Norman Vallery; or, How to Overcome Evil with GoodKingston, William Henry Giles
General
Norman Vallery; or, How to Overcome Evil with Good
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Children -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction; Christian life -- Juvenile fiction; Siblings -- Juvenile fiction
"Oh, do stop, Norman!" she cried out, "the gardener promised, you know,
to put some flowers into your garden, and he knows how to do it
properly."
"He may do as he likes," said Norman, throwing down his spade; "I have
taught you a lesson, Miss Selfish, your garden is not much better than
mine now."
Fanny could no longer restrain her tears.
"O Norman!" she exclaimed, "it was not from selfishness I did not plant
your garden, but I thought you would like to do it yourself, and that
you would find pleasure in seeing flowers spring up which you had put
in. Indeed, indeed, Norman, you accuse me wrongfully."
"Well, at all events, we are even now," growled out the boy, walking up
and down, and it is to be hoped feeling somewhat ashamed of himself, as
he surveyed the mischief he had done.
"Granny and mamma will be so angry with him if they see it," thought
Fanny, "I must try to put it to rights as far as I can," and while
Norman stood by with an angry frown on his brow, she began to replace
some of the least injured plants. While she was thus employed, Susan
came to tell her and her brother that it was time to get ready for
dinner, for Fanny in her agitation had not even heard the gong sound.
"Why, Miss Fanny, what has happened to your garden?" exclaimed Susan.
Fanny never told an untruth, but she was very anxious to shield her
brother, for she knew how angry Susan would be with him if she
discovered what he had done.
"Pray do not ask me, Susan," she answered, "John promised to put
Norman's garden to rights this evening, and I daresay he will do mine at
the same time, until after that we had better not look at it."
Susan guessed pretty correctly what had happened, but as Fanny had
begged her not to ask questions, she refrained for her sake from doing
so.
Fanny was going up to Norman to lead him towards the house, but he hung
back, so Susan took him by the arm.
"Come along, young gentleman," she said in the stern voice she knew how
to assume, "you will require to wash your hands well after your
gardening," and she pointed back at the ground he had upturned. "Are
you not ashamed of yourself?" she whispered. Fanny had run on a little
way lest Susan should again ask questions. "If you are not ashamed you
ought to be," continued Susan, "your sweet sister is an angel, and I
should like you just to ask yourself what you are."
Norman though he threatened Susan behind her back stood in considerable
awe of her in her presence, he therefore did not venture to reply, but
as he hung somewhat behind her as she led him on, he made faces at her,
which he knew she could not see.
Having washed his hands and brushed his hair she conducted him to the
dining-room.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account