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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 18:57:01 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 18:57:01 -0700 |
| commit | e85cbed121bdc27bdf6f465dfb1fb1302adb8bb9 (patch) | |
| tree | de2839e9cdf1a313f555d21b31b56e476feb7264 | |
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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/44770-0.txt b/44770-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..343d717 --- /dev/null +++ b/44770-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2807 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44770 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 44770-h.htm or 44770-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44770/44770-h/44770-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44770/44770-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + https://archive.org/details/daisysworkthirdc00mathiala + + + + + +DAISY'S WORK. + + +[Illustration] + +FLOWERETS. + +[Illustration] + + + * * * * * * + +Flowerets. + +A SERIES OF STORIES ON THE COMMANDMENTS. + +BY JOANNA H. MATHEWS, + +_Author of the "Bessie Books."_ + + + I. VIOLET'S IDOL. THE FIRST AND SECOND COMMANDMENTS $0.75 + + II. DAISY'S WORK. THE THIRD COMMANDMENT 0.75 + + III. ROSE'S TEMPTATION. THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT 0.75 + + IV. LILY'S LESSON. THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT 0.75 + + V. HYACINTHE AND HER BROTHERS. THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT 0.75 + + VI. PINKIE AND THE RABBITS. THE EIGHTH, NINTH, AND + TENTH COMMANDMENTS 0.75 + +_The set in a neat box, $4.50._ + + +ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS, + +_New York_. + + + * * * * * * + + +[Illustration] + + + + + +DAISY'S WORK. + +The Third Commandment. + +by + +JOANNA H. MATHEWS, + +Author of the "Bessie Books." + + + "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; + for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his + name in vain." + + "Let your communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay; for + whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + +New York: +Robert Carter and Brothers, +530, Broadway. +1870. + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by +Robert Carter and Brothers, +In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. + +Cambridge: +Press of John Wilson and Son. + + + + +[Illustration] + + TO + _MY DEAR LITTLE COUSIN_, + LULU CHAUNCEY. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + I. THE LITTLE FLOWER-GIRL 11 + II. A CLUSTER OF DAISIES 35 + III. THE DAISY TRANSPLANTED 63 + IV. DAISY'S SISTER FLOWERETS 85 + V. DAISY AT STUDY 107 + VI. DAISY A TEACHER 127 + VII. THE SWEARING CLASS 151 + VIII. DAISY'S NAME 181 + IX. THE LOST FOUND 201 + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE LITTLE FLOWER-GIRL. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +DAISY'S WORK. + + + + +I. + +THE LITTLE FLOWER-GIRL. + + +THERE stood our Daisy. What a Daisy it was too; what a fair, sweet +floweret; pure and innocent-looking as the blossoms over which she +bent. There she stood beside her basket of flowers, a little spot of +brightness and beauty amidst all the dust and heat and turmoil of the +noisy street, on that warm summer afternoon. + +It was a street which ran beside a great railroad depot. Porters, +carmen, and hackmen were calling, shouting, and swearing; passengers +were hurrying by to catch the trains which were starting every few +minutes; carriages driving up with their loads of ladies and children; +and farther down the street were great trucks laden with freight, and +express-wagons filled with baggage, which the railroad porters were +unloading with a great amount of noise and crash; and amongst it all +was Daisy, standing opposite the door of the ladies' entrance. + +But not one of all those passers-by knew that she was a "Daisy," +or that those were her namesakes which she held so lovingly in her +little hands. Now and then one stopped to buy one of the five or ten +cent bouquets, so tastefully arranged, which lay in her basket; and +almost all who did so had a kind word to give the child; for there +was something in her look and air which pleaded for tenderness and +sympathy. It did not seem that this was her proper place; for even +in her homely dress she looked so dainty and delicate, and moved and +spoke so like a little lady, that it was easy to see that she had been +accustomed to a different kind of life. But all who noticed her, or +stopped to buy her flowers, were in such haste that none had time for +more than a passing interest in the child, and contented themselves +with wondering and pitying. + +Down the street came a lady with a little girl, the latter skipping and +jumping as she held her mother's hand. No wonder the little one was +happy, and as full of play and merry pranks as any kitten; for she had +been spending such a pleasant day with mamma in the city, and was now +going back with "such lots to tell about and heaps of pretty things" to +her own lovely country home. + +"Oh, see, mamma!" she said, as her eye fell upon the other child, "see +those pretty flowers that dear little girl is selling. She is just +about as large as Lola Swan, and _don't_ she look nice and sweet. Won't +you buy some flowers from her, mamma?" + +"You have plenty of flowers at home, dear Lily, and we have about as +much as we can carry now," answered her mother. + +"Oh, dear mamma, but those little brenkays" (bouquets, Lily meant) +"would take up such a tiny mite of room, and I want you to buy some for +kindness to the little girl. She looks so sorry out of her eyes, mamma." + +Moved by the pleadings of her little daughter, Mrs. Ward turned toward +the flower-girl, whom in her hurry she had nearly passed without a +look, and asked the price of her bouquets. + +"What a pretty pot of daisies! Can't I have that, mamma?" asked Lily. + +But at this the flower-girl drew back and put one hand over the pot of +daisies she held in the other, as if she feared it was to be taken from +her by force. + +"I'll ask papa to carry them for me, mamma," said Lily. + +"Ho! ho!" said a cheery voice behind her, "so you think papa has +nothing better to do than turn expressman and carry all your traps, do +you? I wonder how many bundles are already waiting in the depot for me +to put safely in the cars;" and turning about Lily saw her father, who +had overtaken his wife and little girl. + +"Oh! lots and lots!" said Lily, jumping about with new glee as she saw +him. "We bought something for everybody, papa; and I bought a present +for your birthday to-morrow; but it is a secret. Mamma is going to fill +it with ink and I'll put it on your writing-table 'fore you come down +in the morning; but you won't ask what it is, will you?" + +"Not on any account," said Mr. Ward. "But you must make haste and buy +your flowers, or we shall not find good seats in the cars. So you want +these daisies, do you? How much are they, my child?" + +But again the flower-girl drew back. + +"I couldn't sell them, sir," she said; "at least not now, not if,----" + +"Oh! they are for some favorite customer, hey? You see, Lily, you can't +have them. Well, pick out your bouquets; we'll hang them about our +necks if we can't carry them any other way," said Mr. Ward. "This is +the little girl I told you about, my dear," turning to his wife, who +had been looking at the sweet, sad face of the young flower vender. + +"What is your name, my child?" asked the lady. + +"My name is--they call me Margaret," said the child, with hesitation in +her voice and manner, and a sudden flush breaking over her face. + +"There," said Mr. Ward, when, having paid for the flowers which Lily +had chosen, he hurried his wife and daughter away; "there, my dear, I +did not say too much about that child, did I?" + +"Why no," said Mrs. Ward, looking back to the small figure beside its +basket of flowers, "there is certainly something very interesting about +her. Her speech and manner, as well as her looks, are strangely refined +and lady-like for one in her position. I wish we had time to talk more +to her." + +The flower-girl looked after them and sighed,--a long, weary sigh, as +she watched the frolicsome Lily. + +"Most all little girls have their fathers and mothers," she said softly +to herself; "but I don't have either. I wonder why God did take both of +mine away; if He didn't know how lonesome I would be, or why He didn't +take me too. I don't see what good I can be to Him all alone by myself, +except Betty and Jack. But then He knows, and maybe He only wants me to +be patient till He's ready to take me." + +[Illustration] + +But the wistful eyes brightened again, as, having watched Lily and her +friends disappear within the door of the depot, she turned them the +other way to see if new customers were coming. + +"There he comes," she said, as her eye fell upon a tall, +broad-shouldered gentleman coming down the street, "soldier" written in +every line and motion of his figure, from the erect, stately head, down +to the ringing, military tread of his firm foot. + +"Good afternoon, little woman," he said, returning with a pleasant +smile her welcoming look; "is my wife's bouquet all ready?" + +Taking from the corner of her basket a bouquet somewhat larger than the +rest, and of rather choicer flowers, she held it up to him. + +"Thank you, sir," she said, as she received the price; and then, with +rising color, added, "would it be too much trouble to carry this to the +lady?" + +"Too much trouble? No! How much is it?" he said, putting his hand again +into his pocket. + +"Oh! sir, I didn't mean that. I didn't want to sell it, but to give +it to you, if you would take it to the lady you buy flowers for every +day. I want to send it to her because you are so kind to me, and +because--because you put me in mind of--of somebody." + +"That is it, is it?" said the gentleman. "Well, I can't refuse such +a pretty gift, so prettily offered. And who do I put you in mind of, +pray?" + +"Of my papa, sir. You do look like him." + +"Humph!" said the gentleman, not much pleased at the idea that he was +like the father of this little poor child, above her station though she +looked. "And these are daisies, hey? My wife will like them." + +"General, do you mean to miss the train?" said an acquaintance, as he +passed. + +"Not with my own consent, certainly," said the gentleman. "I shall +thank you for the lady to-morrow, my little girl." + +But as he turned to go, his foot slipped upon a piece of orange-peel, +thrown down by some careless person, and he had nearly fallen. He would +have been down altogether but for his little companion; but as he +involuntarily put out his hand, she caught it; and that support, frail +and slight as it was, was sufficient to steady him. + +Kind of heart, noble and generous though he was, the soldier was +hasty-tempered and quick, and an oath--a fearful oath--burst from his +lips. + +"Ah, you were my good angel. You have saved me from a bad fall," he +said almost in the same breath, but in a very different tone and +manner, as he turned to the child. + +His good angel! Ah, yes! More than he knew, his good angel. Those +little hands should from this time hold him from falling into the sin +of which he had just been guilty. + +Years ago General Forster would have been shocked at the thought of +letting such words escape his lips, though even then he was none too +reverent or careful in speaking of sacred persons or things; but in +the bustle and excitement of war he had, alas! like many another brave +man, allowed himself to fall into the habit of taking God's holy +name in vain. But careless though he might be before men in moments +of forgetfulness, or when his hasty temper got the better of him, he +seldom or never suffered himself to use such words before women or +children; why, you shall learn. + +"Why, have I hurt you?" he asked, seeing with surprise her startled and +troubled face. + +"No, sir, oh! no," she answered, catching her breath, "but, but"-- + +"Well, but what?" + +"But I am so sorry;" and that she was so was proved, as she covered her +face with her hands and burst into tears. + +"Sorry for what?" he asked. + +She gave him no answer, but shrank a little away. + +"Sorry for what?" he repeated, as if determined to know; and the tone +of command, which seemed to say he was used to instant obedience, +forced her to speak, whether she would or no. + +"Sorry for those words you said, sir," she sobbed. + +"Those words? What words?" But his question answered itself as it +was spoken; for his wicked words, which but for this would have been +forgotten the next instant, came back to him, and he stood rebuked +before this poor little flower-girl. He repented already; but repented +only because he had distressed this simple child, in whom he took so +much interest, not yet because he had grieved and offended the Holy One +whose name he had profaned. + +Still he was vexed too. + +"Why, you don't mean to say," he said rather impatiently, "that you +never hear such words as those, standing here as you do, half the day, +with those rough men and boys about you?" + +"Oh, yes, sir!" she said, plaintively. "I do hear such words, often, +often. I try not to; but I can't help it, you see; and it makes me so +sorry. But I thought those poor men and boys could not know how to +read, and had never been taught better, or perhaps they did not know +what God had said in His commandments. But I did not think gentlemen +said such things; and I liked you _so_ much." + +And did she like him less now? He, the _gentleman_, the rich man, felt +that he could not wish to lose the respect and liking of this little +child whom he thought so far beneath him, and he was ashamed and sorry. +He knew that it was not impertinence, but only her innocent simplicity +and truthfulness, which had caused her to say what she did. But to know +that he was in the wrong and to acknowledge it, were one and the same +thing with this true-hearted man. + +"You are right, Margaret," he said, forgetting how fast the moments +were flying. "_Gentlemen_ should not say such things, especially before +ladies and children. It is bad manners; but I forgot myself just then." + +She took her hands from her face and looked up at him. There was an +unspoken question in the clear, earnest eyes, and it was plain that she +was not yet satisfied. + +"Well," he said smiling at her, "what troubles you still? Let me have +it all." + +"I was only thinking what difference could it make, sir." + +"What difference could what make?" + +"Whether it was ladies and children who heard it, sir," she answered +timidly. "God hears it all the same, doesn't He? And it can't make any +difference to Him who else hears it." + +She looked up as she spoke at the blue sky overhead, and the look and +the words brought to him a sudden sense of God's constant presence and +nearness. He had known it well enough before,--that the Almighty Eye +saw him always; that the Almighty Ear heard him always; but he had +never felt it as he did now. The gentle, timid reproof had gone far +deeper than the little giver had intended, and her hearer felt ashamed +that he had confessed to her that he would pay a respect to a woman or +child which he did not feel it needful to pay to his Maker. He could +make her no answer. + +"_You_ behind time, General?" said the voice of another friend as he +hurried past; and the scream of the warning whistle told the gentleman +that he had no time to lose. + +"I'll see you to-morrow. Good-by, my child. God bless you," he said +hurriedly, and rushed away. + +But just in time; he was the last passenger, and stepped upon the +platform of a car as the train was put in motion. The jar threw him +once more a little off his balance, and he caught by the rail to save +himself, while again hasty, profane words rose to his lips. + +But they did not pass them. What though no human ear should hear; "God +heard them all the same," and they were checked before even the summer +wind could catch them; and in their place the angels carried up the +heart-breathed prayer, "God keep me from them in time to come." + +His next neighbor in the cars thought General Forster remarkably silent +and unsociable that afternoon. He would not talk, but buried himself +behind his newspaper. If the neighbor had looked closer he would have +seen that the General's eyes were fixed, not on the paper held before +his face, but on the little pot of daisies which rested on his knee. +And over the delicate pink and white blossoms was breathed a vow,--a +vow registered in heaven and faithfully kept on earth. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +A CLUSTER OF DAISIES. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +II. + +A CLUSTER OF DAISIES. + + +"WHAT are you thinking of, Frank?" said Mrs. Forster, looking at her +husband as he stood leaning against the casing of the window, gazing +thoughtfully out at the lovely garden beyond. + +"Of a bad habit of mine," he answered. + +"You have none; at least none that I cannot put up with," she said +playfully. + +"That's not the question, dear Gertrude," he returned gravely. "It is +whether my Maker can put up with it, and I believe that He cannot, +since he has said He 'will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name +in vain.'" + +Mrs. Forster colored as she bent her head over the sleeping baby on her +lap. + +"You did not know, perhaps," her husband said, after a minute's +silence, "that I was ever guilty of this--sin?" + +"I did know it, Frank; at least I have heard you now and then, when you +were speaking to your dogs and horses, or even when you were a little +impatient with the men. But you did not mean me to hear such words; and +I noticed you never used them in my presence." + +"No," he said a little sadly: "I would not speak in my wife's presence +words which were not fit for her to hear; but I forgot an ear still +purer, which I was insulting and defying. That is the second thrust I +have had to-day, Gertrude, which has made me feel that I have treated +the Almighty with less of reverence and respect than I would show to +some of my fellow-creatures. Let me tell you of the innocent lesson I +received from the little flower-girl, who sent the daisies to you." + +And sitting down beside her, he told her of the teaching which had come +to him from the little wayside blossom; to whose lonely, thirsting +heart his few kind words and smiles had been as drops of dew from +heaven. + +But even while they talked of her and her pretty lady-like ways and +sayings, which seemed so far above her station, they did not know +she was a "Daisy," and that those were her namesakes over which Mrs. +Forster bent, dropping happy tears and kisses on them, mingled with +many a blessing on the little giver. + +Plucking one of the flowers from the stem, she opened her baby's tiny +hand and placed it within it. The fairy fingers closed around it, +clasping it tight, while the unconscious little one slept on. + +"Her name is Gertrude, but we'll call her Daisy, Frank, as soon as she +is old enough to be called any thing but baby," said the young mother, +"and her pretty pet name may serve as a reminder of this day's lesson, +if ever it should be forgotten." + +"You think I may need it," said her husband, smiling. "I trust not; for +the sin, to say nothing of the vulgarity, of taking God's name in vain, +has been set forth so plainly by my innocent little teacher, that I +must have a short memory, indeed, if I failed to remember her lesson. +She thought _gentlemen_ must know better." + +"But, dear," said the lady, "you said you would inquire about this +child, and see if we could not be of some use to her." + +"So I did," he answered; "and so I will, and should have done long +since; but day after day I have let business or pleasure keep me till +I had but just time to catch the train, and none to bestow on the +poor little creature who seems to have been so grateful for the few +kind words I have given her. You think I am rather fanciful about +this child, I know, Gertrude; but I am convinced that some of her few +years must have been spent among different people than those by whom +she is now surrounded. Nor am I the only one of her customers who has +noticed the grace of her speech and manners, so uncommon in a child +of her class. Ward, and others beside, have seen it; but like myself +have never made it their business to see after her. However, to-morrow +afternoon, I shall make it a point to be at the depot in time to have a +talk with her. I wonder if the woman who keeps the fruit-stall at the +corner, and whose child I believe she is, would give her up and let her +go to school." + +He was as good as his word; and more than an hour earlier than usual, +our little flower-girl saw "her gentleman" coming down the street +towards the depot. It was an eager, wistful little face, with some +questioning fear in it, that she raised to him, for she was anxious +lest she should have offended her kind friend, as she had learned to +think him, by her plain speech of the day before. + +She had scarcely meant to speak so plainly; the words had seemed to +escape her without her intending it, and, it was true, had been drawn +forth by the gentleman's own questions; but when she remembered them +afterwards she feared that he would think her rude and disrespectful. + +She need not have been afraid. His eye and voice were even kinder than +usual as he came near to her, and he laid his hand gently on her head, +saying,-- + +"Well, my little woman! and how does the world go with you to-day? The +lady told me to thank you very much for the daisies." + +The young face brightened. + +"Did she like them, sir?" + +"Very much indeed,--all the more because she has a little one at home +whom she is going to call 'Daisy' after your pretty flowers." + +"Is she your little girl, sir?" + +"Yes, she is a mite of a Daisy, but a very precious one," he answered; +then looking into the flushed face, with its soft, shining eyes and +parted lips, he added, "You are a Daisy yourself." + +The flowers she held dropped at her feet unheeded as she clasped both +hands upon her breast, and with quick-coming breath and filling eyes, +asked eagerly, "How _did_ you know it, sir? how did you know it?" + +"Know what, my child? What troubles you?" + +"How did you know I was Daisy?" she almost gasped. + +"I did not know it," he answered in surprise. "Is your name Daisy? I +thought it was Margaret." + +"They call me Margaret, sir,--Betty and Jack; but Daisy is my _own_, +_own_ name, that papa and mamma called me," she answered, recovering +herself a little. + +"And where are your papa and mamma?" he asked. "I thought the woman who +keeps the fruit-stall at the corner was your mother." + +"Oh, no, sir!" she said. "She is only Betty. She is very good to me, +but she is not mamma. Mamma was a lady," she added, with simple, +childish dignity, which told that she was a lady herself. + +"But _where_ are your father and mother?" he repeated, with fresh +interest in the child. + +"Mamma is drowned, sir; and we could never find papa," she answered, +with such pathos in her tones. + +"Come into the depot with me," said General Forster: "I want to talk to +you." + +She obeyed, and, taking up her basket, followed him into the +waiting-room, where, heedless of the many curious eyes around, he made +her sit down beside him, and drew from her her sad, simple story:--how +long, long ago she had lived with papa and mamma and her little brother +and baby sister in their own lovely home, far away from here; where it +was, she did not know, but in quite a different place from the great +bustling city which she had never seen till she came here with Betty +and Jack; how she had left home with mamma and the baby on a great +ship, where to go she could not remember; how Betty was on board, and +mamma had been kind to her; how a dreadful storm had come and there was +great confusion and terror; and then it seemed as if she went to sleep +for a long, long time, and knew nothing more till she found herself +living with Betty and Jack in their poor home far up in the city. + +They had been very good to her, nursing and caring for her during the +many months she had been weak and ailing; and now that she was stronger +and better, she tried to help them all she could, keeping the two small +rooms tidy, while Betty was away attending to her stall; and in the +afternoon selling the flowers which Jack raised in his little garden, +and she arranged in tasteful bouquets. And, lastly, she told how from +the very first time she had seen General Forster, she thought he +"looked so like papa" that she felt as if she must love him, and was so +happy when he stopped to buy flowers of her and spoke kindly to her. + +The story was told with a straightforward and simple pathos, which went +right to the listener's heart, and left him no doubt of its truth. But +the child could tell nothing of her own name or her parents', save that +she was always called "Daisy" at home, and that she had never since +heard the familiar name until to-day, when she thought this stranger +had given it to her. Betty and Jack always called her "Margaret;" and +Betty thought she knew mamma's name, but she did not. But she loved +daisies dearly for the sake of their name, which had been her own; and +she had raised and tended with loving care the little plant she had +given to "my gentleman" as a token of gratitude for his kindness, and +because he was "so like papa." + +Having learned all that he could from the child herself, the gentleman +went to the fruit-woman on the corner. + +"So," he said, "the little girl whom you call Margaret is not your own +daughter?" + +"Indade, no, sir," answered Betty; "niver a daughter of me own have +I barrin' Jack, and he's not me own at all, but jist me sister's son +what died, lavin' him a babby on me hands. More betoken that it's not +a little lady like her that the likes of me would be raisin', unless +she'd none of her own to do it." + +"Will you tell me how that came about?" + +Betty told the story in her turn, in as plain and simple a manner as +the child's, though in language far different. + +Her husband had been steward on a sailing vessel running between New +Orleans and New York; and about three years ago, she, being sick and +ordered change of air, had been allowed to go with him for the voyage. +But it made her worse instead of better; and on the return trip she +would have died, Betty declared, if it had not been for the kindness +and tender nursing of a lady, "Margaret's" mother. This lady--"her name +had been Saacyfut, she believed, but maybe she disremembered intirely, +for Marga_ret_ said it was not"--was on her way to New York with her +little girl who was sick, a baby, and a French nurse; but her home was +neither there nor in New Orleans,--at least so the child afterwards +said. + +Her own account of the storm was the same as the child's; but while the +recollection of the little one could go no further, Betty remembered +only too well the horrors of that day. + +When it was found that the ship must sink, and that all on board must +leave her, there had been, as the little girl said, great confusion. +How it was, Betty could not exactly tell; she had been placed in one +boat, the French nurse, with the child in her arms, beside her; and the +lady was about to follow with the infant, when a spar fell, striking +the Frenchwoman on the head and killing her instantly, knocking +overboard one of the three sailors who were in the boat,--while at the +same time the boat was parted from the ship and at the mercy of the +raging waves. In vain did the two sailors who were left try to regain +the ship: they were swept further and further away, and soon lost sight +of the vessel. They drifted about all night, and the next morning were +taken up by a fishing-smack which brought them to New York. + +Fright and exposure and other hardships, while they seemed to have +cured Betty, were too much for the poor little girl, and a long and +terrible illness followed: after which she lay for months, too weak to +move or speak, and appearing to have lost all memory and sense. And +when at last she grew better and stronger, and reason and recollection +came back, she could not tell the name of her parents or her home. + +"Marga_ret_ Saacyfut," Betty persisted in saying the French nurse had +called her little charge, "Mamsell Marga_ret_," "and if the lady's name +wasn't Saacyfut it was mightily nigh to it." + +"Marguerite" had been the French woman's name for "Daisy:" that the +General saw plainly enough, but he could make nothing of the surname. + +"But did you not seek for the child's friends, Betty?" he asked. + +"'Deed did I, sir," she answered. "Didn't I even ad_ver_tise her, an' +how she was to be heerd of, but all to no good. An' I writ to New +Orleans to them what owned the ship, but they were that oncivil they +niver answered, not they. An' it took a hape of money, sir, to be +payin' the paper, an' me such hard work to get along, an' Marga_ret_ on +me hands, an' I had to be done with it. For ye see me man was gone wid +the ship, an' niver heerd of along wid the rest to this day; an' I had +to use up the bit he'd put by in the savin's bank till the child was +mendin' enough for me to lave her wid Jack." + +"It was a very generous thing for you to burden yourself with the care +of her," said General Forster. + +"Burden is it, sir? Niver a burden was she, the swate lamb, not even +when the sense had left her. An' that was what the neighbors was always +a sayin', and why didn't I put her in the hospital. An' why would I do +that after the mother of her savin' me from a buryin' in the say, which +I niver could abide. For sure if it hadn't been for the lady I'd 'a +died on the ould ship, and they'd 'a chucked me overboard widout sayin' +by your lave; and sure I'd niver have got over such a buryin' as that +all the days of me life. And would I be turnin' out her child afther +that? An' isn't she payin' me for it now, an' 'arnin' her livin,' an' +mine too? She an' Jack tends the bit of a garden, an' arternoons she +comes down an' sells her flowers, an' where'd be the heart to refuse +her wid her pretty ways and nice manners; a lady every inch of her, +like her mother before her." + +And thrusting her head out from her stall, Betty gazed down the street +with admiring affection on her young _protégée_. + +"Och! but she's the jewel of a child," she went on; "and it is +surprisin' how me and Jack is improved and become ginteel all along of +her. Ye see, sir, I did use to say a hape of words that maybe wer'n't +jist so; not that I meant 'em for swearin', but it was jist a way of +spakin'. But after Marga_ret_ began to mend and get about, ye would +have thought she was kilt intirely if I let one out of me mouth. So +seein' how it hurted her, I jist minded what I was about, an' Jack the +same, for he was a boy that swore awful, poor fellow; he'd been left to +himself, and how was he to know better? At first him and me minded our +tongues, for that the child shouldn't be hurted; but by and by didn't +she make it plain to us that it was the great Lord himself what we was +offendin', and knowin' she'd been tached better nor me, I jist heeded +her. And now, sir, them words that I never thought no harm of and used +to come so aisy, I jist leave them out of me spache widout troublin'; +and a deal better it sounds, and widout doubt more plasin' to Him +that's above. And Jack the same mostly, though he does let one slip now +and agin. So ye see, sir, it's not a burden she is at all, at all, but +jist a little bit of light and comfort to the house that houlds her." + +Glad to find a listener in a "gintleman the likes of him," Betty had +talked away to the gentlemen, so taken up with her story, that she paid +little heed to the business of her stall. She made wrong change more +than once, gave quarts instead of pints, oranges in place of apples, +and peanuts for sugar-plums, and provoked some impatient customers not +a little; while one wicked boy, seeing her attention was taken up with +something else, ran off without paying for the pop-corn he asked for, +and was not called back. + +But Betty lost nothing by the time and thought she had given to the +gentleman, or the interest she had shown in her young charge, as she +found when she looked at the number upon the note he slipped into her +hand when he left her: a note which the warm-hearted Irishwoman laid by +"to buy that new gown and pair of shoes Margaret needed so bad." + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE DAISY TRANSPLANTED. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +III. + +THE DAISY TRANSPLANTED. + + +"BETTY," said General Forster, stopping the next morning at the +fruit-woman's stall, "could you make up your mind to give up that +little girl if you were sure it was for her good?" + +Betty sighed and shook her head mournfully as she answered,-- + +"I've always looked to give her up, sir, if them Saacyfuts, or whatever +their name'll be, turned up, and if it was for her good, sorra a word +would they hear out of me, though I won't say but it would go hard with +me and Jack. But ye'll not be tellin' me ye've been findin' her friends +since last night, sir?" + +"Not the people she belongs to, certainly, Betty; but I have found +those who will be friends to her, and provide for her, if you will +consent. She should go to school and be well taught: do you not think +so?" + +"Indade, an' there's none knows that better nor meself, sir. An' is it +yerself that's the friend ye're spakin' of?" and Betty gave a searching +look into the gentleman's face. + +He smiled. "Yes," he said: "I would like to put her to school and take +care of her. She seems a sweet child, and a good one. And you see, +Betty, I have it in my power to do more to find her friends than you +are able to do, and we may trace them yet. If we never find them, I +will promise to provide for her as long as it may be necessary. Are you +willing?" + +Betty again stared into the face of her questioner as if she would look +him through. + +"I'm sinsible of your kindness, sir," she answered; "but ye see I'm +in a way risponsible for the child, not to say that she is as dear to +me as me own flesh and blood, and I'd say 'yis,' and thank ye kindly, +but--ye'll excuse me plain spakin'--ye're a stranger to me, and I +couldn't be partin' wid Marga_ret_ widout I was certified as to yer +ka_rac_ter. For if I didn't think she'd be brought up right, niver +a foot should she stir to go wid ye. I seen Miss Gertrude Allston a +walkin' wid ye once last summer, sir, jist after I set up me stand +here, but she niver heeded me wid her swate face. But I used to be +laundress in her mother's house afore I was married, and a swate child +was Miss Gertrude and a good as ye're sayin' of Marga_ret_, and she'll +niver go far wrong, I'll answer for it. So, if ye'll jist bring me a +line from her and she says ye're all right, I'll not say ye nay." + +General Forster laughed heartily, not one whit offended at Betty's +"plain spakin'." + +"Miss Gertrude Allston, as you call her, will give me all the lines you +want, Betty; and she thought me right enough to marry me. She is my +wife,--Mrs. Forster." + +"An' is it so, sir?" said Betty, dropping the rosy-cheeked apple she +was polishing, and gazing at the gentleman with a mixture of curiosity +and admiration that was droll to see. "Well, but ye're in luck; and +if it's Miss Gertrude that has the managin' of ye, that's ka_rac_ter +enough of itself, an' I'll say take the child an' my blessin' on all +of yees. But when she gets among yer fine folks, ye'll not let her be +forgettin' the woman what cared for her when there was none else to do +it: will ye, sir? An' ye'll be lettin' me see her once in a while?" + +There is no need to say that this was readily promised, and the General +went on to tell Betty what plans he and his wife had for Daisy. She +was to be taken for a while to his home, where Mrs. Forster would +provide her with proper clothing; and then send her to Miss Collins' +boarding-school to be taught and trained in a way to satisfy her +friends if they should ever find her, or that she might one day be able +to earn her own living, if it should be needful. + +"An' I'm glad she should have the bringin' up of a lady which is what I +couldn't give her," said Betty, with another sigh, for it went to her +heart to part with her darling; "but ye'll not be able to make her more +of a lady nor she is now; no, not if ye dress her in gould and jewels, +an' silks an' satins. Niver a rough word nor way has she with her, if +she has been with me and Jack more nor two year, nor ye couldn't find a +purtier behaved child in all the land." + +An hour or two later, Betty, having found a friend to "mind" her stall +for her, guided General Forster to the tiny house in the suburbs of the +city where she lived with Daisy and Jack. + +The two children were out in the little garden gathering the flowers +which were to be tied up in bouquets for Daisy's afternoon sale; and +great was their surprise, when the sound of the gate-latch causing them +to look up, they saw Betty coming home at this unusual hour of the day, +and the gentleman with her. Their business was soon told; but although +Daisy flushed and smiled with astonishment and delight when she heard +what the "gentleman who looked so like papa" meant to do for her, the +little face soon shadowed over again, and she shook her head gently but +firmly when she was asked if she would go. + +"An' why for no, dear?" asked Betty. "Sure ye'd niver be for throwin' +away a chance the likes of that, not to spake of it's bein' ongrateful +to the gintleman's kindness, an' he no more nor less than the husband +of Miss Gertrude." + +But Daisy shook her head again; and then first begging the gentleman's +pardon, as a polite little girl should do, stepped up to her faithful +friend, and putting her arms about her neck whispered something in her +ear. + +The tears she had before with trouble kept back now started to Betty's +eyes. + +"Och, an' is it that, honey?" she said in her broadest brogue, "an' +ye'll not let that be thrubblin' yer dear heart. What a tinder, +grateful little sowl it is! Ye see, sir," she went on, turning to the +General, while she smoothed with her loving hand the little head which +lay upon her breast, "ye see, sir, it's just as I tellt ye. She's a +lady, every inch of her, an' has feelin's that's jist oncommon. An' +there's a matter of back rint jew, it's more'n a year, though me +landlord he's as good as gould, an' a bill at the poticary's, an' +little scores at the baker's an' grocers what I niver got paid off yet, +not since the child was sick an' I couldn't rightly make things go; an' +she says she won't be lavin' us now that she can turn a penny wid her +posies an' help along." + +Drawing the child to him, General Forster whispered to her in his +turn, promising that the "back rint" and other "scores" should be paid +off without delay if she would but come with him; and Daisy, feeling +herself nearer home and friends than she had ever done since the +dreadful day of the shipwreck, when she was parted from "mamma," put +her hand trustingly in his to be led where he would. + +But the parting went hard. Daisy could not leave those who had been +so kind, and shared their little all with her, without many a bitter +tear. Betty kissed her and clung to her and called down all heaven's +blessings on her head; and Jack hung over the gate, uttering frantic +howls as he watched the sobbing child led away by her new protector. +Not one thought gave Jack to his fourteen years; not one to the +"fellers from beyant the lot," who, drawn by his cries, came flocking +to see what ailed him who was all their terror and admiration: their +admiration, because he was bigger, stronger, braver than any other boy +of his age among their crew; their terror, because of late he allowed +no bad word to be used in his presence, banishing all who offended +in that way from their games, choosing as his favorites and chief +companions those who were most careful not to take God's name in vain. +So cursing and swearing had come to be much less frequent than of old +among the lanes and lots lying around the humble house where the little +Daisy had bloomed and grown during the last two years, dropping upon +the path which God had chosen for her good seed of which she knew not +herself. + +Betty went back to her stand with a heavy heart, knowing that when +she went home that night she should miss the sweet little face which +had brightened and cheered her after many a hard day's work; but she +was half-consoled for her own loss when she saw Daisy coming down the +street holding General Forster's hand. For the General's first care had +been to take the little girl to a place where children's clothes could +be had ready-made; and where he had her fitted out, as Betty said, "as +nice as a new pin and as became the little lady she was by right." + +But Daisy was as much a lady in the coarse but clean calico frock +and patched shoes she had worn yesterday, as she was now in the nice +clothes provided for her by General Forster; for it was the sweet +manners and pretty ways she had never lost which made her so, and the +new garments covered as warm and loving a little heart as the old +ones had done. And so Betty found, and knew that pride would have no +place there, when, as she reached the stand, Daisy drew her hand from +the gentleman's, and running behind the stall as she had many a time +done when she was eager to show Betty what a good afternoon's sale she +had made with her flowers, threw her arms about her neck and kissed +her again and again as lovingly as she had done when she had no other +friend in the world. + +Gentle Mrs. Forster gave Daisy a warm welcome to her new home; and the +manner in which the child fell at once into the ways and habits of +those about her plainly showed that they were not new to her, but that +she had at some time been well accustomed to a different life than that +she had led for the last two years. + +She had ways of her own, too, that were very charming: a pretty, dainty +grace in her behavior and speech; a thoughtfulness and care for others, +surprising in any child of her age,--for Daisy could not be more than +eight years old,--and particularly so for one who had had little +teaching for some time. It was easy to see that Daisy had received +careful training at one time, and that the lessons then learned had +taken deep root and were not yet forgotten in spite of the long +separation from her home and friends. + +It had been intended, as General Forster told Betty, to send the little +girl to boarding-school at Miss Collins'; but she soon grew so closely +to the hearts of her new friends that they felt as if they could not +bear to part with her; and it was at last settled that her home was to +be with them for the present, at least, and that she should only go +to Miss Collins for the morning, as most of the other little girls in +Glenwood did. + +Mrs. Forster could not bear to send from her this loving child, whose +greatest happiness seemed to be in making others happy, and she grew +every day more and more interesting as the familiar objects and customs +about her called up past recollections of the home and parents she +had lost. She would watch the General for hours at a time, as he sat +reading or writing, or follow him with wistful eyes as he mounted his +horse and rode down the broad avenue "just like papa;" would hang over +the lesser Daisy as she lay sleeping, "'cause she looks just as our +baby at home used to," and delighted to wait upon her and Mrs. Forster +in a dainty, neat-handed manner, which showed that such loving service +came quite naturally to her. + +She never called the infant "baby," as the rest of the family did. +With her it was always "little Daisy." She seemed to love the pretty +name, either given to herself or another; and all the variety of choice +flowers with which General Forster's garden was filled could not win +her chief affection from her old favorite daisies, "'cause mamma loved +them so and named me after them." + +But though she remembered so much, the child could not recall the name +of her parents, or where they had lived. Their name "was not what Betty +called it," she was sure; but none the less had it passed from her mind. + +"Francine," the French bonne, used to call mamma "Madame," and herself +"Mademoiselle Marguerite;" but when she was asked what other people +used to call mamma and papa, the little face grew clouded and pained +with the effort to remember; and when name after name was mentioned to +her, she shook her head at each one. + +The General tried by every means in his power to discover the friends +who must still be mourning the loss of their sweet little daisy +blossom, but all in vain; and as week after week went by, he and his +wife decided that they could not send her forth from their own roof +unless her relations came to claim her. She was an added ray of light +where all had been brightness and sunshine before,--a lovely, precious +little flower, lending new fragrance and beauty to the home where she +blossomed. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +DAISY'S SISTER FLOWERETS. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +IV. + +DAISY'S SISTER FLOWERETS. + + +"GOODNESS gracious! mercy _me_!" + +"I didn't mean to, Susy; 'pon my word and honor I didn't; just as sure +as I'm alive." + +Such were the words uttered by two different little voices which our +Daisy heard, as holding by General Forster's hand, she reached the gate +of Miss Collins' garden on the first morning of her going to school in +Glenwood. + +Now would it not have been thought that some terrible misfortune must +have called forth that exclamation from the first young speaker; or +that the second thought herself accused of some dreadful crime, and +that she must prove her innocence at once by all the strong words she +could think of, if she would escape severe punishment? + +And what was this mighty matter? + +Why, just this. + +Susy Edwards and several of her schoolmates were "making a land of +Egypt." For of late the geography lesson of the young class had been +upon that country, and they had been much interested in the pictures +of the pyramids and Sphinx. And Susy, who "liked to make her knowledge +of use in her plays," and who was considered by the other children to +have a great genius in that way, had proposed that they should turn a +portion of their play-ground into Egypt. This was thought a capital +plan, and the recess of the day before had been employed in this +way,--the little planners and builders leaving it with great regret, +and returning to it before school-time that morning with fresh pleasure +and some new ideas. + +The gravel walk was supposed to be the desert; the trough which led the +waste water from the spring, the River Nile; while a jointed wooden +doll, cruelly deprived for the purpose of all its limbs, had half of +its remainder buried in the gravel, to represent the Sphinx. Any number +of pyramids, four or five inches high, had been built out of pebbles, +and several were still going up. + +And Lily Ward, the pet and darling of the school, the youngest child, +and till that day the newest scholar there, had brought that morning a +tiny doll's bath-tub, with a doll to match lying in it, saying it was +to be "Moses in the bulrushes, for it couldn't be a real land of Egypt +without a Moses." + +Lily's idea was received with great applause and admiration, and she +felt rather proud of it herself when she heard it so much praised. + +But a difficulty arose. The little tub did duty for the ark of +bulrushes most beautifully, it was "so real and so cunning;" and never +was a meeker baby than the one which lay so quietly within it. But he +must be hidden, and nothing could be found to answer for flags. The +grass about the mock River Nile was quite too short for that purpose, +trampled on as it was through each day's playtime by at least twenty +pairs of little feet; and the willow twigs which Lola Swan planted +would not stand up straight enough to make a shade for the ark. + +"There isn't time to plant them deep enough," said Lola; "the +school-bell will ring in a few moments, and then we'll have to leave +it." + +"And the sun will go and come round here before recess," said Lily, in +a tone of distress, "and Moses will be all sunburned. Besides, it isn't +a bit real: they never leave babies lying out in the sun." + +"Put him out on the grass and turn the ark upside-down over him till we +come out again," said Susy. + +But Lily scouted the idea of having her Moses treated in this way; and +all began at once to deepen the holes for the willow twigs before the +bell should ring. + +But suddenly a bright thought struck Lily. + +"Let's play Moses' mother and Miriam put a pyramid over him," she said. +"We could do that pretty quick, and it will be nice and shady for him, +and very real too, 'cause they did have pyramids in Egypt." + +All agreed readily, for this was thought an excellent arrangement, and +they fell to work as fast as possible; while Bessie Norton whispered to +Violet Swan, "What a smart child Lily is, isn't she?" + +"Yes," said Violet, in the same tone, "very; and I expect when she is +grown up she will do something very remarkable." + +"What?" asked Susy Edwards, who heard them. + +"Be a genius, I expect," answered Violet, solemnly. + +"Oh, how nice!" said Bessie, who had not the least idea what genius +meant, but did not like to say so. + +The pyramid over the sleeping Moses was nearly completed, the little +builders expecting each moment to hear the bell, when Lola Swan, coming +with a fresh supply of pebbles, tripped over a stick which lay upon the +grass, and, trying to recover herself, let her load fall around and +upon the half-built pyramid, knocking down half a dozen or so of the +stones which composed it. Not much harm was done, but Susy immediately +exclaimed,-- + +"Goodness gracious! mercy me!" and Lola answered as you have heard in +the words which met Daisy's ear as she and General Forster entered the +garden. + +The click of the gate-latch caused all the children to look up, and +Moses and the pyramids were for the moment forgotten at the sight of +the new scholar. + +"Why! there's Daisy Forster," said Lily, for Daisy was now known by +this name. + +"I wonder if she's coming here to school," said another; and that +question was speedily answered, as, stopping by the little group, the +General, whom all knew and liked, said, "Here's a new schoolmate for +you. Will you be kind to her, and make her feel at home?" + +"Yes, sir, we will; and I'll take care of her," said Lily, scrambling +to her feet and taking Daisy's hand in a patronizing manner. "She won't +feel much strange after one day, 'cause we'll all be good to her, and +she shall help us make our land of Egypt." + +"Ah! that is what you are doing, is it?" said the General. + +"Yes, sir," answered Lily; "we're just putting a pyramid over Moses in +the bulrushes, 'cause we hav'n't time to fix so many bulrushes till +recess. And part of it is knocked down. Lola did it, but she didn't +mean to, and if you peep in there between those stones you can see +a little bit of the ark and Moses' dear little china arm poking up. +Please to peek, sir." + +The General did as he was requested, saying that he saw Moses quite +plainly. + +"It isn't much matter if we do have to leave him now," said Lily; "he's +pretty nicely covered up." + +"I think so," said the General, gravely; "and if I were Moses, with a +pyramid being built over me, I think I should prefer to have a small +breathing-hole left." + +"Why, so he would," said Lily; "and now we can leave him nicely fixed, +and play he's very comfortable in his pyramid, even if it's not quite +done." + +Lily being satisfied with the fate of Moses, all the rest were so; and +the bell now ringing, the little group turned towards the house. Daisy +wondering, as well she might, that a matter which was so easily settled +should call for such violent expressions of distress and alarm as she +had heard from two of the little girls. + +"Why, Miss Collins," said General Forster, as that lady met them at the +door, "what a bouquet of flowers you have here! A Rose, a Violet, a +Daisy, and a Lily; as choice a nosegay as one could wish for." + +"And the Lily is going to take care of the Daisy, and make her feel +to home, Miss Collins," said Lily, who still held Daisy's hand. "The +General said I could." + +"No, he didn't," said Susy. + +"Yes, he _did_, 'pon my word he did; least I said I would do it, and he +didn't say I couldn't: did you, sir?" said Lily, throwing back her head +to look up at the General's tall figure. + +"And that comes to the same thing, does it, Lily?" he said, laughing; +"well, I suppose it does; and I promise you shall look after Daisy till +she feels no longer a stranger among you." + +"She knows me, and Loly and Violet, as well as any thing," said Lily; +for the little girls had met several times before, and Lily felt +herself and the two Swans to be on rather intimate terms with Daisy +Forster. + +"All right, then. I leave her to you. Good-morning, Miss Collins," and +with a bow to the lady, with whom he had before made all the necessary +arrangements for Daisy, a pleasant nod for the little ones, and a kiss +for Daisy, he went away. + +Daisy felt rather lonely when he was gone, in spite of Miss Collins' +kind look, Lily's tight clasp of the hand, and Violet's, "We have real +nice times in school. Don't be afraid." For she was far more shy with +children than she was with grown people, probably because she had never +had any companions of her own age; and the number of young faces, most +of them strange, about her, made her long to be back again at Mrs. +Forster's side. And they all looked at her a good deal, for her story +was well known among them, and she was an object of great curiosity. + +Lily observed this, as she took her seat with Daisy beside her, and +thought she must speak up for her charge. + +"Miss Collins," she said, "please to make a rule." + +"Well," said Miss Collins, smiling; for Lily was constantly asking for +new rules concerning things which did not suit her. She had begun with +this more than a year ago when she was only a visitor at the school; +and she was even now not a regular scholar, but only coming for a few +weeks. For her papa and mamma had gone on a journey, and Lily, being +lonely at home when Ella and the boys were at school, it had been +arranged that she was to go with Ella in the morning. So she was rather +a privileged person, and spoke her mind freely concerning that which +did not please her, which the other children thought rather a joke, and +were generally ready enough to fall in with Lily's rules. So now they +all listened. + +"Please to make a rule that nobody must stare, ma'am," said Lily: "it +makes people feel so to be stared at,"--and Lily put up both hands to +her cheeks,--"specially if they are new." + +"Very true," answered Miss Collins: "let us all try to remember the +Golden Rule, and then we shall neither stare nor do any thing else to +hurt another's feelings." + +Then she struck the little bell which stood upon her table, and all +knew the school had begun, and they must be quiet. + +Next calling Bessie Norton to her, Miss Collins gave her a number of +Bibles, and the little girl handed one to each of her classmates. Then +Miss Collins read a verse aloud, and the children followed, each in her +turn. + +"Minnie Grey may take the Bibles," said Miss Collins when this was done. + +Minnie rose, and went from one to another collecting the Bibles. But +instead of taking as many as she could conveniently carry at one time, +giving them to Miss Collins, and coming back for the rest, she went on +piling one on top of another, till one arm was quite full, when she +came to Daisy and held out her other hand for her book. As she did so, +the top one of the pile fell to the floor. Minnie stooped for it, and +down went two or three more. + +"Oh! bother the old things," said Minnie, in a low voice, but very +impatiently. + +Daisy had stooped to help her pick up the Bibles, but the glow her +cheeks wore when she raised her head again was not all owing to that. + +Bother the old things! What old things? Why, the Bibles, God's own Holy +Word. + +Daisy was very much shocked, and she looked up at Miss Collins, +expecting to hear her reprove such _wicked words_, _she_ thought them. + +But Miss Collins had not heard Minnie's exclamation, though the noise +of the falling books had called her attention that way, and she said,-- + +"Minnie, my dear, you are careless with those Bibles: do you forget +whose books they are?" + +"I don't care," muttered Minnie, but not so that the lady could hear. +Daisy heard again; and the thought passed through her mind, "What a +wicked little girl Minnie must be!" + +And yet Daisy was mistaken. If she had asked Minnie's parents, +teacher, or playmates, they would all have told her that Minnie was +an uncommonly good and pleasant little girl; truthful, obedient, +industrious, and generous and obliging towards others. She had no +thought now that she was breaking one of God's commandments; and she +would have been both offended and grieved, if she had known what was +in Daisy's mind, believing herself, as she did, to be innocent of any +wrong. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +DAISY AT STUDY. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +V. + +DAISY AT STUDY. + + +DAISY was soon at home with her schoolmates, and a great favorite among +them. + +It was not strange that they liked and were interested in her. She was +such a gentle, modest, amiable little girl; watching and joining in the +games and lessons of the others with a kind of innocent wonder which +amused and touched them all. For Daisy was not at all accustomed to be +with children of her own age, and their ways were all new to her. + +And of course she was behind all the rest in her studies. She could +not even read as well as Lily Ward; and had to begin with the simplest +lessons, such as Lily and two or three of the very youngest children +learned. At first this troubled her, and she feared the rest of the +class would laugh at her. + +But she soon found she need not have been afraid of that, for the rule +of Miss Collins' infant class was the law of kindness; and any one of +the little girls would have thought it almost a crime to laugh or mock +at Daisy, for that which was her misfortune and not her fault. + +They might now and then fall out a little among themselves, for they +were by no means perfect children; sometimes there would be some +selfishness shown, or even a few angry words pass from one to another; +but, on the whole, they agreed about as well as any twenty little +girls could be expected to do; and not one among them would have had +the heart purposely to do an unkind thing to another. Least of all to +Daisy Forster, whom they all looked upon with a kind of tender pity and +interest, because of her sad and romantic history; and who was at once +taken up by both teacher and scholars as a sort of twin pet with Lily, +for whom allowances were to be made, and who was to be encouraged and +aided as much as possible. + +So Daisy found plenty of helpers, who, so far from laughing at her +mistakes and backwardness, were rather inclined to think her quick and +industrious, as indeed she was, trying hard to make up for lost time, +and "catch up" with those of her own age. + +She was almost too eager about this, and had to be checked now and +then, for since the long illness which had followed the shipwreck, +Daisy had never been strong; and too much fatigue or study, or even +too much play, would make her nervous and sick, and her little head +would become confused and ache. So now and then Mrs. Forster would have +to take the books from her, and forbid more study, sending her out to +play, or to work in the plot of ground which had been given her for a +garden of her own. + +She was not always pleased at this, and sometimes would be rather +fretful and impatient. But Mrs. Forster soon found a way to put a stop +to this. + +One afternoon she found the little girl bending over her slate with +flushed and heated cheeks, anxious eyes, and trembling hands. + +"Daisy," she said, quietly, "what are you doing? Miss Collins has not +given you lessons out of school, has she?" + +"No, ma'am," said Daisy; "but I asked Ella Ward to set me a whole lot +of sums so that I could do them at home, and I can't make this one come +right. I know it is not right, 'cause Ella put the answers on the other +side of the slate, and mine won't come the same, all I can do." + +Mrs. Forster took the slate from her hand. + +"This sum is too hard for you, Daisy," she said: "you do not know +enough arithmetic for this." + +"It is not any harder than the sums Lola and Violet and the other +girls as large as I am do," answered Daisy, looking ready to burst out +crying; "and I have to do arithmetic with the very little ones, like +Lily, and it makes me ashamed; so I want to go on all I can. _Please_ +give me the slate again, Aunt Gertrude," she added, as Mrs. Forster +laid it beyond her reach. + +"No, dear. I do not wish you to study out of school. I am glad you want +to improve, but you have as much to do there as is good for you; and at +home I want you to have rest and play. You are improving quite as fast +as could be expected, and for a time you must be content to go on with +those who are younger than yourself." + +"But it makes me ashamed," pleaded Daisy, again. + +"There is no reason for that," said Mrs. Forster, patting the hot cheek +she raised towards her. "The other children do not laugh at you and +make you uncomfortable, do they?" + +"Oh, no, ma'am," said Daisy; "they are all so good to me, and when they +can't help seeing what a dunce I am" (here Daisy's tears overflowed), +"they always say kind things about how I never went to school before, +and how my own dear mamma was drowned, and there was nobody to teach me +till I came to you." + +"You are not a dunce, dear," said the lady. "A child who idles away +her time when she should be studying, and does not care whether or no +she learns as much as is fit for her, is a dunce: not a little girl +who really wishes to be industrious, but does not know quite as much +as others of her own age only because God has not given her the same +advantages in time past. No one will think my Daisy a dunce. Now, we +must have no more studying at home, no more lessons than those Miss +Collins sets you." + +Daisy did not look satisfied: on the contrary, she even pouted a little. + +"Daisy," said Mrs. Forster, "suppose Uncle Frank were to give you some +beautiful and costly thing which would be of great use to you in time +to come if you took good care of it, say a watch: what would you do +with it?" + +"Why! I _would_ take great care, oh! such care of it," said Daisy, +opening her eyes in some surprise at the question. She did not see what +that could have to do with her studies. + +"I'd wind it up every night, and try to keep it right and safe every +way I could. But I don't know if I am quite large enough to have a +watch of my own, or take care of it; maybe the best way would be to ask +you or Uncle Frank to keep it for me till I was older." + +"And suppose for a while he gave you no key to this watch, but let it +run down and be quiet?" + +"I'd just put it away till he gave me a key, and be patient about it," +said Daisy, wondering more and more. + +"And if, by and by, when he gave you this key, you should go on winding +and winding the watch farther and faster than it was right for it to +go, till the wheels and springs were all spoiled and out of order, +would Uncle Frank think you cared much for his gift?" + +"Why, no, Aunt Gertrude; and he wouldn't think I cared much for him, +either, to use his pretty present so." + +"You are right, dear. And now I want my own little Daisy to see how it +is with herself. God has given to you a young mind, bright and quick +enough; but, for a while, He did not choose that it should do much +work. But now He has given you the key by which you may wind it and set +it to work; and if you use it without proper care, and so as to hurt +and wear out this precious gift, would it not seem as if you cared very +little about it, and did not respect and honor the Giver?" + +"Yes'm," answered Daisy, beginning to see what Mrs. Forster meant; "but +I never thought about that." + +"I believe I never thought about it before, dear," said Mrs. Forster, +smiling. "I am not afraid to praise you, Daisy; and I may safely say +that I have never seen any little child who showed such true honor and +reverence for her Maker, and all which belongs to Him. You must have +been well taught, my child; and to know and remember such lessons is +worth all the book learning in the world." + +Daisy was pleased, as she always was when any one spoke to her of her +long-lost home, or praised the teaching she had received from those +who had loved and cared for her there. And from this time there was no +further trouble about the lessons; for it was enough for Daisy to know +that she was misusing any one of God's good gifts, to make her change +her ways. Many a lesson might have been learned, and, indeed, had been +learned, by those older and wiser than herself, from the loving care +and respect paid by this little one to her Creator's name, and to all +the works of His hand. + +And it was a great trouble to her to hear the careless way in which +many of her schoolmates used sacred names and things. They did not +mean any harm; they did not think it any sin; but every day Daisy was +shocked and distressed by hearing such words as "mercy," "gracious," +"goodness," and "good heavens," and the like, from the lips of the +other children, as they were about their play and study. It had +become a habit with nearly all in the school; one caught it from +another almost without knowing it; even Lily Ward, who once thought +the clergyman "preached a sermon at her" because she said "hush up," +now and then followed the example of the others when any thing vexed +or surprised her. A few weeks at school had accustomed Lily to the +constant use of expressions which a year ago she would have considered +"real naughty words." + +The older girls in Miss Sarah Collins' room had fallen into this bad +habit as much, if not more, than the little ones of the infant class. + +And it was not only this carelessness of speech in which they were +all, large and small, to blame; but it seemed to Daisy so strange that +they could handle and treat the Bible, God's holy Word, with so little +reverence and respect, knocking it about among their other books as +if it were no better than these last, even using it, sometimes, for +purposes to which no book, even the most common one, should be put. + +Daisy wondered that Miss Collins did not teach them better; but +either she did not notice all this, or she did not think it of much +consequence; certain it is that she did not check them, and the evil +seemed to Daisy to grow worse from day to day. + +At first she did not like to speak herself. You may wonder that this +was so, since she had not feared to speak so plainly to General +Forster, who was a grown gentleman, so much older than herself; but she +had done that almost without knowing what she was saying, for, as you +know, his profane words had startled her so that he was surprised, and +he had almost forced her to tell him what had disturbed her. + +And here she was with every thing strange around her, school, +schoolmates, and teacher all new to her; so it is not astonishing that +she was rather shy and felt afraid to interfere with the others, or to +tell them that she thought they were doing wrong. + +But by and by there came a day when she could no longer hold her peace. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +DAISY A TEACHER. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +VI. + +DAISY A TEACHER. + + +ONE morning just after school commenced, a heavy shower came up; and +when it was time for the recess, which was always given to the infant +class at eleven o'clock, the ground was still so wet that the little +ones were forced to find amusement within doors or upon the piazza. + +"What shall we play?" asked Rosie Pierson. + +"Lady Queen Fair," said Bessie Norton: "we'll go out on the piazza and +play it." + +[Illustration] + +"Yes," said Violet; "and Lily shall be Lady Queen Fair, and we'll dress +her up a little. Miss Emily," as a third Miss Collins, who gave music +lessons to the girls, passed by, "may we have a rose to put in Lily's +hair for Lady Fair?" + +The young lady smiled, stopped and pulled a couple of roses from the +vine which wound itself around one of the pillars of the piazza, and +gave them to Violet, then passed on. + +Time had been when Violet would have hoped, perhaps would have asked +to be Lady Fair herself, and been sulky and displeased if the other +children had not agreed; but now she was very different, and more apt +to prefer another before herself. + +The roses were soon arranged, the one in the hair, the other in the +bosom of the little Lady Queen, who took her dignities in the calmest +manner. Meanwhile some of the other children were drawing forward one +of the rustic chairs with which the piazza was furnished, to serve as a +throne. + +But the little queen, like many another royal lady before her, found +her throne by no means an easy one. + +"Ow!" she said, rubbing her little round white shoulders where she had +scratched them against the rough bark of the twisted boughs which made +the back of the chair, "ow! this is not nice at all, or comfortal. My +feet don't come to the floor, and if I lean back I'm all scratched. I'd +rather be a queen without a throne." + +"Oh, no! You must have a throne," said Susy Edwards. "Queens have to." + +"I don't see why," said Lily, rather pettishly; for she did not feel +very well that morning, and that and the close heat of the day made her +more fretful than usual. "I should think queens could do just as they +have a mind to and make their subjiks do it too; and I don't see what +they have to have their skin all scraped up for if they don't want to;" +and Lily twisted her head to give an aggrieved look at the little fat +shoulder with that red mark upon it. + +"I'll fix you," said Lola. "I'll put Miss Collins' footstool under your +feet and you shall have the big cushion behind you. Some one bring the +cushion while I carry the stool." + +The footstool was brought in a moment; but the cushion was not to be +found. + +"The big girls had it yesterday," said Fanny Satterlee. "I saw them +with it in their recess when I was going home. There comes Cora Prime +now; let's ask her. Cora, what did the big girls do with that cushion +yesterday when they had done with it?" + +"The Lord knows; I don't," said Cora, playfully tapping Fanny on the +head with the roll of music in her hand. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Lily. + +Daisy did not speak; but as Cora's eye happened to fall upon her, her +face said as much as Lily's "Oh!" + +"What's the matter with you two?" asked Cora, looking from one to the +other of the little girls, but still good-natured. + +"You oughtn't to say that," said Lily. + +"Ought not to say what?" + +"The Lord knows," answered Lily. + +"Well, don't He know?" asked Cora. + +"No," said Lily, doubtfully, "I guess not. I don't believe He'd bother +Himself with knowing about a worn-out old cushion what has a hole in +the cover, and such things." + +"Yes, He does, too," said Cora, laughing; "are not the very hairs of +our head numbered?" + +"Now, I _know_ you ought to be 'shamed," said Lily. "You're talking +Bible; and that is not right, is it, Daisy?" + +"No," said Daisy, as boldly as Lily herself could have done, for +quoting Scripture in a careless manner was also a habit of many in the +school. + +"You two saucy monkeys! correcting your elders," said Cora, much +amused. "I heard you both talking Bible to Miss Collins this morning +with all the rest of your class." + +"We were only saying what we learned in Sunday school yesterday," said +Lily. "That's not the same thing. I _know_ it's not right to talk Bible +that kind of a way. Papa says so, and he tells us not to do it." + +"Your papa's saying so does not make a thing right or wrong," said Cora. + +"Yes, it does, too!" said Lily. "My papa knows a whole lot, and he +wouldn't tell a story for any thing. Cora, you'd better go to your +music lesson: I 'speck Miss Emily wants you." + +"Oh, you are very considerate for Miss Emily, all at once," said Cora, +more amused than ever; "but you haven't told me why I shouldn't say, +The Lord knows, when He does know." + +Lily looked at Daisy, who stood by the arm of her chair, for help. The +little one felt that Cora was wrong, but she did not exactly know how +to answer, and she had noticed how careful Daisy was to honor the name +of God. + +"Is it not taking the name of God in vain?" said Daisy. + +"Upon my word!" said Cora. "Do you mean to call that swearing?" + +"Well, yes," said Lily, taking up the word, "a kind of baby swearing, I +s'pose; but you know it's not very good of you, Cora." + +"Everybody says such things: they don't mean any thing," said Cora. + +"Not _everybody_," answered Lily. "Daisy don't." + +"Then Daisy's uncommonly good," said Cora. + +"Yes, she is," replied Lily; "and I s'pose _everybody_ ought to be +uncommonly good and never say them." + +Cora laughed again. + +"Everybody must mind their p's and q's before you: mustn't they, Lily?" +and away she ran to her music lesson. + +"Here's the cushion," said Rosie Pierson, running out from the +school-room. "I found it in the closet under the shelf where those +careless big girls left it, I s'pose." + +The cushion was put behind Lily's shoulders, but still the little queen +fidgeted on her throne and declared she was not yet "comfortal." + +"'Cause if I lean back against the cushion my feet won't touch the +stool," she said. + +"We'll put something else on the stool to make it higher," said Nettie +Prime, who was trying to arrange Lily satisfactorily: "what shall we +take? Oh, I know. Daisy, run and bring the big Bible off Miss Collins' +table for Lily to put her feet on." + +Daisy, who made a motion to start forward as Nettie began to speak, +stood still when she heard what she called for. + +"Make haste," said the latter, impatiently: "we won't have a bit of +time to play." + +Daisy did not move, but stood with rising color, trying to make up her +mind to speak. + +"Oh! you disobliging thing!" said Violet, and she ran for the book. + +"Oh! don't," said Daisy, as Violet came back and stooped to put the +Bible on the footstool; "I didn't mean to be disobliging, but we ought +not to use the Bible to play with." + +"Pooh!" said Violet: "Lily's little feet won't hurt it. It's all worn +out, any way. The cover is real shabby." + +"I didn't mean that," answered Daisy; "I meant because it is God's +book, and we ought to treat it very carefully." + +"Oh, fiddle! How awfully particular you are, Daisy!" said Minnie Grey. +"Why, girls, do you know, the other day, when I was playing paper-dolls +with her and I turned up a Bible to make the side of a house, she took +it away, and when I put it back again 'cause it stood up better than +the other books, she said she wouldn't play if I did so with the Bible." + +"I s'pose Daisy would call that 'taking God's name in vain,'" said +another, half reproachfully; "wouldn't you, Daisy?" + +"I think it is something the same," answered Daisy, feeling as if +all the others were finding fault with her and thinking her "awfully +particular," a crime which no little girl likes to have laid to her +charge. + +"I don't see how," said Lola. "I know we ought not to play with the +Bible; but I don't see how it is taking God's name in vain." + +"But the Bible is God's book, and He told it to the men who wrote it, +and His name is in it a great many times," said Daisy, "and I think it +seems like taking it in vain to play with it or to put things upon it, +or to knock it about like our other school-books. And it is not right +to say 'the Lord knows,' and 'mercy,' and 'gracious,' and such words, +when we are just playing, or when we are provoked." + +"What is the harm?" asked Rosie. "Mercy and gracious are not God's +name." + +"Well, no," said Daisy, slowly, not exactly knowing how to explain +herself. "And maybe I make a mistake; but it does seem to me as if it +was a kind of--of--" + +"Of little swearing, as Lily says," said Lola. + +"Yes," said Daisy. "Rosie thinks it is no harm; but even if it is not +much harm, I don't see what is the good of it. We can talk just as well +without saying such words." + +"I guess they are pretty wicked," said Lily. "The day mamma went away, +I said 'good heavens,' and she said 'Lily! Lily!' very quick, like she +does when I do something very naughty, and she asked me where I learned +that; and I told her Elly said it. I didn't mean to tell a tale about +Elly; but mamma looked sorry, and she told me never to say it again. I +guess 'mercy' is 'most the same, and I guess I won't say it any more; +and, Daisy, if I hear the other girls say those words, I'll help you +correct 'em." + +Lily promised this with an air of such grave importance that the other +children laughed. Not in the least abashed, Lily went on,-- + +"Papa's coming home day after to-morrow, and I'll ask him to tell me a +whole lot about God's name, and why it is wrong to say those things; +and then I'll tell all you girls. But I'm not coming to school any more +when mamma comes home; so you'll have to come to my house, and I'll +have a swearing class, and teach you all about it." + +Lily's words might have been taken with a different meaning from that +which she intended to give them; but the other children understood her, +and that was enough. + +"But, Daisy," said Lola, "how do you know so much about these things +when you don't know a great deal about every-day lessons, and have had +no one to teach you for so long?" + +"I don't know," said Daisy. "I think my own mamma who was drowned used +to teach me in the home I used to have;" and the dreamy look came into +her eyes which they always wore when she spoke of her far-away home and +those she had loved there. "I think I've forgotten a good many things," +she added; "but you know I couldn't forget what mamma taught me about +Jesus and what He wanted us to do if we loved Him. And I think if we do +love Him we won't say words about His name, His heaven, or any thing +that is His, that are not very good and gentle, and that we are very +sure He would like us to say." + +"But you are so _very_ particular, Daisy," said Minnie; "I think you +are most _too_ particular." + +"I didn't think we could be too particular about doing what Jesus +likes," said Daisy. + +The other children had all gathered about Daisy, and were listening +with interest to what she said. Perhaps they heard her with more +patience than they would have given to any one else; for Daisy was a +kind of mystery to them, and they looked upon her as a sort of fairy +or princess in disguise, and would not have been at all surprised to +hear the most extravagant stories about her, for she was "just like a +story-book child." Lily had said so one day when she was speaking of +her at home. + +"No," said Lola, thoughtfully; "but it does not seem as if such little +things could be wrong. I know it can't be right to play with the +Bible or say its words just when we are joking or for our own common +talk; but I don't see the harm of saying 'goodness,' or 'mercy,' or +'heavens,' or those words which you never will say, Daisy; they are not +God's name, and I don't see how it is taking it in vain to say them." + +Daisy looked thoughtful. She felt she was right, and wanted to explain +herself; but she was rather shy and could not find words to do so. + +But Lily, whom shyness never troubled, came to her aid. + +"Never mind," she said: "I'll ask papa just as soon as he comes home, +and he'll tell us all about it; and if he says it is naughty, why, it +is, and we won't do it; and if he says it's good enough, why, we will. +That's the way to fix it." + +Here the bell rang. + +"There, now," said Susy Edwards, "we have to go in, and we've wasted +all our time talking, and never had a bit of good of our recess." + +But I think Susy was mistaken, and that they had one and all gained +more good from their talk than they could have done from any amount +of play; for it had set more than one young mind thinking; and from +this day, even the most careless among them would check herself when +she found she was on the point of using these words which had grown +so common among them, more from want of thought than from any wish or +temptation to do wrong. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE SWEARING CLASS. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +VII. + +THE SWEARING CLASS. + + +WHEN Lily's papa and mamma came home, she was so glad to see them, and +there was so much to hear and to talk about, that she quite forgot her +purpose of asking her father to teach her about the third commandment. +Besides, she no longer went to school now that her mother was at home, +but had her lesson each day with her as she had done before Mrs. Ward +went on her journey; and so she was not as apt to hear or to say those +careless words which Daisy Forster had said it was not right to use. + +But it was at last brought to her mind one evening as the family all +sat at the tea-table. + +"Mamma," said Ella, "will you let Lily and me have a tea-party +to-morrow? I want to ask half a dozen of our girls, and I suppose Lily +would like to have a few of the little ones at the same time." + +"Yes," answered Mrs. Ward, "you may each ask six of your most intimate +friends." + +"Can Walter and I ask some of the fellows?" said Ned. + +"Oh, mercy! no," said Ella: "we don't want any boys. It is not to be a +regular party, Ned. I just want the girls to spend the afternoon and +drink tea; and it makes more fuss to have boys too." + +"Goodness me! You needn't get into such a way about it," said Ned. + +"Children," said Lily, her brother's and sister's words bringing back +to her what Daisy had said, "children, you needn't either of you swear +about it." + +Lily's efforts to keep the family straight were generally considered +as a good joke, and her reproofs and advice received with a laugh; but +this plain speaking was rather _too_ much for either Ella or Ned, and +the former exclaimed,-- + +"Well, who is swearing, I'd like to know?" + +"And who gave you leave to correct your elders?" said Ned. + +"Nobody: I just took it," said unabashed Lily; and then, turning to her +father, she exclaimed, "Papa, I b'lieve the girls in our school are +pretty heathen, and don't know enough about the comman'ments. So I told +them we'd have a swearing class, and I'd ask you to teach it, 'cause +I s'pose you know a good deal about swearing; and this will be a good +chance when they come to-morrow." + +This speech turned the vexation of Ella and Ned into amusement, and +they laughed with the others. + +"I don't think your playmates will thank you for asking them here to +take tea and then bringing them up for a lecture from me, my pet," said +Mr. Ward. + +"Yes: they will, papa. They want to know about it, and I think we'd +better make a swearing party of this. I b'lieve it would do those big +girls good too. They swear, oh, dreadfully! and they don't seem to +think they do, least Cora don't. Mamma, let's make a rule we won't have +any swearing in this house: won't you?" + +"Certainly," said mamma, smiling; "and I think we must find out what +_swearing_ is, and be careful not to break the rule." + +"If one is going to call 'goodness' and 'mercy,' and such things, +swearing, one might as well give up talking altogether," said Ella. + +"Perhaps not exactly swearing," said her father; "but the use of them +is a bad habit, and one that I have noticed is quite too frequent among +all the young people of this place. It is growing stronger too, as all +such habits do, and going from bad to worse. But I must go out now, and +have not time to talk to you about it. If Lily can persuade her little +friends to take the 'swearing class,' as part of their afternoon's +entertainment to-morrow, well and good; if not, we will have a little +private talk among ourselves some other time." + +Ella was not at all pleased by Lily's proposal; and hoping that it +would pass from the child's mind before the afternoon, she was careful +not to make her remember it by the use of any such words as had called +forth Lily's reproof. + +This had very nearly proved successful; and in the excitement of +arranging her baby-house, setting out the new tea-set mamma had brought +her, and dressing the doll which had been papa's present, Lily had +almost forgotten her plan for mingling wholesome instruction with the +amusement provided for her young friends. + +There were Lola and Violet Swan, Daisy Forster, Rosie Pierson, Minnie +Grey, and Bessie Norton; and they were all having a real good time +sitting around a small table and playing tea out of the new china set, +when Minnie said,-- + +"I have a secret to tell all of you, if you'll promise never to tell." + +"I won't," said Violet. + +"On your sacred word and honor?" said Minnie. + +"On my sacred word and honor," repeated Violet. + +"And you, Rosie?" asked Minnie. + +"On my word and honor," said Rosie. + +"Sacred?" said Minnie. + +"Sacred. Sacred word and honor," was Rosie's answer. + +Lily repeated the words as desired, and next came Daisy's turn. + +"I won't tell," she said, when Minnie looked at her. + +"On your sacred word and honor?" asked Minnie. + +"I promise I won't tell, Minnie." + +"But you must say on your word and honor." + +"I can't," said Daisy. + +"Then I shan't tell you; and you're real mean, Daisy Forster," said +Minnie. "Why won't you say so?" + +"I don't see why I need, and I don't know if it is quite right," +answered Daisy, coloring. + +"Oh, Daisy Forster, what a girl you are!" said Rosie. + +"Well," said Lily, "there's nothing left, 'cept these two caramels. +Daisy, you eat up this; and, Bessie, you eat up the other. Now +the tea-party is all done, and we'll go and ask papa about that +comman'ment. He's been playing croquet with the big girls, but they +seem to be resting now." + +Lily was right. Mr. Ward had been persuaded to make the eighth in a +game of croquet, for he was a great favorite with all the young people +in Glenwood, and his presence never put any check upon their games or +pleasure parties. + +But the afternoon proved rather warm for exercise, even the gentle one +of bewitching croquet; and, after a long game was finished, the whole +party were ready to agree to Ella's proposal that they should take a +rest, and send to the house for some cooling drink. + +So Mr. Ward was at liberty to attend to Lily, when she came rushing up +to him, followed, rather more slowly, by the rest of the children. + +"Papa," she said, throwing herself across his knee, as he sat upon +the green mound which was raised about the foot of one of the fine +elm-trees which shaded the croquet-ground, "papa, Daisy says we +oughtn't to say upon our words and honors! Oughtn't we? And will you +teach us about taking God's name in vain now? It's the _singalest_ +circumstance, but I went and forgot all about the swearing class, till +Daisy said that." + +"A very singular circumstance, certainly;" said Mr. Ward, lifting Lily +to a seat upon his knee, and smiling, while the other girls laughed at +her speech. "I am quite willing to have a little talk with you all on +this subject; but tell me first what you want to know." + +"Daisy is so awfully particular, Mr. Ward," said Minnie, in an +aggrieved tone. "She won't let us say any thing; at least, she says +every thing is 'wrong.'" + +"Every thing?" said Mr. Ward: "that is bad. Does Daisy want you all to +keep silence? That _must_ spoil your play." + +"Oh, no!" said Minnie, "not that; but she says such lots of things are +wrong to say. Why, sir, she won't say 'upon her word and honor,' 'cause +she don't think it is right." + +"Why do you want her to say it?" asked Mr. Ward. + +"I was just going to tell them all a great secret, and I wanted her to +promise, on her sacred word and honor, she would never tell; and she +wouldn't do it." + +"So Daisy is apt to break her promises, is she?" said the gentleman, +with a smile at Daisy, which told very plainly that he was only joking. + +"Oh, no, sir!" said Minnie. "Indeed she is not. Daisy always tells the +truth, and never does what she says she won't; at least, we never knew +her to do it: did we, girls?" + +A chorus of young voices was raised in Daisy's favor. + +"And yet you cannot trust her unless she swears to what she promises," +said Mr. Ward. + +"Swears, sir!" said Minnie. "I'm sure I don't want her to swear! 'Word +and honor' are not bad words, are they?" + +"Not in themselves, certainly;" answered Mr. Ward. "Many a thing which +is good in itself when properly used, becomes bad and hurtful if put to +a wrong purpose. Now to swear is to say, by some word or person which +you consider holy and sacred, that you will or will not do, that you +have or have not done, a certain thing. Suppose some man were accused +of a crime, and that the judge were about to try him, and punish him if +he were guilty, and it was thought that I knew whether or no the man +had done that of which he was accused. So I am called to the court, +and there made to promise that I will tell the truth, and nothing but +the truth; and to make sure of this I am made to lay my hand on the +Bible,--God's holy word,--and call upon Him, to hear me tell what I +know. And this is considered a very solemn thing, even by many who +have little care or respect for God in other ways; and it is called +swearing, or taking the oath." + +"They ought to be 'shamed of theirselves," said Lily, indignantly; +"they ought to know you would never tell a story, papa. And to go and +make you swear too! I wouldn't do it if I was you; but I'd tell 'em the +third comman'ment, and run away fast from them." + +"But if this is done in the fear of God, and as a sort of prayer that +He will hear and help us to tell that which is true, it is not taking +His name in vain, Lily," said Mr. Ward; "and to do it falsely is +considered even by men to be a great crime. This is called perjury; +and if any one is found guilty of it, he is severely punished by the +law. Now it may be wise, and even necessary, for a man to take an +oath at such a time as this, when the very life of another may depend +on whether he tells the truth or no; but it can hardly be necessary +for one little girl at play with another to make her promise sure by +swearing to it. For to say 'by your sacred word and honor' is neither +more nor less than a sort of swearing or taking an oath that what you +say is true." + +"Then we'll make a rule not to say it any more," said Lily. "We +didn't know it was naughty before, papa. But please tell us now about +other words. Daisy says we mustn't say 'mercy,' and 'gracious,' and +'heavens,' and maybe we mustn't; but why is that swearing? Swearing is +taking God's name in vain, and how do such words take His name in vain +if we don't speak it? And she thinks playing with the Bible, or saying +its words when we are playing or just talking common talk, is taking +God's name in vain, too. Is it?" + +"I will tell you," said Mr. Ward. "Suppose, Lily, that some great king +or queen, or the president of our own country, were to come here; would +you not wish to be particularly polite and respectful to them, both in +your manner and way of speaking?" + +"Um-m-m, I don't know," answered Lily, doubtfully; "not partic'lar. I +guess I'd just as lieve be saucy to them as to any one else." + +Mr. Ward saw this would not do, at least, not for Lily: he must go +higher than earthly rulers. + +"Suppose, then," he said, "that Jesus should come down here among us, +so that we could see Him with our eyes, walking and talking with us, +what would you all do?" + +"I'd fall down and worship Him," said Minnie. + +"I'd listen to every word He said, and never speak one myself for fear +I should miss one," said Daisy; "and then I'd remember them all the +days of my life." + +"Dear child!" said Mr. Ward, laying his hand fondly on hers: "I believe +you do treasure your Lord's words and try to live according to them." + +"I'd ask Him to put His hand on my head and bless me just as He did +those other little children when He was on earth before," said Lola, +softly. + +"So would I. And I'd be glad there were no disciples to forbid us to +come to Him," said Lily. "I s'pose they thought Jesus wouldn't care +about children; but He did, didn't He? And you wouldn't think so, papa, +would you?" and the little child laid her hand lovingly against her +father's cheek. "I'd keep very close to Him all the time He was here, +and take fast hold of His hand, only I wouldn't be troublesome, but +just keep as still as a mouse; and I'd give Him every thing of mine +that He wanted." + +"So you would all show your love and reverence for Him by every means +in your power," said Mr. Ward, "trying not to grieve or offend Him +by treating His name or His presence with the least carelessness or +disrespect, but letting Him see that you honored the one and were +blessed by the other: is it not so?" + +"Yes, sir," came from the older as well as the younger children. + +"And if, after He had gone away, He should send you each a letter, +telling you what He wanted you to do, how you were to love and serve +Him, and in which you would find all the advice, help, and comfort you +might need at any time,--how would you treat that letter?" + +"I'd keep it all my life, and take such good care of it," said Rosie. + +"I'd read it, and read it, and read it; and kiss it, and kiss it, and +kiss it," said Lily, "and then I'd put it in my bosom, and keep it, oh! +so carefully." + +"And so would I, and I, and I," said the rest, satisfied to have Lily +for spokeswoman. + +"And if you saw any one misusing that letter, how would you feel?" +asked Mr. Ward. + +"I'd be very provoked with them," answered Lily, "and I think I +wouldn't love them any more, 'cept it was you, papa, or mamma, or Elly, +or any one of my own that I _have_ to love; and then I'd cry, and ask +you not to serve my Jesus' letter so." + +"You mean the Bible is Jesus' letter to us: don't you, sir?" asked +Daisy. + +"Yes; and, dear children, our Lord's presence is here among us as much +as if He were in man's form which He once wore on earth. His ear is as +quick to hear our words of love and praise, or those of carelessness +and disrespect, as it was then; His eye as ready to see the use we make +of the precious Word He has given us. But we forget this when we use +His book more carelessly than we would any gift from an earthly friend, +or when we take His name lightly or without thought upon our lips. To +do this is to take it in vain, and it displeases Him." + +"But, Mr. Ward," said Minnie, "it is not cursing and swearing to say +'mercy,' and 'gracious,' and 'good Lord,' and such things, is it?" + +"Not cursing, certainly: that is to use God's name profanely, or to +call on Him to destroy us or other people; and this is a most terrible +sin. But, Minnie, the use of such words in play or thoughtlessness is a +bad habit, and leads to worse. Suppose a man breaks open a bank here, +and takes all the money from it: that is stealing, is it not?" + +"Why, yes, sir," answered Minnie. + +"And suppose you take a sugar-plum belonging to your sister: it is a +very small thing compared to the money taken from the bank, but is it +not stealing, all the same?" + +"Yes, sir; and if I was to be so bad as to take Julia's sugar-plums, +I'm afraid I'd maybe steal something worse some time." + +"Just so," said the gentleman; "and now you see why it is not wise or +right to make use of such expressions. It is, as Lily says, a kind of +little swearing, and may lead to worse. Besides, it is very useless. +You can surely believe one another,--unless, indeed, it is some false +and deceitful child,--without saying 'upon your sacred word and honor,' +'as sure as you live,' 'Heaven knows,' and so forth. And there is so +little temptation to fall into this sin that it seems strange it should +be so common. There is nothing to be gained by it, even of this world's +good,--no pleasure, no profit. It is only an idle, useless habit, +most displeasing and vexing to the holy ear of Him whose commandment +we break without thought or care. Goodness and mercy and graciousness +belong to the Almighty; and so, too, we must take heed that we do not +speak of what belongs to Him in an irreverent, careless way. And now I +think we have had enough talk on this subject for this afternoon. You +did not ask your friends here that I might lecture them." + +"Oh, yes! I did, papa," said Lily; "for we all deserved it very much, +'specially the big girls. But, papa, do you believe the Lord troubles +Himself to know where the girls put an old, worn-out cushion, and such +things; and if He does, ought we to say He does?" + +"God knows every thing, Lily; even the smallest trifle is seen by Him; +but it is very wrong to say, in a heedless way, 'the Lord knows,' for +I suppose that is what you mean. And this very thought, that His eye +and His ear are always with us, noticing every word and look, knowing +the very feelings of our hearts, should make us all the more careful +how we use His holy name. I am glad this question has come up among +you; for heedlessness in using God's name, and other sacred words, in +quoting Scripture,--talking Bible, my Lily calls it,--and other such +habits, were becoming too common, I fear, among all the young people +in Glenwood; and we older ones too, I believe, fall too often into the +custom. We have, too many of us, constant need of the prayer, 'Set a +watch, O Lord, upon my mouth; keep the door of my lips.'" + +"It is Daisy's doing, sir, that we have come to think of this," said +honest Cora. "I, for one, have been very thoughtless about offending +God in this way, and have set a bad example to the rest. I believe the +little ones have caught it from us larger girls, and we have to thank +Daisy that she has taught us a better lesson." + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +DAISY'S NAME. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +VIII. + +DAISY'S NAME. + + +"INDADE, now, and hasn't me words come true, sir? For wasn't I afther +tellin' ye she was as nate a little lady as iver stepped in two shoes?" +said Betty Macarthy, as she stood with her arms akimbo, her head on one +side, and her honest face one broad glow of delight and satisfaction, +gazing at the dainty-looking little creature who stood before her, her +young face bright with as much pleasure as Betty's own. + +For Daisy's old friend had come to live at Mrs. Forster's; and this was +the way it had been brought about. + +The lady had wanted a laundress; and, thinking that Betty, who had once +held that post in her father's family, might know of one, had begged +the General to ask her. + +No sooner had he put the question than Betty eagerly answered she +should be only too glad of the place herself; for she was tired of her +present position, and a countrywoman of her own was ready to take it +off her hands, stock, fixtures, goodwill, and all. "For her heart was +sore for the child," Betty said, and to be where she could see her +every day, and to live once more with "Miss Gertrude," would be almost +as much happiness as she could wish for; and then she would try to put +Jack out with some gardener to learn his trade, for which he had always +had a turn. + +So the General, having talked the matter over with his wife, and +mindful of the generous care and kindness shown to their Daisy by these +poor people, not only told Betty she should come to live with them, but +also put Jack under his own gardener, though there was really no need +of any more hands about the place. + +Thus did the "bread cast upon the waters" by this kind-hearted +Irishwoman, come back to her, blessed sevenfold. + +Nothing was told to Daisy of this arrangement till one afternoon, when +the General had returned from the city, Mrs. Forster said to her, "I am +going to speak to the new laundress and gardener's boy. Come with me, +Daisy;" and half wondering, the little girl obeyed. + +But her surprise soon changed into delight and gratitude when she saw +who the new domestics were; for, in spite of all the pleasure she felt +in her new way of life, Daisy's loving little heart often longed for +the old friends who had been so good to her in her time of need, and +she wanted not only to see them, but to share some of her many comforts +with them. + +So you may know how glad she was when her eye fell upon the two figures +standing by the back door, and she knew that they had been brought to +live in the same place with her. + +With an excitement very unusual in her, she flew at Betty, and, +throwing both arms about her neck, covered her broad, smiling face with +warm kisses. Betty returned them with a will, holding her fast in both +arms; and then, putting her from her and looking at her from head to +foot, put on an air of strong approval, and spoke to the General in the +words you have read at the beginning of this chapter. + +"An' isn't it fit for a princess, she is?" she continued, quite unable +to keep back her admiration and pleasure at the child's improved +appearance. "Isn't it fit for a princess she is; and Saacyfuts or no +Saacyfuts, isn't it a right her own folks would have to the name if +they found her now? Sure I'd be saacy meself to have the ownin' of a +child like that. An' her not a bit spoiled, but just as lovin' and +free-like as when she had none but me an' Jack." + +Then Daisy was told she might take Betty and Jack away and show them +the neat little wash-house, shaded by a fine clump of trees, with its +nice bleaching and drying ground beyond, its laundry on the first +floor, and two small bedrooms above, where they were to sleep. Betty +was enchanted, and expressed over and over again her satisfaction at +the change in her life. It was far better, she thought, to stand at the +wash-tub or ironing-table, breathing the sweet country air, with all +its pleasant sights and sounds about her, than to do the same at her +stall in the hot, dusty, crowded city. + +As for Jack, when he saw the splendid garden, when Daisy had led +them there, and knew it was to be his privilege to work among those +lovely flowers, he could not contain himself, but shouted and shouted, +turned somersault after somersault, till recalled to himself by +Betty's reminder that he must "remember that Margaret--she begged +her pardon,--Miss Daisy--was a little lady now, and he must mind his +manners before her." + +But Daisy was so like her old self, so free from any pride or +haughtiness in her new position, that Jack found it hard to remember +she was any other than the little waif whom he had pitied and petted +for so long; and his "manners" were brought to his mind with much more +force by the sight of the gray-haired old Scotch gardener under whom he +was to work, and before whom his gambols ceased at once. + +Meanwhile General and Mrs. Forster were talking on a very interesting +subject, for Betty's words about Daisy's lost friends had given the +lady a new idea. + +"Frank," she said to her husband, "did you notice what Betty said about +Daisy's friends?" + +"Yes," he answered. "I hope she won't turn Daisy's head and make her +vain with her praise and flattery." + +"I'm not afraid," said his wife. "Daisy has a right to her name, the +modest, unaffected little girl; and she has too much sense to be +spoiled by what she looks upon only as the overflowing of Betty's +affection. But don't you know that the Irish often say _saacy_ when +they mean proud?" + +"Oh, yes. I have often noticed it in people of Betty's class," answered +the General; "but what has that to do with Daisy's friends?" + +"Is it not possible that their name is Proudfoot or Proudfit, and that +'Saacyfut' is Betty's way of calling it?" + +The General laughed heartily. + +"Hardly, I think," he said; "and yet--I do not know. It may be. But it +never struck me. It took a woman's wit to think of that." + +"We will ask Daisy when she comes," said Mrs. Forster. "If Proudfoot +_was_ their name, she must remember it when she hears it spoken, I +think. She can hardly have forgotten it so entirely that she would not +recognize it. And then, if it should be so, it will be a help to find +her friends." Mrs. Forster spoke the last words more slowly. + +"Yes," said her husband, giving words to the thought which had made her +half unwilling to utter them; "and if found, we must give up our Daisy." + +"But we must not seek them the less for that," she said, "or I shall +feel as if we had found some lovely jewel that we were striving to +hide from the rightful owner. I know what terrible longings must fill +her mother's heart;" and a tear dropped from Mrs. Forster's eye on her +baby's face, as she clasped it more tenderly than ever in her arms. + +"Daisy," said the General that evening, as the little girl stood by his +knee, "did you ever hear the name of Proudfoot?" + +Daisy started, drew a quick, gasping breath, and suddenly threw herself +into his arms. + +"That is it!" she cried, in a rapid, excited manner, "that is it! That +is my name, that is what they called papa and mamma. I never heard it +since; but I know it now. I am Daisy Proudfoot, I am, I am!" + +It was some time before the child's excitement could be calmed; but +there was no farther knowledge to be gained from her. Proudfoot was her +name, of that she was quite sure; and the recollection of it at this +late hour seemed to fill her with a kind of tremulous happiness; but +still she could not tell where she belonged. + +Betty too, when she was asked if Proudfoot was the name of Daisy's +mother, answered,-- + +"Sure, an' it was, ma'am. Didn't I say so all along, only she was +always gainsayin' it?"[A] + +The matter was settled; and General Forster, loath as he was to part +with Daisy, feeling that he must leave no stone unturned to trace her +friends, again put advertisements in the papers, saying, that if any +family of the name of Proudfoot had had a child supposed to be lost at +sea, they might hear of her at such and such a place. + +Daisy was not told of this; she was contented and happy in her new home +and among her new friends, and it was not thought best to disturb her +mind with fresh hopes of finding those who might never come to claim +her. + +But although she was still called Daisy Forster by all in Glenwood, it +was a satisfaction to herself and to the kind friends who had taken her +up and cared for her, to know the name which rightly belonged to her. + +However, days and weeks and months went by, and still no one came to +seek the Daisy blossom which had been transplanted to such pleasant +soil. And there it grew and flourished, and did its Master's work; +proving how much even such a simple floweret can do by its own modest +example and teaching to win others to honor Him. + +It was surprising to see how much her schoolmates thought of her +opinion; how they profited by the simple lesson she had taught them, +and tried to break themselves of the foolish and sinful habit into +which nearly all of them had fallen, of using sacred names and things +in such a heedless, unthinking manner. + +It was not only the very little girls, but the older ones also, and +even Miss Collins herself, who learned from our Daisy to set a watch +upon their lips, and to remember whose ear was ever present, hearing +each thoughtless word which dishonored Him or that which especially +belonged to Him. + +Perhaps they gave more heed to Daisy's words than they would have +done to those of any other one of their number. There was such a +half-mystery about her, and their thoughts were so tender towards her, +that they checked their heedless speech for her sake at first; then, as +they learned to think more about it, for a better and higher reason, +till at last the bad habit was broken up; and if, by chance, such a +word as "mercy," "heavens," "good Lord," or the like, came from the +lips of any child, the surprised and reproving looks of her companions +told her of her fault, and punished her sufficiently. + +And the good influence spread far and wide. Since the little ones were +so careful, their parents and older friends felt that they, too, must +take heed lest they offended in this way; and so it came to pass that +among the families of Glenwood God's name and word came to be held in +such true reverence and honor as had never been before. + +And so nearly a year passed by, and brought the Daisy and her +sister-flowerets to another spring. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[A] If this is considered far-fetched, the writer can only say that +Betty's rendering of the name of Proudfoot was actually given by a +domestic in her own family, and occasioned considerable bewilderment, +till the quick wit of one of its members solved the riddle. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE LOST FOUND. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +IX. + +THE LOST FOUND. + + +"IS that you, Daisy?" + +"Yes, sir. Is that you, Uncle Frank?" answered Daisy, playfully. + +"Well, I thought it was this morning when I went to town; but I am +doubtful of it now." + +"Why?" asked Daisy, laughing, as she reached up on tiptoe to offer the +kiss with which she always welcomed her uncle on his return from the +city. + +"Baby Daisy is not doubtful, at least," said Mrs. Forster, coming +forward, and putting her little daughter, all crows and smiles, in her +father's arms. "Let her pull your hair a little to convince you of the +fact." + +"It will be difficult," said the General. "There was a man in the cars +so like me, face, height, and figure, that some of my friends were +taking him for me; others accusing me of having a brother whom I have +never owned. He sat two or three seats in front of me, and I could not +help being amused. Ward came in, nodded familiarly to my double, with, +"How are you, General?" passed on to me, stopped, and looked from one +to the other with a mixture of surprise and curiosity that was droll; +then asked for information which I could not give him. It was the same +with many others. I hope the stranger will keep himself out of mischief +while he is in Glenwood, or I may be held responsible for his wrong +doings." + +"Did he come to Glenwood?" asked Daisy. + +"Yes: I left him standing on the platform at the station, and I hardly +knew whether my own carriage belonged to him or to me. However, he made +no claim as I stepped into it." + +"Who was he?" asked Mrs. Forster. "Did not you find out?" + +"No. No one could tell me, and I could not go and ask the man who he +was, merely for the reason that he resembled me so much. There, there, +little woman," as the baby gave a vigorous pull at his hair. "I've +had enough of mamma's proofs, and am satisfied that no other man than +Frank Forster would submit to such usage at these tiny hands. I rather +imagine this stranger came up to look at Beechgrove, which is to let, +as I heard him asking the railway porter in which direction it lay, and +where the agent was to be found." + +A fortnight went by, and nothing more was seen of the stranger who +looked so like General Forster; nor after that evening did the General +or his wife think of him. + +Not so Daisy. She thought often of him with a kind of half wish that +she might see him; why she scarcely knew herself, but she never spoke +of it. She was rather a shy, quiet child, keeping her ideas and wishes +pretty much to herself, unless they were drawn out by some one whom she +loved or trusted; and neither the General nor Mrs. Forster suspected +what was working in her mind. + +Her idea, too, that the General looked so like her own papa, they +regarded only as a childish fancy, ready to see a likeness between +the two she most admired and loved in all the world. And they never +imagined how the child was dreaming and wondering over this unseen +stranger who had had such a passing interest for them. + +Meanwhile, it became certain that Beechgrove, as the place was called, +was taken; for the placards advertising it to rent were taken down, and +the house was going through a thorough cleaning. + +But the General and his wife, being people who never gossiped or +concerned themselves about their neighbors' affairs, did not trouble +themselves in the matter. And those who were curious and asked +questions received no satisfaction from old Dr. Harding, who had charge +of the property. + +All Miss Collins' young scholars, however, thought themselves very much +concerned in the letting of Beechgrove, and with good reason. For a +large aviary belonged to the place, containing many rare and beautiful +birds, and the former owner, who was fond of children, often used to +invite the young people of Glenwood to see these birds, and to amuse +themselves in other ways about his grounds. But since Dr. Harding had +had the care of the place, not a child had been suffered to come within +sight or hearing of the aviary, which had a new charm for them since it +was a forbidden pleasure. + +So the new occupants of Beechgrove, and the question as to whether +they were likely to recover their old privileges there or no, had been +a subject of great interest to our young friends, and they were very +anxious for information on the matter. + +One morning when Daisy came to school, she found the rest of the +class grouped about Mattie Prime and Rosie Pierson, who lived beyond +Beechgrove, and had to pass it on their way to Miss Collins'. + +"The new people have gone to Beechgrove," said Violet Swan, when Daisy +asked what they were talking about; "and Mattie and Rosie saw a little +girl there this morning. We are glad there is a child there, because +maybe having her will make the papa good to other children, and he will +let us go in and see the birds because of her." + +"She's a very little thing," said Rosie. "She can't speak plain. Such a +crooked tongue." + +"But she's very cunning," said Mattie. "We were going past the gate and +she called out to us, 'Itty dirls, itty dirls;' and when we stopped she +put her face through the rails to kiss us, and handed us some flowers +she had. She was real sweet." + +"What is her name?" asked Daisy. + +"We asked her, but we could not make out what she said. Mamy Modwit it +sounded like; but she did speak so crooked," said Mattie. + +"Do you know," said Rosie, "I think she looked like Daisy. Don't you, +Mattie?" + +"Why, so she does," said Mattie. "Isn't that funny? Only Daisy's eyes +always look sorry except when she is laughing or speaking, and that +little girl's were so full of mischief and laughing." + +"How big was she?" asked Lola. + +"Oh, about as large as your sister Bertie. Not near old enough to come +to school." + +"I s'pose there are no other children but her," said Fanny Delisle. +"Willie saw the family come yesterday; and he said there were only the +lady and gentleman, and the little girl and servants. If there are no +children as old as us, maybe it won't come into their heads to let us +see the aviary again." + +This short conversation put an end to the half hope, half wish, that +had been in Daisy's heart. Even supposing the stranger who looked so +like General Forster were the gentleman who had taken Beechgrove, he +could be nothing to her (not until now had she said even to herself +that she had hoped it might be so), for the family did not answer to +her own. She had papa and mamma, little brother Theodore, and a baby +sister, a very little baby; and only this child of three years old or +more seemed to belong to the new-comers; and she had no sister so old. + +Daisy reasoned this all out for herself with a sad, disappointed little +heart, forgetting that time had not stood still with her own family any +more than it had with her, and that changes might have come to them as +well as to herself. + +This was on Friday, and nothing more was seen or heard of the strangers +by Daisy or her playmates, till Sunday came. But then such a strange +and happy thing came to pass, and in such a wonderful way. "Just like a +book thing," Lily Ward afterwards said. + +It was the loveliest of Sabbath days, and every thing seemed to feel it. + +"What day is it, Bertie?" asked Mr. Swan, as his youngest daughter +stood on the piazza steps ready for church. + +"Jesus' happy Sunday," answered the little one; "and, oh, didn't He +mate a nice one!" + +Other people than Bertie thought so; a nice one indeed. + +It was the softest, sweetest, warmest of May Sundays. A busy little +breeze, carrying with it the perfume of the apple-blossoms over which +it had passed, stole in at the open windows of the church, and wandered +around among aisles, pillars, and pews, now fluttering the leaves of +a book, now toying with a ribbon, now tossing a curl upon some sunny +head, now fanning some cheek flushed with a walk in the almost summer +heat. A robin, saucy birdie, swung himself lightly to and fro on the +branch of one of the fine old elms outside the church-door, and poured +forth his hymn of praise; while from far and near came the answering +notes of his mates; and mingling with his song were heard the voices of +the children in the Sunday school beyond, as they sang the closing hymn. + +Then they came trooping in gently, and with soft footsteps, as became +the house of God (honoring His name and His word had taught them also +to honor the place where He was worshipped), and took their places +beside their parents and friends. + +Watching them from one of the pews which ran by the side of the pulpit, +were a pair of roguish, dancing eyes, which Rosie Pierson and Mattie +Prime recognized at once. They were those of the little girl who had +peeped at them through the railing of the Beechgrove grounds. Now they +were peeping over the top of the pew-door as she stood at its foot, +her hands crossed upon it, her chin resting upon them. What a bright, +merry, laughing face it was, and how like Daisy's! General and Mrs. +Forster had noticed it from their seat, which commanded a full view of +that of the strangers. + +Beside the little girl sat a gentleman, half turned from the +congregation, his face partly shaded by his hand; but there could be no +doubt that he was the man who was so like the General. Mrs. Forster saw +the likeness at once, even in the turn and shape of his head. Beyond +him was a lady in deep mourning, closely veiled. + +"Frank must find out who they are," said Mrs. Forster to herself. "That +child is so like Daisy. Can it be--oh, can it be?" Then she tried to +collect her thoughts and bring them back to the service of Him whom she +had come to worship. + +Daisy came in a little behind the rest of the infant class (she had +lingered for a word with her teacher), and took her seat. Almost +immediately her eye fell on the new-comers to Glenwood. Mrs. Forster +saw her start, flush all over, neck and face, and press her small hands +tightly together, as if trying to keep back some exclamation which rose +to her lips. + +With a beating heart the child watched the strangers, striving in vain +to get a better view of the face of the gentleman, gazing from him to +the veiled lady, and then at the little girl. + +The bell ceased tolling, the congregation were gathered, the hour of +service had come, and the clergyman rose in the pulpit. + +But at that moment the lady drew aside her veil; and ere Dr. Parker had +opened his lips, a little voice rang through the still church. + +"Mamma! Oh, my own mamma!" + +How much was in those few words! What a tale they told! What a world of +longing, of love, of joy, they held! + +The stranger lady--ah! no stranger was she to our Daisy--started to her +feet, stretched out her hands, then with a little cry sank fainting +into the arms of the gentleman who had also suddenly arisen. + +She was carried out; General and Mrs. Forster following with the +excited, trembling Daisy; and so the father and mother found the +long-lost child. + +Who could describe it? Who could find words for the joy, the wonder, +the gratitude of those concerned; who tell the sympathy which filled +the hearts of all in that congregation, which dimmed their eyes with +tears, and filled their hearts with adoration, as, before another word +of the morning service was begun, the beloved minister called on all +to render thanks for the great and signal mercy just shown to those +long-parted parents and their little one! + +And now there is little more to tell. Only how Daisy's mamma, and +the little sister whom she remembered only as a tiny baby, had been +rescued from the sinking ship with some of the other passengers; how, +having been unable to trace their lost treasure, and believing that the +boat, with all whom it contained, had gone down in the deep waters, +the parents had gone abroad, where they had remained till a few months +before this time, and so had never seen the advertisements which might +have told them she was still living: all this was soon explained. + +And then Daisy must tell her story, and Betty must come in to help her +out where memory failed and the past was a blank, because of that long, +wasting illness. And how Betty laughed and cried by turns, and would +hear of no praise or thanks for what she had done, declaring that "Miss +Daisy had done her and Jack far more good nor she resaved, taching them +to mind their tongues afore God Almighty." + +And though General and Mrs. Forster must now give up, to her rightful +owners, the darling of whom they had grown so fond, yet they did not +have to part with her altogether; for she was so near to them that they +saw her every day; indeed, the two families became almost as one, and +Daisy felt as if she had two homes. + +The little brother, whom Daisy remembered so well, had gone to a home +beyond the sky, but a few weeks before her father and mother came to +Glenwood. + +And so the Daisy blossom, which had been parted from its parent stem +and cast by the wayside, where stranger hands had gathered and lovingly +tended it, was planted once more in the soil where it belonged, after +it had done the Master's work, and scattered the good seed which budded +for His glory; proving well, that those who "honor" the Lord He will +"delight to honor." + + +[Illustration] + + Cambridge: Press of John Wilson & Son + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44770 *** diff --git a/44770-h/44770-h.htm b/44770-h/44770-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c6aa55d --- /dev/null +++ b/44770-h/44770-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4831 @@ +<!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=UTF-8" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Daisy's Work, by Joanna H. (Joanna Hooe) Mathews</title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .copyright {text-align: center; font-size: 70%;} + .blockquot{margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; font-size: 80%;} + + .adtitle1 {font-size: 200%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + .adtitle2 {font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + + .author {font-size: 120%; text-align: center;} + .authorof {font-size: 60%; text-align: center;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align:baseline; + position: relative; + bottom: 0.33em; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + + h1,h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +hr.chap {width: 65%} + + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.drop-cap { + text-indent: 0em; text-align: justify; +} +.drop-cap:first-letter +{ + float: left; + margin: 0.15em 0.1em 0em 0em; + font-size: 250%; + line-height: .5em; +} +@media handheld +{ + .drop-cap:first-letter + { + float: none; + margin: 0; + font-size: 100%; + } +} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44770 ***</div> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Daisy's Work, by Joanna H. (Joanna Hooe) +Mathews</h1> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + <a href="https://archive.org/details/daisysworkthirdc00mathiala"> + https://archive.org/details/daisysworkthirdc00mathiala</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 482px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="482" height="800" alt="Cover" /> +<p> </p> +</div><div class='tnote'><p><b>Transcriber's Note:</b> This cover was created +by adding text to the plain cover of the original and is placed in the public +domain.</p></div> +<p> </p> +<hr class="chap" /> +<p> </p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 82px;"> +<img src="images/i-001a.jpg" width="82" height="36" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + +<div class='adtitle1'>FLOWERETS.</div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 54px;"> +<img src="images/i-001b.jpg" width="54" height="34" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<div class='adtitle2'>Flowerets.</div> + +<div class='center'><small>A SERIES OF STORIES ON THE COMMANDMENTS.</small><br /> + +<br /> + +<span class='author'><span class="smcap">By JOANNA H. MATHEWS</span>,</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class='authorof'><i>Author of the "Bessie Books."</i></span><br /><br /></div> + + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="book prices"> +<tr><td align="right">I.</td> +<td align="left">VIOLET'S IDOL. <span class="smcap">The First and Second Commandments</span></td><td align="right">$0.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">II.</td> +<td align="left">DAISY'S WORK. <span class="smcap">The Third Commandment</span></td><td align="right">0.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">III.</td> +<td align="left">ROSE'S TEMPTATION. <span class="smcap">The Fourth Commandment</span></td><td align="right">0.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IV.</td> +<td align="left">LILY'S LESSON. <span class="smcap">The Fifth Commandment</span></td><td align="right">0.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">V.</td> +<td align="left">HYACINTHE AND HER BROTHERS. <span class="smcap">The Sixth Commandment</span></td><td align="right">0.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign='top'>VI.</td> +<td align="left"><div class='hang1'>PINKIE AND THE RABBITS. <span class="smcap">The Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Commandments</span></div></td> +<td align="right" valign='top'>0.75</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The set in a neat box, $4.50.</i><br /> +<br /> +ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS,<br /> +<i>New York</i>.</div> +<hr class="chap" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 378px;"> +<img src="images/i-004.jpg" width="378" height="484" alt="Woman by ironing board , man nad little girl" /> +</div> + + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h1>DAISY'S WORK.</h1> + + +<div class='center'> +<b>The Third Commandment.</b><br /> +<br /> +<small>BY</small><br /> +<span class='author'>JOANNA H. MATHEWS,</span><br /> +<span class='authorof'>AUTHOR OF THE "BESSIE BOOKS."</span><br /><br /><br /></div> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p class="center">"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for +the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."</p><br /> +<p class="center">"Let your communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay; for whatsoever +is more than these cometh of evil."</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 21px;"> +<img src="images/i-005.jpg" width="21" height="32" alt="leaf" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /> +NEW YORK:<br /> +ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS,<br /> +530, <span class="smcap">Broadway</span>.<br /> +1870.<br /> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<div class='copyright'> +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by<br /> +<small>ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS,</small><br /> +In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<small>CAMBRIDGE:</small><br /> +<small>PRESS OF JOHN WILSON AND SON.</small><br /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 162px;"> +<img src="images/i-007a.jpg" width="162" height="55" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'> +TO<br /> +<br /> +<i>MY DEAR LITTLE COUSIN</i>,<br /> +<br /> +LULU CHAUNCEY.<br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 59px;"> +<img src="images/i-007b.jpg" width="59" height="61" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 220px;"> +<img src="images/i-009a.jpg" width="220" height="37" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align="left"> </td> +<td align="left"> </td> +<td align="right"><small>PAGE</small></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">I.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Little Flower-Girl</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">II.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Cluster of Daisies</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">III.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Daisy Transplanted</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">IV.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Daisy's Sister Flowerets</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">V.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Daisy at Study</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_107">107</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">VI.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Daisy a Teacher</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">VII.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Swearing Class</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">VIII.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Daisy's Name</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">IX.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Lost Found</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_201">201</a></td> +</tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 61px;"> +<img src="images/i-009b.jpg" width="61" height="65" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 196px;"> +<img src="images/i-011.jpg" width="196" height="39" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>THE LITTLE FLOWER-GIRL.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 70px;"> +<img src="images/i-011b.jpg" width="70" height="60" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/i-013.jpg" width="312" height="118" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>DAISY'S WORK.</h2> + + + + +<h2>I.<br /> + +<small>THE LITTLE FLOWER-GIRL.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>THERE stood our Daisy. What +a Daisy it was too; what a fair, +sweet floweret; pure and innocent-looking +as the blossoms over which +she bent. There she stood beside +her basket of flowers, a little spot of +brightness and beauty amidst all the +dust and heat and turmoil of the +noisy street, on that warm summer +afternoon.</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was a street which ran beside a +great railroad depot. Porters, carmen, +and hackmen were calling, shouting, +and swearing; passengers were +hurrying by to catch the trains which +were starting every few minutes; carriages +driving up with their loads of +ladies and children; and farther down +the street were great trucks laden +with freight, and express-wagons filled +with baggage, which the railroad +porters were unloading with a great +amount of noise and crash; and +amongst it all was Daisy, standing +opposite the door of the ladies' entrance.</p> + +<p>But not one of all those passers-by +knew that she was a "Daisy," or +that those were her namesakes which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +she held so lovingly in her little +hands. Now and then one stopped +to buy one of the five or ten cent bouquets, +so tastefully arranged, which +lay in her basket; and almost all who +did so had a kind word to give the +child; for there was something in her +look and air which pleaded for tenderness +and sympathy. It did not +seem that this was her proper place; +for even in her homely dress she +looked so dainty and delicate, and +moved and spoke so like a little lady, +that it was easy to see that she had +been accustomed to a different kind +of life. But all who noticed her, or +stopped to buy her flowers, were in +such haste that none had time for +more than a passing interest in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +child, and contented themselves with +wondering and pitying.</p> + +<p>Down the street came a lady with +a little girl, the latter skipping and +jumping as she held her mother's +hand. No wonder the little one was +happy, and as full of play and merry +pranks as any kitten; for she had +been spending such a pleasant day +with mamma in the city, and was +now going back with "such lots to +tell about and heaps of pretty things" +to her own lovely country home.</p> + +<p>"Oh, see, mamma!" she said, as +her eye fell upon the other child, +"see those pretty flowers that dear +little girl is selling. She is just about +as large as Lola Swan, and <i>don't</i> +she look nice and sweet. Won't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +you buy some flowers from her, +mamma?"</p> + +<p>"You have plenty of flowers at +home, dear Lily, and we have about +as much as we can carry now," answered +her mother.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear mamma, but those little +brenkays" (bouquets, Lily meant) +"would take up such a tiny mite of +room, and I want you to buy some +for kindness to the little girl. She +looks so sorry out of her eyes, mamma."</p> + +<p>Moved by the pleadings of her +little daughter, Mrs. Ward turned +toward the flower-girl, whom in her +hurry she had nearly passed without +a look, and asked the price of her +bouquets.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What a pretty pot of daisies! +Can't I have that, mamma?" asked +Lily.</p> + +<p>But at this the flower-girl drew +back and put one hand over the pot +of daisies she held in the other, as if +she feared it was to be taken from +her by force.</p> + +<p>"I'll ask papa to carry them for +me, mamma," said Lily.</p> + +<p>"Ho! ho!" said a cheery voice +behind her, "so you think papa has +nothing better to do than turn expressman +and carry all your traps, do you? +I wonder how many bundles are already +waiting in the depot for me to +put safely in the cars;" and turning +about Lily saw her father, who had +overtaken his wife and little girl.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh! lots and lots!" said Lily, +jumping about with new glee as she +saw him. "We bought something +for everybody, papa; and I bought a +present for your birthday to-morrow; +but it is a secret. Mamma is going +to fill it with ink and I'll put it on +your writing-table 'fore you come +down in the morning; but you won't +ask what it is, will you?"</p> + +<p>"Not on any account," said Mr. +Ward. "But you must make haste +and buy your flowers, or we shall not +find good seats in the cars. So you +want these daisies, do you? How +much are they, my child?"</p> + +<p>But again the flower-girl drew back.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't sell them, sir," she said; +"at least not now, not if,——"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh! they are for some favorite +customer, hey? You see, Lily, you +can't have them. Well, pick out +your bouquets; we'll hang them about +our necks if we can't carry them any +other way," said Mr. Ward. "This +is the little girl I told you about, my +dear," turning to his wife, who had +been looking at the sweet, sad face +of the young flower vender.</p> + +<p>"What is your name, my child?" +asked the lady.</p> + +<p>"My name is—they call me Margaret," +said the child, with hesitation +in her voice and manner, and a sudden +flush breaking over her face.</p> + +<p>"There," said Mr. Ward, when, +having paid for the flowers which +Lily had chosen, he hurried his wife<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +and daughter away; "there, my dear, +I did not say too much about that +child, did I?"</p> + +<p>"Why no," said Mrs. Ward, looking +back to the small figure beside its +basket of flowers, "there is certainly +something very interesting about her. +Her speech and manner, as well as +her looks, are strangely refined and +lady-like for one in her position. I +wish we had time to talk more to +her."</p> + +<p>The flower-girl looked after them +and sighed,—a long, weary sigh, as +she watched the frolicsome Lily.</p> + +<p>"Most all little girls have their fathers +and mothers," she said softly to +herself; "but I don't have either. I +wonder why God did take both of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +mine away; if He didn't know how +lonesome I would be, or why He +didn't take me too. I don't see what +good I can be to Him all alone by +myself, except Betty and Jack. But +then He knows, and maybe He only +wants me to be patient till He's ready +to take me."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 347px;"> +<img src="images/i-023.jpg" width="347" height="465" alt="boy and girl and woman" /> +</div> + +<p>But the wistful eyes brightened +again, as, having watched Lily and +her friends disappear within the door +of the depot, she turned them the +other way to see if new customers +were coming.</p> + +<p>"There he comes," she said, as her +eye fell upon a tall, broad-shouldered +gentleman coming down the street, +"soldier" written in every line and +motion of his figure, from the erect,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +stately head, down to the ringing, +military tread of his firm foot.</p> + +<p>"Good afternoon, little woman," +he said, returning with a pleasant +smile her welcoming look; "is my +wife's bouquet all ready?"</p> + +<p>Taking from the corner of her +basket a bouquet somewhat larger +than the rest, and of rather choicer +flowers, she held it up to him.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," she said, as she +received the price; and then, with +rising color, added, "would it be too +much trouble to carry this to the +lady?"</p> + +<p>"Too much trouble? No! How +much is it?" he said, putting his hand +again into his pocket.</p> + +<p>"Oh! sir, I didn't mean that. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +didn't want to sell it, but to give it +to you, if you would take it to the +lady you buy flowers for every day. +I want to send it to her because you +are so kind to me, and because—because +you put me in mind of—of +somebody."</p> + +<p>"That is it, is it?" said the gentleman. +"Well, I can't refuse such a +pretty gift, so prettily offered. And +who do I put you in mind of, pray?"</p> + +<p>"Of my papa, sir. You do look +like him."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" said the gentleman, +not much pleased at the idea that he +was like the father of this little poor +child, above her station though she +looked. "And these are daisies, hey? +My wife will like them."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + +<p>"General, do you mean to miss the +train?" said an acquaintance, as he +passed.</p> + +<p>"Not with my own consent, certainly," +said the gentleman. "I shall +thank you for the lady to-morrow, +my little girl."</p> + +<p>But as he turned to go, his foot +slipped upon a piece of orange-peel, +thrown down by some careless person, +and he had nearly fallen. He +would have been down altogether but +for his little companion; but as he +involuntarily put out his hand, she +caught it; and that support, frail and +slight as it was, was sufficient to +steady him.</p> + +<p>Kind of heart, noble and generous +though he was, the soldier was hasty-tempered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +and quick, and an oath—a +fearful oath—burst from his lips.</p> + +<p>"Ah, you were my good angel. +You have saved me from a bad fall," +he said almost in the same breath, +but in a very different tone and manner, +as he turned to the child.</p> + +<p>His good angel! Ah, yes! More +than he knew, his good angel. Those +little hands should from this time hold +him from falling into the sin of which +he had just been guilty.</p> + +<p>Years ago General Forster would +have been shocked at the thought +of letting such words escape his +lips, though even then he was none +too reverent or careful in speaking of +sacred persons or things; but in the +bustle and excitement of war he had,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +alas! like many another brave man, +allowed himself to fall into the habit +of taking God's holy name in vain. +But careless though he might be +before men in moments of forgetfulness, +or when his hasty temper got +the better of him, he seldom or never +suffered himself to use such words +before women or children; why, you +shall learn.</p> + +<p>"Why, have I hurt you?" he asked, +seeing with surprise her startled +and troubled face.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, oh! no," she answered, +catching her breath, "but, but"—</p> + +<p>"Well, but what?"</p> + +<p>"But I am so sorry;" and that she +was so was proved, as she covered +her face with her hands and burst +into tears.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sorry for what?" he asked.</p> + +<p>She gave him no answer, but shrank +a little away.</p> + +<p>"Sorry for what?" he repeated, as +if determined to know; and the tone +of command, which seemed to say +he was used to instant obedience, +forced her to speak, whether she +would or no.</p> + +<p>"Sorry for those words you said, +sir," she sobbed.</p> + +<p>"Those words? What words?" +But his question answered itself as it +was spoken; for his wicked words, +which but for this would have been +forgotten the next instant, came back +to him, and he stood rebuked before +this poor little flower-girl. He repented +already; but repented only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +because he had distressed this simple +child, in whom he took so much interest, +not yet because he had grieved +and offended the Holy One whose +name he had profaned.</p> + +<p>Still he was vexed too.</p> + +<p>"Why, you don't mean to say," he +said rather impatiently, "that you +never hear such words as those, +standing here as you do, half the day, +with those rough men and boys about +you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, sir!" she said, plaintively. +"I do hear such words, often, +often. I try not to; but I can't help +it, you see; and it makes me so sorry. +But I thought those poor men and +boys could not know how to read, +and had never been taught better,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +or perhaps they did not know what +God had said in His commandments. +But I did not think gentlemen said +such things; and I liked you <i>so</i> +much."</p> + +<p>And did she like him less now? +He, the <i>gentleman</i>, the rich man, felt +that he could not wish to lose the respect +and liking of this little child +whom he thought so far beneath him, +and he was ashamed and sorry. He +knew that it was not impertinence, +but only her innocent simplicity and +truthfulness, which had caused her to +say what she did. But to know that +he was in the wrong and to acknowledge +it, were one and the same thing +with this true-hearted man.</p> + +<p>"You are right, Margaret," he said,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +forgetting how fast the moments were +flying. "<i>Gentlemen</i> should not say +such things, especially before ladies +and children. It is bad manners; +but I forgot myself just then."</p> + +<p>She took her hands from her face +and looked up at him. There was +an unspoken question in the clear, +earnest eyes, and it was plain that +she was not yet satisfied.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said smiling at her, +"what troubles you still? Let me +have it all."</p> + +<p>"I was only thinking what difference +could it make, sir."</p> + +<p>"What difference could what +make?"</p> + +<p>"Whether it was ladies and children +who heard it, sir," she answered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +timidly. "God hears it all the same, +doesn't He? And it can't make any +difference to Him who else hears it."</p> + +<p>She looked up as she spoke at the +blue sky overhead, and the look and +the words brought to him a sudden +sense of God's constant presence and +nearness. He had known it well +enough before,—that the Almighty +Eye saw him always; that the Almighty +Ear heard him always; but he +had never felt it as he did now. The +gentle, timid reproof had gone far +deeper than the little giver had intended, +and her hearer felt ashamed +that he had confessed to her that he +would pay a respect to a woman or +child which he did not feel it needful +to pay to his Maker. He could make +her no answer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>"<i>You</i> behind time, General?" said +the voice of another friend as he hurried +past; and the scream of the +warning whistle told the gentleman +that he had no time to lose.</p> + +<p>"I'll see you to-morrow. Good-by, +my child. God bless you," he +said hurriedly, and rushed away.</p> + +<p>But just in time; he was the last +passenger, and stepped upon the platform +of a car as the train was put in +motion. The jar threw him once +more a little off his balance, and he +caught by the rail to save himself, +while again hasty, profane words rose +to his lips.</p> + +<p>But they did not pass them. What +though no human ear should hear; +"God heard them all the same," and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +they were checked before even the +summer wind could catch them; and +in their place the angels carried up +the heart-breathed prayer, "God keep +me from them in time to come."</p> + +<p>His next neighbor in the cars +thought General Forster remarkably +silent and unsociable that afternoon. +He would not talk, but buried himself +behind his newspaper. If the +neighbor had looked closer he would +have seen that the General's eyes +were fixed, not on the paper held before +his face, but on the little pot of +daisies which rested on his knee. +And over the delicate pink and white +blossoms was breathed a vow,—a +vow registered in heaven and faithfully +kept on earth.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 164px;"> +<img src="images/i-037a.jpg" width="164" height="42" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>A CLUSTER OF DAISIES.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 71px;"> +<img src="images/i-037b.jpg" width="71" height="56" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a><br /><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 303px;"> +<img src="images/i-039.jpg" width="303" height="132" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>II.<br /> + +<small>A CLUSTER OF DAISIES.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>"WHAT are you thinking of, +Frank?" said Mrs. Forster, +looking at her husband as he stood +leaning against the casing of the window, +gazing thoughtfully out at the +lovely garden beyond.</div> + +<p>"Of a bad habit of mine," he answered.</p> + +<p>"You have none; at least none +that I cannot put up with," she said +playfully.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's not the question, dear +Gertrude," he returned gravely. "It +is whether my Maker can put up with +it, and I believe that He cannot, since +he has said He 'will not hold him +guiltless that taketh His name in +vain.'"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Forster colored as she bent +her head over the sleeping baby on +her lap.</p> + +<p>"You did not know, perhaps," her +husband said, after a minute's silence, +"that I was ever guilty of this—sin?"</p> + +<p>"I did know it, Frank; at least I +have heard you now and then, when +you were speaking to your dogs and +horses, or even when you were a +little impatient with the men. But +you did not mean me to hear such<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +words; and I noticed you never used +them in my presence."</p> + +<p>"No," he said a little sadly: "I +would not speak in my wife's presence +words which were not fit for +her to hear; but I forgot an ear still +purer, which I was insulting and defying. +That is the second thrust I +have had to-day, Gertrude, which has +made me feel that I have treated the +Almighty with less of reverence and +respect than I would show to some +of my fellow-creatures. Let me tell +you of the innocent lesson I received +from the little flower-girl, who sent +the daisies to you."</p> + +<p>And sitting down beside her, he +told her of the teaching which had +come to him from the little wayside<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +blossom; to whose lonely, thirsting +heart his few kind words and smiles +had been as drops of dew from +heaven.</p> + +<p>But even while they talked of her +and her pretty lady-like ways and +sayings, which seemed so far above +her station, they did not know she +was a "Daisy," and that those were +her namesakes over which Mrs. Forster +bent, dropping happy tears and +kisses on them, mingled with many a +blessing on the little giver.</p> + +<p>Plucking one of the flowers from +the stem, she opened her baby's tiny +hand and placed it within it. The +fairy fingers closed around it, clasping +it tight, while the unconscious little +one slept on.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Her name is Gertrude, but we'll +call her Daisy, Frank, as soon as +she is old enough to be called any +thing but baby," said the young +mother, "and her pretty pet name may +serve as a reminder of this day's lesson, +if ever it should be forgotten."</p> + +<p>"You think I may need it," said +her husband, smiling. "I trust not; +for the sin, to say nothing of the vulgarity, +of taking God's name in vain, +has been set forth so plainly by my +innocent little teacher, that I must +have a short memory, indeed, if I +failed to remember her lesson. She +thought <i>gentlemen</i> must know better."</p> + +<p>"But, dear," said the lady, "you +said you would inquire about this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +child, and see if we could not be of +some use to her."</p> + +<p>"So I did," he answered; "and so I +will, and should have done long since; +but day after day I have let business +or pleasure keep me till I had but just +time to catch the train, and none to +bestow on the poor little creature +who seems to have been so grateful +for the few kind words I have given +her. You think I am rather fanciful +about this child, I know, Gertrude; +but I am convinced that some of her +few years must have been spent +among different people than those by +whom she is now surrounded. Nor +am I the only one of her customers +who has noticed the grace of her +speech and manners, so uncommon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +in a child of her class. Ward, and +others beside, have seen it; but like +myself have never made it their business +to see after her. However, to-morrow +afternoon, I shall make it a +point to be at the depot in time to +have a talk with her. I wonder if +the woman who keeps the fruit-stall +at the corner, and whose child I believe +she is, would give her up and +let her go to school."</p> + +<p>He was as good as his word; and +more than an hour earlier than usual, +our little flower-girl saw "her gentleman" +coming down the street towards +the depot. It was an eager, +wistful little face, with some questioning +fear in it, that she raised to him, +for she was anxious lest she should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +have offended her kind friend, as she +had learned to think him, by her +plain speech of the day before.</p> + +<p>She had scarcely meant to speak +so plainly; the words had seemed to +escape her without her intending it, +and, it was true, had been drawn forth +by the gentleman's own questions; +but when she remembered them afterwards +she feared that he would think +her rude and disrespectful.</p> + +<p>She need not have been afraid. +His eye and voice were even kinder +than usual as he came near to her, +and he laid his hand gently on her +head, saying,—</p> + +<p>"Well, my little woman! and how +does the world go with you to-day? +The lady told me to thank you very +much for the daisies."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p>The young face brightened.</p> + +<p>"Did she like them, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Very much indeed,—all the more +because she has a little one at home +whom she is going to call 'Daisy' +after your pretty flowers."</p> + +<p>"Is she your little girl, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, she is a mite of a Daisy, but +a very precious one," he answered; +then looking into the flushed face, +with its soft, shining eyes and parted +lips, he added, "You are a Daisy +yourself."</p> + +<p>The flowers she held dropped at +her feet unheeded as she clasped both +hands upon her breast, and with quick-coming +breath and filling eyes, asked +eagerly, "How <i>did</i> you know it, sir? +how did you know it?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Know what, my child? What +troubles you?"</p> + +<p>"How did you know I was Daisy?" +she almost gasped.</p> + +<p>"I did not know it," he answered +in surprise. "Is your name Daisy? +I thought it was Margaret."</p> + +<p>"They call me Margaret, sir,—Betty +and Jack; but Daisy is my <i>own</i>, +<i>own</i> name, that papa and mamma +called me," she answered, recovering +herself a little.</p> + +<p>"And where are your papa and +mamma?" he asked. "I thought the +woman who keeps the fruit-stall at +the corner was your mother."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, sir!" she said. "She is +only Betty. She is very good to me, +but she is not mamma. Mamma was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +a lady," she added, with simple, childish +dignity, which told that she was +a lady herself.</p> + +<p>"But <i>where</i> are your father and +mother?" he repeated, with fresh interest +in the child.</p> + +<p>"Mamma is drowned, sir; and we +could never find papa," she answered, +with such pathos in her tones.</p> + +<p>"Come into the depot with me," +said General Forster: "I want to talk +to you."</p> + +<p>She obeyed, and, taking up her +basket, followed him into the waiting-room, +where, heedless of the many +curious eyes around, he made her sit +down beside him, and drew from her +her sad, simple story:—how long, +long ago she had lived with papa and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +mamma and her little brother and +baby sister in their own lovely home, +far away from here; where it was, +she did not know, but in quite a different +place from the great bustling +city which she had never seen +till she came here with Betty and +Jack; how she had left home with +mamma and the baby on a great ship, +where to go she could not remember; +how Betty was on board, and +mamma had been kind to her; how +a dreadful storm had come and there +was great confusion and terror; and +then it seemed as if she went to sleep +for a long, long time, and knew nothing +more till she found herself living +with Betty and Jack in their poor +home far up in the city.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>They had been very good to her, +nursing and caring for her during the +many months she had been weak and +ailing; and now that she was stronger +and better, she tried to help them +all she could, keeping the two small +rooms tidy, while Betty was away +attending to her stall; and in the +afternoon selling the flowers which +Jack raised in his little garden, and +she arranged in tasteful bouquets. +And, lastly, she told how from the +very first time she had seen General +Forster, she thought he "looked so +like papa" that she felt as if she must +love him, and was so happy when he +stopped to buy flowers of her and +spoke kindly to her.</p> + +<p>The story was told with a straightforward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +and simple pathos, which +went right to the listener's heart, and +left him no doubt of its truth. But +the child could tell nothing of her +own name or her parents', save that +she was always called "Daisy" at +home, and that she had never since +heard the familiar name until to-day, +when she thought this stranger had +given it to her. Betty and Jack always +called her "Margaret;" and +Betty thought she knew mamma's +name, but she did not. But she loved +daisies dearly for the sake of their +name, which had been her own; and +she had raised and tended with loving +care the little plant she had given to +"my gentleman" as a token of gratitude +for his kindness, and because he +was "so like papa."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + +<p>Having learned all that he could +from the child herself, the gentleman +went to the fruit-woman on the +corner.</p> + +<p>"So," he said, "the little girl whom +you call Margaret is not your own +daughter?"</p> + +<p>"Indade, no, sir," answered Betty; +"niver a daughter of me own have I +barrin' Jack, and he's not me own at +all, but jist me sister's son what died, +lavin' him a babby on me hands. +More betoken that it's not a little +lady like her that the likes of me +would be raisin', unless she'd none +of her own to do it."</p> + +<p>"Will you tell me how that came +about?"</p> + +<p>Betty told the story in her turn,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +in as plain and simple a manner as +the child's, though in language far +different.</p> + +<p>Her husband had been steward on +a sailing vessel running between New +Orleans and New York; and about +three years ago, she, being sick and +ordered change of air, had been allowed +to go with him for the voyage. +But it made her worse instead of +better; and on the return trip she +would have died, Betty declared, if it +had not been for the kindness and +tender nursing of a lady, "Margaret's" +mother. This lady—"her name had +been Saacyfut, she believed, but +maybe she disremembered intirely, +for Marga<i>ret</i> said it was not"—was +on her way to New York with her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +little girl who was sick, a baby, and +a French nurse; but her home was +neither there nor in New Orleans,—at +least so the child afterwards said.</p> + +<p>Her own account of the storm was +the same as the child's; but while the +recollection of the little one could go +no further, Betty remembered only +too well the horrors of that day.</p> + +<p>When it was found that the ship +must sink, and that all on board must +leave her, there had been, as the little +girl said, great confusion. How it +was, Betty could not exactly tell; +she had been placed in one boat, the +French nurse, with the child in her +arms, beside her; and the lady was +about to follow with the infant, when +a spar fell, striking the Frenchwoman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +on the head and killing her instantly, +knocking overboard one of the three +sailors who were in the boat,—while +at the same time the boat was parted +from the ship and at the mercy of the +raging waves. In vain did the two +sailors who were left try to regain +the ship: they were swept further +and further away, and soon lost sight +of the vessel. They drifted about all +night, and the next morning were +taken up by a fishing-smack which +brought them to New York.</p> + +<p>Fright and exposure and other +hardships, while they seemed to have +cured Betty, were too much for the +poor little girl, and a long and terrible +illness followed: after which +she lay for months, too weak to move<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +or speak, and appearing to have lost +all memory and sense. And when at +last she grew better and stronger, and +reason and recollection came back, +she could not tell the name of her +parents or her home.</p> + +<p>"Marga<i>ret</i> Saacyfut," Betty persisted +in saying the French nurse had +called her little charge, "Mamsell +Marga<i>ret</i>," "and if the lady's name +wasn't Saacyfut it was mightily nigh +to it."</p> + +<p>"Marguerite" had been the French +woman's name for "Daisy:" that the +General saw plainly enough, but he +could make nothing of the surname.</p> + +<p>"But did you not seek for the +child's friends, Betty?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"'Deed did I, sir," she answered.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +"Didn't I even ad<i>ver</i>tise her, an' how +she was to be heerd of, but all to no +good. An' I writ to New Orleans to +them what owned the ship, but they +were that oncivil they niver answered, +not they. An' it took a hape of money, +sir, to be payin' the paper, an' me such +hard work to get along, an' Marga<i>ret</i> +on me hands, an' I had to be done +with it. For ye see me man was +gone wid the ship, an' niver heerd of +along wid the rest to this day; an' I +had to use up the bit he'd put by +in the savin's bank till the child was +mendin' enough for me to lave her +wid Jack."</p> + +<p>"It was a very generous thing for +you to burden yourself with the care +of her," said General Forster.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Burden is it, sir? Niver a burden +was she, the swate lamb, not even +when the sense had left her. An' +that was what the neighbors was always +a sayin', and why didn't I put +her in the hospital. An' why would +I do that after the mother of her +savin' me from a buryin' in the say, +which I niver could abide. For sure +if it hadn't been for the lady I'd 'a +died on the ould ship, and they'd +'a chucked me overboard widout +sayin' by your lave; and sure I'd +niver have got over such a buryin' as +that all the days of me life. And +would I be turnin' out her child afther +that? An' isn't she payin' me for it +now, an' 'arnin' her livin,' an' mine +too? She an' Jack tends the bit of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +a garden, an' arternoons she comes +down an' sells her flowers, an' +where'd be the heart to refuse her +wid her pretty ways and nice manners; +a lady every inch of her, like +her mother before her."</p> + +<p>And thrusting her head out from +her stall, Betty gazed down the street +with admiring affection on her young +<i>protégée</i>.</p> + +<p>"Och! but she's the jewel of a +child," she went on; "and it is surprisin' +how me and Jack is improved +and become ginteel all along of her. +Ye see, sir, I did use to say a hape of +words that maybe wer'n't jist so; not +that I meant 'em for swearin', but it +was jist a way of spakin'. But after +Marga<i>ret</i> began to mend and get<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +about, ye would have thought she +was kilt intirely if I let one out of +me mouth. So seein' how it hurted +her, I jist minded what I was about, +an' Jack the same, for he was a boy +that swore awful, poor fellow; he'd +been left to himself, and how was he +to know better? At first him and me +minded our tongues, for that the child +shouldn't be hurted; but by and by +didn't she make it plain to us that it +was the great Lord himself what we +was offendin', and knowin' she'd been +tached better nor me, I jist heeded +her. And now, sir, them words that +I never thought no harm of and used +to come so aisy, I jist leave them out +of me spache widout troublin'; and a +deal better it sounds, and widout<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +doubt more plasin' to Him that's +above. And Jack the same mostly, +though he does let one slip now and +agin. So ye see, sir, it's not a burden +she is at all, at all, but jist a little bit +of light and comfort to the house that +houlds her."</p> + +<p>Glad to find a listener in a "gintleman +the likes of him," Betty had +talked away to the gentlemen, so taken +up with her story, that she paid little +heed to the business of her stall. +She made wrong change more than +once, gave quarts instead of pints, +oranges in place of apples, and peanuts +for sugar-plums, and provoked +some impatient customers not a little; +while one wicked boy, seeing her attention +was taken up with something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +else, ran off without paying for the +pop-corn he asked for, and was not +called back.</p> + +<p>But Betty lost nothing by the time +and thought she had given to the +gentleman, or the interest she had +shown in her young charge, as she +found when she looked at the number +upon the note he slipped into her +hand when he left her: a note which +the warm-hearted Irishwoman laid by +"to buy that new gown and pair of +shoes Margaret needed so bad."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/i-063.jpg" width="100" height="52" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a><br /><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 144px;"> +<img src="images/i-065a.jpg" width="144" height="47" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>THE DAISY TRANSPLANTED.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 28px;"> +<img src="images/i-065b.jpg" width="28" height="41" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a><br /><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 286px;"> +<img src="images/i-067.jpg" width="286" height="65" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + +<h2>III.<br /> + +<small>THE DAISY TRANSPLANTED.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>"BETTY," said General Forster, +stopping the next morning at +the fruit-woman's stall, "could you +make up your mind to give up that +little girl if you were sure it was for +her good?"</div> + +<p>Betty sighed and shook her head +mournfully as she answered,—</p> + +<p>"I've always looked to give her +up, sir, if them Saacyfuts, or whatever +their name'll be, turned up, and +if it was for her good, sorra a word<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +would they hear out of me, though I +won't say but it would go hard with +me and Jack. But ye'll not be tellin' +me ye've been findin' her friends since +last night, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Not the people she belongs to, +certainly, Betty; but I have found +those who will be friends to her, and +provide for her, if you will consent. +She should go to school and be well +taught: do you not think so?"</p> + +<p>"Indade, an' there's none knows +that better nor meself, sir. An' is it +yerself that's the friend ye're spakin' +of?" and Betty gave a searching look +into the gentleman's face.</p> + +<p>He smiled. "Yes," he said: "I +would like to put her to school and +take care of her. She seems a sweet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +child, and a good one. And you see, +Betty, I have it in my power to do +more to find her friends than you are +able to do, and we may trace them yet. +If we never find them, I will promise +to provide for her as long as it may +be necessary. Are you willing?"</p> + +<p>Betty again stared into the face of +her questioner as if she would look +him through.</p> + +<p>"I'm sinsible of your kindness, +sir," she answered; "but ye see I'm +in a way risponsible for the child, not +to say that she is as dear to me as me +own flesh and blood, and I'd say +'yis,' and thank ye kindly, but—ye'll +excuse me plain spakin'—ye're +a stranger to me, and I couldn't be +partin' wid Marga<i>ret</i> widout I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +certified as to yer ka<i>rac</i>ter. For if I +didn't think she'd be brought up right, +niver a foot should she stir to go wid +ye. I seen Miss Gertrude Allston a +walkin' wid ye once last summer, sir, +jist after I set up me stand here, but +she niver heeded me wid her swate +face. But I used to be laundress in +her mother's house afore I was married, +and a swate child was Miss +Gertrude and a good as ye're sayin' +of Marga<i>ret</i>, and she'll niver go far +wrong, I'll answer for it. So, if ye'll +jist bring me a line from her and +she says ye're all right, I'll not say +ye nay."</p> + +<p>General Forster laughed heartily, +not one whit offended at Betty's +"plain spakin'."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Miss Gertrude Allston, as you +call her, will give me all the lines +you want, Betty; and she thought me +right enough to marry me. She is +my wife,—Mrs. Forster."</p> + +<p>"An' is it so, sir?" said Betty, +dropping the rosy-cheeked apple she +was polishing, and gazing at the +gentleman with a mixture of curiosity +and admiration that was droll to +see. "Well, but ye're in luck; and +if it's Miss Gertrude that has the +managin' of ye, that's ka<i>rac</i>ter enough +of itself, an' I'll say take the child an' +my blessin' on all of yees. But when +she gets among yer fine folks, ye'll +not let her be forgettin' the woman +what cared for her when there was +none else to do it: will ye, sir? An'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +ye'll be lettin' me see her once in a +while?"</p> + +<p>There is no need to say that this was +readily promised, and the General +went on to tell Betty what plans he +and his wife had for Daisy. She was +to be taken for a while to his home, +where Mrs. Forster would provide her +with proper clothing; and then send +her to Miss Collins' boarding-school +to be taught and trained in a way to +satisfy her friends if they should ever +find her, or that she might one day +be able to earn her own living, if it +should be needful.</p> + +<p>"An' I'm glad she should have the +bringin' up of a lady which is what +I couldn't give her," said Betty, with +another sigh, for it went to her heart<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +to part with her darling; "but ye'll +not be able to make her more of a +lady nor she is now; no, not if ye +dress her in gould and jewels, an' silks +an' satins. Niver a rough word nor +way has she with her, if she has been +with me and Jack more nor two year, +nor ye couldn't find a purtier behaved +child in all the land."</p> + +<p>An hour or two later, Betty, having +found a friend to "mind" her +stall for her, guided General Forster +to the tiny house in the suburbs of +the city where she lived with Daisy +and Jack.</p> + +<p>The two children were out in the +little garden gathering the flowers +which were to be tied up in bouquets +for Daisy's afternoon sale; and great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +was their surprise, when the sound of +the gate-latch causing them to look +up, they saw Betty coming home at +this unusual hour of the day, and the +gentleman with her. Their business +was soon told; but although Daisy +flushed and smiled with astonishment +and delight when she heard what the +"gentleman who looked so like papa" +meant to do for her, the little face +soon shadowed over again, and she +shook her head gently but firmly +when she was asked if she would +go.</p> + +<p>"An' why for no, dear?" asked +Betty. "Sure ye'd niver be for +throwin' away a chance the likes of +that, not to spake of it's bein' ongrateful +to the gintleman's kindness, an' he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +no more nor less than the husband of +Miss Gertrude."</p> + +<p>But Daisy shook her head again; +and then first begging the gentleman's +pardon, as a polite little girl +should do, stepped up to her faithful +friend, and putting her arms about +her neck whispered something in her +ear.</p> + +<p>The tears she had before with +trouble kept back now started to +Betty's eyes.</p> + +<p>"Och, an' is it that, honey?" she +said in her broadest brogue, "an' +ye'll not let that be thrubblin' yer +dear heart. What a tinder, grateful +little sowl it is! Ye see, sir," she +went on, turning to the General, while +she smoothed with her loving hand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +the little head which lay upon her +breast, "ye see, sir, it's just as I tellt +ye. She's a lady, every inch of her, +an' has feelin's that's jist oncommon. +An' there's a matter of back rint jew, +it's more'n a year, though me landlord +he's as good as gould, an' a bill +at the poticary's, an' little scores at +the baker's an' grocers what I niver +got paid off yet, not since the child +was sick an' I couldn't rightly make +things go; an' she says she won't be +lavin' us now that she can turn a +penny wid her posies an' help along."</p> + +<p>Drawing the child to him, General +Forster whispered to her in his turn, +promising that the "back rint" and +other "scores" should be paid off +without delay if she would but come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +with him; and Daisy, feeling herself +nearer home and friends than she had +ever done since the dreadful day of +the shipwreck, when she was parted +from "mamma," put her hand trustingly +in his to be led where he +would.</p> + +<p>But the parting went hard. Daisy +could not leave those who had been +so kind, and shared their little all +with her, without many a bitter tear. +Betty kissed her and clung to her +and called down all heaven's blessings +on her head; and Jack hung +over the gate, uttering frantic howls +as he watched the sobbing child led +away by her new protector. Not +one thought gave Jack to his fourteen +years; not one to the "fellers from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +beyant the lot," who, drawn by his +cries, came flocking to see what ailed +him who was all their terror and +admiration: their admiration, because +he was bigger, stronger, braver than +any other boy of his age among their +crew; their terror, because of late he +allowed no bad word to be used in +his presence, banishing all who offended +in that way from their games, +choosing as his favorites and chief +companions those who were most +careful not to take God's name in +vain. So cursing and swearing had +come to be much less frequent than +of old among the lanes and lots lying +around the humble house where the +little Daisy had bloomed and grown +during the last two years, dropping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +upon the path which God had chosen +for her good seed of which she knew +not herself.</p> + +<p>Betty went back to her stand with +a heavy heart, knowing that when +she went home that night she should +miss the sweet little face which had +brightened and cheered her after many +a hard day's work; but she was half-consoled +for her own loss when she +saw Daisy coming down the street +holding General Forster's hand. For +the General's first care had been to +take the little girl to a place where +children's clothes could be had ready-made; +and where he had her fitted +out, as Betty said, "as nice as a new +pin and as became the little lady she +was by right."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Daisy was as much a lady in +the coarse but clean calico frock and +patched shoes she had worn yesterday, +as she was now in the nice +clothes provided for her by General +Forster; for it was the sweet manners +and pretty ways she had never lost +which made her so, and the new garments +covered as warm and loving a +little heart as the old ones had done. +And so Betty found, and knew that +pride would have no place there, +when, as she reached the stand, Daisy +drew her hand from the gentleman's, +and running behind the stall as she +had many a time done when she was +eager to show Betty what a good +afternoon's sale she had made with +her flowers, threw her arms about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +her neck and kissed her again and +again as lovingly as she had done +when she had no other friend in the +world.</p> + +<p>Gentle Mrs. Forster gave Daisy a +warm welcome to her new home; +and the manner in which the child +fell at once into the ways and habits +of those about her plainly showed +that they were not new to her, but +that she had at some time been well +accustomed to a different life than +that she had led for the last two +years.</p> + +<p>She had ways of her own, too, that +were very charming: a pretty, dainty +grace in her behavior and speech; a +thoughtfulness and care for others, +surprising in any child of her age,—for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +Daisy could not be more than +eight years old,—and particularly so +for one who had had little teaching for +some time. It was easy to see that +Daisy had received careful training +at one time, and that the lessons then +learned had taken deep root and were +not yet forgotten in spite of the long +separation from her home and friends.</p> + +<p>It had been intended, as General +Forster told Betty, to send the little +girl to boarding-school at Miss Collins'; +but she soon grew so closely +to the hearts of her new friends that +they felt as if they could not bear to +part with her; and it was at last settled +that her home was to be with +them for the present, at least, and +that she should only go to Miss Collins<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +for the morning, as most of the +other little girls in Glenwood did.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Forster could not bear to send +from her this loving child, whose +greatest happiness seemed to be in +making others happy, and she grew +every day more and more interesting +as the familiar objects and customs +about her called up past recollections +of the home and parents she had lost. +She would watch the General for +hours at a time, as he sat reading or +writing, or follow him with wistful +eyes as he mounted his horse and +rode down the broad avenue "just +like papa;" would hang over the +lesser Daisy as she lay sleeping, +"'cause she looks just as our baby at +home used to," and delighted to wait<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +upon her and Mrs. Forster in a dainty, +neat-handed manner, which showed +that such loving service came quite +naturally to her.</p> + +<p>She never called the infant "baby," +as the rest of the family did. With +her it was always "little Daisy." She +seemed to love the pretty name, either +given to herself or another; and all +the variety of choice flowers with +which General Forster's garden was +filled could not win her chief affection +from her old favorite daisies, +"'cause mamma loved them so and +named me after them."</p> + +<p>But though she remembered so +much, the child could not recall the +name of her parents, or where they +had lived. Their name "was not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +what Betty called it," she was sure; +but none the less had it passed from +her mind.</p> + +<p>"Francine," the French bonne, used +to call mamma "Madame," and herself +"Mademoiselle Marguerite;" but +when she was asked what other people +used to call mamma and papa, the +little face grew clouded and pained +with the effort to remember; and +when name after name was mentioned +to her, she shook her head at +each one.</p> + +<p>The General tried by every means +in his power to discover the friends +who must still be mourning the loss +of their sweet little daisy blossom, +but all in vain; and as week after +week went by, he and his wife decided<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +that they could not send her +forth from their own roof unless her +relations came to claim her. She +was an added ray of light where +all had been brightness and sunshine +before,—a lovely, precious little +flower, lending new fragrance +and beauty to the home where she +blossomed.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/i-086.jpg" width="100" height="76" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 145px;"> +<img src="images/i-087.jpg" width="145" height="53" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>DAISY'S SISTER FLOWERETS.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 71px;"> +<img src="images/i-037b.jpg" width="71" height="56" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a><br /><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 289px;"> +<img src="images/i-089.jpg" width="289" height="126" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>IV.<br /> + +<small>DAISY'S SISTER FLOWERETS.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>"GOODNESS gracious! mercy +<i>me!</i>"</div> + +<p>"I didn't mean to, Susy; 'pon my +word and honor I didn't; just as sure +as I'm alive."</p> + +<p>Such were the words uttered by +two different little voices which our +Daisy heard, as holding by General +Forster's hand, she reached the gate +of Miss Collins' garden on the first +morning of her going to school in +Glenwood.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>Now would it not have been +thought that some terrible misfortune +must have called forth that exclamation +from the first young speaker; +or that the second thought herself +accused of some dreadful crime, and +that she must prove her innocence at +once by all the strong words she +could think of, if she would escape +severe punishment?</p> + +<p>And what was this mighty matter?</p> + +<p>Why, just this.</p> + +<p>Susy Edwards and several of her +schoolmates were "making a land of +Egypt." For of late the geography +lesson of the young class had been +upon that country, and they had been +much interested in the pictures of +the pyramids and Sphinx. And Susy,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +who "liked to make her knowledge +of use in her plays," and who was +considered by the other children to +have a great genius in that way, had +proposed that they should turn a portion +of their play-ground into Egypt. +This was thought a capital plan, and +the recess of the day before had been +employed in this way,—the little +planners and builders leaving it with +great regret, and returning to it before +school-time that morning with +fresh pleasure and some new ideas.</p> + +<p>The gravel walk was supposed to +be the desert; the trough which led +the waste water from the spring, the +River Nile; while a jointed wooden +doll, cruelly deprived for the purpose +of all its limbs, had half of its remainder<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +buried in the gravel, to represent +the Sphinx. Any number of +pyramids, four or five inches high, +had been built out of pebbles, and +several were still going up.</p> + +<p>And Lily Ward, the pet and darling +of the school, the youngest child, +and till that day the newest scholar +there, had brought that morning a +tiny doll's bath-tub, with a doll to +match lying in it, saying it was to be +"Moses in the bulrushes, for it couldn't +be a real land of Egypt without a +Moses."</p> + +<p>Lily's idea was received with great +applause and admiration, and she felt +rather proud of it herself when she +heard it so much praised.</p> + +<p>But a difficulty arose. The little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +tub did duty for the ark of bulrushes +most beautifully, it was "so real and +so cunning;" and never was a meeker +baby than the one which lay so quietly +within it. But he must be hidden, +and nothing could be found to answer +for flags. The grass about the mock +River Nile was quite too short for that +purpose, trampled on as it was through +each day's playtime by at least twenty +pairs of little feet; and the willow +twigs which Lola Swan planted +would not stand up straight enough +to make a shade for the ark.</p> + +<p>"There isn't time to plant them +deep enough," said Lola; "the school-bell +will ring in a few moments, and +then we'll have to leave it."</p> + +<p>"And the sun will go and come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +round here before recess," said Lily, +in a tone of distress, "and Moses will +be all sunburned. Besides, it isn't a +bit real: they never leave babies lying +out in the sun."</p> + +<p>"Put him out on the grass and turn +the ark upside-down over him till we +come out again," said Susy.</p> + +<p>But Lily scouted the idea of having +her Moses treated in this way; and +all began at once to deepen the holes +for the willow twigs before the bell +should ring.</p> + +<p>But suddenly a bright thought +struck Lily.</p> + +<p>"Let's play Moses' mother and +Miriam put a pyramid over him," +she said. "We could do that pretty +quick, and it will be nice and shady<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +for him, and very real too, 'cause they +did have pyramids in Egypt."</p> + +<p>All agreed readily, for this was +thought an excellent arrangement, +and they fell to work as fast as possible; +while Bessie Norton whispered +to Violet Swan, "What a smart child +Lily is, isn't she?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Violet, in the same +tone, "very; and I expect when she is +grown up she will do something very +remarkable."</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Susy Edwards, +who heard them.</p> + +<p>"Be a genius, I expect," answered +Violet, solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how nice!" said Bessie, who +had not the least idea what genius +meant, but did not like to say so.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>The pyramid over the sleeping +Moses was nearly completed, the little +builders expecting each moment +to hear the bell, when Lola Swan, +coming with a fresh supply of pebbles, +tripped over a stick which lay +upon the grass, and, trying to recover +herself, let her load fall around and +upon the half-built pyramid, knocking +down half a dozen or so of the +stones which composed it. Not +much harm was done, but Susy +immediately exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"Goodness gracious! mercy me!" +and Lola answered as you have heard +in the words which met Daisy's ear +as she and General Forster entered +the garden.</p> + +<p>The click of the gate-latch caused<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +all the children to look up, and Moses +and the pyramids were for the moment +forgotten at the sight of the +new scholar.</p> + +<p>"Why! there's Daisy Forster," said +Lily, for Daisy was now known by +this name.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if she's coming here to +school," said another; and that question +was speedily answered, as, stopping +by the little group, the General, +whom all knew and liked, said, +"Here's a new schoolmate for you. +Will you be kind to her, and make +her feel at home?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, we will; and I'll take +care of her," said Lily, scrambling to +her feet and taking Daisy's hand in a +patronizing manner. "She won't feel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +much strange after one day, 'cause +we'll all be good to her, and she shall +help us make our land of Egypt."</p> + +<p>"Ah! that is what you are doing, +is it?" said the General.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," answered Lily; "we're +just putting a pyramid over Moses in +the bulrushes, 'cause we hav'n't time +to fix so many bulrushes till recess. +And part of it is knocked down. +Lola did it, but she didn't mean to, +and if you peep in there between +those stones you can see a little bit +of the ark and Moses' dear little +china arm poking up. Please to +peek, sir."</p> + +<p>The General did as he was requested, +saying that he saw Moses +quite plainly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It isn't much matter if we do +have to leave him now," said Lily; +"he's pretty nicely covered up."</p> + +<p>"I think so," said the General, +gravely; "and if I were Moses, with +a pyramid being built over me, I +think I should prefer to have a small +breathing-hole left."</p> + +<p>"Why, so he would," said Lily; +"and now we can leave him nicely +fixed, and play he's very comfortable +in his pyramid, even if it's not quite +done."</p> + +<p>Lily being satisfied with the fate of +Moses, all the rest were so; and the +bell now ringing, the little group +turned towards the house. Daisy +wondering, as well she might, that a +matter which was so easily settled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +should call for such violent expressions +of distress and alarm as she +had heard from two of the little +girls.</p> + +<p>"Why, Miss Collins," said General +Forster, as that lady met them at the +door, "what a bouquet of flowers you +have here! A Rose, a Violet, a +Daisy, and a Lily; as choice a nosegay +as one could wish for."</p> + +<p>"And the Lily is going to take care +of the Daisy, and make her feel to +home, Miss Collins," said Lily, who +still held Daisy's hand. "The General +said I could."</p> + +<p>"No, he didn't," said Susy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he <i>did</i>, 'pon my word he +did; least I said I would do it, and +he didn't say I couldn't: did you,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +sir?" said Lily, throwing back her +head to look up at the General's tall +figure.</p> + +<p>"And that comes to the same thing, +does it, Lily?" he said, laughing; +"well, I suppose it does; and I promise +you shall look after Daisy till she feels +no longer a stranger among you."</p> + +<p>"She knows me, and Loly and Violet, +as well as any thing," said Lily; +for the little girls had met several +times before, and Lily felt herself and +the two Swans to be on rather intimate +terms with Daisy Forster.</p> + +<p>"All right, then. I leave her to +you. Good-morning, Miss Collins," +and with a bow to the lady, with whom +he had before made all the necessary +arrangements for Daisy, a pleasant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +nod for the little ones, and a kiss for +Daisy, he went away.</p> + +<p>Daisy felt rather lonely when he +was gone, in spite of Miss Collins' +kind look, Lily's tight clasp of the +hand, and Violet's, "We have real +nice times in school. Don't be afraid." +For she was far more shy with children +than she was with grown people, +probably because she had never had +any companions of her own age; and +the number of young faces, most of +them strange, about her, made her +long to be back again at Mrs. Forster's +side. And they all looked at +her a good deal, for her story was well +known among them, and she was an +object of great curiosity.</p> + +<p>Lily observed this, as she took her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +seat with Daisy beside her, and +thought she must speak up for her +charge.</p> + +<p>"Miss Collins," she said, "please to +make a rule."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Miss Collins, smiling; +for Lily was constantly asking for +new rules concerning things which +did not suit her. She had begun with +this more than a year ago when she +was only a visitor at the school; and +she was even now not a regular scholar, +but only coming for a few weeks. +For her papa and mamma had gone +on a journey, and Lily, being lonely +at home when Ella and the boys were +at school, it had been arranged that +she was to go with Ella in the morning. +So she was rather a privileged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +person, and spoke her mind freely +concerning that which did not please +her, which the other children thought +rather a joke, and were generally +ready enough to fall in with Lily's +rules. So now they all listened.</p> + +<p>"Please to make a rule that nobody +must stare, ma'am," said Lily: "it +makes people feel so to be stared at,"—and +Lily put up both hands to her +cheeks,—"specially if they are new."</p> + +<p>"Very true," answered Miss Collins: +"let us all try to remember the +Golden Rule, and then we shall +neither stare nor do any thing else +to hurt another's feelings."</p> + +<p>Then she struck the little bell which +stood upon her table, and all knew +the school had begun, and they must +be quiet.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> + +<p>Next calling Bessie Norton to her, +Miss Collins gave her a number of +Bibles, and the little girl handed one +to each of her classmates. Then +Miss Collins read a verse aloud, and +the children followed, each in her +turn.</p> + +<p>"Minnie Grey may take the Bibles," +said Miss Collins when this was done.</p> + +<p>Minnie rose, and went from one +to another collecting the Bibles. But +instead of taking as many as she +could conveniently carry at one time, +giving them to Miss Collins, and coming +back for the rest, she went on +piling one on top of another, till one +arm was quite full, when she came to +Daisy and held out her other hand for +her book. As she did so, the top one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +of the pile fell to the floor. Minnie +stooped for it, and down went two or +three more.</p> + +<p>"Oh! bother the old things," said +Minnie, in a low voice, but very impatiently.</p> + +<p>Daisy had stooped to help her pick +up the Bibles, but the glow her cheeks +wore when she raised her head again +was not all owing to that.</p> + +<p>Bother the old things! What old +things? Why, the Bibles, God's own +Holy Word.</p> + +<p>Daisy was very much shocked, and +she looked up at Miss Collins, expecting +to hear her reprove such <i>wicked +words</i>, <i>she</i> thought them.</p> + +<p>But Miss Collins had not heard +Minnie's exclamation, though the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +noise of the falling books had called +her attention that way, and she said,—</p> + +<p>"Minnie, my dear, you are careless +with those Bibles: do you forget +whose books they are?"</p> + +<p>"I don't care," muttered Minnie, +but not so that the lady could hear. +Daisy heard again; and the thought +passed through her mind, "What a +wicked little girl Minnie must be!"</p> + +<p>And yet Daisy was mistaken. If +she had asked Minnie's parents, +teacher, or playmates, they would all +have told her that Minnie was an uncommonly +good and pleasant little +girl; truthful, obedient, industrious, +and generous and obliging towards +others. She had no thought now that +she was breaking one of God's commandments;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +and she would have been +both offended and grieved, if she had +known what was in Daisy's mind, +believing herself, as she did, to be innocent +of any wrong.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 168px;"> +<img src="images/i-108.jpg" width="168" height="139" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 162px;"> +<img src="images/i-109.jpg" width="162" height="47" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>DAISY AT STUDY.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50px;"> +<img src="images/i-109b.jpg" width="50" height="43" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a><br /><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 328px;"> +<img src="images/i-111.jpg" width="328" height="114" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>V.<br /> + +<small>DAISY AT STUDY.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>DAISY was soon at home with her +schoolmates, and a great favorite +among them.</div> + +<p>It was not strange that they liked +and were interested in her. She was +such a gentle, modest, amiable little +girl; watching and joining in the +games and lessons of the others with +a kind of innocent wonder which +amused and touched them all. For +Daisy was not at all accustomed to be +with children of her own age, and +their ways were all new to her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>And of course she was behind all +the rest in her studies. She could +not even read as well as Lily Ward; +and had to begin with the simplest +lessons, such as Lily and two or three +of the very youngest children learned. +At first this troubled her, and she +feared the rest of the class would +laugh at her.</p> + +<p>But she soon found she need not +have been afraid of that, for the rule +of Miss Collins' infant class was the +law of kindness; and any one of the +little girls would have thought it +almost a crime to laugh or mock at +Daisy, for that which was her misfortune +and not her fault.</p> + +<p>They might now and then fall out +a little among themselves, for they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +were by no means perfect children; +sometimes there would be some selfishness +shown, or even a few angry +words pass from one to another; but, +on the whole, they agreed about as +well as any twenty little girls could +be expected to do; and not one +among them would have had the +heart purposely to do an unkind thing +to another. Least of all to Daisy +Forster, whom they all looked upon +with a kind of tender pity and interest, +because of her sad and romantic +history; and who was at once taken +up by both teacher and scholars as +a sort of twin pet with Lily, for +whom allowances were to be made, +and who was to be encouraged and +aided as much as possible.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>So Daisy found plenty of helpers, +who, so far from laughing at her mistakes +and backwardness, were rather +inclined to think her quick and industrious, +as indeed she was, trying hard +to make up for lost time, and "catch +up" with those of her own age.</p> + +<p>She was almost too eager about +this, and had to be checked now and +then, for since the long illness which +had followed the shipwreck, Daisy +had never been strong; and too much +fatigue or study, or even too much +play, would make her nervous and +sick, and her little head would become +confused and ache. So now +and then Mrs. Forster would have +to take the books from her, and forbid +more study, sending her out to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +play, or to work in the plot of ground +which had been given her for a garden +of her own.</p> + +<p>She was not always pleased at this, +and sometimes would be rather fretful +and impatient. But Mrs. Forster +soon found a way to put a stop to +this.</p> + +<p>One afternoon she found the little +girl bending over her slate with +flushed and heated cheeks, anxious +eyes, and trembling hands.</p> + +<p>"Daisy," she said, quietly, "what +are you doing? Miss Collins has +not given you lessons out of school, +has she?"</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am," said Daisy; "but +I asked Ella Ward to set me a whole +lot of sums so that I could do them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +at home, and I can't make this one +come right. I know it is not right, +'cause Ella put the answers on the +other side of the slate, and mine +won't come the same, all I can do."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Forster took the slate from +her hand.</p> + +<p>"This sum is too hard for you, +Daisy," she said: "you do not know +enough arithmetic for this."</p> + +<p>"It is not any harder than the sums +Lola and Violet and the other girls +as large as I am do," answered Daisy, +looking ready to burst out crying; +"and I have to do arithmetic with +the very little ones, like Lily, and it +makes me ashamed; so I want to go +on all I can. <i>Please</i> give me the +slate again, Aunt Gertrude," she added,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +as Mrs. Forster laid it beyond her +reach.</p> + +<p>"No, dear. I do not wish you to +study out of school. I am glad you +want to improve, but you have as +much to do there as is good for you; +and at home I want you to have rest +and play. You are improving quite +as fast as could be expected, and for +a time you must be content to go on +with those who are younger than +yourself."</p> + +<p>"But it makes me ashamed," pleaded +Daisy, again.</p> + +<p>"There is no reason for that," said +Mrs. Forster, patting the hot cheek +she raised towards her. "The other +children do not laugh at you and +make you uncomfortable, do they?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, no, ma'am," said Daisy; "they +are all so good to me, and when they +can't help seeing what a dunce I am" +(here Daisy's tears overflowed), "they +always say kind things about how I +never went to school before, and how +my own dear mamma was drowned, +and there was nobody to teach me +till I came to you."</p> + +<p>"You are not a dunce, dear," said +the lady. "A child who idles away +her time when she should be studying, +and does not care whether or no +she learns as much as is fit for her, +is a dunce: not a little girl who really +wishes to be industrious, but does not +know quite as much as others of her +own age only because God has not +given her the same advantages in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +time past. No one will think my +Daisy a dunce. Now, we must have +no more studying at home, no more +lessons than those Miss Collins sets +you."</p> + +<p>Daisy did not look satisfied: on +the contrary, she even pouted a little.</p> + +<p>"Daisy," said Mrs. Forster, "suppose +Uncle Frank were to give you +some beautiful and costly thing +which would be of great use to you +in time to come if you took good care +of it, say a watch: what would you +do with it?"</p> + +<p>"Why! I <i>would</i> take great care, +oh! such care of it," said Daisy, opening +her eyes in some surprise at the +question. She did not see what that +could have to do with her studies.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'd wind it up every night, and +try to keep it right and safe every +way I could. But I don't know if I +am quite large enough to have a +watch of my own, or take care of it; +maybe the best way would be to ask +you or Uncle Frank to keep it for +me till I was older."</p> + +<p>"And suppose for a while he gave +you no key to this watch, but let it +run down and be quiet?"</p> + +<p>"I'd just put it away till he gave +me a key, and be patient about it," +said Daisy, wondering more and +more.</p> + +<p>"And if, by and by, when he gave +you this key, you should go on winding +and winding the watch farther and +faster than it was right for it to go,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +till the wheels and springs were all +spoiled and out of order, would Uncle +Frank think you cared much for his +gift?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no, Aunt Gertrude; and he +wouldn't think I cared much for him, +either, to use his pretty present so."</p> + +<p>"You are right, dear. And now +I want my own little Daisy to see +how it is with herself. God has +given to you a young mind, bright +and quick enough; but, for a while, +He did not choose that it should do +much work. But now He has given +you the key by which you may wind +it and set it to work; and if you use +it without proper care, and so as to +hurt and wear out this precious gift, +would it not seem as if you cared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +very little about it, and did not respect +and honor the Giver?"</p> + +<p>"Yes'm," answered Daisy, beginning +to see what Mrs. Forster meant; +"but I never thought about that."</p> + +<p>"I believe I never thought about +it before, dear," said Mrs. Forster, +smiling. "I am not afraid to praise +you, Daisy; and I may safely say that +I have never seen any little child who +showed such true honor and reverence +for her Maker, and all which belongs +to Him. You must have been +well taught, my child; and to know +and remember such lessons is worth +all the book learning in the world."</p> + +<p>Daisy was pleased, as she always +was when any one spoke to her of +her long-lost home, or praised the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +teaching she had received from those +who had loved and cared for her +there. And from this time there was +no further trouble about the lessons; +for it was enough for Daisy to know +that she was misusing any one of +God's good gifts, to make her change +her ways. Many a lesson might +have been learned, and, indeed, had +been learned, by those older and wiser +than herself, from the loving care and +respect paid by this little one to her +Creator's name, and to all the works +of His hand.</p> + +<p>And it was a great trouble to her to +hear the careless way in which many +of her schoolmates used sacred names +and things. They did not mean any +harm; they did not think it any sin;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +but every day Daisy was shocked +and distressed by hearing such words +as "mercy," "gracious," "goodness," +and "good heavens," and the like, +from the lips of the other children, as +they were about their play and study. +It had become a habit with nearly all in +the school; one caught it from another +almost without knowing it; even +Lily Ward, who once thought the +clergyman "preached a sermon at +her" because she said "hush up," +now and then followed the example +of the others when any thing vexed +or surprised her. A few weeks at +school had accustomed Lily to the +constant use of expressions which a +year ago she would have considered +"real naughty words."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> + +<p>The older girls in Miss Sarah Collins' +room had fallen into this bad +habit as much, if not more, than the +little ones of the infant class.</p> + +<p>And it was not only this carelessness +of speech in which they were all, +large and small, to blame; but it +seemed to Daisy so strange that they +could handle and treat the Bible, +God's holy Word, with so little reverence +and respect, knocking it about +among their other books as if it were +no better than these last, even using +it, sometimes, for purposes to which +no book, even the most common one, +should be put.</p> + +<p>Daisy wondered that Miss Collins +did not teach them better; but either +she did not notice all this, or she did not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +think it of much consequence; certain +it is that she did not check them, +and the evil seemed to Daisy to grow +worse from day to day.</p> + +<p>At first she did not like to speak +herself. You may wonder that this +was so, since she had not feared to +speak so plainly to General Forster, +who was a grown gentleman, so much +older than herself; but she had done +that almost without knowing what she +was saying, for, as you know, his profane +words had startled her so that he +was surprised, and he had almost +forced her to tell him what had disturbed +her.</p> + +<p>And here she was with every thing +strange around her, school, schoolmates, +and teacher all new to her; so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +it is not astonishing that she was +rather shy and felt afraid to interfere +with the others, or to tell them that +she thought they were doing wrong.</p> + +<p>But by and by there came a day +when she could no longer hold her +peace.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 197px;"> +<img src="images/i-127.jpg" width="197" height="109" alt="two cherubs" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a><br /><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 147px;"> +<img src="images/i-129a.jpg" width="147" height="31" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>DAISY A TEACHER.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 70px;"> +<img src="images/i-011b.jpg" width="70" height="60" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a><br /><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 270px;"> +<img src="images/i-131.jpg" width="270" height="110" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>VI.<br /> + +<small>DAISY A TEACHER.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>ONE morning just after school +commenced, a heavy shower +came up; and when it was time for +the recess, which was always given to +the infant class at eleven o'clock, the +ground was still so wet that the little +ones were forced to find amusement +within doors or upon the piazza.</div> + +<p>"What shall we play?" asked +Rosie Pierson.</p> + +<p>"Lady Queen Fair," said Bessie +Norton: "we'll go out on the piazza +and play it."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 348px;"> +<img src="images/i-133.jpg" width="348" height="471" alt="Girl on chair other girls around her" /> +</div> + +<p>"Yes," said Violet; "and Lily +shall be Lady Queen Fair, and we'll +dress her up a little. Miss Emily," +as a third Miss Collins, who gave +music lessons to the girls, passed by, +"may we have a rose to put in Lily's +hair for Lady Fair?"</p> + +<p>The young lady smiled, stopped +and pulled a couple of roses from the +vine which wound itself around one +of the pillars of the piazza, and gave +them to Violet, then passed on.</p> + +<p>Time had been when Violet would +have hoped, perhaps would have asked +to be Lady Fair herself, and been +sulky and displeased if the other +children had not agreed; but now she +was very different, and more apt to +prefer another before herself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + +<p>The roses were soon arranged, the +one in the hair, the other in the bosom +of the little Lady Queen, who took +her dignities in the calmest manner. +Meanwhile some of the other children +were drawing forward one of the rustic +chairs with which the piazza was +furnished, to serve as a throne.</p> + +<p>But the little queen, like many +another royal lady before her, found +her throne by no means an easy +one.</p> + +<p>"Ow!" she said, rubbing her little +round white shoulders where she had +scratched them against the rough bark +of the twisted boughs which made the +back of the chair, "ow! this is not +nice at all, or comfortal. My feet +don't come to the floor, and if I lean<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +back I'm all scratched. I'd rather be +a queen without a throne."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! You must have a throne," +said Susy Edwards. "Queens have +to."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why," said Lily, rather +pettishly; for she did not feel very +well that morning, and that and the +close heat of the day made her more +fretful than usual. "I should think +queens could do just as they have a +mind to and make their subjiks do it +too; and I don't see what they have +to have their skin all scraped up for +if they don't want to;" and Lily +twisted her head to give an aggrieved +look at the little fat shoulder with that +red mark upon it.</p> + +<p>"I'll fix you," said Lola. "I'll put<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +Miss Collins' footstool under your +feet and you shall have the big cushion +behind you. Some one bring the +cushion while I carry the stool."</p> + +<p>The footstool was brought in a +moment; but the cushion was not to +be found.</p> + +<p>"The big girls had it yesterday," +said Fanny Satterlee. "I saw them +with it in their recess when I was +going home. There comes Cora +Prime now; let's ask her. Cora, +what did the big girls do with that +cushion yesterday when they had done +with it?"</p> + +<p>"The Lord knows; I don't," said +Cora, playfully tapping Fanny on the +head with the roll of music in her +hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh!" exclaimed Lily.</p> + +<p>Daisy did not speak; but as Cora's +eye happened to fall upon her, her +face said as much as Lily's "Oh!"</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with you two?" +asked Cora, looking from one to the +other of the little girls, but still good-natured.</p> + +<p>"You oughtn't to say that," said +Lily.</p> + +<p>"Ought not to say what?"</p> + +<p>"The Lord knows," answered Lily.</p> + +<p>"Well, don't He know?" asked +Cora.</p> + +<p>"No," said Lily, doubtfully, "I guess +not. I don't believe He'd bother +Himself with knowing about a worn-out +old cushion what has a hole in +the cover, and such things."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, He does, too," said Cora, +laughing; "are not the very hairs of +our head numbered?"</p> + +<p>"Now, I <i>know</i> you ought to be +'shamed," said Lily. "You're talking +Bible; and that is not right, is it, +Daisy?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Daisy, as boldly as Lily +herself could have done, for quoting +Scripture in a careless manner was +also a habit of many in the school.</p> + +<p>"You two saucy monkeys! correcting +your elders," said Cora, much +amused. "I heard you both talking +Bible to Miss Collins this morning +with all the rest of your class."</p> + +<p>"We were only saying what we +learned in Sunday school yesterday," +said Lily. "That's not the same<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +thing. I <i>know</i> it's not right to talk +Bible that kind of a way. Papa says +so, and he tells us not to do it."</p> + +<p>"Your papa's saying so does not +make a thing right or wrong," said +Cora.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it does, too!" said Lily. +"My papa knows a whole lot, and he +wouldn't tell a story for any thing. +Cora, you'd better go to your music +lesson: I 'speck Miss Emily wants +you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are very considerate for +Miss Emily, all at once," said Cora, +more amused than ever; "but you +haven't told me why I shouldn't say, +The Lord knows, when He does +know."</p> + +<p>Lily looked at Daisy, who stood<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +by the arm of her chair, for help. +The little one felt that Cora was +wrong, but she did not exactly know +how to answer, and she had noticed +how careful Daisy was to honor the +name of God.</p> + +<p>"Is it not taking the name of God +in vain?" said Daisy.</p> + +<p>"Upon my word!" said Cora. +"Do you mean to call that swearing?"</p> + +<p>"Well, yes," said Lily, taking up +the word, "a kind of baby swearing, +I s'pose; but you know it's not very +good of you, Cora."</p> + +<p>"Everybody says such things: they +don't mean any thing," said Cora.</p> + +<p>"Not <i>everybody</i>," answered Lily. +"Daisy don't."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then Daisy's uncommonly good," +said Cora.</p> + +<p>"Yes, she is," replied Lily; "and +I s'pose <i>everybody</i> ought to be uncommonly +good and never say them."</p> + +<p>Cora laughed again.</p> + +<p>"Everybody must mind their p's +and q's before you: mustn't they, +Lily?" and away she ran to her music +lesson.</p> + +<p>"Here's the cushion," said Rosie +Pierson, running out from the school-room. +"I found it in the closet under +the shelf where those careless big girls +left it, I s'pose."</p> + +<p>The cushion was put behind Lily's +shoulders, but still the little queen +fidgeted on her throne and declared +she was not yet "comfortal."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Cause if I lean back against the +cushion my feet won't touch the stool," +she said.</p> + +<p>"We'll put something else on the +stool to make it higher," said Nettie +Prime, who was trying to arrange +Lily satisfactorily: "what shall we +take? Oh, I know. Daisy, run +and bring the big Bible off Miss +Collins' table for Lily to put her feet +on."</p> + +<p>Daisy, who made a motion to start +forward as Nettie began to speak, +stood still when she heard what she +called for.</p> + +<p>"Make haste," said the latter, impatiently: +"we won't have a bit of +time to play."</p> + +<p>Daisy did not move, but stood with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +rising color, trying to make up her +mind to speak.</p> + +<p>"Oh! you disobliging thing!" said +Violet, and she ran for the book.</p> + +<p>"Oh! don't," said Daisy, as Violet +came back and stooped to put the +Bible on the footstool; "I didn't mean +to be disobliging, but we ought not to +use the Bible to play with."</p> + +<p>"Pooh!" said Violet: "Lily's little +feet won't hurt it. It's all worn out, +any way. The cover is real shabby."</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean that," answered +Daisy; "I meant because it is God's +book, and we ought to treat it very +carefully."</p> + +<p>"Oh, fiddle! How awfully particular +you are, Daisy!" said Minnie Grey.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +"Why, girls, do you know, the other +day, when I was playing paper-dolls +with her and I turned up a Bible to +make the side of a house, she took it +away, and when I put it back again +'cause it stood up better than the other +books, she said she wouldn't play if I +did so with the Bible."</p> + +<p>"I s'pose Daisy would call that +'taking God's name in vain,'" said +another, half reproachfully; "wouldn't +you, Daisy?"</p> + +<p>"I think it is something the same," +answered Daisy, feeling as if all the +others were finding fault with her and +thinking her "awfully particular," a +crime which no little girl likes to have +laid to her charge.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how," said Lola. "I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +know we ought not to play with the +Bible; but I don't see how it is taking +God's name in vain."</p> + +<p>"But the Bible is God's book, and +He told it to the men who wrote it, and +His name is in it a great many times," +said Daisy, "and I think it seems like +taking it in vain to play with it or to +put things upon it, or to knock it about +like our other school-books. And it is +not right to say 'the Lord knows,' and +'mercy,' and 'gracious,' and such +words, when we are just playing, or +when we are provoked."</p> + +<p>"What is the harm?" asked Rosie. +"Mercy and gracious are not God's +name."</p> + +<p>"Well, no," said Daisy, slowly, not +exactly knowing how to explain herself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +"And maybe I make a mistake; +but it does seem to me as if it was a +kind of—of—"</p> + +<p>"Of little swearing, as Lily says," +said Lola.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Daisy. "Rosie thinks +it is no harm; but even if it is not +much harm, I don't see what is the +good of it. We can talk just as well +without saying such words."</p> + +<p>"I guess they are pretty wicked," +said Lily. "The day mamma went +away, I said 'good heavens,' and she +said 'Lily! Lily!' very quick, like +she does when I do something very +naughty, and she asked me where I +learned that; and I told her Elly said +it. I didn't mean to tell a tale about +Elly; but mamma looked sorry, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +she told me never to say it again. I +guess 'mercy' is 'most the same, and +I guess I won't say it any more; and, +Daisy, if I hear the other girls say +those words, I'll help you correct +'em."</p> + +<p>Lily promised this with an air of +such grave importance that the other +children laughed. Not in the least +abashed, Lily went on,—</p> + +<p>"Papa's coming home day after to-morrow, +and I'll ask him to tell me a +whole lot about God's name, and why +it is wrong to say those things; and +then I'll tell all you girls. But I'm +not coming to school any more when +mamma comes home; so you'll have +to come to my house, and I'll have a +swearing class, and teach you all about +it."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lily's words might have been taken +with a different meaning from that +which she intended to give them; but +the other children understood her, and +that was enough.</p> + +<p>"But, Daisy," said Lola, "how do +you know so much about these things +when you don't know a great deal +about every-day lessons, and have +had no one to teach you for so +long?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Daisy. "I +think my own mamma who was +drowned used to teach me in the +home I used to have;" and the dreamy +look came into her eyes which they +always wore when she spoke of her +far-away home and those she had +loved there. "I think I've forgotten<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +a good many things," she added; +"but you know I couldn't forget what +mamma taught me about Jesus and +what He wanted us to do if we loved +Him. And I think if we do love +Him we won't say words about His +name, His heaven, or any thing that is +His, that are not very good and gentle, +and that we are very sure He would +like us to say."</p> + +<p>"But you are so <i>very</i> particular, +Daisy," said Minnie; "I think you +are most <i>too</i> particular."</p> + +<p>"I didn't think we could be too +particular about doing what Jesus +likes," said Daisy.</p> + +<p>The other children had all gathered +about Daisy, and were listening +with interest to what she said. Perhaps<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +they heard her with more patience +than they would have given to +any one else; for Daisy was a kind of +mystery to them, and they looked +upon her as a sort of fairy or princess +in disguise, and would not have been +at all surprised to hear the most extravagant +stories about her, for she +was "just like a story-book child." +Lily had said so one day when she +was speaking of her at home.</p> + +<p>"No," said Lola, thoughtfully; "but +it does not seem as if such little things +could be wrong. I know it can't be +right to play with the Bible or say its +words just when we are joking or for +our own common talk; but I don't see +the harm of saying 'goodness,' or +'mercy,' or 'heavens,' or those words<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +which you never will say, Daisy; they +are not God's name, and I don't see +how it is taking it in vain to say +them."</p> + +<p>Daisy looked thoughtful. She felt +she was right, and wanted to explain +herself; but she was rather shy and +could not find words to do so.</p> + +<p>But Lily, whom shyness never +troubled, came to her aid.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," she said: "I'll ask +papa just as soon as he comes home, +and he'll tell us all about it; and if +he says it is naughty, why, it is, and +we won't do it; and if he says it's +good enough, why, we will. That's +the way to fix it."</p> + +<p>Here the bell rang.</p> + +<p>"There, now," said Susy Edwards,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +"we have to go in, and we've wasted all +our time talking, and never had a bit +of good of our recess."</p> + +<p>But I think Susy was mistaken, +and that they had one and all gained +more good from their talk than they +could have done from any amount of +play; for it had set more than one +young mind thinking; and from this +day, even the most careless among +them would check herself when she +found she was on the point of using +these words which had grown so common +among them, more from want of +thought than from any wish or temptation +to do wrong.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a><br /><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 164px;"> +<img src="images/i-037a.jpg" width="164" height="42" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>THE SWEARING CLASS.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 57px;"> +<img src="images/i-155b.jpg" width="57" height="33" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a><br /><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 339px;"> +<img src="images/i-157.jpg" width="339" height="123" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>VII.<br /> + +<small>THE SWEARING CLASS.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>WHEN Lily's papa and mamma +came home, she was so glad to +see them, and there was so much to +hear and to talk about, that she quite +forgot her purpose of asking her father +to teach her about the third commandment. +Besides, she no longer went +to school now that her mother was at +home, but had her lesson each day +with her as she had done before Mrs. +Ward went on her journey; and so she +was not as apt to hear or to say those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +careless words which Daisy Forster +had said it was not right to use.</div> + +<p>But it was at last brought to her +mind one evening as the family all sat +at the tea-table.</p> + +<p>"Mamma," said Ella, "will you let +Lily and me have a tea-party to-morrow? +I want to ask half a dozen of +our girls, and I suppose Lily would +like to have a few of the little ones at +the same time."</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Mrs. Ward, "you +may each ask six of your most intimate +friends."</p> + +<p>"Can Walter and I ask some of the +fellows?" said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, mercy! no," said Ella: "we +don't want any boys. It is not to be a +regular party, Ned. I just want the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +girls to spend the afternoon and drink +tea; and it makes more fuss to have +boys too."</p> + +<p>"Goodness me! You needn't get +into such a way about it," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Children," said Lily, her brother's +and sister's words bringing back to +her what Daisy had said, "children, +you needn't either of you swear about +it."</p> + +<p>Lily's efforts to keep the family +straight were generally considered as +a good joke, and her reproofs and +advice received with a laugh; but +this plain speaking was rather <i>too</i> +much for either Ella or Ned, and the +former exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"Well, who is swearing, I'd like to +know?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And who gave you leave to correct +your elders?" said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Nobody: I just took it," said unabashed +Lily; and then, turning to her +father, she exclaimed, "Papa, I b'lieve +the girls in our school are pretty heathen, +and don't know enough about +the comman'ments. So I told them +we'd have a swearing class, and I'd ask +you to teach it, 'cause I s'pose you +know a good deal about swearing; +and this will be a good chance when +they come to-morrow."</p> + +<p>This speech turned the vexation of +Ella and Ned into amusement, and +they laughed with the others.</p> + +<p>"I don't think your playmates will +thank you for asking them here to take +tea and then bringing them up for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +lecture from me, my pet," said Mr. +Ward.</p> + +<p>"Yes: they will, papa. They want +to know about it, and I think we'd +better make a swearing party of this. +I b'lieve it would do those big girls +good too. They swear, oh, dreadfully! +and they don't seem to think they do, +least Cora don't. Mamma, let's make +a rule we won't have any swearing in +this house: won't you?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said mamma, smiling; +"and I think we must find out what +<i>swearing</i> is, and be careful not to break +the rule."</p> + +<p>"If one is going to call 'goodness' +and 'mercy,' and such things, swearing, +one might as well give up talking +altogether," said Ella.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Perhaps not exactly swearing," +said her father; "but the use of them +is a bad habit, and one that I have +noticed is quite too frequent among +all the young people of this place. +It is growing stronger too, as all +such habits do, and going from bad +to worse. But I must go out now, +and have not time to talk to you about +it. If Lily can persuade her little +friends to take the 'swearing class,' +as part of their afternoon's entertainment +to-morrow, well and good; if +not, we will have a little private talk +among ourselves some other time."</p> + +<p>Ella was not at all pleased by Lily's +proposal; and hoping that it would +pass from the child's mind before the +afternoon, she was careful not to make<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +her remember it by the use of any +such words as had called forth Lily's +reproof.</p> + +<p>This had very nearly proved successful; +and in the excitement of arranging +her baby-house, setting out +the new tea-set mamma had brought +her, and dressing the doll which had +been papa's present, Lily had almost +forgotten her plan for mingling wholesome +instruction with the amusement +provided for her young friends.</p> + +<p>There were Lola and Violet Swan, +Daisy Forster, Rosie Pierson, Minnie +Grey, and Bessie Norton; and they +were all having a real good time sitting +around a small table and playing +tea out of the new china set, when +Minnie said,—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have a secret to tell all of you, +if you'll promise never to tell."</p> + +<p>"I won't," said Violet.</p> + +<p>"On your sacred word and honor?" +said Minnie.</p> + +<p>"On my sacred word and honor," +repeated Violet.</p> + +<p>"And you, Rosie?" asked Minnie.</p> + +<p>"On my word and honor," said +Rosie.</p> + +<p>"Sacred?" said Minnie.</p> + +<p>"Sacred. Sacred word and honor," +was Rosie's answer.</p> + +<p>Lily repeated the words as desired, +and next came Daisy's turn.</p> + +<p>"I won't tell," she said, when Minnie +looked at her.</p> + +<p>"On your sacred word and honor?" +asked Minnie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I promise I won't tell, Minnie."</p> + +<p>"But you must say on your word +and honor."</p> + +<p>"I can't," said Daisy.</p> + +<p>"Then I shan't tell you; and you're +real mean, Daisy Forster," said Minnie. +"Why won't you say so?"</p> + +<p>"I don't see why I need, and I +don't know if it is quite right," answered +Daisy, coloring.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Daisy Forster, what a girl +you are!" said Rosie.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Lily, "there's nothing +left, 'cept these two caramels. +Daisy, you eat up this; and, Bessie, +you eat up the other. Now the tea-party +is all done, and we'll go and +ask papa about that comman'ment. +He's been playing croquet with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +big girls, but they seem to be resting +now."</p> + +<p>Lily was right. Mr. Ward had +been persuaded to make the eighth +in a game of croquet, for he was a +great favorite with all the young +people in Glenwood, and his presence +never put any check upon their games +or pleasure parties.</p> + +<p>But the afternoon proved rather +warm for exercise, even the gentle +one of bewitching croquet; and, after +a long game was finished, the whole +party were ready to agree to Ella's +proposal that they should take a rest, +and send to the house for some cooling +drink.</p> + +<p>So Mr. Ward was at liberty to attend +to Lily, when she came rushing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +up to him, followed, rather more +slowly, by the rest of the children.</p> + +<p>"Papa," she said, throwing herself +across his knee, as he sat upon the +green mound which was raised about +the foot of one of the fine elm-trees +which shaded the croquet-ground, +"papa, Daisy says we oughtn't to say +upon our words and honors! Oughtn't +we? And will you teach us about +taking God's name in vain now? It's +the <i>singalest</i> circumstance, but I went +and forgot all about the swearing +class, till Daisy said that."</p> + +<p>"A very singular circumstance, +certainly;" said Mr. Ward, lifting +Lily to a seat upon his knee, and +smiling, while the other girls laughed +at her speech. "I am quite willing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +to have a little talk with you all on +this subject; but tell me first what +you want to know."</p> + +<p>"Daisy is so awfully particular, +Mr. Ward," said Minnie, in an aggrieved +tone. "She won't let us say +any thing; at least, she says every +thing is 'wrong.'"</p> + +<p>"Every thing?" said Mr. Ward: +"that is bad. Does Daisy want you +all to keep silence? That <i>must</i> spoil +your play."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" said Minnie, "not that; +but she says such lots of things are +wrong to say. Why, sir, she won't +say 'upon her word and honor,' 'cause +she don't think it is right."</p> + +<p>"Why do you want her to say it?" +asked Mr. Ward.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I was just going to tell them all +a great secret, and I wanted her to +promise, on her sacred word and +honor, she would never tell; and she +wouldn't do it."</p> + +<p>"So Daisy is apt to break her promises, +is she?" said the gentleman, +with a smile at Daisy, which told very +plainly that he was only joking.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, sir!" said Minnie. "Indeed +she is not. Daisy always tells +the truth, and never does what she +says she won't; at least, we never +knew her to do it: did we, girls?"</p> + +<p>A chorus of young voices was +raised in Daisy's favor.</p> + +<p>"And yet you cannot trust her unless +she swears to what she promises," +said Mr. Ward.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Swears, sir!" said Minnie. "I'm +sure I don't want her to swear! +'Word and honor' are not bad words, +are they?"</p> + +<p>"Not in themselves, certainly;" +answered Mr. Ward. "Many a thing +which is good in itself when properly +used, becomes bad and hurtful if put +to a wrong purpose. Now to swear +is to say, by some word or person +which you consider holy and sacred, +that you will or will not do, that you +have or have not done, a certain thing. +Suppose some man were accused of +a crime, and that the judge were +about to try him, and punish him if +he were guilty, and it was thought +that I knew whether or no the man +had done that of which he was accused.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +So I am called to the court, +and there made to promise that I will +tell the truth, and nothing but the +truth; and to make sure of this I am +made to lay my hand on the Bible,—God's +holy word,—and call upon +Him, to hear me tell what I know. +And this is considered a very solemn +thing, even by many who have little +care or respect for God in other ways; +and it is called swearing, or taking +the oath."</p> + +<p>"They ought to be 'shamed of theirselves," +said Lily, indignantly; "they +ought to know you would never tell a +story, papa. And to go and make you +swear too! I wouldn't do it if I was +you; but I'd tell 'em the third comman'ment, +and run away fast from +them."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But if this is done in the fear of +God, and as a sort of prayer that He +will hear and help us to tell that +which is true, it is not taking His +name in vain, Lily," said Mr. Ward; +"and to do it falsely is considered even +by men to be a great crime. This is +called perjury; and if any one is found +guilty of it, he is severely punished by +the law. Now it may be wise, and +even necessary, for a man to take an +oath at such a time as this, when the +very life of another may depend on +whether he tells the truth or no; but +it can hardly be necessary for one +little girl at play with another to +make her promise sure by swearing +to it. For to say 'by your sacred +word and honor' is neither more nor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +less than a sort of swearing or taking +an oath that what you say is true."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll make a rule not to +say it any more," said Lily. "We +didn't know it was naughty before, +papa. But please tell us now about +other words. Daisy says we mustn't +say 'mercy,' and 'gracious,' and +'heavens,' and maybe we mustn't; +but why is that swearing? Swearing +is taking God's name in vain, and +how do such words take His name +in vain if we don't speak it? And she +thinks playing with the Bible, or saying +its words when we are playing +or just talking common talk, is taking +God's name in vain, too. Is it?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you," said Mr. Ward. +"Suppose, Lily, that some great king<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +or queen, or the president of our own +country, were to come here; would +you not wish to be particularly polite +and respectful to them, both in your +manner and way of speaking?"</p> + +<p>"Um-m-m, I don't know," answered +Lily, doubtfully; "not partic'lar. +I guess I'd just as lieve be saucy +to them as to any one else."</p> + +<p>Mr. Ward saw this would not do, +at least, not for Lily: he must go +higher than earthly rulers.</p> + +<p>"Suppose, then," he said, "that +Jesus should come down here among +us, so that we could see Him with +our eyes, walking and talking with +us, what would you all do?"</p> + +<p>"I'd fall down and worship Him," +said Minnie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'd listen to every word He said, +and never speak one myself for fear +I should miss one," said Daisy; "and +then I'd remember them all the days +of my life."</p> + +<p>"Dear child!" said Mr. Ward, +laying his hand fondly on hers: "I +believe you do treasure your Lord's +words and try to live according to +them."</p> + +<p>"I'd ask Him to put His hand on +my head and bless me just as He did +those other little children when He +was on earth before," said Lola, softly.</p> + +<p>"So would I. And I'd be glad +there were no disciples to forbid us +to come to Him," said Lily. "I +s'pose they thought Jesus wouldn't +care about children; but He did,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +didn't He? And you wouldn't think +so, papa, would you?" and the little +child laid her hand lovingly against +her father's cheek. "I'd keep very +close to Him all the time He was here, +and take fast hold of His hand, only +I wouldn't be troublesome, but just +keep as still as a mouse; and I'd give +Him every thing of mine that He +wanted."</p> + +<p>"So you would all show your love +and reverence for Him by every +means in your power," said Mr. +Ward, "trying not to grieve or offend +Him by treating His name or His +presence with the least carelessness +or disrespect, but letting Him see +that you honored the one and were +blessed by the other: is it not so?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," came from the older as +well as the younger children.</p> + +<p>"And if, after He had gone away, +He should send you each a letter, +telling you what He wanted you to +do, how you were to love and serve +Him, and in which you would find +all the advice, help, and comfort you +might need at any time,—how would +you treat that letter?"</p> + +<p>"I'd keep it all my life, and take +such good care of it," said Rosie.</p> + +<p>"I'd read it, and read it, and read +it; and kiss it, and kiss it, and kiss it," +said Lily, "and then I'd put it in my +bosom, and keep it, oh! so carefully."</p> + +<p>"And so would I, and I, and I," +said the rest, satisfied to have Lily +for spokeswoman.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And if you saw any one misusing +that letter, how would you feel?" +asked Mr. Ward.</p> + +<p>"I'd be very provoked with them," +answered Lily, "and I think I wouldn't +love them any more, 'cept it was +you, papa, or mamma, or Elly, or any +one of my own that I <i>have</i> to love; +and then I'd cry, and ask you not to +serve my Jesus' letter so."</p> + +<p>"You mean the Bible is Jesus' letter +to us: don't you, sir?" asked Daisy.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and, dear children, our +Lord's presence is here among us +as much as if He were in man's +form which He once wore on earth. +His ear is as quick to hear our words +of love and praise, or those of carelessness +and disrespect, as it was then;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +His eye as ready to see the use we +make of the precious Word He has +given us. But we forget this when +we use His book more carelessly +than we would any gift from an +earthly friend, or when we take His +name lightly or without thought upon +our lips. To do this is to take it in +vain, and it displeases Him."</p> + +<p>"But, Mr. Ward," said Minnie, "it +is not cursing and swearing to say +'mercy,' and 'gracious,' and 'good +Lord,' and such things, is it?"</p> + +<p>"Not cursing, certainly: that is to +use God's name profanely, or to call +on Him to destroy us or other people; +and this is a most terrible sin. But, +Minnie, the use of such words in +play or thoughtlessness is a bad habit,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +and leads to worse. Suppose a man +breaks open a bank here, and takes +all the money from it: that is stealing, +is it not?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, sir," answered Minnie.</p> + +<p>"And suppose you take a sugar-plum +belonging to your sister: it is +a very small thing compared to the +money taken from the bank, but is +it not stealing, all the same?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; and if I was to be so +bad as to take Julia's sugar-plums, +I'm afraid I'd maybe steal something +worse some time."</p> + +<p>"Just so," said the gentleman; "and +now you see why it is not wise or +right to make use of such expressions. +It is, as Lily says, a kind of little +swearing, and may lead to worse.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +Besides, it is very useless. You can +surely believe one another,—unless, +indeed, it is some false and deceitful +child,—without saying 'upon your +sacred word and honor,' 'as sure as +you live,' 'Heaven knows,' and so +forth. And there is so little temptation +to fall into this sin that it seems +strange it should be so common. +There is nothing to be gained by it, +even of this world's good,—no pleasure, +no profit. It is only an idle, useless +habit, most displeasing and vexing +to the holy ear of Him whose commandment +we break without thought +or care. Goodness and mercy and +graciousness belong to the Almighty; +and so, too, we must take heed that +we do not speak of what belongs to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +Him in an irreverent, careless way. +And now I think we have had +enough talk on this subject for this +afternoon. You did not ask your +friends here that I might lecture +them."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! I did, papa," said Lily; +"for we all deserved it very much, +'specially the big girls. But, papa, +do you believe the Lord troubles +Himself to know where the girls put +an old, worn-out cushion, and such +things; and if He does, ought we to +say He does?"</p> + +<p>"God knows every thing, Lily; +even the smallest trifle is seen by +Him; but it is very wrong to say, in +a heedless way, 'the Lord knows,' +for I suppose that is what you mean.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +And this very thought, that His eye +and His ear are always with us, noticing +every word and look, knowing +the very feelings of our hearts, should +make us all the more careful how we +use His holy name. I am glad this +question has come up among you; +for heedlessness in using God's name, +and other sacred words, in quoting +Scripture,—talking Bible, my Lily +calls it,—and other such habits, were +becoming too common, I fear, among +all the young people in Glenwood; +and we older ones too, I believe, fall +too often into the custom. We have, +too many of us, constant need of the +prayer, 'Set a watch, O Lord, upon +my mouth; keep the door of my +lips.'"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is Daisy's doing, sir, that we +have come to think of this," said honest +Cora. "I, for one, have been +very thoughtless about offending God +in this way, and have set a bad example +to the rest. I believe the little +ones have caught it from us larger +girls, and we have to thank Daisy +that she has taught us a better lesson."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/i-086.jpg" width="100" height="76" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 152px;"> +<img src="images/i-185.jpg" width="152" height="45" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>DAISY'S NAME.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 71px;"> +<img src="images/i-185b.jpg" width="71" height="53" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a><br /><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 339px;"> +<img src="images/i-187.jpg" width="339" height="134" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>VIII.<br /> + +<small>DAISY'S NAME.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>"INDADE, now, and hasn't me +words come true, sir? For +wasn't I afther tellin' ye she was as +nate a little lady as iver stepped in +two shoes?" said Betty Macarthy, as +she stood with her arms akimbo, her +head on one side, and her honest face +one broad glow of delight and satisfaction, +gazing at the dainty-looking +little creature who stood before her, +her young face bright with as much +pleasure as Betty's own.</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> + +<p>For Daisy's old friend had come +to live at Mrs. Forster's; and this +was the way it had been brought +about.</p> + +<p>The lady had wanted a laundress; +and, thinking that Betty, who had +once held that post in her father's +family, might know of one, had begged +the General to ask her.</p> + +<p>No sooner had he put the question +than Betty eagerly answered she +should be only too glad of the place +herself; for she was tired of her +present position, and a countrywoman +of her own was ready to take it +off her hands, stock, fixtures, goodwill, +and all. "For her heart was +sore for the child," Betty said, and to +be where she could see her every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +day, and to live once more with "Miss +Gertrude," would be almost as much +happiness as she could wish for; and +then she would try to put Jack out +with some gardener to learn his trade, +for which he had always had a turn.</p> + +<p>So the General, having talked the +matter over with his wife, and mindful +of the generous care and kindness +shown to their Daisy by these poor +people, not only told Betty she should +come to live with them, but also put +Jack under his own gardener, though +there was really no need of any more +hands about the place.</p> + +<p>Thus did the "bread cast upon +the waters" by this kind-hearted +Irishwoman, come back to her, blessed +sevenfold.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> + +<p>Nothing was told to Daisy of this +arrangement till one afternoon, when +the General had returned from the +city, Mrs. Forster said to her, "I am +going to speak to the new laundress +and gardener's boy. Come with me, +Daisy;" and half wondering, the little +girl obeyed.</p> + +<p>But her surprise soon changed into +delight and gratitude when she saw +who the new domestics were; for, +in spite of all the pleasure she felt in +her new way of life, Daisy's loving +little heart often longed for the old +friends who had been so good to her +in her time of need, and she wanted +not only to see them, but to share +some of her many comforts with +them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>So you may know how glad she +was when her eye fell upon the two +figures standing by the back door, +and she knew that they had been +brought to live in the same place with +her.</p> + +<p>With an excitement very unusual +in her, she flew at Betty, and, throwing +both arms about her neck, covered +her broad, smiling face with +warm kisses. Betty returned them +with a will, holding her fast in both +arms; and then, putting her from her +and looking at her from head to foot, +put on an air of strong approval, and +spoke to the General in the words +you have read at the beginning of +this chapter.</p> + +<p>"An' isn't it fit for a princess, she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +is?" she continued, quite unable to +keep back her admiration and pleasure +at the child's improved appearance. +"Isn't it fit for a princess she +is; and Saacyfuts or no Saacyfuts, +isn't it a right her own folks would +have to the name if they found her +now? Sure I'd be saacy meself to +have the ownin' of a child like that. +An' her not a bit spoiled, but just as +lovin' and free-like as when she had +none but me an' Jack."</p> + +<p>Then Daisy was told she might +take Betty and Jack away and show +them the neat little wash-house, shaded +by a fine clump of trees, with its +nice bleaching and drying ground +beyond, its laundry on the first floor, +and two small bedrooms above, where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +they were to sleep. Betty was enchanted, +and expressed over and over +again her satisfaction at the change +in her life. It was far better, she +thought, to stand at the wash-tub +or ironing-table, breathing the sweet +country air, with all its pleasant sights +and sounds about her, than to do the +same at her stall in the hot, dusty, +crowded city.</p> + +<p>As for Jack, when he saw the +splendid garden, when Daisy had led +them there, and knew it was to be +his privilege to work among those +lovely flowers, he could not contain +himself, but shouted and shouted, +turned somersault after somersault, +till recalled to himself by Betty's reminder +that he must "remember that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +Margaret—she begged her pardon,—Miss +Daisy—was a little lady now, +and he must mind his manners before +her."</p> + +<p>But Daisy was so like her old self, +so free from any pride or haughtiness +in her new position, that Jack found +it hard to remember she was any +other than the little waif whom he +had pitied and petted for so long; +and his "manners" were brought to +his mind with much more force by +the sight of the gray-haired old Scotch +gardener under whom he was to +work, and before whom his gambols +ceased at once.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile General and Mrs. Forster +were talking on a very interesting +subject, for Betty's words about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +Daisy's lost friends had given the lady +a new idea.</p> + +<p>"Frank," she said to her husband, +"did you notice what Betty said about +Daisy's friends?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," he answered. "I hope she +won't turn Daisy's head and make +her vain with her praise and flattery."</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid," said his wife. +"Daisy has a right to her name, the +modest, unaffected little girl; and she +has too much sense to be spoiled by +what she looks upon only as the overflowing +of Betty's affection. But +don't you know that the Irish often +say <i>saacy</i> when they mean proud?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. I have often noticed it +in people of Betty's class," answered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +the General; "but what has that to +do with Daisy's friends?"</p> + +<p>"Is it not possible that their name +is Proudfoot or Proudfit, and that +'Saacyfut' is Betty's way of calling +it?"</p> + +<p>The General laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>"Hardly, I think," he said; "and +yet—I do not know. It may be. +But it never struck me. It took a +woman's wit to think of that."</p> + +<p>"We will ask Daisy when she +comes," said Mrs. Forster. "If +Proudfoot <i>was</i> their name, she must +remember it when she hears it spoken, +I think. She can hardly have forgotten +it so entirely that she would not +recognize it. And then, if it should +be so, it will be a help to find her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +friends." Mrs. Forster spoke the last +words more slowly.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said her husband, giving +words to the thought which had made +her half unwilling to utter them; +"and if found, we must give up our +Daisy."</p> + +<p>"But we must not seek them the +less for that," she said, "or I shall +feel as if we had found some lovely +jewel that we were striving to hide +from the rightful owner. I know +what terrible longings must fill her +mother's heart;" and a tear dropped +from Mrs. Forster's eye on her baby's +face, as she clasped it more tenderly +than ever in her arms.</p> + +<p>"Daisy," said the General that +evening, as the little girl stood by his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +knee, "did you ever hear the name +of Proudfoot?"</p> + +<p>Daisy started, drew a quick, gasping +breath, and suddenly threw herself +into his arms.</p> + +<p>"That is it!" she cried, in a rapid, +excited manner, "that is it! That is +my name, that is what they called +papa and mamma. I never heard it +since; but I know it now. I am +Daisy Proudfoot, I am, I am!"</p> + +<p>It was some time before the child's +excitement could be calmed; but +there was no farther knowledge to be +gained from her. Proudfoot was her +name, of that she was quite sure; +and the recollection of it at this late +hour seemed to fill her with a kind +of tremulous happiness; but still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +she could not tell where she belonged.</p> + +<p>Betty too, when she was asked if +Proudfoot was the name of Daisy's +mother, answered,—</p> + +<p>"Sure, an' it was, ma'am. Didn't +I say so all along, only she was +always gainsayin' it?"<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a></p> + +<p>The matter was settled; and General +Forster, loath as he was to part +with Daisy, feeling that he must +leave no stone unturned to trace her +friends, again put advertisements in +the papers, saying, that if any family +of the name of Proudfoot had had +a child supposed to be lost at sea,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +they might hear of her at such and +such a place.</p> + +<p>Daisy was not told of this; she +was contented and happy in her new +home and among her new friends, +and it was not thought best to disturb +her mind with fresh hopes of finding +those who might never come to claim +her.</p> + +<p>But although she was still called +Daisy Forster by all in Glenwood, it +was a satisfaction to herself and to +the kind friends who had taken her +up and cared for her, to know the +name which rightly belonged to her.</p> + +<p>However, days and weeks and +months went by, and still no one +came to seek the Daisy blossom +which had been transplanted to such<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +pleasant soil. And there it grew and +flourished, and did its Master's work; +proving how much even such a simple +floweret can do by its own modest +example and teaching to win others +to honor Him.</p> + +<p>It was surprising to see how much +her schoolmates thought of her opinion; +how they profited by the simple +lesson she had taught them, and tried +to break themselves of the foolish and +sinful habit into which nearly all of +them had fallen, of using sacred +names and things in such a heedless, +unthinking manner.</p> + +<p>It was not only the very little girls, +but the older ones also, and even +Miss Collins herself, who learned +from our Daisy to set a watch upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +their lips, and to remember whose +ear was ever present, hearing each +thoughtless word which dishonored +Him or that which especially belonged +to Him.</p> + +<p>Perhaps they gave more heed to +Daisy's words than they would have +done to those of any other one of +their number. There was such a +half-mystery about her, and their +thoughts were so tender towards her, +that they checked their heedless +speech for her sake at first; then, as +they learned to think more about it, +for a better and higher reason, till at +last the bad habit was broken up; +and if, by chance, such a word as +"mercy," "heavens," "good Lord," +or the like, came from the lips of any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +child, the surprised and reproving +looks of her companions told her of +her fault, and punished her sufficiently.</p> + +<p>And the good influence spread far +and wide. Since the little ones were +so careful, their parents and older +friends felt that they, too, must take +heed lest they offended in this way; +and so it came to pass that among +the families of Glenwood God's name +and word came to be held in such +true reverence and honor as had never +been before.</p> + +<p>And so nearly a year passed by, +and brought the Daisy and her sister-flowerets +to another spring.</p> +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1">[A]</a> If this is considered far-fetched, the writer can +only say that Betty's rendering of the name of Proudfoot +was actually given by a domestic in her own +family, and occasioned considerable bewilderment, +till the quick wit of one of its members solved the +riddle.</p></div></div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a><br /><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 196px;"> +<img src="images/i-011.jpg" width="196" height="39" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>THE LOST FOUND.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 56px;"> +<img src="images/i-205b.jpg" width="56" height="59" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a><br /><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/i-013.jpg" width="312" height="118" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>IX.<br /> + +<small>THE LOST FOUND.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>"IS that you, Daisy?"</div> + +<p>"Yes, sir. Is that you, Uncle +Frank?" answered Daisy, playfully.</p> + +<p>"Well, I thought it was this morning +when I went to town; but I am +doubtful of it now."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Daisy, laughing, as +she reached up on tiptoe to offer the +kiss with which she always welcomed +her uncle on his return from the +city.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Baby Daisy is not doubtful, at +least," said Mrs. Forster, coming forward, +and putting her little daughter, +all crows and smiles, in her father's +arms. "Let her pull your hair a +little to convince you of the fact."</p> + +<p>"It will be difficult," said the General. +"There was a man in the cars +so like me, face, height, and figure, +that some of my friends were taking +him for me; others accusing me of +having a brother whom I have never +owned. He sat two or three seats in +front of me, and I could not help +being amused. Ward came in, nodded +familiarly to my double, with, +"How are you, General?" passed on +to me, stopped, and looked from one +to the other with a mixture of surprise<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +and curiosity that was droll; then +asked for information which I could +not give him. It was the same with +many others. I hope the stranger +will keep himself out of mischief +while he is in Glenwood, or I may +be held responsible for his wrong doings."</p> + +<p>"Did he come to Glenwood?" +asked Daisy.</p> + +<p>"Yes: I left him standing on the +platform at the station, and I hardly +knew whether my own carriage belonged +to him or to me. However, +he made no claim as I stepped into +it."</p> + +<p>"Who was he?" asked Mrs. Forster. +"Did not you find out?"</p> + +<p>"No. No one could tell me, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +I could not go and ask the man who +he was, merely for the reason that +he resembled me so much. There, +there, little woman," as the baby gave +a vigorous pull at his hair. "I've had +enough of mamma's proofs, and am +satisfied that no other man than Frank +Forster would submit to such usage +at these tiny hands. I rather imagine +this stranger came up to look at +Beechgrove, which is to let, as I heard +him asking the railway porter in which +direction it lay, and where the agent +was to be found."</p> + +<p>A fortnight went by, and nothing +more was seen of the stranger who +looked so like General Forster; nor +after that evening did the General or +his wife think of him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> + +<p>Not so Daisy. She thought often +of him with a kind of half wish that +she might see him; why she scarcely +knew herself, but she never spoke of +it. She was rather a shy, quiet child, +keeping her ideas and wishes pretty +much to herself, unless they were +drawn out by some one whom she +loved or trusted; and neither the General +nor Mrs. Forster suspected what +was working in her mind.</p> + +<p>Her idea, too, that the General +looked so like her own papa, they +regarded only as a childish fancy, +ready to see a likeness between the +two she most admired and loved +in all the world. And they never +imagined how the child was dreaming +and wondering over this unseen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +stranger who had had such a passing +interest for them.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, it became certain that +Beechgrove, as the place was called, +was taken; for the placards advertising +it to rent were taken down, +and the house was going through +a thorough cleaning.</p> + +<p>But the General and his wife, being +people who never gossiped or concerned +themselves about their neighbors' +affairs, did not trouble themselves +in the matter. And those who were +curious and asked questions received +no satisfaction from old Dr. Harding, +who had charge of the property.</p> + +<p>All Miss Collins' young scholars, +however, thought themselves very +much concerned in the letting of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +Beechgrove, and with good reason. +For a large aviary belonged to the +place, containing many rare and +beautiful birds, and the former owner, +who was fond of children, often +used to invite the young people of +Glenwood to see these birds, and +to amuse themselves in other ways +about his grounds. But since Dr. +Harding had had the care of the +place, not a child had been suffered +to come within sight or hearing of +the aviary, which had a new charm +for them since it was a forbidden +pleasure.</p> + +<p>So the new occupants of Beechgrove, +and the question as to whether +they were likely to recover their old +privileges there or no, had been a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +subject of great interest to our young +friends, and they were very anxious +for information on the matter.</p> + +<p>One morning when Daisy came to +school, she found the rest of the +class grouped about Mattie Prime +and Rosie Pierson, who lived beyond +Beechgrove, and had to pass it on +their way to Miss Collins'.</p> + +<p>"The new people have gone to +Beechgrove," said Violet Swan, when +Daisy asked what they were talking +about; "and Mattie and Rosie saw +a little girl there this morning. We +are glad there is a child there, because +maybe having her will make +the papa good to other children, +and he will let us go in and see +the birds because of her."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She's a very little thing," said +Rosie. "She can't speak plain. Such +a crooked tongue."</p> + +<p>"But she's very cunning," said +Mattie. "We were going past the +gate and she called out to us, 'Itty +dirls, itty dirls;' and when we stopped +she put her face through the rails +to kiss us, and handed us some +flowers she had. She was real +sweet."</p> + +<p>"What is her name?" asked Daisy.</p> + +<p>"We asked her, but we could not +make out what she said. Mamy +Modwit it sounded like; but she +did speak so crooked," said Mattie.</p> + +<p>"Do you know," said Rosie, "I +think she looked like Daisy. Don't +you, Mattie?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, so she does," said Mattie. +"Isn't that funny? Only Daisy's eyes +always look sorry except when she +is laughing or speaking, and that +little girl's were so full of mischief +and laughing."</p> + +<p>"How big was she?" asked Lola.</p> + +<p>"Oh, about as large as your sister +Bertie. Not near old enough to +come to school."</p> + +<p>"I s'pose there are no other children +but her," said Fanny Delisle. +"Willie saw the family come yesterday; +and he said there were only +the lady and gentleman, and the +little girl and servants. If there +are no children as old as us, maybe +it won't come into their heads to +let us see the aviary again."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> + +<p>This short conversation put an end +to the half hope, half wish, that had +been in Daisy's heart. Even supposing +the stranger who looked so +like General Forster were the gentleman +who had taken Beechgrove, +he could be nothing to her (not +until now had she said even to +herself that she had hoped it might +be so), for the family did not answer +to her own. She had papa and +mamma, little brother Theodore, and +a baby sister, a very little baby; +and only this child of three years +old or more seemed to belong to +the new-comers; and she had no +sister so old.</p> + +<p>Daisy reasoned this all out for +herself with a sad, disappointed little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +heart, forgetting that time had not +stood still with her own family any +more than it had with her, and that +changes might have come to them +as well as to herself.</p> + +<p>This was on Friday, and nothing +more was seen or heard of the +strangers by Daisy or her playmates, +till Sunday came. But then such +a strange and happy thing came to +pass, and in such a wonderful way. +"Just like a book thing," Lily Ward +afterwards said.</p> + +<p>It was the loveliest of Sabbath days, +and every thing seemed to feel it.</p> + +<p>"What day is it, Bertie?" asked +Mr. Swan, as his youngest daughter +stood on the piazza steps ready for +church.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Jesus' happy Sunday," answered +the little one; "and, oh, didn't He +mate a nice one!"</p> + +<p>Other people than Bertie thought +so; a nice one indeed.</p> + +<p>It was the softest, sweetest, warmest +of May Sundays. A busy little breeze, +carrying with it the perfume of the +apple-blossoms over which it had +passed, stole in at the open windows +of the church, and wandered around +among aisles, pillars, and pews, now +fluttering the leaves of a book, now +toying with a ribbon, now tossing a +curl upon some sunny head, now +fanning some cheek flushed with a +walk in the almost summer heat. +A robin, saucy birdie, swung himself +lightly to and fro on the branch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +of one of the fine old elms outside +the church-door, and poured forth +his hymn of praise; while from far +and near came the answering notes +of his mates; and mingling with +his song were heard the voices of +the children in the Sunday school +beyond, as they sang the closing +hymn.</p> + +<p>Then they came trooping in gently, +and with soft footsteps, as became +the house of God (honoring His +name and His word had taught +them also to honor the place where +He was worshipped), and took their +places beside their parents and +friends.</p> + +<p>Watching them from one of the +pews which ran by the side of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +pulpit, were a pair of roguish, dancing +eyes, which Rosie Pierson and +Mattie Prime recognized at once. +They were those of the little girl who +had peeped at them through the railing +of the Beechgrove grounds. Now +they were peeping over the top of the +pew-door as she stood at its foot, her +hands crossed upon it, her chin resting +upon them. What a bright, merry, +laughing face it was, and how like +Daisy's! General and Mrs. Forster +had noticed it from their seat, which +commanded a full view of that of the +strangers.</p> + +<p>Beside the little girl sat a gentleman, +half turned from the congregation, +his face partly shaded by his +hand; but there could be no doubt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +that he was the man who was so like +the General. Mrs. Forster saw the +likeness at once, even in the turn and +shape of his head. Beyond him was +a lady in deep mourning, closely +veiled.</p> + +<p>"Frank must find out who they +are," said Mrs. Forster to herself. +"That child is so like Daisy. Can it +be—oh, can it be?" Then she tried +to collect her thoughts and bring them +back to the service of Him whom she +had come to worship.</p> + +<p>Daisy came in a little behind the +rest of the infant class (she had lingered +for a word with her teacher), +and took her seat. Almost immediately +her eye fell on the new-comers +to Glenwood. Mrs. Forster saw her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +start, flush all over, neck and face, +and press her small hands tightly together, +as if trying to keep back some +exclamation which rose to her lips.</p> + +<p>With a beating heart the child +watched the strangers, striving in vain +to get a better view of the face of the +gentleman, gazing from him to the +veiled lady, and then at the little +girl.</p> + +<p>The bell ceased tolling, the congregation +were gathered, the hour of +service had come, and the clergyman +rose in the pulpit.</p> + +<p>But at that moment the lady drew +aside her veil; and ere Dr. Parker +had opened his lips, a little voice rang +through the still church.</p> + +<p>"Mamma! Oh, my own mamma!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> + +<p>How much was in those few words! +What a tale they told! What a world +of longing, of love, of joy, they held!</p> + +<p>The stranger lady—ah! no stranger +was she to our Daisy—started to +her feet, stretched out her hands, then +with a little cry sank fainting into +the arms of the gentleman who had +also suddenly arisen.</p> + +<p>She was carried out; General and +Mrs. Forster following with the excited, +trembling Daisy; and so the +father and mother found the long-lost +child.</p> + +<p>Who could describe it? Who +could find words for the joy, the +wonder, the gratitude of those concerned; +who tell the sympathy which +filled the hearts of all in that congregation,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +which dimmed their eyes with +tears, and filled their hearts with adoration, +as, before another word of the +morning service was begun, the beloved +minister called on all to render +thanks for the great and signal mercy +just shown to those long-parted parents +and their little one!</p> + +<p>And now there is little more to tell. +Only how Daisy's mamma, and the +little sister whom she remembered +only as a tiny baby, had been rescued +from the sinking ship with some of +the other passengers; how, having +been unable to trace their lost treasure, +and believing that the boat, with +all whom it contained, had gone +down in the deep waters, the parents +had gone abroad, where they had remained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +till a few months before this +time, and so had never seen the advertisements +which might have told +them she was still living: all this +was soon explained.</p> + +<p>And then Daisy must tell her story, +and Betty must come in to help her +out where memory failed and the +past was a blank, because of that long, +wasting illness. And how Betty +laughed and cried by turns, and would +hear of no praise or thanks for what +she had done, declaring that "Miss +Daisy had done her and Jack far +more good nor she resaved, taching +them to mind their tongues afore +God Almighty."</p> + +<p>And though General and Mrs. Forster +must now give up, to her rightful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +owners, the darling of whom they had +grown so fond, yet they did not have +to part with her altogether; for she +was so near to them that they saw +her every day; indeed, the two families +became almost as one, and Daisy +felt as if she had two homes.</p> + +<p>The little brother, whom Daisy remembered +so well, had gone to a +home beyond the sky, but a few +weeks before her father and mother +came to Glenwood.</p> + +<p>And so the Daisy blossom, which +had been parted from its parent stem +and cast by the wayside, where +stranger hands had gathered and +lovingly tended it, was planted once +more in the soil where it belonged, +after it had done the Master's work,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +and scattered the good seed which +budded for His glory; proving well, +that those who "honor" the Lord +He will "delight to honor."</p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 156px;"> +<img src="images/i-228.jpg" width="156" height="141" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<div class='copyright'><br /><br />—————————<br /> +Cambridge: Press of John Wilson & Son<br /> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44770 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/44770-h/images/cover.jpg b/44770-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f1a9fd5 --- /dev/null +++ b/44770-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/44770-h/images/i-001a.jpg b/44770-h/images/i-001a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ccfad16 --- /dev/null +++ b/44770-h/images/i-001a.jpg diff --git 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8ed79db --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #44770 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44770) diff --git a/old/44770-8.txt b/old/44770-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e6d471 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44770-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3200 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Daisy's Work, by Joanna H. (Joanna Hooe) +Mathews + + +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: Daisy's Work + The Third Commandment + + +Author: Joanna H. (Joanna Hooe) Mathews + + + +Release Date: January 27, 2014 [eBook #44770] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAISY'S WORK*** + + +E-text prepared by Melissa McDaniel, Emmy, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from pagge images generously made +available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 44770-h.htm or 44770-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44770/44770-h/44770-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44770/44770-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + https://archive.org/details/daisysworkthirdc00mathiala + + + + + +DAISY'S WORK. + + +[Illustration] + +FLOWERETS. + +[Illustration] + + + * * * * * * + +Flowerets. + +A SERIES OF STORIES ON THE COMMANDMENTS. + +BY JOANNA H. MATHEWS, + +_Author of the "Bessie Books."_ + + + I. VIOLET'S IDOL. THE FIRST AND SECOND COMMANDMENTS $0.75 + + II. DAISY'S WORK. THE THIRD COMMANDMENT 0.75 + + III. ROSE'S TEMPTATION. THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT 0.75 + + IV. LILY'S LESSON. THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT 0.75 + + V. HYACINTHE AND HER BROTHERS. THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT 0.75 + + VI. PINKIE AND THE RABBITS. THE EIGHTH, NINTH, AND + TENTH COMMANDMENTS 0.75 + +_The set in a neat box, $4.50._ + + +ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS, + +_New York_. + + + * * * * * * + + +[Illustration] + + + + + +DAISY'S WORK. + +The Third Commandment. + +by + +JOANNA H. MATHEWS, + +Author of the "Bessie Books." + + + "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; + for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his + name in vain." + + "Let your communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay; for + whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + +New York: +Robert Carter and Brothers, +530, Broadway. +1870. + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by +Robert Carter and Brothers, +In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. + +Cambridge: +Press of John Wilson and Son. + + + + +[Illustration] + + TO + _MY DEAR LITTLE COUSIN_, + LULU CHAUNCEY. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + I. THE LITTLE FLOWER-GIRL 11 + II. A CLUSTER OF DAISIES 35 + III. THE DAISY TRANSPLANTED 63 + IV. DAISY'S SISTER FLOWERETS 85 + V. DAISY AT STUDY 107 + VI. DAISY A TEACHER 127 + VII. THE SWEARING CLASS 151 + VIII. DAISY'S NAME 181 + IX. THE LOST FOUND 201 + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE LITTLE FLOWER-GIRL. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +DAISY'S WORK. + + + + +I. + +THE LITTLE FLOWER-GIRL. + + +THERE stood our Daisy. What a Daisy it was too; what a fair, sweet +floweret; pure and innocent-looking as the blossoms over which she +bent. There she stood beside her basket of flowers, a little spot of +brightness and beauty amidst all the dust and heat and turmoil of the +noisy street, on that warm summer afternoon. + +It was a street which ran beside a great railroad depot. Porters, +carmen, and hackmen were calling, shouting, and swearing; passengers +were hurrying by to catch the trains which were starting every few +minutes; carriages driving up with their loads of ladies and children; +and farther down the street were great trucks laden with freight, and +express-wagons filled with baggage, which the railroad porters were +unloading with a great amount of noise and crash; and amongst it all +was Daisy, standing opposite the door of the ladies' entrance. + +But not one of all those passers-by knew that she was a "Daisy," +or that those were her namesakes which she held so lovingly in her +little hands. Now and then one stopped to buy one of the five or ten +cent bouquets, so tastefully arranged, which lay in her basket; and +almost all who did so had a kind word to give the child; for there +was something in her look and air which pleaded for tenderness and +sympathy. It did not seem that this was her proper place; for even +in her homely dress she looked so dainty and delicate, and moved and +spoke so like a little lady, that it was easy to see that she had been +accustomed to a different kind of life. But all who noticed her, or +stopped to buy her flowers, were in such haste that none had time for +more than a passing interest in the child, and contented themselves +with wondering and pitying. + +Down the street came a lady with a little girl, the latter skipping and +jumping as she held her mother's hand. No wonder the little one was +happy, and as full of play and merry pranks as any kitten; for she had +been spending such a pleasant day with mamma in the city, and was now +going back with "such lots to tell about and heaps of pretty things" to +her own lovely country home. + +"Oh, see, mamma!" she said, as her eye fell upon the other child, "see +those pretty flowers that dear little girl is selling. She is just +about as large as Lola Swan, and _don't_ she look nice and sweet. Won't +you buy some flowers from her, mamma?" + +"You have plenty of flowers at home, dear Lily, and we have about as +much as we can carry now," answered her mother. + +"Oh, dear mamma, but those little brenkays" (bouquets, Lily meant) +"would take up such a tiny mite of room, and I want you to buy some for +kindness to the little girl. She looks so sorry out of her eyes, mamma." + +Moved by the pleadings of her little daughter, Mrs. Ward turned toward +the flower-girl, whom in her hurry she had nearly passed without a +look, and asked the price of her bouquets. + +"What a pretty pot of daisies! Can't I have that, mamma?" asked Lily. + +But at this the flower-girl drew back and put one hand over the pot of +daisies she held in the other, as if she feared it was to be taken from +her by force. + +"I'll ask papa to carry them for me, mamma," said Lily. + +"Ho! ho!" said a cheery voice behind her, "so you think papa has +nothing better to do than turn expressman and carry all your traps, do +you? I wonder how many bundles are already waiting in the depot for me +to put safely in the cars;" and turning about Lily saw her father, who +had overtaken his wife and little girl. + +"Oh! lots and lots!" said Lily, jumping about with new glee as she saw +him. "We bought something for everybody, papa; and I bought a present +for your birthday to-morrow; but it is a secret. Mamma is going to fill +it with ink and I'll put it on your writing-table 'fore you come down +in the morning; but you won't ask what it is, will you?" + +"Not on any account," said Mr. Ward. "But you must make haste and buy +your flowers, or we shall not find good seats in the cars. So you want +these daisies, do you? How much are they, my child?" + +But again the flower-girl drew back. + +"I couldn't sell them, sir," she said; "at least not now, not if,----" + +"Oh! they are for some favorite customer, hey? You see, Lily, you can't +have them. Well, pick out your bouquets; we'll hang them about our +necks if we can't carry them any other way," said Mr. Ward. "This is +the little girl I told you about, my dear," turning to his wife, who +had been looking at the sweet, sad face of the young flower vender. + +"What is your name, my child?" asked the lady. + +"My name is--they call me Margaret," said the child, with hesitation in +her voice and manner, and a sudden flush breaking over her face. + +"There," said Mr. Ward, when, having paid for the flowers which Lily +had chosen, he hurried his wife and daughter away; "there, my dear, I +did not say too much about that child, did I?" + +"Why no," said Mrs. Ward, looking back to the small figure beside its +basket of flowers, "there is certainly something very interesting about +her. Her speech and manner, as well as her looks, are strangely refined +and lady-like for one in her position. I wish we had time to talk more +to her." + +The flower-girl looked after them and sighed,--a long, weary sigh, as +she watched the frolicsome Lily. + +"Most all little girls have their fathers and mothers," she said softly +to herself; "but I don't have either. I wonder why God did take both of +mine away; if He didn't know how lonesome I would be, or why He didn't +take me too. I don't see what good I can be to Him all alone by myself, +except Betty and Jack. But then He knows, and maybe He only wants me to +be patient till He's ready to take me." + +[Illustration] + +But the wistful eyes brightened again, as, having watched Lily and her +friends disappear within the door of the depot, she turned them the +other way to see if new customers were coming. + +"There he comes," she said, as her eye fell upon a tall, +broad-shouldered gentleman coming down the street, "soldier" written in +every line and motion of his figure, from the erect, stately head, down +to the ringing, military tread of his firm foot. + +"Good afternoon, little woman," he said, returning with a pleasant +smile her welcoming look; "is my wife's bouquet all ready?" + +Taking from the corner of her basket a bouquet somewhat larger than the +rest, and of rather choicer flowers, she held it up to him. + +"Thank you, sir," she said, as she received the price; and then, with +rising color, added, "would it be too much trouble to carry this to the +lady?" + +"Too much trouble? No! How much is it?" he said, putting his hand again +into his pocket. + +"Oh! sir, I didn't mean that. I didn't want to sell it, but to give +it to you, if you would take it to the lady you buy flowers for every +day. I want to send it to her because you are so kind to me, and +because--because you put me in mind of--of somebody." + +"That is it, is it?" said the gentleman. "Well, I can't refuse such +a pretty gift, so prettily offered. And who do I put you in mind of, +pray?" + +"Of my papa, sir. You do look like him." + +"Humph!" said the gentleman, not much pleased at the idea that he was +like the father of this little poor child, above her station though she +looked. "And these are daisies, hey? My wife will like them." + +"General, do you mean to miss the train?" said an acquaintance, as he +passed. + +"Not with my own consent, certainly," said the gentleman. "I shall +thank you for the lady to-morrow, my little girl." + +But as he turned to go, his foot slipped upon a piece of orange-peel, +thrown down by some careless person, and he had nearly fallen. He would +have been down altogether but for his little companion; but as he +involuntarily put out his hand, she caught it; and that support, frail +and slight as it was, was sufficient to steady him. + +Kind of heart, noble and generous though he was, the soldier was +hasty-tempered and quick, and an oath--a fearful oath--burst from his +lips. + +"Ah, you were my good angel. You have saved me from a bad fall," he +said almost in the same breath, but in a very different tone and +manner, as he turned to the child. + +His good angel! Ah, yes! More than he knew, his good angel. Those +little hands should from this time hold him from falling into the sin +of which he had just been guilty. + +Years ago General Forster would have been shocked at the thought of +letting such words escape his lips, though even then he was none too +reverent or careful in speaking of sacred persons or things; but in +the bustle and excitement of war he had, alas! like many another brave +man, allowed himself to fall into the habit of taking God's holy +name in vain. But careless though he might be before men in moments +of forgetfulness, or when his hasty temper got the better of him, he +seldom or never suffered himself to use such words before women or +children; why, you shall learn. + +"Why, have I hurt you?" he asked, seeing with surprise her startled and +troubled face. + +"No, sir, oh! no," she answered, catching her breath, "but, but"-- + +"Well, but what?" + +"But I am so sorry;" and that she was so was proved, as she covered her +face with her hands and burst into tears. + +"Sorry for what?" he asked. + +She gave him no answer, but shrank a little away. + +"Sorry for what?" he repeated, as if determined to know; and the tone +of command, which seemed to say he was used to instant obedience, +forced her to speak, whether she would or no. + +"Sorry for those words you said, sir," she sobbed. + +"Those words? What words?" But his question answered itself as it +was spoken; for his wicked words, which but for this would have been +forgotten the next instant, came back to him, and he stood rebuked +before this poor little flower-girl. He repented already; but repented +only because he had distressed this simple child, in whom he took so +much interest, not yet because he had grieved and offended the Holy One +whose name he had profaned. + +Still he was vexed too. + +"Why, you don't mean to say," he said rather impatiently, "that you +never hear such words as those, standing here as you do, half the day, +with those rough men and boys about you?" + +"Oh, yes, sir!" she said, plaintively. "I do hear such words, often, +often. I try not to; but I can't help it, you see; and it makes me so +sorry. But I thought those poor men and boys could not know how to +read, and had never been taught better, or perhaps they did not know +what God had said in His commandments. But I did not think gentlemen +said such things; and I liked you _so_ much." + +And did she like him less now? He, the _gentleman_, the rich man, felt +that he could not wish to lose the respect and liking of this little +child whom he thought so far beneath him, and he was ashamed and sorry. +He knew that it was not impertinence, but only her innocent simplicity +and truthfulness, which had caused her to say what she did. But to know +that he was in the wrong and to acknowledge it, were one and the same +thing with this true-hearted man. + +"You are right, Margaret," he said, forgetting how fast the moments +were flying. "_Gentlemen_ should not say such things, especially before +ladies and children. It is bad manners; but I forgot myself just then." + +She took her hands from her face and looked up at him. There was an +unspoken question in the clear, earnest eyes, and it was plain that she +was not yet satisfied. + +"Well," he said smiling at her, "what troubles you still? Let me have +it all." + +"I was only thinking what difference could it make, sir." + +"What difference could what make?" + +"Whether it was ladies and children who heard it, sir," she answered +timidly. "God hears it all the same, doesn't He? And it can't make any +difference to Him who else hears it." + +She looked up as she spoke at the blue sky overhead, and the look and +the words brought to him a sudden sense of God's constant presence and +nearness. He had known it well enough before,--that the Almighty Eye +saw him always; that the Almighty Ear heard him always; but he had +never felt it as he did now. The gentle, timid reproof had gone far +deeper than the little giver had intended, and her hearer felt ashamed +that he had confessed to her that he would pay a respect to a woman or +child which he did not feel it needful to pay to his Maker. He could +make her no answer. + +"_You_ behind time, General?" said the voice of another friend as he +hurried past; and the scream of the warning whistle told the gentleman +that he had no time to lose. + +"I'll see you to-morrow. Good-by, my child. God bless you," he said +hurriedly, and rushed away. + +But just in time; he was the last passenger, and stepped upon the +platform of a car as the train was put in motion. The jar threw him +once more a little off his balance, and he caught by the rail to save +himself, while again hasty, profane words rose to his lips. + +But they did not pass them. What though no human ear should hear; "God +heard them all the same," and they were checked before even the summer +wind could catch them; and in their place the angels carried up the +heart-breathed prayer, "God keep me from them in time to come." + +His next neighbor in the cars thought General Forster remarkably silent +and unsociable that afternoon. He would not talk, but buried himself +behind his newspaper. If the neighbor had looked closer he would have +seen that the General's eyes were fixed, not on the paper held before +his face, but on the little pot of daisies which rested on his knee. +And over the delicate pink and white blossoms was breathed a vow,--a +vow registered in heaven and faithfully kept on earth. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +A CLUSTER OF DAISIES. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +II. + +A CLUSTER OF DAISIES. + + +"WHAT are you thinking of, Frank?" said Mrs. Forster, looking at her +husband as he stood leaning against the casing of the window, gazing +thoughtfully out at the lovely garden beyond. + +"Of a bad habit of mine," he answered. + +"You have none; at least none that I cannot put up with," she said +playfully. + +"That's not the question, dear Gertrude," he returned gravely. "It is +whether my Maker can put up with it, and I believe that He cannot, +since he has said He 'will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name +in vain.'" + +Mrs. Forster colored as she bent her head over the sleeping baby on her +lap. + +"You did not know, perhaps," her husband said, after a minute's +silence, "that I was ever guilty of this--sin?" + +"I did know it, Frank; at least I have heard you now and then, when you +were speaking to your dogs and horses, or even when you were a little +impatient with the men. But you did not mean me to hear such words; and +I noticed you never used them in my presence." + +"No," he said a little sadly: "I would not speak in my wife's presence +words which were not fit for her to hear; but I forgot an ear still +purer, which I was insulting and defying. That is the second thrust I +have had to-day, Gertrude, which has made me feel that I have treated +the Almighty with less of reverence and respect than I would show to +some of my fellow-creatures. Let me tell you of the innocent lesson I +received from the little flower-girl, who sent the daisies to you." + +And sitting down beside her, he told her of the teaching which had come +to him from the little wayside blossom; to whose lonely, thirsting +heart his few kind words and smiles had been as drops of dew from +heaven. + +But even while they talked of her and her pretty lady-like ways and +sayings, which seemed so far above her station, they did not know +she was a "Daisy," and that those were her namesakes over which Mrs. +Forster bent, dropping happy tears and kisses on them, mingled with +many a blessing on the little giver. + +Plucking one of the flowers from the stem, she opened her baby's tiny +hand and placed it within it. The fairy fingers closed around it, +clasping it tight, while the unconscious little one slept on. + +"Her name is Gertrude, but we'll call her Daisy, Frank, as soon as she +is old enough to be called any thing but baby," said the young mother, +"and her pretty pet name may serve as a reminder of this day's lesson, +if ever it should be forgotten." + +"You think I may need it," said her husband, smiling. "I trust not; for +the sin, to say nothing of the vulgarity, of taking God's name in vain, +has been set forth so plainly by my innocent little teacher, that I +must have a short memory, indeed, if I failed to remember her lesson. +She thought _gentlemen_ must know better." + +"But, dear," said the lady, "you said you would inquire about this +child, and see if we could not be of some use to her." + +"So I did," he answered; "and so I will, and should have done long +since; but day after day I have let business or pleasure keep me till +I had but just time to catch the train, and none to bestow on the +poor little creature who seems to have been so grateful for the few +kind words I have given her. You think I am rather fanciful about +this child, I know, Gertrude; but I am convinced that some of her few +years must have been spent among different people than those by whom +she is now surrounded. Nor am I the only one of her customers who has +noticed the grace of her speech and manners, so uncommon in a child +of her class. Ward, and others beside, have seen it; but like myself +have never made it their business to see after her. However, to-morrow +afternoon, I shall make it a point to be at the depot in time to have a +talk with her. I wonder if the woman who keeps the fruit-stall at the +corner, and whose child I believe she is, would give her up and let her +go to school." + +He was as good as his word; and more than an hour earlier than usual, +our little flower-girl saw "her gentleman" coming down the street +towards the depot. It was an eager, wistful little face, with some +questioning fear in it, that she raised to him, for she was anxious +lest she should have offended her kind friend, as she had learned to +think him, by her plain speech of the day before. + +She had scarcely meant to speak so plainly; the words had seemed to +escape her without her intending it, and, it was true, had been drawn +forth by the gentleman's own questions; but when she remembered them +afterwards she feared that he would think her rude and disrespectful. + +She need not have been afraid. His eye and voice were even kinder than +usual as he came near to her, and he laid his hand gently on her head, +saying,-- + +"Well, my little woman! and how does the world go with you to-day? The +lady told me to thank you very much for the daisies." + +The young face brightened. + +"Did she like them, sir?" + +"Very much indeed,--all the more because she has a little one at home +whom she is going to call 'Daisy' after your pretty flowers." + +"Is she your little girl, sir?" + +"Yes, she is a mite of a Daisy, but a very precious one," he answered; +then looking into the flushed face, with its soft, shining eyes and +parted lips, he added, "You are a Daisy yourself." + +The flowers she held dropped at her feet unheeded as she clasped both +hands upon her breast, and with quick-coming breath and filling eyes, +asked eagerly, "How _did_ you know it, sir? how did you know it?" + +"Know what, my child? What troubles you?" + +"How did you know I was Daisy?" she almost gasped. + +"I did not know it," he answered in surprise. "Is your name Daisy? I +thought it was Margaret." + +"They call me Margaret, sir,--Betty and Jack; but Daisy is my _own_, +_own_ name, that papa and mamma called me," she answered, recovering +herself a little. + +"And where are your papa and mamma?" he asked. "I thought the woman who +keeps the fruit-stall at the corner was your mother." + +"Oh, no, sir!" she said. "She is only Betty. She is very good to me, +but she is not mamma. Mamma was a lady," she added, with simple, +childish dignity, which told that she was a lady herself. + +"But _where_ are your father and mother?" he repeated, with fresh +interest in the child. + +"Mamma is drowned, sir; and we could never find papa," she answered, +with such pathos in her tones. + +"Come into the depot with me," said General Forster: "I want to talk to +you." + +She obeyed, and, taking up her basket, followed him into the +waiting-room, where, heedless of the many curious eyes around, he made +her sit down beside him, and drew from her her sad, simple story:--how +long, long ago she had lived with papa and mamma and her little brother +and baby sister in their own lovely home, far away from here; where it +was, she did not know, but in quite a different place from the great +bustling city which she had never seen till she came here with Betty +and Jack; how she had left home with mamma and the baby on a great +ship, where to go she could not remember; how Betty was on board, and +mamma had been kind to her; how a dreadful storm had come and there was +great confusion and terror; and then it seemed as if she went to sleep +for a long, long time, and knew nothing more till she found herself +living with Betty and Jack in their poor home far up in the city. + +They had been very good to her, nursing and caring for her during the +many months she had been weak and ailing; and now that she was stronger +and better, she tried to help them all she could, keeping the two small +rooms tidy, while Betty was away attending to her stall; and in the +afternoon selling the flowers which Jack raised in his little garden, +and she arranged in tasteful bouquets. And, lastly, she told how from +the very first time she had seen General Forster, she thought he +"looked so like papa" that she felt as if she must love him, and was so +happy when he stopped to buy flowers of her and spoke kindly to her. + +The story was told with a straightforward and simple pathos, which went +right to the listener's heart, and left him no doubt of its truth. But +the child could tell nothing of her own name or her parents', save that +she was always called "Daisy" at home, and that she had never since +heard the familiar name until to-day, when she thought this stranger +had given it to her. Betty and Jack always called her "Margaret;" and +Betty thought she knew mamma's name, but she did not. But she loved +daisies dearly for the sake of their name, which had been her own; and +she had raised and tended with loving care the little plant she had +given to "my gentleman" as a token of gratitude for his kindness, and +because he was "so like papa." + +Having learned all that he could from the child herself, the gentleman +went to the fruit-woman on the corner. + +"So," he said, "the little girl whom you call Margaret is not your own +daughter?" + +"Indade, no, sir," answered Betty; "niver a daughter of me own have +I barrin' Jack, and he's not me own at all, but jist me sister's son +what died, lavin' him a babby on me hands. More betoken that it's not +a little lady like her that the likes of me would be raisin', unless +she'd none of her own to do it." + +"Will you tell me how that came about?" + +Betty told the story in her turn, in as plain and simple a manner as +the child's, though in language far different. + +Her husband had been steward on a sailing vessel running between New +Orleans and New York; and about three years ago, she, being sick and +ordered change of air, had been allowed to go with him for the voyage. +But it made her worse instead of better; and on the return trip she +would have died, Betty declared, if it had not been for the kindness +and tender nursing of a lady, "Margaret's" mother. This lady--"her name +had been Saacyfut, she believed, but maybe she disremembered intirely, +for Marga_ret_ said it was not"--was on her way to New York with her +little girl who was sick, a baby, and a French nurse; but her home was +neither there nor in New Orleans,--at least so the child afterwards +said. + +Her own account of the storm was the same as the child's; but while the +recollection of the little one could go no further, Betty remembered +only too well the horrors of that day. + +When it was found that the ship must sink, and that all on board must +leave her, there had been, as the little girl said, great confusion. +How it was, Betty could not exactly tell; she had been placed in one +boat, the French nurse, with the child in her arms, beside her; and the +lady was about to follow with the infant, when a spar fell, striking +the Frenchwoman on the head and killing her instantly, knocking +overboard one of the three sailors who were in the boat,--while at the +same time the boat was parted from the ship and at the mercy of the +raging waves. In vain did the two sailors who were left try to regain +the ship: they were swept further and further away, and soon lost sight +of the vessel. They drifted about all night, and the next morning were +taken up by a fishing-smack which brought them to New York. + +Fright and exposure and other hardships, while they seemed to have +cured Betty, were too much for the poor little girl, and a long and +terrible illness followed: after which she lay for months, too weak to +move or speak, and appearing to have lost all memory and sense. And +when at last she grew better and stronger, and reason and recollection +came back, she could not tell the name of her parents or her home. + +"Marga_ret_ Saacyfut," Betty persisted in saying the French nurse had +called her little charge, "Mamsell Marga_ret_," "and if the lady's name +wasn't Saacyfut it was mightily nigh to it." + +"Marguerite" had been the French woman's name for "Daisy:" that the +General saw plainly enough, but he could make nothing of the surname. + +"But did you not seek for the child's friends, Betty?" he asked. + +"'Deed did I, sir," she answered. "Didn't I even ad_ver_tise her, an' +how she was to be heerd of, but all to no good. An' I writ to New +Orleans to them what owned the ship, but they were that oncivil they +niver answered, not they. An' it took a hape of money, sir, to be +payin' the paper, an' me such hard work to get along, an' Marga_ret_ on +me hands, an' I had to be done with it. For ye see me man was gone wid +the ship, an' niver heerd of along wid the rest to this day; an' I had +to use up the bit he'd put by in the savin's bank till the child was +mendin' enough for me to lave her wid Jack." + +"It was a very generous thing for you to burden yourself with the care +of her," said General Forster. + +"Burden is it, sir? Niver a burden was she, the swate lamb, not even +when the sense had left her. An' that was what the neighbors was always +a sayin', and why didn't I put her in the hospital. An' why would I do +that after the mother of her savin' me from a buryin' in the say, which +I niver could abide. For sure if it hadn't been for the lady I'd 'a +died on the ould ship, and they'd 'a chucked me overboard widout sayin' +by your lave; and sure I'd niver have got over such a buryin' as that +all the days of me life. And would I be turnin' out her child afther +that? An' isn't she payin' me for it now, an' 'arnin' her livin,' an' +mine too? She an' Jack tends the bit of a garden, an' arternoons she +comes down an' sells her flowers, an' where'd be the heart to refuse +her wid her pretty ways and nice manners; a lady every inch of her, +like her mother before her." + +And thrusting her head out from her stall, Betty gazed down the street +with admiring affection on her young _protégée_. + +"Och! but she's the jewel of a child," she went on; "and it is +surprisin' how me and Jack is improved and become ginteel all along of +her. Ye see, sir, I did use to say a hape of words that maybe wer'n't +jist so; not that I meant 'em for swearin', but it was jist a way of +spakin'. But after Marga_ret_ began to mend and get about, ye would +have thought she was kilt intirely if I let one out of me mouth. So +seein' how it hurted her, I jist minded what I was about, an' Jack the +same, for he was a boy that swore awful, poor fellow; he'd been left to +himself, and how was he to know better? At first him and me minded our +tongues, for that the child shouldn't be hurted; but by and by didn't +she make it plain to us that it was the great Lord himself what we was +offendin', and knowin' she'd been tached better nor me, I jist heeded +her. And now, sir, them words that I never thought no harm of and used +to come so aisy, I jist leave them out of me spache widout troublin'; +and a deal better it sounds, and widout doubt more plasin' to Him +that's above. And Jack the same mostly, though he does let one slip now +and agin. So ye see, sir, it's not a burden she is at all, at all, but +jist a little bit of light and comfort to the house that houlds her." + +Glad to find a listener in a "gintleman the likes of him," Betty had +talked away to the gentlemen, so taken up with her story, that she paid +little heed to the business of her stall. She made wrong change more +than once, gave quarts instead of pints, oranges in place of apples, +and peanuts for sugar-plums, and provoked some impatient customers not +a little; while one wicked boy, seeing her attention was taken up with +something else, ran off without paying for the pop-corn he asked for, +and was not called back. + +But Betty lost nothing by the time and thought she had given to the +gentleman, or the interest she had shown in her young charge, as she +found when she looked at the number upon the note he slipped into her +hand when he left her: a note which the warm-hearted Irishwoman laid by +"to buy that new gown and pair of shoes Margaret needed so bad." + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE DAISY TRANSPLANTED. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +III. + +THE DAISY TRANSPLANTED. + + +"BETTY," said General Forster, stopping the next morning at the +fruit-woman's stall, "could you make up your mind to give up that +little girl if you were sure it was for her good?" + +Betty sighed and shook her head mournfully as she answered,-- + +"I've always looked to give her up, sir, if them Saacyfuts, or whatever +their name'll be, turned up, and if it was for her good, sorra a word +would they hear out of me, though I won't say but it would go hard with +me and Jack. But ye'll not be tellin' me ye've been findin' her friends +since last night, sir?" + +"Not the people she belongs to, certainly, Betty; but I have found +those who will be friends to her, and provide for her, if you will +consent. She should go to school and be well taught: do you not think +so?" + +"Indade, an' there's none knows that better nor meself, sir. An' is it +yerself that's the friend ye're spakin' of?" and Betty gave a searching +look into the gentleman's face. + +He smiled. "Yes," he said: "I would like to put her to school and take +care of her. She seems a sweet child, and a good one. And you see, +Betty, I have it in my power to do more to find her friends than you +are able to do, and we may trace them yet. If we never find them, I +will promise to provide for her as long as it may be necessary. Are you +willing?" + +Betty again stared into the face of her questioner as if she would look +him through. + +"I'm sinsible of your kindness, sir," she answered; "but ye see I'm +in a way risponsible for the child, not to say that she is as dear to +me as me own flesh and blood, and I'd say 'yis,' and thank ye kindly, +but--ye'll excuse me plain spakin'--ye're a stranger to me, and I +couldn't be partin' wid Marga_ret_ widout I was certified as to yer +ka_rac_ter. For if I didn't think she'd be brought up right, niver +a foot should she stir to go wid ye. I seen Miss Gertrude Allston a +walkin' wid ye once last summer, sir, jist after I set up me stand +here, but she niver heeded me wid her swate face. But I used to be +laundress in her mother's house afore I was married, and a swate child +was Miss Gertrude and a good as ye're sayin' of Marga_ret_, and she'll +niver go far wrong, I'll answer for it. So, if ye'll jist bring me a +line from her and she says ye're all right, I'll not say ye nay." + +General Forster laughed heartily, not one whit offended at Betty's +"plain spakin'." + +"Miss Gertrude Allston, as you call her, will give me all the lines you +want, Betty; and she thought me right enough to marry me. She is my +wife,--Mrs. Forster." + +"An' is it so, sir?" said Betty, dropping the rosy-cheeked apple she +was polishing, and gazing at the gentleman with a mixture of curiosity +and admiration that was droll to see. "Well, but ye're in luck; and +if it's Miss Gertrude that has the managin' of ye, that's ka_rac_ter +enough of itself, an' I'll say take the child an' my blessin' on all +of yees. But when she gets among yer fine folks, ye'll not let her be +forgettin' the woman what cared for her when there was none else to do +it: will ye, sir? An' ye'll be lettin' me see her once in a while?" + +There is no need to say that this was readily promised, and the General +went on to tell Betty what plans he and his wife had for Daisy. She +was to be taken for a while to his home, where Mrs. Forster would +provide her with proper clothing; and then send her to Miss Collins' +boarding-school to be taught and trained in a way to satisfy her +friends if they should ever find her, or that she might one day be able +to earn her own living, if it should be needful. + +"An' I'm glad she should have the bringin' up of a lady which is what I +couldn't give her," said Betty, with another sigh, for it went to her +heart to part with her darling; "but ye'll not be able to make her more +of a lady nor she is now; no, not if ye dress her in gould and jewels, +an' silks an' satins. Niver a rough word nor way has she with her, if +she has been with me and Jack more nor two year, nor ye couldn't find a +purtier behaved child in all the land." + +An hour or two later, Betty, having found a friend to "mind" her stall +for her, guided General Forster to the tiny house in the suburbs of the +city where she lived with Daisy and Jack. + +The two children were out in the little garden gathering the flowers +which were to be tied up in bouquets for Daisy's afternoon sale; and +great was their surprise, when the sound of the gate-latch causing them +to look up, they saw Betty coming home at this unusual hour of the day, +and the gentleman with her. Their business was soon told; but although +Daisy flushed and smiled with astonishment and delight when she heard +what the "gentleman who looked so like papa" meant to do for her, the +little face soon shadowed over again, and she shook her head gently but +firmly when she was asked if she would go. + +"An' why for no, dear?" asked Betty. "Sure ye'd niver be for throwin' +away a chance the likes of that, not to spake of it's bein' ongrateful +to the gintleman's kindness, an' he no more nor less than the husband +of Miss Gertrude." + +But Daisy shook her head again; and then first begging the gentleman's +pardon, as a polite little girl should do, stepped up to her faithful +friend, and putting her arms about her neck whispered something in her +ear. + +The tears she had before with trouble kept back now started to Betty's +eyes. + +"Och, an' is it that, honey?" she said in her broadest brogue, "an' +ye'll not let that be thrubblin' yer dear heart. What a tinder, +grateful little sowl it is! Ye see, sir," she went on, turning to the +General, while she smoothed with her loving hand the little head which +lay upon her breast, "ye see, sir, it's just as I tellt ye. She's a +lady, every inch of her, an' has feelin's that's jist oncommon. An' +there's a matter of back rint jew, it's more'n a year, though me +landlord he's as good as gould, an' a bill at the poticary's, an' +little scores at the baker's an' grocers what I niver got paid off yet, +not since the child was sick an' I couldn't rightly make things go; an' +she says she won't be lavin' us now that she can turn a penny wid her +posies an' help along." + +Drawing the child to him, General Forster whispered to her in his +turn, promising that the "back rint" and other "scores" should be paid +off without delay if she would but come with him; and Daisy, feeling +herself nearer home and friends than she had ever done since the +dreadful day of the shipwreck, when she was parted from "mamma," put +her hand trustingly in his to be led where he would. + +But the parting went hard. Daisy could not leave those who had been +so kind, and shared their little all with her, without many a bitter +tear. Betty kissed her and clung to her and called down all heaven's +blessings on her head; and Jack hung over the gate, uttering frantic +howls as he watched the sobbing child led away by her new protector. +Not one thought gave Jack to his fourteen years; not one to the +"fellers from beyant the lot," who, drawn by his cries, came flocking +to see what ailed him who was all their terror and admiration: their +admiration, because he was bigger, stronger, braver than any other boy +of his age among their crew; their terror, because of late he allowed +no bad word to be used in his presence, banishing all who offended +in that way from their games, choosing as his favorites and chief +companions those who were most careful not to take God's name in vain. +So cursing and swearing had come to be much less frequent than of old +among the lanes and lots lying around the humble house where the little +Daisy had bloomed and grown during the last two years, dropping upon +the path which God had chosen for her good seed of which she knew not +herself. + +Betty went back to her stand with a heavy heart, knowing that when +she went home that night she should miss the sweet little face which +had brightened and cheered her after many a hard day's work; but she +was half-consoled for her own loss when she saw Daisy coming down the +street holding General Forster's hand. For the General's first care had +been to take the little girl to a place where children's clothes could +be had ready-made; and where he had her fitted out, as Betty said, "as +nice as a new pin and as became the little lady she was by right." + +But Daisy was as much a lady in the coarse but clean calico frock +and patched shoes she had worn yesterday, as she was now in the nice +clothes provided for her by General Forster; for it was the sweet +manners and pretty ways she had never lost which made her so, and the +new garments covered as warm and loving a little heart as the old +ones had done. And so Betty found, and knew that pride would have no +place there, when, as she reached the stand, Daisy drew her hand from +the gentleman's, and running behind the stall as she had many a time +done when she was eager to show Betty what a good afternoon's sale she +had made with her flowers, threw her arms about her neck and kissed +her again and again as lovingly as she had done when she had no other +friend in the world. + +Gentle Mrs. Forster gave Daisy a warm welcome to her new home; and the +manner in which the child fell at once into the ways and habits of +those about her plainly showed that they were not new to her, but that +she had at some time been well accustomed to a different life than that +she had led for the last two years. + +She had ways of her own, too, that were very charming: a pretty, dainty +grace in her behavior and speech; a thoughtfulness and care for others, +surprising in any child of her age,--for Daisy could not be more than +eight years old,--and particularly so for one who had had little +teaching for some time. It was easy to see that Daisy had received +careful training at one time, and that the lessons then learned had +taken deep root and were not yet forgotten in spite of the long +separation from her home and friends. + +It had been intended, as General Forster told Betty, to send the little +girl to boarding-school at Miss Collins'; but she soon grew so closely +to the hearts of her new friends that they felt as if they could not +bear to part with her; and it was at last settled that her home was to +be with them for the present, at least, and that she should only go +to Miss Collins for the morning, as most of the other little girls in +Glenwood did. + +Mrs. Forster could not bear to send from her this loving child, whose +greatest happiness seemed to be in making others happy, and she grew +every day more and more interesting as the familiar objects and customs +about her called up past recollections of the home and parents she +had lost. She would watch the General for hours at a time, as he sat +reading or writing, or follow him with wistful eyes as he mounted his +horse and rode down the broad avenue "just like papa;" would hang over +the lesser Daisy as she lay sleeping, "'cause she looks just as our +baby at home used to," and delighted to wait upon her and Mrs. Forster +in a dainty, neat-handed manner, which showed that such loving service +came quite naturally to her. + +She never called the infant "baby," as the rest of the family did. +With her it was always "little Daisy." She seemed to love the pretty +name, either given to herself or another; and all the variety of choice +flowers with which General Forster's garden was filled could not win +her chief affection from her old favorite daisies, "'cause mamma loved +them so and named me after them." + +But though she remembered so much, the child could not recall the name +of her parents, or where they had lived. Their name "was not what Betty +called it," she was sure; but none the less had it passed from her mind. + +"Francine," the French bonne, used to call mamma "Madame," and herself +"Mademoiselle Marguerite;" but when she was asked what other people +used to call mamma and papa, the little face grew clouded and pained +with the effort to remember; and when name after name was mentioned to +her, she shook her head at each one. + +The General tried by every means in his power to discover the friends +who must still be mourning the loss of their sweet little daisy +blossom, but all in vain; and as week after week went by, he and his +wife decided that they could not send her forth from their own roof +unless her relations came to claim her. She was an added ray of light +where all had been brightness and sunshine before,--a lovely, precious +little flower, lending new fragrance and beauty to the home where she +blossomed. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +DAISY'S SISTER FLOWERETS. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +IV. + +DAISY'S SISTER FLOWERETS. + + +"GOODNESS gracious! mercy _me_!" + +"I didn't mean to, Susy; 'pon my word and honor I didn't; just as sure +as I'm alive." + +Such were the words uttered by two different little voices which our +Daisy heard, as holding by General Forster's hand, she reached the gate +of Miss Collins' garden on the first morning of her going to school in +Glenwood. + +Now would it not have been thought that some terrible misfortune must +have called forth that exclamation from the first young speaker; or +that the second thought herself accused of some dreadful crime, and +that she must prove her innocence at once by all the strong words she +could think of, if she would escape severe punishment? + +And what was this mighty matter? + +Why, just this. + +Susy Edwards and several of her schoolmates were "making a land of +Egypt." For of late the geography lesson of the young class had been +upon that country, and they had been much interested in the pictures +of the pyramids and Sphinx. And Susy, who "liked to make her knowledge +of use in her plays," and who was considered by the other children to +have a great genius in that way, had proposed that they should turn a +portion of their play-ground into Egypt. This was thought a capital +plan, and the recess of the day before had been employed in this +way,--the little planners and builders leaving it with great regret, +and returning to it before school-time that morning with fresh pleasure +and some new ideas. + +The gravel walk was supposed to be the desert; the trough which led the +waste water from the spring, the River Nile; while a jointed wooden +doll, cruelly deprived for the purpose of all its limbs, had half of +its remainder buried in the gravel, to represent the Sphinx. Any number +of pyramids, four or five inches high, had been built out of pebbles, +and several were still going up. + +And Lily Ward, the pet and darling of the school, the youngest child, +and till that day the newest scholar there, had brought that morning a +tiny doll's bath-tub, with a doll to match lying in it, saying it was +to be "Moses in the bulrushes, for it couldn't be a real land of Egypt +without a Moses." + +Lily's idea was received with great applause and admiration, and she +felt rather proud of it herself when she heard it so much praised. + +But a difficulty arose. The little tub did duty for the ark of +bulrushes most beautifully, it was "so real and so cunning;" and never +was a meeker baby than the one which lay so quietly within it. But he +must be hidden, and nothing could be found to answer for flags. The +grass about the mock River Nile was quite too short for that purpose, +trampled on as it was through each day's playtime by at least twenty +pairs of little feet; and the willow twigs which Lola Swan planted +would not stand up straight enough to make a shade for the ark. + +"There isn't time to plant them deep enough," said Lola; "the +school-bell will ring in a few moments, and then we'll have to leave +it." + +"And the sun will go and come round here before recess," said Lily, in +a tone of distress, "and Moses will be all sunburned. Besides, it isn't +a bit real: they never leave babies lying out in the sun." + +"Put him out on the grass and turn the ark upside-down over him till we +come out again," said Susy. + +But Lily scouted the idea of having her Moses treated in this way; and +all began at once to deepen the holes for the willow twigs before the +bell should ring. + +But suddenly a bright thought struck Lily. + +"Let's play Moses' mother and Miriam put a pyramid over him," she said. +"We could do that pretty quick, and it will be nice and shady for him, +and very real too, 'cause they did have pyramids in Egypt." + +All agreed readily, for this was thought an excellent arrangement, and +they fell to work as fast as possible; while Bessie Norton whispered to +Violet Swan, "What a smart child Lily is, isn't she?" + +"Yes," said Violet, in the same tone, "very; and I expect when she is +grown up she will do something very remarkable." + +"What?" asked Susy Edwards, who heard them. + +"Be a genius, I expect," answered Violet, solemnly. + +"Oh, how nice!" said Bessie, who had not the least idea what genius +meant, but did not like to say so. + +The pyramid over the sleeping Moses was nearly completed, the little +builders expecting each moment to hear the bell, when Lola Swan, coming +with a fresh supply of pebbles, tripped over a stick which lay upon the +grass, and, trying to recover herself, let her load fall around and +upon the half-built pyramid, knocking down half a dozen or so of the +stones which composed it. Not much harm was done, but Susy immediately +exclaimed,-- + +"Goodness gracious! mercy me!" and Lola answered as you have heard in +the words which met Daisy's ear as she and General Forster entered the +garden. + +The click of the gate-latch caused all the children to look up, and +Moses and the pyramids were for the moment forgotten at the sight of +the new scholar. + +"Why! there's Daisy Forster," said Lily, for Daisy was now known by +this name. + +"I wonder if she's coming here to school," said another; and that +question was speedily answered, as, stopping by the little group, the +General, whom all knew and liked, said, "Here's a new schoolmate for +you. Will you be kind to her, and make her feel at home?" + +"Yes, sir, we will; and I'll take care of her," said Lily, scrambling +to her feet and taking Daisy's hand in a patronizing manner. "She won't +feel much strange after one day, 'cause we'll all be good to her, and +she shall help us make our land of Egypt." + +"Ah! that is what you are doing, is it?" said the General. + +"Yes, sir," answered Lily; "we're just putting a pyramid over Moses in +the bulrushes, 'cause we hav'n't time to fix so many bulrushes till +recess. And part of it is knocked down. Lola did it, but she didn't +mean to, and if you peep in there between those stones you can see +a little bit of the ark and Moses' dear little china arm poking up. +Please to peek, sir." + +The General did as he was requested, saying that he saw Moses quite +plainly. + +"It isn't much matter if we do have to leave him now," said Lily; "he's +pretty nicely covered up." + +"I think so," said the General, gravely; "and if I were Moses, with a +pyramid being built over me, I think I should prefer to have a small +breathing-hole left." + +"Why, so he would," said Lily; "and now we can leave him nicely fixed, +and play he's very comfortable in his pyramid, even if it's not quite +done." + +Lily being satisfied with the fate of Moses, all the rest were so; and +the bell now ringing, the little group turned towards the house. Daisy +wondering, as well she might, that a matter which was so easily settled +should call for such violent expressions of distress and alarm as she +had heard from two of the little girls. + +"Why, Miss Collins," said General Forster, as that lady met them at the +door, "what a bouquet of flowers you have here! A Rose, a Violet, a +Daisy, and a Lily; as choice a nosegay as one could wish for." + +"And the Lily is going to take care of the Daisy, and make her feel +to home, Miss Collins," said Lily, who still held Daisy's hand. "The +General said I could." + +"No, he didn't," said Susy. + +"Yes, he _did_, 'pon my word he did; least I said I would do it, and he +didn't say I couldn't: did you, sir?" said Lily, throwing back her head +to look up at the General's tall figure. + +"And that comes to the same thing, does it, Lily?" he said, laughing; +"well, I suppose it does; and I promise you shall look after Daisy till +she feels no longer a stranger among you." + +"She knows me, and Loly and Violet, as well as any thing," said Lily; +for the little girls had met several times before, and Lily felt +herself and the two Swans to be on rather intimate terms with Daisy +Forster. + +"All right, then. I leave her to you. Good-morning, Miss Collins," and +with a bow to the lady, with whom he had before made all the necessary +arrangements for Daisy, a pleasant nod for the little ones, and a kiss +for Daisy, he went away. + +Daisy felt rather lonely when he was gone, in spite of Miss Collins' +kind look, Lily's tight clasp of the hand, and Violet's, "We have real +nice times in school. Don't be afraid." For she was far more shy with +children than she was with grown people, probably because she had never +had any companions of her own age; and the number of young faces, most +of them strange, about her, made her long to be back again at Mrs. +Forster's side. And they all looked at her a good deal, for her story +was well known among them, and she was an object of great curiosity. + +Lily observed this, as she took her seat with Daisy beside her, and +thought she must speak up for her charge. + +"Miss Collins," she said, "please to make a rule." + +"Well," said Miss Collins, smiling; for Lily was constantly asking for +new rules concerning things which did not suit her. She had begun with +this more than a year ago when she was only a visitor at the school; +and she was even now not a regular scholar, but only coming for a few +weeks. For her papa and mamma had gone on a journey, and Lily, being +lonely at home when Ella and the boys were at school, it had been +arranged that she was to go with Ella in the morning. So she was rather +a privileged person, and spoke her mind freely concerning that which +did not please her, which the other children thought rather a joke, and +were generally ready enough to fall in with Lily's rules. So now they +all listened. + +"Please to make a rule that nobody must stare, ma'am," said Lily: "it +makes people feel so to be stared at,"--and Lily put up both hands to +her cheeks,--"specially if they are new." + +"Very true," answered Miss Collins: "let us all try to remember the +Golden Rule, and then we shall neither stare nor do any thing else to +hurt another's feelings." + +Then she struck the little bell which stood upon her table, and all +knew the school had begun, and they must be quiet. + +Next calling Bessie Norton to her, Miss Collins gave her a number of +Bibles, and the little girl handed one to each of her classmates. Then +Miss Collins read a verse aloud, and the children followed, each in her +turn. + +"Minnie Grey may take the Bibles," said Miss Collins when this was done. + +Minnie rose, and went from one to another collecting the Bibles. But +instead of taking as many as she could conveniently carry at one time, +giving them to Miss Collins, and coming back for the rest, she went on +piling one on top of another, till one arm was quite full, when she +came to Daisy and held out her other hand for her book. As she did so, +the top one of the pile fell to the floor. Minnie stooped for it, and +down went two or three more. + +"Oh! bother the old things," said Minnie, in a low voice, but very +impatiently. + +Daisy had stooped to help her pick up the Bibles, but the glow her +cheeks wore when she raised her head again was not all owing to that. + +Bother the old things! What old things? Why, the Bibles, God's own Holy +Word. + +Daisy was very much shocked, and she looked up at Miss Collins, +expecting to hear her reprove such _wicked words_, _she_ thought them. + +But Miss Collins had not heard Minnie's exclamation, though the noise +of the falling books had called her attention that way, and she said,-- + +"Minnie, my dear, you are careless with those Bibles: do you forget +whose books they are?" + +"I don't care," muttered Minnie, but not so that the lady could hear. +Daisy heard again; and the thought passed through her mind, "What a +wicked little girl Minnie must be!" + +And yet Daisy was mistaken. If she had asked Minnie's parents, +teacher, or playmates, they would all have told her that Minnie was +an uncommonly good and pleasant little girl; truthful, obedient, +industrious, and generous and obliging towards others. She had no +thought now that she was breaking one of God's commandments; and she +would have been both offended and grieved, if she had known what was +in Daisy's mind, believing herself, as she did, to be innocent of any +wrong. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +DAISY AT STUDY. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +V. + +DAISY AT STUDY. + + +DAISY was soon at home with her schoolmates, and a great favorite among +them. + +It was not strange that they liked and were interested in her. She was +such a gentle, modest, amiable little girl; watching and joining in the +games and lessons of the others with a kind of innocent wonder which +amused and touched them all. For Daisy was not at all accustomed to be +with children of her own age, and their ways were all new to her. + +And of course she was behind all the rest in her studies. She could +not even read as well as Lily Ward; and had to begin with the simplest +lessons, such as Lily and two or three of the very youngest children +learned. At first this troubled her, and she feared the rest of the +class would laugh at her. + +But she soon found she need not have been afraid of that, for the rule +of Miss Collins' infant class was the law of kindness; and any one of +the little girls would have thought it almost a crime to laugh or mock +at Daisy, for that which was her misfortune and not her fault. + +They might now and then fall out a little among themselves, for they +were by no means perfect children; sometimes there would be some +selfishness shown, or even a few angry words pass from one to another; +but, on the whole, they agreed about as well as any twenty little +girls could be expected to do; and not one among them would have had +the heart purposely to do an unkind thing to another. Least of all to +Daisy Forster, whom they all looked upon with a kind of tender pity and +interest, because of her sad and romantic history; and who was at once +taken up by both teacher and scholars as a sort of twin pet with Lily, +for whom allowances were to be made, and who was to be encouraged and +aided as much as possible. + +So Daisy found plenty of helpers, who, so far from laughing at her +mistakes and backwardness, were rather inclined to think her quick and +industrious, as indeed she was, trying hard to make up for lost time, +and "catch up" with those of her own age. + +She was almost too eager about this, and had to be checked now and +then, for since the long illness which had followed the shipwreck, +Daisy had never been strong; and too much fatigue or study, or even +too much play, would make her nervous and sick, and her little head +would become confused and ache. So now and then Mrs. Forster would have +to take the books from her, and forbid more study, sending her out to +play, or to work in the plot of ground which had been given her for a +garden of her own. + +She was not always pleased at this, and sometimes would be rather +fretful and impatient. But Mrs. Forster soon found a way to put a stop +to this. + +One afternoon she found the little girl bending over her slate with +flushed and heated cheeks, anxious eyes, and trembling hands. + +"Daisy," she said, quietly, "what are you doing? Miss Collins has not +given you lessons out of school, has she?" + +"No, ma'am," said Daisy; "but I asked Ella Ward to set me a whole lot +of sums so that I could do them at home, and I can't make this one come +right. I know it is not right, 'cause Ella put the answers on the other +side of the slate, and mine won't come the same, all I can do." + +Mrs. Forster took the slate from her hand. + +"This sum is too hard for you, Daisy," she said: "you do not know +enough arithmetic for this." + +"It is not any harder than the sums Lola and Violet and the other +girls as large as I am do," answered Daisy, looking ready to burst out +crying; "and I have to do arithmetic with the very little ones, like +Lily, and it makes me ashamed; so I want to go on all I can. _Please_ +give me the slate again, Aunt Gertrude," she added, as Mrs. Forster +laid it beyond her reach. + +"No, dear. I do not wish you to study out of school. I am glad you want +to improve, but you have as much to do there as is good for you; and at +home I want you to have rest and play. You are improving quite as fast +as could be expected, and for a time you must be content to go on with +those who are younger than yourself." + +"But it makes me ashamed," pleaded Daisy, again. + +"There is no reason for that," said Mrs. Forster, patting the hot cheek +she raised towards her. "The other children do not laugh at you and +make you uncomfortable, do they?" + +"Oh, no, ma'am," said Daisy; "they are all so good to me, and when they +can't help seeing what a dunce I am" (here Daisy's tears overflowed), +"they always say kind things about how I never went to school before, +and how my own dear mamma was drowned, and there was nobody to teach me +till I came to you." + +"You are not a dunce, dear," said the lady. "A child who idles away +her time when she should be studying, and does not care whether or no +she learns as much as is fit for her, is a dunce: not a little girl +who really wishes to be industrious, but does not know quite as much +as others of her own age only because God has not given her the same +advantages in time past. No one will think my Daisy a dunce. Now, we +must have no more studying at home, no more lessons than those Miss +Collins sets you." + +Daisy did not look satisfied: on the contrary, she even pouted a little. + +"Daisy," said Mrs. Forster, "suppose Uncle Frank were to give you some +beautiful and costly thing which would be of great use to you in time +to come if you took good care of it, say a watch: what would you do +with it?" + +"Why! I _would_ take great care, oh! such care of it," said Daisy, +opening her eyes in some surprise at the question. She did not see what +that could have to do with her studies. + +"I'd wind it up every night, and try to keep it right and safe every +way I could. But I don't know if I am quite large enough to have a +watch of my own, or take care of it; maybe the best way would be to ask +you or Uncle Frank to keep it for me till I was older." + +"And suppose for a while he gave you no key to this watch, but let it +run down and be quiet?" + +"I'd just put it away till he gave me a key, and be patient about it," +said Daisy, wondering more and more. + +"And if, by and by, when he gave you this key, you should go on winding +and winding the watch farther and faster than it was right for it to +go, till the wheels and springs were all spoiled and out of order, +would Uncle Frank think you cared much for his gift?" + +"Why, no, Aunt Gertrude; and he wouldn't think I cared much for him, +either, to use his pretty present so." + +"You are right, dear. And now I want my own little Daisy to see how it +is with herself. God has given to you a young mind, bright and quick +enough; but, for a while, He did not choose that it should do much +work. But now He has given you the key by which you may wind it and set +it to work; and if you use it without proper care, and so as to hurt +and wear out this precious gift, would it not seem as if you cared very +little about it, and did not respect and honor the Giver?" + +"Yes'm," answered Daisy, beginning to see what Mrs. Forster meant; "but +I never thought about that." + +"I believe I never thought about it before, dear," said Mrs. Forster, +smiling. "I am not afraid to praise you, Daisy; and I may safely say +that I have never seen any little child who showed such true honor and +reverence for her Maker, and all which belongs to Him. You must have +been well taught, my child; and to know and remember such lessons is +worth all the book learning in the world." + +Daisy was pleased, as she always was when any one spoke to her of her +long-lost home, or praised the teaching she had received from those +who had loved and cared for her there. And from this time there was no +further trouble about the lessons; for it was enough for Daisy to know +that she was misusing any one of God's good gifts, to make her change +her ways. Many a lesson might have been learned, and, indeed, had been +learned, by those older and wiser than herself, from the loving care +and respect paid by this little one to her Creator's name, and to all +the works of His hand. + +And it was a great trouble to her to hear the careless way in which +many of her schoolmates used sacred names and things. They did not +mean any harm; they did not think it any sin; but every day Daisy was +shocked and distressed by hearing such words as "mercy," "gracious," +"goodness," and "good heavens," and the like, from the lips of the +other children, as they were about their play and study. It had +become a habit with nearly all in the school; one caught it from +another almost without knowing it; even Lily Ward, who once thought +the clergyman "preached a sermon at her" because she said "hush up," +now and then followed the example of the others when any thing vexed +or surprised her. A few weeks at school had accustomed Lily to the +constant use of expressions which a year ago she would have considered +"real naughty words." + +The older girls in Miss Sarah Collins' room had fallen into this bad +habit as much, if not more, than the little ones of the infant class. + +And it was not only this carelessness of speech in which they were +all, large and small, to blame; but it seemed to Daisy so strange that +they could handle and treat the Bible, God's holy Word, with so little +reverence and respect, knocking it about among their other books as +if it were no better than these last, even using it, sometimes, for +purposes to which no book, even the most common one, should be put. + +Daisy wondered that Miss Collins did not teach them better; but +either she did not notice all this, or she did not think it of much +consequence; certain it is that she did not check them, and the evil +seemed to Daisy to grow worse from day to day. + +At first she did not like to speak herself. You may wonder that this +was so, since she had not feared to speak so plainly to General +Forster, who was a grown gentleman, so much older than herself; but she +had done that almost without knowing what she was saying, for, as you +know, his profane words had startled her so that he was surprised, and +he had almost forced her to tell him what had disturbed her. + +And here she was with every thing strange around her, school, +schoolmates, and teacher all new to her; so it is not astonishing that +she was rather shy and felt afraid to interfere with the others, or to +tell them that she thought they were doing wrong. + +But by and by there came a day when she could no longer hold her peace. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +DAISY A TEACHER. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +VI. + +DAISY A TEACHER. + + +ONE morning just after school commenced, a heavy shower came up; and +when it was time for the recess, which was always given to the infant +class at eleven o'clock, the ground was still so wet that the little +ones were forced to find amusement within doors or upon the piazza. + +"What shall we play?" asked Rosie Pierson. + +"Lady Queen Fair," said Bessie Norton: "we'll go out on the piazza and +play it." + +[Illustration] + +"Yes," said Violet; "and Lily shall be Lady Queen Fair, and we'll dress +her up a little. Miss Emily," as a third Miss Collins, who gave music +lessons to the girls, passed by, "may we have a rose to put in Lily's +hair for Lady Fair?" + +The young lady smiled, stopped and pulled a couple of roses from the +vine which wound itself around one of the pillars of the piazza, and +gave them to Violet, then passed on. + +Time had been when Violet would have hoped, perhaps would have asked +to be Lady Fair herself, and been sulky and displeased if the other +children had not agreed; but now she was very different, and more apt +to prefer another before herself. + +The roses were soon arranged, the one in the hair, the other in the +bosom of the little Lady Queen, who took her dignities in the calmest +manner. Meanwhile some of the other children were drawing forward one +of the rustic chairs with which the piazza was furnished, to serve as a +throne. + +But the little queen, like many another royal lady before her, found +her throne by no means an easy one. + +"Ow!" she said, rubbing her little round white shoulders where she had +scratched them against the rough bark of the twisted boughs which made +the back of the chair, "ow! this is not nice at all, or comfortal. My +feet don't come to the floor, and if I lean back I'm all scratched. I'd +rather be a queen without a throne." + +"Oh, no! You must have a throne," said Susy Edwards. "Queens have to." + +"I don't see why," said Lily, rather pettishly; for she did not feel +very well that morning, and that and the close heat of the day made her +more fretful than usual. "I should think queens could do just as they +have a mind to and make their subjiks do it too; and I don't see what +they have to have their skin all scraped up for if they don't want to;" +and Lily twisted her head to give an aggrieved look at the little fat +shoulder with that red mark upon it. + +"I'll fix you," said Lola. "I'll put Miss Collins' footstool under your +feet and you shall have the big cushion behind you. Some one bring the +cushion while I carry the stool." + +The footstool was brought in a moment; but the cushion was not to be +found. + +"The big girls had it yesterday," said Fanny Satterlee. "I saw them +with it in their recess when I was going home. There comes Cora Prime +now; let's ask her. Cora, what did the big girls do with that cushion +yesterday when they had done with it?" + +"The Lord knows; I don't," said Cora, playfully tapping Fanny on the +head with the roll of music in her hand. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Lily. + +Daisy did not speak; but as Cora's eye happened to fall upon her, her +face said as much as Lily's "Oh!" + +"What's the matter with you two?" asked Cora, looking from one to the +other of the little girls, but still good-natured. + +"You oughtn't to say that," said Lily. + +"Ought not to say what?" + +"The Lord knows," answered Lily. + +"Well, don't He know?" asked Cora. + +"No," said Lily, doubtfully, "I guess not. I don't believe He'd bother +Himself with knowing about a worn-out old cushion what has a hole in +the cover, and such things." + +"Yes, He does, too," said Cora, laughing; "are not the very hairs of +our head numbered?" + +"Now, I _know_ you ought to be 'shamed," said Lily. "You're talking +Bible; and that is not right, is it, Daisy?" + +"No," said Daisy, as boldly as Lily herself could have done, for +quoting Scripture in a careless manner was also a habit of many in the +school. + +"You two saucy monkeys! correcting your elders," said Cora, much +amused. "I heard you both talking Bible to Miss Collins this morning +with all the rest of your class." + +"We were only saying what we learned in Sunday school yesterday," said +Lily. "That's not the same thing. I _know_ it's not right to talk Bible +that kind of a way. Papa says so, and he tells us not to do it." + +"Your papa's saying so does not make a thing right or wrong," said Cora. + +"Yes, it does, too!" said Lily. "My papa knows a whole lot, and he +wouldn't tell a story for any thing. Cora, you'd better go to your +music lesson: I 'speck Miss Emily wants you." + +"Oh, you are very considerate for Miss Emily, all at once," said Cora, +more amused than ever; "but you haven't told me why I shouldn't say, +The Lord knows, when He does know." + +Lily looked at Daisy, who stood by the arm of her chair, for help. The +little one felt that Cora was wrong, but she did not exactly know how +to answer, and she had noticed how careful Daisy was to honor the name +of God. + +"Is it not taking the name of God in vain?" said Daisy. + +"Upon my word!" said Cora. "Do you mean to call that swearing?" + +"Well, yes," said Lily, taking up the word, "a kind of baby swearing, I +s'pose; but you know it's not very good of you, Cora." + +"Everybody says such things: they don't mean any thing," said Cora. + +"Not _everybody_," answered Lily. "Daisy don't." + +"Then Daisy's uncommonly good," said Cora. + +"Yes, she is," replied Lily; "and I s'pose _everybody_ ought to be +uncommonly good and never say them." + +Cora laughed again. + +"Everybody must mind their p's and q's before you: mustn't they, Lily?" +and away she ran to her music lesson. + +"Here's the cushion," said Rosie Pierson, running out from the +school-room. "I found it in the closet under the shelf where those +careless big girls left it, I s'pose." + +The cushion was put behind Lily's shoulders, but still the little queen +fidgeted on her throne and declared she was not yet "comfortal." + +"'Cause if I lean back against the cushion my feet won't touch the +stool," she said. + +"We'll put something else on the stool to make it higher," said Nettie +Prime, who was trying to arrange Lily satisfactorily: "what shall we +take? Oh, I know. Daisy, run and bring the big Bible off Miss Collins' +table for Lily to put her feet on." + +Daisy, who made a motion to start forward as Nettie began to speak, +stood still when she heard what she called for. + +"Make haste," said the latter, impatiently: "we won't have a bit of +time to play." + +Daisy did not move, but stood with rising color, trying to make up her +mind to speak. + +"Oh! you disobliging thing!" said Violet, and she ran for the book. + +"Oh! don't," said Daisy, as Violet came back and stooped to put the +Bible on the footstool; "I didn't mean to be disobliging, but we ought +not to use the Bible to play with." + +"Pooh!" said Violet: "Lily's little feet won't hurt it. It's all worn +out, any way. The cover is real shabby." + +"I didn't mean that," answered Daisy; "I meant because it is God's +book, and we ought to treat it very carefully." + +"Oh, fiddle! How awfully particular you are, Daisy!" said Minnie Grey. +"Why, girls, do you know, the other day, when I was playing paper-dolls +with her and I turned up a Bible to make the side of a house, she took +it away, and when I put it back again 'cause it stood up better than +the other books, she said she wouldn't play if I did so with the Bible." + +"I s'pose Daisy would call that 'taking God's name in vain,'" said +another, half reproachfully; "wouldn't you, Daisy?" + +"I think it is something the same," answered Daisy, feeling as if +all the others were finding fault with her and thinking her "awfully +particular," a crime which no little girl likes to have laid to her +charge. + +"I don't see how," said Lola. "I know we ought not to play with the +Bible; but I don't see how it is taking God's name in vain." + +"But the Bible is God's book, and He told it to the men who wrote it, +and His name is in it a great many times," said Daisy, "and I think it +seems like taking it in vain to play with it or to put things upon it, +or to knock it about like our other school-books. And it is not right +to say 'the Lord knows,' and 'mercy,' and 'gracious,' and such words, +when we are just playing, or when we are provoked." + +"What is the harm?" asked Rosie. "Mercy and gracious are not God's +name." + +"Well, no," said Daisy, slowly, not exactly knowing how to explain +herself. "And maybe I make a mistake; but it does seem to me as if it +was a kind of--of--" + +"Of little swearing, as Lily says," said Lola. + +"Yes," said Daisy. "Rosie thinks it is no harm; but even if it is not +much harm, I don't see what is the good of it. We can talk just as well +without saying such words." + +"I guess they are pretty wicked," said Lily. "The day mamma went away, +I said 'good heavens,' and she said 'Lily! Lily!' very quick, like she +does when I do something very naughty, and she asked me where I learned +that; and I told her Elly said it. I didn't mean to tell a tale about +Elly; but mamma looked sorry, and she told me never to say it again. I +guess 'mercy' is 'most the same, and I guess I won't say it any more; +and, Daisy, if I hear the other girls say those words, I'll help you +correct 'em." + +Lily promised this with an air of such grave importance that the other +children laughed. Not in the least abashed, Lily went on,-- + +"Papa's coming home day after to-morrow, and I'll ask him to tell me a +whole lot about God's name, and why it is wrong to say those things; +and then I'll tell all you girls. But I'm not coming to school any more +when mamma comes home; so you'll have to come to my house, and I'll +have a swearing class, and teach you all about it." + +Lily's words might have been taken with a different meaning from that +which she intended to give them; but the other children understood her, +and that was enough. + +"But, Daisy," said Lola, "how do you know so much about these things +when you don't know a great deal about every-day lessons, and have had +no one to teach you for so long?" + +"I don't know," said Daisy. "I think my own mamma who was drowned used +to teach me in the home I used to have;" and the dreamy look came into +her eyes which they always wore when she spoke of her far-away home and +those she had loved there. "I think I've forgotten a good many things," +she added; "but you know I couldn't forget what mamma taught me about +Jesus and what He wanted us to do if we loved Him. And I think if we do +love Him we won't say words about His name, His heaven, or any thing +that is His, that are not very good and gentle, and that we are very +sure He would like us to say." + +"But you are so _very_ particular, Daisy," said Minnie; "I think you +are most _too_ particular." + +"I didn't think we could be too particular about doing what Jesus +likes," said Daisy. + +The other children had all gathered about Daisy, and were listening +with interest to what she said. Perhaps they heard her with more +patience than they would have given to any one else; for Daisy was a +kind of mystery to them, and they looked upon her as a sort of fairy +or princess in disguise, and would not have been at all surprised to +hear the most extravagant stories about her, for she was "just like a +story-book child." Lily had said so one day when she was speaking of +her at home. + +"No," said Lola, thoughtfully; "but it does not seem as if such little +things could be wrong. I know it can't be right to play with the +Bible or say its words just when we are joking or for our own common +talk; but I don't see the harm of saying 'goodness,' or 'mercy,' or +'heavens,' or those words which you never will say, Daisy; they are not +God's name, and I don't see how it is taking it in vain to say them." + +Daisy looked thoughtful. She felt she was right, and wanted to explain +herself; but she was rather shy and could not find words to do so. + +But Lily, whom shyness never troubled, came to her aid. + +"Never mind," she said: "I'll ask papa just as soon as he comes home, +and he'll tell us all about it; and if he says it is naughty, why, it +is, and we won't do it; and if he says it's good enough, why, we will. +That's the way to fix it." + +Here the bell rang. + +"There, now," said Susy Edwards, "we have to go in, and we've wasted +all our time talking, and never had a bit of good of our recess." + +But I think Susy was mistaken, and that they had one and all gained +more good from their talk than they could have done from any amount +of play; for it had set more than one young mind thinking; and from +this day, even the most careless among them would check herself when +she found she was on the point of using these words which had grown +so common among them, more from want of thought than from any wish or +temptation to do wrong. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE SWEARING CLASS. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +VII. + +THE SWEARING CLASS. + + +WHEN Lily's papa and mamma came home, she was so glad to see them, and +there was so much to hear and to talk about, that she quite forgot her +purpose of asking her father to teach her about the third commandment. +Besides, she no longer went to school now that her mother was at home, +but had her lesson each day with her as she had done before Mrs. Ward +went on her journey; and so she was not as apt to hear or to say those +careless words which Daisy Forster had said it was not right to use. + +But it was at last brought to her mind one evening as the family all +sat at the tea-table. + +"Mamma," said Ella, "will you let Lily and me have a tea-party +to-morrow? I want to ask half a dozen of our girls, and I suppose Lily +would like to have a few of the little ones at the same time." + +"Yes," answered Mrs. Ward, "you may each ask six of your most intimate +friends." + +"Can Walter and I ask some of the fellows?" said Ned. + +"Oh, mercy! no," said Ella: "we don't want any boys. It is not to be a +regular party, Ned. I just want the girls to spend the afternoon and +drink tea; and it makes more fuss to have boys too." + +"Goodness me! You needn't get into such a way about it," said Ned. + +"Children," said Lily, her brother's and sister's words bringing back +to her what Daisy had said, "children, you needn't either of you swear +about it." + +Lily's efforts to keep the family straight were generally considered +as a good joke, and her reproofs and advice received with a laugh; but +this plain speaking was rather _too_ much for either Ella or Ned, and +the former exclaimed,-- + +"Well, who is swearing, I'd like to know?" + +"And who gave you leave to correct your elders?" said Ned. + +"Nobody: I just took it," said unabashed Lily; and then, turning to her +father, she exclaimed, "Papa, I b'lieve the girls in our school are +pretty heathen, and don't know enough about the comman'ments. So I told +them we'd have a swearing class, and I'd ask you to teach it, 'cause +I s'pose you know a good deal about swearing; and this will be a good +chance when they come to-morrow." + +This speech turned the vexation of Ella and Ned into amusement, and +they laughed with the others. + +"I don't think your playmates will thank you for asking them here to +take tea and then bringing them up for a lecture from me, my pet," said +Mr. Ward. + +"Yes: they will, papa. They want to know about it, and I think we'd +better make a swearing party of this. I b'lieve it would do those big +girls good too. They swear, oh, dreadfully! and they don't seem to +think they do, least Cora don't. Mamma, let's make a rule we won't have +any swearing in this house: won't you?" + +"Certainly," said mamma, smiling; "and I think we must find out what +_swearing_ is, and be careful not to break the rule." + +"If one is going to call 'goodness' and 'mercy,' and such things, +swearing, one might as well give up talking altogether," said Ella. + +"Perhaps not exactly swearing," said her father; "but the use of them +is a bad habit, and one that I have noticed is quite too frequent among +all the young people of this place. It is growing stronger too, as all +such habits do, and going from bad to worse. But I must go out now, and +have not time to talk to you about it. If Lily can persuade her little +friends to take the 'swearing class,' as part of their afternoon's +entertainment to-morrow, well and good; if not, we will have a little +private talk among ourselves some other time." + +Ella was not at all pleased by Lily's proposal; and hoping that it +would pass from the child's mind before the afternoon, she was careful +not to make her remember it by the use of any such words as had called +forth Lily's reproof. + +This had very nearly proved successful; and in the excitement of +arranging her baby-house, setting out the new tea-set mamma had brought +her, and dressing the doll which had been papa's present, Lily had +almost forgotten her plan for mingling wholesome instruction with the +amusement provided for her young friends. + +There were Lola and Violet Swan, Daisy Forster, Rosie Pierson, Minnie +Grey, and Bessie Norton; and they were all having a real good time +sitting around a small table and playing tea out of the new china set, +when Minnie said,-- + +"I have a secret to tell all of you, if you'll promise never to tell." + +"I won't," said Violet. + +"On your sacred word and honor?" said Minnie. + +"On my sacred word and honor," repeated Violet. + +"And you, Rosie?" asked Minnie. + +"On my word and honor," said Rosie. + +"Sacred?" said Minnie. + +"Sacred. Sacred word and honor," was Rosie's answer. + +Lily repeated the words as desired, and next came Daisy's turn. + +"I won't tell," she said, when Minnie looked at her. + +"On your sacred word and honor?" asked Minnie. + +"I promise I won't tell, Minnie." + +"But you must say on your word and honor." + +"I can't," said Daisy. + +"Then I shan't tell you; and you're real mean, Daisy Forster," said +Minnie. "Why won't you say so?" + +"I don't see why I need, and I don't know if it is quite right," +answered Daisy, coloring. + +"Oh, Daisy Forster, what a girl you are!" said Rosie. + +"Well," said Lily, "there's nothing left, 'cept these two caramels. +Daisy, you eat up this; and, Bessie, you eat up the other. Now +the tea-party is all done, and we'll go and ask papa about that +comman'ment. He's been playing croquet with the big girls, but they +seem to be resting now." + +Lily was right. Mr. Ward had been persuaded to make the eighth in a +game of croquet, for he was a great favorite with all the young people +in Glenwood, and his presence never put any check upon their games or +pleasure parties. + +But the afternoon proved rather warm for exercise, even the gentle one +of bewitching croquet; and, after a long game was finished, the whole +party were ready to agree to Ella's proposal that they should take a +rest, and send to the house for some cooling drink. + +So Mr. Ward was at liberty to attend to Lily, when she came rushing up +to him, followed, rather more slowly, by the rest of the children. + +"Papa," she said, throwing herself across his knee, as he sat upon +the green mound which was raised about the foot of one of the fine +elm-trees which shaded the croquet-ground, "papa, Daisy says we +oughtn't to say upon our words and honors! Oughtn't we? And will you +teach us about taking God's name in vain now? It's the _singalest_ +circumstance, but I went and forgot all about the swearing class, till +Daisy said that." + +"A very singular circumstance, certainly;" said Mr. Ward, lifting Lily +to a seat upon his knee, and smiling, while the other girls laughed at +her speech. "I am quite willing to have a little talk with you all on +this subject; but tell me first what you want to know." + +"Daisy is so awfully particular, Mr. Ward," said Minnie, in an +aggrieved tone. "She won't let us say any thing; at least, she says +every thing is 'wrong.'" + +"Every thing?" said Mr. Ward: "that is bad. Does Daisy want you all to +keep silence? That _must_ spoil your play." + +"Oh, no!" said Minnie, "not that; but she says such lots of things are +wrong to say. Why, sir, she won't say 'upon her word and honor,' 'cause +she don't think it is right." + +"Why do you want her to say it?" asked Mr. Ward. + +"I was just going to tell them all a great secret, and I wanted her to +promise, on her sacred word and honor, she would never tell; and she +wouldn't do it." + +"So Daisy is apt to break her promises, is she?" said the gentleman, +with a smile at Daisy, which told very plainly that he was only joking. + +"Oh, no, sir!" said Minnie. "Indeed she is not. Daisy always tells the +truth, and never does what she says she won't; at least, we never knew +her to do it: did we, girls?" + +A chorus of young voices was raised in Daisy's favor. + +"And yet you cannot trust her unless she swears to what she promises," +said Mr. Ward. + +"Swears, sir!" said Minnie. "I'm sure I don't want her to swear! 'Word +and honor' are not bad words, are they?" + +"Not in themselves, certainly;" answered Mr. Ward. "Many a thing which +is good in itself when properly used, becomes bad and hurtful if put to +a wrong purpose. Now to swear is to say, by some word or person which +you consider holy and sacred, that you will or will not do, that you +have or have not done, a certain thing. Suppose some man were accused +of a crime, and that the judge were about to try him, and punish him if +he were guilty, and it was thought that I knew whether or no the man +had done that of which he was accused. So I am called to the court, +and there made to promise that I will tell the truth, and nothing but +the truth; and to make sure of this I am made to lay my hand on the +Bible,--God's holy word,--and call upon Him, to hear me tell what I +know. And this is considered a very solemn thing, even by many who +have little care or respect for God in other ways; and it is called +swearing, or taking the oath." + +"They ought to be 'shamed of theirselves," said Lily, indignantly; +"they ought to know you would never tell a story, papa. And to go and +make you swear too! I wouldn't do it if I was you; but I'd tell 'em the +third comman'ment, and run away fast from them." + +"But if this is done in the fear of God, and as a sort of prayer that +He will hear and help us to tell that which is true, it is not taking +His name in vain, Lily," said Mr. Ward; "and to do it falsely is +considered even by men to be a great crime. This is called perjury; +and if any one is found guilty of it, he is severely punished by the +law. Now it may be wise, and even necessary, for a man to take an +oath at such a time as this, when the very life of another may depend +on whether he tells the truth or no; but it can hardly be necessary +for one little girl at play with another to make her promise sure by +swearing to it. For to say 'by your sacred word and honor' is neither +more nor less than a sort of swearing or taking an oath that what you +say is true." + +"Then we'll make a rule not to say it any more," said Lily. "We +didn't know it was naughty before, papa. But please tell us now about +other words. Daisy says we mustn't say 'mercy,' and 'gracious,' and +'heavens,' and maybe we mustn't; but why is that swearing? Swearing is +taking God's name in vain, and how do such words take His name in vain +if we don't speak it? And she thinks playing with the Bible, or saying +its words when we are playing or just talking common talk, is taking +God's name in vain, too. Is it?" + +"I will tell you," said Mr. Ward. "Suppose, Lily, that some great king +or queen, or the president of our own country, were to come here; would +you not wish to be particularly polite and respectful to them, both in +your manner and way of speaking?" + +"Um-m-m, I don't know," answered Lily, doubtfully; "not partic'lar. I +guess I'd just as lieve be saucy to them as to any one else." + +Mr. Ward saw this would not do, at least, not for Lily: he must go +higher than earthly rulers. + +"Suppose, then," he said, "that Jesus should come down here among us, +so that we could see Him with our eyes, walking and talking with us, +what would you all do?" + +"I'd fall down and worship Him," said Minnie. + +"I'd listen to every word He said, and never speak one myself for fear +I should miss one," said Daisy; "and then I'd remember them all the +days of my life." + +"Dear child!" said Mr. Ward, laying his hand fondly on hers: "I believe +you do treasure your Lord's words and try to live according to them." + +"I'd ask Him to put His hand on my head and bless me just as He did +those other little children when He was on earth before," said Lola, +softly. + +"So would I. And I'd be glad there were no disciples to forbid us to +come to Him," said Lily. "I s'pose they thought Jesus wouldn't care +about children; but He did, didn't He? And you wouldn't think so, papa, +would you?" and the little child laid her hand lovingly against her +father's cheek. "I'd keep very close to Him all the time He was here, +and take fast hold of His hand, only I wouldn't be troublesome, but +just keep as still as a mouse; and I'd give Him every thing of mine +that He wanted." + +"So you would all show your love and reverence for Him by every means +in your power," said Mr. Ward, "trying not to grieve or offend Him +by treating His name or His presence with the least carelessness or +disrespect, but letting Him see that you honored the one and were +blessed by the other: is it not so?" + +"Yes, sir," came from the older as well as the younger children. + +"And if, after He had gone away, He should send you each a letter, +telling you what He wanted you to do, how you were to love and serve +Him, and in which you would find all the advice, help, and comfort you +might need at any time,--how would you treat that letter?" + +"I'd keep it all my life, and take such good care of it," said Rosie. + +"I'd read it, and read it, and read it; and kiss it, and kiss it, and +kiss it," said Lily, "and then I'd put it in my bosom, and keep it, oh! +so carefully." + +"And so would I, and I, and I," said the rest, satisfied to have Lily +for spokeswoman. + +"And if you saw any one misusing that letter, how would you feel?" +asked Mr. Ward. + +"I'd be very provoked with them," answered Lily, "and I think I +wouldn't love them any more, 'cept it was you, papa, or mamma, or Elly, +or any one of my own that I _have_ to love; and then I'd cry, and ask +you not to serve my Jesus' letter so." + +"You mean the Bible is Jesus' letter to us: don't you, sir?" asked +Daisy. + +"Yes; and, dear children, our Lord's presence is here among us as much +as if He were in man's form which He once wore on earth. His ear is as +quick to hear our words of love and praise, or those of carelessness +and disrespect, as it was then; His eye as ready to see the use we make +of the precious Word He has given us. But we forget this when we use +His book more carelessly than we would any gift from an earthly friend, +or when we take His name lightly or without thought upon our lips. To +do this is to take it in vain, and it displeases Him." + +"But, Mr. Ward," said Minnie, "it is not cursing and swearing to say +'mercy,' and 'gracious,' and 'good Lord,' and such things, is it?" + +"Not cursing, certainly: that is to use God's name profanely, or to +call on Him to destroy us or other people; and this is a most terrible +sin. But, Minnie, the use of such words in play or thoughtlessness is a +bad habit, and leads to worse. Suppose a man breaks open a bank here, +and takes all the money from it: that is stealing, is it not?" + +"Why, yes, sir," answered Minnie. + +"And suppose you take a sugar-plum belonging to your sister: it is a +very small thing compared to the money taken from the bank, but is it +not stealing, all the same?" + +"Yes, sir; and if I was to be so bad as to take Julia's sugar-plums, +I'm afraid I'd maybe steal something worse some time." + +"Just so," said the gentleman; "and now you see why it is not wise or +right to make use of such expressions. It is, as Lily says, a kind of +little swearing, and may lead to worse. Besides, it is very useless. +You can surely believe one another,--unless, indeed, it is some false +and deceitful child,--without saying 'upon your sacred word and honor,' +'as sure as you live,' 'Heaven knows,' and so forth. And there is so +little temptation to fall into this sin that it seems strange it should +be so common. There is nothing to be gained by it, even of this world's +good,--no pleasure, no profit. It is only an idle, useless habit, +most displeasing and vexing to the holy ear of Him whose commandment +we break without thought or care. Goodness and mercy and graciousness +belong to the Almighty; and so, too, we must take heed that we do not +speak of what belongs to Him in an irreverent, careless way. And now I +think we have had enough talk on this subject for this afternoon. You +did not ask your friends here that I might lecture them." + +"Oh, yes! I did, papa," said Lily; "for we all deserved it very much, +'specially the big girls. But, papa, do you believe the Lord troubles +Himself to know where the girls put an old, worn-out cushion, and such +things; and if He does, ought we to say He does?" + +"God knows every thing, Lily; even the smallest trifle is seen by Him; +but it is very wrong to say, in a heedless way, 'the Lord knows,' for +I suppose that is what you mean. And this very thought, that His eye +and His ear are always with us, noticing every word and look, knowing +the very feelings of our hearts, should make us all the more careful +how we use His holy name. I am glad this question has come up among +you; for heedlessness in using God's name, and other sacred words, in +quoting Scripture,--talking Bible, my Lily calls it,--and other such +habits, were becoming too common, I fear, among all the young people +in Glenwood; and we older ones too, I believe, fall too often into the +custom. We have, too many of us, constant need of the prayer, 'Set a +watch, O Lord, upon my mouth; keep the door of my lips.'" + +"It is Daisy's doing, sir, that we have come to think of this," said +honest Cora. "I, for one, have been very thoughtless about offending +God in this way, and have set a bad example to the rest. I believe the +little ones have caught it from us larger girls, and we have to thank +Daisy that she has taught us a better lesson." + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +DAISY'S NAME. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +VIII. + +DAISY'S NAME. + + +"INDADE, now, and hasn't me words come true, sir? For wasn't I afther +tellin' ye she was as nate a little lady as iver stepped in two shoes?" +said Betty Macarthy, as she stood with her arms akimbo, her head on one +side, and her honest face one broad glow of delight and satisfaction, +gazing at the dainty-looking little creature who stood before her, her +young face bright with as much pleasure as Betty's own. + +For Daisy's old friend had come to live at Mrs. Forster's; and this was +the way it had been brought about. + +The lady had wanted a laundress; and, thinking that Betty, who had once +held that post in her father's family, might know of one, had begged +the General to ask her. + +No sooner had he put the question than Betty eagerly answered she +should be only too glad of the place herself; for she was tired of her +present position, and a countrywoman of her own was ready to take it +off her hands, stock, fixtures, goodwill, and all. "For her heart was +sore for the child," Betty said, and to be where she could see her +every day, and to live once more with "Miss Gertrude," would be almost +as much happiness as she could wish for; and then she would try to put +Jack out with some gardener to learn his trade, for which he had always +had a turn. + +So the General, having talked the matter over with his wife, and +mindful of the generous care and kindness shown to their Daisy by these +poor people, not only told Betty she should come to live with them, but +also put Jack under his own gardener, though there was really no need +of any more hands about the place. + +Thus did the "bread cast upon the waters" by this kind-hearted +Irishwoman, come back to her, blessed sevenfold. + +Nothing was told to Daisy of this arrangement till one afternoon, when +the General had returned from the city, Mrs. Forster said to her, "I am +going to speak to the new laundress and gardener's boy. Come with me, +Daisy;" and half wondering, the little girl obeyed. + +But her surprise soon changed into delight and gratitude when she saw +who the new domestics were; for, in spite of all the pleasure she felt +in her new way of life, Daisy's loving little heart often longed for +the old friends who had been so good to her in her time of need, and +she wanted not only to see them, but to share some of her many comforts +with them. + +So you may know how glad she was when her eye fell upon the two figures +standing by the back door, and she knew that they had been brought to +live in the same place with her. + +With an excitement very unusual in her, she flew at Betty, and, +throwing both arms about her neck, covered her broad, smiling face with +warm kisses. Betty returned them with a will, holding her fast in both +arms; and then, putting her from her and looking at her from head to +foot, put on an air of strong approval, and spoke to the General in the +words you have read at the beginning of this chapter. + +"An' isn't it fit for a princess, she is?" she continued, quite unable +to keep back her admiration and pleasure at the child's improved +appearance. "Isn't it fit for a princess she is; and Saacyfuts or no +Saacyfuts, isn't it a right her own folks would have to the name if +they found her now? Sure I'd be saacy meself to have the ownin' of a +child like that. An' her not a bit spoiled, but just as lovin' and +free-like as when she had none but me an' Jack." + +Then Daisy was told she might take Betty and Jack away and show them +the neat little wash-house, shaded by a fine clump of trees, with its +nice bleaching and drying ground beyond, its laundry on the first +floor, and two small bedrooms above, where they were to sleep. Betty +was enchanted, and expressed over and over again her satisfaction at +the change in her life. It was far better, she thought, to stand at the +wash-tub or ironing-table, breathing the sweet country air, with all +its pleasant sights and sounds about her, than to do the same at her +stall in the hot, dusty, crowded city. + +As for Jack, when he saw the splendid garden, when Daisy had led +them there, and knew it was to be his privilege to work among those +lovely flowers, he could not contain himself, but shouted and shouted, +turned somersault after somersault, till recalled to himself by +Betty's reminder that he must "remember that Margaret--she begged +her pardon,--Miss Daisy--was a little lady now, and he must mind his +manners before her." + +But Daisy was so like her old self, so free from any pride or +haughtiness in her new position, that Jack found it hard to remember +she was any other than the little waif whom he had pitied and petted +for so long; and his "manners" were brought to his mind with much more +force by the sight of the gray-haired old Scotch gardener under whom he +was to work, and before whom his gambols ceased at once. + +Meanwhile General and Mrs. Forster were talking on a very interesting +subject, for Betty's words about Daisy's lost friends had given the +lady a new idea. + +"Frank," she said to her husband, "did you notice what Betty said about +Daisy's friends?" + +"Yes," he answered. "I hope she won't turn Daisy's head and make her +vain with her praise and flattery." + +"I'm not afraid," said his wife. "Daisy has a right to her name, the +modest, unaffected little girl; and she has too much sense to be +spoiled by what she looks upon only as the overflowing of Betty's +affection. But don't you know that the Irish often say _saacy_ when +they mean proud?" + +"Oh, yes. I have often noticed it in people of Betty's class," answered +the General; "but what has that to do with Daisy's friends?" + +"Is it not possible that their name is Proudfoot or Proudfit, and that +'Saacyfut' is Betty's way of calling it?" + +The General laughed heartily. + +"Hardly, I think," he said; "and yet--I do not know. It may be. But it +never struck me. It took a woman's wit to think of that." + +"We will ask Daisy when she comes," said Mrs. Forster. "If Proudfoot +_was_ their name, she must remember it when she hears it spoken, I +think. She can hardly have forgotten it so entirely that she would not +recognize it. And then, if it should be so, it will be a help to find +her friends." Mrs. Forster spoke the last words more slowly. + +"Yes," said her husband, giving words to the thought which had made her +half unwilling to utter them; "and if found, we must give up our Daisy." + +"But we must not seek them the less for that," she said, "or I shall +feel as if we had found some lovely jewel that we were striving to +hide from the rightful owner. I know what terrible longings must fill +her mother's heart;" and a tear dropped from Mrs. Forster's eye on her +baby's face, as she clasped it more tenderly than ever in her arms. + +"Daisy," said the General that evening, as the little girl stood by his +knee, "did you ever hear the name of Proudfoot?" + +Daisy started, drew a quick, gasping breath, and suddenly threw herself +into his arms. + +"That is it!" she cried, in a rapid, excited manner, "that is it! That +is my name, that is what they called papa and mamma. I never heard it +since; but I know it now. I am Daisy Proudfoot, I am, I am!" + +It was some time before the child's excitement could be calmed; but +there was no farther knowledge to be gained from her. Proudfoot was her +name, of that she was quite sure; and the recollection of it at this +late hour seemed to fill her with a kind of tremulous happiness; but +still she could not tell where she belonged. + +Betty too, when she was asked if Proudfoot was the name of Daisy's +mother, answered,-- + +"Sure, an' it was, ma'am. Didn't I say so all along, only she was +always gainsayin' it?"[A] + +The matter was settled; and General Forster, loath as he was to part +with Daisy, feeling that he must leave no stone unturned to trace her +friends, again put advertisements in the papers, saying, that if any +family of the name of Proudfoot had had a child supposed to be lost at +sea, they might hear of her at such and such a place. + +Daisy was not told of this; she was contented and happy in her new home +and among her new friends, and it was not thought best to disturb her +mind with fresh hopes of finding those who might never come to claim +her. + +But although she was still called Daisy Forster by all in Glenwood, it +was a satisfaction to herself and to the kind friends who had taken her +up and cared for her, to know the name which rightly belonged to her. + +However, days and weeks and months went by, and still no one came to +seek the Daisy blossom which had been transplanted to such pleasant +soil. And there it grew and flourished, and did its Master's work; +proving how much even such a simple floweret can do by its own modest +example and teaching to win others to honor Him. + +It was surprising to see how much her schoolmates thought of her +opinion; how they profited by the simple lesson she had taught them, +and tried to break themselves of the foolish and sinful habit into +which nearly all of them had fallen, of using sacred names and things +in such a heedless, unthinking manner. + +It was not only the very little girls, but the older ones also, and +even Miss Collins herself, who learned from our Daisy to set a watch +upon their lips, and to remember whose ear was ever present, hearing +each thoughtless word which dishonored Him or that which especially +belonged to Him. + +Perhaps they gave more heed to Daisy's words than they would have +done to those of any other one of their number. There was such a +half-mystery about her, and their thoughts were so tender towards her, +that they checked their heedless speech for her sake at first; then, as +they learned to think more about it, for a better and higher reason, +till at last the bad habit was broken up; and if, by chance, such a +word as "mercy," "heavens," "good Lord," or the like, came from the +lips of any child, the surprised and reproving looks of her companions +told her of her fault, and punished her sufficiently. + +And the good influence spread far and wide. Since the little ones were +so careful, their parents and older friends felt that they, too, must +take heed lest they offended in this way; and so it came to pass that +among the families of Glenwood God's name and word came to be held in +such true reverence and honor as had never been before. + +And so nearly a year passed by, and brought the Daisy and her +sister-flowerets to another spring. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[A] If this is considered far-fetched, the writer can only say that +Betty's rendering of the name of Proudfoot was actually given by a +domestic in her own family, and occasioned considerable bewilderment, +till the quick wit of one of its members solved the riddle. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE LOST FOUND. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +IX. + +THE LOST FOUND. + + +"IS that you, Daisy?" + +"Yes, sir. Is that you, Uncle Frank?" answered Daisy, playfully. + +"Well, I thought it was this morning when I went to town; but I am +doubtful of it now." + +"Why?" asked Daisy, laughing, as she reached up on tiptoe to offer the +kiss with which she always welcomed her uncle on his return from the +city. + +"Baby Daisy is not doubtful, at least," said Mrs. Forster, coming +forward, and putting her little daughter, all crows and smiles, in her +father's arms. "Let her pull your hair a little to convince you of the +fact." + +"It will be difficult," said the General. "There was a man in the cars +so like me, face, height, and figure, that some of my friends were +taking him for me; others accusing me of having a brother whom I have +never owned. He sat two or three seats in front of me, and I could not +help being amused. Ward came in, nodded familiarly to my double, with, +"How are you, General?" passed on to me, stopped, and looked from one +to the other with a mixture of surprise and curiosity that was droll; +then asked for information which I could not give him. It was the same +with many others. I hope the stranger will keep himself out of mischief +while he is in Glenwood, or I may be held responsible for his wrong +doings." + +"Did he come to Glenwood?" asked Daisy. + +"Yes: I left him standing on the platform at the station, and I hardly +knew whether my own carriage belonged to him or to me. However, he made +no claim as I stepped into it." + +"Who was he?" asked Mrs. Forster. "Did not you find out?" + +"No. No one could tell me, and I could not go and ask the man who he +was, merely for the reason that he resembled me so much. There, there, +little woman," as the baby gave a vigorous pull at his hair. "I've +had enough of mamma's proofs, and am satisfied that no other man than +Frank Forster would submit to such usage at these tiny hands. I rather +imagine this stranger came up to look at Beechgrove, which is to let, +as I heard him asking the railway porter in which direction it lay, and +where the agent was to be found." + +A fortnight went by, and nothing more was seen of the stranger who +looked so like General Forster; nor after that evening did the General +or his wife think of him. + +Not so Daisy. She thought often of him with a kind of half wish that +she might see him; why she scarcely knew herself, but she never spoke +of it. She was rather a shy, quiet child, keeping her ideas and wishes +pretty much to herself, unless they were drawn out by some one whom she +loved or trusted; and neither the General nor Mrs. Forster suspected +what was working in her mind. + +Her idea, too, that the General looked so like her own papa, they +regarded only as a childish fancy, ready to see a likeness between +the two she most admired and loved in all the world. And they never +imagined how the child was dreaming and wondering over this unseen +stranger who had had such a passing interest for them. + +Meanwhile, it became certain that Beechgrove, as the place was called, +was taken; for the placards advertising it to rent were taken down, and +the house was going through a thorough cleaning. + +But the General and his wife, being people who never gossiped or +concerned themselves about their neighbors' affairs, did not trouble +themselves in the matter. And those who were curious and asked +questions received no satisfaction from old Dr. Harding, who had charge +of the property. + +All Miss Collins' young scholars, however, thought themselves very much +concerned in the letting of Beechgrove, and with good reason. For a +large aviary belonged to the place, containing many rare and beautiful +birds, and the former owner, who was fond of children, often used to +invite the young people of Glenwood to see these birds, and to amuse +themselves in other ways about his grounds. But since Dr. Harding had +had the care of the place, not a child had been suffered to come within +sight or hearing of the aviary, which had a new charm for them since it +was a forbidden pleasure. + +So the new occupants of Beechgrove, and the question as to whether +they were likely to recover their old privileges there or no, had been +a subject of great interest to our young friends, and they were very +anxious for information on the matter. + +One morning when Daisy came to school, she found the rest of the +class grouped about Mattie Prime and Rosie Pierson, who lived beyond +Beechgrove, and had to pass it on their way to Miss Collins'. + +"The new people have gone to Beechgrove," said Violet Swan, when Daisy +asked what they were talking about; "and Mattie and Rosie saw a little +girl there this morning. We are glad there is a child there, because +maybe having her will make the papa good to other children, and he will +let us go in and see the birds because of her." + +"She's a very little thing," said Rosie. "She can't speak plain. Such a +crooked tongue." + +"But she's very cunning," said Mattie. "We were going past the gate and +she called out to us, 'Itty dirls, itty dirls;' and when we stopped she +put her face through the rails to kiss us, and handed us some flowers +she had. She was real sweet." + +"What is her name?" asked Daisy. + +"We asked her, but we could not make out what she said. Mamy Modwit it +sounded like; but she did speak so crooked," said Mattie. + +"Do you know," said Rosie, "I think she looked like Daisy. Don't you, +Mattie?" + +"Why, so she does," said Mattie. "Isn't that funny? Only Daisy's eyes +always look sorry except when she is laughing or speaking, and that +little girl's were so full of mischief and laughing." + +"How big was she?" asked Lola. + +"Oh, about as large as your sister Bertie. Not near old enough to come +to school." + +"I s'pose there are no other children but her," said Fanny Delisle. +"Willie saw the family come yesterday; and he said there were only the +lady and gentleman, and the little girl and servants. If there are no +children as old as us, maybe it won't come into their heads to let us +see the aviary again." + +This short conversation put an end to the half hope, half wish, that +had been in Daisy's heart. Even supposing the stranger who looked so +like General Forster were the gentleman who had taken Beechgrove, he +could be nothing to her (not until now had she said even to herself +that she had hoped it might be so), for the family did not answer to +her own. She had papa and mamma, little brother Theodore, and a baby +sister, a very little baby; and only this child of three years old or +more seemed to belong to the new-comers; and she had no sister so old. + +Daisy reasoned this all out for herself with a sad, disappointed little +heart, forgetting that time had not stood still with her own family any +more than it had with her, and that changes might have come to them as +well as to herself. + +This was on Friday, and nothing more was seen or heard of the strangers +by Daisy or her playmates, till Sunday came. But then such a strange +and happy thing came to pass, and in such a wonderful way. "Just like a +book thing," Lily Ward afterwards said. + +It was the loveliest of Sabbath days, and every thing seemed to feel it. + +"What day is it, Bertie?" asked Mr. Swan, as his youngest daughter +stood on the piazza steps ready for church. + +"Jesus' happy Sunday," answered the little one; "and, oh, didn't He +mate a nice one!" + +Other people than Bertie thought so; a nice one indeed. + +It was the softest, sweetest, warmest of May Sundays. A busy little +breeze, carrying with it the perfume of the apple-blossoms over which +it had passed, stole in at the open windows of the church, and wandered +around among aisles, pillars, and pews, now fluttering the leaves of +a book, now toying with a ribbon, now tossing a curl upon some sunny +head, now fanning some cheek flushed with a walk in the almost summer +heat. A robin, saucy birdie, swung himself lightly to and fro on the +branch of one of the fine old elms outside the church-door, and poured +forth his hymn of praise; while from far and near came the answering +notes of his mates; and mingling with his song were heard the voices of +the children in the Sunday school beyond, as they sang the closing hymn. + +Then they came trooping in gently, and with soft footsteps, as became +the house of God (honoring His name and His word had taught them also +to honor the place where He was worshipped), and took their places +beside their parents and friends. + +Watching them from one of the pews which ran by the side of the pulpit, +were a pair of roguish, dancing eyes, which Rosie Pierson and Mattie +Prime recognized at once. They were those of the little girl who had +peeped at them through the railing of the Beechgrove grounds. Now they +were peeping over the top of the pew-door as she stood at its foot, +her hands crossed upon it, her chin resting upon them. What a bright, +merry, laughing face it was, and how like Daisy's! General and Mrs. +Forster had noticed it from their seat, which commanded a full view of +that of the strangers. + +Beside the little girl sat a gentleman, half turned from the +congregation, his face partly shaded by his hand; but there could be no +doubt that he was the man who was so like the General. Mrs. Forster saw +the likeness at once, even in the turn and shape of his head. Beyond +him was a lady in deep mourning, closely veiled. + +"Frank must find out who they are," said Mrs. Forster to herself. "That +child is so like Daisy. Can it be--oh, can it be?" Then she tried to +collect her thoughts and bring them back to the service of Him whom she +had come to worship. + +Daisy came in a little behind the rest of the infant class (she had +lingered for a word with her teacher), and took her seat. Almost +immediately her eye fell on the new-comers to Glenwood. Mrs. Forster +saw her start, flush all over, neck and face, and press her small hands +tightly together, as if trying to keep back some exclamation which rose +to her lips. + +With a beating heart the child watched the strangers, striving in vain +to get a better view of the face of the gentleman, gazing from him to +the veiled lady, and then at the little girl. + +The bell ceased tolling, the congregation were gathered, the hour of +service had come, and the clergyman rose in the pulpit. + +But at that moment the lady drew aside her veil; and ere Dr. Parker had +opened his lips, a little voice rang through the still church. + +"Mamma! Oh, my own mamma!" + +How much was in those few words! What a tale they told! What a world of +longing, of love, of joy, they held! + +The stranger lady--ah! no stranger was she to our Daisy--started to her +feet, stretched out her hands, then with a little cry sank fainting +into the arms of the gentleman who had also suddenly arisen. + +She was carried out; General and Mrs. Forster following with the +excited, trembling Daisy; and so the father and mother found the +long-lost child. + +Who could describe it? Who could find words for the joy, the wonder, +the gratitude of those concerned; who tell the sympathy which filled +the hearts of all in that congregation, which dimmed their eyes with +tears, and filled their hearts with adoration, as, before another word +of the morning service was begun, the beloved minister called on all +to render thanks for the great and signal mercy just shown to those +long-parted parents and their little one! + +And now there is little more to tell. Only how Daisy's mamma, and +the little sister whom she remembered only as a tiny baby, had been +rescued from the sinking ship with some of the other passengers; how, +having been unable to trace their lost treasure, and believing that the +boat, with all whom it contained, had gone down in the deep waters, +the parents had gone abroad, where they had remained till a few months +before this time, and so had never seen the advertisements which might +have told them she was still living: all this was soon explained. + +And then Daisy must tell her story, and Betty must come in to help her +out where memory failed and the past was a blank, because of that long, +wasting illness. And how Betty laughed and cried by turns, and would +hear of no praise or thanks for what she had done, declaring that "Miss +Daisy had done her and Jack far more good nor she resaved, taching them +to mind their tongues afore God Almighty." + +And though General and Mrs. Forster must now give up, to her rightful +owners, the darling of whom they had grown so fond, yet they did not +have to part with her altogether; for she was so near to them that they +saw her every day; indeed, the two families became almost as one, and +Daisy felt as if she had two homes. + +The little brother, whom Daisy remembered so well, had gone to a home +beyond the sky, but a few weeks before her father and mother came to +Glenwood. + +And so the Daisy blossom, which had been parted from its parent stem +and cast by the wayside, where stranger hands had gathered and lovingly +tended it, was planted once more in the soil where it belonged, after +it had done the Master's work, and scattered the good seed which budded +for His glory; proving well, that those who "honor" the Lord He will +"delight to honor." + + +[Illustration] + + Cambridge: Press of John Wilson & Son + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAISY'S WORK*** + + +******* This file should be named 44770-8.txt or 44770-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/4/7/7/44770 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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(Joanna Hooe) Mathews</title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .copyright {text-align: center; font-size: 70%;} + .blockquot{margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; font-size: 80%;} + + .adtitle1 {font-size: 200%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + .adtitle2 {font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + + .author {font-size: 120%; text-align: center;} + .authorof {font-size: 60%; text-align: center;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align:baseline; + position: relative; + bottom: 0.33em; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + + h1,h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +hr.chap {width: 65%} + + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.drop-cap { + text-indent: 0em; text-align: justify; +} +.drop-cap:first-letter +{ + float: left; + margin: 0.15em 0.1em 0em 0em; + font-size: 250%; + line-height: .5em; +} +@media handheld +{ + .drop-cap:first-letter + { + float: none; + margin: 0; + font-size: 100%; + } +} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Daisy's Work, by Joanna H. (Joanna Hooe) +Mathews</h1> +<p>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 <a +href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></p> +<p>Title: Daisy's Work</p> +<p> The Third Commandment</p> +<p>Author: Joanna H. (Joanna Hooe) Mathews</p> +<p>Release Date: January 27, 2014 [eBook #44770]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAISY'S WORK***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by Melissa McDaniel, Emmy,<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> + from page images generously made available by<br /> + Internet Archive<br /> + (<a href="https://archive.org">https://archive.org</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + <a href="https://archive.org/details/daisysworkthirdc00mathiala"> + https://archive.org/details/daisysworkthirdc00mathiala</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 482px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="482" height="800" alt="Cover" /> +<p> </p> +</div><div class='tnote'><p><b>Transcriber's Note:</b> This cover was created +by adding text to the plain cover of the original and is placed in the public +domain.</p></div> +<p> </p> +<hr class="chap" /> +<p> </p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 82px;"> +<img src="images/i-001a.jpg" width="82" height="36" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + +<div class='adtitle1'>FLOWERETS.</div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 54px;"> +<img src="images/i-001b.jpg" width="54" height="34" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<div class='adtitle2'>Flowerets.</div> + +<div class='center'><small>A SERIES OF STORIES ON THE COMMANDMENTS.</small><br /> + +<br /> + +<span class='author'><span class="smcap">By JOANNA H. MATHEWS</span>,</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class='authorof'><i>Author of the "Bessie Books."</i></span><br /><br /></div> + + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="book prices"> +<tr><td align="right">I.</td> +<td align="left">VIOLET'S IDOL. <span class="smcap">The First and Second Commandments</span></td><td align="right">$0.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">II.</td> +<td align="left">DAISY'S WORK. <span class="smcap">The Third Commandment</span></td><td align="right">0.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">III.</td> +<td align="left">ROSE'S TEMPTATION. <span class="smcap">The Fourth Commandment</span></td><td align="right">0.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IV.</td> +<td align="left">LILY'S LESSON. <span class="smcap">The Fifth Commandment</span></td><td align="right">0.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">V.</td> +<td align="left">HYACINTHE AND HER BROTHERS. <span class="smcap">The Sixth Commandment</span></td><td align="right">0.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" valign='top'>VI.</td> +<td align="left"><div class='hang1'>PINKIE AND THE RABBITS. <span class="smcap">The Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Commandments</span></div></td> +<td align="right" valign='top'>0.75</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br /><i>The set in a neat box, $4.50.</i><br /> +<br /> +ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS,<br /> +<i>New York</i>.</div> +<hr class="chap" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 378px;"> +<img src="images/i-004.jpg" width="378" height="484" alt="Woman by ironing board , man nad little girl" /> +</div> + + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h1>DAISY'S WORK.</h1> + + +<div class='center'> +<b>The Third Commandment.</b><br /> +<br /> +<small>BY</small><br /> +<span class='author'>JOANNA H. MATHEWS,</span><br /> +<span class='authorof'>AUTHOR OF THE "BESSIE BOOKS."</span><br /><br /><br /></div> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p class="center">"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for +the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."</p><br /> +<p class="center">"Let your communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay; for whatsoever +is more than these cometh of evil."</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 21px;"> +<img src="images/i-005.jpg" width="21" height="32" alt="leaf" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /> +NEW YORK:<br /> +ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS,<br /> +530, <span class="smcap">Broadway</span>.<br /> +1870.<br /> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<div class='copyright'> +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by<br /> +<small>ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS,</small><br /> +In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<small>CAMBRIDGE:</small><br /> +<small>PRESS OF JOHN WILSON AND SON.</small><br /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 162px;"> +<img src="images/i-007a.jpg" width="162" height="55" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'> +TO<br /> +<br /> +<i>MY DEAR LITTLE COUSIN</i>,<br /> +<br /> +LULU CHAUNCEY.<br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 59px;"> +<img src="images/i-007b.jpg" width="59" height="61" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 220px;"> +<img src="images/i-009a.jpg" width="220" height="37" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align="left"> </td> +<td align="left"> </td> +<td align="right"><small>PAGE</small></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">I.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Little Flower-Girl</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">II.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Cluster of Daisies</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">III.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Daisy Transplanted</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">IV.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Daisy's Sister Flowerets</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">V.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Daisy at Study</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_107">107</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">VI.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Daisy a Teacher</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">VII.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Swearing Class</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">VIII.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Daisy's Name</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td align="right">IX.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Lost Found</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_201">201</a></td> +</tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 61px;"> +<img src="images/i-009b.jpg" width="61" height="65" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 196px;"> +<img src="images/i-011.jpg" width="196" height="39" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>THE LITTLE FLOWER-GIRL.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 70px;"> +<img src="images/i-011b.jpg" width="70" height="60" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/i-013.jpg" width="312" height="118" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>DAISY'S WORK.</h2> + + + + +<h2>I.<br /> + +<small>THE LITTLE FLOWER-GIRL.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>THERE stood our Daisy. What +a Daisy it was too; what a fair, +sweet floweret; pure and innocent-looking +as the blossoms over which +she bent. There she stood beside +her basket of flowers, a little spot of +brightness and beauty amidst all the +dust and heat and turmoil of the +noisy street, on that warm summer +afternoon.</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was a street which ran beside a +great railroad depot. Porters, carmen, +and hackmen were calling, shouting, +and swearing; passengers were +hurrying by to catch the trains which +were starting every few minutes; carriages +driving up with their loads of +ladies and children; and farther down +the street were great trucks laden +with freight, and express-wagons filled +with baggage, which the railroad +porters were unloading with a great +amount of noise and crash; and +amongst it all was Daisy, standing +opposite the door of the ladies' entrance.</p> + +<p>But not one of all those passers-by +knew that she was a "Daisy," or +that those were her namesakes which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +she held so lovingly in her little +hands. Now and then one stopped +to buy one of the five or ten cent bouquets, +so tastefully arranged, which +lay in her basket; and almost all who +did so had a kind word to give the +child; for there was something in her +look and air which pleaded for tenderness +and sympathy. It did not +seem that this was her proper place; +for even in her homely dress she +looked so dainty and delicate, and +moved and spoke so like a little lady, +that it was easy to see that she had +been accustomed to a different kind +of life. But all who noticed her, or +stopped to buy her flowers, were in +such haste that none had time for +more than a passing interest in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +child, and contented themselves with +wondering and pitying.</p> + +<p>Down the street came a lady with +a little girl, the latter skipping and +jumping as she held her mother's +hand. No wonder the little one was +happy, and as full of play and merry +pranks as any kitten; for she had +been spending such a pleasant day +with mamma in the city, and was +now going back with "such lots to +tell about and heaps of pretty things" +to her own lovely country home.</p> + +<p>"Oh, see, mamma!" she said, as +her eye fell upon the other child, +"see those pretty flowers that dear +little girl is selling. She is just about +as large as Lola Swan, and <i>don't</i> +she look nice and sweet. Won't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +you buy some flowers from her, +mamma?"</p> + +<p>"You have plenty of flowers at +home, dear Lily, and we have about +as much as we can carry now," answered +her mother.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear mamma, but those little +brenkays" (bouquets, Lily meant) +"would take up such a tiny mite of +room, and I want you to buy some +for kindness to the little girl. She +looks so sorry out of her eyes, mamma."</p> + +<p>Moved by the pleadings of her +little daughter, Mrs. Ward turned +toward the flower-girl, whom in her +hurry she had nearly passed without +a look, and asked the price of her +bouquets.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What a pretty pot of daisies! +Can't I have that, mamma?" asked +Lily.</p> + +<p>But at this the flower-girl drew +back and put one hand over the pot +of daisies she held in the other, as if +she feared it was to be taken from +her by force.</p> + +<p>"I'll ask papa to carry them for +me, mamma," said Lily.</p> + +<p>"Ho! ho!" said a cheery voice +behind her, "so you think papa has +nothing better to do than turn expressman +and carry all your traps, do you? +I wonder how many bundles are already +waiting in the depot for me to +put safely in the cars;" and turning +about Lily saw her father, who had +overtaken his wife and little girl.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh! lots and lots!" said Lily, +jumping about with new glee as she +saw him. "We bought something +for everybody, papa; and I bought a +present for your birthday to-morrow; +but it is a secret. Mamma is going +to fill it with ink and I'll put it on +your writing-table 'fore you come +down in the morning; but you won't +ask what it is, will you?"</p> + +<p>"Not on any account," said Mr. +Ward. "But you must make haste +and buy your flowers, or we shall not +find good seats in the cars. So you +want these daisies, do you? How +much are they, my child?"</p> + +<p>But again the flower-girl drew back.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't sell them, sir," she said; +"at least not now, not if,——"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh! they are for some favorite +customer, hey? You see, Lily, you +can't have them. Well, pick out +your bouquets; we'll hang them about +our necks if we can't carry them any +other way," said Mr. Ward. "This +is the little girl I told you about, my +dear," turning to his wife, who had +been looking at the sweet, sad face +of the young flower vender.</p> + +<p>"What is your name, my child?" +asked the lady.</p> + +<p>"My name is—they call me Margaret," +said the child, with hesitation +in her voice and manner, and a sudden +flush breaking over her face.</p> + +<p>"There," said Mr. Ward, when, +having paid for the flowers which +Lily had chosen, he hurried his wife<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +and daughter away; "there, my dear, +I did not say too much about that +child, did I?"</p> + +<p>"Why no," said Mrs. Ward, looking +back to the small figure beside its +basket of flowers, "there is certainly +something very interesting about her. +Her speech and manner, as well as +her looks, are strangely refined and +lady-like for one in her position. I +wish we had time to talk more to +her."</p> + +<p>The flower-girl looked after them +and sighed,—a long, weary sigh, as +she watched the frolicsome Lily.</p> + +<p>"Most all little girls have their fathers +and mothers," she said softly to +herself; "but I don't have either. I +wonder why God did take both of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +mine away; if He didn't know how +lonesome I would be, or why He +didn't take me too. I don't see what +good I can be to Him all alone by +myself, except Betty and Jack. But +then He knows, and maybe He only +wants me to be patient till He's ready +to take me."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 347px;"> +<img src="images/i-023.jpg" width="347" height="465" alt="boy and girl and woman" /> +</div> + +<p>But the wistful eyes brightened +again, as, having watched Lily and +her friends disappear within the door +of the depot, she turned them the +other way to see if new customers +were coming.</p> + +<p>"There he comes," she said, as her +eye fell upon a tall, broad-shouldered +gentleman coming down the street, +"soldier" written in every line and +motion of his figure, from the erect,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +stately head, down to the ringing, +military tread of his firm foot.</p> + +<p>"Good afternoon, little woman," +he said, returning with a pleasant +smile her welcoming look; "is my +wife's bouquet all ready?"</p> + +<p>Taking from the corner of her +basket a bouquet somewhat larger +than the rest, and of rather choicer +flowers, she held it up to him.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," she said, as she +received the price; and then, with +rising color, added, "would it be too +much trouble to carry this to the +lady?"</p> + +<p>"Too much trouble? No! How +much is it?" he said, putting his hand +again into his pocket.</p> + +<p>"Oh! sir, I didn't mean that. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +didn't want to sell it, but to give it +to you, if you would take it to the +lady you buy flowers for every day. +I want to send it to her because you +are so kind to me, and because—because +you put me in mind of—of +somebody."</p> + +<p>"That is it, is it?" said the gentleman. +"Well, I can't refuse such a +pretty gift, so prettily offered. And +who do I put you in mind of, pray?"</p> + +<p>"Of my papa, sir. You do look +like him."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" said the gentleman, +not much pleased at the idea that he +was like the father of this little poor +child, above her station though she +looked. "And these are daisies, hey? +My wife will like them."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + +<p>"General, do you mean to miss the +train?" said an acquaintance, as he +passed.</p> + +<p>"Not with my own consent, certainly," +said the gentleman. "I shall +thank you for the lady to-morrow, +my little girl."</p> + +<p>But as he turned to go, his foot +slipped upon a piece of orange-peel, +thrown down by some careless person, +and he had nearly fallen. He +would have been down altogether but +for his little companion; but as he +involuntarily put out his hand, she +caught it; and that support, frail and +slight as it was, was sufficient to +steady him.</p> + +<p>Kind of heart, noble and generous +though he was, the soldier was hasty-tempered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +and quick, and an oath—a +fearful oath—burst from his lips.</p> + +<p>"Ah, you were my good angel. +You have saved me from a bad fall," +he said almost in the same breath, +but in a very different tone and manner, +as he turned to the child.</p> + +<p>His good angel! Ah, yes! More +than he knew, his good angel. Those +little hands should from this time hold +him from falling into the sin of which +he had just been guilty.</p> + +<p>Years ago General Forster would +have been shocked at the thought +of letting such words escape his +lips, though even then he was none +too reverent or careful in speaking of +sacred persons or things; but in the +bustle and excitement of war he had,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +alas! like many another brave man, +allowed himself to fall into the habit +of taking God's holy name in vain. +But careless though he might be +before men in moments of forgetfulness, +or when his hasty temper got +the better of him, he seldom or never +suffered himself to use such words +before women or children; why, you +shall learn.</p> + +<p>"Why, have I hurt you?" he asked, +seeing with surprise her startled +and troubled face.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, oh! no," she answered, +catching her breath, "but, but"—</p> + +<p>"Well, but what?"</p> + +<p>"But I am so sorry;" and that she +was so was proved, as she covered +her face with her hands and burst +into tears.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sorry for what?" he asked.</p> + +<p>She gave him no answer, but shrank +a little away.</p> + +<p>"Sorry for what?" he repeated, as +if determined to know; and the tone +of command, which seemed to say +he was used to instant obedience, +forced her to speak, whether she +would or no.</p> + +<p>"Sorry for those words you said, +sir," she sobbed.</p> + +<p>"Those words? What words?" +But his question answered itself as it +was spoken; for his wicked words, +which but for this would have been +forgotten the next instant, came back +to him, and he stood rebuked before +this poor little flower-girl. He repented +already; but repented only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +because he had distressed this simple +child, in whom he took so much interest, +not yet because he had grieved +and offended the Holy One whose +name he had profaned.</p> + +<p>Still he was vexed too.</p> + +<p>"Why, you don't mean to say," he +said rather impatiently, "that you +never hear such words as those, +standing here as you do, half the day, +with those rough men and boys about +you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, sir!" she said, plaintively. +"I do hear such words, often, +often. I try not to; but I can't help +it, you see; and it makes me so sorry. +But I thought those poor men and +boys could not know how to read, +and had never been taught better,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +or perhaps they did not know what +God had said in His commandments. +But I did not think gentlemen said +such things; and I liked you <i>so</i> +much."</p> + +<p>And did she like him less now? +He, the <i>gentleman</i>, the rich man, felt +that he could not wish to lose the respect +and liking of this little child +whom he thought so far beneath him, +and he was ashamed and sorry. He +knew that it was not impertinence, +but only her innocent simplicity and +truthfulness, which had caused her to +say what she did. But to know that +he was in the wrong and to acknowledge +it, were one and the same thing +with this true-hearted man.</p> + +<p>"You are right, Margaret," he said,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +forgetting how fast the moments were +flying. "<i>Gentlemen</i> should not say +such things, especially before ladies +and children. It is bad manners; +but I forgot myself just then."</p> + +<p>She took her hands from her face +and looked up at him. There was +an unspoken question in the clear, +earnest eyes, and it was plain that +she was not yet satisfied.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said smiling at her, +"what troubles you still? Let me +have it all."</p> + +<p>"I was only thinking what difference +could it make, sir."</p> + +<p>"What difference could what +make?"</p> + +<p>"Whether it was ladies and children +who heard it, sir," she answered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +timidly. "God hears it all the same, +doesn't He? And it can't make any +difference to Him who else hears it."</p> + +<p>She looked up as she spoke at the +blue sky overhead, and the look and +the words brought to him a sudden +sense of God's constant presence and +nearness. He had known it well +enough before,—that the Almighty +Eye saw him always; that the Almighty +Ear heard him always; but he +had never felt it as he did now. The +gentle, timid reproof had gone far +deeper than the little giver had intended, +and her hearer felt ashamed +that he had confessed to her that he +would pay a respect to a woman or +child which he did not feel it needful +to pay to his Maker. He could make +her no answer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>"<i>You</i> behind time, General?" said +the voice of another friend as he hurried +past; and the scream of the +warning whistle told the gentleman +that he had no time to lose.</p> + +<p>"I'll see you to-morrow. Good-by, +my child. God bless you," he +said hurriedly, and rushed away.</p> + +<p>But just in time; he was the last +passenger, and stepped upon the platform +of a car as the train was put in +motion. The jar threw him once +more a little off his balance, and he +caught by the rail to save himself, +while again hasty, profane words rose +to his lips.</p> + +<p>But they did not pass them. What +though no human ear should hear; +"God heard them all the same," and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +they were checked before even the +summer wind could catch them; and +in their place the angels carried up +the heart-breathed prayer, "God keep +me from them in time to come."</p> + +<p>His next neighbor in the cars +thought General Forster remarkably +silent and unsociable that afternoon. +He would not talk, but buried himself +behind his newspaper. If the +neighbor had looked closer he would +have seen that the General's eyes +were fixed, not on the paper held before +his face, but on the little pot of +daisies which rested on his knee. +And over the delicate pink and white +blossoms was breathed a vow,—a +vow registered in heaven and faithfully +kept on earth.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 164px;"> +<img src="images/i-037a.jpg" width="164" height="42" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>A CLUSTER OF DAISIES.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 71px;"> +<img src="images/i-037b.jpg" width="71" height="56" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a><br /><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 303px;"> +<img src="images/i-039.jpg" width="303" height="132" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>II.<br /> + +<small>A CLUSTER OF DAISIES.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>"WHAT are you thinking of, +Frank?" said Mrs. Forster, +looking at her husband as he stood +leaning against the casing of the window, +gazing thoughtfully out at the +lovely garden beyond.</div> + +<p>"Of a bad habit of mine," he answered.</p> + +<p>"You have none; at least none +that I cannot put up with," she said +playfully.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's not the question, dear +Gertrude," he returned gravely. "It +is whether my Maker can put up with +it, and I believe that He cannot, since +he has said He 'will not hold him +guiltless that taketh His name in +vain.'"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Forster colored as she bent +her head over the sleeping baby on +her lap.</p> + +<p>"You did not know, perhaps," her +husband said, after a minute's silence, +"that I was ever guilty of this—sin?"</p> + +<p>"I did know it, Frank; at least I +have heard you now and then, when +you were speaking to your dogs and +horses, or even when you were a +little impatient with the men. But +you did not mean me to hear such<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +words; and I noticed you never used +them in my presence."</p> + +<p>"No," he said a little sadly: "I +would not speak in my wife's presence +words which were not fit for +her to hear; but I forgot an ear still +purer, which I was insulting and defying. +That is the second thrust I +have had to-day, Gertrude, which has +made me feel that I have treated the +Almighty with less of reverence and +respect than I would show to some +of my fellow-creatures. Let me tell +you of the innocent lesson I received +from the little flower-girl, who sent +the daisies to you."</p> + +<p>And sitting down beside her, he +told her of the teaching which had +come to him from the little wayside<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +blossom; to whose lonely, thirsting +heart his few kind words and smiles +had been as drops of dew from +heaven.</p> + +<p>But even while they talked of her +and her pretty lady-like ways and +sayings, which seemed so far above +her station, they did not know she +was a "Daisy," and that those were +her namesakes over which Mrs. Forster +bent, dropping happy tears and +kisses on them, mingled with many a +blessing on the little giver.</p> + +<p>Plucking one of the flowers from +the stem, she opened her baby's tiny +hand and placed it within it. The +fairy fingers closed around it, clasping +it tight, while the unconscious little +one slept on.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Her name is Gertrude, but we'll +call her Daisy, Frank, as soon as +she is old enough to be called any +thing but baby," said the young +mother, "and her pretty pet name may +serve as a reminder of this day's lesson, +if ever it should be forgotten."</p> + +<p>"You think I may need it," said +her husband, smiling. "I trust not; +for the sin, to say nothing of the vulgarity, +of taking God's name in vain, +has been set forth so plainly by my +innocent little teacher, that I must +have a short memory, indeed, if I +failed to remember her lesson. She +thought <i>gentlemen</i> must know better."</p> + +<p>"But, dear," said the lady, "you +said you would inquire about this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +child, and see if we could not be of +some use to her."</p> + +<p>"So I did," he answered; "and so I +will, and should have done long since; +but day after day I have let business +or pleasure keep me till I had but just +time to catch the train, and none to +bestow on the poor little creature +who seems to have been so grateful +for the few kind words I have given +her. You think I am rather fanciful +about this child, I know, Gertrude; +but I am convinced that some of her +few years must have been spent +among different people than those by +whom she is now surrounded. Nor +am I the only one of her customers +who has noticed the grace of her +speech and manners, so uncommon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +in a child of her class. Ward, and +others beside, have seen it; but like +myself have never made it their business +to see after her. However, to-morrow +afternoon, I shall make it a +point to be at the depot in time to +have a talk with her. I wonder if +the woman who keeps the fruit-stall +at the corner, and whose child I believe +she is, would give her up and +let her go to school."</p> + +<p>He was as good as his word; and +more than an hour earlier than usual, +our little flower-girl saw "her gentleman" +coming down the street towards +the depot. It was an eager, +wistful little face, with some questioning +fear in it, that she raised to him, +for she was anxious lest she should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +have offended her kind friend, as she +had learned to think him, by her +plain speech of the day before.</p> + +<p>She had scarcely meant to speak +so plainly; the words had seemed to +escape her without her intending it, +and, it was true, had been drawn forth +by the gentleman's own questions; +but when she remembered them afterwards +she feared that he would think +her rude and disrespectful.</p> + +<p>She need not have been afraid. +His eye and voice were even kinder +than usual as he came near to her, +and he laid his hand gently on her +head, saying,—</p> + +<p>"Well, my little woman! and how +does the world go with you to-day? +The lady told me to thank you very +much for the daisies."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> + +<p>The young face brightened.</p> + +<p>"Did she like them, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Very much indeed,—all the more +because she has a little one at home +whom she is going to call 'Daisy' +after your pretty flowers."</p> + +<p>"Is she your little girl, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, she is a mite of a Daisy, but +a very precious one," he answered; +then looking into the flushed face, +with its soft, shining eyes and parted +lips, he added, "You are a Daisy +yourself."</p> + +<p>The flowers she held dropped at +her feet unheeded as she clasped both +hands upon her breast, and with quick-coming +breath and filling eyes, asked +eagerly, "How <i>did</i> you know it, sir? +how did you know it?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Know what, my child? What +troubles you?"</p> + +<p>"How did you know I was Daisy?" +she almost gasped.</p> + +<p>"I did not know it," he answered +in surprise. "Is your name Daisy? +I thought it was Margaret."</p> + +<p>"They call me Margaret, sir,—Betty +and Jack; but Daisy is my <i>own</i>, +<i>own</i> name, that papa and mamma +called me," she answered, recovering +herself a little.</p> + +<p>"And where are your papa and +mamma?" he asked. "I thought the +woman who keeps the fruit-stall at +the corner was your mother."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, sir!" she said. "She is +only Betty. She is very good to me, +but she is not mamma. Mamma was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +a lady," she added, with simple, childish +dignity, which told that she was +a lady herself.</p> + +<p>"But <i>where</i> are your father and +mother?" he repeated, with fresh interest +in the child.</p> + +<p>"Mamma is drowned, sir; and we +could never find papa," she answered, +with such pathos in her tones.</p> + +<p>"Come into the depot with me," +said General Forster: "I want to talk +to you."</p> + +<p>She obeyed, and, taking up her +basket, followed him into the waiting-room, +where, heedless of the many +curious eyes around, he made her sit +down beside him, and drew from her +her sad, simple story:—how long, +long ago she had lived with papa and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +mamma and her little brother and +baby sister in their own lovely home, +far away from here; where it was, +she did not know, but in quite a different +place from the great bustling +city which she had never seen +till she came here with Betty and +Jack; how she had left home with +mamma and the baby on a great ship, +where to go she could not remember; +how Betty was on board, and +mamma had been kind to her; how +a dreadful storm had come and there +was great confusion and terror; and +then it seemed as if she went to sleep +for a long, long time, and knew nothing +more till she found herself living +with Betty and Jack in their poor +home far up in the city.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>They had been very good to her, +nursing and caring for her during the +many months she had been weak and +ailing; and now that she was stronger +and better, she tried to help them +all she could, keeping the two small +rooms tidy, while Betty was away +attending to her stall; and in the +afternoon selling the flowers which +Jack raised in his little garden, and +she arranged in tasteful bouquets. +And, lastly, she told how from the +very first time she had seen General +Forster, she thought he "looked so +like papa" that she felt as if she must +love him, and was so happy when he +stopped to buy flowers of her and +spoke kindly to her.</p> + +<p>The story was told with a straightforward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +and simple pathos, which +went right to the listener's heart, and +left him no doubt of its truth. But +the child could tell nothing of her +own name or her parents', save that +she was always called "Daisy" at +home, and that she had never since +heard the familiar name until to-day, +when she thought this stranger had +given it to her. Betty and Jack always +called her "Margaret;" and +Betty thought she knew mamma's +name, but she did not. But she loved +daisies dearly for the sake of their +name, which had been her own; and +she had raised and tended with loving +care the little plant she had given to +"my gentleman" as a token of gratitude +for his kindness, and because he +was "so like papa."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + +<p>Having learned all that he could +from the child herself, the gentleman +went to the fruit-woman on the +corner.</p> + +<p>"So," he said, "the little girl whom +you call Margaret is not your own +daughter?"</p> + +<p>"Indade, no, sir," answered Betty; +"niver a daughter of me own have I +barrin' Jack, and he's not me own at +all, but jist me sister's son what died, +lavin' him a babby on me hands. +More betoken that it's not a little +lady like her that the likes of me +would be raisin', unless she'd none +of her own to do it."</p> + +<p>"Will you tell me how that came +about?"</p> + +<p>Betty told the story in her turn,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +in as plain and simple a manner as +the child's, though in language far +different.</p> + +<p>Her husband had been steward on +a sailing vessel running between New +Orleans and New York; and about +three years ago, she, being sick and +ordered change of air, had been allowed +to go with him for the voyage. +But it made her worse instead of +better; and on the return trip she +would have died, Betty declared, if it +had not been for the kindness and +tender nursing of a lady, "Margaret's" +mother. This lady—"her name had +been Saacyfut, she believed, but +maybe she disremembered intirely, +for Marga<i>ret</i> said it was not"—was +on her way to New York with her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +little girl who was sick, a baby, and +a French nurse; but her home was +neither there nor in New Orleans,—at +least so the child afterwards said.</p> + +<p>Her own account of the storm was +the same as the child's; but while the +recollection of the little one could go +no further, Betty remembered only +too well the horrors of that day.</p> + +<p>When it was found that the ship +must sink, and that all on board must +leave her, there had been, as the little +girl said, great confusion. How it +was, Betty could not exactly tell; +she had been placed in one boat, the +French nurse, with the child in her +arms, beside her; and the lady was +about to follow with the infant, when +a spar fell, striking the Frenchwoman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +on the head and killing her instantly, +knocking overboard one of the three +sailors who were in the boat,—while +at the same time the boat was parted +from the ship and at the mercy of the +raging waves. In vain did the two +sailors who were left try to regain +the ship: they were swept further +and further away, and soon lost sight +of the vessel. They drifted about all +night, and the next morning were +taken up by a fishing-smack which +brought them to New York.</p> + +<p>Fright and exposure and other +hardships, while they seemed to have +cured Betty, were too much for the +poor little girl, and a long and terrible +illness followed: after which +she lay for months, too weak to move<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +or speak, and appearing to have lost +all memory and sense. And when at +last she grew better and stronger, and +reason and recollection came back, +she could not tell the name of her +parents or her home.</p> + +<p>"Marga<i>ret</i> Saacyfut," Betty persisted +in saying the French nurse had +called her little charge, "Mamsell +Marga<i>ret</i>," "and if the lady's name +wasn't Saacyfut it was mightily nigh +to it."</p> + +<p>"Marguerite" had been the French +woman's name for "Daisy:" that the +General saw plainly enough, but he +could make nothing of the surname.</p> + +<p>"But did you not seek for the +child's friends, Betty?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"'Deed did I, sir," she answered.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +"Didn't I even ad<i>ver</i>tise her, an' how +she was to be heerd of, but all to no +good. An' I writ to New Orleans to +them what owned the ship, but they +were that oncivil they niver answered, +not they. An' it took a hape of money, +sir, to be payin' the paper, an' me such +hard work to get along, an' Marga<i>ret</i> +on me hands, an' I had to be done +with it. For ye see me man was +gone wid the ship, an' niver heerd of +along wid the rest to this day; an' I +had to use up the bit he'd put by +in the savin's bank till the child was +mendin' enough for me to lave her +wid Jack."</p> + +<p>"It was a very generous thing for +you to burden yourself with the care +of her," said General Forster.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Burden is it, sir? Niver a burden +was she, the swate lamb, not even +when the sense had left her. An' +that was what the neighbors was always +a sayin', and why didn't I put +her in the hospital. An' why would +I do that after the mother of her +savin' me from a buryin' in the say, +which I niver could abide. For sure +if it hadn't been for the lady I'd 'a +died on the ould ship, and they'd +'a chucked me overboard widout +sayin' by your lave; and sure I'd +niver have got over such a buryin' as +that all the days of me life. And +would I be turnin' out her child afther +that? An' isn't she payin' me for it +now, an' 'arnin' her livin,' an' mine +too? She an' Jack tends the bit of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +a garden, an' arternoons she comes +down an' sells her flowers, an' +where'd be the heart to refuse her +wid her pretty ways and nice manners; +a lady every inch of her, like +her mother before her."</p> + +<p>And thrusting her head out from +her stall, Betty gazed down the street +with admiring affection on her young +<i>protégée</i>.</p> + +<p>"Och! but she's the jewel of a +child," she went on; "and it is surprisin' +how me and Jack is improved +and become ginteel all along of her. +Ye see, sir, I did use to say a hape of +words that maybe wer'n't jist so; not +that I meant 'em for swearin', but it +was jist a way of spakin'. But after +Marga<i>ret</i> began to mend and get<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +about, ye would have thought she +was kilt intirely if I let one out of +me mouth. So seein' how it hurted +her, I jist minded what I was about, +an' Jack the same, for he was a boy +that swore awful, poor fellow; he'd +been left to himself, and how was he +to know better? At first him and me +minded our tongues, for that the child +shouldn't be hurted; but by and by +didn't she make it plain to us that it +was the great Lord himself what we +was offendin', and knowin' she'd been +tached better nor me, I jist heeded +her. And now, sir, them words that +I never thought no harm of and used +to come so aisy, I jist leave them out +of me spache widout troublin'; and a +deal better it sounds, and widout<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +doubt more plasin' to Him that's +above. And Jack the same mostly, +though he does let one slip now and +agin. So ye see, sir, it's not a burden +she is at all, at all, but jist a little bit +of light and comfort to the house that +houlds her."</p> + +<p>Glad to find a listener in a "gintleman +the likes of him," Betty had +talked away to the gentlemen, so taken +up with her story, that she paid little +heed to the business of her stall. +She made wrong change more than +once, gave quarts instead of pints, +oranges in place of apples, and peanuts +for sugar-plums, and provoked +some impatient customers not a little; +while one wicked boy, seeing her attention +was taken up with something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +else, ran off without paying for the +pop-corn he asked for, and was not +called back.</p> + +<p>But Betty lost nothing by the time +and thought she had given to the +gentleman, or the interest she had +shown in her young charge, as she +found when she looked at the number +upon the note he slipped into her +hand when he left her: a note which +the warm-hearted Irishwoman laid by +"to buy that new gown and pair of +shoes Margaret needed so bad."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/i-063.jpg" width="100" height="52" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a><br /><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 144px;"> +<img src="images/i-065a.jpg" width="144" height="47" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>THE DAISY TRANSPLANTED.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 28px;"> +<img src="images/i-065b.jpg" width="28" height="41" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a><br /><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 286px;"> +<img src="images/i-067.jpg" width="286" height="65" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + +<h2>III.<br /> + +<small>THE DAISY TRANSPLANTED.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>"BETTY," said General Forster, +stopping the next morning at +the fruit-woman's stall, "could you +make up your mind to give up that +little girl if you were sure it was for +her good?"</div> + +<p>Betty sighed and shook her head +mournfully as she answered,—</p> + +<p>"I've always looked to give her +up, sir, if them Saacyfuts, or whatever +their name'll be, turned up, and +if it was for her good, sorra a word<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +would they hear out of me, though I +won't say but it would go hard with +me and Jack. But ye'll not be tellin' +me ye've been findin' her friends since +last night, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Not the people she belongs to, +certainly, Betty; but I have found +those who will be friends to her, and +provide for her, if you will consent. +She should go to school and be well +taught: do you not think so?"</p> + +<p>"Indade, an' there's none knows +that better nor meself, sir. An' is it +yerself that's the friend ye're spakin' +of?" and Betty gave a searching look +into the gentleman's face.</p> + +<p>He smiled. "Yes," he said: "I +would like to put her to school and +take care of her. She seems a sweet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +child, and a good one. And you see, +Betty, I have it in my power to do +more to find her friends than you are +able to do, and we may trace them yet. +If we never find them, I will promise +to provide for her as long as it may +be necessary. Are you willing?"</p> + +<p>Betty again stared into the face of +her questioner as if she would look +him through.</p> + +<p>"I'm sinsible of your kindness, +sir," she answered; "but ye see I'm +in a way risponsible for the child, not +to say that she is as dear to me as me +own flesh and blood, and I'd say +'yis,' and thank ye kindly, but—ye'll +excuse me plain spakin'—ye're +a stranger to me, and I couldn't be +partin' wid Marga<i>ret</i> widout I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +certified as to yer ka<i>rac</i>ter. For if I +didn't think she'd be brought up right, +niver a foot should she stir to go wid +ye. I seen Miss Gertrude Allston a +walkin' wid ye once last summer, sir, +jist after I set up me stand here, but +she niver heeded me wid her swate +face. But I used to be laundress in +her mother's house afore I was married, +and a swate child was Miss +Gertrude and a good as ye're sayin' +of Marga<i>ret</i>, and she'll niver go far +wrong, I'll answer for it. So, if ye'll +jist bring me a line from her and +she says ye're all right, I'll not say +ye nay."</p> + +<p>General Forster laughed heartily, +not one whit offended at Betty's +"plain spakin'."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Miss Gertrude Allston, as you +call her, will give me all the lines +you want, Betty; and she thought me +right enough to marry me. She is +my wife,—Mrs. Forster."</p> + +<p>"An' is it so, sir?" said Betty, +dropping the rosy-cheeked apple she +was polishing, and gazing at the +gentleman with a mixture of curiosity +and admiration that was droll to +see. "Well, but ye're in luck; and +if it's Miss Gertrude that has the +managin' of ye, that's ka<i>rac</i>ter enough +of itself, an' I'll say take the child an' +my blessin' on all of yees. But when +she gets among yer fine folks, ye'll +not let her be forgettin' the woman +what cared for her when there was +none else to do it: will ye, sir? An'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +ye'll be lettin' me see her once in a +while?"</p> + +<p>There is no need to say that this was +readily promised, and the General +went on to tell Betty what plans he +and his wife had for Daisy. She was +to be taken for a while to his home, +where Mrs. Forster would provide her +with proper clothing; and then send +her to Miss Collins' boarding-school +to be taught and trained in a way to +satisfy her friends if they should ever +find her, or that she might one day +be able to earn her own living, if it +should be needful.</p> + +<p>"An' I'm glad she should have the +bringin' up of a lady which is what +I couldn't give her," said Betty, with +another sigh, for it went to her heart<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +to part with her darling; "but ye'll +not be able to make her more of a +lady nor she is now; no, not if ye +dress her in gould and jewels, an' silks +an' satins. Niver a rough word nor +way has she with her, if she has been +with me and Jack more nor two year, +nor ye couldn't find a purtier behaved +child in all the land."</p> + +<p>An hour or two later, Betty, having +found a friend to "mind" her +stall for her, guided General Forster +to the tiny house in the suburbs of +the city where she lived with Daisy +and Jack.</p> + +<p>The two children were out in the +little garden gathering the flowers +which were to be tied up in bouquets +for Daisy's afternoon sale; and great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +was their surprise, when the sound of +the gate-latch causing them to look +up, they saw Betty coming home at +this unusual hour of the day, and the +gentleman with her. Their business +was soon told; but although Daisy +flushed and smiled with astonishment +and delight when she heard what the +"gentleman who looked so like papa" +meant to do for her, the little face +soon shadowed over again, and she +shook her head gently but firmly +when she was asked if she would +go.</p> + +<p>"An' why for no, dear?" asked +Betty. "Sure ye'd niver be for +throwin' away a chance the likes of +that, not to spake of it's bein' ongrateful +to the gintleman's kindness, an' he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +no more nor less than the husband of +Miss Gertrude."</p> + +<p>But Daisy shook her head again; +and then first begging the gentleman's +pardon, as a polite little girl +should do, stepped up to her faithful +friend, and putting her arms about +her neck whispered something in her +ear.</p> + +<p>The tears she had before with +trouble kept back now started to +Betty's eyes.</p> + +<p>"Och, an' is it that, honey?" she +said in her broadest brogue, "an' +ye'll not let that be thrubblin' yer +dear heart. What a tinder, grateful +little sowl it is! Ye see, sir," she +went on, turning to the General, while +she smoothed with her loving hand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +the little head which lay upon her +breast, "ye see, sir, it's just as I tellt +ye. She's a lady, every inch of her, +an' has feelin's that's jist oncommon. +An' there's a matter of back rint jew, +it's more'n a year, though me landlord +he's as good as gould, an' a bill +at the poticary's, an' little scores at +the baker's an' grocers what I niver +got paid off yet, not since the child +was sick an' I couldn't rightly make +things go; an' she says she won't be +lavin' us now that she can turn a +penny wid her posies an' help along."</p> + +<p>Drawing the child to him, General +Forster whispered to her in his turn, +promising that the "back rint" and +other "scores" should be paid off +without delay if she would but come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +with him; and Daisy, feeling herself +nearer home and friends than she had +ever done since the dreadful day of +the shipwreck, when she was parted +from "mamma," put her hand trustingly +in his to be led where he +would.</p> + +<p>But the parting went hard. Daisy +could not leave those who had been +so kind, and shared their little all +with her, without many a bitter tear. +Betty kissed her and clung to her +and called down all heaven's blessings +on her head; and Jack hung +over the gate, uttering frantic howls +as he watched the sobbing child led +away by her new protector. Not +one thought gave Jack to his fourteen +years; not one to the "fellers from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +beyant the lot," who, drawn by his +cries, came flocking to see what ailed +him who was all their terror and +admiration: their admiration, because +he was bigger, stronger, braver than +any other boy of his age among their +crew; their terror, because of late he +allowed no bad word to be used in +his presence, banishing all who offended +in that way from their games, +choosing as his favorites and chief +companions those who were most +careful not to take God's name in +vain. So cursing and swearing had +come to be much less frequent than +of old among the lanes and lots lying +around the humble house where the +little Daisy had bloomed and grown +during the last two years, dropping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +upon the path which God had chosen +for her good seed of which she knew +not herself.</p> + +<p>Betty went back to her stand with +a heavy heart, knowing that when +she went home that night she should +miss the sweet little face which had +brightened and cheered her after many +a hard day's work; but she was half-consoled +for her own loss when she +saw Daisy coming down the street +holding General Forster's hand. For +the General's first care had been to +take the little girl to a place where +children's clothes could be had ready-made; +and where he had her fitted +out, as Betty said, "as nice as a new +pin and as became the little lady she +was by right."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Daisy was as much a lady in +the coarse but clean calico frock and +patched shoes she had worn yesterday, +as she was now in the nice +clothes provided for her by General +Forster; for it was the sweet manners +and pretty ways she had never lost +which made her so, and the new garments +covered as warm and loving a +little heart as the old ones had done. +And so Betty found, and knew that +pride would have no place there, +when, as she reached the stand, Daisy +drew her hand from the gentleman's, +and running behind the stall as she +had many a time done when she was +eager to show Betty what a good +afternoon's sale she had made with +her flowers, threw her arms about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +her neck and kissed her again and +again as lovingly as she had done +when she had no other friend in the +world.</p> + +<p>Gentle Mrs. Forster gave Daisy a +warm welcome to her new home; +and the manner in which the child +fell at once into the ways and habits +of those about her plainly showed +that they were not new to her, but +that she had at some time been well +accustomed to a different life than +that she had led for the last two +years.</p> + +<p>She had ways of her own, too, that +were very charming: a pretty, dainty +grace in her behavior and speech; a +thoughtfulness and care for others, +surprising in any child of her age,—for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +Daisy could not be more than +eight years old,—and particularly so +for one who had had little teaching for +some time. It was easy to see that +Daisy had received careful training +at one time, and that the lessons then +learned had taken deep root and were +not yet forgotten in spite of the long +separation from her home and friends.</p> + +<p>It had been intended, as General +Forster told Betty, to send the little +girl to boarding-school at Miss Collins'; +but she soon grew so closely +to the hearts of her new friends that +they felt as if they could not bear to +part with her; and it was at last settled +that her home was to be with +them for the present, at least, and +that she should only go to Miss Collins<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +for the morning, as most of the +other little girls in Glenwood did.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Forster could not bear to send +from her this loving child, whose +greatest happiness seemed to be in +making others happy, and she grew +every day more and more interesting +as the familiar objects and customs +about her called up past recollections +of the home and parents she had lost. +She would watch the General for +hours at a time, as he sat reading or +writing, or follow him with wistful +eyes as he mounted his horse and +rode down the broad avenue "just +like papa;" would hang over the +lesser Daisy as she lay sleeping, +"'cause she looks just as our baby at +home used to," and delighted to wait<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +upon her and Mrs. Forster in a dainty, +neat-handed manner, which showed +that such loving service came quite +naturally to her.</p> + +<p>She never called the infant "baby," +as the rest of the family did. With +her it was always "little Daisy." She +seemed to love the pretty name, either +given to herself or another; and all +the variety of choice flowers with +which General Forster's garden was +filled could not win her chief affection +from her old favorite daisies, +"'cause mamma loved them so and +named me after them."</p> + +<p>But though she remembered so +much, the child could not recall the +name of her parents, or where they +had lived. Their name "was not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +what Betty called it," she was sure; +but none the less had it passed from +her mind.</p> + +<p>"Francine," the French bonne, used +to call mamma "Madame," and herself +"Mademoiselle Marguerite;" but +when she was asked what other people +used to call mamma and papa, the +little face grew clouded and pained +with the effort to remember; and +when name after name was mentioned +to her, she shook her head at +each one.</p> + +<p>The General tried by every means +in his power to discover the friends +who must still be mourning the loss +of their sweet little daisy blossom, +but all in vain; and as week after +week went by, he and his wife decided<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +that they could not send her +forth from their own roof unless her +relations came to claim her. She +was an added ray of light where +all had been brightness and sunshine +before,—a lovely, precious little +flower, lending new fragrance +and beauty to the home where she +blossomed.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/i-086.jpg" width="100" height="76" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 145px;"> +<img src="images/i-087.jpg" width="145" height="53" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>DAISY'S SISTER FLOWERETS.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 71px;"> +<img src="images/i-037b.jpg" width="71" height="56" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a><br /><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 289px;"> +<img src="images/i-089.jpg" width="289" height="126" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>IV.<br /> + +<small>DAISY'S SISTER FLOWERETS.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>"GOODNESS gracious! mercy +<i>me!</i>"</div> + +<p>"I didn't mean to, Susy; 'pon my +word and honor I didn't; just as sure +as I'm alive."</p> + +<p>Such were the words uttered by +two different little voices which our +Daisy heard, as holding by General +Forster's hand, she reached the gate +of Miss Collins' garden on the first +morning of her going to school in +Glenwood.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>Now would it not have been +thought that some terrible misfortune +must have called forth that exclamation +from the first young speaker; +or that the second thought herself +accused of some dreadful crime, and +that she must prove her innocence at +once by all the strong words she +could think of, if she would escape +severe punishment?</p> + +<p>And what was this mighty matter?</p> + +<p>Why, just this.</p> + +<p>Susy Edwards and several of her +schoolmates were "making a land of +Egypt." For of late the geography +lesson of the young class had been +upon that country, and they had been +much interested in the pictures of +the pyramids and Sphinx. And Susy,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +who "liked to make her knowledge +of use in her plays," and who was +considered by the other children to +have a great genius in that way, had +proposed that they should turn a portion +of their play-ground into Egypt. +This was thought a capital plan, and +the recess of the day before had been +employed in this way,—the little +planners and builders leaving it with +great regret, and returning to it before +school-time that morning with +fresh pleasure and some new ideas.</p> + +<p>The gravel walk was supposed to +be the desert; the trough which led +the waste water from the spring, the +River Nile; while a jointed wooden +doll, cruelly deprived for the purpose +of all its limbs, had half of its remainder<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +buried in the gravel, to represent +the Sphinx. Any number of +pyramids, four or five inches high, +had been built out of pebbles, and +several were still going up.</p> + +<p>And Lily Ward, the pet and darling +of the school, the youngest child, +and till that day the newest scholar +there, had brought that morning a +tiny doll's bath-tub, with a doll to +match lying in it, saying it was to be +"Moses in the bulrushes, for it couldn't +be a real land of Egypt without a +Moses."</p> + +<p>Lily's idea was received with great +applause and admiration, and she felt +rather proud of it herself when she +heard it so much praised.</p> + +<p>But a difficulty arose. The little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +tub did duty for the ark of bulrushes +most beautifully, it was "so real and +so cunning;" and never was a meeker +baby than the one which lay so quietly +within it. But he must be hidden, +and nothing could be found to answer +for flags. The grass about the mock +River Nile was quite too short for that +purpose, trampled on as it was through +each day's playtime by at least twenty +pairs of little feet; and the willow +twigs which Lola Swan planted +would not stand up straight enough +to make a shade for the ark.</p> + +<p>"There isn't time to plant them +deep enough," said Lola; "the school-bell +will ring in a few moments, and +then we'll have to leave it."</p> + +<p>"And the sun will go and come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +round here before recess," said Lily, +in a tone of distress, "and Moses will +be all sunburned. Besides, it isn't a +bit real: they never leave babies lying +out in the sun."</p> + +<p>"Put him out on the grass and turn +the ark upside-down over him till we +come out again," said Susy.</p> + +<p>But Lily scouted the idea of having +her Moses treated in this way; and +all began at once to deepen the holes +for the willow twigs before the bell +should ring.</p> + +<p>But suddenly a bright thought +struck Lily.</p> + +<p>"Let's play Moses' mother and +Miriam put a pyramid over him," +she said. "We could do that pretty +quick, and it will be nice and shady<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +for him, and very real too, 'cause they +did have pyramids in Egypt."</p> + +<p>All agreed readily, for this was +thought an excellent arrangement, +and they fell to work as fast as possible; +while Bessie Norton whispered +to Violet Swan, "What a smart child +Lily is, isn't she?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Violet, in the same +tone, "very; and I expect when she is +grown up she will do something very +remarkable."</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Susy Edwards, +who heard them.</p> + +<p>"Be a genius, I expect," answered +Violet, solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how nice!" said Bessie, who +had not the least idea what genius +meant, but did not like to say so.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>The pyramid over the sleeping +Moses was nearly completed, the little +builders expecting each moment +to hear the bell, when Lola Swan, +coming with a fresh supply of pebbles, +tripped over a stick which lay +upon the grass, and, trying to recover +herself, let her load fall around and +upon the half-built pyramid, knocking +down half a dozen or so of the +stones which composed it. Not +much harm was done, but Susy +immediately exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"Goodness gracious! mercy me!" +and Lola answered as you have heard +in the words which met Daisy's ear +as she and General Forster entered +the garden.</p> + +<p>The click of the gate-latch caused<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +all the children to look up, and Moses +and the pyramids were for the moment +forgotten at the sight of the +new scholar.</p> + +<p>"Why! there's Daisy Forster," said +Lily, for Daisy was now known by +this name.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if she's coming here to +school," said another; and that question +was speedily answered, as, stopping +by the little group, the General, +whom all knew and liked, said, +"Here's a new schoolmate for you. +Will you be kind to her, and make +her feel at home?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, we will; and I'll take +care of her," said Lily, scrambling to +her feet and taking Daisy's hand in a +patronizing manner. "She won't feel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +much strange after one day, 'cause +we'll all be good to her, and she shall +help us make our land of Egypt."</p> + +<p>"Ah! that is what you are doing, +is it?" said the General.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," answered Lily; "we're +just putting a pyramid over Moses in +the bulrushes, 'cause we hav'n't time +to fix so many bulrushes till recess. +And part of it is knocked down. +Lola did it, but she didn't mean to, +and if you peep in there between +those stones you can see a little bit +of the ark and Moses' dear little +china arm poking up. Please to +peek, sir."</p> + +<p>The General did as he was requested, +saying that he saw Moses +quite plainly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It isn't much matter if we do +have to leave him now," said Lily; +"he's pretty nicely covered up."</p> + +<p>"I think so," said the General, +gravely; "and if I were Moses, with +a pyramid being built over me, I +think I should prefer to have a small +breathing-hole left."</p> + +<p>"Why, so he would," said Lily; +"and now we can leave him nicely +fixed, and play he's very comfortable +in his pyramid, even if it's not quite +done."</p> + +<p>Lily being satisfied with the fate of +Moses, all the rest were so; and the +bell now ringing, the little group +turned towards the house. Daisy +wondering, as well she might, that a +matter which was so easily settled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +should call for such violent expressions +of distress and alarm as she +had heard from two of the little +girls.</p> + +<p>"Why, Miss Collins," said General +Forster, as that lady met them at the +door, "what a bouquet of flowers you +have here! A Rose, a Violet, a +Daisy, and a Lily; as choice a nosegay +as one could wish for."</p> + +<p>"And the Lily is going to take care +of the Daisy, and make her feel to +home, Miss Collins," said Lily, who +still held Daisy's hand. "The General +said I could."</p> + +<p>"No, he didn't," said Susy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he <i>did</i>, 'pon my word he +did; least I said I would do it, and +he didn't say I couldn't: did you,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +sir?" said Lily, throwing back her +head to look up at the General's tall +figure.</p> + +<p>"And that comes to the same thing, +does it, Lily?" he said, laughing; +"well, I suppose it does; and I promise +you shall look after Daisy till she feels +no longer a stranger among you."</p> + +<p>"She knows me, and Loly and Violet, +as well as any thing," said Lily; +for the little girls had met several +times before, and Lily felt herself and +the two Swans to be on rather intimate +terms with Daisy Forster.</p> + +<p>"All right, then. I leave her to +you. Good-morning, Miss Collins," +and with a bow to the lady, with whom +he had before made all the necessary +arrangements for Daisy, a pleasant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +nod for the little ones, and a kiss for +Daisy, he went away.</p> + +<p>Daisy felt rather lonely when he +was gone, in spite of Miss Collins' +kind look, Lily's tight clasp of the +hand, and Violet's, "We have real +nice times in school. Don't be afraid." +For she was far more shy with children +than she was with grown people, +probably because she had never had +any companions of her own age; and +the number of young faces, most of +them strange, about her, made her +long to be back again at Mrs. Forster's +side. And they all looked at +her a good deal, for her story was well +known among them, and she was an +object of great curiosity.</p> + +<p>Lily observed this, as she took her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +seat with Daisy beside her, and +thought she must speak up for her +charge.</p> + +<p>"Miss Collins," she said, "please to +make a rule."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Miss Collins, smiling; +for Lily was constantly asking for +new rules concerning things which +did not suit her. She had begun with +this more than a year ago when she +was only a visitor at the school; and +she was even now not a regular scholar, +but only coming for a few weeks. +For her papa and mamma had gone +on a journey, and Lily, being lonely +at home when Ella and the boys were +at school, it had been arranged that +she was to go with Ella in the morning. +So she was rather a privileged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +person, and spoke her mind freely +concerning that which did not please +her, which the other children thought +rather a joke, and were generally +ready enough to fall in with Lily's +rules. So now they all listened.</p> + +<p>"Please to make a rule that nobody +must stare, ma'am," said Lily: "it +makes people feel so to be stared at,"—and +Lily put up both hands to her +cheeks,—"specially if they are new."</p> + +<p>"Very true," answered Miss Collins: +"let us all try to remember the +Golden Rule, and then we shall +neither stare nor do any thing else +to hurt another's feelings."</p> + +<p>Then she struck the little bell which +stood upon her table, and all knew +the school had begun, and they must +be quiet.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> + +<p>Next calling Bessie Norton to her, +Miss Collins gave her a number of +Bibles, and the little girl handed one +to each of her classmates. Then +Miss Collins read a verse aloud, and +the children followed, each in her +turn.</p> + +<p>"Minnie Grey may take the Bibles," +said Miss Collins when this was done.</p> + +<p>Minnie rose, and went from one +to another collecting the Bibles. But +instead of taking as many as she +could conveniently carry at one time, +giving them to Miss Collins, and coming +back for the rest, she went on +piling one on top of another, till one +arm was quite full, when she came to +Daisy and held out her other hand for +her book. As she did so, the top one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +of the pile fell to the floor. Minnie +stooped for it, and down went two or +three more.</p> + +<p>"Oh! bother the old things," said +Minnie, in a low voice, but very impatiently.</p> + +<p>Daisy had stooped to help her pick +up the Bibles, but the glow her cheeks +wore when she raised her head again +was not all owing to that.</p> + +<p>Bother the old things! What old +things? Why, the Bibles, God's own +Holy Word.</p> + +<p>Daisy was very much shocked, and +she looked up at Miss Collins, expecting +to hear her reprove such <i>wicked +words</i>, <i>she</i> thought them.</p> + +<p>But Miss Collins had not heard +Minnie's exclamation, though the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +noise of the falling books had called +her attention that way, and she said,—</p> + +<p>"Minnie, my dear, you are careless +with those Bibles: do you forget +whose books they are?"</p> + +<p>"I don't care," muttered Minnie, +but not so that the lady could hear. +Daisy heard again; and the thought +passed through her mind, "What a +wicked little girl Minnie must be!"</p> + +<p>And yet Daisy was mistaken. If +she had asked Minnie's parents, +teacher, or playmates, they would all +have told her that Minnie was an uncommonly +good and pleasant little +girl; truthful, obedient, industrious, +and generous and obliging towards +others. She had no thought now that +she was breaking one of God's commandments;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +and she would have been +both offended and grieved, if she had +known what was in Daisy's mind, +believing herself, as she did, to be innocent +of any wrong.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 168px;"> +<img src="images/i-108.jpg" width="168" height="139" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 162px;"> +<img src="images/i-109.jpg" width="162" height="47" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<h2>DAISY AT STUDY.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 50px;"> +<img src="images/i-109b.jpg" width="50" height="43" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a><br /><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 328px;"> +<img src="images/i-111.jpg" width="328" height="114" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>V.<br /> + +<small>DAISY AT STUDY.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>DAISY was soon at home with her +schoolmates, and a great favorite +among them.</div> + +<p>It was not strange that they liked +and were interested in her. She was +such a gentle, modest, amiable little +girl; watching and joining in the +games and lessons of the others with +a kind of innocent wonder which +amused and touched them all. For +Daisy was not at all accustomed to be +with children of her own age, and +their ways were all new to her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>And of course she was behind all +the rest in her studies. She could +not even read as well as Lily Ward; +and had to begin with the simplest +lessons, such as Lily and two or three +of the very youngest children learned. +At first this troubled her, and she +feared the rest of the class would +laugh at her.</p> + +<p>But she soon found she need not +have been afraid of that, for the rule +of Miss Collins' infant class was the +law of kindness; and any one of the +little girls would have thought it +almost a crime to laugh or mock at +Daisy, for that which was her misfortune +and not her fault.</p> + +<p>They might now and then fall out +a little among themselves, for they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +were by no means perfect children; +sometimes there would be some selfishness +shown, or even a few angry +words pass from one to another; but, +on the whole, they agreed about as +well as any twenty little girls could +be expected to do; and not one +among them would have had the +heart purposely to do an unkind thing +to another. Least of all to Daisy +Forster, whom they all looked upon +with a kind of tender pity and interest, +because of her sad and romantic +history; and who was at once taken +up by both teacher and scholars as +a sort of twin pet with Lily, for +whom allowances were to be made, +and who was to be encouraged and +aided as much as possible.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>So Daisy found plenty of helpers, +who, so far from laughing at her mistakes +and backwardness, were rather +inclined to think her quick and industrious, +as indeed she was, trying hard +to make up for lost time, and "catch +up" with those of her own age.</p> + +<p>She was almost too eager about +this, and had to be checked now and +then, for since the long illness which +had followed the shipwreck, Daisy +had never been strong; and too much +fatigue or study, or even too much +play, would make her nervous and +sick, and her little head would become +confused and ache. So now +and then Mrs. Forster would have +to take the books from her, and forbid +more study, sending her out to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +play, or to work in the plot of ground +which had been given her for a garden +of her own.</p> + +<p>She was not always pleased at this, +and sometimes would be rather fretful +and impatient. But Mrs. Forster +soon found a way to put a stop to +this.</p> + +<p>One afternoon she found the little +girl bending over her slate with +flushed and heated cheeks, anxious +eyes, and trembling hands.</p> + +<p>"Daisy," she said, quietly, "what +are you doing? Miss Collins has +not given you lessons out of school, +has she?"</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am," said Daisy; "but +I asked Ella Ward to set me a whole +lot of sums so that I could do them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +at home, and I can't make this one +come right. I know it is not right, +'cause Ella put the answers on the +other side of the slate, and mine +won't come the same, all I can do."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Forster took the slate from +her hand.</p> + +<p>"This sum is too hard for you, +Daisy," she said: "you do not know +enough arithmetic for this."</p> + +<p>"It is not any harder than the sums +Lola and Violet and the other girls +as large as I am do," answered Daisy, +looking ready to burst out crying; +"and I have to do arithmetic with +the very little ones, like Lily, and it +makes me ashamed; so I want to go +on all I can. <i>Please</i> give me the +slate again, Aunt Gertrude," she added,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +as Mrs. Forster laid it beyond her +reach.</p> + +<p>"No, dear. I do not wish you to +study out of school. I am glad you +want to improve, but you have as +much to do there as is good for you; +and at home I want you to have rest +and play. You are improving quite +as fast as could be expected, and for +a time you must be content to go on +with those who are younger than +yourself."</p> + +<p>"But it makes me ashamed," pleaded +Daisy, again.</p> + +<p>"There is no reason for that," said +Mrs. Forster, patting the hot cheek +she raised towards her. "The other +children do not laugh at you and +make you uncomfortable, do they?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, no, ma'am," said Daisy; "they +are all so good to me, and when they +can't help seeing what a dunce I am" +(here Daisy's tears overflowed), "they +always say kind things about how I +never went to school before, and how +my own dear mamma was drowned, +and there was nobody to teach me +till I came to you."</p> + +<p>"You are not a dunce, dear," said +the lady. "A child who idles away +her time when she should be studying, +and does not care whether or no +she learns as much as is fit for her, +is a dunce: not a little girl who really +wishes to be industrious, but does not +know quite as much as others of her +own age only because God has not +given her the same advantages in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +time past. No one will think my +Daisy a dunce. Now, we must have +no more studying at home, no more +lessons than those Miss Collins sets +you."</p> + +<p>Daisy did not look satisfied: on +the contrary, she even pouted a little.</p> + +<p>"Daisy," said Mrs. Forster, "suppose +Uncle Frank were to give you +some beautiful and costly thing +which would be of great use to you +in time to come if you took good care +of it, say a watch: what would you +do with it?"</p> + +<p>"Why! I <i>would</i> take great care, +oh! such care of it," said Daisy, opening +her eyes in some surprise at the +question. She did not see what that +could have to do with her studies.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'd wind it up every night, and +try to keep it right and safe every +way I could. But I don't know if I +am quite large enough to have a +watch of my own, or take care of it; +maybe the best way would be to ask +you or Uncle Frank to keep it for +me till I was older."</p> + +<p>"And suppose for a while he gave +you no key to this watch, but let it +run down and be quiet?"</p> + +<p>"I'd just put it away till he gave +me a key, and be patient about it," +said Daisy, wondering more and +more.</p> + +<p>"And if, by and by, when he gave +you this key, you should go on winding +and winding the watch farther and +faster than it was right for it to go,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +till the wheels and springs were all +spoiled and out of order, would Uncle +Frank think you cared much for his +gift?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no, Aunt Gertrude; and he +wouldn't think I cared much for him, +either, to use his pretty present so."</p> + +<p>"You are right, dear. And now +I want my own little Daisy to see +how it is with herself. God has +given to you a young mind, bright +and quick enough; but, for a while, +He did not choose that it should do +much work. But now He has given +you the key by which you may wind +it and set it to work; and if you use +it without proper care, and so as to +hurt and wear out this precious gift, +would it not seem as if you cared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +very little about it, and did not respect +and honor the Giver?"</p> + +<p>"Yes'm," answered Daisy, beginning +to see what Mrs. Forster meant; +"but I never thought about that."</p> + +<p>"I believe I never thought about +it before, dear," said Mrs. Forster, +smiling. "I am not afraid to praise +you, Daisy; and I may safely say that +I have never seen any little child who +showed such true honor and reverence +for her Maker, and all which belongs +to Him. You must have been +well taught, my child; and to know +and remember such lessons is worth +all the book learning in the world."</p> + +<p>Daisy was pleased, as she always +was when any one spoke to her of +her long-lost home, or praised the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +teaching she had received from those +who had loved and cared for her +there. And from this time there was +no further trouble about the lessons; +for it was enough for Daisy to know +that she was misusing any one of +God's good gifts, to make her change +her ways. Many a lesson might +have been learned, and, indeed, had +been learned, by those older and wiser +than herself, from the loving care and +respect paid by this little one to her +Creator's name, and to all the works +of His hand.</p> + +<p>And it was a great trouble to her to +hear the careless way in which many +of her schoolmates used sacred names +and things. They did not mean any +harm; they did not think it any sin;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +but every day Daisy was shocked +and distressed by hearing such words +as "mercy," "gracious," "goodness," +and "good heavens," and the like, +from the lips of the other children, as +they were about their play and study. +It had become a habit with nearly all in +the school; one caught it from another +almost without knowing it; even +Lily Ward, who once thought the +clergyman "preached a sermon at +her" because she said "hush up," +now and then followed the example +of the others when any thing vexed +or surprised her. A few weeks at +school had accustomed Lily to the +constant use of expressions which a +year ago she would have considered +"real naughty words."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> + +<p>The older girls in Miss Sarah Collins' +room had fallen into this bad +habit as much, if not more, than the +little ones of the infant class.</p> + +<p>And it was not only this carelessness +of speech in which they were all, +large and small, to blame; but it +seemed to Daisy so strange that they +could handle and treat the Bible, +God's holy Word, with so little reverence +and respect, knocking it about +among their other books as if it were +no better than these last, even using +it, sometimes, for purposes to which +no book, even the most common one, +should be put.</p> + +<p>Daisy wondered that Miss Collins +did not teach them better; but either +she did not notice all this, or she did not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +think it of much consequence; certain +it is that she did not check them, +and the evil seemed to Daisy to grow +worse from day to day.</p> + +<p>At first she did not like to speak +herself. You may wonder that this +was so, since she had not feared to +speak so plainly to General Forster, +who was a grown gentleman, so much +older than herself; but she had done +that almost without knowing what she +was saying, for, as you know, his profane +words had startled her so that he +was surprised, and he had almost +forced her to tell him what had disturbed +her.</p> + +<p>And here she was with every thing +strange around her, school, schoolmates, +and teacher all new to her; so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +it is not astonishing that she was +rather shy and felt afraid to interfere +with the others, or to tell them that +she thought they were doing wrong.</p> + +<p>But by and by there came a day +when she could no longer hold her +peace.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 197px;"> +<img src="images/i-127.jpg" width="197" height="109" alt="two cherubs" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a><br /><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 147px;"> +<img src="images/i-129a.jpg" width="147" height="31" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>DAISY A TEACHER.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 70px;"> +<img src="images/i-011b.jpg" width="70" height="60" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a><br /><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 270px;"> +<img src="images/i-131.jpg" width="270" height="110" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>VI.<br /> + +<small>DAISY A TEACHER.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>ONE morning just after school +commenced, a heavy shower +came up; and when it was time for +the recess, which was always given to +the infant class at eleven o'clock, the +ground was still so wet that the little +ones were forced to find amusement +within doors or upon the piazza.</div> + +<p>"What shall we play?" asked +Rosie Pierson.</p> + +<p>"Lady Queen Fair," said Bessie +Norton: "we'll go out on the piazza +and play it."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 348px;"> +<img src="images/i-133.jpg" width="348" height="471" alt="Girl on chair other girls around her" /> +</div> + +<p>"Yes," said Violet; "and Lily +shall be Lady Queen Fair, and we'll +dress her up a little. Miss Emily," +as a third Miss Collins, who gave +music lessons to the girls, passed by, +"may we have a rose to put in Lily's +hair for Lady Fair?"</p> + +<p>The young lady smiled, stopped +and pulled a couple of roses from the +vine which wound itself around one +of the pillars of the piazza, and gave +them to Violet, then passed on.</p> + +<p>Time had been when Violet would +have hoped, perhaps would have asked +to be Lady Fair herself, and been +sulky and displeased if the other +children had not agreed; but now she +was very different, and more apt to +prefer another before herself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + +<p>The roses were soon arranged, the +one in the hair, the other in the bosom +of the little Lady Queen, who took +her dignities in the calmest manner. +Meanwhile some of the other children +were drawing forward one of the rustic +chairs with which the piazza was +furnished, to serve as a throne.</p> + +<p>But the little queen, like many +another royal lady before her, found +her throne by no means an easy +one.</p> + +<p>"Ow!" she said, rubbing her little +round white shoulders where she had +scratched them against the rough bark +of the twisted boughs which made the +back of the chair, "ow! this is not +nice at all, or comfortal. My feet +don't come to the floor, and if I lean<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +back I'm all scratched. I'd rather be +a queen without a throne."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! You must have a throne," +said Susy Edwards. "Queens have +to."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why," said Lily, rather +pettishly; for she did not feel very +well that morning, and that and the +close heat of the day made her more +fretful than usual. "I should think +queens could do just as they have a +mind to and make their subjiks do it +too; and I don't see what they have +to have their skin all scraped up for +if they don't want to;" and Lily +twisted her head to give an aggrieved +look at the little fat shoulder with that +red mark upon it.</p> + +<p>"I'll fix you," said Lola. "I'll put<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +Miss Collins' footstool under your +feet and you shall have the big cushion +behind you. Some one bring the +cushion while I carry the stool."</p> + +<p>The footstool was brought in a +moment; but the cushion was not to +be found.</p> + +<p>"The big girls had it yesterday," +said Fanny Satterlee. "I saw them +with it in their recess when I was +going home. There comes Cora +Prime now; let's ask her. Cora, +what did the big girls do with that +cushion yesterday when they had done +with it?"</p> + +<p>"The Lord knows; I don't," said +Cora, playfully tapping Fanny on the +head with the roll of music in her +hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh!" exclaimed Lily.</p> + +<p>Daisy did not speak; but as Cora's +eye happened to fall upon her, her +face said as much as Lily's "Oh!"</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with you two?" +asked Cora, looking from one to the +other of the little girls, but still good-natured.</p> + +<p>"You oughtn't to say that," said +Lily.</p> + +<p>"Ought not to say what?"</p> + +<p>"The Lord knows," answered Lily.</p> + +<p>"Well, don't He know?" asked +Cora.</p> + +<p>"No," said Lily, doubtfully, "I guess +not. I don't believe He'd bother +Himself with knowing about a worn-out +old cushion what has a hole in +the cover, and such things."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, He does, too," said Cora, +laughing; "are not the very hairs of +our head numbered?"</p> + +<p>"Now, I <i>know</i> you ought to be +'shamed," said Lily. "You're talking +Bible; and that is not right, is it, +Daisy?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Daisy, as boldly as Lily +herself could have done, for quoting +Scripture in a careless manner was +also a habit of many in the school.</p> + +<p>"You two saucy monkeys! correcting +your elders," said Cora, much +amused. "I heard you both talking +Bible to Miss Collins this morning +with all the rest of your class."</p> + +<p>"We were only saying what we +learned in Sunday school yesterday," +said Lily. "That's not the same<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +thing. I <i>know</i> it's not right to talk +Bible that kind of a way. Papa says +so, and he tells us not to do it."</p> + +<p>"Your papa's saying so does not +make a thing right or wrong," said +Cora.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it does, too!" said Lily. +"My papa knows a whole lot, and he +wouldn't tell a story for any thing. +Cora, you'd better go to your music +lesson: I 'speck Miss Emily wants +you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are very considerate for +Miss Emily, all at once," said Cora, +more amused than ever; "but you +haven't told me why I shouldn't say, +The Lord knows, when He does +know."</p> + +<p>Lily looked at Daisy, who stood<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +by the arm of her chair, for help. +The little one felt that Cora was +wrong, but she did not exactly know +how to answer, and she had noticed +how careful Daisy was to honor the +name of God.</p> + +<p>"Is it not taking the name of God +in vain?" said Daisy.</p> + +<p>"Upon my word!" said Cora. +"Do you mean to call that swearing?"</p> + +<p>"Well, yes," said Lily, taking up +the word, "a kind of baby swearing, +I s'pose; but you know it's not very +good of you, Cora."</p> + +<p>"Everybody says such things: they +don't mean any thing," said Cora.</p> + +<p>"Not <i>everybody</i>," answered Lily. +"Daisy don't."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then Daisy's uncommonly good," +said Cora.</p> + +<p>"Yes, she is," replied Lily; "and +I s'pose <i>everybody</i> ought to be uncommonly +good and never say them."</p> + +<p>Cora laughed again.</p> + +<p>"Everybody must mind their p's +and q's before you: mustn't they, +Lily?" and away she ran to her music +lesson.</p> + +<p>"Here's the cushion," said Rosie +Pierson, running out from the school-room. +"I found it in the closet under +the shelf where those careless big girls +left it, I s'pose."</p> + +<p>The cushion was put behind Lily's +shoulders, but still the little queen +fidgeted on her throne and declared +she was not yet "comfortal."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Cause if I lean back against the +cushion my feet won't touch the stool," +she said.</p> + +<p>"We'll put something else on the +stool to make it higher," said Nettie +Prime, who was trying to arrange +Lily satisfactorily: "what shall we +take? Oh, I know. Daisy, run +and bring the big Bible off Miss +Collins' table for Lily to put her feet +on."</p> + +<p>Daisy, who made a motion to start +forward as Nettie began to speak, +stood still when she heard what she +called for.</p> + +<p>"Make haste," said the latter, impatiently: +"we won't have a bit of +time to play."</p> + +<p>Daisy did not move, but stood with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +rising color, trying to make up her +mind to speak.</p> + +<p>"Oh! you disobliging thing!" said +Violet, and she ran for the book.</p> + +<p>"Oh! don't," said Daisy, as Violet +came back and stooped to put the +Bible on the footstool; "I didn't mean +to be disobliging, but we ought not to +use the Bible to play with."</p> + +<p>"Pooh!" said Violet: "Lily's little +feet won't hurt it. It's all worn out, +any way. The cover is real shabby."</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean that," answered +Daisy; "I meant because it is God's +book, and we ought to treat it very +carefully."</p> + +<p>"Oh, fiddle! How awfully particular +you are, Daisy!" said Minnie Grey.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +"Why, girls, do you know, the other +day, when I was playing paper-dolls +with her and I turned up a Bible to +make the side of a house, she took it +away, and when I put it back again +'cause it stood up better than the other +books, she said she wouldn't play if I +did so with the Bible."</p> + +<p>"I s'pose Daisy would call that +'taking God's name in vain,'" said +another, half reproachfully; "wouldn't +you, Daisy?"</p> + +<p>"I think it is something the same," +answered Daisy, feeling as if all the +others were finding fault with her and +thinking her "awfully particular," a +crime which no little girl likes to have +laid to her charge.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how," said Lola. "I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +know we ought not to play with the +Bible; but I don't see how it is taking +God's name in vain."</p> + +<p>"But the Bible is God's book, and +He told it to the men who wrote it, and +His name is in it a great many times," +said Daisy, "and I think it seems like +taking it in vain to play with it or to +put things upon it, or to knock it about +like our other school-books. And it is +not right to say 'the Lord knows,' and +'mercy,' and 'gracious,' and such +words, when we are just playing, or +when we are provoked."</p> + +<p>"What is the harm?" asked Rosie. +"Mercy and gracious are not God's +name."</p> + +<p>"Well, no," said Daisy, slowly, not +exactly knowing how to explain herself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +"And maybe I make a mistake; +but it does seem to me as if it was a +kind of—of—"</p> + +<p>"Of little swearing, as Lily says," +said Lola.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Daisy. "Rosie thinks +it is no harm; but even if it is not +much harm, I don't see what is the +good of it. We can talk just as well +without saying such words."</p> + +<p>"I guess they are pretty wicked," +said Lily. "The day mamma went +away, I said 'good heavens,' and she +said 'Lily! Lily!' very quick, like +she does when I do something very +naughty, and she asked me where I +learned that; and I told her Elly said +it. I didn't mean to tell a tale about +Elly; but mamma looked sorry, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +she told me never to say it again. I +guess 'mercy' is 'most the same, and +I guess I won't say it any more; and, +Daisy, if I hear the other girls say +those words, I'll help you correct +'em."</p> + +<p>Lily promised this with an air of +such grave importance that the other +children laughed. Not in the least +abashed, Lily went on,—</p> + +<p>"Papa's coming home day after to-morrow, +and I'll ask him to tell me a +whole lot about God's name, and why +it is wrong to say those things; and +then I'll tell all you girls. But I'm +not coming to school any more when +mamma comes home; so you'll have +to come to my house, and I'll have a +swearing class, and teach you all about +it."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lily's words might have been taken +with a different meaning from that +which she intended to give them; but +the other children understood her, and +that was enough.</p> + +<p>"But, Daisy," said Lola, "how do +you know so much about these things +when you don't know a great deal +about every-day lessons, and have +had no one to teach you for so +long?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Daisy. "I +think my own mamma who was +drowned used to teach me in the +home I used to have;" and the dreamy +look came into her eyes which they +always wore when she spoke of her +far-away home and those she had +loved there. "I think I've forgotten<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +a good many things," she added; +"but you know I couldn't forget what +mamma taught me about Jesus and +what He wanted us to do if we loved +Him. And I think if we do love +Him we won't say words about His +name, His heaven, or any thing that is +His, that are not very good and gentle, +and that we are very sure He would +like us to say."</p> + +<p>"But you are so <i>very</i> particular, +Daisy," said Minnie; "I think you +are most <i>too</i> particular."</p> + +<p>"I didn't think we could be too +particular about doing what Jesus +likes," said Daisy.</p> + +<p>The other children had all gathered +about Daisy, and were listening +with interest to what she said. Perhaps<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +they heard her with more patience +than they would have given to +any one else; for Daisy was a kind of +mystery to them, and they looked +upon her as a sort of fairy or princess +in disguise, and would not have been +at all surprised to hear the most extravagant +stories about her, for she +was "just like a story-book child." +Lily had said so one day when she +was speaking of her at home.</p> + +<p>"No," said Lola, thoughtfully; "but +it does not seem as if such little things +could be wrong. I know it can't be +right to play with the Bible or say its +words just when we are joking or for +our own common talk; but I don't see +the harm of saying 'goodness,' or +'mercy,' or 'heavens,' or those words<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +which you never will say, Daisy; they +are not God's name, and I don't see +how it is taking it in vain to say +them."</p> + +<p>Daisy looked thoughtful. She felt +she was right, and wanted to explain +herself; but she was rather shy and +could not find words to do so.</p> + +<p>But Lily, whom shyness never +troubled, came to her aid.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," she said: "I'll ask +papa just as soon as he comes home, +and he'll tell us all about it; and if +he says it is naughty, why, it is, and +we won't do it; and if he says it's +good enough, why, we will. That's +the way to fix it."</p> + +<p>Here the bell rang.</p> + +<p>"There, now," said Susy Edwards,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +"we have to go in, and we've wasted all +our time talking, and never had a bit +of good of our recess."</p> + +<p>But I think Susy was mistaken, +and that they had one and all gained +more good from their talk than they +could have done from any amount of +play; for it had set more than one +young mind thinking; and from this +day, even the most careless among +them would check herself when she +found she was on the point of using +these words which had grown so common +among them, more from want of +thought than from any wish or temptation +to do wrong.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a><br /><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 164px;"> +<img src="images/i-037a.jpg" width="164" height="42" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>THE SWEARING CLASS.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 57px;"> +<img src="images/i-155b.jpg" width="57" height="33" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a><br /><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 339px;"> +<img src="images/i-157.jpg" width="339" height="123" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>VII.<br /> + +<small>THE SWEARING CLASS.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>WHEN Lily's papa and mamma +came home, she was so glad to +see them, and there was so much to +hear and to talk about, that she quite +forgot her purpose of asking her father +to teach her about the third commandment. +Besides, she no longer went +to school now that her mother was at +home, but had her lesson each day +with her as she had done before Mrs. +Ward went on her journey; and so she +was not as apt to hear or to say those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +careless words which Daisy Forster +had said it was not right to use.</div> + +<p>But it was at last brought to her +mind one evening as the family all sat +at the tea-table.</p> + +<p>"Mamma," said Ella, "will you let +Lily and me have a tea-party to-morrow? +I want to ask half a dozen of +our girls, and I suppose Lily would +like to have a few of the little ones at +the same time."</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Mrs. Ward, "you +may each ask six of your most intimate +friends."</p> + +<p>"Can Walter and I ask some of the +fellows?" said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, mercy! no," said Ella: "we +don't want any boys. It is not to be a +regular party, Ned. I just want the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +girls to spend the afternoon and drink +tea; and it makes more fuss to have +boys too."</p> + +<p>"Goodness me! You needn't get +into such a way about it," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Children," said Lily, her brother's +and sister's words bringing back to +her what Daisy had said, "children, +you needn't either of you swear about +it."</p> + +<p>Lily's efforts to keep the family +straight were generally considered as +a good joke, and her reproofs and +advice received with a laugh; but +this plain speaking was rather <i>too</i> +much for either Ella or Ned, and the +former exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"Well, who is swearing, I'd like to +know?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And who gave you leave to correct +your elders?" said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Nobody: I just took it," said unabashed +Lily; and then, turning to her +father, she exclaimed, "Papa, I b'lieve +the girls in our school are pretty heathen, +and don't know enough about +the comman'ments. So I told them +we'd have a swearing class, and I'd ask +you to teach it, 'cause I s'pose you +know a good deal about swearing; +and this will be a good chance when +they come to-morrow."</p> + +<p>This speech turned the vexation of +Ella and Ned into amusement, and +they laughed with the others.</p> + +<p>"I don't think your playmates will +thank you for asking them here to take +tea and then bringing them up for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +lecture from me, my pet," said Mr. +Ward.</p> + +<p>"Yes: they will, papa. They want +to know about it, and I think we'd +better make a swearing party of this. +I b'lieve it would do those big girls +good too. They swear, oh, dreadfully! +and they don't seem to think they do, +least Cora don't. Mamma, let's make +a rule we won't have any swearing in +this house: won't you?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said mamma, smiling; +"and I think we must find out what +<i>swearing</i> is, and be careful not to break +the rule."</p> + +<p>"If one is going to call 'goodness' +and 'mercy,' and such things, swearing, +one might as well give up talking +altogether," said Ella.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Perhaps not exactly swearing," +said her father; "but the use of them +is a bad habit, and one that I have +noticed is quite too frequent among +all the young people of this place. +It is growing stronger too, as all +such habits do, and going from bad +to worse. But I must go out now, +and have not time to talk to you about +it. If Lily can persuade her little +friends to take the 'swearing class,' +as part of their afternoon's entertainment +to-morrow, well and good; if +not, we will have a little private talk +among ourselves some other time."</p> + +<p>Ella was not at all pleased by Lily's +proposal; and hoping that it would +pass from the child's mind before the +afternoon, she was careful not to make<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +her remember it by the use of any +such words as had called forth Lily's +reproof.</p> + +<p>This had very nearly proved successful; +and in the excitement of arranging +her baby-house, setting out +the new tea-set mamma had brought +her, and dressing the doll which had +been papa's present, Lily had almost +forgotten her plan for mingling wholesome +instruction with the amusement +provided for her young friends.</p> + +<p>There were Lola and Violet Swan, +Daisy Forster, Rosie Pierson, Minnie +Grey, and Bessie Norton; and they +were all having a real good time sitting +around a small table and playing +tea out of the new china set, when +Minnie said,—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have a secret to tell all of you, +if you'll promise never to tell."</p> + +<p>"I won't," said Violet.</p> + +<p>"On your sacred word and honor?" +said Minnie.</p> + +<p>"On my sacred word and honor," +repeated Violet.</p> + +<p>"And you, Rosie?" asked Minnie.</p> + +<p>"On my word and honor," said +Rosie.</p> + +<p>"Sacred?" said Minnie.</p> + +<p>"Sacred. Sacred word and honor," +was Rosie's answer.</p> + +<p>Lily repeated the words as desired, +and next came Daisy's turn.</p> + +<p>"I won't tell," she said, when Minnie +looked at her.</p> + +<p>"On your sacred word and honor?" +asked Minnie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I promise I won't tell, Minnie."</p> + +<p>"But you must say on your word +and honor."</p> + +<p>"I can't," said Daisy.</p> + +<p>"Then I shan't tell you; and you're +real mean, Daisy Forster," said Minnie. +"Why won't you say so?"</p> + +<p>"I don't see why I need, and I +don't know if it is quite right," answered +Daisy, coloring.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Daisy Forster, what a girl +you are!" said Rosie.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Lily, "there's nothing +left, 'cept these two caramels. +Daisy, you eat up this; and, Bessie, +you eat up the other. Now the tea-party +is all done, and we'll go and +ask papa about that comman'ment. +He's been playing croquet with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +big girls, but they seem to be resting +now."</p> + +<p>Lily was right. Mr. Ward had +been persuaded to make the eighth +in a game of croquet, for he was a +great favorite with all the young +people in Glenwood, and his presence +never put any check upon their games +or pleasure parties.</p> + +<p>But the afternoon proved rather +warm for exercise, even the gentle +one of bewitching croquet; and, after +a long game was finished, the whole +party were ready to agree to Ella's +proposal that they should take a rest, +and send to the house for some cooling +drink.</p> + +<p>So Mr. Ward was at liberty to attend +to Lily, when she came rushing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +up to him, followed, rather more +slowly, by the rest of the children.</p> + +<p>"Papa," she said, throwing herself +across his knee, as he sat upon the +green mound which was raised about +the foot of one of the fine elm-trees +which shaded the croquet-ground, +"papa, Daisy says we oughtn't to say +upon our words and honors! Oughtn't +we? And will you teach us about +taking God's name in vain now? It's +the <i>singalest</i> circumstance, but I went +and forgot all about the swearing +class, till Daisy said that."</p> + +<p>"A very singular circumstance, +certainly;" said Mr. Ward, lifting +Lily to a seat upon his knee, and +smiling, while the other girls laughed +at her speech. "I am quite willing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +to have a little talk with you all on +this subject; but tell me first what +you want to know."</p> + +<p>"Daisy is so awfully particular, +Mr. Ward," said Minnie, in an aggrieved +tone. "She won't let us say +any thing; at least, she says every +thing is 'wrong.'"</p> + +<p>"Every thing?" said Mr. Ward: +"that is bad. Does Daisy want you +all to keep silence? That <i>must</i> spoil +your play."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" said Minnie, "not that; +but she says such lots of things are +wrong to say. Why, sir, she won't +say 'upon her word and honor,' 'cause +she don't think it is right."</p> + +<p>"Why do you want her to say it?" +asked Mr. Ward.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I was just going to tell them all +a great secret, and I wanted her to +promise, on her sacred word and +honor, she would never tell; and she +wouldn't do it."</p> + +<p>"So Daisy is apt to break her promises, +is she?" said the gentleman, +with a smile at Daisy, which told very +plainly that he was only joking.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, sir!" said Minnie. "Indeed +she is not. Daisy always tells +the truth, and never does what she +says she won't; at least, we never +knew her to do it: did we, girls?"</p> + +<p>A chorus of young voices was +raised in Daisy's favor.</p> + +<p>"And yet you cannot trust her unless +she swears to what she promises," +said Mr. Ward.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Swears, sir!" said Minnie. "I'm +sure I don't want her to swear! +'Word and honor' are not bad words, +are they?"</p> + +<p>"Not in themselves, certainly;" +answered Mr. Ward. "Many a thing +which is good in itself when properly +used, becomes bad and hurtful if put +to a wrong purpose. Now to swear +is to say, by some word or person +which you consider holy and sacred, +that you will or will not do, that you +have or have not done, a certain thing. +Suppose some man were accused of +a crime, and that the judge were +about to try him, and punish him if +he were guilty, and it was thought +that I knew whether or no the man +had done that of which he was accused.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +So I am called to the court, +and there made to promise that I will +tell the truth, and nothing but the +truth; and to make sure of this I am +made to lay my hand on the Bible,—God's +holy word,—and call upon +Him, to hear me tell what I know. +And this is considered a very solemn +thing, even by many who have little +care or respect for God in other ways; +and it is called swearing, or taking +the oath."</p> + +<p>"They ought to be 'shamed of theirselves," +said Lily, indignantly; "they +ought to know you would never tell a +story, papa. And to go and make you +swear too! I wouldn't do it if I was +you; but I'd tell 'em the third comman'ment, +and run away fast from +them."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But if this is done in the fear of +God, and as a sort of prayer that He +will hear and help us to tell that +which is true, it is not taking His +name in vain, Lily," said Mr. Ward; +"and to do it falsely is considered even +by men to be a great crime. This is +called perjury; and if any one is found +guilty of it, he is severely punished by +the law. Now it may be wise, and +even necessary, for a man to take an +oath at such a time as this, when the +very life of another may depend on +whether he tells the truth or no; but +it can hardly be necessary for one +little girl at play with another to +make her promise sure by swearing +to it. For to say 'by your sacred +word and honor' is neither more nor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +less than a sort of swearing or taking +an oath that what you say is true."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll make a rule not to +say it any more," said Lily. "We +didn't know it was naughty before, +papa. But please tell us now about +other words. Daisy says we mustn't +say 'mercy,' and 'gracious,' and +'heavens,' and maybe we mustn't; +but why is that swearing? Swearing +is taking God's name in vain, and +how do such words take His name +in vain if we don't speak it? And she +thinks playing with the Bible, or saying +its words when we are playing +or just talking common talk, is taking +God's name in vain, too. Is it?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you," said Mr. Ward. +"Suppose, Lily, that some great king<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +or queen, or the president of our own +country, were to come here; would +you not wish to be particularly polite +and respectful to them, both in your +manner and way of speaking?"</p> + +<p>"Um-m-m, I don't know," answered +Lily, doubtfully; "not partic'lar. +I guess I'd just as lieve be saucy +to them as to any one else."</p> + +<p>Mr. Ward saw this would not do, +at least, not for Lily: he must go +higher than earthly rulers.</p> + +<p>"Suppose, then," he said, "that +Jesus should come down here among +us, so that we could see Him with +our eyes, walking and talking with +us, what would you all do?"</p> + +<p>"I'd fall down and worship Him," +said Minnie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'd listen to every word He said, +and never speak one myself for fear +I should miss one," said Daisy; "and +then I'd remember them all the days +of my life."</p> + +<p>"Dear child!" said Mr. Ward, +laying his hand fondly on hers: "I +believe you do treasure your Lord's +words and try to live according to +them."</p> + +<p>"I'd ask Him to put His hand on +my head and bless me just as He did +those other little children when He +was on earth before," said Lola, softly.</p> + +<p>"So would I. And I'd be glad +there were no disciples to forbid us +to come to Him," said Lily. "I +s'pose they thought Jesus wouldn't +care about children; but He did,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +didn't He? And you wouldn't think +so, papa, would you?" and the little +child laid her hand lovingly against +her father's cheek. "I'd keep very +close to Him all the time He was here, +and take fast hold of His hand, only +I wouldn't be troublesome, but just +keep as still as a mouse; and I'd give +Him every thing of mine that He +wanted."</p> + +<p>"So you would all show your love +and reverence for Him by every +means in your power," said Mr. +Ward, "trying not to grieve or offend +Him by treating His name or His +presence with the least carelessness +or disrespect, but letting Him see +that you honored the one and were +blessed by the other: is it not so?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," came from the older as +well as the younger children.</p> + +<p>"And if, after He had gone away, +He should send you each a letter, +telling you what He wanted you to +do, how you were to love and serve +Him, and in which you would find +all the advice, help, and comfort you +might need at any time,—how would +you treat that letter?"</p> + +<p>"I'd keep it all my life, and take +such good care of it," said Rosie.</p> + +<p>"I'd read it, and read it, and read +it; and kiss it, and kiss it, and kiss it," +said Lily, "and then I'd put it in my +bosom, and keep it, oh! so carefully."</p> + +<p>"And so would I, and I, and I," +said the rest, satisfied to have Lily +for spokeswoman.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And if you saw any one misusing +that letter, how would you feel?" +asked Mr. Ward.</p> + +<p>"I'd be very provoked with them," +answered Lily, "and I think I wouldn't +love them any more, 'cept it was +you, papa, or mamma, or Elly, or any +one of my own that I <i>have</i> to love; +and then I'd cry, and ask you not to +serve my Jesus' letter so."</p> + +<p>"You mean the Bible is Jesus' letter +to us: don't you, sir?" asked Daisy.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and, dear children, our +Lord's presence is here among us +as much as if He were in man's +form which He once wore on earth. +His ear is as quick to hear our words +of love and praise, or those of carelessness +and disrespect, as it was then;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +His eye as ready to see the use we +make of the precious Word He has +given us. But we forget this when +we use His book more carelessly +than we would any gift from an +earthly friend, or when we take His +name lightly or without thought upon +our lips. To do this is to take it in +vain, and it displeases Him."</p> + +<p>"But, Mr. Ward," said Minnie, "it +is not cursing and swearing to say +'mercy,' and 'gracious,' and 'good +Lord,' and such things, is it?"</p> + +<p>"Not cursing, certainly: that is to +use God's name profanely, or to call +on Him to destroy us or other people; +and this is a most terrible sin. But, +Minnie, the use of such words in +play or thoughtlessness is a bad habit,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +and leads to worse. Suppose a man +breaks open a bank here, and takes +all the money from it: that is stealing, +is it not?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, sir," answered Minnie.</p> + +<p>"And suppose you take a sugar-plum +belonging to your sister: it is +a very small thing compared to the +money taken from the bank, but is +it not stealing, all the same?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; and if I was to be so +bad as to take Julia's sugar-plums, +I'm afraid I'd maybe steal something +worse some time."</p> + +<p>"Just so," said the gentleman; "and +now you see why it is not wise or +right to make use of such expressions. +It is, as Lily says, a kind of little +swearing, and may lead to worse.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +Besides, it is very useless. You can +surely believe one another,—unless, +indeed, it is some false and deceitful +child,—without saying 'upon your +sacred word and honor,' 'as sure as +you live,' 'Heaven knows,' and so +forth. And there is so little temptation +to fall into this sin that it seems +strange it should be so common. +There is nothing to be gained by it, +even of this world's good,—no pleasure, +no profit. It is only an idle, useless +habit, most displeasing and vexing +to the holy ear of Him whose commandment +we break without thought +or care. Goodness and mercy and +graciousness belong to the Almighty; +and so, too, we must take heed that +we do not speak of what belongs to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +Him in an irreverent, careless way. +And now I think we have had +enough talk on this subject for this +afternoon. You did not ask your +friends here that I might lecture +them."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! I did, papa," said Lily; +"for we all deserved it very much, +'specially the big girls. But, papa, +do you believe the Lord troubles +Himself to know where the girls put +an old, worn-out cushion, and such +things; and if He does, ought we to +say He does?"</p> + +<p>"God knows every thing, Lily; +even the smallest trifle is seen by +Him; but it is very wrong to say, in +a heedless way, 'the Lord knows,' +for I suppose that is what you mean.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +And this very thought, that His eye +and His ear are always with us, noticing +every word and look, knowing +the very feelings of our hearts, should +make us all the more careful how we +use His holy name. I am glad this +question has come up among you; +for heedlessness in using God's name, +and other sacred words, in quoting +Scripture,—talking Bible, my Lily +calls it,—and other such habits, were +becoming too common, I fear, among +all the young people in Glenwood; +and we older ones too, I believe, fall +too often into the custom. We have, +too many of us, constant need of the +prayer, 'Set a watch, O Lord, upon +my mouth; keep the door of my +lips.'"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is Daisy's doing, sir, that we +have come to think of this," said honest +Cora. "I, for one, have been +very thoughtless about offending God +in this way, and have set a bad example +to the rest. I believe the little +ones have caught it from us larger +girls, and we have to thank Daisy +that she has taught us a better lesson."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/i-086.jpg" width="100" height="76" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 152px;"> +<img src="images/i-185.jpg" width="152" height="45" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>DAISY'S NAME.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 71px;"> +<img src="images/i-185b.jpg" width="71" height="53" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a><br /><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 339px;"> +<img src="images/i-187.jpg" width="339" height="134" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>VIII.<br /> + +<small>DAISY'S NAME.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>"INDADE, now, and hasn't me +words come true, sir? For +wasn't I afther tellin' ye she was as +nate a little lady as iver stepped in +two shoes?" said Betty Macarthy, as +she stood with her arms akimbo, her +head on one side, and her honest face +one broad glow of delight and satisfaction, +gazing at the dainty-looking +little creature who stood before her, +her young face bright with as much +pleasure as Betty's own.</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> + +<p>For Daisy's old friend had come +to live at Mrs. Forster's; and this +was the way it had been brought +about.</p> + +<p>The lady had wanted a laundress; +and, thinking that Betty, who had +once held that post in her father's +family, might know of one, had begged +the General to ask her.</p> + +<p>No sooner had he put the question +than Betty eagerly answered she +should be only too glad of the place +herself; for she was tired of her +present position, and a countrywoman +of her own was ready to take it +off her hands, stock, fixtures, goodwill, +and all. "For her heart was +sore for the child," Betty said, and to +be where she could see her every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +day, and to live once more with "Miss +Gertrude," would be almost as much +happiness as she could wish for; and +then she would try to put Jack out +with some gardener to learn his trade, +for which he had always had a turn.</p> + +<p>So the General, having talked the +matter over with his wife, and mindful +of the generous care and kindness +shown to their Daisy by these poor +people, not only told Betty she should +come to live with them, but also put +Jack under his own gardener, though +there was really no need of any more +hands about the place.</p> + +<p>Thus did the "bread cast upon +the waters" by this kind-hearted +Irishwoman, come back to her, blessed +sevenfold.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> + +<p>Nothing was told to Daisy of this +arrangement till one afternoon, when +the General had returned from the +city, Mrs. Forster said to her, "I am +going to speak to the new laundress +and gardener's boy. Come with me, +Daisy;" and half wondering, the little +girl obeyed.</p> + +<p>But her surprise soon changed into +delight and gratitude when she saw +who the new domestics were; for, +in spite of all the pleasure she felt in +her new way of life, Daisy's loving +little heart often longed for the old +friends who had been so good to her +in her time of need, and she wanted +not only to see them, but to share +some of her many comforts with +them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>So you may know how glad she +was when her eye fell upon the two +figures standing by the back door, +and she knew that they had been +brought to live in the same place with +her.</p> + +<p>With an excitement very unusual +in her, she flew at Betty, and, throwing +both arms about her neck, covered +her broad, smiling face with +warm kisses. Betty returned them +with a will, holding her fast in both +arms; and then, putting her from her +and looking at her from head to foot, +put on an air of strong approval, and +spoke to the General in the words +you have read at the beginning of +this chapter.</p> + +<p>"An' isn't it fit for a princess, she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +is?" she continued, quite unable to +keep back her admiration and pleasure +at the child's improved appearance. +"Isn't it fit for a princess she +is; and Saacyfuts or no Saacyfuts, +isn't it a right her own folks would +have to the name if they found her +now? Sure I'd be saacy meself to +have the ownin' of a child like that. +An' her not a bit spoiled, but just as +lovin' and free-like as when she had +none but me an' Jack."</p> + +<p>Then Daisy was told she might +take Betty and Jack away and show +them the neat little wash-house, shaded +by a fine clump of trees, with its +nice bleaching and drying ground +beyond, its laundry on the first floor, +and two small bedrooms above, where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +they were to sleep. Betty was enchanted, +and expressed over and over +again her satisfaction at the change +in her life. It was far better, she +thought, to stand at the wash-tub +or ironing-table, breathing the sweet +country air, with all its pleasant sights +and sounds about her, than to do the +same at her stall in the hot, dusty, +crowded city.</p> + +<p>As for Jack, when he saw the +splendid garden, when Daisy had led +them there, and knew it was to be +his privilege to work among those +lovely flowers, he could not contain +himself, but shouted and shouted, +turned somersault after somersault, +till recalled to himself by Betty's reminder +that he must "remember that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +Margaret—she begged her pardon,—Miss +Daisy—was a little lady now, +and he must mind his manners before +her."</p> + +<p>But Daisy was so like her old self, +so free from any pride or haughtiness +in her new position, that Jack found +it hard to remember she was any +other than the little waif whom he +had pitied and petted for so long; +and his "manners" were brought to +his mind with much more force by +the sight of the gray-haired old Scotch +gardener under whom he was to +work, and before whom his gambols +ceased at once.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile General and Mrs. Forster +were talking on a very interesting +subject, for Betty's words about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +Daisy's lost friends had given the lady +a new idea.</p> + +<p>"Frank," she said to her husband, +"did you notice what Betty said about +Daisy's friends?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," he answered. "I hope she +won't turn Daisy's head and make +her vain with her praise and flattery."</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid," said his wife. +"Daisy has a right to her name, the +modest, unaffected little girl; and she +has too much sense to be spoiled by +what she looks upon only as the overflowing +of Betty's affection. But +don't you know that the Irish often +say <i>saacy</i> when they mean proud?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. I have often noticed it +in people of Betty's class," answered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +the General; "but what has that to +do with Daisy's friends?"</p> + +<p>"Is it not possible that their name +is Proudfoot or Proudfit, and that +'Saacyfut' is Betty's way of calling +it?"</p> + +<p>The General laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>"Hardly, I think," he said; "and +yet—I do not know. It may be. +But it never struck me. It took a +woman's wit to think of that."</p> + +<p>"We will ask Daisy when she +comes," said Mrs. Forster. "If +Proudfoot <i>was</i> their name, she must +remember it when she hears it spoken, +I think. She can hardly have forgotten +it so entirely that she would not +recognize it. And then, if it should +be so, it will be a help to find her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +friends." Mrs. Forster spoke the last +words more slowly.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said her husband, giving +words to the thought which had made +her half unwilling to utter them; +"and if found, we must give up our +Daisy."</p> + +<p>"But we must not seek them the +less for that," she said, "or I shall +feel as if we had found some lovely +jewel that we were striving to hide +from the rightful owner. I know +what terrible longings must fill her +mother's heart;" and a tear dropped +from Mrs. Forster's eye on her baby's +face, as she clasped it more tenderly +than ever in her arms.</p> + +<p>"Daisy," said the General that +evening, as the little girl stood by his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +knee, "did you ever hear the name +of Proudfoot?"</p> + +<p>Daisy started, drew a quick, gasping +breath, and suddenly threw herself +into his arms.</p> + +<p>"That is it!" she cried, in a rapid, +excited manner, "that is it! That is +my name, that is what they called +papa and mamma. I never heard it +since; but I know it now. I am +Daisy Proudfoot, I am, I am!"</p> + +<p>It was some time before the child's +excitement could be calmed; but +there was no farther knowledge to be +gained from her. Proudfoot was her +name, of that she was quite sure; +and the recollection of it at this late +hour seemed to fill her with a kind +of tremulous happiness; but still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +she could not tell where she belonged.</p> + +<p>Betty too, when she was asked if +Proudfoot was the name of Daisy's +mother, answered,—</p> + +<p>"Sure, an' it was, ma'am. Didn't +I say so all along, only she was +always gainsayin' it?"<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a></p> + +<p>The matter was settled; and General +Forster, loath as he was to part +with Daisy, feeling that he must +leave no stone unturned to trace her +friends, again put advertisements in +the papers, saying, that if any family +of the name of Proudfoot had had +a child supposed to be lost at sea,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +they might hear of her at such and +such a place.</p> + +<p>Daisy was not told of this; she +was contented and happy in her new +home and among her new friends, +and it was not thought best to disturb +her mind with fresh hopes of finding +those who might never come to claim +her.</p> + +<p>But although she was still called +Daisy Forster by all in Glenwood, it +was a satisfaction to herself and to +the kind friends who had taken her +up and cared for her, to know the +name which rightly belonged to her.</p> + +<p>However, days and weeks and +months went by, and still no one +came to seek the Daisy blossom +which had been transplanted to such<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +pleasant soil. And there it grew and +flourished, and did its Master's work; +proving how much even such a simple +floweret can do by its own modest +example and teaching to win others +to honor Him.</p> + +<p>It was surprising to see how much +her schoolmates thought of her opinion; +how they profited by the simple +lesson she had taught them, and tried +to break themselves of the foolish and +sinful habit into which nearly all of +them had fallen, of using sacred +names and things in such a heedless, +unthinking manner.</p> + +<p>It was not only the very little girls, +but the older ones also, and even +Miss Collins herself, who learned +from our Daisy to set a watch upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +their lips, and to remember whose +ear was ever present, hearing each +thoughtless word which dishonored +Him or that which especially belonged +to Him.</p> + +<p>Perhaps they gave more heed to +Daisy's words than they would have +done to those of any other one of +their number. There was such a +half-mystery about her, and their +thoughts were so tender towards her, +that they checked their heedless +speech for her sake at first; then, as +they learned to think more about it, +for a better and higher reason, till at +last the bad habit was broken up; +and if, by chance, such a word as +"mercy," "heavens," "good Lord," +or the like, came from the lips of any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +child, the surprised and reproving +looks of her companions told her of +her fault, and punished her sufficiently.</p> + +<p>And the good influence spread far +and wide. Since the little ones were +so careful, their parents and older +friends felt that they, too, must take +heed lest they offended in this way; +and so it came to pass that among +the families of Glenwood God's name +and word came to be held in such +true reverence and honor as had never +been before.</p> + +<p>And so nearly a year passed by, +and brought the Daisy and her sister-flowerets +to another spring.</p> +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1">[A]</a> If this is considered far-fetched, the writer can +only say that Betty's rendering of the name of Proudfoot +was actually given by a domestic in her own +family, and occasioned considerable bewilderment, +till the quick wit of one of its members solved the +riddle.</p></div></div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a><br /><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 196px;"> +<img src="images/i-011.jpg" width="196" height="39" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>THE LOST FOUND.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 56px;"> +<img src="images/i-205b.jpg" width="56" height="59" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a><br /><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/i-013.jpg" width="312" height="118" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + + + + +<h2>IX.<br /> + +<small>THE LOST FOUND.</small></h2> + + +<div class='drop-cap'>"IS that you, Daisy?"</div> + +<p>"Yes, sir. Is that you, Uncle +Frank?" answered Daisy, playfully.</p> + +<p>"Well, I thought it was this morning +when I went to town; but I am +doubtful of it now."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Daisy, laughing, as +she reached up on tiptoe to offer the +kiss with which she always welcomed +her uncle on his return from the +city.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Baby Daisy is not doubtful, at +least," said Mrs. Forster, coming forward, +and putting her little daughter, +all crows and smiles, in her father's +arms. "Let her pull your hair a +little to convince you of the fact."</p> + +<p>"It will be difficult," said the General. +"There was a man in the cars +so like me, face, height, and figure, +that some of my friends were taking +him for me; others accusing me of +having a brother whom I have never +owned. He sat two or three seats in +front of me, and I could not help +being amused. Ward came in, nodded +familiarly to my double, with, +"How are you, General?" passed on +to me, stopped, and looked from one +to the other with a mixture of surprise<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +and curiosity that was droll; then +asked for information which I could +not give him. It was the same with +many others. I hope the stranger +will keep himself out of mischief +while he is in Glenwood, or I may +be held responsible for his wrong doings."</p> + +<p>"Did he come to Glenwood?" +asked Daisy.</p> + +<p>"Yes: I left him standing on the +platform at the station, and I hardly +knew whether my own carriage belonged +to him or to me. However, +he made no claim as I stepped into +it."</p> + +<p>"Who was he?" asked Mrs. Forster. +"Did not you find out?"</p> + +<p>"No. No one could tell me, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +I could not go and ask the man who +he was, merely for the reason that +he resembled me so much. There, +there, little woman," as the baby gave +a vigorous pull at his hair. "I've had +enough of mamma's proofs, and am +satisfied that no other man than Frank +Forster would submit to such usage +at these tiny hands. I rather imagine +this stranger came up to look at +Beechgrove, which is to let, as I heard +him asking the railway porter in which +direction it lay, and where the agent +was to be found."</p> + +<p>A fortnight went by, and nothing +more was seen of the stranger who +looked so like General Forster; nor +after that evening did the General or +his wife think of him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> + +<p>Not so Daisy. She thought often +of him with a kind of half wish that +she might see him; why she scarcely +knew herself, but she never spoke of +it. She was rather a shy, quiet child, +keeping her ideas and wishes pretty +much to herself, unless they were +drawn out by some one whom she +loved or trusted; and neither the General +nor Mrs. Forster suspected what +was working in her mind.</p> + +<p>Her idea, too, that the General +looked so like her own papa, they +regarded only as a childish fancy, +ready to see a likeness between the +two she most admired and loved +in all the world. And they never +imagined how the child was dreaming +and wondering over this unseen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +stranger who had had such a passing +interest for them.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, it became certain that +Beechgrove, as the place was called, +was taken; for the placards advertising +it to rent were taken down, +and the house was going through +a thorough cleaning.</p> + +<p>But the General and his wife, being +people who never gossiped or concerned +themselves about their neighbors' +affairs, did not trouble themselves +in the matter. And those who were +curious and asked questions received +no satisfaction from old Dr. Harding, +who had charge of the property.</p> + +<p>All Miss Collins' young scholars, +however, thought themselves very +much concerned in the letting of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +Beechgrove, and with good reason. +For a large aviary belonged to the +place, containing many rare and +beautiful birds, and the former owner, +who was fond of children, often +used to invite the young people of +Glenwood to see these birds, and +to amuse themselves in other ways +about his grounds. But since Dr. +Harding had had the care of the +place, not a child had been suffered +to come within sight or hearing of +the aviary, which had a new charm +for them since it was a forbidden +pleasure.</p> + +<p>So the new occupants of Beechgrove, +and the question as to whether +they were likely to recover their old +privileges there or no, had been a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +subject of great interest to our young +friends, and they were very anxious +for information on the matter.</p> + +<p>One morning when Daisy came to +school, she found the rest of the +class grouped about Mattie Prime +and Rosie Pierson, who lived beyond +Beechgrove, and had to pass it on +their way to Miss Collins'.</p> + +<p>"The new people have gone to +Beechgrove," said Violet Swan, when +Daisy asked what they were talking +about; "and Mattie and Rosie saw +a little girl there this morning. We +are glad there is a child there, because +maybe having her will make +the papa good to other children, +and he will let us go in and see +the birds because of her."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She's a very little thing," said +Rosie. "She can't speak plain. Such +a crooked tongue."</p> + +<p>"But she's very cunning," said +Mattie. "We were going past the +gate and she called out to us, 'Itty +dirls, itty dirls;' and when we stopped +she put her face through the rails +to kiss us, and handed us some +flowers she had. She was real +sweet."</p> + +<p>"What is her name?" asked Daisy.</p> + +<p>"We asked her, but we could not +make out what she said. Mamy +Modwit it sounded like; but she +did speak so crooked," said Mattie.</p> + +<p>"Do you know," said Rosie, "I +think she looked like Daisy. Don't +you, Mattie?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, so she does," said Mattie. +"Isn't that funny? Only Daisy's eyes +always look sorry except when she +is laughing or speaking, and that +little girl's were so full of mischief +and laughing."</p> + +<p>"How big was she?" asked Lola.</p> + +<p>"Oh, about as large as your sister +Bertie. Not near old enough to +come to school."</p> + +<p>"I s'pose there are no other children +but her," said Fanny Delisle. +"Willie saw the family come yesterday; +and he said there were only +the lady and gentleman, and the +little girl and servants. If there +are no children as old as us, maybe +it won't come into their heads to +let us see the aviary again."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> + +<p>This short conversation put an end +to the half hope, half wish, that had +been in Daisy's heart. Even supposing +the stranger who looked so +like General Forster were the gentleman +who had taken Beechgrove, +he could be nothing to her (not +until now had she said even to +herself that she had hoped it might +be so), for the family did not answer +to her own. She had papa and +mamma, little brother Theodore, and +a baby sister, a very little baby; +and only this child of three years +old or more seemed to belong to +the new-comers; and she had no +sister so old.</p> + +<p>Daisy reasoned this all out for +herself with a sad, disappointed little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +heart, forgetting that time had not +stood still with her own family any +more than it had with her, and that +changes might have come to them +as well as to herself.</p> + +<p>This was on Friday, and nothing +more was seen or heard of the +strangers by Daisy or her playmates, +till Sunday came. But then such +a strange and happy thing came to +pass, and in such a wonderful way. +"Just like a book thing," Lily Ward +afterwards said.</p> + +<p>It was the loveliest of Sabbath days, +and every thing seemed to feel it.</p> + +<p>"What day is it, Bertie?" asked +Mr. Swan, as his youngest daughter +stood on the piazza steps ready for +church.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Jesus' happy Sunday," answered +the little one; "and, oh, didn't He +mate a nice one!"</p> + +<p>Other people than Bertie thought +so; a nice one indeed.</p> + +<p>It was the softest, sweetest, warmest +of May Sundays. A busy little breeze, +carrying with it the perfume of the +apple-blossoms over which it had +passed, stole in at the open windows +of the church, and wandered around +among aisles, pillars, and pews, now +fluttering the leaves of a book, now +toying with a ribbon, now tossing a +curl upon some sunny head, now +fanning some cheek flushed with a +walk in the almost summer heat. +A robin, saucy birdie, swung himself +lightly to and fro on the branch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +of one of the fine old elms outside +the church-door, and poured forth +his hymn of praise; while from far +and near came the answering notes +of his mates; and mingling with +his song were heard the voices of +the children in the Sunday school +beyond, as they sang the closing +hymn.</p> + +<p>Then they came trooping in gently, +and with soft footsteps, as became +the house of God (honoring His +name and His word had taught +them also to honor the place where +He was worshipped), and took their +places beside their parents and +friends.</p> + +<p>Watching them from one of the +pews which ran by the side of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +pulpit, were a pair of roguish, dancing +eyes, which Rosie Pierson and +Mattie Prime recognized at once. +They were those of the little girl who +had peeped at them through the railing +of the Beechgrove grounds. Now +they were peeping over the top of the +pew-door as she stood at its foot, her +hands crossed upon it, her chin resting +upon them. What a bright, merry, +laughing face it was, and how like +Daisy's! General and Mrs. Forster +had noticed it from their seat, which +commanded a full view of that of the +strangers.</p> + +<p>Beside the little girl sat a gentleman, +half turned from the congregation, +his face partly shaded by his +hand; but there could be no doubt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +that he was the man who was so like +the General. Mrs. Forster saw the +likeness at once, even in the turn and +shape of his head. Beyond him was +a lady in deep mourning, closely +veiled.</p> + +<p>"Frank must find out who they +are," said Mrs. Forster to herself. +"That child is so like Daisy. Can it +be—oh, can it be?" Then she tried +to collect her thoughts and bring them +back to the service of Him whom she +had come to worship.</p> + +<p>Daisy came in a little behind the +rest of the infant class (she had lingered +for a word with her teacher), +and took her seat. Almost immediately +her eye fell on the new-comers +to Glenwood. Mrs. Forster saw her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +start, flush all over, neck and face, +and press her small hands tightly together, +as if trying to keep back some +exclamation which rose to her lips.</p> + +<p>With a beating heart the child +watched the strangers, striving in vain +to get a better view of the face of the +gentleman, gazing from him to the +veiled lady, and then at the little +girl.</p> + +<p>The bell ceased tolling, the congregation +were gathered, the hour of +service had come, and the clergyman +rose in the pulpit.</p> + +<p>But at that moment the lady drew +aside her veil; and ere Dr. Parker +had opened his lips, a little voice rang +through the still church.</p> + +<p>"Mamma! Oh, my own mamma!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> + +<p>How much was in those few words! +What a tale they told! What a world +of longing, of love, of joy, they held!</p> + +<p>The stranger lady—ah! no stranger +was she to our Daisy—started to +her feet, stretched out her hands, then +with a little cry sank fainting into +the arms of the gentleman who had +also suddenly arisen.</p> + +<p>She was carried out; General and +Mrs. Forster following with the excited, +trembling Daisy; and so the +father and mother found the long-lost +child.</p> + +<p>Who could describe it? Who +could find words for the joy, the +wonder, the gratitude of those concerned; +who tell the sympathy which +filled the hearts of all in that congregation,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +which dimmed their eyes with +tears, and filled their hearts with adoration, +as, before another word of the +morning service was begun, the beloved +minister called on all to render +thanks for the great and signal mercy +just shown to those long-parted parents +and their little one!</p> + +<p>And now there is little more to tell. +Only how Daisy's mamma, and the +little sister whom she remembered +only as a tiny baby, had been rescued +from the sinking ship with some of +the other passengers; how, having +been unable to trace their lost treasure, +and believing that the boat, with +all whom it contained, had gone +down in the deep waters, the parents +had gone abroad, where they had remained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +till a few months before this +time, and so had never seen the advertisements +which might have told +them she was still living: all this +was soon explained.</p> + +<p>And then Daisy must tell her story, +and Betty must come in to help her +out where memory failed and the +past was a blank, because of that long, +wasting illness. And how Betty +laughed and cried by turns, and would +hear of no praise or thanks for what +she had done, declaring that "Miss +Daisy had done her and Jack far +more good nor she resaved, taching +them to mind their tongues afore +God Almighty."</p> + +<p>And though General and Mrs. Forster +must now give up, to her rightful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +owners, the darling of whom they had +grown so fond, yet they did not have +to part with her altogether; for she +was so near to them that they saw +her every day; indeed, the two families +became almost as one, and Daisy +felt as if she had two homes.</p> + +<p>The little brother, whom Daisy remembered +so well, had gone to a +home beyond the sky, but a few +weeks before her father and mother +came to Glenwood.</p> + +<p>And so the Daisy blossom, which +had been parted from its parent stem +and cast by the wayside, where +stranger hands had gathered and +lovingly tended it, was planted once +more in the soil where it belonged, +after it had done the Master's work,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +and scattered the good seed which +budded for His glory; proving well, +that those who "honor" the Lord +He will "delight to honor."</p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 156px;"> +<img src="images/i-228.jpg" width="156" height="141" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<div class='copyright'><br /><br />—————————<br /> +Cambridge: Press of John Wilson & Son<br /> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAISY'S WORK***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 44770-h.txt or 44770-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/4/7/7/44770">http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/7/7/44770</a></p> +<p> +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p> +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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(Joanna Hooe) +Mathews + + +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: Daisy's Work + The Third Commandment + + +Author: Joanna H. (Joanna Hooe) Mathews + + + +Release Date: January 27, 2014 [eBook #44770] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAISY'S WORK*** + + +E-text prepared by Melissa McDaniel, Emmy, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from pagge images generously made +available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 44770-h.htm or 44770-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44770/44770-h/44770-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44770/44770-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + https://archive.org/details/daisysworkthirdc00mathiala + + + + + +DAISY'S WORK. + + +[Illustration] + +FLOWERETS. + +[Illustration] + + + * * * * * * + +Flowerets. + +A SERIES OF STORIES ON THE COMMANDMENTS. + +BY JOANNA H. MATHEWS, + +_Author of the "Bessie Books."_ + + + I. VIOLET'S IDOL. THE FIRST AND SECOND COMMANDMENTS $0.75 + + II. DAISY'S WORK. THE THIRD COMMANDMENT 0.75 + + III. ROSE'S TEMPTATION. THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT 0.75 + + IV. LILY'S LESSON. THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT 0.75 + + V. HYACINTHE AND HER BROTHERS. THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT 0.75 + + VI. PINKIE AND THE RABBITS. THE EIGHTH, NINTH, AND + TENTH COMMANDMENTS 0.75 + +_The set in a neat box, $4.50._ + + +ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS, + +_New York_. + + + * * * * * * + + +[Illustration] + + + + + +DAISY'S WORK. + +The Third Commandment. + +by + +JOANNA H. MATHEWS, + +Author of the "Bessie Books." + + + "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; + for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his + name in vain." + + "Let your communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay; for + whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + +New York: +Robert Carter and Brothers, +530, Broadway. +1870. + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by +Robert Carter and Brothers, +In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. + +Cambridge: +Press of John Wilson and Son. + + + + +[Illustration] + + TO + _MY DEAR LITTLE COUSIN_, + LULU CHAUNCEY. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + I. THE LITTLE FLOWER-GIRL 11 + II. A CLUSTER OF DAISIES 35 + III. THE DAISY TRANSPLANTED 63 + IV. DAISY'S SISTER FLOWERETS 85 + V. DAISY AT STUDY 107 + VI. DAISY A TEACHER 127 + VII. THE SWEARING CLASS 151 + VIII. DAISY'S NAME 181 + IX. THE LOST FOUND 201 + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE LITTLE FLOWER-GIRL. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +DAISY'S WORK. + + + + +I. + +THE LITTLE FLOWER-GIRL. + + +THERE stood our Daisy. What a Daisy it was too; what a fair, sweet +floweret; pure and innocent-looking as the blossoms over which she +bent. There she stood beside her basket of flowers, a little spot of +brightness and beauty amidst all the dust and heat and turmoil of the +noisy street, on that warm summer afternoon. + +It was a street which ran beside a great railroad depot. Porters, +carmen, and hackmen were calling, shouting, and swearing; passengers +were hurrying by to catch the trains which were starting every few +minutes; carriages driving up with their loads of ladies and children; +and farther down the street were great trucks laden with freight, and +express-wagons filled with baggage, which the railroad porters were +unloading with a great amount of noise and crash; and amongst it all +was Daisy, standing opposite the door of the ladies' entrance. + +But not one of all those passers-by knew that she was a "Daisy," +or that those were her namesakes which she held so lovingly in her +little hands. Now and then one stopped to buy one of the five or ten +cent bouquets, so tastefully arranged, which lay in her basket; and +almost all who did so had a kind word to give the child; for there +was something in her look and air which pleaded for tenderness and +sympathy. It did not seem that this was her proper place; for even +in her homely dress she looked so dainty and delicate, and moved and +spoke so like a little lady, that it was easy to see that she had been +accustomed to a different kind of life. But all who noticed her, or +stopped to buy her flowers, were in such haste that none had time for +more than a passing interest in the child, and contented themselves +with wondering and pitying. + +Down the street came a lady with a little girl, the latter skipping and +jumping as she held her mother's hand. No wonder the little one was +happy, and as full of play and merry pranks as any kitten; for she had +been spending such a pleasant day with mamma in the city, and was now +going back with "such lots to tell about and heaps of pretty things" to +her own lovely country home. + +"Oh, see, mamma!" she said, as her eye fell upon the other child, "see +those pretty flowers that dear little girl is selling. She is just +about as large as Lola Swan, and _don't_ she look nice and sweet. Won't +you buy some flowers from her, mamma?" + +"You have plenty of flowers at home, dear Lily, and we have about as +much as we can carry now," answered her mother. + +"Oh, dear mamma, but those little brenkays" (bouquets, Lily meant) +"would take up such a tiny mite of room, and I want you to buy some for +kindness to the little girl. She looks so sorry out of her eyes, mamma." + +Moved by the pleadings of her little daughter, Mrs. Ward turned toward +the flower-girl, whom in her hurry she had nearly passed without a +look, and asked the price of her bouquets. + +"What a pretty pot of daisies! Can't I have that, mamma?" asked Lily. + +But at this the flower-girl drew back and put one hand over the pot of +daisies she held in the other, as if she feared it was to be taken from +her by force. + +"I'll ask papa to carry them for me, mamma," said Lily. + +"Ho! ho!" said a cheery voice behind her, "so you think papa has +nothing better to do than turn expressman and carry all your traps, do +you? I wonder how many bundles are already waiting in the depot for me +to put safely in the cars;" and turning about Lily saw her father, who +had overtaken his wife and little girl. + +"Oh! lots and lots!" said Lily, jumping about with new glee as she saw +him. "We bought something for everybody, papa; and I bought a present +for your birthday to-morrow; but it is a secret. Mamma is going to fill +it with ink and I'll put it on your writing-table 'fore you come down +in the morning; but you won't ask what it is, will you?" + +"Not on any account," said Mr. Ward. "But you must make haste and buy +your flowers, or we shall not find good seats in the cars. So you want +these daisies, do you? How much are they, my child?" + +But again the flower-girl drew back. + +"I couldn't sell them, sir," she said; "at least not now, not if,----" + +"Oh! they are for some favorite customer, hey? You see, Lily, you can't +have them. Well, pick out your bouquets; we'll hang them about our +necks if we can't carry them any other way," said Mr. Ward. "This is +the little girl I told you about, my dear," turning to his wife, who +had been looking at the sweet, sad face of the young flower vender. + +"What is your name, my child?" asked the lady. + +"My name is--they call me Margaret," said the child, with hesitation in +her voice and manner, and a sudden flush breaking over her face. + +"There," said Mr. Ward, when, having paid for the flowers which Lily +had chosen, he hurried his wife and daughter away; "there, my dear, I +did not say too much about that child, did I?" + +"Why no," said Mrs. Ward, looking back to the small figure beside its +basket of flowers, "there is certainly something very interesting about +her. Her speech and manner, as well as her looks, are strangely refined +and lady-like for one in her position. I wish we had time to talk more +to her." + +The flower-girl looked after them and sighed,--a long, weary sigh, as +she watched the frolicsome Lily. + +"Most all little girls have their fathers and mothers," she said softly +to herself; "but I don't have either. I wonder why God did take both of +mine away; if He didn't know how lonesome I would be, or why He didn't +take me too. I don't see what good I can be to Him all alone by myself, +except Betty and Jack. But then He knows, and maybe He only wants me to +be patient till He's ready to take me." + +[Illustration] + +But the wistful eyes brightened again, as, having watched Lily and her +friends disappear within the door of the depot, she turned them the +other way to see if new customers were coming. + +"There he comes," she said, as her eye fell upon a tall, +broad-shouldered gentleman coming down the street, "soldier" written in +every line and motion of his figure, from the erect, stately head, down +to the ringing, military tread of his firm foot. + +"Good afternoon, little woman," he said, returning with a pleasant +smile her welcoming look; "is my wife's bouquet all ready?" + +Taking from the corner of her basket a bouquet somewhat larger than the +rest, and of rather choicer flowers, she held it up to him. + +"Thank you, sir," she said, as she received the price; and then, with +rising color, added, "would it be too much trouble to carry this to the +lady?" + +"Too much trouble? No! How much is it?" he said, putting his hand again +into his pocket. + +"Oh! sir, I didn't mean that. I didn't want to sell it, but to give +it to you, if you would take it to the lady you buy flowers for every +day. I want to send it to her because you are so kind to me, and +because--because you put me in mind of--of somebody." + +"That is it, is it?" said the gentleman. "Well, I can't refuse such +a pretty gift, so prettily offered. And who do I put you in mind of, +pray?" + +"Of my papa, sir. You do look like him." + +"Humph!" said the gentleman, not much pleased at the idea that he was +like the father of this little poor child, above her station though she +looked. "And these are daisies, hey? My wife will like them." + +"General, do you mean to miss the train?" said an acquaintance, as he +passed. + +"Not with my own consent, certainly," said the gentleman. "I shall +thank you for the lady to-morrow, my little girl." + +But as he turned to go, his foot slipped upon a piece of orange-peel, +thrown down by some careless person, and he had nearly fallen. He would +have been down altogether but for his little companion; but as he +involuntarily put out his hand, she caught it; and that support, frail +and slight as it was, was sufficient to steady him. + +Kind of heart, noble and generous though he was, the soldier was +hasty-tempered and quick, and an oath--a fearful oath--burst from his +lips. + +"Ah, you were my good angel. You have saved me from a bad fall," he +said almost in the same breath, but in a very different tone and +manner, as he turned to the child. + +His good angel! Ah, yes! More than he knew, his good angel. Those +little hands should from this time hold him from falling into the sin +of which he had just been guilty. + +Years ago General Forster would have been shocked at the thought of +letting such words escape his lips, though even then he was none too +reverent or careful in speaking of sacred persons or things; but in +the bustle and excitement of war he had, alas! like many another brave +man, allowed himself to fall into the habit of taking God's holy +name in vain. But careless though he might be before men in moments +of forgetfulness, or when his hasty temper got the better of him, he +seldom or never suffered himself to use such words before women or +children; why, you shall learn. + +"Why, have I hurt you?" he asked, seeing with surprise her startled and +troubled face. + +"No, sir, oh! no," she answered, catching her breath, "but, but"-- + +"Well, but what?" + +"But I am so sorry;" and that she was so was proved, as she covered her +face with her hands and burst into tears. + +"Sorry for what?" he asked. + +She gave him no answer, but shrank a little away. + +"Sorry for what?" he repeated, as if determined to know; and the tone +of command, which seemed to say he was used to instant obedience, +forced her to speak, whether she would or no. + +"Sorry for those words you said, sir," she sobbed. + +"Those words? What words?" But his question answered itself as it +was spoken; for his wicked words, which but for this would have been +forgotten the next instant, came back to him, and he stood rebuked +before this poor little flower-girl. He repented already; but repented +only because he had distressed this simple child, in whom he took so +much interest, not yet because he had grieved and offended the Holy One +whose name he had profaned. + +Still he was vexed too. + +"Why, you don't mean to say," he said rather impatiently, "that you +never hear such words as those, standing here as you do, half the day, +with those rough men and boys about you?" + +"Oh, yes, sir!" she said, plaintively. "I do hear such words, often, +often. I try not to; but I can't help it, you see; and it makes me so +sorry. But I thought those poor men and boys could not know how to +read, and had never been taught better, or perhaps they did not know +what God had said in His commandments. But I did not think gentlemen +said such things; and I liked you _so_ much." + +And did she like him less now? He, the _gentleman_, the rich man, felt +that he could not wish to lose the respect and liking of this little +child whom he thought so far beneath him, and he was ashamed and sorry. +He knew that it was not impertinence, but only her innocent simplicity +and truthfulness, which had caused her to say what she did. But to know +that he was in the wrong and to acknowledge it, were one and the same +thing with this true-hearted man. + +"You are right, Margaret," he said, forgetting how fast the moments +were flying. "_Gentlemen_ should not say such things, especially before +ladies and children. It is bad manners; but I forgot myself just then." + +She took her hands from her face and looked up at him. There was an +unspoken question in the clear, earnest eyes, and it was plain that she +was not yet satisfied. + +"Well," he said smiling at her, "what troubles you still? Let me have +it all." + +"I was only thinking what difference could it make, sir." + +"What difference could what make?" + +"Whether it was ladies and children who heard it, sir," she answered +timidly. "God hears it all the same, doesn't He? And it can't make any +difference to Him who else hears it." + +She looked up as she spoke at the blue sky overhead, and the look and +the words brought to him a sudden sense of God's constant presence and +nearness. He had known it well enough before,--that the Almighty Eye +saw him always; that the Almighty Ear heard him always; but he had +never felt it as he did now. The gentle, timid reproof had gone far +deeper than the little giver had intended, and her hearer felt ashamed +that he had confessed to her that he would pay a respect to a woman or +child which he did not feel it needful to pay to his Maker. He could +make her no answer. + +"_You_ behind time, General?" said the voice of another friend as he +hurried past; and the scream of the warning whistle told the gentleman +that he had no time to lose. + +"I'll see you to-morrow. Good-by, my child. God bless you," he said +hurriedly, and rushed away. + +But just in time; he was the last passenger, and stepped upon the +platform of a car as the train was put in motion. The jar threw him +once more a little off his balance, and he caught by the rail to save +himself, while again hasty, profane words rose to his lips. + +But they did not pass them. What though no human ear should hear; "God +heard them all the same," and they were checked before even the summer +wind could catch them; and in their place the angels carried up the +heart-breathed prayer, "God keep me from them in time to come." + +His next neighbor in the cars thought General Forster remarkably silent +and unsociable that afternoon. He would not talk, but buried himself +behind his newspaper. If the neighbor had looked closer he would have +seen that the General's eyes were fixed, not on the paper held before +his face, but on the little pot of daisies which rested on his knee. +And over the delicate pink and white blossoms was breathed a vow,--a +vow registered in heaven and faithfully kept on earth. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +A CLUSTER OF DAISIES. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +II. + +A CLUSTER OF DAISIES. + + +"WHAT are you thinking of, Frank?" said Mrs. Forster, looking at her +husband as he stood leaning against the casing of the window, gazing +thoughtfully out at the lovely garden beyond. + +"Of a bad habit of mine," he answered. + +"You have none; at least none that I cannot put up with," she said +playfully. + +"That's not the question, dear Gertrude," he returned gravely. "It is +whether my Maker can put up with it, and I believe that He cannot, +since he has said He 'will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name +in vain.'" + +Mrs. Forster colored as she bent her head over the sleeping baby on her +lap. + +"You did not know, perhaps," her husband said, after a minute's +silence, "that I was ever guilty of this--sin?" + +"I did know it, Frank; at least I have heard you now and then, when you +were speaking to your dogs and horses, or even when you were a little +impatient with the men. But you did not mean me to hear such words; and +I noticed you never used them in my presence." + +"No," he said a little sadly: "I would not speak in my wife's presence +words which were not fit for her to hear; but I forgot an ear still +purer, which I was insulting and defying. That is the second thrust I +have had to-day, Gertrude, which has made me feel that I have treated +the Almighty with less of reverence and respect than I would show to +some of my fellow-creatures. Let me tell you of the innocent lesson I +received from the little flower-girl, who sent the daisies to you." + +And sitting down beside her, he told her of the teaching which had come +to him from the little wayside blossom; to whose lonely, thirsting +heart his few kind words and smiles had been as drops of dew from +heaven. + +But even while they talked of her and her pretty lady-like ways and +sayings, which seemed so far above her station, they did not know +she was a "Daisy," and that those were her namesakes over which Mrs. +Forster bent, dropping happy tears and kisses on them, mingled with +many a blessing on the little giver. + +Plucking one of the flowers from the stem, she opened her baby's tiny +hand and placed it within it. The fairy fingers closed around it, +clasping it tight, while the unconscious little one slept on. + +"Her name is Gertrude, but we'll call her Daisy, Frank, as soon as she +is old enough to be called any thing but baby," said the young mother, +"and her pretty pet name may serve as a reminder of this day's lesson, +if ever it should be forgotten." + +"You think I may need it," said her husband, smiling. "I trust not; for +the sin, to say nothing of the vulgarity, of taking God's name in vain, +has been set forth so plainly by my innocent little teacher, that I +must have a short memory, indeed, if I failed to remember her lesson. +She thought _gentlemen_ must know better." + +"But, dear," said the lady, "you said you would inquire about this +child, and see if we could not be of some use to her." + +"So I did," he answered; "and so I will, and should have done long +since; but day after day I have let business or pleasure keep me till +I had but just time to catch the train, and none to bestow on the +poor little creature who seems to have been so grateful for the few +kind words I have given her. You think I am rather fanciful about +this child, I know, Gertrude; but I am convinced that some of her few +years must have been spent among different people than those by whom +she is now surrounded. Nor am I the only one of her customers who has +noticed the grace of her speech and manners, so uncommon in a child +of her class. Ward, and others beside, have seen it; but like myself +have never made it their business to see after her. However, to-morrow +afternoon, I shall make it a point to be at the depot in time to have a +talk with her. I wonder if the woman who keeps the fruit-stall at the +corner, and whose child I believe she is, would give her up and let her +go to school." + +He was as good as his word; and more than an hour earlier than usual, +our little flower-girl saw "her gentleman" coming down the street +towards the depot. It was an eager, wistful little face, with some +questioning fear in it, that she raised to him, for she was anxious +lest she should have offended her kind friend, as she had learned to +think him, by her plain speech of the day before. + +She had scarcely meant to speak so plainly; the words had seemed to +escape her without her intending it, and, it was true, had been drawn +forth by the gentleman's own questions; but when she remembered them +afterwards she feared that he would think her rude and disrespectful. + +She need not have been afraid. His eye and voice were even kinder than +usual as he came near to her, and he laid his hand gently on her head, +saying,-- + +"Well, my little woman! and how does the world go with you to-day? The +lady told me to thank you very much for the daisies." + +The young face brightened. + +"Did she like them, sir?" + +"Very much indeed,--all the more because she has a little one at home +whom she is going to call 'Daisy' after your pretty flowers." + +"Is she your little girl, sir?" + +"Yes, she is a mite of a Daisy, but a very precious one," he answered; +then looking into the flushed face, with its soft, shining eyes and +parted lips, he added, "You are a Daisy yourself." + +The flowers she held dropped at her feet unheeded as she clasped both +hands upon her breast, and with quick-coming breath and filling eyes, +asked eagerly, "How _did_ you know it, sir? how did you know it?" + +"Know what, my child? What troubles you?" + +"How did you know I was Daisy?" she almost gasped. + +"I did not know it," he answered in surprise. "Is your name Daisy? I +thought it was Margaret." + +"They call me Margaret, sir,--Betty and Jack; but Daisy is my _own_, +_own_ name, that papa and mamma called me," she answered, recovering +herself a little. + +"And where are your papa and mamma?" he asked. "I thought the woman who +keeps the fruit-stall at the corner was your mother." + +"Oh, no, sir!" she said. "She is only Betty. She is very good to me, +but she is not mamma. Mamma was a lady," she added, with simple, +childish dignity, which told that she was a lady herself. + +"But _where_ are your father and mother?" he repeated, with fresh +interest in the child. + +"Mamma is drowned, sir; and we could never find papa," she answered, +with such pathos in her tones. + +"Come into the depot with me," said General Forster: "I want to talk to +you." + +She obeyed, and, taking up her basket, followed him into the +waiting-room, where, heedless of the many curious eyes around, he made +her sit down beside him, and drew from her her sad, simple story:--how +long, long ago she had lived with papa and mamma and her little brother +and baby sister in their own lovely home, far away from here; where it +was, she did not know, but in quite a different place from the great +bustling city which she had never seen till she came here with Betty +and Jack; how she had left home with mamma and the baby on a great +ship, where to go she could not remember; how Betty was on board, and +mamma had been kind to her; how a dreadful storm had come and there was +great confusion and terror; and then it seemed as if she went to sleep +for a long, long time, and knew nothing more till she found herself +living with Betty and Jack in their poor home far up in the city. + +They had been very good to her, nursing and caring for her during the +many months she had been weak and ailing; and now that she was stronger +and better, she tried to help them all she could, keeping the two small +rooms tidy, while Betty was away attending to her stall; and in the +afternoon selling the flowers which Jack raised in his little garden, +and she arranged in tasteful bouquets. And, lastly, she told how from +the very first time she had seen General Forster, she thought he +"looked so like papa" that she felt as if she must love him, and was so +happy when he stopped to buy flowers of her and spoke kindly to her. + +The story was told with a straightforward and simple pathos, which went +right to the listener's heart, and left him no doubt of its truth. But +the child could tell nothing of her own name or her parents', save that +she was always called "Daisy" at home, and that she had never since +heard the familiar name until to-day, when she thought this stranger +had given it to her. Betty and Jack always called her "Margaret;" and +Betty thought she knew mamma's name, but she did not. But she loved +daisies dearly for the sake of their name, which had been her own; and +she had raised and tended with loving care the little plant she had +given to "my gentleman" as a token of gratitude for his kindness, and +because he was "so like papa." + +Having learned all that he could from the child herself, the gentleman +went to the fruit-woman on the corner. + +"So," he said, "the little girl whom you call Margaret is not your own +daughter?" + +"Indade, no, sir," answered Betty; "niver a daughter of me own have +I barrin' Jack, and he's not me own at all, but jist me sister's son +what died, lavin' him a babby on me hands. More betoken that it's not +a little lady like her that the likes of me would be raisin', unless +she'd none of her own to do it." + +"Will you tell me how that came about?" + +Betty told the story in her turn, in as plain and simple a manner as +the child's, though in language far different. + +Her husband had been steward on a sailing vessel running between New +Orleans and New York; and about three years ago, she, being sick and +ordered change of air, had been allowed to go with him for the voyage. +But it made her worse instead of better; and on the return trip she +would have died, Betty declared, if it had not been for the kindness +and tender nursing of a lady, "Margaret's" mother. This lady--"her name +had been Saacyfut, she believed, but maybe she disremembered intirely, +for Marga_ret_ said it was not"--was on her way to New York with her +little girl who was sick, a baby, and a French nurse; but her home was +neither there nor in New Orleans,--at least so the child afterwards +said. + +Her own account of the storm was the same as the child's; but while the +recollection of the little one could go no further, Betty remembered +only too well the horrors of that day. + +When it was found that the ship must sink, and that all on board must +leave her, there had been, as the little girl said, great confusion. +How it was, Betty could not exactly tell; she had been placed in one +boat, the French nurse, with the child in her arms, beside her; and the +lady was about to follow with the infant, when a spar fell, striking +the Frenchwoman on the head and killing her instantly, knocking +overboard one of the three sailors who were in the boat,--while at the +same time the boat was parted from the ship and at the mercy of the +raging waves. In vain did the two sailors who were left try to regain +the ship: they were swept further and further away, and soon lost sight +of the vessel. They drifted about all night, and the next morning were +taken up by a fishing-smack which brought them to New York. + +Fright and exposure and other hardships, while they seemed to have +cured Betty, were too much for the poor little girl, and a long and +terrible illness followed: after which she lay for months, too weak to +move or speak, and appearing to have lost all memory and sense. And +when at last she grew better and stronger, and reason and recollection +came back, she could not tell the name of her parents or her home. + +"Marga_ret_ Saacyfut," Betty persisted in saying the French nurse had +called her little charge, "Mamsell Marga_ret_," "and if the lady's name +wasn't Saacyfut it was mightily nigh to it." + +"Marguerite" had been the French woman's name for "Daisy:" that the +General saw plainly enough, but he could make nothing of the surname. + +"But did you not seek for the child's friends, Betty?" he asked. + +"'Deed did I, sir," she answered. "Didn't I even ad_ver_tise her, an' +how she was to be heerd of, but all to no good. An' I writ to New +Orleans to them what owned the ship, but they were that oncivil they +niver answered, not they. An' it took a hape of money, sir, to be +payin' the paper, an' me such hard work to get along, an' Marga_ret_ on +me hands, an' I had to be done with it. For ye see me man was gone wid +the ship, an' niver heerd of along wid the rest to this day; an' I had +to use up the bit he'd put by in the savin's bank till the child was +mendin' enough for me to lave her wid Jack." + +"It was a very generous thing for you to burden yourself with the care +of her," said General Forster. + +"Burden is it, sir? Niver a burden was she, the swate lamb, not even +when the sense had left her. An' that was what the neighbors was always +a sayin', and why didn't I put her in the hospital. An' why would I do +that after the mother of her savin' me from a buryin' in the say, which +I niver could abide. For sure if it hadn't been for the lady I'd 'a +died on the ould ship, and they'd 'a chucked me overboard widout sayin' +by your lave; and sure I'd niver have got over such a buryin' as that +all the days of me life. And would I be turnin' out her child afther +that? An' isn't she payin' me for it now, an' 'arnin' her livin,' an' +mine too? She an' Jack tends the bit of a garden, an' arternoons she +comes down an' sells her flowers, an' where'd be the heart to refuse +her wid her pretty ways and nice manners; a lady every inch of her, +like her mother before her." + +And thrusting her head out from her stall, Betty gazed down the street +with admiring affection on her young _protegee_. + +"Och! but she's the jewel of a child," she went on; "and it is +surprisin' how me and Jack is improved and become ginteel all along of +her. Ye see, sir, I did use to say a hape of words that maybe wer'n't +jist so; not that I meant 'em for swearin', but it was jist a way of +spakin'. But after Marga_ret_ began to mend and get about, ye would +have thought she was kilt intirely if I let one out of me mouth. So +seein' how it hurted her, I jist minded what I was about, an' Jack the +same, for he was a boy that swore awful, poor fellow; he'd been left to +himself, and how was he to know better? At first him and me minded our +tongues, for that the child shouldn't be hurted; but by and by didn't +she make it plain to us that it was the great Lord himself what we was +offendin', and knowin' she'd been tached better nor me, I jist heeded +her. And now, sir, them words that I never thought no harm of and used +to come so aisy, I jist leave them out of me spache widout troublin'; +and a deal better it sounds, and widout doubt more plasin' to Him +that's above. And Jack the same mostly, though he does let one slip now +and agin. So ye see, sir, it's not a burden she is at all, at all, but +jist a little bit of light and comfort to the house that houlds her." + +Glad to find a listener in a "gintleman the likes of him," Betty had +talked away to the gentlemen, so taken up with her story, that she paid +little heed to the business of her stall. She made wrong change more +than once, gave quarts instead of pints, oranges in place of apples, +and peanuts for sugar-plums, and provoked some impatient customers not +a little; while one wicked boy, seeing her attention was taken up with +something else, ran off without paying for the pop-corn he asked for, +and was not called back. + +But Betty lost nothing by the time and thought she had given to the +gentleman, or the interest she had shown in her young charge, as she +found when she looked at the number upon the note he slipped into her +hand when he left her: a note which the warm-hearted Irishwoman laid by +"to buy that new gown and pair of shoes Margaret needed so bad." + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE DAISY TRANSPLANTED. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +III. + +THE DAISY TRANSPLANTED. + + +"BETTY," said General Forster, stopping the next morning at the +fruit-woman's stall, "could you make up your mind to give up that +little girl if you were sure it was for her good?" + +Betty sighed and shook her head mournfully as she answered,-- + +"I've always looked to give her up, sir, if them Saacyfuts, or whatever +their name'll be, turned up, and if it was for her good, sorra a word +would they hear out of me, though I won't say but it would go hard with +me and Jack. But ye'll not be tellin' me ye've been findin' her friends +since last night, sir?" + +"Not the people she belongs to, certainly, Betty; but I have found +those who will be friends to her, and provide for her, if you will +consent. She should go to school and be well taught: do you not think +so?" + +"Indade, an' there's none knows that better nor meself, sir. An' is it +yerself that's the friend ye're spakin' of?" and Betty gave a searching +look into the gentleman's face. + +He smiled. "Yes," he said: "I would like to put her to school and take +care of her. She seems a sweet child, and a good one. And you see, +Betty, I have it in my power to do more to find her friends than you +are able to do, and we may trace them yet. If we never find them, I +will promise to provide for her as long as it may be necessary. Are you +willing?" + +Betty again stared into the face of her questioner as if she would look +him through. + +"I'm sinsible of your kindness, sir," she answered; "but ye see I'm +in a way risponsible for the child, not to say that she is as dear to +me as me own flesh and blood, and I'd say 'yis,' and thank ye kindly, +but--ye'll excuse me plain spakin'--ye're a stranger to me, and I +couldn't be partin' wid Marga_ret_ widout I was certified as to yer +ka_rac_ter. For if I didn't think she'd be brought up right, niver +a foot should she stir to go wid ye. I seen Miss Gertrude Allston a +walkin' wid ye once last summer, sir, jist after I set up me stand +here, but she niver heeded me wid her swate face. But I used to be +laundress in her mother's house afore I was married, and a swate child +was Miss Gertrude and a good as ye're sayin' of Marga_ret_, and she'll +niver go far wrong, I'll answer for it. So, if ye'll jist bring me a +line from her and she says ye're all right, I'll not say ye nay." + +General Forster laughed heartily, not one whit offended at Betty's +"plain spakin'." + +"Miss Gertrude Allston, as you call her, will give me all the lines you +want, Betty; and she thought me right enough to marry me. She is my +wife,--Mrs. Forster." + +"An' is it so, sir?" said Betty, dropping the rosy-cheeked apple she +was polishing, and gazing at the gentleman with a mixture of curiosity +and admiration that was droll to see. "Well, but ye're in luck; and +if it's Miss Gertrude that has the managin' of ye, that's ka_rac_ter +enough of itself, an' I'll say take the child an' my blessin' on all +of yees. But when she gets among yer fine folks, ye'll not let her be +forgettin' the woman what cared for her when there was none else to do +it: will ye, sir? An' ye'll be lettin' me see her once in a while?" + +There is no need to say that this was readily promised, and the General +went on to tell Betty what plans he and his wife had for Daisy. She +was to be taken for a while to his home, where Mrs. Forster would +provide her with proper clothing; and then send her to Miss Collins' +boarding-school to be taught and trained in a way to satisfy her +friends if they should ever find her, or that she might one day be able +to earn her own living, if it should be needful. + +"An' I'm glad she should have the bringin' up of a lady which is what I +couldn't give her," said Betty, with another sigh, for it went to her +heart to part with her darling; "but ye'll not be able to make her more +of a lady nor she is now; no, not if ye dress her in gould and jewels, +an' silks an' satins. Niver a rough word nor way has she with her, if +she has been with me and Jack more nor two year, nor ye couldn't find a +purtier behaved child in all the land." + +An hour or two later, Betty, having found a friend to "mind" her stall +for her, guided General Forster to the tiny house in the suburbs of the +city where she lived with Daisy and Jack. + +The two children were out in the little garden gathering the flowers +which were to be tied up in bouquets for Daisy's afternoon sale; and +great was their surprise, when the sound of the gate-latch causing them +to look up, they saw Betty coming home at this unusual hour of the day, +and the gentleman with her. Their business was soon told; but although +Daisy flushed and smiled with astonishment and delight when she heard +what the "gentleman who looked so like papa" meant to do for her, the +little face soon shadowed over again, and she shook her head gently but +firmly when she was asked if she would go. + +"An' why for no, dear?" asked Betty. "Sure ye'd niver be for throwin' +away a chance the likes of that, not to spake of it's bein' ongrateful +to the gintleman's kindness, an' he no more nor less than the husband +of Miss Gertrude." + +But Daisy shook her head again; and then first begging the gentleman's +pardon, as a polite little girl should do, stepped up to her faithful +friend, and putting her arms about her neck whispered something in her +ear. + +The tears she had before with trouble kept back now started to Betty's +eyes. + +"Och, an' is it that, honey?" she said in her broadest brogue, "an' +ye'll not let that be thrubblin' yer dear heart. What a tinder, +grateful little sowl it is! Ye see, sir," she went on, turning to the +General, while she smoothed with her loving hand the little head which +lay upon her breast, "ye see, sir, it's just as I tellt ye. She's a +lady, every inch of her, an' has feelin's that's jist oncommon. An' +there's a matter of back rint jew, it's more'n a year, though me +landlord he's as good as gould, an' a bill at the poticary's, an' +little scores at the baker's an' grocers what I niver got paid off yet, +not since the child was sick an' I couldn't rightly make things go; an' +she says she won't be lavin' us now that she can turn a penny wid her +posies an' help along." + +Drawing the child to him, General Forster whispered to her in his +turn, promising that the "back rint" and other "scores" should be paid +off without delay if she would but come with him; and Daisy, feeling +herself nearer home and friends than she had ever done since the +dreadful day of the shipwreck, when she was parted from "mamma," put +her hand trustingly in his to be led where he would. + +But the parting went hard. Daisy could not leave those who had been +so kind, and shared their little all with her, without many a bitter +tear. Betty kissed her and clung to her and called down all heaven's +blessings on her head; and Jack hung over the gate, uttering frantic +howls as he watched the sobbing child led away by her new protector. +Not one thought gave Jack to his fourteen years; not one to the +"fellers from beyant the lot," who, drawn by his cries, came flocking +to see what ailed him who was all their terror and admiration: their +admiration, because he was bigger, stronger, braver than any other boy +of his age among their crew; their terror, because of late he allowed +no bad word to be used in his presence, banishing all who offended +in that way from their games, choosing as his favorites and chief +companions those who were most careful not to take God's name in vain. +So cursing and swearing had come to be much less frequent than of old +among the lanes and lots lying around the humble house where the little +Daisy had bloomed and grown during the last two years, dropping upon +the path which God had chosen for her good seed of which she knew not +herself. + +Betty went back to her stand with a heavy heart, knowing that when +she went home that night she should miss the sweet little face which +had brightened and cheered her after many a hard day's work; but she +was half-consoled for her own loss when she saw Daisy coming down the +street holding General Forster's hand. For the General's first care had +been to take the little girl to a place where children's clothes could +be had ready-made; and where he had her fitted out, as Betty said, "as +nice as a new pin and as became the little lady she was by right." + +But Daisy was as much a lady in the coarse but clean calico frock +and patched shoes she had worn yesterday, as she was now in the nice +clothes provided for her by General Forster; for it was the sweet +manners and pretty ways she had never lost which made her so, and the +new garments covered as warm and loving a little heart as the old +ones had done. And so Betty found, and knew that pride would have no +place there, when, as she reached the stand, Daisy drew her hand from +the gentleman's, and running behind the stall as she had many a time +done when she was eager to show Betty what a good afternoon's sale she +had made with her flowers, threw her arms about her neck and kissed +her again and again as lovingly as she had done when she had no other +friend in the world. + +Gentle Mrs. Forster gave Daisy a warm welcome to her new home; and the +manner in which the child fell at once into the ways and habits of +those about her plainly showed that they were not new to her, but that +she had at some time been well accustomed to a different life than that +she had led for the last two years. + +She had ways of her own, too, that were very charming: a pretty, dainty +grace in her behavior and speech; a thoughtfulness and care for others, +surprising in any child of her age,--for Daisy could not be more than +eight years old,--and particularly so for one who had had little +teaching for some time. It was easy to see that Daisy had received +careful training at one time, and that the lessons then learned had +taken deep root and were not yet forgotten in spite of the long +separation from her home and friends. + +It had been intended, as General Forster told Betty, to send the little +girl to boarding-school at Miss Collins'; but she soon grew so closely +to the hearts of her new friends that they felt as if they could not +bear to part with her; and it was at last settled that her home was to +be with them for the present, at least, and that she should only go +to Miss Collins for the morning, as most of the other little girls in +Glenwood did. + +Mrs. Forster could not bear to send from her this loving child, whose +greatest happiness seemed to be in making others happy, and she grew +every day more and more interesting as the familiar objects and customs +about her called up past recollections of the home and parents she +had lost. She would watch the General for hours at a time, as he sat +reading or writing, or follow him with wistful eyes as he mounted his +horse and rode down the broad avenue "just like papa;" would hang over +the lesser Daisy as she lay sleeping, "'cause she looks just as our +baby at home used to," and delighted to wait upon her and Mrs. Forster +in a dainty, neat-handed manner, which showed that such loving service +came quite naturally to her. + +She never called the infant "baby," as the rest of the family did. +With her it was always "little Daisy." She seemed to love the pretty +name, either given to herself or another; and all the variety of choice +flowers with which General Forster's garden was filled could not win +her chief affection from her old favorite daisies, "'cause mamma loved +them so and named me after them." + +But though she remembered so much, the child could not recall the name +of her parents, or where they had lived. Their name "was not what Betty +called it," she was sure; but none the less had it passed from her mind. + +"Francine," the French bonne, used to call mamma "Madame," and herself +"Mademoiselle Marguerite;" but when she was asked what other people +used to call mamma and papa, the little face grew clouded and pained +with the effort to remember; and when name after name was mentioned to +her, she shook her head at each one. + +The General tried by every means in his power to discover the friends +who must still be mourning the loss of their sweet little daisy +blossom, but all in vain; and as week after week went by, he and his +wife decided that they could not send her forth from their own roof +unless her relations came to claim her. She was an added ray of light +where all had been brightness and sunshine before,--a lovely, precious +little flower, lending new fragrance and beauty to the home where she +blossomed. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +DAISY'S SISTER FLOWERETS. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +IV. + +DAISY'S SISTER FLOWERETS. + + +"GOODNESS gracious! mercy _me_!" + +"I didn't mean to, Susy; 'pon my word and honor I didn't; just as sure +as I'm alive." + +Such were the words uttered by two different little voices which our +Daisy heard, as holding by General Forster's hand, she reached the gate +of Miss Collins' garden on the first morning of her going to school in +Glenwood. + +Now would it not have been thought that some terrible misfortune must +have called forth that exclamation from the first young speaker; or +that the second thought herself accused of some dreadful crime, and +that she must prove her innocence at once by all the strong words she +could think of, if she would escape severe punishment? + +And what was this mighty matter? + +Why, just this. + +Susy Edwards and several of her schoolmates were "making a land of +Egypt." For of late the geography lesson of the young class had been +upon that country, and they had been much interested in the pictures +of the pyramids and Sphinx. And Susy, who "liked to make her knowledge +of use in her plays," and who was considered by the other children to +have a great genius in that way, had proposed that they should turn a +portion of their play-ground into Egypt. This was thought a capital +plan, and the recess of the day before had been employed in this +way,--the little planners and builders leaving it with great regret, +and returning to it before school-time that morning with fresh pleasure +and some new ideas. + +The gravel walk was supposed to be the desert; the trough which led the +waste water from the spring, the River Nile; while a jointed wooden +doll, cruelly deprived for the purpose of all its limbs, had half of +its remainder buried in the gravel, to represent the Sphinx. Any number +of pyramids, four or five inches high, had been built out of pebbles, +and several were still going up. + +And Lily Ward, the pet and darling of the school, the youngest child, +and till that day the newest scholar there, had brought that morning a +tiny doll's bath-tub, with a doll to match lying in it, saying it was +to be "Moses in the bulrushes, for it couldn't be a real land of Egypt +without a Moses." + +Lily's idea was received with great applause and admiration, and she +felt rather proud of it herself when she heard it so much praised. + +But a difficulty arose. The little tub did duty for the ark of +bulrushes most beautifully, it was "so real and so cunning;" and never +was a meeker baby than the one which lay so quietly within it. But he +must be hidden, and nothing could be found to answer for flags. The +grass about the mock River Nile was quite too short for that purpose, +trampled on as it was through each day's playtime by at least twenty +pairs of little feet; and the willow twigs which Lola Swan planted +would not stand up straight enough to make a shade for the ark. + +"There isn't time to plant them deep enough," said Lola; "the +school-bell will ring in a few moments, and then we'll have to leave +it." + +"And the sun will go and come round here before recess," said Lily, in +a tone of distress, "and Moses will be all sunburned. Besides, it isn't +a bit real: they never leave babies lying out in the sun." + +"Put him out on the grass and turn the ark upside-down over him till we +come out again," said Susy. + +But Lily scouted the idea of having her Moses treated in this way; and +all began at once to deepen the holes for the willow twigs before the +bell should ring. + +But suddenly a bright thought struck Lily. + +"Let's play Moses' mother and Miriam put a pyramid over him," she said. +"We could do that pretty quick, and it will be nice and shady for him, +and very real too, 'cause they did have pyramids in Egypt." + +All agreed readily, for this was thought an excellent arrangement, and +they fell to work as fast as possible; while Bessie Norton whispered to +Violet Swan, "What a smart child Lily is, isn't she?" + +"Yes," said Violet, in the same tone, "very; and I expect when she is +grown up she will do something very remarkable." + +"What?" asked Susy Edwards, who heard them. + +"Be a genius, I expect," answered Violet, solemnly. + +"Oh, how nice!" said Bessie, who had not the least idea what genius +meant, but did not like to say so. + +The pyramid over the sleeping Moses was nearly completed, the little +builders expecting each moment to hear the bell, when Lola Swan, coming +with a fresh supply of pebbles, tripped over a stick which lay upon the +grass, and, trying to recover herself, let her load fall around and +upon the half-built pyramid, knocking down half a dozen or so of the +stones which composed it. Not much harm was done, but Susy immediately +exclaimed,-- + +"Goodness gracious! mercy me!" and Lola answered as you have heard in +the words which met Daisy's ear as she and General Forster entered the +garden. + +The click of the gate-latch caused all the children to look up, and +Moses and the pyramids were for the moment forgotten at the sight of +the new scholar. + +"Why! there's Daisy Forster," said Lily, for Daisy was now known by +this name. + +"I wonder if she's coming here to school," said another; and that +question was speedily answered, as, stopping by the little group, the +General, whom all knew and liked, said, "Here's a new schoolmate for +you. Will you be kind to her, and make her feel at home?" + +"Yes, sir, we will; and I'll take care of her," said Lily, scrambling +to her feet and taking Daisy's hand in a patronizing manner. "She won't +feel much strange after one day, 'cause we'll all be good to her, and +she shall help us make our land of Egypt." + +"Ah! that is what you are doing, is it?" said the General. + +"Yes, sir," answered Lily; "we're just putting a pyramid over Moses in +the bulrushes, 'cause we hav'n't time to fix so many bulrushes till +recess. And part of it is knocked down. Lola did it, but she didn't +mean to, and if you peep in there between those stones you can see +a little bit of the ark and Moses' dear little china arm poking up. +Please to peek, sir." + +The General did as he was requested, saying that he saw Moses quite +plainly. + +"It isn't much matter if we do have to leave him now," said Lily; "he's +pretty nicely covered up." + +"I think so," said the General, gravely; "and if I were Moses, with a +pyramid being built over me, I think I should prefer to have a small +breathing-hole left." + +"Why, so he would," said Lily; "and now we can leave him nicely fixed, +and play he's very comfortable in his pyramid, even if it's not quite +done." + +Lily being satisfied with the fate of Moses, all the rest were so; and +the bell now ringing, the little group turned towards the house. Daisy +wondering, as well she might, that a matter which was so easily settled +should call for such violent expressions of distress and alarm as she +had heard from two of the little girls. + +"Why, Miss Collins," said General Forster, as that lady met them at the +door, "what a bouquet of flowers you have here! A Rose, a Violet, a +Daisy, and a Lily; as choice a nosegay as one could wish for." + +"And the Lily is going to take care of the Daisy, and make her feel +to home, Miss Collins," said Lily, who still held Daisy's hand. "The +General said I could." + +"No, he didn't," said Susy. + +"Yes, he _did_, 'pon my word he did; least I said I would do it, and he +didn't say I couldn't: did you, sir?" said Lily, throwing back her head +to look up at the General's tall figure. + +"And that comes to the same thing, does it, Lily?" he said, laughing; +"well, I suppose it does; and I promise you shall look after Daisy till +she feels no longer a stranger among you." + +"She knows me, and Loly and Violet, as well as any thing," said Lily; +for the little girls had met several times before, and Lily felt +herself and the two Swans to be on rather intimate terms with Daisy +Forster. + +"All right, then. I leave her to you. Good-morning, Miss Collins," and +with a bow to the lady, with whom he had before made all the necessary +arrangements for Daisy, a pleasant nod for the little ones, and a kiss +for Daisy, he went away. + +Daisy felt rather lonely when he was gone, in spite of Miss Collins' +kind look, Lily's tight clasp of the hand, and Violet's, "We have real +nice times in school. Don't be afraid." For she was far more shy with +children than she was with grown people, probably because she had never +had any companions of her own age; and the number of young faces, most +of them strange, about her, made her long to be back again at Mrs. +Forster's side. And they all looked at her a good deal, for her story +was well known among them, and she was an object of great curiosity. + +Lily observed this, as she took her seat with Daisy beside her, and +thought she must speak up for her charge. + +"Miss Collins," she said, "please to make a rule." + +"Well," said Miss Collins, smiling; for Lily was constantly asking for +new rules concerning things which did not suit her. She had begun with +this more than a year ago when she was only a visitor at the school; +and she was even now not a regular scholar, but only coming for a few +weeks. For her papa and mamma had gone on a journey, and Lily, being +lonely at home when Ella and the boys were at school, it had been +arranged that she was to go with Ella in the morning. So she was rather +a privileged person, and spoke her mind freely concerning that which +did not please her, which the other children thought rather a joke, and +were generally ready enough to fall in with Lily's rules. So now they +all listened. + +"Please to make a rule that nobody must stare, ma'am," said Lily: "it +makes people feel so to be stared at,"--and Lily put up both hands to +her cheeks,--"specially if they are new." + +"Very true," answered Miss Collins: "let us all try to remember the +Golden Rule, and then we shall neither stare nor do any thing else to +hurt another's feelings." + +Then she struck the little bell which stood upon her table, and all +knew the school had begun, and they must be quiet. + +Next calling Bessie Norton to her, Miss Collins gave her a number of +Bibles, and the little girl handed one to each of her classmates. Then +Miss Collins read a verse aloud, and the children followed, each in her +turn. + +"Minnie Grey may take the Bibles," said Miss Collins when this was done. + +Minnie rose, and went from one to another collecting the Bibles. But +instead of taking as many as she could conveniently carry at one time, +giving them to Miss Collins, and coming back for the rest, she went on +piling one on top of another, till one arm was quite full, when she +came to Daisy and held out her other hand for her book. As she did so, +the top one of the pile fell to the floor. Minnie stooped for it, and +down went two or three more. + +"Oh! bother the old things," said Minnie, in a low voice, but very +impatiently. + +Daisy had stooped to help her pick up the Bibles, but the glow her +cheeks wore when she raised her head again was not all owing to that. + +Bother the old things! What old things? Why, the Bibles, God's own Holy +Word. + +Daisy was very much shocked, and she looked up at Miss Collins, +expecting to hear her reprove such _wicked words_, _she_ thought them. + +But Miss Collins had not heard Minnie's exclamation, though the noise +of the falling books had called her attention that way, and she said,-- + +"Minnie, my dear, you are careless with those Bibles: do you forget +whose books they are?" + +"I don't care," muttered Minnie, but not so that the lady could hear. +Daisy heard again; and the thought passed through her mind, "What a +wicked little girl Minnie must be!" + +And yet Daisy was mistaken. If she had asked Minnie's parents, +teacher, or playmates, they would all have told her that Minnie was +an uncommonly good and pleasant little girl; truthful, obedient, +industrious, and generous and obliging towards others. She had no +thought now that she was breaking one of God's commandments; and she +would have been both offended and grieved, if she had known what was +in Daisy's mind, believing herself, as she did, to be innocent of any +wrong. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +DAISY AT STUDY. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +V. + +DAISY AT STUDY. + + +DAISY was soon at home with her schoolmates, and a great favorite among +them. + +It was not strange that they liked and were interested in her. She was +such a gentle, modest, amiable little girl; watching and joining in the +games and lessons of the others with a kind of innocent wonder which +amused and touched them all. For Daisy was not at all accustomed to be +with children of her own age, and their ways were all new to her. + +And of course she was behind all the rest in her studies. She could +not even read as well as Lily Ward; and had to begin with the simplest +lessons, such as Lily and two or three of the very youngest children +learned. At first this troubled her, and she feared the rest of the +class would laugh at her. + +But she soon found she need not have been afraid of that, for the rule +of Miss Collins' infant class was the law of kindness; and any one of +the little girls would have thought it almost a crime to laugh or mock +at Daisy, for that which was her misfortune and not her fault. + +They might now and then fall out a little among themselves, for they +were by no means perfect children; sometimes there would be some +selfishness shown, or even a few angry words pass from one to another; +but, on the whole, they agreed about as well as any twenty little +girls could be expected to do; and not one among them would have had +the heart purposely to do an unkind thing to another. Least of all to +Daisy Forster, whom they all looked upon with a kind of tender pity and +interest, because of her sad and romantic history; and who was at once +taken up by both teacher and scholars as a sort of twin pet with Lily, +for whom allowances were to be made, and who was to be encouraged and +aided as much as possible. + +So Daisy found plenty of helpers, who, so far from laughing at her +mistakes and backwardness, were rather inclined to think her quick and +industrious, as indeed she was, trying hard to make up for lost time, +and "catch up" with those of her own age. + +She was almost too eager about this, and had to be checked now and +then, for since the long illness which had followed the shipwreck, +Daisy had never been strong; and too much fatigue or study, or even +too much play, would make her nervous and sick, and her little head +would become confused and ache. So now and then Mrs. Forster would have +to take the books from her, and forbid more study, sending her out to +play, or to work in the plot of ground which had been given her for a +garden of her own. + +She was not always pleased at this, and sometimes would be rather +fretful and impatient. But Mrs. Forster soon found a way to put a stop +to this. + +One afternoon she found the little girl bending over her slate with +flushed and heated cheeks, anxious eyes, and trembling hands. + +"Daisy," she said, quietly, "what are you doing? Miss Collins has not +given you lessons out of school, has she?" + +"No, ma'am," said Daisy; "but I asked Ella Ward to set me a whole lot +of sums so that I could do them at home, and I can't make this one come +right. I know it is not right, 'cause Ella put the answers on the other +side of the slate, and mine won't come the same, all I can do." + +Mrs. Forster took the slate from her hand. + +"This sum is too hard for you, Daisy," she said: "you do not know +enough arithmetic for this." + +"It is not any harder than the sums Lola and Violet and the other +girls as large as I am do," answered Daisy, looking ready to burst out +crying; "and I have to do arithmetic with the very little ones, like +Lily, and it makes me ashamed; so I want to go on all I can. _Please_ +give me the slate again, Aunt Gertrude," she added, as Mrs. Forster +laid it beyond her reach. + +"No, dear. I do not wish you to study out of school. I am glad you want +to improve, but you have as much to do there as is good for you; and at +home I want you to have rest and play. You are improving quite as fast +as could be expected, and for a time you must be content to go on with +those who are younger than yourself." + +"But it makes me ashamed," pleaded Daisy, again. + +"There is no reason for that," said Mrs. Forster, patting the hot cheek +she raised towards her. "The other children do not laugh at you and +make you uncomfortable, do they?" + +"Oh, no, ma'am," said Daisy; "they are all so good to me, and when they +can't help seeing what a dunce I am" (here Daisy's tears overflowed), +"they always say kind things about how I never went to school before, +and how my own dear mamma was drowned, and there was nobody to teach me +till I came to you." + +"You are not a dunce, dear," said the lady. "A child who idles away +her time when she should be studying, and does not care whether or no +she learns as much as is fit for her, is a dunce: not a little girl +who really wishes to be industrious, but does not know quite as much +as others of her own age only because God has not given her the same +advantages in time past. No one will think my Daisy a dunce. Now, we +must have no more studying at home, no more lessons than those Miss +Collins sets you." + +Daisy did not look satisfied: on the contrary, she even pouted a little. + +"Daisy," said Mrs. Forster, "suppose Uncle Frank were to give you some +beautiful and costly thing which would be of great use to you in time +to come if you took good care of it, say a watch: what would you do +with it?" + +"Why! I _would_ take great care, oh! such care of it," said Daisy, +opening her eyes in some surprise at the question. She did not see what +that could have to do with her studies. + +"I'd wind it up every night, and try to keep it right and safe every +way I could. But I don't know if I am quite large enough to have a +watch of my own, or take care of it; maybe the best way would be to ask +you or Uncle Frank to keep it for me till I was older." + +"And suppose for a while he gave you no key to this watch, but let it +run down and be quiet?" + +"I'd just put it away till he gave me a key, and be patient about it," +said Daisy, wondering more and more. + +"And if, by and by, when he gave you this key, you should go on winding +and winding the watch farther and faster than it was right for it to +go, till the wheels and springs were all spoiled and out of order, +would Uncle Frank think you cared much for his gift?" + +"Why, no, Aunt Gertrude; and he wouldn't think I cared much for him, +either, to use his pretty present so." + +"You are right, dear. And now I want my own little Daisy to see how it +is with herself. God has given to you a young mind, bright and quick +enough; but, for a while, He did not choose that it should do much +work. But now He has given you the key by which you may wind it and set +it to work; and if you use it without proper care, and so as to hurt +and wear out this precious gift, would it not seem as if you cared very +little about it, and did not respect and honor the Giver?" + +"Yes'm," answered Daisy, beginning to see what Mrs. Forster meant; "but +I never thought about that." + +"I believe I never thought about it before, dear," said Mrs. Forster, +smiling. "I am not afraid to praise you, Daisy; and I may safely say +that I have never seen any little child who showed such true honor and +reverence for her Maker, and all which belongs to Him. You must have +been well taught, my child; and to know and remember such lessons is +worth all the book learning in the world." + +Daisy was pleased, as she always was when any one spoke to her of her +long-lost home, or praised the teaching she had received from those +who had loved and cared for her there. And from this time there was no +further trouble about the lessons; for it was enough for Daisy to know +that she was misusing any one of God's good gifts, to make her change +her ways. Many a lesson might have been learned, and, indeed, had been +learned, by those older and wiser than herself, from the loving care +and respect paid by this little one to her Creator's name, and to all +the works of His hand. + +And it was a great trouble to her to hear the careless way in which +many of her schoolmates used sacred names and things. They did not +mean any harm; they did not think it any sin; but every day Daisy was +shocked and distressed by hearing such words as "mercy," "gracious," +"goodness," and "good heavens," and the like, from the lips of the +other children, as they were about their play and study. It had +become a habit with nearly all in the school; one caught it from +another almost without knowing it; even Lily Ward, who once thought +the clergyman "preached a sermon at her" because she said "hush up," +now and then followed the example of the others when any thing vexed +or surprised her. A few weeks at school had accustomed Lily to the +constant use of expressions which a year ago she would have considered +"real naughty words." + +The older girls in Miss Sarah Collins' room had fallen into this bad +habit as much, if not more, than the little ones of the infant class. + +And it was not only this carelessness of speech in which they were +all, large and small, to blame; but it seemed to Daisy so strange that +they could handle and treat the Bible, God's holy Word, with so little +reverence and respect, knocking it about among their other books as +if it were no better than these last, even using it, sometimes, for +purposes to which no book, even the most common one, should be put. + +Daisy wondered that Miss Collins did not teach them better; but +either she did not notice all this, or she did not think it of much +consequence; certain it is that she did not check them, and the evil +seemed to Daisy to grow worse from day to day. + +At first she did not like to speak herself. You may wonder that this +was so, since she had not feared to speak so plainly to General +Forster, who was a grown gentleman, so much older than herself; but she +had done that almost without knowing what she was saying, for, as you +know, his profane words had startled her so that he was surprised, and +he had almost forced her to tell him what had disturbed her. + +And here she was with every thing strange around her, school, +schoolmates, and teacher all new to her; so it is not astonishing that +she was rather shy and felt afraid to interfere with the others, or to +tell them that she thought they were doing wrong. + +But by and by there came a day when she could no longer hold her peace. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +DAISY A TEACHER. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +VI. + +DAISY A TEACHER. + + +ONE morning just after school commenced, a heavy shower came up; and +when it was time for the recess, which was always given to the infant +class at eleven o'clock, the ground was still so wet that the little +ones were forced to find amusement within doors or upon the piazza. + +"What shall we play?" asked Rosie Pierson. + +"Lady Queen Fair," said Bessie Norton: "we'll go out on the piazza and +play it." + +[Illustration] + +"Yes," said Violet; "and Lily shall be Lady Queen Fair, and we'll dress +her up a little. Miss Emily," as a third Miss Collins, who gave music +lessons to the girls, passed by, "may we have a rose to put in Lily's +hair for Lady Fair?" + +The young lady smiled, stopped and pulled a couple of roses from the +vine which wound itself around one of the pillars of the piazza, and +gave them to Violet, then passed on. + +Time had been when Violet would have hoped, perhaps would have asked +to be Lady Fair herself, and been sulky and displeased if the other +children had not agreed; but now she was very different, and more apt +to prefer another before herself. + +The roses were soon arranged, the one in the hair, the other in the +bosom of the little Lady Queen, who took her dignities in the calmest +manner. Meanwhile some of the other children were drawing forward one +of the rustic chairs with which the piazza was furnished, to serve as a +throne. + +But the little queen, like many another royal lady before her, found +her throne by no means an easy one. + +"Ow!" she said, rubbing her little round white shoulders where she had +scratched them against the rough bark of the twisted boughs which made +the back of the chair, "ow! this is not nice at all, or comfortal. My +feet don't come to the floor, and if I lean back I'm all scratched. I'd +rather be a queen without a throne." + +"Oh, no! You must have a throne," said Susy Edwards. "Queens have to." + +"I don't see why," said Lily, rather pettishly; for she did not feel +very well that morning, and that and the close heat of the day made her +more fretful than usual. "I should think queens could do just as they +have a mind to and make their subjiks do it too; and I don't see what +they have to have their skin all scraped up for if they don't want to;" +and Lily twisted her head to give an aggrieved look at the little fat +shoulder with that red mark upon it. + +"I'll fix you," said Lola. "I'll put Miss Collins' footstool under your +feet and you shall have the big cushion behind you. Some one bring the +cushion while I carry the stool." + +The footstool was brought in a moment; but the cushion was not to be +found. + +"The big girls had it yesterday," said Fanny Satterlee. "I saw them +with it in their recess when I was going home. There comes Cora Prime +now; let's ask her. Cora, what did the big girls do with that cushion +yesterday when they had done with it?" + +"The Lord knows; I don't," said Cora, playfully tapping Fanny on the +head with the roll of music in her hand. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Lily. + +Daisy did not speak; but as Cora's eye happened to fall upon her, her +face said as much as Lily's "Oh!" + +"What's the matter with you two?" asked Cora, looking from one to the +other of the little girls, but still good-natured. + +"You oughtn't to say that," said Lily. + +"Ought not to say what?" + +"The Lord knows," answered Lily. + +"Well, don't He know?" asked Cora. + +"No," said Lily, doubtfully, "I guess not. I don't believe He'd bother +Himself with knowing about a worn-out old cushion what has a hole in +the cover, and such things." + +"Yes, He does, too," said Cora, laughing; "are not the very hairs of +our head numbered?" + +"Now, I _know_ you ought to be 'shamed," said Lily. "You're talking +Bible; and that is not right, is it, Daisy?" + +"No," said Daisy, as boldly as Lily herself could have done, for +quoting Scripture in a careless manner was also a habit of many in the +school. + +"You two saucy monkeys! correcting your elders," said Cora, much +amused. "I heard you both talking Bible to Miss Collins this morning +with all the rest of your class." + +"We were only saying what we learned in Sunday school yesterday," said +Lily. "That's not the same thing. I _know_ it's not right to talk Bible +that kind of a way. Papa says so, and he tells us not to do it." + +"Your papa's saying so does not make a thing right or wrong," said Cora. + +"Yes, it does, too!" said Lily. "My papa knows a whole lot, and he +wouldn't tell a story for any thing. Cora, you'd better go to your +music lesson: I 'speck Miss Emily wants you." + +"Oh, you are very considerate for Miss Emily, all at once," said Cora, +more amused than ever; "but you haven't told me why I shouldn't say, +The Lord knows, when He does know." + +Lily looked at Daisy, who stood by the arm of her chair, for help. The +little one felt that Cora was wrong, but she did not exactly know how +to answer, and she had noticed how careful Daisy was to honor the name +of God. + +"Is it not taking the name of God in vain?" said Daisy. + +"Upon my word!" said Cora. "Do you mean to call that swearing?" + +"Well, yes," said Lily, taking up the word, "a kind of baby swearing, I +s'pose; but you know it's not very good of you, Cora." + +"Everybody says such things: they don't mean any thing," said Cora. + +"Not _everybody_," answered Lily. "Daisy don't." + +"Then Daisy's uncommonly good," said Cora. + +"Yes, she is," replied Lily; "and I s'pose _everybody_ ought to be +uncommonly good and never say them." + +Cora laughed again. + +"Everybody must mind their p's and q's before you: mustn't they, Lily?" +and away she ran to her music lesson. + +"Here's the cushion," said Rosie Pierson, running out from the +school-room. "I found it in the closet under the shelf where those +careless big girls left it, I s'pose." + +The cushion was put behind Lily's shoulders, but still the little queen +fidgeted on her throne and declared she was not yet "comfortal." + +"'Cause if I lean back against the cushion my feet won't touch the +stool," she said. + +"We'll put something else on the stool to make it higher," said Nettie +Prime, who was trying to arrange Lily satisfactorily: "what shall we +take? Oh, I know. Daisy, run and bring the big Bible off Miss Collins' +table for Lily to put her feet on." + +Daisy, who made a motion to start forward as Nettie began to speak, +stood still when she heard what she called for. + +"Make haste," said the latter, impatiently: "we won't have a bit of +time to play." + +Daisy did not move, but stood with rising color, trying to make up her +mind to speak. + +"Oh! you disobliging thing!" said Violet, and she ran for the book. + +"Oh! don't," said Daisy, as Violet came back and stooped to put the +Bible on the footstool; "I didn't mean to be disobliging, but we ought +not to use the Bible to play with." + +"Pooh!" said Violet: "Lily's little feet won't hurt it. It's all worn +out, any way. The cover is real shabby." + +"I didn't mean that," answered Daisy; "I meant because it is God's +book, and we ought to treat it very carefully." + +"Oh, fiddle! How awfully particular you are, Daisy!" said Minnie Grey. +"Why, girls, do you know, the other day, when I was playing paper-dolls +with her and I turned up a Bible to make the side of a house, she took +it away, and when I put it back again 'cause it stood up better than +the other books, she said she wouldn't play if I did so with the Bible." + +"I s'pose Daisy would call that 'taking God's name in vain,'" said +another, half reproachfully; "wouldn't you, Daisy?" + +"I think it is something the same," answered Daisy, feeling as if +all the others were finding fault with her and thinking her "awfully +particular," a crime which no little girl likes to have laid to her +charge. + +"I don't see how," said Lola. "I know we ought not to play with the +Bible; but I don't see how it is taking God's name in vain." + +"But the Bible is God's book, and He told it to the men who wrote it, +and His name is in it a great many times," said Daisy, "and I think it +seems like taking it in vain to play with it or to put things upon it, +or to knock it about like our other school-books. And it is not right +to say 'the Lord knows,' and 'mercy,' and 'gracious,' and such words, +when we are just playing, or when we are provoked." + +"What is the harm?" asked Rosie. "Mercy and gracious are not God's +name." + +"Well, no," said Daisy, slowly, not exactly knowing how to explain +herself. "And maybe I make a mistake; but it does seem to me as if it +was a kind of--of--" + +"Of little swearing, as Lily says," said Lola. + +"Yes," said Daisy. "Rosie thinks it is no harm; but even if it is not +much harm, I don't see what is the good of it. We can talk just as well +without saying such words." + +"I guess they are pretty wicked," said Lily. "The day mamma went away, +I said 'good heavens,' and she said 'Lily! Lily!' very quick, like she +does when I do something very naughty, and she asked me where I learned +that; and I told her Elly said it. I didn't mean to tell a tale about +Elly; but mamma looked sorry, and she told me never to say it again. I +guess 'mercy' is 'most the same, and I guess I won't say it any more; +and, Daisy, if I hear the other girls say those words, I'll help you +correct 'em." + +Lily promised this with an air of such grave importance that the other +children laughed. Not in the least abashed, Lily went on,-- + +"Papa's coming home day after to-morrow, and I'll ask him to tell me a +whole lot about God's name, and why it is wrong to say those things; +and then I'll tell all you girls. But I'm not coming to school any more +when mamma comes home; so you'll have to come to my house, and I'll +have a swearing class, and teach you all about it." + +Lily's words might have been taken with a different meaning from that +which she intended to give them; but the other children understood her, +and that was enough. + +"But, Daisy," said Lola, "how do you know so much about these things +when you don't know a great deal about every-day lessons, and have had +no one to teach you for so long?" + +"I don't know," said Daisy. "I think my own mamma who was drowned used +to teach me in the home I used to have;" and the dreamy look came into +her eyes which they always wore when she spoke of her far-away home and +those she had loved there. "I think I've forgotten a good many things," +she added; "but you know I couldn't forget what mamma taught me about +Jesus and what He wanted us to do if we loved Him. And I think if we do +love Him we won't say words about His name, His heaven, or any thing +that is His, that are not very good and gentle, and that we are very +sure He would like us to say." + +"But you are so _very_ particular, Daisy," said Minnie; "I think you +are most _too_ particular." + +"I didn't think we could be too particular about doing what Jesus +likes," said Daisy. + +The other children had all gathered about Daisy, and were listening +with interest to what she said. Perhaps they heard her with more +patience than they would have given to any one else; for Daisy was a +kind of mystery to them, and they looked upon her as a sort of fairy +or princess in disguise, and would not have been at all surprised to +hear the most extravagant stories about her, for she was "just like a +story-book child." Lily had said so one day when she was speaking of +her at home. + +"No," said Lola, thoughtfully; "but it does not seem as if such little +things could be wrong. I know it can't be right to play with the +Bible or say its words just when we are joking or for our own common +talk; but I don't see the harm of saying 'goodness,' or 'mercy,' or +'heavens,' or those words which you never will say, Daisy; they are not +God's name, and I don't see how it is taking it in vain to say them." + +Daisy looked thoughtful. She felt she was right, and wanted to explain +herself; but she was rather shy and could not find words to do so. + +But Lily, whom shyness never troubled, came to her aid. + +"Never mind," she said: "I'll ask papa just as soon as he comes home, +and he'll tell us all about it; and if he says it is naughty, why, it +is, and we won't do it; and if he says it's good enough, why, we will. +That's the way to fix it." + +Here the bell rang. + +"There, now," said Susy Edwards, "we have to go in, and we've wasted +all our time talking, and never had a bit of good of our recess." + +But I think Susy was mistaken, and that they had one and all gained +more good from their talk than they could have done from any amount +of play; for it had set more than one young mind thinking; and from +this day, even the most careless among them would check herself when +she found she was on the point of using these words which had grown +so common among them, more from want of thought than from any wish or +temptation to do wrong. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE SWEARING CLASS. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +VII. + +THE SWEARING CLASS. + + +WHEN Lily's papa and mamma came home, she was so glad to see them, and +there was so much to hear and to talk about, that she quite forgot her +purpose of asking her father to teach her about the third commandment. +Besides, she no longer went to school now that her mother was at home, +but had her lesson each day with her as she had done before Mrs. Ward +went on her journey; and so she was not as apt to hear or to say those +careless words which Daisy Forster had said it was not right to use. + +But it was at last brought to her mind one evening as the family all +sat at the tea-table. + +"Mamma," said Ella, "will you let Lily and me have a tea-party +to-morrow? I want to ask half a dozen of our girls, and I suppose Lily +would like to have a few of the little ones at the same time." + +"Yes," answered Mrs. Ward, "you may each ask six of your most intimate +friends." + +"Can Walter and I ask some of the fellows?" said Ned. + +"Oh, mercy! no," said Ella: "we don't want any boys. It is not to be a +regular party, Ned. I just want the girls to spend the afternoon and +drink tea; and it makes more fuss to have boys too." + +"Goodness me! You needn't get into such a way about it," said Ned. + +"Children," said Lily, her brother's and sister's words bringing back +to her what Daisy had said, "children, you needn't either of you swear +about it." + +Lily's efforts to keep the family straight were generally considered +as a good joke, and her reproofs and advice received with a laugh; but +this plain speaking was rather _too_ much for either Ella or Ned, and +the former exclaimed,-- + +"Well, who is swearing, I'd like to know?" + +"And who gave you leave to correct your elders?" said Ned. + +"Nobody: I just took it," said unabashed Lily; and then, turning to her +father, she exclaimed, "Papa, I b'lieve the girls in our school are +pretty heathen, and don't know enough about the comman'ments. So I told +them we'd have a swearing class, and I'd ask you to teach it, 'cause +I s'pose you know a good deal about swearing; and this will be a good +chance when they come to-morrow." + +This speech turned the vexation of Ella and Ned into amusement, and +they laughed with the others. + +"I don't think your playmates will thank you for asking them here to +take tea and then bringing them up for a lecture from me, my pet," said +Mr. Ward. + +"Yes: they will, papa. They want to know about it, and I think we'd +better make a swearing party of this. I b'lieve it would do those big +girls good too. They swear, oh, dreadfully! and they don't seem to +think they do, least Cora don't. Mamma, let's make a rule we won't have +any swearing in this house: won't you?" + +"Certainly," said mamma, smiling; "and I think we must find out what +_swearing_ is, and be careful not to break the rule." + +"If one is going to call 'goodness' and 'mercy,' and such things, +swearing, one might as well give up talking altogether," said Ella. + +"Perhaps not exactly swearing," said her father; "but the use of them +is a bad habit, and one that I have noticed is quite too frequent among +all the young people of this place. It is growing stronger too, as all +such habits do, and going from bad to worse. But I must go out now, and +have not time to talk to you about it. If Lily can persuade her little +friends to take the 'swearing class,' as part of their afternoon's +entertainment to-morrow, well and good; if not, we will have a little +private talk among ourselves some other time." + +Ella was not at all pleased by Lily's proposal; and hoping that it +would pass from the child's mind before the afternoon, she was careful +not to make her remember it by the use of any such words as had called +forth Lily's reproof. + +This had very nearly proved successful; and in the excitement of +arranging her baby-house, setting out the new tea-set mamma had brought +her, and dressing the doll which had been papa's present, Lily had +almost forgotten her plan for mingling wholesome instruction with the +amusement provided for her young friends. + +There were Lola and Violet Swan, Daisy Forster, Rosie Pierson, Minnie +Grey, and Bessie Norton; and they were all having a real good time +sitting around a small table and playing tea out of the new china set, +when Minnie said,-- + +"I have a secret to tell all of you, if you'll promise never to tell." + +"I won't," said Violet. + +"On your sacred word and honor?" said Minnie. + +"On my sacred word and honor," repeated Violet. + +"And you, Rosie?" asked Minnie. + +"On my word and honor," said Rosie. + +"Sacred?" said Minnie. + +"Sacred. Sacred word and honor," was Rosie's answer. + +Lily repeated the words as desired, and next came Daisy's turn. + +"I won't tell," she said, when Minnie looked at her. + +"On your sacred word and honor?" asked Minnie. + +"I promise I won't tell, Minnie." + +"But you must say on your word and honor." + +"I can't," said Daisy. + +"Then I shan't tell you; and you're real mean, Daisy Forster," said +Minnie. "Why won't you say so?" + +"I don't see why I need, and I don't know if it is quite right," +answered Daisy, coloring. + +"Oh, Daisy Forster, what a girl you are!" said Rosie. + +"Well," said Lily, "there's nothing left, 'cept these two caramels. +Daisy, you eat up this; and, Bessie, you eat up the other. Now +the tea-party is all done, and we'll go and ask papa about that +comman'ment. He's been playing croquet with the big girls, but they +seem to be resting now." + +Lily was right. Mr. Ward had been persuaded to make the eighth in a +game of croquet, for he was a great favorite with all the young people +in Glenwood, and his presence never put any check upon their games or +pleasure parties. + +But the afternoon proved rather warm for exercise, even the gentle one +of bewitching croquet; and, after a long game was finished, the whole +party were ready to agree to Ella's proposal that they should take a +rest, and send to the house for some cooling drink. + +So Mr. Ward was at liberty to attend to Lily, when she came rushing up +to him, followed, rather more slowly, by the rest of the children. + +"Papa," she said, throwing herself across his knee, as he sat upon +the green mound which was raised about the foot of one of the fine +elm-trees which shaded the croquet-ground, "papa, Daisy says we +oughtn't to say upon our words and honors! Oughtn't we? And will you +teach us about taking God's name in vain now? It's the _singalest_ +circumstance, but I went and forgot all about the swearing class, till +Daisy said that." + +"A very singular circumstance, certainly;" said Mr. Ward, lifting Lily +to a seat upon his knee, and smiling, while the other girls laughed at +her speech. "I am quite willing to have a little talk with you all on +this subject; but tell me first what you want to know." + +"Daisy is so awfully particular, Mr. Ward," said Minnie, in an +aggrieved tone. "She won't let us say any thing; at least, she says +every thing is 'wrong.'" + +"Every thing?" said Mr. Ward: "that is bad. Does Daisy want you all to +keep silence? That _must_ spoil your play." + +"Oh, no!" said Minnie, "not that; but she says such lots of things are +wrong to say. Why, sir, she won't say 'upon her word and honor,' 'cause +she don't think it is right." + +"Why do you want her to say it?" asked Mr. Ward. + +"I was just going to tell them all a great secret, and I wanted her to +promise, on her sacred word and honor, she would never tell; and she +wouldn't do it." + +"So Daisy is apt to break her promises, is she?" said the gentleman, +with a smile at Daisy, which told very plainly that he was only joking. + +"Oh, no, sir!" said Minnie. "Indeed she is not. Daisy always tells the +truth, and never does what she says she won't; at least, we never knew +her to do it: did we, girls?" + +A chorus of young voices was raised in Daisy's favor. + +"And yet you cannot trust her unless she swears to what she promises," +said Mr. Ward. + +"Swears, sir!" said Minnie. "I'm sure I don't want her to swear! 'Word +and honor' are not bad words, are they?" + +"Not in themselves, certainly;" answered Mr. Ward. "Many a thing which +is good in itself when properly used, becomes bad and hurtful if put to +a wrong purpose. Now to swear is to say, by some word or person which +you consider holy and sacred, that you will or will not do, that you +have or have not done, a certain thing. Suppose some man were accused +of a crime, and that the judge were about to try him, and punish him if +he were guilty, and it was thought that I knew whether or no the man +had done that of which he was accused. So I am called to the court, +and there made to promise that I will tell the truth, and nothing but +the truth; and to make sure of this I am made to lay my hand on the +Bible,--God's holy word,--and call upon Him, to hear me tell what I +know. And this is considered a very solemn thing, even by many who +have little care or respect for God in other ways; and it is called +swearing, or taking the oath." + +"They ought to be 'shamed of theirselves," said Lily, indignantly; +"they ought to know you would never tell a story, papa. And to go and +make you swear too! I wouldn't do it if I was you; but I'd tell 'em the +third comman'ment, and run away fast from them." + +"But if this is done in the fear of God, and as a sort of prayer that +He will hear and help us to tell that which is true, it is not taking +His name in vain, Lily," said Mr. Ward; "and to do it falsely is +considered even by men to be a great crime. This is called perjury; +and if any one is found guilty of it, he is severely punished by the +law. Now it may be wise, and even necessary, for a man to take an +oath at such a time as this, when the very life of another may depend +on whether he tells the truth or no; but it can hardly be necessary +for one little girl at play with another to make her promise sure by +swearing to it. For to say 'by your sacred word and honor' is neither +more nor less than a sort of swearing or taking an oath that what you +say is true." + +"Then we'll make a rule not to say it any more," said Lily. "We +didn't know it was naughty before, papa. But please tell us now about +other words. Daisy says we mustn't say 'mercy,' and 'gracious,' and +'heavens,' and maybe we mustn't; but why is that swearing? Swearing is +taking God's name in vain, and how do such words take His name in vain +if we don't speak it? And she thinks playing with the Bible, or saying +its words when we are playing or just talking common talk, is taking +God's name in vain, too. Is it?" + +"I will tell you," said Mr. Ward. "Suppose, Lily, that some great king +or queen, or the president of our own country, were to come here; would +you not wish to be particularly polite and respectful to them, both in +your manner and way of speaking?" + +"Um-m-m, I don't know," answered Lily, doubtfully; "not partic'lar. I +guess I'd just as lieve be saucy to them as to any one else." + +Mr. Ward saw this would not do, at least, not for Lily: he must go +higher than earthly rulers. + +"Suppose, then," he said, "that Jesus should come down here among us, +so that we could see Him with our eyes, walking and talking with us, +what would you all do?" + +"I'd fall down and worship Him," said Minnie. + +"I'd listen to every word He said, and never speak one myself for fear +I should miss one," said Daisy; "and then I'd remember them all the +days of my life." + +"Dear child!" said Mr. Ward, laying his hand fondly on hers: "I believe +you do treasure your Lord's words and try to live according to them." + +"I'd ask Him to put His hand on my head and bless me just as He did +those other little children when He was on earth before," said Lola, +softly. + +"So would I. And I'd be glad there were no disciples to forbid us to +come to Him," said Lily. "I s'pose they thought Jesus wouldn't care +about children; but He did, didn't He? And you wouldn't think so, papa, +would you?" and the little child laid her hand lovingly against her +father's cheek. "I'd keep very close to Him all the time He was here, +and take fast hold of His hand, only I wouldn't be troublesome, but +just keep as still as a mouse; and I'd give Him every thing of mine +that He wanted." + +"So you would all show your love and reverence for Him by every means +in your power," said Mr. Ward, "trying not to grieve or offend Him +by treating His name or His presence with the least carelessness or +disrespect, but letting Him see that you honored the one and were +blessed by the other: is it not so?" + +"Yes, sir," came from the older as well as the younger children. + +"And if, after He had gone away, He should send you each a letter, +telling you what He wanted you to do, how you were to love and serve +Him, and in which you would find all the advice, help, and comfort you +might need at any time,--how would you treat that letter?" + +"I'd keep it all my life, and take such good care of it," said Rosie. + +"I'd read it, and read it, and read it; and kiss it, and kiss it, and +kiss it," said Lily, "and then I'd put it in my bosom, and keep it, oh! +so carefully." + +"And so would I, and I, and I," said the rest, satisfied to have Lily +for spokeswoman. + +"And if you saw any one misusing that letter, how would you feel?" +asked Mr. Ward. + +"I'd be very provoked with them," answered Lily, "and I think I +wouldn't love them any more, 'cept it was you, papa, or mamma, or Elly, +or any one of my own that I _have_ to love; and then I'd cry, and ask +you not to serve my Jesus' letter so." + +"You mean the Bible is Jesus' letter to us: don't you, sir?" asked +Daisy. + +"Yes; and, dear children, our Lord's presence is here among us as much +as if He were in man's form which He once wore on earth. His ear is as +quick to hear our words of love and praise, or those of carelessness +and disrespect, as it was then; His eye as ready to see the use we make +of the precious Word He has given us. But we forget this when we use +His book more carelessly than we would any gift from an earthly friend, +or when we take His name lightly or without thought upon our lips. To +do this is to take it in vain, and it displeases Him." + +"But, Mr. Ward," said Minnie, "it is not cursing and swearing to say +'mercy,' and 'gracious,' and 'good Lord,' and such things, is it?" + +"Not cursing, certainly: that is to use God's name profanely, or to +call on Him to destroy us or other people; and this is a most terrible +sin. But, Minnie, the use of such words in play or thoughtlessness is a +bad habit, and leads to worse. Suppose a man breaks open a bank here, +and takes all the money from it: that is stealing, is it not?" + +"Why, yes, sir," answered Minnie. + +"And suppose you take a sugar-plum belonging to your sister: it is a +very small thing compared to the money taken from the bank, but is it +not stealing, all the same?" + +"Yes, sir; and if I was to be so bad as to take Julia's sugar-plums, +I'm afraid I'd maybe steal something worse some time." + +"Just so," said the gentleman; "and now you see why it is not wise or +right to make use of such expressions. It is, as Lily says, a kind of +little swearing, and may lead to worse. Besides, it is very useless. +You can surely believe one another,--unless, indeed, it is some false +and deceitful child,--without saying 'upon your sacred word and honor,' +'as sure as you live,' 'Heaven knows,' and so forth. And there is so +little temptation to fall into this sin that it seems strange it should +be so common. There is nothing to be gained by it, even of this world's +good,--no pleasure, no profit. It is only an idle, useless habit, +most displeasing and vexing to the holy ear of Him whose commandment +we break without thought or care. Goodness and mercy and graciousness +belong to the Almighty; and so, too, we must take heed that we do not +speak of what belongs to Him in an irreverent, careless way. And now I +think we have had enough talk on this subject for this afternoon. You +did not ask your friends here that I might lecture them." + +"Oh, yes! I did, papa," said Lily; "for we all deserved it very much, +'specially the big girls. But, papa, do you believe the Lord troubles +Himself to know where the girls put an old, worn-out cushion, and such +things; and if He does, ought we to say He does?" + +"God knows every thing, Lily; even the smallest trifle is seen by Him; +but it is very wrong to say, in a heedless way, 'the Lord knows,' for +I suppose that is what you mean. And this very thought, that His eye +and His ear are always with us, noticing every word and look, knowing +the very feelings of our hearts, should make us all the more careful +how we use His holy name. I am glad this question has come up among +you; for heedlessness in using God's name, and other sacred words, in +quoting Scripture,--talking Bible, my Lily calls it,--and other such +habits, were becoming too common, I fear, among all the young people +in Glenwood; and we older ones too, I believe, fall too often into the +custom. We have, too many of us, constant need of the prayer, 'Set a +watch, O Lord, upon my mouth; keep the door of my lips.'" + +"It is Daisy's doing, sir, that we have come to think of this," said +honest Cora. "I, for one, have been very thoughtless about offending +God in this way, and have set a bad example to the rest. I believe the +little ones have caught it from us larger girls, and we have to thank +Daisy that she has taught us a better lesson." + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +DAISY'S NAME. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +VIII. + +DAISY'S NAME. + + +"INDADE, now, and hasn't me words come true, sir? For wasn't I afther +tellin' ye she was as nate a little lady as iver stepped in two shoes?" +said Betty Macarthy, as she stood with her arms akimbo, her head on one +side, and her honest face one broad glow of delight and satisfaction, +gazing at the dainty-looking little creature who stood before her, her +young face bright with as much pleasure as Betty's own. + +For Daisy's old friend had come to live at Mrs. Forster's; and this was +the way it had been brought about. + +The lady had wanted a laundress; and, thinking that Betty, who had once +held that post in her father's family, might know of one, had begged +the General to ask her. + +No sooner had he put the question than Betty eagerly answered she +should be only too glad of the place herself; for she was tired of her +present position, and a countrywoman of her own was ready to take it +off her hands, stock, fixtures, goodwill, and all. "For her heart was +sore for the child," Betty said, and to be where she could see her +every day, and to live once more with "Miss Gertrude," would be almost +as much happiness as she could wish for; and then she would try to put +Jack out with some gardener to learn his trade, for which he had always +had a turn. + +So the General, having talked the matter over with his wife, and +mindful of the generous care and kindness shown to their Daisy by these +poor people, not only told Betty she should come to live with them, but +also put Jack under his own gardener, though there was really no need +of any more hands about the place. + +Thus did the "bread cast upon the waters" by this kind-hearted +Irishwoman, come back to her, blessed sevenfold. + +Nothing was told to Daisy of this arrangement till one afternoon, when +the General had returned from the city, Mrs. Forster said to her, "I am +going to speak to the new laundress and gardener's boy. Come with me, +Daisy;" and half wondering, the little girl obeyed. + +But her surprise soon changed into delight and gratitude when she saw +who the new domestics were; for, in spite of all the pleasure she felt +in her new way of life, Daisy's loving little heart often longed for +the old friends who had been so good to her in her time of need, and +she wanted not only to see them, but to share some of her many comforts +with them. + +So you may know how glad she was when her eye fell upon the two figures +standing by the back door, and she knew that they had been brought to +live in the same place with her. + +With an excitement very unusual in her, she flew at Betty, and, +throwing both arms about her neck, covered her broad, smiling face with +warm kisses. Betty returned them with a will, holding her fast in both +arms; and then, putting her from her and looking at her from head to +foot, put on an air of strong approval, and spoke to the General in the +words you have read at the beginning of this chapter. + +"An' isn't it fit for a princess, she is?" she continued, quite unable +to keep back her admiration and pleasure at the child's improved +appearance. "Isn't it fit for a princess she is; and Saacyfuts or no +Saacyfuts, isn't it a right her own folks would have to the name if +they found her now? Sure I'd be saacy meself to have the ownin' of a +child like that. An' her not a bit spoiled, but just as lovin' and +free-like as when she had none but me an' Jack." + +Then Daisy was told she might take Betty and Jack away and show them +the neat little wash-house, shaded by a fine clump of trees, with its +nice bleaching and drying ground beyond, its laundry on the first +floor, and two small bedrooms above, where they were to sleep. Betty +was enchanted, and expressed over and over again her satisfaction at +the change in her life. It was far better, she thought, to stand at the +wash-tub or ironing-table, breathing the sweet country air, with all +its pleasant sights and sounds about her, than to do the same at her +stall in the hot, dusty, crowded city. + +As for Jack, when he saw the splendid garden, when Daisy had led +them there, and knew it was to be his privilege to work among those +lovely flowers, he could not contain himself, but shouted and shouted, +turned somersault after somersault, till recalled to himself by +Betty's reminder that he must "remember that Margaret--she begged +her pardon,--Miss Daisy--was a little lady now, and he must mind his +manners before her." + +But Daisy was so like her old self, so free from any pride or +haughtiness in her new position, that Jack found it hard to remember +she was any other than the little waif whom he had pitied and petted +for so long; and his "manners" were brought to his mind with much more +force by the sight of the gray-haired old Scotch gardener under whom he +was to work, and before whom his gambols ceased at once. + +Meanwhile General and Mrs. Forster were talking on a very interesting +subject, for Betty's words about Daisy's lost friends had given the +lady a new idea. + +"Frank," she said to her husband, "did you notice what Betty said about +Daisy's friends?" + +"Yes," he answered. "I hope she won't turn Daisy's head and make her +vain with her praise and flattery." + +"I'm not afraid," said his wife. "Daisy has a right to her name, the +modest, unaffected little girl; and she has too much sense to be +spoiled by what she looks upon only as the overflowing of Betty's +affection. But don't you know that the Irish often say _saacy_ when +they mean proud?" + +"Oh, yes. I have often noticed it in people of Betty's class," answered +the General; "but what has that to do with Daisy's friends?" + +"Is it not possible that their name is Proudfoot or Proudfit, and that +'Saacyfut' is Betty's way of calling it?" + +The General laughed heartily. + +"Hardly, I think," he said; "and yet--I do not know. It may be. But it +never struck me. It took a woman's wit to think of that." + +"We will ask Daisy when she comes," said Mrs. Forster. "If Proudfoot +_was_ their name, she must remember it when she hears it spoken, I +think. She can hardly have forgotten it so entirely that she would not +recognize it. And then, if it should be so, it will be a help to find +her friends." Mrs. Forster spoke the last words more slowly. + +"Yes," said her husband, giving words to the thought which had made her +half unwilling to utter them; "and if found, we must give up our Daisy." + +"But we must not seek them the less for that," she said, "or I shall +feel as if we had found some lovely jewel that we were striving to +hide from the rightful owner. I know what terrible longings must fill +her mother's heart;" and a tear dropped from Mrs. Forster's eye on her +baby's face, as she clasped it more tenderly than ever in her arms. + +"Daisy," said the General that evening, as the little girl stood by his +knee, "did you ever hear the name of Proudfoot?" + +Daisy started, drew a quick, gasping breath, and suddenly threw herself +into his arms. + +"That is it!" she cried, in a rapid, excited manner, "that is it! That +is my name, that is what they called papa and mamma. I never heard it +since; but I know it now. I am Daisy Proudfoot, I am, I am!" + +It was some time before the child's excitement could be calmed; but +there was no farther knowledge to be gained from her. Proudfoot was her +name, of that she was quite sure; and the recollection of it at this +late hour seemed to fill her with a kind of tremulous happiness; but +still she could not tell where she belonged. + +Betty too, when she was asked if Proudfoot was the name of Daisy's +mother, answered,-- + +"Sure, an' it was, ma'am. Didn't I say so all along, only she was +always gainsayin' it?"[A] + +The matter was settled; and General Forster, loath as he was to part +with Daisy, feeling that he must leave no stone unturned to trace her +friends, again put advertisements in the papers, saying, that if any +family of the name of Proudfoot had had a child supposed to be lost at +sea, they might hear of her at such and such a place. + +Daisy was not told of this; she was contented and happy in her new home +and among her new friends, and it was not thought best to disturb her +mind with fresh hopes of finding those who might never come to claim +her. + +But although she was still called Daisy Forster by all in Glenwood, it +was a satisfaction to herself and to the kind friends who had taken her +up and cared for her, to know the name which rightly belonged to her. + +However, days and weeks and months went by, and still no one came to +seek the Daisy blossom which had been transplanted to such pleasant +soil. And there it grew and flourished, and did its Master's work; +proving how much even such a simple floweret can do by its own modest +example and teaching to win others to honor Him. + +It was surprising to see how much her schoolmates thought of her +opinion; how they profited by the simple lesson she had taught them, +and tried to break themselves of the foolish and sinful habit into +which nearly all of them had fallen, of using sacred names and things +in such a heedless, unthinking manner. + +It was not only the very little girls, but the older ones also, and +even Miss Collins herself, who learned from our Daisy to set a watch +upon their lips, and to remember whose ear was ever present, hearing +each thoughtless word which dishonored Him or that which especially +belonged to Him. + +Perhaps they gave more heed to Daisy's words than they would have +done to those of any other one of their number. There was such a +half-mystery about her, and their thoughts were so tender towards her, +that they checked their heedless speech for her sake at first; then, as +they learned to think more about it, for a better and higher reason, +till at last the bad habit was broken up; and if, by chance, such a +word as "mercy," "heavens," "good Lord," or the like, came from the +lips of any child, the surprised and reproving looks of her companions +told her of her fault, and punished her sufficiently. + +And the good influence spread far and wide. Since the little ones were +so careful, their parents and older friends felt that they, too, must +take heed lest they offended in this way; and so it came to pass that +among the families of Glenwood God's name and word came to be held in +such true reverence and honor as had never been before. + +And so nearly a year passed by, and brought the Daisy and her +sister-flowerets to another spring. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[A] If this is considered far-fetched, the writer can only say that +Betty's rendering of the name of Proudfoot was actually given by a +domestic in her own family, and occasioned considerable bewilderment, +till the quick wit of one of its members solved the riddle. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE LOST FOUND. + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +IX. + +THE LOST FOUND. + + +"IS that you, Daisy?" + +"Yes, sir. Is that you, Uncle Frank?" answered Daisy, playfully. + +"Well, I thought it was this morning when I went to town; but I am +doubtful of it now." + +"Why?" asked Daisy, laughing, as she reached up on tiptoe to offer the +kiss with which she always welcomed her uncle on his return from the +city. + +"Baby Daisy is not doubtful, at least," said Mrs. Forster, coming +forward, and putting her little daughter, all crows and smiles, in her +father's arms. "Let her pull your hair a little to convince you of the +fact." + +"It will be difficult," said the General. "There was a man in the cars +so like me, face, height, and figure, that some of my friends were +taking him for me; others accusing me of having a brother whom I have +never owned. He sat two or three seats in front of me, and I could not +help being amused. Ward came in, nodded familiarly to my double, with, +"How are you, General?" passed on to me, stopped, and looked from one +to the other with a mixture of surprise and curiosity that was droll; +then asked for information which I could not give him. It was the same +with many others. I hope the stranger will keep himself out of mischief +while he is in Glenwood, or I may be held responsible for his wrong +doings." + +"Did he come to Glenwood?" asked Daisy. + +"Yes: I left him standing on the platform at the station, and I hardly +knew whether my own carriage belonged to him or to me. However, he made +no claim as I stepped into it." + +"Who was he?" asked Mrs. Forster. "Did not you find out?" + +"No. No one could tell me, and I could not go and ask the man who he +was, merely for the reason that he resembled me so much. There, there, +little woman," as the baby gave a vigorous pull at his hair. "I've +had enough of mamma's proofs, and am satisfied that no other man than +Frank Forster would submit to such usage at these tiny hands. I rather +imagine this stranger came up to look at Beechgrove, which is to let, +as I heard him asking the railway porter in which direction it lay, and +where the agent was to be found." + +A fortnight went by, and nothing more was seen of the stranger who +looked so like General Forster; nor after that evening did the General +or his wife think of him. + +Not so Daisy. She thought often of him with a kind of half wish that +she might see him; why she scarcely knew herself, but she never spoke +of it. She was rather a shy, quiet child, keeping her ideas and wishes +pretty much to herself, unless they were drawn out by some one whom she +loved or trusted; and neither the General nor Mrs. Forster suspected +what was working in her mind. + +Her idea, too, that the General looked so like her own papa, they +regarded only as a childish fancy, ready to see a likeness between +the two she most admired and loved in all the world. And they never +imagined how the child was dreaming and wondering over this unseen +stranger who had had such a passing interest for them. + +Meanwhile, it became certain that Beechgrove, as the place was called, +was taken; for the placards advertising it to rent were taken down, and +the house was going through a thorough cleaning. + +But the General and his wife, being people who never gossiped or +concerned themselves about their neighbors' affairs, did not trouble +themselves in the matter. And those who were curious and asked +questions received no satisfaction from old Dr. Harding, who had charge +of the property. + +All Miss Collins' young scholars, however, thought themselves very much +concerned in the letting of Beechgrove, and with good reason. For a +large aviary belonged to the place, containing many rare and beautiful +birds, and the former owner, who was fond of children, often used to +invite the young people of Glenwood to see these birds, and to amuse +themselves in other ways about his grounds. But since Dr. Harding had +had the care of the place, not a child had been suffered to come within +sight or hearing of the aviary, which had a new charm for them since it +was a forbidden pleasure. + +So the new occupants of Beechgrove, and the question as to whether +they were likely to recover their old privileges there or no, had been +a subject of great interest to our young friends, and they were very +anxious for information on the matter. + +One morning when Daisy came to school, she found the rest of the +class grouped about Mattie Prime and Rosie Pierson, who lived beyond +Beechgrove, and had to pass it on their way to Miss Collins'. + +"The new people have gone to Beechgrove," said Violet Swan, when Daisy +asked what they were talking about; "and Mattie and Rosie saw a little +girl there this morning. We are glad there is a child there, because +maybe having her will make the papa good to other children, and he will +let us go in and see the birds because of her." + +"She's a very little thing," said Rosie. "She can't speak plain. Such a +crooked tongue." + +"But she's very cunning," said Mattie. "We were going past the gate and +she called out to us, 'Itty dirls, itty dirls;' and when we stopped she +put her face through the rails to kiss us, and handed us some flowers +she had. She was real sweet." + +"What is her name?" asked Daisy. + +"We asked her, but we could not make out what she said. Mamy Modwit it +sounded like; but she did speak so crooked," said Mattie. + +"Do you know," said Rosie, "I think she looked like Daisy. Don't you, +Mattie?" + +"Why, so she does," said Mattie. "Isn't that funny? Only Daisy's eyes +always look sorry except when she is laughing or speaking, and that +little girl's were so full of mischief and laughing." + +"How big was she?" asked Lola. + +"Oh, about as large as your sister Bertie. Not near old enough to come +to school." + +"I s'pose there are no other children but her," said Fanny Delisle. +"Willie saw the family come yesterday; and he said there were only the +lady and gentleman, and the little girl and servants. If there are no +children as old as us, maybe it won't come into their heads to let us +see the aviary again." + +This short conversation put an end to the half hope, half wish, that +had been in Daisy's heart. Even supposing the stranger who looked so +like General Forster were the gentleman who had taken Beechgrove, he +could be nothing to her (not until now had she said even to herself +that she had hoped it might be so), for the family did not answer to +her own. She had papa and mamma, little brother Theodore, and a baby +sister, a very little baby; and only this child of three years old or +more seemed to belong to the new-comers; and she had no sister so old. + +Daisy reasoned this all out for herself with a sad, disappointed little +heart, forgetting that time had not stood still with her own family any +more than it had with her, and that changes might have come to them as +well as to herself. + +This was on Friday, and nothing more was seen or heard of the strangers +by Daisy or her playmates, till Sunday came. But then such a strange +and happy thing came to pass, and in such a wonderful way. "Just like a +book thing," Lily Ward afterwards said. + +It was the loveliest of Sabbath days, and every thing seemed to feel it. + +"What day is it, Bertie?" asked Mr. Swan, as his youngest daughter +stood on the piazza steps ready for church. + +"Jesus' happy Sunday," answered the little one; "and, oh, didn't He +mate a nice one!" + +Other people than Bertie thought so; a nice one indeed. + +It was the softest, sweetest, warmest of May Sundays. A busy little +breeze, carrying with it the perfume of the apple-blossoms over which +it had passed, stole in at the open windows of the church, and wandered +around among aisles, pillars, and pews, now fluttering the leaves of +a book, now toying with a ribbon, now tossing a curl upon some sunny +head, now fanning some cheek flushed with a walk in the almost summer +heat. A robin, saucy birdie, swung himself lightly to and fro on the +branch of one of the fine old elms outside the church-door, and poured +forth his hymn of praise; while from far and near came the answering +notes of his mates; and mingling with his song were heard the voices of +the children in the Sunday school beyond, as they sang the closing hymn. + +Then they came trooping in gently, and with soft footsteps, as became +the house of God (honoring His name and His word had taught them also +to honor the place where He was worshipped), and took their places +beside their parents and friends. + +Watching them from one of the pews which ran by the side of the pulpit, +were a pair of roguish, dancing eyes, which Rosie Pierson and Mattie +Prime recognized at once. They were those of the little girl who had +peeped at them through the railing of the Beechgrove grounds. Now they +were peeping over the top of the pew-door as she stood at its foot, +her hands crossed upon it, her chin resting upon them. What a bright, +merry, laughing face it was, and how like Daisy's! General and Mrs. +Forster had noticed it from their seat, which commanded a full view of +that of the strangers. + +Beside the little girl sat a gentleman, half turned from the +congregation, his face partly shaded by his hand; but there could be no +doubt that he was the man who was so like the General. Mrs. Forster saw +the likeness at once, even in the turn and shape of his head. Beyond +him was a lady in deep mourning, closely veiled. + +"Frank must find out who they are," said Mrs. Forster to herself. "That +child is so like Daisy. Can it be--oh, can it be?" Then she tried to +collect her thoughts and bring them back to the service of Him whom she +had come to worship. + +Daisy came in a little behind the rest of the infant class (she had +lingered for a word with her teacher), and took her seat. Almost +immediately her eye fell on the new-comers to Glenwood. Mrs. Forster +saw her start, flush all over, neck and face, and press her small hands +tightly together, as if trying to keep back some exclamation which rose +to her lips. + +With a beating heart the child watched the strangers, striving in vain +to get a better view of the face of the gentleman, gazing from him to +the veiled lady, and then at the little girl. + +The bell ceased tolling, the congregation were gathered, the hour of +service had come, and the clergyman rose in the pulpit. + +But at that moment the lady drew aside her veil; and ere Dr. Parker had +opened his lips, a little voice rang through the still church. + +"Mamma! Oh, my own mamma!" + +How much was in those few words! What a tale they told! What a world of +longing, of love, of joy, they held! + +The stranger lady--ah! no stranger was she to our Daisy--started to her +feet, stretched out her hands, then with a little cry sank fainting +into the arms of the gentleman who had also suddenly arisen. + +She was carried out; General and Mrs. Forster following with the +excited, trembling Daisy; and so the father and mother found the +long-lost child. + +Who could describe it? Who could find words for the joy, the wonder, +the gratitude of those concerned; who tell the sympathy which filled +the hearts of all in that congregation, which dimmed their eyes with +tears, and filled their hearts with adoration, as, before another word +of the morning service was begun, the beloved minister called on all +to render thanks for the great and signal mercy just shown to those +long-parted parents and their little one! + +And now there is little more to tell. Only how Daisy's mamma, and +the little sister whom she remembered only as a tiny baby, had been +rescued from the sinking ship with some of the other passengers; how, +having been unable to trace their lost treasure, and believing that the +boat, with all whom it contained, had gone down in the deep waters, +the parents had gone abroad, where they had remained till a few months +before this time, and so had never seen the advertisements which might +have told them she was still living: all this was soon explained. + +And then Daisy must tell her story, and Betty must come in to help her +out where memory failed and the past was a blank, because of that long, +wasting illness. And how Betty laughed and cried by turns, and would +hear of no praise or thanks for what she had done, declaring that "Miss +Daisy had done her and Jack far more good nor she resaved, taching them +to mind their tongues afore God Almighty." + +And though General and Mrs. Forster must now give up, to her rightful +owners, the darling of whom they had grown so fond, yet they did not +have to part with her altogether; for she was so near to them that they +saw her every day; indeed, the two families became almost as one, and +Daisy felt as if she had two homes. + +The little brother, whom Daisy remembered so well, had gone to a home +beyond the sky, but a few weeks before her father and mother came to +Glenwood. + +And so the Daisy blossom, which had been parted from its parent stem +and cast by the wayside, where stranger hands had gathered and lovingly +tended it, was planted once more in the soil where it belonged, after +it had done the Master's work, and scattered the good seed which budded +for His glory; proving well, that those who "honor" the Lord He will +"delight to honor." + + +[Illustration] + + Cambridge: Press of John Wilson & Son + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAISY'S WORK*** + + +******* This file should be named 44770.txt or 44770.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/4/7/7/44770 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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