Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Josephine Paolucci, and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders ELSIE'S GIRLHOOD A SEQUEL TO "ELSIE DINSMORE" AND "ELSIE'S HOLIDAYS AT ROSELANDS" BY MARTHA FINLEY 1872 "Oh! time of promise, hope, and innocence, Of trust, and love, and happy ignorance! Whose every dream is heaven, in whose fair joy Experience yet has thrown no black alloy." --THOUGHTS OF A RECLUSE PREFACE Some years have now elapsed since my little heroine "ELSIE DINSMORE" made her debut into the great world. She was sent out with many an anxious thought regarding the reception that might await her there. But she was kindly welcomed, and such has been the favor shown her ever since that Publishers and Author have felt encouraged to prepare a new volume in which will be found the story of those years that have carried Elsie on from childhood to womanhood--the years in which her character was developing, and mind and body were growing and strengthening for the real work and battle of life. May my readers who have admired and loved her as a child find her still more charming in her fresh young girlhood; may she prove to all a pleasant companion and friend; and to those of them now treading the same portion of life's pathway a useful example also, particularly in her filial love and obedience. M.F. CHAPTER I. It is a busy, talking world. --ROWE. "I think I shall enjoy the fortnight we are to spend here, papa; it seems such a very pleasant place," Elsie remarked, in a tone of great satisfaction. "I am glad you are pleased with it, daughter," returned Mr. Dinsmore, opening the morning paper, which John had just brought up. They--Mr. Dinsmore and Elsie, Rose and Edward Allison--were occupying very comfortable quarters in a large hotel at one of our fashionable watering-places. A bedroom for each, and a private parlor for the joint use of the party, had been secured in advance, and late the night before they had arrived and taken possession. It was now early in the morning, Elsie and her papa were in his room, which was in the second story and opened upon a veranda, shaded by tall trees, and overlooking a large grassy yard at the side of the building. Beyond were green fields, woods, and hills. "Papa," said Elsie, gazing longingly upon them, as she stood by the open window, "can't we take a walk?" "When Miss Rose is ready to go with us." "May I run to her door and ask if she is?--and if she isn't, may I wait for her out here on the veranda?" "Yes." She skipped away, but was back again almost immediately. "Papa, what do you think? It's just too bad!" "What is too bad, daughter? I think I never before saw so cross a look on my little girl's face," he said, peering at her over the top of his newspaper. "Come here, and tell me what it is all about."