Girl's own book of amusing and instructive stories : embellished with cuts online

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AMUSING AND INSTRTCTIVE




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Embellished with Cuts.



PROVIDENCE:

GEO. P. DANIELS.

1845.



Ex Life/is
ELY AH KARSHNER



CHILDREN'S BOOK
COLLECTION



LIBRARY OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES



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GIRL'S OWIV BOOK



OF AMUSING AND INSTRUCTIVE



FRONTISPIECE.

OCCOCCOCOCCOSOCCC CO



A WALK IN THE GARDEN.




JUMPING THE ROPE
OCCOQOCOOOOQCOOOQQOC



OF



AMUSING AND INSTRUCTIVE

STORIES.




EMBELLISHED WITH CUTS,



PROVIDENCE :
PUBLISHED BY GEO. P. DANIELS

1843.



GIRL'S OWN BOOK

OF

AMUSING AND INSTRUCTIVE STORIES.



HAPPY FLORA.

OH, who is that laughing and singing,
and skipping about so merrily ? It is lit-
tle Flora, the happiest child almost in all
the city. Flora always looks good hu-
mored, and that is the reason we all love
her. She looks very pretty, and that is
because she is good. Every one who is
good, is pretty ; we like to look at them,
and like to be with them. We all like to
see handsome features, but we like much
more that loveliness which goodness gives
to the countenance. Flora has a kind
mamma ; she ofte^n sits by her side, and
dresses her doll, while her mamma talks
to her of many pleasant things. The lit-
tle girl makes all the clothes for her doll ;
when she has learnt to make those well,
she will know how to make and mend
A 3



6 HAPPY FLORA.

her own, and that is what all should learn
to do. Flora is always neat and clean ;
she keeps her things all in order ; you will
never see h2r aprons thrown about in the
chairs, nor her bonnet and gloves out of
place. No ; she goes to the closet, and
puts her nice cape-bonnet where it will
not get soiled, or bent, and folds her shawl
carefully ; so she is always ready to go
with her friends, and never detains them,
as some careless children do.




Flora and li?r Brother.

Flora, when she plays, is very gentle,
though full of mirth arid gaiety, especial-



HAPPY FLORA. 7

ly when she suffers her little brother to
draw her about in his cart, which he often
does, because he has no brother or sister
but herself. She takes pleasure in con-
tributing all in her power to his amuse-
ment.

The other day she was running in the
garden, and there she found a little bird j
she knew it was very young, and had not
yet learnt to fly ; for the feathers were
not fully grown. The poor thing had
lost its mother, and was very hungry.
The little girl took it gently in her hand,
and carried it into the house to her mam-
ma, who said it must be put into a cage,
and fed carefully. It revived in a short
time ; and Flora was quite happy when
she thought that by good nursing, it might
be made to live, and perhaps fly in the
garden, and sing her many gay songs.

Flora watched and fed the young bird
from day to day. He grew tame and fed
from her hand, making a soft, chirping
sound, as if to thank her for the care she
had taken of him. One morning after he



8 HAPPY FLORA.

had been nursed several weeks she unfas-
tcned'the door, and he flew away through
the open window. At first, Flora felt
sorry, and feared that she would not see




Flora's Bird.

him again, and she said to her mamma,
that she was afraid he would prove un-
grateful. But Flora's mamma told her
that she must not blame the little bird,
even if it did not return ; for he cannot,
said she, THINK, as we do ; his instinct
teaches him to fly abroad, and nestle
among the green branches of the trees,
when he is tired. It is very likely, my
little daughter, that your favorite will be

9T

seen in the garden, sitting, perhaps, on



HAPPY FLORA. 9

some sunny bough, joining his soft notes
to the many birds which fill the air with
their melody. Perhaps your little bird
will be busy too, in making a curious nest
in some snug "place.

" Does not my dear Flora know the
difference between herself and the little
birds ? They, like Flora, move from place
to place ; like Flora, they eat and drink ;
they are nourished and grow. Like Flo-
ra, too, they sing gay songs ; and in their
way. too, they talk to their mates. Why,
then, is my darling Flora happier than
the singing birds; and how does she dif-
fer from them ?"

Flora thought a great while ; but she
did not know then, that it was having a
rational mind, that made her happier than
the birds of the air.

" When her mamma said, " My daugh-
ter can talk to her dear friends, and listen
to their conversation ; she can every day
learn something more than she knew be-
fore ; she loves her kind and affectionate

friends, and her little brother. It is Flo-
A 4



10 HAPPY FLORA.

ra's mind which makes her know and feel
all this ; and as she lives and grows older,
she will, year by year, learn wiser and
better things than she knows now. But
the little birds learn in a very short time,
all they are ever to know : and they do
not improVe as they grow older, like chil-
dren, and grown persons.

" God, our Heavenly Father, gave Flo-
ra this improvable mind, and gave, too,
all else, that makes her happy. This
good God will love my child, if she tries
to do well ; and He will give her more
and more knowledge."




HAPPY NEW YEAR.



" OH, happy New Year !" merrily sung
little Susan, one winter's morning.
Abroad it was cold and, stormy, and the
snow was falling thick and fast upon the
frozen earth ; but within doors, the cold




learning' Iier Lesson.

was not felt ; for the house was made
cheerful with comfortable fires, and bright,
happy smiles. Susan was taught to feel
thankful for all her enjoyments, and to

A6



HAPPY NEW YEAR.

keep in mind that the good always have
more pleasures than pain.

To-day Susan learned her lesson at
home, for it was too stormy to go to
school. After she had read to her mam-
ma, she resumed her gay song ; " Oh,
happy, happy New Year !"

" And why," asked Susan's mamma,"
" will New Year's day be so happy to
you?"

" Because," answered the little girl, " I
shall have gifts from you, and papa, and
grand-mamma. I shall have a new doll,
and new picture books! Oh, it will be a
happy, happy day !"

Susan's mamma kissed the little girl,
and said, " My daughter, take care that
you do not anticipate too much pleasure ;
the pretty doll and books will amuse you
for a time ; but they alone cannot make
you happy. You must try to be obedi-
ent, and always good humored ; you must
be patient too it is not always easy for
little girls to be patient ; but if they take
pains to be so, they may always succeed.



HAPPY NEW YEAR. 13

You felt much pleased, my dear, when
you had made that pretty work-bag, for
your dear aunt Laura; but it was not a
very easy piece of work for you to ac-
complish ; the pleasure you felt, when it
was finished, arose from having difficulty.
Your mind told you that you had done
right. Continue in all things to use pa-
tience, and you will always feel as cheer-
ful as yon do now.

\




Susan and her Doll.

A few days after this conversation, the
much desired day of New Year came.
Susan, with a truth that could not be
questioned, joyfully hailed every member



14 HAPPY NEW IT. \P. .

of the household. Many, and many hap-
py New Years were wished a^ain and
again, and the gaiety of the joyous child
was in no degree lessened, when she re-
ceived her anticipated gifts. Among
them was a beautiful doll, which she had
long desired, and whose dress she propos-
ed making herself. To this her mother
assented : and assisted her in cutting and
fitting a frock, made of blue and white
printed cambric. Thus engaged, time
was passing pleasantly and rapidly, when
one of Susan's young friends was an-
nounced, Harriet had come to spend the
day with Susan, and brought with her
another little girl, named Ellen. Tite
visitors were much pleased with Susan's
beautiful doll, and proposed a variety of
new fashions for her dress.

The servant brought in some cakes for
the children. Harriet immediately ate
several, but Ellen and Susan were more
moderate ; for they knew that their moth-
ers did not approve of their eating much
cake ; and these good children, though



BAPPY NEW YEAR. 15

alone, would not do what they knew was
wrong. They did not require to be




Harriet, Ellen and Susan.

watched, like some little boys and girls,
who cannot govern themselves at all. In
an hour or two after this, as they were
playing with some of their toys and read-
ing stories one to another, Harriet com-
plained of a pain in her head, and looked
very sick. She was soon worse, and was
carried to bed, where she had to remain
all day. I suppose this was the conse-
quence of eating too much cake.



16



HAPPY NEW YEAR.



The other children were sorry that she
had thus lost her pleasures ; and they
would now and then go to the chamber,
to ask how she was, though they were




Xlie Sick Chamber.

not allowed to stay long, because Harriet
could not talk to them, while she had
that pain in her head. On the whole,
the day passed agreeably to the other
children. They were kind to each other,
and their friends were pleased with their
ready obedience.

At night, Harriet was well enough to
be carried home ; and Ellen took leave at



HAPPY NEW YEAR. 17

an early hour. After they were gone,
Susan placed herself near her mother, and
for a time was quite thoughtful. Her
mamma asked her why she did not chat
as merrily as usual ; she replied, that she
had been thinking if the day had been
as happy as she had anticipated j '' I do
not think it has been," continued she ;
" I have had troubles, mamma, though
every one wished me happy."

" And what have your troubles been ?"
asked her mother.

" You will not think them troubles,
perhaps, mamma," said Susan ; " but in
the first place, my brother broke my lit-
tle china cup, and I could hardly keep
from crying when I saw it on the floor,
in pieces ; then Harriet and Ellen came
1 was glad to see them, but they did not
use my playthings carefully ; and that
made me very uncomfortable. Mamma,
it was difficult for me to speak good hu-
moredly to them ; but I tried to make my
bad feelings go away and at last, they



18 HAPPY XEM YEAR.

did go away. Now I love Harriet "and
Ellen as much as I did before."

l 'l do not think, my dear Susan," said
her mamma, " that you have ' lost a day ;'
I shall count this one of your happy, and
one of your good days, too. You have
tried to govern your mind and you have
done as much as such a little girl could
do ; for it is not easy to rule our feelings.
You now know the pleasure of a mind at
peace with itself, and others."

"So I do, mamma," said Susan; "I
know that I feel this gladness now, be-
cause I have tried to do well."

" Yes ? my daughter ; and you begin
to learn that your happiness depends more
on yourself than on others. Here comes
your brother Julius : let us see if he has
spent a joyful day."

" Mamma," said Julius, as he entered
the parlor, " I have had a fine time with
my cousins, We have played at snow-
ball ; and made a snow house, and snow
men, and a snow mountain, too. Then
we made a road down the mountain, and



HAPPY NEW TEAR.



19




Julius.

went up and down with sleds a long
while. Was'n't that good fun?" "I
dare say you thought so, " replied his
mother, "and I am pleased that your time
has passed so agreeably ; but come now,
my son, and sit by me with little Susan,
and think if you have not some other
sources of pleasure, besides these you
have told. Have you not had occasion,
amid all these frolics, to exercise some
kindness towards your companions ? have
you been patient, forbearing, and yielding
to those with whom you were at play ?
Tell me, Julius, if you have to-day exer-



20 HAPPY NEW YEAR.

cised these virtues ? for if you have, you
possess the treasures of a good conscience,
and a happy mind."

" I have not been patient all the time,
mamma," said Julius; I spoke unkindly
to my cousin Frank, twice ; but I was
sorry afterwards, and I told him so ; then
we were friends again. And I tried, af-
ter that, not to do wrong again ; I feel glad
that I did not leave Frank in ill humor."

" And I too, am glad that you did not,
my son ; for Frank is a good boy, and
you were right to act as you have done.
We should always feel willing to confess
our faults, and try to repair the injury we
may have done to others. Continue, Ju-
lius, and you too, Susan, thus to think,
daily, of what is right, and you will be
happy as well as good. Our Heavenly
Father will love you, if you try more ev-
ery year to do good, and to be good. Now
my dear children, give me one kiss, and
then, good night. May next New Year's
day find us all much better than we are
now."



LITTLE FANNY.



Fanny was a pretty little girl, and not
of a bad temper, but she was too fond of
having her way in every respect. When
Fanny played with other children of her
own age, she was sure to dictate what
game they should pursue, and if they did
not do as she said, she would sit down
and refuse to join in their sport ; and the
more they were vexed at her anger, the
more sulky she would be. At length the
school children did not care- to play with
one who wished to rule them ; and when
Fanny wished to mix in their games,
they were cool to her, because they knew
she Avould be sure to oppose their wishes,
and spoil their mirth ; till Fanny, want-
ing always to do just as she liked, had no
longer a single friend in the whole school.
One day, Mrs. Mansel, the governess, on



LITTLE FANNY.



coming into the garden, where the chil-
dren were always sent to enjoy them-
selves, after school hours, found Miss Fan-




ill the Arbor.

ny seated on a stool in an arbor, by her-
self, shedding tears ; and wishing to know
what ailed her, was told, in reply, that she
could procure no one to play with. Mrs.
Mansel was hurt at this news, and begged
to hear why the young ladies would not
permit Fanny to partake of their pastime ;
on which they said it was not their fault,
but Fanny's, who wanted to govern in
every thing. Mrs. Mansel took Fanny



LITTLE FANNtf. 23

aside, when she had learned the cause of
her grief, and told her the ill effects of a
stubborn temper, and a perverse mind,
which are sure to excite dislike. Fanny
felt the truth of all this, in the neglect
which she now had brought upon herself
from her companions, and promised to be
more humble in future. Mrs.Mansel now
took Fanny by the hand, and kissing
away her jtears, led her again into the
garden, and desired that the children
would receive her as before, which they
did gladly, when they came to see how
sorry she was for her past conduct ; and
Fanny soon found ;; That the way to be
oyiged one's self, is to study how we
may oblige others."



CHILDREN'S BOOKS,

Containing instructive and interesting Stories^ ^vs

and illustrated With beautiful Engravings, SrK

Published and for safe, wholesale and retail, by



Sfig

<Tv~>

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PRICE 6 CENTS.



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