The Project Gutenberg eBook of Bessie and the squirrels
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States,
you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located
before using this eBook.
Title: Bessie and the squirrels
Author: Madeline Leslie
Release date: December 22, 2025 [eBook #77532]
Language: English
Original publication: Boston: Andrew F. Graves, 1869
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BESSIE AND THE SQUIRRELS ***
Transcriber's notes: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.
New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the
public domain.
[Illustration: CORWIN'S NEST,
OR, STORIES OF BESSIE & JAMIE.]
BESSIE
AND
THE SQUIRRELS.
[BY]
[Madeline Leslie]
"_It is more blessed to give than to receive._"—JESUS CHRIST.
BOSTON:
PUBLISHED BY ANDREW F. GRAVES.
20 CORNHILL.
Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year 1869, by
A. F. GRAVES,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of
Massachusetts.
CORWIN'S NEST;
OR, STORIES OF BESSIE AND JAMIE.
6 vols. 16mo.
[Illustration]
_For Girls._
Vol. I. LITTLE TOT'S LESSONS.
" II. THE BIRTHDAY PARTY.
" III. BESSIE AND THE SQUIRRELS.
—————
_For Boys._
" IV. THE CHILDREN AT PLAY.
" V. WHISTLING HORACE.
" VI. JAMIE AND HIS PONY
[Illustration: CONTENTS.]
CHAPTER I.
MISS PRIM'S RIDE
CHAPTER II.
THE SQUIRRELS
CHAPTER III.
VISIT TO THE HUT
CHAPTER IV.
THE STARVING CHILDREN
CHAPTER V.
THE GRATEFUL FAMILY
CHAPTER VI.
MAMMA'S STORY
CHAPTER VII.
THE VISITORS
CHAPTER VIII.
THE VISIT
CHAPTER IX.
THE DEPARTURE
CHAPTER X.
THE RIDE
CHAPTER XI.
LITTLE FLOSSY'S TRICK
CHAPTER XII.
THE THIEVING SQUIRRELS
BESSIE AND THE SQUIRRELS.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER I.
MISS PRIM'S RIDE.
ABOUT three miles from one of our chief cities there once lived
a family by the name of Corwin. There was a large farm with an
old-fashioned house upon it, long known by the name of Corwin's Nest.
Here lived father, mother, and two children, Bessie and James, or Jamie
as he was called. There were also a woman, Nurse Blake, a cook, and
chamber-maid.
It was a lovely morning in May. Near the house, there was a pleasant
fragrance from the pear and apple blossoms. The robins had returned
from their winter quarters to their old homes in the great trees, and
were now busily engaged in making nests for their young.
The great tulip tree was in full bloom, and looked very gorgeous. The
lower branches were so high from the ground that it would take a very
long ladder to reach them; but the boughs almost touched the nursery
windows, so that the flowers could be reached from them.
On the piazza in front of the house, childish voices could be heard
mingling with the songs of the birds, and the cackling of the hens who
had been laying eggs, and could not keep the secret.
Presently there was a bark of a dog, and Flossy ran down the granite
steps, looking back for Bessie and Jamie—or Junior, as papa called him,
to follow.
"I'll ask mamma if the ground is dry enough now," said the little girl.
She darted into the house, up the stairs, and quickly returned with a
beaming face, bringing with her a great doll, almost as large as a live
baby.
"She says 'yes,' Jamie; come, let's carry Miss Prim and all her family
to ride. O Flossy!" she added, laughing merrily. "How lazy you are
growing! You always like to ride too."
"Carry Miss Prim to see chickies," lisped Jamie, picking his way
carefully down the steps.
The great doll sat up very straight, holding two or three smaller
dolls; but she didn't pay much attention to them—she stared straight
before her with her dull black eyes.
There were ever so many chickens in the hennery, and little turkeys
running in the barn-yard; but the children were too much afraid of the
great gobbler, who strutted about with his red comb, to go very near
them.
"Me isn't afraid," said Jamie, bravely; but when the old fellow turned
toward them screaming, "Gobble, gobble, gobble!" his little feet
carried him away pretty quick.
"I wish Nellie's school didn't keep all the time," said Bessie. "I want
her to play with us."
"Ganma in there; ganma giving bossies dinner," exclaimed Jamie,
pointing his fat finger toward the barn.
[Illustration: THE FARMER'S WIFE FEEDING THE CHICKENS.]
So they trotted on, dragging the wagon full of dolls.
When they reached the barn-yard, the farmer's wife was scattering corn
to some of the chickens. They stopped to watch her a few minutes when
grandma saw them, and beckoned them to come to her.
"Hi! Little folks," said the old lady. "How's Miss Bessie to-day and
Master Jamie?"
"Pretty well, ganma," lisped the boy. "I'm going with you to see the
bossies."
She laughed as she said, "That's right. I have some milk, I'm going to
make the new bossy drink."
But the old lady found this was a very difficult matter. She poured the
milk into a pan, and put the calf's nose into it; but he only snuffed
and shook his head, and cried for the mooley his ma.
Bessie and her brother stood by, looking very sober, and pitying the
little creature very much.
Grandma tried every way to teach bossy to lap up the milk; but he
didn't know how. At last she put her finger in the milk, and let him
taste of that. He caught her finger, and began to suck it with all his
might; so she laid her hand in the pan, and in a few minutes he had
sucked all the milk up. Then he was quiet, and went to lie down on the
straw the man had piled up for his bed.
"I like bossies," said Bessie; "but I should think their own mothers
would take care of them and feed them. Why don't they?"
"Mrs. Mooley would be glad enough to do so," answered grandma; "but
your father means to raise this calf; and he can't spare all the new
milk. While it is young, it can drink skim milk, and soon it will begin
to eat meal and hay. But there comes nurse to look for you."
When they went out from the barn door, they found Miss Prim had kept
her family very quiet; and Flossy was sound asleep at the bottom of
the carriage. She roused up at the sound of their voices, and began to
whine for attention.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER II.
THE SQUIRRELS.
IN front of Mr. Corwin's house there was a grove of trees, some of them
almost two hundred years old.
There were a tulip tree, and two catalpas, and one English walnut, and
three gnarled oaks, and a dozen elms, besides a hedge at the side of
the house of three thorned acacia.
The branches of all these trees rose up higher than the house, and the
leaves rustled so in the wind that it often sounded like rain.
There were some little animals in the trees about which I have not
told you. Can you guess what they were? Little, nimble, striped red
squirrels.
The trees were so old that they were full of holes, and these were the
squirrels' home, where the fathers and mothers and little ones lived in
summer and in winter.
When Bessie's mamma first moved to Corwin's Nest, she was awaked one
morning by a funny chirping, which sounded almost like talking, it grew
so loud and earnest.
"Hark!" she said to her husband. "What is that?"
Mr. Corwin sat up in bed, and listened too. Then he said, laughing:
"Why, it is the squirrels in the old trees. They are trying to sing."
"No," mamma said, "I should think they were quarrelling. I never knew
there were any squirrels on the place."
"Oh, there are hundreds!" he answered, turning over for another nap.
"They live on the pods of the acacia trees."
Mamma went to the window and peeped out, and presently she saw a little
squirrel dart up the tree, carrying a nut in his mouth. Then a larger
squirrel ran after the small one, making the same chirping sound which
had awaked her.
"Oh, how funny!" she said, laughing to herself. "The little one has run
off with his breakfast,—and his mother is going to punish him. She is
scolding him already."
She pulled open the shutter, and looked away up in the top of the
trees; but the nimble creatures had jumped from one bough to another,
and she could only see an occasional whisk of their tails.
She was just commencing to dress when she saw, on one of the boughs
close to the glass, a cunning little squirrel, sitting very quietly;
his small, bright eyes peeping into the room.
"Oh! I wish Bessie were awake," she said.
You know Bessie was a baby then; and mamma put out her hand to make
acquaintance with the pretty creature.
Since that time mamma and papa, too, had often been sorry that the
squirrels had such a colony in the trees, because they ate some of the
little birds. Still they looked very prettily chasing each other over
the branches, running out to the end of one bough, and then jumping to
the end of another.
In the fall they gathered a great many nuts, and acorns, and pods, with
large acacia beans in them, and stowed them away in their homes. Then,
when the ground was covered with snow, they could keep quiet in their
deep holes without starving.
Sometimes in the morning, or toward night, they chattered away at a
great rate. The lady used often to wonder what they were saying to each
other.
As Bessie grew older, she loved dearly to stand at the window, and
watch the squirrels with their long, bushy tails. She loved to hear her
mamma tell stories about their funny neighbors in the trees. By and by
I must tell you a story mamma told Bessie and Jamie, when the little
girl was seven years old.
It was now the next day after the children went to the barn to see
grandma feed the calf. There had been rain in the night; and mamma
thought the ground too damp for them to venture out. Nurse was busy
putting down a new carpet in one of the chambers; and the lady wanted
to write a letter to her sister in England. She carried her portfolio
into the opposite chamber, leaving Bessie to amuse her brother until it
was time for his nap.
About an hour later, she went back to the nursery to get a stamped
envelope. Bessie sat in her low rocking-chair, holding one of Miss
Prim's children. It was very sick; and Jamie was the doctor who had
come to give it medicine.
Just in front of them the shutter was folded back; and there on a
bough close to the glass a bright-eyed squirrel was sitting, peeping
anxiously into the room, and watching every movement.
Mamma stood a moment, watching the brisk little fellow. She saw that
his eye was fixed on Bessie, and she wondered what he thought of her.
When she moved a little nearer the window, the squirrel whisked his
bushy tail over his head and darted away.
"Are you having a good time?" mamma asked.
"Baby sick," cried Jamie, eagerly. "Doctor give medicine."
"I wish you'd let us take a bottle, mamma," urged Bessie. "We'll be
sure not to break it."
The lady smilingly gave them an empty vial from the closet.
"May we put water in it, mamma?"
"Yes, dear, and give the babies as much as you please, but don't drink
any yourselves."
"Are you going to write more letters, mamma?"
"Not much, Bessie; and, to reward you for being so good, I shall tell
you a story, some time."
The children clapped their hands, exclaiming:—
"Please, mamma, come quick."
[Illustration]
CHAPTER III.
VISIT TO THE HUT.
JUST as Mrs. Corwin was ready to begin her story, a carriage drove to
the door; and mamma had to go down to see the visitor. She was gone so
long that when she returned, nurse had put Jamie into his crib.
Mamma found her little girl sitting on the upper stair with Flossy in
her lap. She looked sober though not vexed, because the visitor stayed
so long.
Mamma looked sober too. She kissed Bessie, and called her a good,
patient girl; but then she walked to the bureau, and stood as if she
were thinking, thinking of something that was not pleasant. At last she
stepped into the entry and called nurse.
"I have an errand to the Four Corners," she said; "and I want you to
find out whether John is at home, so that he can drive me there. If
he can, you may put up a basket of food for a poor family: bread and
meat, with some small parcels of tea, sugar, and rice. You know what is
suitable."
"Oh, yes, ma'am! I've packed too many baskets since I lived in Corwin's
Nest not to know that."
"I want to go as soon as I can," urged the lady, "and I have to find
some articles of clothing. The family is very destitute."
"They'll have reason to thank God, ma'am, that they've fallen into such
good hands."
All this time, Bessie stood by, her cheeks growing every moment more
flushed.
"Mamma," she exclaimed, "please let me go with you. I've got five cents
and two pennies, I can give the poor children."
Mamma stopped a moment, looked thoughtfully into Bessie's eyes and then
said:—
"Yes, darling, you may go; and we will put off the story I promised you
until another day."
By the time Mrs. Corwin had gathered a bundle of clothing, John drove
the carriage to the door, nurse carried out the well-filled basket,
pushed the bundle under the seat, and wished them a good ride.
In about ten minutes, they had reached Four Corners. There was quite a
village here. Turning off one of the streets, there was a cluster of
small cottages, inhabited mostly by foreigners.
Mrs. Corwin, after looking around, directed John to drive to one of
these huts, and ask whether a family by the name of Bell lived there.
"No, they did not, they lived farther on in an old tumble-down place,
not fit to harbor pigs," the woman said.
It was indeed a poor, desolate home. Mrs. Corwin's heart sank as she
looked about her, and reflected that six persons lived here in daily
risk of being killed by the falling of the roof upon them.
Her low knock was answered by a feeble "Come in."
What a sight met her eye!
Half-reclining on a bundle of coarse straw lay a woman holding to her
breast a poor, starving babe; and by her side were three other children
from two to six years old.
Bessie clung to her mamma's dress, trying to lead her away. She was
frightened at those pale, hungry faces, and those protruding, eager
eyes.
"I heard this morning that you were sick and in need," said the lady,
in a sympathizing voice.
"Thank you, ma'am," answered the poor woman.
"Where is your husband, Mrs. Bell?"
"He crawled off this morning, trying to get work to keep his family
from starving."
"Have you had any breakfast?"
"No, ma'am; nor supper yester-night."
The lady untied the cloth over the basket, and took out a loaf of bread.
Before she took it, the woman clasped her hands and thanked God.
Her chin quivered so much that she could scarcely articulate; but when
she saw one of the children eagerly clutching a piece, she burst out—
"It's from the Lord, Aggy. Don't forget to praise him."
[Illustration]
CHAPTER IV.
THE STARVING CHILDREN.
IN the basket Mrs. Corwin found a bottle of milk.
When it was given into the hands of the poor woman, for the first time
the tears began to pour down her cheeks.
"O ma'am!" she sobbed, raising her hands to heaven. "It's this that
will give life back to my baby. Oh, how good He is! Not a minute in
the whole night did I shut my eyes, praying and pleading for help. His
storehouse is full; and now see, see my children what he has sent us!
"Lady, I'm not slighting your kindness; but I'm sure He heard my poor
prayers, and put it into your heart to come and help us."
When the woman became more composed, and the children, no longer
hungry, were sitting on the floor, gazing at Bessie, Mrs. Corwin
inquired what had brought them into this sad condition.
"We're not beggars, ma'am. At least we were not at home. We rented a
few acres in Yorkshire across the water; but the taxes were awful.
My man heard of this fine country; and we saved every penny till we
had enough to buy tickets for all to come. Peter, poor man, was that
hopeful, he thought when we once landed, all our troubles would be
over."
"But, ma'am," she added, with a heavy sigh, "the ship-fever broke out
on board our vessel, and my man was among the first who had it. When we
landed, he was carried to the hospital on a litter, and I didn't see
him again for five weeks.
"By that time every farthing had gone; but Peter was left, and la heart
was too full of joy for one complaining word.
"An acquaintance told us of this place, and if my man could get light
jobs till he's stronger, we'd do well enough. We're used to work and
hardship, and not afraid of anything God sends, now that he's left us
the father."
"What can your husband do, Mrs. Bell?"
"Sure he can till the ground, and raise some peas and potatoes; and he
has a pretty taste for flowers. And, ma'am, now that the strength is
put into me, I can wash and scrub, and weed onions and strawberry beds."
"Can you leave the baby?"
A proud smile came over the woman's face as she answered:
"Aggy can mind the children. She's a motherly little creature."
They were so busy talking, they did not see a poor man bent with
illness walking unsteadily toward the hut.
He came in holding out a small roll, saying:—
"Here, wife, divide it with the children; you need it more than I do."
"O Peter!" screamed his wife. "The Lord has sent his angels. He heard
my feeble prayers. Eat, husband. It will give back your strength."
At first Mrs. Corwin thought she should not like Peter as well as his
wife. She thought he seemed surly; but when she looked again, she saw
that his features were working with emotion; and that, weary with his
long walk, he was wholly unable to express his thanks.
Before she left, Mrs. Corwin told John to bring in the bundle of
clothing; and she was really affected to see with what joy it was
received.
"Look up, Peter, man," the woman said, holding up a second-hand coat.
"We'll be decent again. I take this for a token that the Lord has not
forgotten us. Never as long as I live shall I forget this day."
"I shall speak to my husband," Mrs. Corwin said, "and by the time you
are strong enough to work, I think we can find some for you."
She was turning to go, when Bessie eagerly pulled her dress, holding
out her hand containing the pennies.
"Oh, yes!" said mamma. "You shall have the pleasure of giving your own
money. Shall Aggy, the little girl mother, have it?"
"Yes, mamma." And she held it out to the child.
"Make your manners, Aggy," exclaimed her mother. "We none of us, ma'am,
shall ever forget that little angel's pitying eyes. May she be the
comfort to you, ma'am, in long years to come."
CHAPTER V.
THE GRATEFUL FAMILY.
ON their way home, Bessie's tongue ran very fast, asking questions
about the poor family.
"Aren't you sorry for them, mamma? They are so very poor. I guess they
were glad of something to eat. Where do they sleep, mamma? I didn't see
any beds. Where do they make a fire, mamma? There wasn't any range in
the room."
"That is true, Bessie, darling. I carried them tea and rice; and I
meant to send John there to-night with potatoes, and meal, and pork;
but where can they cook their food?"
"Aren't you glad, mamma, that you let me go with you? Perhaps you
wouldn't have remembered about the fire."
"Yes, dear."
Mrs. Corwin answered as if she were thinking of something else; and so
she was, for suddenly she spoke to John:—
"I must go to the tinman's," she said. "I saw the other day that he had
a number of old stoves there; and I want to get one for my poor family."
She found a very good second-hand cooking-stove, with a teakettle,
spider, and iron pot, which, when the tinman knew the circumstances, he
said he would sell for seven dollars.
"John will tell you to-night," the lady answered, "whether I conclude
to take it."
And then she drove on to the house of a friend.
"You may stay in the carriage, Bessie," mamma said. "I shall only be
gone a few minutes."
"Thank you for letting me know," said her friend, following her to the
door, after a short call. "I'll be sure and send round some cooked
food."
"And I shall see about that cottage you think is empty, as soon as Mr.
Corwin comes home," answered mamma. "See, Bessie," she said, holding up
five dollars, "Mrs. Alcott gave me this; and she's going to speak to
some of her neighbors about Mrs. Bell this very afternoon."
Mr. Corwin entered into the work of helping the poor family with all
the zeal his wife could wish. He agreed that the old hut was very
unsafe quarters, and that the sooner the family could be moved the
better.
They rode two or three miles before they found any place within the
means of a laboring man, for Mr. Corwin did not mean to support the
family, but only to put them in a way of supporting themselves.
The cottage they engaged at last, was the one next to Grandma Blake's.
"We will send the stove here," papa said, "and I think some of that old
furniture in our attic might be acceptable."
"Yes, there is an oak table, and some chairs. I can buy a couple of
cheap bedsteads with the money Mrs. Alcott gave me. O James!" she
added, her face beaming with smiles. "What a pleasure it is to do good!"
Mr. Corwin gave his wife a glance full of affection and then went on:—
"It is a good time of the year for the man to get work. Of course he
must have help till he recovers his strength. Did he look as if he had
been very sick?"
"Yes, indeed. Can John carry the things to the cottage in the morning?"
"I'm afraid he'll be busy cultivating the garden then. Let me see! It
is only seven now. He can get them all in order to-night. I don't see
why they shouldn't sleep there instead of lying in that old rickety
hut."
"Oh, thank you, James! Do let us hurry home; and I'll see what I can
find in the attic."
The business of the day was over at the house, and both cook and Nancy
were eager to help their kind mistress.
While John went for the stove, Mr. Corwin and the cook brought down the
table, four chairs, a palm-leaf mattrass, two broken-handled pitchers,
and an old-fashioned sink, with cupboards underneath.
Nancy, meanwhile, swept the rooms and made ready for the new-comers.
It was almost nine before John was ready to start for the poor family.
He had one of the work-horses harnessed into the cart, so as to bring
them and their great iron-bound chest, the only thing Mrs. Corwin
remembered to have seen in the house. At the same time, Mrs. Corwin
with her husband, were going to invite them to remove to their new
quarters.
It was a bright moonlight evening in June, and even at nine o'clock
people were sitting at their doors enjoying the balmy air.
When Mr. and Mrs. Corwin drew up before the pathway leading to the hut,
no person was in sight about the dwelling. Tying his horse to a tree
near by, the gentleman followed his wife to the door.
Putting up her hand, she motioned him to listen. "Mr. Bell is praying,"
she whispered.
It was the voice of a man earnestly thanking the Lord for all his
mercies, for food, clothes, and the words of kindness and cheer.
"What a lesson!" murmured Mr. Corwin.
The lady, approaching nearer, could look within the room. In the
moonlight she could see that the father, Mother, and two eldest
children knelt on the bare floor, their hands clasped before them. The
two babies lay asleep on the straw.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER VI.
MAMMA'S STORY.
HOW can I describe the wonder, the gratitude, the joy, of these poor
wanderers when told that a home had been provided for them, and that
as soon as Mr. Bell had gained strength, he should have work on Mr.
Corwin's farm?
How quickly they gathered the few articles of clothing lying about, and
put them in their one trunk! How carefully the mother returned to the
basket the small packages Mrs. Corwin had brought in the morning! By
the time John reached the hut, they were all ready, Mrs. Bell sitting
on the door-steps, holding her babe to her breast.
On reaching the cottage, they found Mrs. Blake there with a lighted
lamp, her present to her new neighbors. There was no bedstead, it was
true; but there was one mattrass, and plenty of clean rye straw on the
chamber floor. In the lower apartment, the few articles were set up in
place and gave the room a home-like appearance.
The joy was almost too much for the father weakened by sickness. He
sank into a chair, and, covering his face, wept aloud. Little Aggy and
Ned uttered cries of joy.
"Is this our home? May we live here? O ma, isn't God good? Didn't he
hear quick when we told him how poor we were?"
Mrs. Corwin soon bade them good-by, after her husband had said they
would find some wood by their door in the morning; and indeed it was a
relief to the poor people to be alone, and pour out their full hearts
in praise to their kind Father in heaven, who had put it into the minds
of these Christian friends to help them in their hour of need.
Of course as mamma was so busy with her protégés, she could not tell
the story she had promised until the next day. Would you like to hear
it?
Bessie sat in her low chair, rocking Miss Prim; and Jamie lay on the
floor with his arm around Flossy's neck when mamma began:—
"There was once an old house with high trees growing close to the
windows. In one of the trees there was a great hole where the wood had
rotted away, and in this hole there lived a family of squirrels.
"There were Mr. and Mrs. Squirrel and five children. They had funny
red and gray skins, and very bright eyes, and long, bushy tails. Mrs.
Squirrel was a very careful mother, who tried to teach her little ones
to be kind and obedient. Mr. Squirrel was rather lazy. He liked to race
up to the top of the highest trees, and look around at the landscape.
When it was time for dinner, he liked to go into his parlor and find
some nuts all ready for him to crack with his sharp teeth.
"Early one morning Mrs. Squirrel woke up, and said to herself, 'I'll go
down to the lawn, and see what I can find for breakfast.'
"There were a great many pods hanging loosely on the branches, and
often the wind blew them to the ground. There were a good many this
morning; and the pretty creature worked away very busily, taking one at
a time in her mouth till she had carried quite a pile of them into her
closet, and covered them over with leaves. She thought her little ones
were all asleep; but she was mistaken. Bob the oldest was peeping out
of one corner of his eye, and he saw where she put the bean-pods.
"At last he grew so hungry, he thought he would steal one. So while his
mother was on the lawn, looking for more, he pulled off the leaves,
caught a long pod in his mouth, and scampered away to the top of the
tree.
"But he was not quite quick enough. Mrs. Squirrel saw him, and just
dropping her pod in the hole, she darted up the tree to give Bob a good
whipping.
"'Catch me if you can,' Bob chirped out.
"'Never fear,' said his mother, 'I shall catch you very soon, I'm older
than you; and I have raced over these trees long before you were born.'
"It took some time though before she could catch the nimble little
fellow, who ran and jumped from one bough to another.
"But at last he was very tired and had to stop. He had the pod in his
mouth; and he couldn't eat it while he was running, so he concluded to
cry 'beat.'
"Mrs. Squirrel was very angry and took away his breakfast. 'You're a
naughty, thieving Bob,' she said, 'and you shall have nothing till
dinner-time.'
"Bob was very sorry and lonesome. He went slowly down the tree and sat
on a bough which was near the window of the old house. The shutter was
wide open, and what do you think he saw?"
"He saw Jamie," cried the little boy.
"Yes," said mamma, "he did, and Bessie too. She was sitting in her
rocking-chair with a sick doll in her lap; and the doctor was giving
medicine out of a bottle."
"Me, me, mamma!" shouted Jamie.
"Well, Bob looked and looked. He saw a large doll called Miss Prim on
another chair and a pretty spaniel with white silky hair on the floor.
He saw the bed with its snow-white counterpane, and the marble-topped
bureau, and the low table where the children ate their luncheon. I
suppose he said to himself, 'How very pleasant it does look in there!'
"He had nothing else to do, for his mother had forbidden him to come
home till dinner, and so he went a little nearer and curled his red
tail over his head to keep the sun off, and there he sat.
"The children were so busy, they didn't see Bob; and he could watch
them nicely.
"'I wonder whether they quarrel?' he said to himself.
"By and by Jamie was tired of giving medicine, and he said to his
sister, 'Play school now.'
"'No, I like this play best,' she answered."
[Illustration: "I WONDER WHETHER THEY QUARREL."]
"'Now,' said Bob, 'they'll get to fighting as I and my sisters do.'
"But no, when Jamie said, in a coaxing tone, 'Please, Bessie, play
school,' she jumped up and answered, 'So we will.'
"Then they set all the dollies in chairs, and made Flossy curl herself
on a cushion with the spelling-book close to her nose, and then Bessie
rang the bell for school to begin.
"Bob looked very sober all this time, and began to whisk his tail a
good deal. 'That's queer,' he said. 'I thought by this time they would
have got to blows. How happy they look! I wonder what it means?'
"By and by he thought it must be dinner-time, and he went home and told
his mother what he had seen.
"'My dear Bob!' she said. 'I am very glad you have seen the children.
I have watched them many a time. They are always bright and happy;
and this is how it is. I have found out their rule. It is only by
one giving up a little, and the other giving up a little. If you, my
dear Bob, will act so with your brother and sisters, we shall be the
happiest family of squirrels in America.'"
"Did he do it, mamma?" asked Bessie, her face all smiles.
"I hope he did," said mamma. "Now can you tell me whose eye beside
Bob's has been watching you while you play?"
"God's eye, mamma. Was he pleased with us too?"
"Yes, dear, when you are loving and kind, he is always pleased."
CHAPTER VII.
THE VISITORS.
ONE day Mrs. Corwin had a letter from a lady who had just come home
from a long sea-voyage with her husband. Her name was McIntire. She
used to go to the same school with Mrs. Corwin, and for one term they
roomed together. Now She was married to a sea-captain, and with her
little boy, Lewis, had been with him to China.
Mrs. McIntire wrote that her husband's ship was to be repaired in the
city near Corwin's Nest; and if quite agreeable to her old roommate,
she would like to spend a week or two in reviving their former
acquaintance.
Mrs. Corwin was quite delighted to receive news from her old friend.
She read part of the letter to nurse, who agreed nothing could be more
prettily expressed.
"I have heard," she wrote, "of Corwin's Nest, and have a great desire
to go and see the birdlings in it."
By the very next mail, the lady sent an answer, saying, "We shall all
be delighted to see you with your husband and son."
Bessie was very full of questions about the visitors.
"How old is Lewis, mamma? Is he a good boy? Can he play school? Do you
think he has ever seen such a pretty baby as ours?"
To all of which the lady could only answer with a smile:
"He will be here next week. You must wait and see."
At last, the day came when the guests were expected. Mr. Corwin had
driven to town in the large carryall, so as to bring them back with him.
Bessie, dressed in white, with a wide blue sash, stood flattening her
nose against the nursery window, waiting for them to come in sight;
while mamma, with little Jamie on her knee, was trying to twist his
short curls around her fingers.
In her haste to have her baby boy ready to be introduced to the
visitors, she did not notice that he had a spool of wine-colored silk,
which he was trying to crowd into his mouth.
"They've come, mamma! They've come!" shouted Bessie, dancing up and
down in the chair.
"Yes, ma'am," echoed nurse, "they've come."
"Oh, see what Jamie has done!" exclaimed the lady in haste. "Wipe off
that stain from the silk, nurse, and bring him down."
Then she took Bessie's hand and ran down to the door to receive her old
friend.
The words Alice and Adeline were all that could be heard at first, and
then Mrs. Corwin was introduced by her husband to Captain McIntire, a
stout man, weighing over two hundred.
Lewis, a boy of seven years, would not get out of the carriage, but
insisted on going to the stable with the hostler.
"Take care, John," said his master, sharply; "don't let that boy touch
the whip. He has made the mare almost frantic now."
But it was too late. Lewis, left alone in the carriage, had already
caught the whip, and was giving a cut across the animal's ears. John
had only one foot on the step, and the mare, giving a violent spring,
threw him backward to the ground, the reins twisted around his ankle.
Mr. Corwin screamed, "Whoa! whoa!" But the creature had been constantly
irritated by the boy; and she plunged on toward the stable, dragging
poor John by the reins.
Just at this moment, and when they all feared both he and the naughty
boy would be killed, one of the men from the farm rushed from the
field, cleared the fence at one bound, and, at the risk of his own
life, caught the frightened mare by the bit.
Lewis looked a little pale when Mr. Corwin lifted him to the ground;
but this did not prevent his saying:
"I never saw such an ugly horse. I only just snapped the whip; and he
was off like sixty."
It was wonderful that John had not been injured. One of his hands was
badly scraped on the gravel, and his neck felt stiff; but he insisted
that no harm was done.
"Lock the barn, and keep it locked all the time Lewis is here," said
his master, sternly. "I wont run the risk of his killing himself, if he
doesn't kill the horses."
Lewis walked on muttering to himself in a sulky voice, "I wont stay
here. I'll go right off."
Mrs. McIntire had not been in the house an hour before her old friend
found she had not improved in the years that had passed. She was in
terrible distress when she saw the danger her son was in, and, without
paying attention to any one, shrieked out:
"Oh, why did I come here! Lewis will be killed; I know he will! I was
sure all day something was going to happen."
Captain McIntire started to go after the carriage; but being too stout
to run, he only reached it just as Mr. Corwin had taken Lewis out.
His mother hugged him, and cried over him, exclaiming, "You're half
killed; I know you are. O Lewis! I'm so sorry we ever left the ship."
"I don't think he is hurt," suggested Mrs. Corwin. "Come, Bessie, ask
the little boy how he is."
Bessie held out her tiny hand, glancing up from under her long lashes;
but Lewis paid no attention to her, except by a long stare.
He pulled his mother's dress roughly, while he said, "I don't like this
place; I don't like cross people."
"Was Mr. Corwin cross to you?" she asked, winking at the lady. "Well I
wouldn't mind it; go and ask cook to give you a cake. I'm afraid you'll
think he's a spoiled child," she added, when Lewis had gone. "I've lost
three; and I can't bear to deny him anything."
"Will you go up to your room?" asked Mrs. Corwin, trying to smile,
though her heart felt very sad.
"No; I'll take off my bonnet here. Your servant can carry it away. I
suppose you'll be having supper soon."
"I'll order it directly if you are hungry," said Bessie's mamma.
As she went toward the kitchen, she heard a loud, angry scream, and
hurrying on, was horrified at the scene before her.
Cook had been baking waffles for tea, and had a large pile buttered and
sugared ready to be carried to the table. She went to the pantry to get
a cake for Lewis, when he snatched the cover from the dish, and turned
the whole pile of muffins upon the floor.
Cook confessed to being angry. She took the rude boy by the shoulders,
when he turned and struck her in the face.
"Oh, what a wicked boy!" exclaimed Bessie. "God wont love him a bit if
he acts so."
Even Mrs. McIntire felt mortified at her son's behavior when she saw
the nicely browned waffles spilled over the floor, the melted butter
and sugar slowly spreading into a grease-spot, while both cook and
Nancy stood crimson with anger.
"Did you do that, Lewis?" she said, advancing into the kitchen.
"No, I didn't; I didn't touch her old cakes."
"Cut some bread and bring on the table directly," said Mrs. Corwin,
gravely. "I am sorry, cook, that you have lost all your labor."
Never in the four years that cook had lived with her, had her mistress
seen her so angry. Her face was crimson; and on one ear the marks of
the child's blow were plainly to be seen.
"Come, Bessie," said mamma, "we will go up, and see baby a minute."
Once in the nursery she sat down, longing to give vent to her
disappointment in a good cry; but this would not do.
"Nurse," she said, "the children must have their supper up here. I
cannot allow Bessie to see such naughty conduct. Keep the nursery door
locked; and I will tell Nancy to bring up the tray."
CHAPTER VIII.
THE VISIT.
AT the tea-table Lewis acted so very badly that his mother spoke
angrily to him.
"Stop that, sir!" she exclaimed, when he stood in his chair to reach a
dish of sweetmeats on the other side of the table, and upset a pitcher
of cream into her lap. "Stop that; or I'll send for a sheriff and have
you locked in jail."
"No, you wont either, you, ugly old woman," he retorted, lifting his
hand to strike her in the face.
Mr. Corwin caught the hand, his own face being very stern.
Captain McIntire leaned back in his chair and laughed to hide his
mortification.
"It's no use to try and hide it, Ady. You've spoiled that boy. He's
only fit company for sailors. Come now, Lewis, are you not ashamed of
yourself?"
Lewis had his mouth crammed with sweetmeats and did not answer.
Mrs. McIntire, having ordered Nancy to bring her a sponge and napkins,
and having shaken as much of the rich cream as possible upon the
handsome carpet, now turned again to her supper.
"What would you do with such a boy, Alice?" she asked. "I dare say you
think you could manage him."
The lady looked so distressed, her husband answered for her. "If I
could not make him obey me, I should send him to some one who could
govern him, for if he goes on in this way, he will certainly be ruined."
"Nonsense, Mr. Corwin, he is only a child. You make too much of his
spilling a few spoonfuls of cream."
From the supper-table they went into the parlor for prayers.
"Shall I bring Bessie down?" whispered mamma to her husband.
"No, certainly not."
Lewis ran instantly to the centre table where Mrs. Corwin had laid out
all the pretty keepsakes given her on her marriage. She was very choice
of them, and had never allowed even Bessie to touch them. One decided
"No! No!" from her lips had taught her little girl to let them alone.
But now Lewis caught up one and then another, while Mr. Corwin was
getting the Bible, his mother taking not the slightest notice of his
conduct.
"Come here, Lewis," said Mr. Corwin. "I am going to read God's word."
"I wont."
His mother laughed behind her fan.
"You must be quiet while I read and pray."
The gentleman's look and tone awed the boy; and, walking awkwardly
across the floor, he sank down into a chair, putting his fingers into
his mouth.
"Do you sing, Ady, as much as you used to?" asked Mrs. Corwin when a
chapter had been read.
"No, I don't sing at all now."
"We always sing at prayers," she added, seating herself at the piano.
Mr. Corwin read the beautiful hymn:
"There is a fountain, filled with blood;"
then passed the visitors books, which they declined, and joined with
his wife in singing the verses of the hymn.
After this, they knelt for prayers, the visitors remaining in their
seats.
Just before the prayer ended Mrs. Corwin heard a sharp sound, but did
not turn her head until they arose.
Then she saw that an elegant little ornament lay on the floor broken in
pieces.
Sick at heart, she turned from the room and went to the nursery.
Bessie ran to meet her, exclaiming:
"Please let me go downstairs. I'll be real good, mamma."
"You are good, my darling," cried mamma, pressing the astonished
child again and again in her arms. "O nurse, how thankful I am that
my children do not act so dreadfully! How thankful that I began in
time to correct their faults! I never realized before what blessings I
have—what a very, 'very' happy mother I am."
The tears which had been kept back now burst forth, and to Bessie's
great sorrow, flowed down her mamma's cheeks.
There was a low knock at the door at this minute, and the lady said, in
an excited tone:
"Don't unlock it, nurse, I can't see anybody!"
"Alice," said papa's voice.
The bolt flew back at once. "Where is Lewis?" asked the lady. "I'm
afraid he'll break everything to pieces."
"Out doors, with his father and mother; and here is the key of the
parlor door." He dropped it back in his pocket again with a faint smile.
"I'm afraid we made a mistake, Alice, in asking strangers to spend two
or three weeks with us."
"It was all my fault," Mrs. Corwin exclaimed. "Oh, I am sorry, so
sorry! How can Adeline allow her child to act so?"
The gentleman took little Junior on one knee and then held out his arm
to Bessie. She ran and jumped on the other, laying her golden curls
against Jamie's head on papa's breast.
"Precious treasures," he said. "You have little idea how much you owe
God for giving you such a mother. A loving, Christian mother is above
price." Then he took his wife's hand and said, cheerfully:—
"Come, my dear, we will make the best of it. Your old friend's visit
has opened my eyes to the fact that the owner of Corwin's Nest is the
happiest man in the world; that he has the very best mate and the
prettiest birdlings to be found anywhere."
Smiles broke out all over the lady's face, but presently a kick at
the parlor door reminded her of their unruly visitor, and she asked,
anxiously:—
"What shall we do? I can endure the spoiling of everything in the
house; but I cannot allow that boy to be with our children."
"Couldn't I take Bessie and the baby to mother's to-morrow for the
day?" asked nurse. "They'll be safe there."
"Yes, that will do, for one day," said papa. "I don't think that our
guests will stay long."
"Please go down and excuse me," urged mamma. "I have some alteration to
make in the chambers."
[Illustration]
CHAPTER IX.
THE DEPARTURE.
MRS. CORWIN very hastily placed every ornament on the bureau and mantel
of her guest-chamber in the drawers, locked them, and took the keys,
sent Nancy to the attic for a couple of spittoons, then kissing Bessie
and Jamie, who were in bed, went down to her guests.
It was now dusk, and the captain sat smoking on the piazza, while Lewis
lay asleep on the library lounge.
Mr. Corwin walked back and forth on the piazza, talking with his
visitor of foreign parts and different kinds of trade. In the mean
time, the two ladies asked questions about old friends and talked of
their school days.
"Do you like travelling about from one country to another?" asked Mrs.
Corwin.
"Oh, I like it amazingly! I should never be contented to settle down
as you have. It must be very dull here. And, Alice, I was never so
surprised as to find you married to such a man. Why, you were the
handsomest girl in school, and rich into the bargain."
"Mr. Corwin is a Christian gentleman," said the wife, earnestly, "and
the most affectionate husband I have ever seen."
Mrs. McIntire laughed. "I never thought of making you angry," she said.
"If you like living in such a prim, prosy way, nobody can object. But I
can tell you, it's the first time I've heard a prayer for years."
"I can only say I'm sorry for you," answered the lady, sighing.
"The captain thought it a good joke," Mrs. McIntire went on. "He
laughed well, I assure you, while we were out walking; and he thinks as
I do, that as Lewis' conduct doesn't please Mr. Corwin, we had better
go back to town in the morning."
"Yes, I suppose that would be best," remarked Mrs. Corwin, with
dignity. "We endeavor to make the Bible our guide during every hour of
the day; and you, who are governed by different rules, would not be
happy here. I am sorry, Adeline, that you do not feel the need of God's
help in training your son. You may be sure, his conduct will give you
a keener pang than you ever knew yet, if you do not teach him to obey
while he is young."
"I don't deny he's rather wild," urged his mother, "having just come
off the ship, where he's the pet and plaything of all on board; but
he'll come out right. You and your husband have one way; and we have
another. But we wont quarrel about it."
After a while, a lady and gentleman living in the neighborhood called,
and the conversation became general. When they took their leave, Mr.
Corwin said to his wife:—
"Captain McIntire tells me he has concluded to return to his ship in
the morning. I shall order a hack from the stable to take them there at
any time they please. I have an engagement in another direction, and
shall not go to the city to-morrow."
"Say nine o'clock," said the captain. "I must be on board ship as early
as I can."
"I don't know what we shall do with Lewis," said his mother, "he's so
sound asleep; it's no use to undress him."
"Shall I ring for a man to carry him upstairs?" asked Mrs. Corwin.
"I wish you would."
Lewis kicked, and screamed, and tried to bite the servant when he
attempted to move him; but, to the relief of all, was soon soundly
sleeping in bed, with his clothes, and even his shoes on.
In the morning neither Mrs. McIntire nor her son left their room
until the hack drove to the door. The captain seemed much more like a
gentleman than the night before, and apologized for his boy's conduct,
by saying:—
"His mother has always humored him till he's a nuisance in good
society."
At family prayers, Mr. Corwin asked God to bless their friends who were
about to leave, and make their only child a comfort and blessing to
them.
It was evident that the captain did not think this a joke, for his
voice shook when he thanked his host, and he said:—
"I've never thought much about the subject of religion. But I begin to
fear I've been in the wrong."
Mrs. Corwin shook hands with Lewis, and gave him a paper bag full of
oranges and cake, for his lunch.
Mr. Corwin helped the lady in, waited till the driver lashed on the
trunk securely, and then asked Lewis if he wished help too.
"No, I sha'n't ride in there," said the boy, flushing with anger. "I'm
going to drive and hold the whip."
Mr. Corwin opened his pocketbook, and paid the hackman. "You must take
your own risk," he said to the man. "I caution you against letting that
child have the reins."
"Lewis," shouted his father, "come in here this minute!"
"I wont! I'm going to drive."
"Come here, sir, or I'll thrash you within an inch of your life."
"Come, come, young man; I can't be wasting my time. In with you," said
the hackman, tossing the boy inside the hack as if he had been a trunk.
Then he snapped the door to, put up the steps with a crash, mounted the
box, and drove off.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER X.
THE RIDE.
UP at the nursery window, Bessie and Jamie were looking out, wondering
why the visitors went away so soon.
"Now," said papa, "I'll tell you my plan. I'm going to devote the day
to making you forget your trials. Bessie, Junior, would you like a
ride? Come, nurse, dress baby as quick as you can. We are going to
spend the day visiting."
"Mamma," said Bessie, as soon as they were seated in the carriage,
"does God love boys when they say 'wont' to their papa?"
"No, my dear."
"Doesn't Lewis want God to love him then?"
"I'm afraid he doesn't know much about God."
Bessie was so astonished she could scarcely speak; but presently she
said, with a quivering lip:—
"I'm glad our Jamie doesn't act so. I think it's awful wicked. Nurse
says he played at prayer-time."
"My little daughter," said papa, looking around to the back seat,
"you must thank God that he has given you and Jamie a good mamma who
has taught you to do better than Lewis. Papa feels as if he had never
thanked God as he ought."
"May I say a little prayer now, papa?"
"Yes, my dear."
Bessie shut her eyes, folded her plump hands, and said, softly:—
"I thank you, dear God, for my mamma. I thank you for papa, and Jamie,
and nurse, and Nellie. I thank you for making me so good. I don't want
to act like naughty boys; but I don't thank you for Lewis, 'cause he's
awful wicked. I wish you wouldn't let him come here any more to make
my mamma cry. Dear God, I'm going to be good all the time now. When my
mamma says, Bessie come here, I hope I'll never say 'I wont.' Please,
God, forgive all the naughty things I did when I was a baby, and make
my Jamie grow into a man quick. Amen."
"Wasn't that a good prayer?" asked Bessie, when she had finished. "Wont
God like to hear it, and wont he love me?"
"God is a very kind Father," answered Mr. Corwin, in a solemn tone. "He
loves to hear children ask him for what they want."
"Nancy says I make real nice prayers," urged the little girl, in a
self-complacent tone.
"God is very kind, Bessie, to let us pray to him at all. For whose sake
does he hear us?"
Bessie shook her head, wondering what mamma meant.
"When papa prays, my dear, who does he ask to bless us?"
"Jesus Christ. I love Jesus, 'cause he was so good to little children.
I showed Nellie the picture."
"Nellie can say a pretty verse about Jesus," said mamma. "Shall I
repeat it to you?
"'Little child, when you're at play,
Do you know that Jesus sees you?
He it is who made the day;
Sunshine, birds, and flowers to please you.
Oh, then thank him much, and pray
To be grateful every day.
"'Little child, when you are bad,
Do you think that Jesus knows it?
Yes; and oh, it makes him glad
When you're sorry and disclose it.
Oh, then tell him quick, and pray
To grow better every day.'"
"I'm going to learn it when I'm a big girl. I'm going to learn all the
verses in the Bible; and then I can teach them to Jamie. Wouldn't that
be nice?"
The little fellow lay in mamma's arms, sucking away at his thumb,
almost asleep.
"Isn't he a darling?" asked Bessie, giving his foot which lay in her
lap a squeeze. "Mamma, shouldn't you throw him out of the carriage if
he acted like Lewis, and said 'I wont'?"
"No, dear, I should ask God to make him better."
"Don't mammas ever throw their boys away then?"
"Yes, Bessie, there are some countries a great way from us, where the
people never saw a Bible, and never heard of the good God. They are not
kind to each other. Sometimes they leave their little babies to starve,
or throw them into the water to drown."
"Oh, dear!" cried Bessie. "I'm so sorry for the dear babies. I wouldn't
do so. I would get some milk, and feed them, and give them nice
playthings."
"Perhaps, my darling, if God had not given us the Bible to teach us how
to live, we should have been cruel like the poor heathen. We must thank
him for the Bible."
"Papa," said Bessie, "may I sit with you? Then Jamie can lie down on
the seat. He's asleep now."
"Yes, my dear; I should like your company in front, if you will sit
very still. I wouldn't like to spill you out."
"O papa, how funny you are! I couldn't be spilled."
"Why didn't you bring nurse, Alice?" asked Mr. Corwin.
"Because there was so much to do to put the Nest in order," she
answered, laughing. "I found that little alabaster image could be
mended; and I told nurse when she was through her work, she might take
it to town, as she had some errands there. Lewis did more damage to our
furniture in one hour than Bessie has in her whole life. I left Nancy
trying to get up the grease-stains from the dining-room carpet."
"Well, let Lewis go," said papa cheerfully; "I hope his parents will
come to their senses before it's too late. I think the captain's faith
in his wife's management is rather shaken. So their visit to us may not
be lost after all."
"I wouldn't have believed Adeline could have been so altered," said
Mrs. Corwin, sadly. "I remember when we roomed together that she used
to plead a headache as an excuse for lying in bed on Sunday; and she
never liked my sitting up to read the Bible; but otherwise she was very
agreeable."
"You remind me," said the gentleman, "of a hymn I once learned which
contained these lines:—
"'Twill save us from a thousand snares,
To mind religion young.'"
[Illustration]
CHAPTER XI.
LITTLE FLOSSY'S TRICK.
THE clock was striking eleven when they drove up to Uncle Glenn's
house. What was their surprise, when papa had taken out mamma and her
babies, to see Flossy come crawling from under the seat, and ask in her
dog-voice to be taken out too!
"Why, Flossy, Flossy, how came you in there?" inquired mamma.
Bessie ran into the house and told her aunt:—
"Flossy has come; and nobody gave her leave."
"Flossy! Flossy who?" asked aunty.
Bessie hesitated a minute, and then said:—
"Flossy Corwin, you know."
"Well, she's very welcome."
Flossy seemed to think she had done something smart. She jumped up and
down, and barked, licking Bessie's hand, and following close at her
heels. All day long she wouldn't allow both of the children out of her
sight at once.
Bessie went to walk with the twins, while Jamie took his nap in his
cousin's crib. The boys wanted to show Tot a little bit of a pony that
was eating in a field.
Flossy watched them putting on their hats, and began to bark in an
excited manner. But when they went out of the door, and she saw Mrs.
Corwin and Jamie were to be left behind, she ran from one to the other
as if she couldn't decide whether to go or stay. At last she jumped on
the sofa close by Jamie, who was then in his mamma's lap. She looked
into the lady's face as if she wanted to say:—
"I'm safe here. I know my master wont return to Corwin's Nest without
you and baby."
All the while Jamie slept, she lay at the foot of the crib just as she
used to lie close to Bessie. If there was any stirring in the room,
her black eyes were wide open to make sure the carriage didn't go off
without her and her charge.
After a very pleasant visit with their friends, they started for home
about an hour before sunset, having almost forgotten the disagreeable
events of the previous day.
Nurse was watching for them from the nursery window, and ran to the
door to take Jamie. As soon as she had him in her arms, she exclaimed:—
"I'm afraid that naughty Lewis took Flossy off with him. We've searched
everywhere for her."
"She's here," cried Bessie, eagerly. "She hid under the seat and went
with us. We've had a beautiful time."
Flossy now came out from her hiding-place, and began to bark joyfully.
"O you naughty dog," said nurse, laughing. "You've made me waste ever
so much time."
"You seem to be in high spirits, nurse," said her mistress when she
had reached the nursery. "Is it because you've made everything so nice
here?"
"We're all in good spirits, ma'am, even to John and Alick. It seems,
ma'am, as if we never rightly thought upon our mercies before.
Supposing we lived with Mrs. McIntire, and had that rollicking Lewis
instead of our sweet little Bessie! Why, ma'am, the thought of it is
enough to craze us, and cook says the same."
"Haven't you a word of praise for your master?" asked the lady, smiling.
"He doesn't need any praise, ma'am, such a Christian gentleman as he
is, with the most generous heart that ever was."
"Well, nurse, it's well for all of us to think of our mercies. Surely I
have reason to say, my heavenly Father has led me in a pleasant path.
We certainly have a sweet home in Corwin's Nest."
At this moment Nancy came in smiling, and set a vase of flowers on the
mantel.
"Every thing is in order, ma'am," she said, "just as it was before the
company came. If it wasn't for John's bruised hands and the broken
angel, you wouldn't guess who'd been here knocking the house upside
down."
"Did you go to town, nurse?" asked her mistress.
"Yes, ma'am, though the searching for Flossy made me late. I carried
the little angel, and the man said it would be ready for you in two
days' time. He said you'd never know where 'twas broken."
"Will you come down to the dining-room, ma'am, and see the carpet? That
patent soap took the grease all out."
"Yes, Nancy; and I want to speak to cook."
"Welcome home, missis," exclaimed cook, wiping her hand on her apron,
and extending it cordially. "I expect nurse have told you, we've got
our eyes open to a few things. I sha'n't feel right till I confess that
I had angry thoughts in my heart last night. I'm thankful now that I
held my tongue when I wanted to talk to that boy's mother. She'll have
trouble enough without my adding to it."
"Yes, cook," said her mistress, kindly, "no one can disobey God's
commands without punishment. He says to parents, Spare the rod, and
spoil the child. Spare not a child for his crying. It is necessary to
teach a child obedience in his youth; or he will not only be miserable
himself, but those connected with him will suffer."
[Illustration]
CHAPTER XII.
THE THIEVING SQUIRRELS.
NOT long after the visit of Mrs. McIntire, Mrs. Corwin walked to the
village near by, to make a call upon a friend. On her return, she was
slowly wending her way along the avenue in front of the house, when she
heard a curious sound from the tree.
She stopped and listened. It was almost like the chattering of human
voices; but after a minute, she recognized it as the chirping of
squirrels.
Within a yard of the place where she stood, there was an old tree
with a great hole in the trunk, and now peeping out of the hole was a
cunning little squirrel, whose mother perhaps had been giving him some
private instructions on his conduct; or who was starting out in search
of his dinner.
"Pretty creature!" said the lady, quietly extending her hand.
Bobby didn't understand her friendly action, but quick as thought,
darted up the great trunk, ran out on a long bough, hopped to the
branch of another tree, then up and on straight to the roof of the
house. There he stood a minute perched on the end of the gutter and
throwing his tail over his head seemed to say:—
"I'm out of your reach now, my lady."
Then, while she stood laughing and wondering, Bobby darted under the
eaves, and ran into the house.
"Oh!" exclaimed Mrs. Corwin. "Is that the way you get in?"
She walked up the steps, opened the door, and went straight to the
kitchen to tell cook what she had seen.
The woman laughed heartily, but presently said:—
"It's no joke indeed, ma'am; for if the wicked thieves are left alone,
we'll come to famine. It's true indeed, missis; they're a cruel set,
though I never thought it. John unheaded a barrel of apples only
yesterday; and they were sunken' down a third. It was a great mystery
that not all of us could solve, until we found a heap of parings all
cut and wasted, lying in a corner. It was the seeds they were after,
and they had eaten a hole right through the bottom of the barrel, the
deceitful creatures!"
"O cook, what a pity!" murmured the lady. "If they would only eat the
apples, it wouldn't be so bad; but it's dreadful to have those golden
russets wasted. John must bring the barrels upstairs, and put them in
the store-room."
"That's what he did, ma'am. Nurse moved those old beehives, and made a
place for them after John had picked and sorted them."
Bessie was very much amused when mamma told her about the squirrel
running up from his hole in the tree, but when she heard about his
stealing the apples, she looked very sober.
The lady laid aside her bonnet and sat down to her sewing, while Jamie
played with a box of buttons nurse had given him.
"Mamma," began Bessie, looking up from her play, "does God love
squirrels that steal?"
"Squirrels don't know any better, darling."
"Don't God want them to keep the commandments?"
Bessie's large eyes were fixed earnestly on her mother's as she asked
these questions; and the lady saw she was really troubled for poor
ignorant Bobby.
"Don't you remember, dear," she asked, "that I told you Flossy isn't
naughty when she sleeps at prayers, or when she plays on Sunday? She
has no soul; and when she dies, her body will be buried, and that will
be an end of her.
"It is just so with the squirrels. Little Bobby doesn't know that it is
wrong for him to gnaw a hole in our nice barrel, and cut the apples all
to pieces for the sake of a few little seeds.
"He doesn't imagine that he is cruel to creep along to the robin's
nest, and eat her pretty eggs. Oh, no! He thinks of nothing but his
hunger, and his instinct teaches him to eat whatever he can get."
Bessie seemed only half satisfied. She took up Miss Prim, who had
fallen over on to her nose; but she did not laugh. She looked flushed
and anxious.
"Don't you understand it, my daughter?" asked mamma, drawing the child
to her side.
"I was thinking, mamma."
"Thinking what, Bessie?"
"Is it nice to have a soul? Did God love us better than he did Flossy;
and so he let us learn the commandments; and go to heaven when we die?"
"Yes, my darling child. 'God created man in his own image. And God
breathed into him the breath of life, and man became a living soul.'
This is what the Bible tells us about it. To animals, like horses, and
cows, and dogs, he has given instinct which teaches them to take care
of themselves; but they have no reason nor conscience."
"Does papa thank God, when he prays, that we have souls?"
"Yes, dear. Only yesterday, he thanked God that we were not like the
beasts that perish."
"I don't think cook ought to call squirrels wicked, then, if they only
do what God lets them."
Mrs. Corwin laughed at Bessie's excited tone.
"I think," she said, "that I've heard a little girl say to her dog, 'O
Flossy! What a very, very naughty dog you are, not to keep still in
school. You make all my scholars tumble over.'"
"Was cook only playing scold then? I'm so glad! I'm going to tell her
that squirrels haven't any souls, and so it isn't wicked for them to
take our apples."
"But it is very inconvenient, my dear; and somehow we must contrive a
way to stop it."
"But how can we, mamma? Squirrels must have something to eat."
"I heard your papa say, he should have to shoot them, if they were so
troublesome another year."
"O mamma! He wouldn't do that. I couldn't bear to see one killed."
"Would you prefer to give up all our pretty birds? Think how the
robins wake us in the morning with their melodious songs. Think of the
blue-birds that fly about so gayly. If the squirrels increase as they
have done, every egg will be eaten up."
Bessie looked very serious, and did not speak for some minutes. Then
she said, "Mamma, I'm going to tell God all about it; and then he will
do what is best."
[Illustration]
*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BESSIE AND THE SQUIRRELS ***
Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will
be renamed.
Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright
law 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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part
of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project
Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™
concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark,
and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following
the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use
of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for
copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very
easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation
of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project
Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may
do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected
by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark
license, especially commercial redistribution.
START: FULL LICENSE
THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free
distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project
Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full
Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at
www.gutenberg.org/license.
Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™
electronic works
1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™
electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or
destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your
possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a
Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound
by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person
or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be
used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works
even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this
agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™
electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the
Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection
of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual
works in the collection are in the public domain in the United
States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the
United States and you are located in the United States, we do not
claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing,
displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as
all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope
that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting
free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™
works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the
Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily
comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when
you share it without charge with others.
1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are
in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States,
check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this
agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing,
distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any
other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no
representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any
country other than the United States.
1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other
immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear
prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work
on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the
phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed,
performed, viewed, copied or distributed:
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
other parts of the world 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. If you
are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws
of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is
derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not
contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the
copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in
the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are
redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project
Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply
either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or
obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™
trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted
with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any
additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms
will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works
posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the
beginning of this work.
1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™
License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™.
1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
Gutenberg™ License.
1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including
any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access
to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format
other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official
version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website
(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense
to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means
of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain
Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the
full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works
unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works
provided that:
• You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method
you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed
to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has
agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid
within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are
legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty
payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in
Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg
Literary Archive Foundation.”
• You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™
License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all
copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue
all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™
works.
• You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of
any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of
receipt of the work.
• You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.
1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project
Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than
are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing
from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of
the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set
forth in Section 3 below.
1.F.
1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project
Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™
electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may
contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate
or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or
other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or
cannot be read by your equipment.
1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right
of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGE.
1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium
with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you
with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in
lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person
or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second
opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If
the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing
without further opportunities to fix the problem.
1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO
OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of
damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement
violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the
agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or
limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or
unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the
remaining provisions.
1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in
accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the
production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™
electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses,
including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of
the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this
or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or
additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any
Defect you cause.
Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™
Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of
electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of
computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It
exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations
from people in all walks of life.
Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s
goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will
remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future
generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see
Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.
Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit
501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification
number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by
U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.
The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West,
Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up
to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website
and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
Literary Archive Foundation
Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread
public support and donations to carry out its mission of
increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest
array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
status with the IRS.
The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND
DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state
visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.
While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
approach us with offers to donate.
International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation
methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To
donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate.
Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works
Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project
Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be
freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and
distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of
volunteer support.
Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed
editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in
the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not
necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper
edition.
Most people start at our website which has the main PG search
facility: www.gutenberg.org.
This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™,
including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
