Children -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction; Girls -- Juvenile fiction
"We must go to the Adelphi," said Octavia; "that is where Rollo went, and
found his father, and mother, and Thannie. But the kitten didn't ever get
there--did it, Miss Percival?"
The voyage being ended, and with it the fearful seasickness, the children
went to swinging, with their teacher to push them.
"Miss Percival," said aunt Maria, shaking hands with that excellent
young lady, "I wish you joy of your noble employment. It is a blessed
thing to be able to give so much pleasure to these dear little children."
"So it seems to me," replied Miss Percival. "They are always grateful,
too, for every little kindness."
"They look very good and obedient," said Mrs. Clifford, in a low voice.
"So they are. Sometimes I think they are better than children who have
eyes; perhaps because they cannot see to get into so much mischief,"
added Miss Percival, pinching Emily's cheek.
"Aunt 'Ria," said Dotty, in raptures, "_don't_ they have good
times here?"
"Yelly good times," said little Flyaway, clutching at her mother's dress.
"Mamma, I wish _I_ was blind-eyed, too."
"You, my darling baby! Mother hopes that will never be. But if you
cannot be blind-eyed yourself, perhaps you may make some of these little
ones happy. Is there anything you would like to give away?"
Flyaway winked slowly, trying to think what she had at home that she no
longer wished to keep.
"Yes, mamma," said she at last, with a smile of satisfaction, "I've got
a old hat."
"O, fie, Katie! I dare say you would be very glad to part with that, for
I remember you cried the other day when I asked you to wear it. Your old
hat would not be a pretty present."
"Then I can't fink of noffin' else," said Katie, shaking her head; at the
same time having a guilty recollection of several beautiful toys, and
"'most a hunnerd bushels of canny;" that is to say, a small box of
confectionery her uncle Edward had given her.
Mrs. Clifford had observed of late that her little daughter was not as
generous as she could wish. Both Katie and Dotty were peculiarly liable
to become selfish, as they were much petted at home, and had no younger
brothers or sisters with whom to share their treasures. Mrs. Clifford did
not insist upon Katie's making any sacrifice. The little one did not pity
the blind children at all. They seemed so happy that she almost envied
them. So did Miss Dimple. It was not, after all, very grievous to be
blind, she thought, if one could live at this Institute and have such
nice plays.
"Aunt 'Ria thinks I ought to give them something, I s'pose. When I get
home I mean to ask mamma and grandma to dress a beautiful doll, and I'll
send it to Emily. She'll keep it to remember me by; and it won't cost
any of _my_ money if papa buys the head."
"Good by, Emily," said she, as she parted from her. "I hope there won't
any more bad things happen to you."
"But I s'pose there will," replied Emily, cheerfully.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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