American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Sunday schools -- United States -- Periodicals
Throwing that disagreeable thought aside, she went on. How _could_
it all be changed? Perhaps some rich, unheard-of relative of her
mother’s would die and leave a vast fortune to her as her mother’s only
daughter. Then what would she do? She would give her father enough so
that he wouldn’t have to work anymore. She would—yes, she would show
a very Christian spirit toward Mrs. Moore. She would re-furnish the
house, and hire several servants for her, and give her enough to buy
beautiful dresses. The boys should be sent to college, and she,—she
would go off to boarding-school and study as much as she liked, and
never have to stay home and wash dishes. She would have plenty of money
to give away. She would buy a great many flowers to give to poor sick
people. Her room should be beautifully furnished, and she would invite
all the poor girls in school there and give them nice times.
She was just treating those imaginary girls to chocolate creams and
marshmallow drops, when she heard her father’s step coming swiftly down
the street, and his voice say: “Margaret, you should not be out in this
chilly night air.” Then she turned and followed him into the house.
She had to give up her musings for a while and help Johnnie with his
arithmetic lesson, but she promised herself more castle-building when
she went to her own room, before she slept.
But presently her father called her. “Margaret,” he said, “I have a
letter here from your Aunt Cornelia. She wishes you to come and spend
the winter with her and attend school. Would you like to go?”
Margaret’s heart bounded with joy. Not alone with the pleasure of going
to Aunt Cornelia, but with a sort of triumphant feeling that her prayer
was answered, and that so soon. She resolved complacently that she
should always pray for everything. Poor child! She thought her faith
was very great.
It was quite dark in the room and Margaret could not see her father’s
face as he said this, but his voice was very kind. The door into the
hall was partly open, and the streak of light which came from it fell
upon the sofa, and showed the dim outlines of Mrs. Moore lying there
with her head bound up in a handkerchief. There was a faint odor of
camphor and vinegar pervading the room and Margaret’s conscience smote
her as she remembered her hard thoughts out by the gate. Perhaps Mrs.
Moore had been suffering all day from a sick headache, and that was why
she was so severe. The little girl’s heart softened and she resolved to
pray that the headache be cured, which, however, she forgot to do. You
must remember how full her heart was of excitement, and pity this poor
young Christian.
It was all settled that evening that she should go in a week, and she
went up to her room to write a letter overflowing with thanks to dear
Aunt Cornelia, and then went to bed to dream of the new life.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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