stories from Cloud-Land + +Author: Charlotte M. Higgins + +Release Date: December 6, 2006 [EBook #20043] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ANGEL CHILDREN *** + + + + +Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Labyrinths and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: THE GARDEN OF GOD.--See pp. 40, 41.] + +[Illustration: + +Rosy Diamond Story Books For Girls +Illustrated +THE ANGEL CHILDREN +BOSTON, LEE & SHEPARD.] + + + + +THE + +ANGEL CHILDREN; + +OR, + +STORIES FROM CLOUD-LAND. + +BY + +CHARLOTTE M. HIGGINS. + +BOSTON: +LEE AND SHEPARD. + + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by +PHILLIPS, SAMPSON & CO., + +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of +Massachusetts. + +Stereotyped by +HOBART & ROBBINS, +New England Type and Stereotype Foundery +BOSTON. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE +HEPSA AND GENEVIEVE, 5 +THE GARDEN OF GOD; OR, THE BABY'S FIRST SMILE, 26 +CYBELE, THE TAMBOURINE GIRL, 44 +THE STORY OF MAGGIE'S JOURNEY, 63 +THE OLD WOMAN AND THE ENCHANTED SONG, 84 +THE OLD MAN'S STORY, 102 +A STORY OF THE CHRIST-CHILD, 118 + + + + +VACATION STORY BOOKS. + +6 volumes. Each volume handsomely illustrated. 80 cents. + +WORTH NOT WEALTH. + COUNTRY LIFE. + THE CHARM. + KARL KEIGLER. + WALTER SEYTON. + HOLIDAYS AT CHESTNUT HILL. + + +ROSY DIAMOND STORY BOOKS. + +6 volumes. Each volume handsomely illustrated. 80 cents. + +THE GREAT ROSY DIAMOND. + DAISY; or, The Fairy Spectacles. + VIOLET: A Fairy Story. + MINNIE; or, The Little Woman. + THE ANGEL CHILDREN. + LITTLE BLOSSOM'S REWARD. + +These volumes are finely and profusely illustrated from designs by +Hoppin and other eminent artists. They are elegantly bound, and neatly +packed in ornamental boxes. As gifts for holidays and birthdays, where a +uniform value and appearance is desired, they are excellent. + + +=LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.= + + + + +STORIES. + +HEPSA AND GENEVIEVE. + + +Genevieve lived in a large, handsome house, which had beautiful gardens +all about it. She had no brother or sister, but she had a large +play-room, filled with the nicest toys, so that a good many children who +came to play in it thought she must be perfectly happy; but Genevieve +had often thought how willingly she would give the room and all its +playthings for a little brother of her own, whom she might take out in +the garden for a walk, and watch carefully, just as her mother watched +her. + +One day, while she was walking in the garden, thinking of the little +brother she so much wanted, who she was sure would look like her dear +mother, with her blue eyes, and golden curls, what should she hear but +the noise of some one crying outside the garden fence. Now, as she +could not look through the fence,--for it was quite high and made of +thick boards,--she ran quickly to the gate, and then round to the place +where she had heard the crying. There she saw a little girl sitting upon +the side-walk, with bare feet and legs, which were none of the whitest, +wearing a dress of brown cloth with many tatters in it, and short black +hair hanging over her face and head. Genevieve looked at her in +amazement. + +"Dear me!" she at last exclaimed, "where do you live?" + +At this question the child stopped her crying, and pulling away her hair +with both of her hands from her face, disclosed a pair of large black +eyes, which, swollen with tears, regarded little Genevieve with sly, +sleepy wonder. + +It was not wonderful she should be astonished to behold so neat and +pretty a child close by her side. Genevieve wore a blue frock and white +apron, neat stockings and slippers, and pantalettes with broad ruffles. +So she only gazed at Genevieve, without dreaming of answering her +question. + +"What is your name?" asked Genevieve. + +"What is yours?" demanded the child. + +"Mine is Genevieve. Tell me what yours is?" + +"Hepsa. Do you live in there?" and Hepsa nodded her head towards the +fence. Genevieve replied that she did. + +"But tell me why you were crying?" she asked. + +"Because Tom beat my black cat this morning and threw her into the pond, +and she was everything I had." Hepsa burst into tears again, and little +Genevieve's heart was so filled with compassion, that she sat down upon +the dirty ground, at the side of the afflicted child, without ever +thinking of the blue frock and clean pantalettes she was soiling. + +"O, dear, dear!" she cried, shocked at Tom's cruelty. "How wicked he +was! What made him do so,--your brother, too?" Genevieve thought in her +heart that little brother, of whom she so often thought, never would +have done such a thing. + +Hepsa looked up half angrily, as she replied: + +"You needn't keep telling me he is my brother! I'm sure I don't want +him to be, and wish he wasn't. I don't love him a bit, he always plagues +me so much." + +"O, Hepsa, don't say so; pray don't!" cried Genevieve, shocked at +Hepsa's passion. "If he is your brother, you ought to love him, you +know." + +"I don't know any such thing, I tell you! You may love him yourself if +you want to; but I guess, when he kicks you, and beats you, and steals +your things, and knocks your mud-houses down, you won't love him. I'd +like to know why _I've_ got to love him?" Hepsa demanded this of +Genevieve in a very fierce manner. + +"Because he is your brother I suppose, and because he ought to be good; +and perhaps he plagues you because you don't love him," answered +Genevieve, somewhat perplexed how she should answer the question, +thinking in her own heart Hepsa had a very wicked brother. "At any +rate," she continued, "God gave him to you; and I have read how he tells +us all to love each other." + +"I never did," replied Hepsa; "and if God gave Tom to me, I wish he'd +take him back, for I don't want him." + +"Why, Hepsa; how wicked you are! You shall not talk so!" almost shrieked +Genevieve. The tears came fast into her eyes, she was so grieved to hear +Hepsa talk in that way. + +"But I'm not wicked!" retorted Hepsa indignantly. "I don't know who God +is. Why should I? He never comes to see me. I suppose he comes to see +you, and is some great person; while I am poor and live in a mean house, +and nobody comes to see me, of course." Hepsa looked away from +Genevieve's blue frock, and seemed to be searching for something away +down the street. + +Genevieve could not sit still any longer, but, rising, she remonstrated +with Hepsa in this manner: + +"God is not a man, Hepsa; and he goes into poor houses as often as into +rich ones." + +Hepsa looked very sharply upon little Genevieve as she replied, + +"Ha! Don't you be telling me stories; why don't I see him ever, I'd like +to know? Haven't I got eyes?" + +"I don't know," said Genevieve, doubtfully. "Father was reading this +morning about people who had eyes, but could not see." + +Hepsa looked at her a moment, and then nodded her head towards her, and +said, speaking low as to a third person, "She's cracked a little, I +think;" then, as she looked towards the fence, she remembered the garden +which was behind it, and asked Genevieve for some flowers. But Genevieve +only said "O, yes," and went on to say, "Of course you can't see God, +Hepsa! He lives in the skies." + +"I shouldn't think he would come down here, then. I wouldn't!" + +"But, Hepsa, God loves us; then, too, he is everywhere at once." + +"Mercy!" said Hepsa to herself, in a low tone. "Worse and worse!" + +"And he made everything you see, Hepsa, and a great deal more beside," +continued Genevieve. + +"There, there!" said Hepsa, impatiently; "don't talk any more; it sounds +odd." Genevieve looked at Hepsa, and the wild, petulant look of her +face grieved and shocked her so much, that she burst into tears. + +"What is the matter?" said Hepsa. "I thought you were going to get me +the flowers." + +"And so I will," said Genevieve, wiping up her tears as well as she +could; and she ran into the garden, and picked a large bunch of flowers. +There were the sweet mignonette and heliotrope, the pink verbena, and +the beautiful white scented verbena, the gay phlox, the pure candytuft, +bits of lemon blossoms, and the faithful pansies. It was such a +beautiful bunch as to melt poor Hepsa's heart to gratitude. + +"I do think I should love to kiss you," she said to Genevieve, "if my +face were not so dirty, and you look _so_ clean." + +"I don't care!" said Genevieve, and so she kissed Hepsa and said, +"Hepsa, I wish you would never again talk so about God, for I love him +very dearly, and so do my father and mother." + +Hepsa began to think Genevieve was not crazy, and so she became more +serious. + +"But did you never read about Him, Hepsa?" asked Genevieve. + +"No, indeed; I can't read at all!" exclaimed Hepsa, astonished at +Genevieve's questions. + +"Not read! Why, Hepsa, why don't you go to school?" + +"I can't; mother keeps me at home to tend the baby while she goes to +washing." + +A bright thought came into Genevieve's little head. + +"Where do you live?" she asked. + +"O, away down that lane, the other side of the village! I work nearly +all the time, some way or other." + +"Have you any father?" + +"Yes;" and Hepsa looked as though she did not love him better than she +loved Tom. + +"May I teach you to read?" asked Genevieve, looking into Hepsa's eyes +entreatingly. The child turned away her head as she answered, + +"I haven't any time. I have to stay at home." + +"But," pursued Genevieve, "I'll come down to your house, and bring some +books, and help you tend the baby. O! don't you love the baby?" + +"No! he is _too_ cross," was the crusty reply. + +"But, he is a baby; he don't know any better." + +"That don't make any difference." + +"Yes it does, too; your big brother knew better than to kill your pretty +pussy, and that is why it was so naughty in him to do it." This was a +new kind of argument for Hepsa; but she thought over it a moment, and +then told her little teacher she thought she might be right. "I almost +wish you would come to teach me to read. I don't know but I might like +it; and then it would be rather good to see you. Now, are you sure there +is such a person as God?" said Hepsa, glancing at Genevieve from the +corners of her eyes. + +"Of course I am, Hepsa; who do you think made the sky and the ground, +the trees and grass?" + +"I don't know," replied Hepsa. + +"And the sun and the moon, and the stars," continued Genevieve, with a +mysterious tone. Hepsa shook her head by way of saying no. + +"And all the fathers and mothers and children?" at which question Hepsa +looked _so_ perplexed. + +"I asked mother once," she said, musingly, "who made all these things; +but she told me I'd better be minding the cradle. I guess she didn't +know; but I've always had spells of wondering about it." + +Genevieve looked very gravely at Hepsa as she said, + +"It was God who made all these things." + +"Well, I don't know but it was," replied Hepsa. + +"But I _know_ it was; the Bible says so, and father and mother say so, +too; beside, I feel it in my heart, when I see the sun and the flowers, +and everything looks so pretty." + +"Do you?" cried Hepsa, seeming to feel a new interest in her companion. +"I wonder if you ever hear pretty voices in the trees when the wind +blows, and in the night when it is warm, and you are looking up to the +moon, and see the light that comes down through the holes in the sky, +does something great seem to come close to you?" + +"Why, yes, Hepsa, ever so many times, and I think it is God. And when +Katie leaves me to go to sleep, and it is all dark, I know God comes +then, for I feel him all around, and the room seems so big--bigger than +it ever did before, bigger than the garden, bigger than the fields, +bigger than the sky. I can't tell you how big." + +"O, well--and--what did you say your name was?" asked Hepsa. + +"Genevieve;" and she pronounced it very slowly. + +"It is rather odd," said Hepsa, trying to repeat the name; "but I want +to know if you ever laid down on the ground when it rained, and +listened." + +"No!" + +"Well, it is real beautiful; in the grass, it sounds _like bells_--it +sounds better where the grass is tall." + +"I wish I could hear it," said Genevieve, sadly; "but my mother wouldn't +like to have me lie on the ground when it rained." + +"How would she know it," asked Hepsa, "if you didn't tell her?" + +"Why, Hepsa, I shouldn't want to if she wouldn't like it--I shouldn't +want to at all." + +"I suppose, then, she won't let you come to hear me read?" + +"O, yes she will, I know! I'll ask her, and she will kiss me, and say +yes." + +So Hepsa told her where she lived, and Genevieve went into the house, +and Hepsa went home, feeling very happy about the flowers, and thinking +of the things her new friend had told her. + +"She says I must love Tom, and that is so queer; but if the God who gave +me Tom, is the One who comes so near to me sometimes, I'll try; and, +perhaps, if I hadn't called Tom such names this morning, he wouldn't +have killed my poor cat." So Genevieve's words had sunk into Hepsa's +heart already. + +Genevieve went to her mother, and told her what a strange little girl +she had found that morning, and that she had promised to go and teach +her to read, that she might know about God. + +[Illustration: GENEVIEVE READING THE BIBLE TO HEPSA.] + +On the next day she took some of her books, and, with some of her +prettiest playthings for a present to Hepsa, she went in search of +the house down the lane, on the other side of the village. + +She found a gentler pupil than on the day before; and Hepsa's hair was +laid smoothly upon her forehead, her face clean, and though there were +some tatters in her dress, Genevieve did not much mind them. + +The baby was in his cradle, fast asleep, and Genevieve went and knelt +down by the side of it, and looked at it carefully, as though she was +afraid of awaking it, and then whispered to Hepsa her admiration of the +little hands, which lay cunningly upon the quilt, and said how much she +wanted to kiss him; would he wake, she wondered, if she just kissed his +cheek, and didn't make any noise? Hepsa told her no; so she kissed him; +and then, after looking at him to see how sweetly he slept,--now +frowning, and now smiling in his dreams,--she went away with Hepsa, and +they talked a great while together, telling each other what the other +didn't know. Genevieve was often shocked and grieved at Hepsa's +undutiful remarks about her father, mother and brother; and when she +felt they didn't love Hepsa, as her own dear father and mother loved +her, still she could not understand why Hepsa did not love them better. +She was often a good deal perplexed to know what she should say to the +strange child; but of one thing she felt always certain, that her new +companion needed to have her heart cleansed and purified before she +could be loved well. She felt a strong love for Hepsa, and longed to +teach her more of God, and show her how to read, that she might teach +herself. + +Hepsa was amazed when her friend took out the playthings from the bag +and gave them to her; no one had before shown her such kindness; and +Genevieve thought in her heart she was just as happy giving those things +to Hepsa, as when they were given to her. + +Poor Hepsa had never been to school, and so she didn't even know the +alphabet; but Genevieve sat down patiently to teach her, and found truly +that much patience was necessary to accomplish the work she had +undertaken. Hepsa would soon grow discouraged when she found so much to +learn, and saw her little teacher reading so readily; and her mother +would often scold when she saw Hepsa with a book in her hand, declaring +it was foolish nonsense; but, as time went on, and the first +difficulties were overcome, and her mother began to find Hepsa growing +very gentle, and Tom had less occasion to plague his sister, they all +felt that the books Hepsa had studied, and the little girl who came so +often to see her, were kind friends, and love began to bind them all +together. Hepsa no longer wore torn clothes; Genevieve's mother had +given her some neat dresses, and Genevieve had given her needles and +thread, and taught her to sew, and now many a rent was carefully mended, +and even Tom began to look neater than formerly. She was careful too to +keep the room nicely, and one day was amply rewarded for this, when Tom +came in before she had had time to do it, and complained of its being +dirty. "Tom begins to like a clean room," she said to herself with joy, +and received his few harsh words as though they had been those of love. +The baby too was always clean, for she knew Genevieve always depended +upon kissing him. + +Hepsa's father was not a good man; he was unkind to his poor wife and +children; so it was no wonder Tom had gone on, following the example +constantly placed before him; but he was a child yet, and when he saw +how Hepsa began to love him, that she grieved without being angry when +he was unkind to her, it could not but touch his heart. He was half +ashamed, too, when she saved for him some of the good things Genevieve +had brought her. At first, 't is true, he thought little about it, but +when often, after he had been so ugly to her, she came just the same, +and offered him half of her orange, or a part of her nuts, he began to +feel that he was a naughty boy, and that Hepsa was better than she used +to be. + +It was very natural he should ask her the reason of this, and very +natural, too, that she should answer in this way: + +"Why, Tom, I have learned a great deal about God from Genevieve, and +then she has taught me to read, and I have learned a great deal that +way. Tom, where do you think Susan went when she died?" + +Tom couldn't tell. Susan was an elder sister of theirs, whom they had +loved very dearly, and who had died some two years before. + +"Well, Tom; there are angels who take all the children, as soon as they +die, and show them wonderful things, and teach them, so they can go into +a beautiful place called heaven, and live with God. Well, if you begin +to be good here, and love people, you will go into that heaven sooner, +when you die, than if you are naughty, and don't think about these +things while you are here. I want to go there very much, and so I try to +be good, though I don't always make out well." Tom looked thoughtful at +his sister's words, and then said: + +"I think that little Genevieve will go very fast, when she dies. But I +don't think father will get there very soon, now I tell you!" + +"O, but Tom," said Hepsa sadly, "we must not think who will not go, but +how _we_ may go." + +"I wish I knew how to read," said Tom; "but I never can go to school, +father makes me saw so much wood." + +Then Hepsa asked him to let her teach him; and, after a good deal of +hesitation, he told her he didn't care if she did. + +Some time after this, Genevieve's father and mother went away from that +place, and she parted from Hepsa with many tears in her eyes, and much +grief in her heart. "If I never see you again," she said, "don't forget +we are both going into the gardens up there," and Hepsa always +remembered. + +Genevieve was a very quiet girl, but she was always ready to do +something to please her dear mother, and at night brought her father's +slippers from the closet, and placed them ready by his chair. She did, +too, many little things for the servants, who all loved her very dearly; +so when, a few years afterwards, she fell sick, and nothing they could +do for her was able to make her any better, but the doctor said she must +die, they all wept very much, and no comfort or joy could come into +their hearts. But Genevieve gently kissed them, and told them a +beautiful peace had come into her heart, for that, in the night, Christ +often came to her, and told her how the angel was all ready to take her +into his beautiful garden, and teach her out of his great golden books. + +At last, one morning she died, and they laid her away in the garden near +by the fountain; and they planted the mignonette and myrtle, that, +mingling with the moss, it might grow over her grave. + +And her mother said in her heart, "Let her lie here, that, as often as I +come hither, I may be reminded of the more beautiful gardens of God, to +which she has flown. And when, in the cool night, the stars look down, +the soft fragrance of the mignonette shall tell them of her loveliness, +and the myrtle and the moss of the constant love twining together the +souls of the mother and the daughter." + +It was as Christ had said; the angel stood ready, and when Genevieve +closed her eyes in death, he caught her in his arms, and placed her +before the Great Gate, which led into the gardens around the kingdom of +heaven. A great many men, women and children stood about it, waiting for +it to be opened, when suddenly a very bright angel, brighter than any +she had ever seen in her dreams, came among them, seated on glorious +clouds. + +Then one by one did the crowd go before him, telling him what things +they had done on earth, in order to be admitted into the gardens, to be +prepared still more for the heavens. One said he had built a large +college, given it a large sum of money, and called it by his name, that +the world might see his works, and praise the Lord. Another told him how +he had toiled in heathen lands, and dwelt among savages, that they might +know and love God; another that he had prophesied; another that he had +built a hospital for the poor, and had sheltered them from the cold +winds; another still that he had delivered slaves from cruel masters, +and brought them to the light of freedom. O, there cannot be counted all +the men and women who came before the angel, and told of the things they +had accomplished! And, as the words came upon Genevieve, her heart +trembled for fear, and had it not been for the remembrance of those kind +tones of Christ, poor Genevieve would have shrieked aloud. + +What should she do? Rapidly she recalled every act of her life; but +nowhere in it could she find one act worthy to be brought before the +great bright angel. Alas! she had neither founded colleges nor +hospitals; she had never toiled in heathen lands, nor prophesied, nor +delivered slaves from bondage. Alas! must she lose those gardens when +still so near? + +The angel's glance fell upon Genevieve, and she drooped down in fear; +but what was her surprise when the angel came down from the cloud, and +raising her up, said, in tones of loving cadence, + +"Look, little one, thy work was accepted long ago!" and, looking as he +bade her, she saw Hepsa at her side, to whom, so long ago, she had +spoken of heaven, when she had found her a dirty, ignorant girl. + +"You have worked well," said the angel tenderly. "Go now into the +garden, and ere long I will come to put you into the Christ's arms." + +So Hepsa and Genevieve together walked through the gates, and the angels +who would be their teachers went with them; but I cannot tell you of the +beauty and glory of those scenes. I only beg you too to work well, that +the angel may speak as lovingly to you. + + + + +THE GARDEN OF GOD; + +OR, + +THE BABY'S FIRST SMILE. + + +In a very lovely little cottage, around which grew sweet-briers and +rose-trees, and up whose windows climbed honeysuckles and jessamines, +lived a mother with her baby. + +The mother was a young woman, with golden hair, kind blue eyes, and fair +white skin. There was always a look of love in her eye, and in the +gentle tones of her voice the most soothing tenderness. People said the +baby looked like her; but he cried so much that his face was continually +distorted, and so the resemblance was not of any use to him. + +Now there was a great deal of discussion about the baby's looks, as to +which he most resembled, his father or mother; some decided in favor of +his father, who was a tall man, with black hair, and black eyes, and +large, sharp features. It was a difficult question to answer, inasmuch +as the baby had yet but a very few hairs on his head, and his features +were not easily distinguishable; and as each person's decision affected +only his own opinion, there was a great deal of discussion and comparing +of the poor baby's little face with those of his parents, and, through +dint of being often shown them, the father and mother began to find the +most remarkable resemblance to each other in their little child. + +Well, one day he had been crying very hard, and his poor mother was +nearly worn sick with trying to quiet him. She had walked all over the +house, shown him everything on the tables, taken up books and shaken +them before his eyes, carried him to the windows and cried "See there! +see there!" with fresh tones of love and pity, without his seeming to be +in the least edified by it all. She tossed him before the looking-glass; +but he did not seem to be comforted by the glimpse of himself, done up +in a blanket, which he caught; until, at last, after putting everything +into every place in which it didn't belong, and trying to make him look +at things he didn't care to see, she resolutely put him in the cradle, +rocked him with his head moving now on this and now on that side of the +pillow, until he fell fast asleep. + +He had no sooner closed his eyes to sleep than he left his baby's body +in the cradle, and ran straight off to the gardens of God in heaven, +towards that place where dwell the angel-children who are yet to go down +and live upon the earth. As he came near the tall flowers, whose golden +petals were spread, and in whose cups lay sweet dew, he clapped his +hands with joy, and a bright smile lay on his lips, which before had +been distorted with grief. + +Not far from him there rose a bright fountain, which, falling, dashed +its water gently down into a broad, silvery basin beneath. In the midst +of the falling spray a large bird, with long, blue plumage, played, now +diving beneath the water, and now catching the drops as they fell from +the fountain. Then came other birds, some in gay scarlet plumage, with +white feathers about their necks and at the tips of their wings and +tails; they, too, played in the fountain, and chased each other over +the sparkling waters. + +Then there were tall trees, of such a bright green as is seldom seen on +the earth, and on them were fruits which looked a little like those we +see here, but a thousand times more beautiful, for they shone like +precious stones. About everything was a glory which it is impossible to +describe. + +At a little distance was a troop of fair children at play, and when they +had seen the little child from the earth they ran towards him, and would +have kissed him joyously, but that they saw the tears he had so recently +shed still standing upon his cheeks; at this, sorrow shone over their +faces, and tears like pearls entered their own eyes, as, in the +tenderest manner, they asked him the cause of his grief. + +"Do not ask me, dear brothers and sisters," he entreated; "I wish only +to think how I am with you now for a little while, and I long to forget +the earth-scenes." Speaking thus he kissed them all, and led them away +off among the bright fields. + +Very gayly they played a long time; they plucked the golden apples from +the trees, and threw them far up in the sky, and the apples bounded so +lightly that they still went on, till at last they dropped down to the +earth into some dark rooms where poor people lived, who, when they found +them, rejoiced exceedingly. + +Then they went riding on the clouds, and the light of their faces gave a +brightness to the edge of the clouds, so that the people on the earth +loved to stand watching them, never fancying what a troop of +angel-children were frolicking on them. + +At last they became weary of this sport, and bent their way quite +towards the earth. At this our earth-child saddened, and did not wing +his flight as quickly as the others did. Upon this they looked around +upon him and said: + +"Why tarry you? Do you not know we go to the earth, to do there what our +dear Teacher bids us? You have played with us, and will you not now do +the work which you have so often done with us before?" So he sped on +with them, but his voice was silent and his heart wept. + +They soon came to the earth, and then, unseen by any one, they made +their way towards a little, dingy house, in one room of which sat a +little boy upon a bench, driving pegs into the sole of a boot. On one +side lay all the boots in which he had driven pegs, and on the other a +great many more in which he must still drive them. He looked sad and +pale, and the sweat lay in large drops upon his forehead. By his side +sat a large, stout man, with his shirt-sleeves rolled up, displaying +strong, brawny arms, while his face was red and stern. He was also at +work, but watched the boy well, and if he saw his arm rested for a +moment he would give him a little push, bidding him mind his work; and +so the poor boy had to drive the pegs into the soles of the boots, even +though he was weary and his face pale and sad. + +Then the angel-children, seized with one feeling of love and pity (for +they could remember how the poor boy used to be one of them and play in +the garden of God), soared above him. One came down and wiped off the +drops of sweat from his brow; another passed his soft hands over the +boy's face, and rested him; and another put comforting thoughts into his +soul. + +Then the master looked up, and when he saw how the boy seemed suddenly +refreshed, he told him it was good to work and silly to be tired; and +when the boy heard these hard words, tears came into his eyes, and he +thought of his mother who used so tenderly to care for him, but had now +been gone long to the home of the angels. + +Then some of the angel-children wiped away the tears which had come into +the boy's eyes, and another shook his beautiful wings over his head, so +that at once a cool breeze fell over him and hopeful words entered his +soul. Some of the children moved his arm up and down as he drove the +pegs into the boot, and he wondered how easily he was able to work. + +All this time our earth-child stood apart, nodding his head sadly, and +when the others asked him the cause, he answered, "O, you do not know +how hard it is to live on the earth! See this poor boy; how far +different was it with him when he played with us in the gardens up +there!" + +The children were silent; they knew not how to comfort him. They +thought, too, of the time when they should live on the earth. + +Then they flew along and came to a large city, in which lived many +homeless children, who were led about by unkind and evil spirits; and +passed constantly by men and women, who did not so much as give them one +kind word. + +As the angel-children wandered among them they shuddered: such strange +words filled the air, and so dark and dingy looked the houses where they +went in and out. Could it be that these children, who talked together in +angry moods, who rather sought the opportunity to trouble each other, +had ever played in that fountain, and laughed together in the heavenly +fields? "O," they sighed, "could we but once drive the evil spirits from +one of them, and whisper in his ear of the kind love of God!" + +Then their wings fluttered and folded themselves over the head of a +large boy, whose clothes were dirty and tattered, his hair matted and +disordered, his body thin and wan, while the expression of his face was +very old and vacant. A slight girl, holding a little pail in her hand, +came along near him, and made as if she would go by him; but the boy +would not suffer her to pass on, and, stopping her, said to her, + +"Well, and what have you got?" + +The child looked at him fearfully, and remained silent; but the boy did +not heed her half-imploring look, but proceeded to lay hold of her pail, +in which she had had hot corn to sell, and, opening it, discovered there +six pennies instead. + +"Ah," he cried exultingly, "that is what I wanted! You have done well +with your corn; you may go on now;" and, despite the poor child's cries, +he took away the pennies, and, in resisting the little struggle the +child was able to make, he threw her down upon the pavement. + +This was in a dark street, filled with people wicked like this boy, and +where was no one who cared to take the child's part. + +But those angel-children were silent witnesses of this scene, and they +put out their hands, so the little girl was not much hurt in her fall. +Then they looked at each other in dismay; the pearly tears again came +into their bright eyes, and they asked each other what they might do for +this wretched boy. They remembered when the boy and girl played together +in the fair garden of God; and it was not possible for them to remember +that, and look unmoved upon this fearful change which had come over +him. "O, this is a sad earth-life!" murmured the baby's spirit; and he +nodded his head again in sorrow. "Why may not I, too, become like this +boy?" + +"But _must_ the earth-life bring this change?" asked another of the +angel-children, who saw the anguish of his friend, but knew not how to +comfort him. "Do we not remember the poor boy who worked so hard, and +had no rest, yet he was patient and good, and kept bright, and hung the +cord which tied his soul to heaven with the tear-drops which fell for +his dear, dead mother? When tried, he gave back no hard words. He was +better than we, who are happy always and have no trials." + +Not long after, they found the wicked boy asleep; he had thrown himself +down, in the corner of a dirty alley, on a little straw. The children +hovered over him, trying how they might approach him. They drove hence +the dark spirits, one by one, who hindered their approach, and then they +carried him off by the sea-shore in a dream; they made him sit upon the +sand and listen to the roaring of the waters; the large rocks stood +scattered on the beach, and the sea-mosses and shells were thrown up by +the waves. Afar off, upon the water, he saw a long line of bright +clouds, which seemed to climb up to heaven to meet the bright, twinkling +stars. The moonlight shone softly down upon him. + +Then they laid him down upon the sand, and made him look up into the sky +to feel the rest and peace of it; still more came the moonlight upon +him, and the stars seemed to open and close their eyes for pity. The +wind came towards him and passed along his brow and over his heart. Then +came into his soul an indescribable longing, such as he had never felt +before--a longing which the noise of the sea, the beauty of the clouds, +the peace of the sky, and the tenderness of the wind, had aroused in +him. + +He felt that something inexpressibly dear had been lost to him, and he +feared never again to regain it; the quiet moon and the pitying stars +made him fear. A deep grief entered his heart, and he wept as from an +everlasting sorrow. As he wept the angels rejoiced, and hovered over his +head in a halo of light; for they knew that these tears would bring him +into the path that led to heaven! + +Not far off lived a man who cared for destitute and ignorant children; +the angel-band flew to bring him, and when the boy opened his eyes, in +which the tears of repentance still lay, the ocean and bright clouds had +disappeared; but there was bent upon him a pitying, benignant look, +which went to the boy's heart, and a kind voice lingered in his ear, +subduing him by its very strangeness. So he at once received the +proffered hand, and arose and went with him to his home. + +After that, the angel-children went into a splendid mansion, where, in a +large, handsome chamber, lay a little girl suffering under severe pain. +Her little couch was hung in blue silk, and rich laces adorned her +pillows. On a little table by the side of her bed stood golden goblets, +to refresh her parched mouth with pleasant drinks. Yet, still the little +girl moaned in pain. Her eyelids were closed, and her weary hand lay +still upon the bed. At her side sat her nurse, watching her wants and +longing to relieve them. Costly toys lay uncared for on the rich, heavy +carpet. The flowers had lost their charm, the delicious fruit lay, full +and ripe, neglected on their dish. + +Sleep would not come to the child; weary and in pain, she had laid there +a long, long time, her poor little body wasting slowly away towards the +grave. + +"Let us give her rest and comfort," said the angel-children; and, waving +their wings over her, she fell to sleeping. + +The nurse said, then, there might be hope. Listen and hear,--what bright +hope there was, indeed! + +They whispered to her, that soon her pain should cease, and that, for +her trust and patience, she should go to God's beautiful garden. They +showed her the fountains and the birds; they told her how she should +again ride upon the clouds, and study from the great books of God. Then +in her sleep she smiled, and the nurse, who was watching her face, wept +for joy, and exclaimed, + +"There is hope! there is hope!" + +Yes, there was hope! + +When the little girl awoke, there was a more heavenly patience still, +in her soul, and a longing to meet the loving glances of the +angel-children again. + +As the children wended their flight back to the gardens, and sat down +beneath the green trees, and ate of their delicious fruit, they strove +in vain to bring back the brightness to the face of the earth-baby. + +"Ah, it would be so beautiful to stay with you!" he said. "I would like +always to comfort these afflicted ones; but, alas! I shall need comfort +myself, and you will come to me, as we have been to others. When I am on +the earth there seems something gone and lost, and what is before me is +confused and dim. I find myself so weak and helpless, when here I am so +sprightly and strong! I cannot move myself at all, and when I remember +these gardens I have left, and you with whom I have played, I can but +cry all the time! It looks cold and bleak there, as it never does here. +Then, should I grow up to be wicked, like those children we have seen, +and so go far away from heaven, how wretched should I become,--how much +better that I never had left these gardens!" + +Thus he complained, and the other children were silent, for they knew +how they, too, at some time, must go down and try their fortunes upon +the earth; and, too, they sorrowed to lose their companion, for they +knew that soon he could not come to them any more;--and while they told +him, very eagerly, how they would come to watch over him, a soft tread +fell on their ears, and their dear teacher approached them. + +Her hair floated in long curls upon the cool air, and her eyes were bent +down in sorrow upon the earth-child. + +"Have you so soon forgotten the lessons you have learned from the book +of God?" she asked; and the tones of her voice were like the soft +harmonies of heaven. She held in her hand a book, along whose pages the +letters sparkled in the brightness of gold and silver. At the sight of +her, the earth-child threw himself at her feet, and besought her thus: + +"Keep me with you, dear teacher, and teach me from your book! Why +should I go to the earth-home again?" + +Tenderly did the angel-teacher embrace and uplift the imploring child. +She pointed to a distant part of the garden, towards a grate of +lattice-work, in gold, silver and pearls, whence issued a glorious +light. Beyond this they saw angels walking, in their hands bearing still +more glorious books than the one she held. + +"When I taught you, long ago, how beautiful was the life there, how +_pure_ the love, did you not long to go thither? And when I told you +that the way thither was only through the earth,--that it was long and +difficult and narrow,--that many troubles must make you strong to walk +in it,--did you not long to go, promising not to complain? Do you so +soon falter? Have I not told you that the book you carry in your hands +there must first be formed on the earth?--that there you shall pick up +one by one the shining letters which compose it? Why do you +complain?--have you forgotten that your home is better than those +miserable ones which have been given to those who were your beloved +playmates here? This is your last visit to the garden of God. The +angel-children shall come and whisper to you in your dreams; and, when +they in their turns go down to live upon the earth, hold your arms out +to them, and, when their steps are weak, help them along. And when you +see children with tattered clothes, in poor cottages, look not proudly +on your own, but remember that here, in the garden of God, you played +together in the same fountain, drank the same dew; and think no more of +yourself or your beautiful earth-home, for God gave it to you for the +same purpose he gave the wretched cottage to the other. Remember, too, +the good mother, who has patiently hushed your cries, and will yet bear +you through many dark places. She has never yet tired in caring for you, +and you have given her little else but trouble. Go; be henceforth +patient and loving." + +Sorrow came into the heart of the child for his selfishness; and, as he +thought of his beautiful mother, how she always smiled upon him, and +would help him to heaven, his heart filled up with love to her. + +At that moment he opened his eyes, and there by his side sat the +mother, watching for his awaking; a heavenly smile stole over his +features, and he held up his arms to her. The mother caught him from the +cradle, and wept over him in the ecstasy of a new-found joy and love; +for it was the _First Smile_ her baby had given her. + + + + +CYBELE, THE TAMBOURINE GIRL. + + +Cybele was a little girl; she had large gray eyes, and brown hair +smoothly parted over her forehead, while there was a pitiful expression +round her mouth, that pleaded with you so earnestly, you could scarce +help stopping, as you met her, to give her a few pennies. + +Her real home was not in this country. Long ago she had come over from +the bright land of Italy,--from its warm, sunny skies and beautiful +gardens, where the birds sang so joyfully, and gay music sounded on the +air,--all which she longed to see and hear again; and as all things +there had been so beautiful, and here so dreary, all beauty grew to be +the same thing as that dear Italy, so that when she even saw flowers in +the window of some lordly house, she would stand, gazing tearfully +through them at the far-off home! + +Cybele's mother had died in that beautiful land, and it was in one of +its lovely gardens her body rested while her spirit soared heavenward. +The little girl knew this place so well;--the orange-trees grew about +it, and the song of the waterfall, near by, played and sparkled in the +tones of the birds. But Cybele's aunt had taken the little girl with her +to this distant land, and the child could no longer go and weep over the +grave where her mother's body had been laid; but her heart was there--it +could not forget. She dreamed of it in the long nights; and, when she +played upon her tambourine, the remembrance inspired her notes, making +people love to listen to her. + +Away down in an uncomfortable, out-of-the-way part of the city dwell a +great many poor people, who have come from distant countries to find +here some bread, which may keep them from starving. The streets where +they dwell are dirty, and the houses look smoky and wretched. There are +queer little shops, with oranges and cigars, bread and tobacco, in the +windows, and if you go in you smell yeast, and see milk-cans standing +about, while a man in a green jacket sells you what you ask for. To such +shops do the people near by come for their bread and cent's worth of +milk. To such a shop little Cybele came, early in the morning, and late +at night; and so dingy looked the shops and people, that her aunt's room +seemed bright and cheerful in comparison. This room, nevertheless, was +small and quite dark, having but one window, which looked down into a +brown back-yard; but her aunt kept the room neat and clean; the bed +stood off by itself, in one corner, the two chairs on either side of the +table, and in the cupboard were a few plates and cups, with which the +scanty table was spread; yet was this room dear to the child, since the +dreams she had dreamed there hung over her still with their light and +love. + +It chanced, one day, that her aunt fell sick--so sick as to be obliged +to lie on the bed. For a long time she had not been able to do any hard +work, but had sat at home and made little brooms for Cybele to take out +with her when she went to play the tambourine about the streets. And +Cybele had seen how her aunt grew pale, day by day, but she had not +dreamed the time would come when her aunt must lay still on the bed for +weariness. + +With a heavy heart she took the brooms and the tambourine, and went out, +hoping to get a few pennies, and bring home a doctor for her aunt. + +But it was a sad day for Cybele. She was rudely sent away from the doors +at which she stopped, and though she stood long before the windows of +lordly houses, in which she felt were many persons, still the sashes +were left down, and no kind group appeared to encourage her. So she +passed on, through quiet squares and noisy streets, but everywhere met +with a repulse. + +What should she do? It was impossible to go home without money. She +thought of the poor aunt who was sick, and of the mother who lay away in +the gardens of Italy, and new courage came into her soul. A gentleman +came toward her, with ruddy cheeks and smooth, rich clothes. Surely he +will not turn away from the little child. So she stepped forward, and, +when he came near, she looked up in his face, saying, + +"Please, sir, will you not buy one of my brooms?" + +But he brushed by her, unheeding her gentle tones, and leaving her eyes +filled with tears. + +Then came along a careless boy, whistling a merry tune, and with his +hands thrust into his pockets. Confidence and hope made her ask him +also. + +"Please, will you buy a broom?" + +The boy stopped, and, still whistling, looked into her face, glanced +over her dress, tambourine and brooms; and, as his eyes rested upon +these last, he replied: + +"Buy a broom! Pray, what think you I want with one of those flimsy +things?" And then he looked at her as though he thought her so absurd! + +Cybele was abashed by his manner, and began to think she had asked him +to do a very foolish thing, so she hurried to reply: + +"I don't know, I'm sure; but they brush away flies with them." + +"Flies!" he repeated, contemptuously, at the same time taking one of the +brooms from her little bundle, and thrusting it about him in all +conceivable ways; pulling open the brush, and altogether ruining it. +"Flies! it is getting too cool for flies; and, besides, my mother never +lets any get into the house; so it's no use any way. Why don't you go +home? It's a shame to be walking round the streets so. You ought to be +in school, or at work, or something else." + +[Illustration: CYBELE THE TAMBOURINE GIRL.] + +"I don't know how to do anything else," replied Cybele, the blood +rushing to her cheeks; "my aunt is sick, and I want to get some money." + +"Tush!--always sick!" replied the boy, contemptuously; "how silly! I +wonder the beggars don't all die some day, they've been sick so long!" + +"We are not beggars!" said Cybele, raising her head somewhat proudly, +and preparing to move away. "If you don't want the broom, I'll take it, +if you please." + +The boy seemed half pleased, as he looked at her, and said: + +"Proud, too--if it isn't funny! Here, don't go away--I want to hear your +tambourine." + +So she laid down her bundle of brooms, and, arranging her tambourine, +played him some merry tunes. + +"Can't you dance, too?" asked the boy, when she had finished. So she +danced and played to him; and, when she stopped, he placed a penny in +her hand, and coolly walked away. + +She looked at the penny lying in her hand, and then after the boy, who +was walking up the street, and she couldn't help thinking how very +little it was, and how she hoped he would have given her more. She +looked at the little broom he had ruined, and everything seemed sadder +than before. Then, by some strange freak, her mind ran off to the +gardens where her mother slept, as it always did when darkness gathered +round her, and she longed, more than ever before, to throw herself on +the ground there, and quietly sleep a long, long time. During the whole +day she had received but a few pennies; so few, they would not induce a +doctor to go down to her sick aunt. If she only could have met some kind +heart, which would have gone home with her, and given kind words and +soothing draughts to the sick one! But it was not brought into her path. + +When she came home and saw how much worse her aunt was than when she had +left her in the morning, her little heart grew sick; and Cybele, who had +seen her mother grow thin and die, began to be terrified, lest the aunt +too would be taken. + +So, she went up to her gently, and kissed her brow, and the poor aunt +opened her eyes and smiled mournfully; and when she heard how little +money the tambourine had brought that day, she tried to conceal her +sorrow lest the little child should be grieved. + +Then Cybele lighted a small fire in their bit of a fireplace, and made a +little tea for her aunt. It was the very last she had; but when she +thought how much her aunt needed it, and how she would need still more +on the morrow, hope whispered, quite cheerfully, that with the +tambourine she would win from people's pockets many a bright cent. With +these thoughts, she looked very lovingly towards the tambourine, which +lay quietly upon the floor in the corner, its gay bells silent, as if +it, too, felt sorrow for the aunt's sickness. + +After Cybele had toasted a bit of bread, and given it, with the tea, to +the aunt--had received the kind kiss, and saw her close her eyes--she +thought she slept, and new courage filled her heart; she began to think +of the pleasant people she should see to-morrow. What a kind crowd she +drew about her! They looked on her with loving eyes, and the sweet +smiles played about their lips. There were the groups of pretty +children, in gay frocks and rosy cheeks, which should gather about the +parlor-window, when she should stop before it and strike the tambourine +with her hand; and they would smile upon her, and then the elder sister, +who should be so mild and gentle, would come and throw up the sash, and +speak with her; and, perhaps, even she would throw down to her a sprig +of the geranium which stood near by on the flower-stand. Then she was +lured further on, to think of a great fortune which was to be obtained, +that she might go back to the laughing skies of Italy, and spend her +days in the lovely garden where her mother slept. + +But when Cybele arose in the morning, and told her aunt how she was +going out to gather in the pennies, the poor aunt sighed, and bade her +stay at home a while, for she could not bear to be alone. + +So Cybele sat down upon the floor, and, taking the tambourine, sang and +played the softest and sweetest airs she could remember; and, as she +played, it seemed as though new tones, and words even, were given to +speak out of it. + +She astonished herself, and a kind of sorrowful ecstasy came into her +soul. She played on, and on, and forgot that the day was passing off, in +which she was to earn so many bright pennies, in order to bring home the +kind physician who was to make the dear aunt well at once. She went to +the far-off land, and sang of the vineyards and the soft, warm air; of +the gently-moving waters, and the fragrant blossoms around the banks of +the lakes. O, the moon rose up before her, and she drank from its loving +beams; the stars sent down their misty light, as if shrouded because of +their great beauty! Once in that land, how had she forgotten all things +else! A holy inspiration had come down over her; an angel of light +appeared to her enchanted eyes, beckoning her to rest her head upon his +bosom. + +"Fear not!" he said, "for I will yet take you to the lovely gardens +where your mother dwells." + +But, when she eagerly stretched out her arms and cried, "Take me now," +he disappeared, and she found the song stayed upon her lips, the room +hushed, and only the glory, which the angel's presence had shed about, +still lingered there. The holy stillness came into her heart also, and +she sat quietly upon the floor a long time; and when, at last, she rose +and went up to her aunt's bedside, she found the brow she kissed was +cold, the hand she clasped was chilly; and, in looking with fear upon +the aunt's face, she found the dews of death resting there. + +The aunt was dead! Those songs, which flowed so easily from Cybele's +lips, had become the requiem of the dead, and those soft tones had been +the last sigh of a passing soul. + +Cybele knew that when the angel had over-shadowed her, as she sang, he +had borne hence her aunt's spirit. + +But, O, it was so hard to be left all alone! And when the people from +the other room came in and prepared her aunt for the burial; when they +took her from the bed and put her in the rude coffin, the child's heart +felt like breaking, and, had it not been for the words the angel had +spoken to her when he came to bear hence the dear aunt, she would have +wept without ever smiling again. + +Then they carried away the coffin into a dismal place, where was neither +green grass nor pleasant brook, nor even a flower, might it be ever so +little; and there was a row of square, black doors against the walls, +one of which they opened, and shoved the coffin into a dark place. + +O, it was so dreary a place, with the high fence all about it, and the +cold, dismal, gray clouds above! It did not seem to Cybele that she +could leave the aunt there. Could she only lie away in the beautiful +land where the mother slept, where the birds rested their wings upon the +lemon-trees, and the blue sky smiled in quiet peacefulness! + +But the people who stood around could not understand her grief, and so +they hurried her from the yard and locked up the gate. + +That night Cybele lay alone upon the bed on which her aunt had died, and +the lonely grief came so fast upon her that she could not sleep, and the +morning found her weary and heart-broken. + +Then there came into her room a coarse man, who told her she must go +out, for she could no longer live there; that she might be allowed to +take her tambourine with her, but all the rest,--and there was little +enough, the two chairs, the bed, the kettle and the few things in the +cupboard,--were his, to pay for the rent of the room and he told her, if +she brought a few pennies to the people who lived in the next room, when +night was come, they would take care of her. + +Now the man had no sooner spoken these words, than Cybele decided to +have nothing to do with the people in the next room, for she could not +love them. The father and mother were so coarse and cross, and the boys +were so rude and big;--they had often refused to help her aunt, and +while she was sick they had never come with kind words to smooth her +pillow. Even after she had died, they had but come to put her in a rude +coffin, and carry her to a dismal place, from which they thrust out the +only heart who yearned for her. + +So Cybele did not think of going to them. She tied the large silk +handkerchief over her head, which had served her for a bonnet since she +had left Italy, and, taking her dear tambourine in her hand, and the +poor, neglected brooms, she went away out of the rooms where she had +lived so long, where she had seen the angel, and where her aunt had +died. Then, after standing upon the sill of the door a few moments, +looking down the long staircase, out into the world to which she was +going, she raised her gray eyes, and sweetly said, as though replying to +the angel's admonition, "I'm not afraid." Ah, dearest one, you need not +fear when the heavenly Father is so near unto your heart! + +Without more hesitation she said "Good-by" to the room, and quickly sped +down the staircase out into the world, while thus she talked to her +tambourine: + +"Don't you be afraid either, dear little Tambourine!" and she held it +tenderly in her arms; "nor you, dear Brooms! We shall have happy times +together yet. Only think of the beautiful tunes I'll play on you, and +how the children will clap their hands when they hear your bells! No, +don't be in the least afraid; I'll play on you as I never have before +since once,"--here the little lip quivered in spite of itself,--"only +try and play real pretty--do, so I shan't ever be lonesome with thinking +of the lovely gardens at home! Ah, Tambourine! Tambourine! you and I are +all alone!" Just then, a sweet tone came from the bells of the +tambourine, and comforted Cybele's heart. + +She wandered up the streets, and stopped to look in upon the windows of +the toy-shops; but the toy-carts, and those wonderful witches, who would +always stand on their heads, had no charm for her longer. Her heart was +saddened, and when she tried to strike out gay tunes, they would not +come--only sad ones, and sad words from her lips. The children pitied +her grave looks, and, when they could not persuade her to dance for +them, they would leave her in silence. + +When she looked about her and saw all the children, how they were never +alone, that their eye's danced, and their voices were mirthful, she +would ask herself why she, too, was not happy. Then courage would come +to her, and she would strike a gay air, and call the children to her +side; but, when she had finished, she was glad to creep away by +herself, and lean her head upon her tambourine to weep. Then, when the +voice of the angel sounded in her heart, she would raise her head to +reply, meekly, "No, I'm not afraid." + +It chanced, one day, that she wandered into the obscure corner of a +church. It was evening service, and at first she was only glad to get +away from the cold, biting air; but she had not been there long before a +strange feeling of gladness rose up in her heart. The organ awoke from +its stillness, and the tones gladdened her as the tambourine, dear as it +was, had never done. The hazy light poured in through the windows, and +lit up the faces of the scattered worshippers with seraphic beauty, and +it gave golden edges to the spotless robe of the priest in the chancel, +played upon his white, flowing hair, and shone upon his uplifted +countenance. The priest spoke out blessed words of the Father in heaven, +how he calls the tired and weary to come and be folded up in his arms; +how he even says, "Suffer little children to come unto mo, and forbid +them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." These words fell into +the parched heart of little Cybele, and ran all along there in low +sobs, and, stretching up her tiny arms, she murmured: + +"Take me, take me now,--I want to come!" And she began to think of the +angel who had said to her: + +"Fear not, for I will yet take you to the lovely gardens where your +mother dwells." + +The organ ceased, the priest went out from the chancel, one by one the +people passed out from the church, the sexton closed up the doors and +went away, and Cybele sat in her corner, longing to see again the angel +who was so often in her thoughts, until the hazy light had faded away in +the darkness. + +Then the moon rose, and streamed into the church, down the long aisles, +and up into the chancel; and from the window above the place where the +priest had spoken those holy words there flooded a glory of light, while +the columns and galleries stood still in their deepened shadows. It was +so holy a calm as to fill Cybele with a joyful awe. The tambourine slid +from her lap; she crossed her hands upon her breast, and bent forward +her head with closed eyes. Low notes of the sweetest music swelled on +the air; louder they grew; until they seemed like the voices of those +rejoicing for deliverance from great sorrow. Louder, louder yet the +voices of angels mingled with them. As Cybele looked up there she saw +great bands of holy angels rejoicing over her; among them the very one +whose words of consolation had been with her so many days. Quickly to +him she stretched out her arms, and he reached low down and raised her +up to him. And they soared up, up to the region of the sun and the moon, +hearing about them the soft voices of loving angels; the air was loaded +with the perfumes of celestial flowers, while every angel they met gave +them a word of welcome. + +The angel did as he had promised, and the heavenly Father, whom Cybele +had prayed to take her, gave her into the loving arms of the mother, who +dwelt in lovelier gardens than those of fair Italy, even the gardens of +heaven. + + * * * * + +When the people next opened the church, they found a dead child in one +of its corners. A little tambourine lay by its side, which, when they +picked it up, gave out pleasant, cheering tones; but, when they laid the +dead body of the child in a cold, damp grave, they little thought what +happy songs the living spirit of it sang with its mother in the lovely +gardens of God. + + + + +THE STORY OF MAGGIE'S JOURNEY. + + +Little Maggie lived all alone in a small house which contained but one +room. She had lived alone ever since the time her mother had gone to the +palace of the Great King. At first Maggie had cried very bitterly to +think of living alone without her mother; so did her mother, too, as for +that matter, for no mother ever loved her child more dearly than she did +Maggie. + +"Maggie," she had said to her, when she knew she must go, "I shall love +you just as tenderly as ever, and always think of you, even while I am +in the Great King's palace. It is a long journey thither, and I expect I +shall be obliged to go through a great many dark and strange places +before coming there; and I fear, the most of all, to leave you in this +little old house all alone; but you know I cannot disobey the King, and +so must follow this servant whom he has sent to bring me. But, O, +Maggie, do follow me _some time_, for I shall be anxiously watching for +you till you come! Be sure, now, and don't disappoint me; and when you +come I think you had better start early in the morning, for the road is +a long and dangerous one." + +Perhaps this was a long speech to make; but when mothers go on such +journeys as Maggie's mother was to go on, it is not an unusual custom +for them to do so,--and especially when we remember how she would leave +Maggie all alone; it was only to be wondered she said no more. + +When her mother had really gone, the first thing Maggie did was to sit +down upon the door-step and cry bitterly. She could not bear to think +her mother had really gone, and that if ever she wanted to see her she +must start upon that long, long journey. At first I don't think she +loved to think about the Great King who had taken her mother away, and +she was obliged to think over the beautiful things her mother had said +of him many times, before she could be glad he had called her mother. +But at last she rose from the door-step, and went into the house. She +had not much in it, 'tis true; she hadn't much to put in it; and if she +had had more, the house was so small there would have been no place for +anything but what already was there. The principal thing in the room was +the chimney-place. It was so large as to cover the whole of one side of +the room. There was a broad stone hearth, on which sometimes Maggie +would place a few sticks she had picked up in the streets, and light +them; but the little fire they made looked just as if it were ashamed of +itself for burning in such a great fireplace; and the winds, indignant +at its presumption, would rush down the chimney at a more desperate rate +than usual, blowing the ashes into Maggie's eyes, as she sat before the +little fire, and sending the smoke curling in funny forms about the +room. So Maggie would run and cover herself in her poor bed, and say to +herself that it was a comfort to have ashes and smoke; for, though they +did blow in her eyes, still they came from the fire. Sometimes she would +gather up sawdust, and by this fire she was able to warm her feet a +little, though not much; for, as fast as she warmed them, the winds +blew down again, so they were as cold as before. + +You see it was a cold kind of a place in which Maggie lived; so cold +that, although it was summer, still a good many people's hearts were +frozen quite stiff, so their friends despaired of their ever being +thawed out; and their tongues too were affected, so they could not speak +gentle, kind words. I don't mean to say the cold ever dealt quite so +shabbily by Maggie or Maggie's mother, which was rather strange, +perhaps, since they could have but little fire; and the frost could walk +very boldly in through the cracks all about the house. Still it was +almost as bad that such things should happen to their neighbors, as +every one knows it is uncomfortable to behold such misery. + +Beside the chimney-place and bed, Maggie had some cracked plates and +saucers, which she arranged on the chimney-shelf, and some bits of +china, which she had found in piles of rubbish, and which she thought +very beautiful. Now the chimney-shelf was very high, and she managed to +put these things up there by climbing up the bed-post, which was rather +a dangerous thing for her to do, and as it was a very little difficult, +too, she did not often take down those things. + +Now those cracked plates and saucers, and bits of china, were all the +ornaments Maggie had for her house; and they were very precious to her. +She would sit and look at them, _wondering_ what people did who hadn't +got any, and thinking how strange it would seem there in her house if +they were taken away. You see Maggie knew how to prize little things; +and so some day great ones may fall to her. + +I did wrong to say she lived all alone; for she had a beautiful white +Dove. Wasn't it nice? It was very white, and nestled close in Maggie's +bosom when she carried it out of the house, and in the night it lay +close to her heart. O, there was nothing Maggie prized like the Dove; +for it was given her by her mother just before she went away, and she +told her it would guide her when she began her journey; so it was not +strange Maggie should love it so well. + +It was a lovely, sensitive thing. When Maggie had become thoroughly +weary and tired of living all alone by herself, she told her grief to +the Dove, and it would press nearer and nearer to her heart, and when +its mistress' tears fell on its head, its moans were so sorrowful that +Maggie quickly forgot her own grief, and strove to comfort it. + +Now it was in the summer time, and Maggie got along pretty well, for all +the cold winds which blew in that region; but winter was coming on, and +she feared it might be more uncomfortable for her. It happened, one +night, that she heard a great noise, and awoke in a great fright. The +moon shone very brightly, and, by its light, she saw a tall, +strong-looking man carrying away her door. At first she thought she must +be mistaken, and that, if she waited a while, she would see that he was +about to do something very different. But no; he took first the door +well off the hinges, put the hinges in his pocket, the door on his back, +and went off. Then Maggie jumped quickly from her bed, and, running to +the open doorway, cried out, + +"Don't take my door; I live here." + +But the man certainly did not hear Maggie; at all events he did not once +turn back, but went away quite out of sight. + +"But what could he want with my door?" said Maggie, in a high state of +amazement. "Houses all have doors; so he can't want it for his house." +She stood a long time, wondering and perplexed; and I must acknowledge, +if I had been there, I should have wondered too. It was quite a long +time before Maggie could persuade herself to go to bed again, and sleep +till morning, which she finally did, feeling very thankful the man +didn't take the bed. + +In the morning a new joy was in store for her; she found that the sun +now, when it rose, could look directly in upon her, and his warm rays +would give warmth to her little room. As she looked up to the +mantel-shelf, on which her bits of broken china were glowing from the +sunshine, she jumped out of bed in an ecstasy of delight. + +"O, dear, dear!" she cried, "what if that man had taken away those?--how +I should have cried! But now he has, by taking the door, given the sun a +chance to make them look more beautiful!" + +Now she began to love the sun better than ever, for he had become one of +the things which beautified her little home; and she always woke early, +so as to meet his first look, when he came into the room. + +Still it must be confessed that the absence of her door did at times +make her poor home more desolate; when, for instance, the winds went +mad, and the rain came down in torrents from the clouds, O, such a +frolicking as there was down her large chimney, and out through the +doorway! Then round and round the house they would run, chasing each +other,--now bursting into a boisterous mirth, now howling in low, dull +tones, until in again at the door they swept, and up through the +chimney. + +In Maggie's mind, the chimney and open doorway belonged especially to +the winds. She always thought of them in connection, and, when they +began their frolicking, she would seat herself in one corner, and +listen. Sometimes it seemed as though the winds rushed at one +another,--one coming down the chimney, and the other in at the door; +then, when they met, there was a kind of explosion, a thick, quick +quarrel, and then they would draw off in merry laughter; then would +Maggie clap her hands with glee, thinking it fine sport; but when a +whole blast burst at once upon the house, and seemed desperately to +struggle through every crevice, she would crouch with fear, and upbraid +the winds with their sudden freaks. + +There was one mystery which Maggie found herself unable to unravel; it +was this: She felt perfectly certain the chimney was made for the winds +to come down through, and still she knew it was intended for her to make +a smoky kind of fire once in a while on its hearth, with which the winds +quarrelled, and destroyed it. Here were two things irreconcilable. Often +would she stand on the hearth, and look up the black throat of the +chimney, wondering how this inconsistency happened, wishing again and +again that the winds would like the fire, and let it burn well; but she +never thought of asking them to desist. She looked upon their freaks as +privileged. + +To the dear Dove did Maggie always turn for comfort and relief. Its love +was a guarantee of her mother's, and, as often as she looked upon and +held it to her heart, so often did she feel sure that one day she would +feel the pressure of her mother's hand upon her head. + +Once, when Maggie was talking to the Dove, and thinking of her mother, +it came into her head to begin that journey to the Great King's palace. +"Why not?" said she; "why do I live here? The cold winter is coming, and +my door is gone, and the sun already gives me warning that he shall not +look in at the door as usual; the neighbors will be colder than ever, +and some of them will quite freeze. I've a mind to go away. What do you +think, Dovey?" + +The Dove nestled close to her heart, and cooed joyfully. + +"Would you like it? Well, I don't know but I had better start. But I +should have to leave the house,--and that would be rather bad,--and the +chimney where the winds play. I think it would seem lonesome for them, +and I don't know as they would like it, for there would be no one to +listen to them; still I do want to go, and I think I'd better." + +"I'm sure," said Maggie, after some pause, during which she lovingly +caressed the Dove's head, "I'm sure I don't see why I didn't go before. +I don't know why I should have lived here so long alone. I can take some +of the best china, and leave all the rest. Perhaps some little child may +like to live here after I am gone, and watch the winds as I have done; +but I do hope they won't frighten her at first, or she will want to go +away." + +Maggie was an expeditious child, and when she had decided to do +something, she went at once about accomplishing it. So she left the +door-step on which she had been sitting, and went in the house, to see +what she wanted to take; and, as she had so few things, the preparations +were not long, but she soon found herself with her blanket pinned over +her head, ready to start. + +'Tis true a few tears came into her eyes as she bid farewell to the bed +which had been her shelter against every unpleasant sight and sound; but +when she turned to the chimney, and some perplexing thought of the +quarrels of the wind and the fire came over her, she rather rejoiced she +would soon be away from it, where this one mystery of their +disagreement should never again trouble her. + +Laying the white Dove in her bosom, she turned from the house, and so +beheld herself fairly launched on her journey. + +A little while she found it pleasant; the road was straight, and lined +with flowers; the Dove raised his head, and looked in Maggie's eyes with +delight. + +But soon she came to a place where two roads met, forming the one she +had been travelling. Here was a perplexity: which should she take--which +would lead her where she wanted to go? + +There was a house close by; so she stepped up to the door of it, and +knocked. A lady, who was very pretty to look at, and who wore a very +rich dress, opened the door; but just at the moment when Maggie asked, +"Will you tell me which road leads to the palace of the Great King?" +that same terrible cold wind came round and blew directly into the +lady's mouth, so that she replied, "I know nothing about it, and very +much doubt if there be any Great King at all;" and then she shut the +door in great haste, leaving poor Maggie in much distress and doubt. + +She was astonished at the woman's words, and wondered why she shut the +door so soon; for, if she had not, she would have told her about the +King; how she was sure he was alive, and had a great palace. And, too, +she could have told her, his servant had come once and taken her mother +with him, and she could never forget him; he had been dressed in black, +but on his head he wore a crown of the most glorious stars, and their +brightness had filled the little house with holy light, so that, even +after he had departed, it still lingered around. + +She thought some of knocking again and telling the poor lady, for she +thought it was sad enough not to know about the Great King; but, though +she knocked a long time, no one came to the door, and, finally, she was +obliged to leave the steps of the house and gather some directions +else-where. + +One of the roads seemed cold, and looked narrow, and Maggie, who had +suffered so much from the cold, turned from it with a shudder towards +the other, which looked much gayer, and many more people walked in it; +but the Dove looked anxiously towards the narrow one, which grieved +Maggie, and made her cry out, "O, Dovey, Dovey! how can you love the +cold so well, or ask me to go where it is? Let us rather walk this way a +little, and do you not see there are plenty of cross-roads?--so, if we +wish, we can go on to that narrow road at any time." + +So, notwithstanding the Dove's remonstrances, Maggie entered this road, +and found the air so pleasant and warm, that she liked nothing better +than to walk in it. + +She saw a great many people here; but they took no notice of the little +girl, who walked along so quietly, with her Dove in her bosom, and the +bits of china in her pocket. But, if they did not notice her, she +noticed them well, and thought them strange enough. + +To her surprise she found the air, which had at first seemed so warm, +began to grow cold, and more like the air about the old house; and, +shivering with cold, and seeing the people about her wearing large +cloaks, it was quite natural she should ask them to let her in beneath +the warm folds of them. To her civil request some of them paid no +attention; others looked at her in wonder, and some were so rude as to +speak cruel words to her, and bid her not dare speak to them again. + +So Maggie saw them walk on, wrapped in their warm cloaks, and complained +not. Indeed, she had lived too long in the little house without a door, +not to be able to bear the cold bravely--only she could not help wishing +sometimes that she had the bed with her, that she might jump in between +its clothes and warm herself a while; but she was patient, remembering +that she was journeying towards the Great King's palace, where her +mother lived. Suddenly it occurred to her that the road to the Great +King's palace lay through a remarkably cold country, and that the people +who were travelling thither seemed in no haste, for they often sat down +by the road-side and played; and some even went back, instead of +forward, while all those little side-roads, which she thought she had +seen before, had vanished. So, one day, she said to one of the people +who sat down: + +"Why do you not hasten that you may see the Great King?" + +"The Great King, indeed!" he said whom she had addressed. "I am in no +hurry to see him." + +And others intimated as much as the lady long ago had said, that they +themselves doubted very much if there were any Great King at all. + +"What shall I do?" cried Maggie. "I cannot be in the right way. O, how +shall I get to the Great King's palace!" And, upon this, the Dove rose +up from Maggie's bosom, and turned backwards whither they had come. +Though long and dreary seemed the cold road she must retrace, yet, such +was her confidence in the Dove, she turned very gladly; and though not +one of those people had cared for Maggie before, now they clustered +around her, begging her not to leave them, and seeking to draw her away +from her purpose. And when she saw how they seemed to love her, and feel +sorrow at her going, she said to them: + +"I am grieved to leave you, since you have just begun to love me; but I +promised my mother I would go to the Great King's palace, and I must go +where Dovey leads me." + +"How silly to mind a bird!" cried one; and, picking up a stone, he +hurled it at the Dove, who was hovering in the air, and broke its wing, +so it could not fly. + +Then, indeed, it seemed as though her grief was very great, and she +could not help wishing she were already in the Great King's palace, or +that he would send his servant for her, who was dressed in the black +robe, and wore the crown of stars. She often saw this servant now; he +came to bear many away; but the crown of stars was not on his brow, and +his face shed no light around, only gloom. + +Well, Maggie was obliged to stop and bind up the Dove's wing, and tend +it a little before she could proceed on her journey. All delay was +unwelcome to her; for, as the journeying thus far had been in pain, the +true journey was still to begin. She was so hungry and thirsty, too! So +it seemed impossible she could proceed when once she had started +forward. There was no one to give her a crust of bread, or offer her a +cup of cold water; nevertheless, she wouldn't tell the poor Dove, who +was moaning with pain, for she thought, and well enough, that he had as +much of his own trouble as he could well endure. + +She had another trouble, too; there were some people whom she could not +think desired to go away from the King's palace, and so she would tell +them how they were going altogether in the wrong path; but they would +either laugh or stare at her in wonder. Then she would almost have stood +weeping in the road at their strange conduct, but the Dove would +incessantly warn her to go on. At last, between grief and hunger, she +fell sick, and thought she should die there, without ever seeing her +mother or the Great King. But, lo! a gentle being, clothed in a white, +spotless garment, came and put to her lips a cup of medicine, which she +told Maggie, if she would but drink, would make her quite well again, +and protect her against hunger and thirst for the rest of the journey. +Upon this, Maggie drank it all but the dregs, and she found it so bitter +that she thought it far worse than any cold she had ever endured. But, +when the bright being saw she left the dregs in her cup, she was not +satisfied, and bade her drink those, even with tears in her eyes. Maggie +drank them as she bade her, and then the bright one vanished, leaving +the child quite well and vigorous. The weariness vanished from her +frame, the parching thirst from her mouth, and, what was yet more +amazing, she found the little Dove quite well, and she stood with it in +her arms before the two roads again. + +So she commenced her journey upon the road she had so long ago rejected, +and soon found that the snow vanished from the ground and shook itself +from the tree-tops; the grass sprang up, the flowers played beneath her +footsteps, and gay birds hopped among the boughs of the trees, making +the air melodious with their songs; the brooklets ran murmuring by the +road-side, and Maggie's Dove cooed with joy. + +O, Maggie knew this was the road leading to the palace of the Great +King--the very one her mother had travelled--the road, too, which she +had been told did not exist! She met many children here, who sought the +same she did; and they talked with Maggie, and she loved them, and with +them thanked the King who had made for them such a lovely road to his +palace. + +At last, one day, there came the same servant who had carried away her +brother, and gently, softly, took her in his arms. So often had she +thought of his coming that she felt no kind of fear. He told her that +the Great King wanted her, and that her mother was all ready to receive +her. O, how her heart leaped at this, to hear a real word from her +mother, and to think the Great King wanted her! As she lay in his arms, +the servant, who wore on his head his bright stars, kissed her eyes and +her brow. He carried her a long distance, sped through many a long, dark +valley, and then they came out upon a bright shore, where were many +people dressed in shining clothes. + +Maggie looked at herself, and saw, with amazement, that she too was +dressed likewise, and that the servant who had brought her hither had no +longer a black robe, but a silver one, which sparkled so, Maggie was +scarce able to look upon it. She had soon crossed the sea, and then her +mother caught her in her arms, and wept for joy. + +"O, Maggie, Maggie!" she said; "I have watched your journey all along, +and my sorrow was so deep when I saw you mistake the roads. It was I +whom the Great King sent when you was sick, that I might bear his love +to you, and make you well. Come, now, and go with me before his throne." + +Upon this they joined the crowd who were entering the palace;--but we +cannot enter it,--we must first finish our journey. + + + + +THE OLD WOMAN AND THE ENCHANTED SONG. + + +Ruth had two sisters,--Grace and Jessie. Now Grace and Jessie were +twins, and everybody praised their blue eyes and rosy cheeks, and when +they laughed, people said, "How sweetly they smile!"--and when they +wept, people said, "Poor little ones!" and immediately took them in +their arms, and strove to bring back the dimpling smile to their faces. + +Grace and Jessie played together always, and little Ruth, who was +younger than either of them, was left often alone. No one ever called +her beautiful, nor stroked her hair, nor kissed her brow; and when she +stood by the side of the twin sisters at the gate, and the people, in +passing, praised the flaxen curls of Grace and Jessie, then they would +turn towards her, and, their smiles vanishing, they would regard her +with a pitiful air, turning silently away. Then she would creep off by +herself into some favorite nook of the garden, thoroughly ashamed that +she should so far have forgotten herself as to stand by the side of her +beautiful sisters. + +Her mother, too, often took her in her lap, and, kissing her brow +sorrowfully, would exclaim, in sad tones: + +"My poor, plain child,--my dear homely Ruth!" + +Her father never caressed her. His love seemed to be kept for the twins, +whose two bright faces peered over his chair, and whose glad voices were +always ready to greet him on his return home. + +And still Ruth loved her father so much, and, nestling close in the +corner of the garden away off by herself, mourned that he never kissed +her, nor called her his dear, pretty Ruth. + +"O," thought the child, "how I do wish I could do something for my +father, which might please him, so that only once he might call me his +dear child! O, why was not I made a twin?" Thus the poor child mourned +to herself. + +She had a doll, which she made her constant companion, and she played it +was very lovely like Grace and Jessie; she told it all her griefs, and +really came to feel that the doll understood all she said to it. + +She had also another pleasure; it was that of reading. Her mother had +given her many books, and she loved to sit among the rose-bushes, and +read their beautiful stories. She liked to read about a man who lived +off alone upon an island, and had only some cats and monkeys for his +companions; how the cave was his house, and the skins of beasts were his +garments; how he looked off upon the ocean, and saw not one sail, and +wandered about upon his island, without hearing one human sound. + +This story had a wild fascination for our little Ruth, so that she read +it again and again; yet still the book was as new to her in its interest +as at first. + +Then there were other stories she loved to read; some about lonely, +patient, lovely young girls, who went out into the world alone to seek +their fortunes, and returned home with wealth and honor. She often +wished she might go forth in this way, so that when she came back no one +should dare call her plain or unlovable. Then she longed to hold some +secret charm, so that whoever she should desire to do so, should love +and caress her. But still no bright fairy stooped down from the skies to +change her black, stiff hair into shining ringlets, or her dark-brown +skin into the fairness of that of her sisters; and so Ruth only read, +and wondered, and wished. + +One day when, as usual, Ruth had found herself quite alone,--Grace and +Jessie had gone to take a walk, and her mother was reading by +herself,--she had taken her book, and sat down beneath the shade of a +broad tree in the garden. She was reading the story of a fair princess, +who had many suitors and splendid gifts, and who was called the Queen of +Beauty. + +"Alas!" she cried, "why was not I beautiful, so I might be loved! Then I +should not be the sober, odd thing I am now!" + +"Would you, then, so much like to be beautiful, dear child?" said a +voice close at her side, and, when Ruth looked up, she saw an old woman +whom she never had seen before. She was clothed in a long blue dress, +and her face was full of motherly love. Ruth's heart was filled with +gladness, for seldom had so affectionate a glance been shed on her; and +when the old woman bent down and kissed her, how all remembrance of the +indifference of father, mother, friends, vanished from her mind, and it +seemed that her whole life was given to her new friend, that she might +do with her whatever she willed! + +All strangeness at her sudden appearance vanished, too, as soon as she +had kissed her. Ruth felt under the control of a great power, and +watched her movements with as much love as confidence. + +When the old woman had looked into Ruth's eyes, and had seen the +thoughts which beamed there, she looked up into the sky, and beckoned to +a very light, beautiful cloud, which was sailing carelessly along. + +She had no sooner done this than the cloud began to descend slowly +towards them, just as though it understood her summons, and, when it +had reached the place where she stood, it remained motionless. + +[Illustration: THE OLD WOMAN AND THE ENCHANTED SONG.] + +Then she took up little Ruth in her arms, and stepped on to the cloud +and sat down; and, after arranging herself and Ruth quite comfortably, +she said something, which Ruth could not understand, and then the cloud +began to rise, moving as easily as it had done before it came down from +the sky. + +While they were going up, Ruth was amazed to see how the garden and the +beloved tree below became continually smaller and smaller; how, +by-and-by, she could only distinguish the house, and how that became +dimmer and dimmer, until it entirely disappeared from her sight. + +Then she turned towards the old woman, and saw that her kind blue eyes +lovingly regarded her; and so she still more forgot the home below, +where, without doubt, her departure would pass unnoticed. + +New objects began to attract her attention. The cloud on which they sat +did not, like the others, just float over the earth, but it went proudly +on, and came among the stars, and constellations of stars, and she saw +how many were clustered together, and no tongue could describe their +beauty; and then the deep blue was ever about her, and she saw it away +off in the distance, growing to a darker and darker shade, until it +became like the air of midnight; while ever from its darkness shone out +those immense stars, and clusters of stars. + +Then the most beautiful sight of all was when some star glided past her, +and shot afar off into the dark blue beyond--there was such dazzling +glory in it! + +Sometimes they would be quite near enough to the stars they passed to +discern the people who dwelt upon them, and she felt for them a +friendship at once, and only longed that she might go down and tell them +so. + +The child had forgotten she was plain and odd; she did not think to ask +herself whether the people on those bright stars, so beautiful and +happy, might not repulse her for her homeliness. + +At last they did approach one bright star, and Ruth saw, to her delight, +that, when the cloud had come down into a lovely garden, the old woman +stepped off from it, then took her up also, and placed her on the +ground. Then the cloud, which had been their chariot (and a far better +one it was than ever king had to be drawn in), rose upward, and began +its gentle course in the sky. + +When the old woman saw how Ruth looked after it, she said to her: + +"I use all the clouds in that way, more or less, and all those about +your earth do many such a service while the people little dream of it. +In fact, every one there looks down upon the ground too much; they have +no idea of the goodly things they would find if they searched upwards +more." + +The old woman sighed as she said this. Such a happy and pleasant looking +old woman to have sighed so deeply! + +Then she took Ruth's hand, and led her towards her cottage, which was +the most beautiful thing you ever could imagine. Without, it had the +tints of the mother-of-pearl, while its framework was of silver. The +windows and doors were of diamonds, and there sparkled from them +continually all the rich tints of the rainbow. Within, everything was +wrought of the finest silver, and the rooms were hung, some in delicate +blue silk, others in rose colors. + +Ruth was entirely overwhelmed with the beauty of the house,--so much so, +as to stand still, looking at the things about her. + +"You must be tired with your long ride," the woman said, "and I wish you +to rest well; for there are many things I will show you. After you have +rested, I will bring you some food." + +And, with this, she put Ruth upon a sofa, and made her lay quite down, +to refresh herself with sleep. But Ruth thought, in her heart, "Rest! +Does she think I can be tired, when I have been sitting upon that soft +cloud, looking at the wonderful stars? How could I ever be either tired +or hungry?" But she said nothing aloud, for the charm of the old woman's +presence hovered over her, and, as soon as she closed her eyes, she fell +into a soft and beautiful slumber. + +O the dreams Ruth dreamed then! Strangely enough, she thought her father +and mother, as well as Grace and Jessie, were riding and playing on +clouds; and they were all so happy together, and they seemed to love her +very dearly; so that, in her dream, she remembered nothing of their +former neglect. She dreamed how her father called her to him, and laid +his hand upon her head; and it was _such_ a gentle pressure, and it made +her so happy, that she awoke,--and there really was a gentle hand upon +her head, and a soft kiss fell upon her lips,--such a touch, and such a +kiss, as poor Ruth had scarce ever known before, and which made her +quickly twine her arms around the old woman's neck, and kiss her warmly. + +Then the old woman put her in one of the silver-wrought chairs, and put +before her, on plates sparkling with precious stones, soft, ripe fruit, +with a delicious flavor, such as she had never before tasted. She could +not help thinking how glad Grace and Jessie would be to see such before +them; and so, as at that moment she looked up, and saw the old woman +smiling upon her, she took two of the most beautiful and the largest of +the fruit and put them in her pocket, for she had no doubt but what, at +some time, all too soon, she should go back to the earth. + +When she had done this, and finished her delicious repast, which, +however, was slowly, for she was so filled with delight, the old woman +bade her leave her chair, and come to her; upon which she took her in +her arms, and, looking lovingly down upon her, said: + +"My dear Ruth, I am going to show you all the treasures which the +children upon the earth gather together, in order some time to take with +them to heaven. I call their treasures what they love most in their +hearts, and put into actions. Everything they do or say is kept very +carefully; for one day they will want them. So you see they cannot lose +anything. Everything in nature, every cloud that seems only leisurely +floating in the sky, is serving some purpose. And all that is done below +is borne up here." + +Ruth could not help thinking that the old woman might show her some very +beautiful and some very curious things to keep; and in sorrow she began +to think what unpleasant things of her own were treasured up, to be +given back to her some day when she least expected or desired them. + +But the old woman said nothing about Ruth's things, but, taking her +hand, led her forth into the garden again. + +"I am going to show you some things there are here," said her friend; +"and if they seem ridiculous to you, don't laugh at them. For my part, I +think it sad children will treasure up such miserable things." + +They had soon passed into the garden, where Ruth saw the most delicate +flowers she had ever seen--they were so tall, and nodded their heads +gayly to each other; but when she came to a bed of violets--white ones +and blue, _so large_, larger than she thought it was possible for them +to grow--she stopped to gaze upon them in complete admiration; the +fragrance, too, was delicious--more so than those her brother had, +although those were very fine ones. + +"Take some, my child," said the old woman, who watched her delight with +a kind smile. So down upon her knees she dropped, and took them, and she +could not help thinking how beautiful and lovely a smile would fall upon +her from her mother's face, as she gave them to her. So the violets, +too, were carefully laid in her pocket for her mother. + +Then they passed out from the garden, and came to a gray house; withered +flowers lay about it, while briers and nettle-bushes clung to its walls; +but, worse than all this, there came forth from the house angry, hateful +words, and noises of a mad strife. Ruth feared to pass this place, and +clung closely to the old woman's side. + +"Here," said the old woman, kindly putting her arm around Ruth, "are +kept all those angry words which children speak to each other and their +friends; all their little fretful words when they are impatient, and +which they will never wish to see again, but which, alas! will be given +back to them at a most unwelcome time." + +Then they went on to another house, the walls of which were black, and +not a green thing grew about it. + +"There," said the old woman, "are the treasures of those children who +care most for themselves, and do not think of others' pleasures. Those +things which they have so loved are kept carefully for them; but they +will only tell them of what they have done for themselves." So she +opened the door, and Ruth looked in. There was such a medley of things! +Candies of gay colors, nice waxen dolls, a great many broken toys, nice +fruit, and, indeed, I could not begin to tell you of all Ruth saw there. +There had come, too, a mould upon many of the things, so many of them +had grown tarnished; and a bad stench rose from some fruit which had +been there a long time. + +"You see, my child," said the old woman, as she locked up the door, +"these things cannot be preserved to look so brightly as when they were +first brought here; they all grow rotten; and I cannot prevent the worms +creeping in to corrupt them." + +Then they met some very black-looking clouds, loaded with things like +those Ruth had seen in the two houses, and they were put in with the +rest. + +"Alas," she sighed, "that the children will send up these things!" + +Ruth rejoiced to see that, with quick step, her kind guide passed by +many more such houses; for they terrified her. She feared she might +hear, if she listened well, some complaint she had uttered, or should +see some tarnished toy which she had selfishly treasured. No wonder she +liked to hasten by the houses! + +Then they passed away from the dreary desert places where black houses +were, into beautiful plains where the grass was mingled with bright and +lovely flowers, and rivulets gracefully flowed along; and here were +lovely temples, shining with precious stones, so that Ruth clapped her +hands at beholding them. "Here," said the old woman, "are more beautiful +treasures, which are my great glory and delight." + +She showed Ruth one, round which the whitest blossoms grew among green +leaves, in which were treasured all the smiles ever given to comfort +people who had grief in their heart; and these smiles shed about the +whole temple a light like a halo of glory. + +In another were the soft, loving words which many children had given +others, poorer and lowlier than themselves, to encourage their weak +hearts; words which they had given and forgotten, but which had yet been +carefully gathered up, and put in this temple. From this temple a low +sound of sweet music rose, which filled Ruth's heart with a perfect +peace, as if she had found everything she could ever desire. + +In another temple yet were all the words of love, which children express +and feel in their hearts to each other. From this temple proceeded +louder tones, but yet those of sweetest harmony. + +In another, all the gentle, loving words ever whispered to the animals. + +"I prize these highly," said the old woman. + +"It is very strange," said she, looking upon the temples, "that I find +these precious treasures thrown about very carelessly upon the earth. +The children never dream of their worth, and were I not always ready +there, some would be lost. But remember, Ruth, none are suffered to be +lost; and so, when the children to whom these belong are going into +heaven, they shall find there many a treasure they did not dream of +possessing. Thus shall the treasures they had forgotten grow brighter +and brighter, while others they had perhaps remembered have grown +corrupted and vain!" + +At these words, Ruth longed to lay many treasures in the temples, and +she heard a song, which the different tones of the temple formed in the +air. It melted her heart with its divine harmony. + +"O," cried Ruth "could I but sing such a song to my father! he who loves +songs so well. What joy it would be to him!" + +"And would you patiently sing the song though he thanked you not?" asked +the old woman. + +"I desire him only to hear it," replied Ruth; and at that moment the +power came to her, and such a song poured from her throat! + +She was so enchanted! But, when glancing in the brook, she saw her own +figure so lit up with beauty as scarcely to be able to recognize it. The +old woman saw her amazement, and replied to it: + +"I will send you back to your home that you may sing this song to your +father; and remember, little Ruth, that beauty only is worthy to have +which proceeds from the sweetness of thy words and the loveliness of thy +smile. In heaven thou mayst be as lovely as thou wilt. Send up, then, +fit treasures for the temple, and they will be kept safely until thou +needest them." + +Then, as the tones of the old woman's voice died away, Ruth found +herself in the garden again, near her mother's house, and, had it not +been for the fruit and bunch of violets in her pocket, she would have +believed it a dream; but, when she went into the house, and gave Grace +and Jessie the peaches, and her mother the big, beautiful violets, and +began doing all sorts of kind things for every one, she felt how very +real it all had been. And then, too, she would sing that beautiful song +she had heard in the old woman's star, and her father, delighted, caught +her up in his arms, kissing her again and again. + +Ruth did not forget what the old woman had told her--how she might bring +the beauty of heaven about her form; and when she grew up people loved +her, and said, "I would rather look like Ruth, to smile and speak like +her, than to have the brightest hair and bluest eyes of any court +beauty." + + + + +THE OLD MAN'S STORY. + + +Come about me, little ones, and I will tell you my story. I seem old to +you now; but once I was as young as you. I had twelve brothers and +sisters; but now they are all gone before me into the better land, and I +remain here alone upon the earth without them. + +I am very old. My teeth have fallen away from my mouth one by one, until +they are all gone. My bald head has a very few gray hairs; my ears are +deaf, so I can scarcely hear your young, sweet voices: and the bright +sky is dimmed to my eyes. Slowly my footsteps totter along the earth, as +when I first stepped into my mother's outstretched arms. + +My wife long ago went before me to the grave, and I have left many +children there. Many a time have I seen the green sod laid over the +grave of loved ones. Often have I wept at the sight of God's servant, +Death; but when next he comes I shall hail him with joy, for he will be +to me the beloved friend who bears me to my home above. + +Now that I am grown old, God lovingly carries me back to the days of my +childhood. He sends many a loving spirit upon the wings of consolation +to bear me into the fair region of youth. The scenes of the few years +since--all the noise and bustle of my manhood's prime--are banished far +away from me, and only the stillness and quiet of my childhood close +around the last moments of my earthly existence. Thus, dear children, +bathing me in the innocence and trustful spirit of my childhood, does +God prepare me for my home in his beautiful garden. + +I told you I had twelve brothers and sisters. O, well do I recall them +all! They come near, and I feel their presence as of old! I am glad to +linger mostly on their early days; for, in after life, their hearts were +filled with sorrow, their fresh spirits wearied, and care brought and +filled their souls with other feelings than those of love and sympathy +to others. + +Our fairest and brightest brother was Fred. I was only one year younger +than he, and I remember well how I watched my mother while she nursed +him, and sent me away from the arms which a little before had been my +sole possession. I could not understand it, and my little heart was +filled with dismay. I would creep away by myself, sit down, and in the +most pitiful manner repeat to myself, "Poor Sammy! poor Sammy!" The +sense of desolation was very great; and in the whole course of my life I +do not remember to have known a more distressing grief. When I grew to +be a man, and disappointments came upon me; when I laid my wife and +children in their graves, and knew there was not one left of my line but +myself--a miserable old man--there was hope in my sorrow, light in my +darkness; for I knew the love of God and the life of eternity. These +deep sorrows had, also, bright heights; but it was not so then. I could +not feel God's love. My mother's care had been all I knew; and, now that +it seemed given to another, I was alone and wretched. There was a +terrible sense of injustice, which nearly broke my heart. I could not +understand how my little brother could have the right to what was +denied me. + +I have always tenderly pitied children who had griefs; then they need +our care more than the grown children, who feel God's love and wisdom. +But these little ones grope in a kind of darkness. Suffering is a +mystery to them; they can perceive no cause or end for it; they only +know they suffer. + +After a while, I, too, was allowed to sit on my mother's lap with this +brother, and then I began to love him, he was _so_ beautiful. There was +no child in the county which could be compared with him, and, simply +because of his beauty and his cunning ways, he gained the power of a +king over the household, so that as soon as he began to run about he +ruled it, and me even more than the rest. + +The country was very new then, and all the gay, flourishing towns and +villages, which are now scattered in every direction, scarcely existed +even in the minds of the first sanguine settlers. Dark woods and sombre +swamps covered the surface; and what do you think we had instead of +roads, when we wanted to go from one town to another? The first one who +found his way along cut pieces of bark out of the trees, and others +followed these marks, until after a time they cut down the trees and +made a road. I think this is the reason old roads in this country are so +crooked; for you know a man cannot walk very straight through a forest. + +Our near neighbors lived a mile from us, and it was quite a little +journey to go and see them. We had a village, too, in which were but two +buildings, the meeting-house and blacksmith's shop. You children would +hardly think you could live in such a place; yet such was the state of +things ninety-three years ago. + +Well, my father and mother had come up from a town near Boston, because +my grandfather could give them some land here, and they built their +house, and made it their home. The house stands now; it is the very one +in which my brothers and sisters were all born. + +In her parlor my mother had a very nice piece of furniture, which her +mother had given her as a wedding present, and of which she was very +proud, inasmuch as no parlor in the county could boast the like. It was +a looking-glass! + +Well, laugh! No wonder it seems funny to you that any one should so +prize a looking-glass, when you all have so many of them; but you can +have no idea how different everything was then. The people were very +poor, and, although they owned many acres of land, yet they could +frequently sell it but for one dollar an acre, and thought that a fine +bargain. You see we had no money to buy the elegant luxuries you have in +your houses--the carpets, and sofas, and rocking-chairs. Our floors were +hard, covered now and then with a little sand, perhaps, as a great +luxury. The chairs were straight and high, while our tables were small +and low, and the cups from which we drank our tea as small as those you +play with. But, before I say any more, I want to tell you of the fate of +mother's looking-glass. + +The _great room_ (as mother's parlor was called) was always kept +carefully closed, and a very sacred, awful and mysterious place it was +to us children. It so happened, one day when mother had gone away, that +my little brother Fred began to be acted upon very powerfully by a +desire to take one peep into that room. By some strange neglect mother +had left the door unlatched--for she kept her bonnet in there, and +always put it on before the glass. The temptation to go in was +altogether too powerful for Fred to withstand, and, especially as others +had never pronounced the little monosyllable no, to him, he had no mind +to begin by saying it to himself. So in he went, and almost the first +thing he saw was mother's looking-glass, hanging over the table between +the two front windows. As he went towards it he saw a little boy, who +seemed to be peering and staring at him from between the windows. He had +no idea it was himself he saw, never having seen the looking-glass +before, nor his own reflected image. You may be sure he looked right +earnestly upon the strange child. If he stepped forward, so did the boy; +if he turned away, and then looked cautiously back to watch the boy, +there he was, looking at him in a very sly manner. Freddy, enraged at +this, rushed out for a stone, and, bringing it in, hurled it at the +looking-glass. But it was all in vain, for, even after the glass +rattled down and strewed the floor with its many pieces, that impudent +boy peeped at him from every bit of glass in which he looked. + +When my mother came home, and went to put away her bonnet in the great +room, as usual, she found her beautiful looking-glass lying on the +floor, broken into a hundred pieces. When she came out, and demanded of +us what it meant, Fred told her of a little boy he saw behind it, at +whom he was offended and hurled a stone, but that still the boy looked +at him from the pieces of glass and made him very angry. + +Then mother laughed when she heard Fred's story, and, catching him up in +her arms, kissed him again and again. She forgot to chide him for his +disobedience in going where he had been forbidden to go, and for his +foolish anger at the supposed boy. She was so much amused at his version +of the story, that she did not explain to him what the boy was, and how +the looking-glass reflected figures before it, but he was left to find +that out by his experience afterwards. + +If my brother, long before that, had learned lessons of love and +forbearance, this circumstance, slight as it may seem, would never have +occurred. Instead of the threatening and distrustful look in the mirror, +he would have found a laughing face, and a tiny, loving hand would have +been given him. O, my dear children, this story has a higher meaning +than I thought of when I commenced! In the feelings of those whom we +approach we see the reflection of our own; if we approach any one with +love, it is given to us from them. Think of this: it will serve you +well, and teach you to be careful, ere you hurl the stone, to know what +is the object of your anger. + +I have often thought that we all helped to make my brother selfish. He +was so very beautiful that we indulged him in every whim he had; so he +came to look upon us at last as bound to serve him. I do not blame him +only; they who had the nurturing of him, they to whom his young spirit +was sent so fair from God's heavenly gardens, in their unwise love +taught him to think of himself, and make others serve his purposes. + +These dear, helpless little ones--they come to us in fresh beauty like a +spring morning, and we taint their spirits with selfishness, and darken +them with worldly care! + +Years after, when my brother and myself had grown to men, we bound our +interests in one. He had quicker parts than I--was a much better +scholar; so I trusted all our business confidently in his hands. But I +grieve to say he did not meet my confidence with honor--he took from my +purse to enrich his own; and when I stood by his bedside, at last, and +saw how the deep wrinkles were worn in by care upon his once round +cheek, I wept. I wept that he should die without having found in life +that peace which any one would have predicted for him over his cradle, +when the rosy cheeks sank into the soft pillow, and the long lashes of +his baby eyelids rested upon them! I love that brother now, and his +child, who had become penniless after his death, I warmed in my +chimney-corner, and held to my heart as though she had been my own +child. Brother, I know thou hast repented, long ago, of the wrongs thou +didst inflict, and that some time, in the presence of God, I shall clasp +thee in my arms, pure again as when we sat together on our mother's +knee! + +See how I have wandered away off from my story! + +Let me tell you how we got our clothes. Did you ever ask yourself what +we could do then, when there were so few shops, and so little money to +carry to the shops? + +We had sheep, who gave us wool, which my mother spun, and wove it into +cloth. Just think of that! Do you imagine you would have as fine +clothes, if your mothers had to spin all the cloth? She knit, too, O, so +fast! as well in the dark as the light. I have known her to knit a +coarse stocking easily of an evening--her fingers _flew_ along the +needles! Cotton cloth was a great rarity among us. I remember once my +mother had a cotton gown, and it was esteemed very precious. + +Father made our shoes, and rough ones they were too, and which we only +wore in the coldest part of the winter. The long winter evenings were so +beautiful to us! Father taught us to read and spell, and chalked out +sums on the wall for us; then we would draw profiles on the wall, for +the great blaze of the wood-fire cast a bright light, and, consequently, +the shadow was well marked. A huge chimney-place we had, with a broad +hearth, and all about this would we sit, roasting apples and popping +corn by the heat of the fire. + +So we lived; in the summer, playing "hi-spy" around the corners of the +barn, and, in the winter, living snugly in the chimney-corner, telling +stories. + +When the revolutionary war broke out,--you've heard of that, of course; +but then I'm afraid you'll never know how much we endured then; our +feeling against the injustice of Mother England was very great. You do +not know how we had loved her, nor how we children used to listen to +stories of that beautiful country beyond the sea. Our father and mother +spoke of it as "Home," and we all hoped that some time, when we were men +and women, we might go "Home." Then, when she began to tax us for more +money than we were able to pay, in order to build grand palaces, it +seemed hard to us; and, even after we had remonstrated again and again, +she took no notice of our petitions. She laid a heavy tax on some little +comforts we had, such as _sugar_ and molasses; and then, when we refused +to buy them rather than pay the tax, she imposed a heavy tax on tea, +and sent a great deal of it here to force us to buy it. We wouldn't have +the tea, however, and you must have heard how a party of men, disguised +as Indians, threw it all into Boston harbor. + +All these things seemed the more cruel because they came from "Home." +And, finally, worn out with the injustice constantly experienced at +their hands, we prepared to resist them by war. + +The declaration of independence, which you celebrate every fourth of +July, was received with mingled emotions of joy and sorrow. It was +severing an old tie which had once been sweet; but yet it promised us, +through the doubtful conflict, freedom and independence. + +How enthusiastic we children were! Father made us rude wooden guns; and +drilled us every morning, for no one knew how long the war would last; +but we were determined to conquer, even though our fathers died in the +war, and our children succeeded to it. I remember when the recruiting +army came round. I seized my gun, and manfully joined its ranks. But to +my dismay I was sent back; my wooden gun, and extreme youth, were +thought insufficient to meet the demands of a soldier's duty. I remember +well when the battle was fought on Bunker Hill. A great part of the town +was gathered upon a slight elevation, from which we could distinctly +hear the roaring of the cannons and the clashing of the artillery. It +was a terrible day! There was many a woman there who had a father or +husband in the battle; and, at each report which filled their ears, they +fancied they saw them falling before the foe, and trampled beneath the +feet of the conquerors. + +Those were trying times. Children, I pray God you may never know such; +and you never can, for you will not struggle with poverty as we did. +When I look upon your happy faces, and see the satchel full of books on +your arm,--when I look in upon your happy homes, upon the career of +honor and usefulness before you in the future,--I am, by the strong +contrast, transported to those "trying times" when we lived in the cold +houses, and wore the coarse cloth; when we sacrificed the refinements of +knowledge, and the pleasures of luxury, to the bold struggle of liberty +against tyranny; when our hard-working mothers at home melted their +last pewter plate, that the guns should know no lack of bullets, and +sent all the little comforts of food and clothing they could find, to +bless the husbands and fathers toiling in the war; and when the fathers +fought with the fangs of thirst and hunger fast upon them, and leaving +behind them, upon the sharp ice, the traces of their footsteps, engraven +by their bleeding feet. Then, children, tears of joy and gratitude fill +my eyes; for we did not toil in vain. In you all do I behold the fruits +of our labor. We were ignorant, that you might be wise; poor, that you +might be rich; outlawed and disgraced, that you might build up a free +and generous nation. And, in reaping these privileges, do not forget the +old man, and the old woman, who, bowed and wrinkled with age, need your +kind hand. _We_ have given you these things gladly; and now, before we +go to our further toil in eternity, let us hear your blessed voices +speaking to us in kind tones of love; let us feel your young lips +pressed upon our old brows; let us clasp your little hands, and feel the +gladness with which your attentions come to us. And when you see an old +man, alone, with those of his generation passed away, treat him +tenderly. Guide his tottering footsteps, and bear with him when he is +slow; for he is waiting for the kind servant, Death. He is thinking of a +dear little girl, who, long ago, with her blue eyes and golden hair, her +light step and soft embrace, went up to live with the angels; and the +tears fall fast over his worn cheeks, as he remembers the lone place she +left in his heart, for she was the last thing which had been left him +from his broken family. Speak to the old man gently, for his heart is +often in converse with the beautiful past! Speak to him gently, for his +soul dwells among the angels of heaven! + + + + +A STORY OF THE CHRIST-CHILD. + + +In one of those tall, splendid houses, standing in proud streets, in +which some poor people imagine heaven to dwell, lived a little girl by +the name of Helen. + +It was Christmas-day; and early in the morning did she jump from her +bed, and run to look at her stocking by the fireplace, where it was hung +that Santa Claus need not be troubled to hunt for it. + +There it hung, filled full, and all about on the sides had fallen the +presents it was not large enough to hold. O, how quickly did she empty +its contents; and how delighted were her exclamations! + +"A beautiful bracelet!" she said to herself, sitting down on the carpet +and drawing her little white feet under her; "just such a one, with the +opal stone, as I saw in the window, yesterday, when I went to walk with +mamma on Washington-street; and she sent me home, I know, so she could +buy it. O, and this beautiful book! how its edges shine! What pictures! +Let me see;--'From your affectionate father,'--I knew father gave me +that;--and see the pretty cushion, and the box, and the china cups and +plates for my doll; and O, a new silk dress for dolly, and something +little, away down!" continued Helen, drawing out her hand and peeping +into the little stocking; then, putting her hand back, drew out a pretty +ring for her finger. "If this is not nice! I never _did see_ anything so +pretty,--a ring and a bracelet! O, dear, dear! how happy I am!" She +actually danced about the room for joy; and, when Katie came to wash and +dress her, she scampered around and around her, for she could not keep +still. + +There was ever so much candy too, and she wanted only to sit down and +eat it, unmindful of Katie's remonstrances. + +She had been so delighted with her presents as almost to forget the +merry Christmas she was to bid her father and mother; and so, when she +went down stairs into the breakfast-room, where the hot rolls were +smoking, and the loving parents waiting, they had almost surprised her +with their wishes before she bethought herself. + +Then she began to think of a party which was to be at her teacher's +house, and of the Christmas-tree and the Christ-child, which so many +children would go to see in their best frocks and best looks. + +So, after the famous Christmas-dinner with its nice roast-meats, and +puddings, and pies,--after the game of romps with her father, and the +ride on the rocking-horse with her brother, who, at last, from mere +mischief, had tipped her off, and sent her crying to her mother,--she +began to think about going there. She had seen herself nicely arrayed in +the pretty plaid dress, with the ring on her finger, and the opal +bracelet on her arm, which she had found in her stocking that morning. +Then she bethought herself of how all the children were to bring a few +pieces of silver for an offering to the Christ-child, that it might be +sent off into distant lands to children who knew nothing of the blessed +Christ-child and the Christmas he brought. + +It is true Helen had a bright box with a hole in the lid, through which +she had dropped many a bright piece of silver; and it is also true that +the box had a lock, and the key of the lock lay quietly in one of +Helen's drawers; but the money there was destined to some very great and +vague purpose; and she never would have dreamed of unlocking the box and +taking from it any silver for the Christ-child. She knew well enough +papa would give her money for that purpose. So to papa she went, and +told him what she wanted; and he, proud that his little girl should +carry as much as others whom she would meet there, gave her a beautiful +gold piece of money--a veritable five dollars! + +Then did Helen speed along with exultation in her heart--exultation for +the gold in her tiny pocket, and exultation in the very bright dress, +quilted pink bonnet, and pretty white furs. And she was so often +thinking, "What will Mary say when she sees this?" Not once did Helen +ask herself what the Christ-child, or he whom the Christ-child +represented, the Saviour in heaven would say to the gold she brought. + +Poor Helen! + +She was not bringing the gold for the children so far away. She was +bringing it because the others would bring some, and she wanted hers +seen of them! + + * * * * + +Away down in an obscure street, where you would not look for anything +kind or beautiful, lived a brother and sister, who made each other very +happy in their love. Their names were Johnny and Susan. Johnny was a +lame, sick boy, who could not run out of doors and play like other +children. It was Christmas morning there too, even, and early had Susan, +his sister, awoke to think of the pleasant visit she should make in the +afternoon at her teacher's house; and she had even stolen from her bed +up to Johnny's bedside to see if he, too, was awake; and when she saw +that he was awake and his countenance thoughtful, they began to talk +together about the day's pleasure, and how Susan was to remember +everything to tell it over by night to Johnny. + +"O," said Susan, "to think how beautiful it will be, and I never in a +fine house before, and the two sixpences we have earned this week! How +glad shall I be to put them in my teacher's hand! Johnny dear," said +the little Susan, looking tenderly on her poor brother, "do you not +think you need the sixpence yourself? I could buy you a sweet orange, or +something nice for you to eat, it is so long since you had anything but +bread and water." + +"No," said Johnny, "I'd rather much give it to the Christ-child. I love +to lie here and think about it, and of those children so far away, who +will be glad when they, too, know of this beautiful day. I think of them +so much that I love them, Susan, and I wish I had more than the sixpence +to send them." + +Susan busied herself in preparing the breakfast of bread and water, and +then, when it was over and the work done up, she sat down by the side of +Johnny's bed, and read to him out of the little book she had brought +from her Sunday-school; and Johnny forgot, in the quiet peace of the +day, how hard it was to lie still upon the bed, when he so often longed +to run out and play; thoughts of love came into his heart, and tears of +gentleness into his eyes. + +Their dinner was very different from the one Helen had eaten; but they +were happy, their hearts were full of expectation,--and Susan had got +herself quite ready, and, wrapping the two pieces of silver in a piece +of paper, she kissed Johnny, and set off on her way to the teacher's +house. + +But when Susan came among the children there, somehow they all shunned +her. In their plays, if they had occasion to speak to her, they passed +on quickly, with a suppressed smile and hurried glance on each other. +If, by any means, she spoke to them, they looked upon her in +astonishment, without answering her words. They often whispered one to +another, casting curious looks upon her; so she knew easily they spoke +of her. What could it mean? What had she done? + +I cannot answer this well. She had a gentle, sweet face; her manners +were neither rude nor obtrusive, and when she spoke, though her tones +were low, half fearful and trembling, still were her words as kind and +polite, if not kinder and politer, than those of the other children. + +Poor Susan! and she had thought to be so happy that afternoon; she had +anticipated only kindly faces, and loving glances, and kind hands +stretched out to her in the plays. For once she had thought to mingle +with those pretty children as if they had been her sisters, and, when +she went back to dear Johnny, to tell him of their loving words. But +now--what! could she tell Johnny, to grieve him, of the sad afternoon +she was passing? She looked upon them more closely, trying to find out +what it was that separated her from them. 'Tis true she wore no bright +plaid dress and delicate cloth boots; she wore no bracelets on her arm; +she had not found them in her stocking that morning. There was no +necklace about her neck; her hair was not bright and curling; yet, +still, what could be the reason they shunned her so? + +Susan tremblingly looked over her own dress. Her gown was scanty and of +cotton, her pantalets were long and narrow, but they were the best she +had; her mother had made them long ago, and Susan had so carefully +preserved them. On her feet she wore thick leather shoes; but she knew +how the money had been saved, little by little, from week to week, that +they might be bought. If they were thick, it was that they might last +the longer; and her hair was combed smoothly over her brow and braided +on her neck. Her hands, it is true, were not delicate, like theirs--they +were hard and red; but they had become so in working for the home, to +keep it clean, and working early and late, that the mother might not be +detained from her work out, and that the lame, sick brother should have +no little want unsupplied. + +And was it that her hands were red and her clothes coarse that the +children shunned her--even, too, before they looked into her little +home, and saw what she did there, how she comforted Johnny, and swept +clean the floor, and even found some time to read out of her books? +Could they, with their bright frocks and rosy cheeks, have such very +weak and wicked causes for their displeasure against this poor child? +Could they so willingly hurt her heart, when she had come from so many +days of toil to what she had thought would be a day of pleasure, so that +she must often turn her head to wipe off the tears with her little red +hand? And these children, had they come to honor the Christ-child? + +Their teacher had watched their games, and saw how they played among +themselves, and cast out the little Susan from their play; and she +thought that not only did they dishonor the Christ-child, but her who +had brought them all together. + +But Susan still thought of the Christmas-tree, the present it should +bear for her, and how she should take hers home for Johnny; and she +thought, too, of the two little sixpences done up in the paper in her +pocket. Helen, too, was not unmindful of her bright gold-piece, and had +taken good care to show it before the eyes of all the children; and +Susan had seen it, and thought of Johnny,--how he had said he wished he +had still more to send to the children so far away,--and she thought the +little girl with the gold-piece must be happy enough to send it; and she +began to feel half ashamed that she had no more money, and, as their +unkind looks continued, she asked herself if she had any right to be +there. + +But the Christmas-tree was ready. A servant came in and closed tightly +the shutters, so the room was all dark, and then the parlor-doors were +thrown open, and there stood the tall, beautiful tree, with candles of +all colors, which were burning like so many stars, and above it hung +the Christ-child, with a smile as of love, and his arms stretched out as +he would call them to him. And on the tree were nice gifts, books and +toys, pictures, and lace bags, tied with gay ribbons, filled with +candies. But Helen, and all the children who had found rich gifts in +their stockings that morning, turned indifferently from these, admiring +the novelty of the Christmas-tree. + +But to the child they had neglected,--the little girl in the cotton gown +and coarse, thick shoes, the little Susan,--these gifts, as well as the +tree, were very precious; for she had not jumped eagerly from her bed +that morning to find rich presents in her stockings, for she did not +expect them to be there; she had awoke early to think of the visit to +the teacher's house, the sight at the tree, and the gifts it should bear +for her and Johnny. + +So she prized her gift more than all! + +When the children saw how carefully she put the little bags of +sweetmeats in her pocket, instead of eating them as they did, they +laughed among themselves, and said something about her which was _so +cruel_ and so unjust, that I shall not even tell you what it was. They +did not know she was saving the candy to eat with Johnny. Then, when she +pondered over her little book, in admiration, and held it carefully in +her hands, as though she was fearful of stretching it, they said to +themselves, she must be very ignorant to care for such a thing. But +Susan only shrank off by herself, thankful to have her portion in these +things. + +After this, came the time when they would bring their offerings for +those children who live in the far-off lands, where there is no +Christmas; and the children began to wonder if Susan had any money, and +to show each other what they had. Then their teacher drew her chair +among them, and began to tell them what it really was to wish that +others might enjoy what we did; what it was to help them to do so, and +be careful not to rob them of one smile. + +"This money which you would send to those children, that they may be +happy as you are, if it does not tell them of your love, is useless to +them. And if, to obtain it, you have, in any way, denied yourself of one +little thing, be sure God will look very lovingly upon you; and those +children, when you meet them in heaven, will put their arms about you, +and tell you of their gratitude." + +When the teacher said these last words, Susan's lip quivered, and her +eye sparkled, for they were words of meaning to her; but they did not +affect the other children, for they were words of no meaning to them. + +But Susan saw those children in heaven, in her fancy, and Johnny was +there, no longer lame and sick; they ran and played over bright fields, +and no one laughed at them, or repulsed them, or wore brighter clothes +than they. They threw garlands of flowers to each other, and when they +laughed the tones of their voices were like music. + +Then the teacher called Susan to her side, and Susan put in her hand the +two little pieces of silver; and the children, when they saw how +carefully they had been wrapped in the bit of paper, exchanged glances, +and they who had the most money in their pockets smiled scornfully, as +children can, upon one another. The teacher asks Susan how the little +money was got, and the child answers in a low tone: + +"Please, ma'am, they are Johnny's and mine; we saved them since you told +us so long ago." + +And the teacher, as she thinks of the lame, sick Johnny, and what those +pennies might have bought him--how he had denied himself--feels the +tears come into her eyes, and she speaks to the children of Johnny, and +tells Susan that when she comes into heaven, she shall certainly see the +children she blesses now. But when she calls the others to her, and they +show her the money so easily obtained, the teacher will not take it. + +"Since you denied yourself not one thing for it, how do I know _love_ +made you bring it. And if love did not send it, how could it make the +far-off children happy? And how can you love those so far off, when you +have all helped to make this Christmas afternoon so unhappy a one to one +of the children I invited here with you? If you love not those close by +you, you cannot love those at a distance." + +She told them how Susan nursed her sick brother; how she read to him, +watched over him with cheerful smile and kind love; what she did for her +brother's comfort, and she showed them that the two pieces of silver +from Johnny and Susan were really worth more in the sight of God than +their silver dollars and gold pieces. + +Then she told them a story. When Christ was one day sitting in the +temple, he looked upon all those who came to put money in the treasury. +Many rich people, with proud airs and haughty hearts, threw in large +sums of money; people called them benevolent, and sang loud praises to +them. + +But Jesus did not call them benevolent, neither did he praise them. + +At last came a poor widow, bringing with her two mites, which made one +penny. She had saved them of all she had, and humbly, with love in her +heart, she threw them into the treasury. What a little, in comparison +with what the others had thrown there! and yet Jesus, who before had not +spoken, said of her: + +"I say unto you, this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which +have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of their +abundance, but _she_, of her want, did cast in all that she had, even +her living!" + +And the teacher was careful to tell them, it was the spirit of love in +which the two mites were brought, not simply that they were two mites, +which made Christ bless the woman; for if, in the same spirit, she had +brought twenty mites, her blessing would have been the same. + +The children saw, then, how shameful had been their conduct, and it +seemed just to them that the Christ-child should refuse their offerings. + +But they asked if they might not give their money to Susan and Johnny? + +"No," replied the teacher; "she does not need your money; she could give +you nothing in return for it. But, instead, you may give her your +love;--that she would like, and can return;--and, by-and-by, when you +have learned well your lessons of kindness, give the money where love +prompts you." + +And, from that time, they began to learn these lessons; they saw how +Susan, if her clothes _were_ coarse, had in her heart what was worth +more than fine clothes, and all the riches which are in the world; and +if they would have their gifts acceptable to the Christ-child, they +must have such in their hearts! + + * * * * + +Susan went home happy--bearing on her arm a basket of grapes and oranges +for Johnny, to tell him how the teacher had sent them to him, and that +they must be more and more loving and self-denying, since their God +would love them. + + + + +The only Original Illustrated Juvenile Magazine published Once a Week. + + * * * * + +OLIVER OPTIC'S MAGAZINE, + +OUR BOYS AND GIRLS, + +EVERY WEEK. EDITED BY OLIVER OPTIC, + +Who writes for no other Juvenile Publication, and who contributes + +Four Serial Stories Every Year, + +The cost of which, in book form, would be $5.00,--double the +subscription price of the Magazine. Every number contains part of a new +Story by Oliver Optic, illustrated by designs from the best artists, +headed by Thomas Nast, the great American Artist. Then follow + +Poems and Stories + +By other well-known authors, who know how to write for Young Folks. + +The Orator, + +A department exclusively in charge of Oliver Optic, gives every other +week a selection for Declamation, marked for delivery according to the +most approved rules of elocution; 26 MARKED DECLAMATIONS EACH YEAR. + + +Original Dialogues. + +Some of the best writers find a place under this head every other week, +giving the subscriber 26 ORIGINAL DIALOGUES EVERY YEAR. + + +Head Work, + +Containing Geographical Rebuses, Puzzles, Syncopations, Geographical +Questions, Proverbial Anagrams, Enigmas, Charades, and Numerical +Puzzles, contributed by the subscribers, and rendered unusually +attractive by original features NOT TO BE FOUND IN ANY OTHER MAGAZINE. + +In addition to the above-mentioned departments, there are regular +contributions on Natural History, History, the Sciences, Facts and +Figures from some of the most learned men in the country. + +OLIVER OPTIC'S MAGAZINE contains more reading matter than any other +juvenile publication, and is the CHEAPEST and the BEST Periodical of the +kind in the United States. + +Any boy or girl who will write to the publishers shall receive a +specimen copy by mail, free. + +_=TERMS, IN ADVANCE.=_--Single Subscriptions, One Year, $2.50; One +Volume, Six Months, $1.25; Single copies, 6 cents. Three copies, $6.50; +five copies, $10.00; ten copies (with an extra copy _free_), $20.00. + + * * * * + +=LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.= + +LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + + * * * * + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. + +THE BOAT CLUB SERIES. + +A library for Young People. Each volume illustrated. In sets or +separate. + + * * * * + +THE BOAT CLUB; or, the Bunkers of Rippleton. $1.25. + +"One noticeable feature of this author's books is their purity. Not a +line is to be found in any work of his but what will tend to elevate and +purify the mind of the boy or girl who may peruse it." + +ALL ABOARD; or, Life on the Lake. $1.25. + +"ALL ABOARD" was written to gratify the reasonable curiosity of the +readers of the "_Boat Club_," to know what occurred at Woodlake during +the second season; and though it is a sequel, it has no direct +connection with its predecessor. The Introduction in the first chapter +contains a brief synopsis of the principal events of the first season; +so that those who have not read the "_Boat Club_" will labor under no +disadvantage on that account. + +NOW OR NEVER; or, the Adventures of Bobby Bright. $1.25. + +The author has been for many years a successful teacher in one of the +Boston Public Schools, and the knowledge of youthful character thus +obtained has been used to good advantage in his works. + +TRY AGAIN; or, the Trials and Triumphs of Harry West. $1.25. + +The story of Harry West is a record of youthful experience designed to +illustrate the necessity and the results of perseverance in well doing. +The true success of life is the attainment of a pure and exalted +character; and he who at three-score-and-ten has won nothing but wealth +and a name, has failed to achieve the noblest purpose of his being. This +is the moral of the story contained in this volume. + +LITTLE BY LITTLE; or, the Cruise of the Flyaway. $1.25. + +Paul Duncan, the hero of this volume, is a nautical young gentleman, and +most of the events of the story occur upon the water, and possess that +exciting and captivating character for which this author's books are +famous. But the author hopes that something more than exciting incidents +will be found upon his pages; that though he has seldom, if ever, gone +out of his way to define the moral quality, or measure the moral +quantity, of the words and deeds of his characters, the story will not +be found wanting in a true Christian spirit. + +POOR AND PROUD; or, the Fortunes of Katy Redburn. $1.25. + +The history of a smart girl, where fortunes are made to depend upon her +good principles, her politeness, her determined perseverance, and her +over-coming that foolish pride, which is a snare to the feet. In these +respects she is a worthy example for the young. + +Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price. + + * * * * + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + +LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + + * * * * + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. + + * * * * + +YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD. + +A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. 16mo. Illustrated by +Nast, Stevens, Perkins, and others. + + * * * * + +OUTWARD BOUND: or, Young America Afloat. $1.50. + +"In Outward Bound," "the Ship Young America, sails for Europe, with a +school of eighty-seven boys aboard her, who pursue the studies of a +school, and at the same time work the ship across the Atlantic, being +amenable to regular naval discipline." + +SHAMROCK AND THISTLE; or, Young America in Ireland and Scotland. $1.50. + +"This volume continues the history of the academy ship and her crew of +boys, with their trips into the interior as well as voyages along the +coast of Ireland and Scotland. The young scholar will get a truer and +fuller conception of these countries by reading this unpretentious +journal of travel, than by weeks of hard study upon the geographies and +histories." + +RED CROSS; or, Young America in England and Wales. $1.50. + +"The third volume of Oliver Optic's Library of travel and adventure +chronicles the doings of the Young America and her crew in British ports +and waters, and is replete with thrilling adventures and descriptions of +noted places." + +DIKES AND DITCHES; or, Young America in Holland and Belgium. $1.50 + +"The author takes his readers on voyages up the rivers and canals of +Holland and Belgium, on tramps through the cities, their schools, their +art galleries, and their wonderful buildings, giving at every turn vivid +impressions of what is seen and heard therein and thereabouts." + +PALACE AND COTTAGE; or, Young America in France and Switzerland. $1.50 + +"This volume relates the history of the American Squadron (_Young +America_ and _Josephine_) in the waters of France, with the journey of +the students to Paris and through a portion of Switzerland. As an +episode, the story of the runaway cruise of the Josephine is introduced, +inculcating the moral that 'the way of the transgressor is hard.'" + +DOWN THE RHINE; or, Young America in Germany. $1.50. + +This volume concludes the first series of Young America, and is as +interesting and instructive as the preceding volumes. So great has been +the success of this series, that Oliver Optic is now preparing a second. +"Up the Baltic" will be the first volume, to be followed by "Northern +Lands," "Vine and Olive," "Sunny Shores," "Cross and Crescent" and +"Isles of the Sea." Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent +by mail on receipt of price. + + * * * * + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + +LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + + * * * * + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. + +WOODVILLE STORIES. + +_16mo. Handsomely Illustrated. In sets or separate._ + + * * * * + +RICH AND HUMBLE; or, the Mission of Bertha Grant. $1.25. + +"No author is more welcomed by the young, and no books can be more +safely placed in their hands. His writings, as in this volume of 'Rich +and Humble,' inspire the reader with a lofty purpose. They show the +wrong courses of life only to present, by contrast, the true and right +path, and make it the way which youth will wish to walk in, because of +its being the most pleasant and inviting."--_Mass. Teacher._ + +IN SCHOOL AND OUT; or, The Conquest of Richard and Grant. $1.25. + +"Oliver Optic is as well known and as highly appreciated among the young +people of our land as Charles Dickens is among the older folks. 'In +School and Out' is equal to anything he has written. It is a story that +will deeply interest boys particularly, and make them better."--_Notices +of the Press._ + +WATCH AND WAIT; or, The Young Fugitives. $1.25. + +The author has used, to the best advantage, the many exciting incidents +that naturally attend the career of a fugitive slave, and the seeds that +he may sow in youthful hearts will perhaps bear a hundred-fold. + +WORK AND WIN; or, Noddy Newman on a Cruise. $1.25. + +"A nautical story of adventure and endurance, written to delineate the +upward progress of a boy whose moral attributes were of the lowest +order, in consequence of neglected education, but in whom high religious +principles were afterwards developed."--_Notices of the Press._ + +HOPE AND HAVE; or, Fanny Grant among the Indians. $1.25. + +"This is a story of Western adventure and of peril among the Indians, +and contains the experience of Fanny Grant, who, from a very naughty +girl, became a very good one, by the influence of a pure and beautiful +example exhibited by an erring child, in the hour of her greatest +wandering from the path of virtue."--_Philadelphia Age._ + +HASTE AND WASTE; or, The Young Pilot of Lake Champlain. $1.25. + +"This is a story of boyish daring and integrity upon Lake Champlain, and +older heads than those of sixteen may read and profit by it." + +The stories in the "Woodville" series are hinged together only so far as +the same characters have been retained in each. + +Sold by all booksellers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of +price. + + * * * * * * * * + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + +LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + + * * * * + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. + + * * * * + +STARRY FLAG SERIES. + +_Each volume handsomely illustrated. In sets or separate._ + + * * * * + +THE STARRY FLAG; or, the Young Fisherman of Cape Ann. $1.25. + +"The early history of Levi Fairfield, the boy hero of this volume, as it +is graphically traced by Oliver Optic, will be apt to hold boy-readers +spell-bound. His manly virtue, his determined character, his superiority +to mean vice, his industry, and his stirring adventures, will suggest +good lessons for imitation."--_Presbyterian._ + +BREAKING AWAY; or, the Fortunes of a Student. $1.25. + +"In this volume Oliver Optic opens the school-room door, and shows the +nature, construction, and workings of the school system; its lights and +shadows; its discipline, and the serious consequences that come from +want of discipline."--_Patriot._ + +SEEK AND FIND; or, the Adventures of a Smart Boy. $1.25. + +Earnest Thornton, the "smart boy" of this story, is a clear headed, well +intentioned, plucky boy, that has a high aim and means right even where +he is wrong, and his adventures will be read with interest. + +FREAKS OF FORTUNE; or, Half around the World,--a sequel to "The Starry +Flag." $1.25. + +"The adventures of Levi Fairfield, the noble young Captain of the Starry +Flag, excited such an interest among the young folks that the +continuance of his story was called for, with which demand the ever +ready author has complied, with a story equally attractive and +interesting." + +MAKE OR BREAK; or, the Rich Man's Daughter. $1.25. + +"This is a lively, stirring volume, full of interest and instruction +from one cover to the other. Just the book a smart, wide-awake boy will +enjoy intensely."--_Press._ + +DOWN THE RIVER; or, Buck Bradford and his Tyrants. $1.25. + +"These stories are not only written in a manner well calculated to +enchain the attention of young readers, but teach at the same time such +important lessons of sobriety, industry and cheerfulness, that we should +like to see them in the hands of every boy in the land."--_Galesburg +Free Press._ + +Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price. + + * * * * + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + +LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + + * * * * + +SOPHIE MAY'S BOOKS. + + * * * * + +LITTLE PRUDY STORIES. + +_Six volumes. Illustrated. In Sets or separate. Per volume, 75 cents._ + +LITTLE PRUDY. + LITTLE PRUDY'S Sister Susy. + LITTLE PRUDY'S Captain Horace. + LITTLE PRUDY'S Cousin Grace. + LITTLE PRUDY'S Story Book. + LITTLE PRUDY'S Dotty Dimple. + + * * * * + +DOTTY DIMPLE STORIES. + +By the author of "Little Prudy Stories." + +_Six volumes. Illustrated. In Sets or separate. Per volume_, 75 _cents_. + +DOTTY DIMPLE at her Grandmother's. + DOTTY DIMPLE at Home. + DOTTY DIMPLE out West. + DOTTY DIMPLE at Play. + DOTTY DIMPLE at School. + DOTTY DIMPLE'S Flyaway. + +Read the high commendation of the _North American Review_, which places +Sophie May's Books at the + +=Head of Juvenile Literature.= + +"Genius comes in with 'Little Prudy.' Compared with her, all other +book-children are cold creations of Literature only; she alone is the +real thing. All the quaintness of childhood, its originality, its +tenderness and its teasing,--its infinite, unconscious drollery, the +serious earnestness of its fun, the fun of its seriousness, the natural +religion of its plays, and the delicious oddity of its prayers,--all +these waited for dear Little Prudy to embody them. Sam Weller is not +more piquant; Hans Anderson's nutcrackers and knitting-needles are not +more thoroughly charged with life. There are six little green volumes in +the series, and of course other _dramatis personae_ must figure; but one +eagerly watches for every reappearance of Prudy, as one watches at the +play for Owens or Warren to re-enter upon the stage. Who is our +benefactress in the authorship of these books, the world knows not. +Sophie May must doubtless be a fancy name, by reason of the spelling, +and we have only to be greatful that the author did not inflict on us +the customary alliteration in her pseudonyme. The rare gift of +delineating childhood is hers, and may the line of 'Little Prudy' go out +to the end of the earth.... To those oversaturated with transatlantic +traditions we recommend a course of 'Little Prudy,'" + +Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price. + + * * * * + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + +LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + + * * * * + +VACATION STORY BOOKS. + +6 volumes. Each volume handsomely illustrated. 80 cents. + +WORTH NOT WEALTH. + COUNTRY LIFE. + THE CHARM. + KARL KEIGLER. + WALTER SEYTON. + HOLIDAYS AT CHESTNUT HILL. + + * * * * + +ROSY DIAMOND STORY BOOKS. + +6 volumes. Each volume handsomely illustrated. 80 cents. + +THE GREAT ROSY DIAMOND. + DAISY; or, The Fairy Spectacles. + VIOLET: A Fairy Story. + MINNIE; or, The Little Woman. + THE ANGEL CHILDREN. + LITTLE BLOSSOM'S REWARD. + +These volumes are finely and profusely illustrated from designs by +Hoppin and other eminent artists. They are elegantly bound, and neatly +packed in ornamental boxes. As gifts for holidays and birthdays, where a +uniform value and appearance is desired, they are excellent. + + * * * * + +=_Mrs. Madeline Leslie's Books._= + +PLAY AND STUDY SERIES. + +4 volumes. Each volume illustrated. Price, $1.50. + +PLAY AND STUDY. + THE MOTHERLESS CHILDREN. + HOWARD AND HIS TEACHER. + JACK, THE CHIMNEY-SWEEP. + + * * * * + +LITTLE AGNES' LIBRARY. + +4 volumes. Each volume illustrated. Price, $1.50. + +LITTLE AGNES. + TRYING TO BE USEFUL. + I'LL TRY. + ART AND ARTLESSNESS. + +For family reading and Sabbath School libraries there are no better +books written than these by Mrs. Leslie. With attractive and interesting +stories are mingled wholesome truths and moral lessons. Of all these +books large editions have been printed, and they may be found largely +circulated in Sabbath Schools. + +Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price. + + * * * * + +=LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston.= + +LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + + * * * * + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. + + * * * * + +RIVERDALE STORY-BOOKS. + +Six volumes, profusely illustrated from new designs by Billings. In neat +box. Cloth. Per vol., .45. + +COMPRISING + +Little Merchant. +Young Voyagers. +Dolly and I. +Proud and Lazy. +Careless Kate. +Robinson Crusoe, Jr. + +These little volumes are very interesting and attractive, and they carry +a moral with them, which, if heeded, there is no doubt will set Youth in +the right direction for its own benefit. + +FLORA LEE STORY BOOKS. + +Companions to the above. Six volumes, profusely illustrated from new +designs by Billings. In neat box. Cloth. Per volume, .45. + +COMPRISING + +Christmas Gift. +Uncle Ben. +Birthday Party. +The Picnic Party. +The Gold Thimble. +The Do-Somethings. + +These stories are written in "Oliver Optic's" best style, and all are +interesting and attractive. + +OUR STANDARD BEARER; Or, The Life of Gen'l Ulysses S. Grant: His Youth, +His Manhood, His Campaigns, and his eminent Services in the +Reconstruction of the Nation his Sword has redeemed. As seen and related +by Captain Bernard Galligasken, Cosmopolitan, and written out by Oliver +Optic. Illustrated by Thos. Nast. 16mo. Cloth. $1.50. + +"This is a book for young men to read; for boys to read; and old men +will find their dull blood stirred by its graphic descriptions, its +thrilling narrative, and its hearty enthusiasm."--_New Bedford Mercury._ + +THE WAY OF THE WORLD. + +By William T. Adams (Oliver Optic). 12mo. $2.00. + +"This excellent writer for children has here tried his hand at writing +for grown people, and has succeeded admirably."--_Times._ + +"It is long since we have read a more interesting book."--_Gazette._ + +"The Way of the World is a popular story of the intense class, full of +thrilling incidents and exciting scenes, such as boys delight to +read."--_Congregationalist._ + +Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, +on receipt of price. + + * * * * + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + +LEE & SHEPARD'S JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS. + + * * * * + +OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS. + +ARMY AND NAVY STORIES. + + * * * * + +THE SOLDIER BOY; or, Tom Somers in the Army. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50. + +"This is a story of the rebellion, narrating the adventures of a +patriotic youth, who left the comforts of home to share the dangers of +the field. He is carried through several battles, and for a while shared +the hospitalities of the rebels as a prisoner. The story is true to +history, giving in the form of personal adventure correct accounts of +many stirring scenes of the war."--_Hartford Courant._ + +THE SAILOR BOY; or, Jack Somers in the Navy. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50. + +"Jack is the brother of Tom, the Soldier Boy, whose adventures in the +army were so much enjoyed. We have only to repeat that there are few +better stories for boys than these of Mr. Adams'. Always bright and even +sparkling with animation, the story never drags; there are no stupid +tasks or tiresome descriptions; the boys whose characters are drawn are +real boys, impulsive, with superabundant animal life, and the heroes are +manly, generous, healthy creations."--_Hartford Press._ + +THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT; or, The Adventures of an Army Officer. 16mo. +Illustrated. $1.50 + +"The Young Lieutenant" is a sequel to "The Soldier Boy," and carries the +reader through the stormy scenes of the rebellion, creates Thomas Somers +an officer, and as such he performs much difficult work in the +rebellion. + +YANKEE MIDDY; or, Adventures of a Naval Officer. 16mo. Illustrated. +$1.50. + +"The incidents of the story are those which have occurred on the ocean, +and on the bays, inlets, and rivers of the South, common in the +experience of all our naval officers who have been actively employed +during the war."--_Notices of the Press._ + +FIGHTING JOE; or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer. 16mo. Illustrated. +$1.50. + +"The description of battles and sieges, of picket and skirmishing, of +camp life and marching, are wrought out with thrilling detail, making +the story truly fascinating; while, in connection with this, useful and +practical information respecting men and places is conveyed, and a +proper spirit of morality and patriotism inculcated."--_Notices of the +Press._ + +BRAVE OLD SALT; or, Life on the Quarter-Deck. 16mo. Illustrated. $1.50. + +A book of adventure, of personal experience, describing a living hero, +and exhibiting the great truth that, by fidelity of conscience, country, +and God, earthly and heavenly blessings are secured. + +Sold by all booksellers and newsdealers, and sent by mail, post-paid, on +receipt of price. + + * * * * + +LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, Boston. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Angel Children, by Charlotte M. 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