GIRL'S OWN BOOK 
 
 OF AMUSING AND INSTRUCTIVE 
 
FRONTISPIECE. 
 
 OOXOOOOCX5GOOOOOC02COCOSCCCO 
 
 JUMPING THE ROPE. 
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raura own k@§e 
 
 OF 
 
 AMUSING AND INSTRUCTIVE 
 
 STORIES. 
 
 EMBELLISHED WITH CUTS, 
 
 PROVIDENCE : 
 PUBLISHED BY GEO. P. DANIELS 
 
 1843, 
 
GIRL'S OWN BOOK 
 
 OF 
 
 AMUSING AND INSTRUCTIVE STORIES. 
 
 HAPPY FLORA. 
 Oh, who is that laughing and singing, 
 and skipping about so merrily ? It is lit- 
 tle Flora, the happiest child almost in all 
 the city. Flora always looks good hu- 
 mored, and that is the reason we all love 
 her. She looks very pretty, and that is 
 because she is good. Every one who is 
 good, is pretty ; we like to look at them, 
 and like to be with them. We all like to 
 see handsome features, but we like much 
 more that loveliness which goodness gives 
 to the countenance. Flora has a kind 
 mamma ; she often sits by her side, and 
 dresses her doll, while her mamma talks 
 to her of many pleasant things. The lit- 
 tle girl makes all the clothes for her doll ; 
 when she has learnt to make those well, 
 she will know how to make and mend 
 a 3 
 

 
 HAPPY FLORA. 
 
 her own, and that is what all should learn 
 to do. Flora is always neat and clean ; 
 she keeps her things all in order ; you will 
 never see her aprons thrown about in the 
 chairs, nor her bonnet and gloves out of 
 place. No ; she goes to the closet, and 
 puts her nice cape-bonnet where it will 
 not get soiled, or bent, and folds her shawl 
 carefully ; so she is always ready to go 
 with her friends, and never detains them, 
 as some careless children clo. 
 
 Flora and Is- r Brother. 
 
 Flora, when she plays, is very gentle, 
 though full of mirth and gaiety, especial- 
 
HAPPY FLORA. 
 
 7 
 
 ly when she suffers her little brother to 
 draw her about in his cart, which he often 
 does, because he has no brother or sister 
 but herself. She takes pleasure in con- 
 tributing all in her power to his amuse- 
 ment. 
 
 The other day she was running in the 
 garden, and there she found a little bird ; 
 she knew it was very young, and had not 
 yet learnt to fly ; for the feathers were 
 not fully grown. The poor thing had 
 lost its mother, and was very hungry. 
 The little girl took it gently in her hand, 
 and carried it into the house to her mam- 
 ma, who said it must be put into a cage, 
 and fed carefully. It revived in a short 
 time ; and Flora was quite happy when 
 she thought that by good nursing, it might 
 be made to live, and perhaps fly in the 
 garden, and sing her many gay songs. 
 
 Flora watched and fed the young bird 
 from day to day. He grew tame and fed 
 from her hand, making a soft, chirping 
 sound, as if to thank her for the care she 
 had taken of him. One morning after he 
 
8 
 
 HAPPY FLORA. 
 
 had been nursed several weeks she unfas- 
 tened the door, and he flew away through 
 the open window. At first. Flora felt 
 sorry, and feared that she would not see 
 
 Flora's BJircl. 
 
 him again, and she said to her mamma, 
 that she was afraid he would prove un- 
 grateful. But Flora's mamma told her 
 that she must not blame the little bird, 
 even if it did not return ; for he cannot, 
 said she, think, as we do ; his instinct 
 teaches him to fly abroad, and nestle 
 among the green branches of the trees, 
 when he is tired. It is very likely, my 
 little daughter, that your favorite will be 
 seen in the garden, sitting, perhaps, on 
 
1IAPPV FLORA. 
 
 9 
 
 some sunny bough, joining his soft notes 
 to the many birds which fill the air with 
 their melody. Perhaps your little bird 
 will be busy too, in making a curious nest 
 in some snug place. 
 
 " Does not my dear Flora know the 
 difference between herself and the little 
 birds ? They, like Flora, move from place 
 to place ; like Flora, they eat and drink ; 
 they are nourished and grow. Like Flo- 
 ra, too, they sing gay songs ; and in their 
 way, too, they talk to their mates. Why, 
 then, is my darling Flora happier than 
 the singing birds; and how does she dif- 
 fer from them ?" 
 
 Flora thought a great while ; but she 
 did not know then, that it was having a 
 rational mind, that made her happier than 
 the birds of the air. 
 
 " When her mamma said, " My daugh- 
 ter can talk to her dear friends, and listen 
 to their conversation ; she can every day 
 learn something more than she knew be- 
 fore : she loves her kind and affectionate 
 
 friends, and her little brother. It is Flo- 
 A 4 
 
w 
 
 UAPl'l' FLORA, 
 
 ra's mind which makes her know and feel 
 all this ; and as she lives and grows older, 
 she will, year by year, learn wiser and 
 better things than she knows now. But 
 the little birds learn in a very short time, 
 all they are ever to know ; and they do 
 not improve as they grow older, like chil- 
 dren, and grown persons. 
 
 " God, our Heavenly Father, gave Flo- 
 ra this improvable mind, and gave, too, 
 all else, that makes her happy. This 
 good God will love my child, if she tries 
 to do well : and He will give her more 
 and more knowledge." 
 
HAPPY NEW YEAR. 
 
 11 Oh, happy New Year !" merrily sung 
 little Susan, one winter's morning, — 
 Abroad it was cold and stormy, and the 
 snow was falling thick and fast upon the 
 frozen earth ; but within doors, the cold 
 
 S*is»ii learning iter iLosson. 
 was not felt j for the house was made 
 cheerful with comfortable fires, and bright, 
 happy smiles. Susan was taught to feel 
 
 thankful for all her enjoyments, and to 
 a 6 
 
HAPPY NEW ^ EAR- 
 
 keep in mind that the good always have 
 more pleasures than pain. 
 
 To-day Susan learned her lesson at 
 home, for it was too stormy to go to 
 school. After she had read to her mam- 
 ma, she resumed her gay song ; " Oh, 
 happy, happy New Year !" 
 
 " And why," asked Susan's mamma," 
 " will New Year's day be so happy to 
 you ?" 
 
 " Because," answered the little girl, " I 
 shall have gifts from you, and papa, and 
 grand-mamma. I shall have a new doll, 
 and new picture books ! Oh, it will be a 
 happy, happy day !" 
 
 Susan's mamma kissed the little girl, 
 and said, " My daughter, take care that 
 you do not anticipate too much pleasure ; 
 the pretty doll and books will amuse you 
 for a time ; but they alone cannot make 
 you happy. You must try to be obedi- 
 ent, and always good humored ; you must 
 be patient too — it is not always easy for 
 little girls to be patient : but if they take 
 pains to be so, they may always succeed, 
 
HAPPY NEW YEAK. 
 
 You felt much pleased, my dear, when 
 you had made that pretty work-bag, for 
 your dear aunt Laura ; but it was not a 
 very easy piece of work for you to ac- 
 complish ; the pleasure you felt, when it 
 was finished, arose from having difficulty . 
 Your mind told you that you had done 
 right. Continue in all things to use pa- 
 tience, and you will always feel as cheer- 
 ful as you do now. 
 
 Susan anil licr Doll. 
 
 A few days after this conversation, the 
 much desired day of New Year came. — - 
 Susan, with a truth that could not be 
 questioned, joyfully hailed every member 
 
14 
 
 HAl'PV NEW YEAH. 
 
 of the household. Many and many hap- 
 py New Years were wished again and 
 again, and the gaiety of the joyous child 
 was in no degree lessened, when she re- 
 ceived her anticipated gifts. Among 
 them was a beautiful doll, which she had 
 long desired, and whose dress she propos- 
 ed making herself. To this her mother 
 assented : and assisted her in cutting and 
 fitting a frock, made of blue and white 
 printed cambric. Thus engaged, time 
 was passing pleasantly and rapidly, when 
 one of Susan's young friends was an- 
 nounced. Harriet had come to spend the 
 day with Susan, and brought with her 
 another little girl, named Ellen. The 
 visiters were much pleased with Susan's 
 beautiful doll, and proposed a variety of 
 new fashions for her dress. 
 
 The servant brought in some cakes for 
 the children. Harriet immediately ate 
 several, but Ellen and Snsan were more 
 moderate : for they knew that their moth- 
 ers did not approve of their eating much 
 cake ; and these good children, though 
 
HAPPY NEW YEAE. 15 
 
 alone, would not do what they knew was 
 wrong. They did not require to be 
 
 Harriet, Ellen ana Su&an* 
 watched, like some little boys and girls, 
 who cannot govern themselves at all. In 
 an hour or two after this, as they were 
 playing with some of their toys, and read- 
 ing stories one to another, Harriet com- 
 plained of a pain in her head, and looked 
 very sick. She was soon worse, and was 
 carried to bed, where she had to remain 
 all day. I suppose this was the conse- 
 quence of eating too much cake. 
 
HAPPY NEW YEAR. 
 
 The other children were sorry that she 
 had thus lost her pleasures ; and they 
 would now and then go to the chamber, 
 to ask how she was, though they were 
 
 lie Side Chamber. 
 
 not allowed to stay long, because Harriet 
 could not talk to them, while she had 
 that pain in her head. On the whole, 
 the day passed agreeably to the other 
 children. — They were kind to each other, 
 and their friends were pleased with their 
 ready obedience. 
 
 At night, Harriet was well enough to 
 be carried home ; and Ellen took leave at 
 
HAPPY NEW YEAR. 
 
 an early hour. After they were gone, 
 Susan placed herself near her mother, and 
 for a time was quite thoughtful. Her 
 mamma asked her why she did not chat 
 as merrily as usual ; she replied, that she 
 had been thinking if the day had been 
 as happy as she had anticipated ; "I do 
 not think it has been," continued she; 
 " 1 have had troubles, mamma, though 
 every one wished me happy." 
 
 r< And what have your troubles been ?" 
 asked her mother. 
 
 "You will not think them troubles, 
 perhaps, mamma," said Susan ; "but in 
 the first place, my brother broke my lit- 
 tle china cup, and I could hardly keep 
 from crying when I saw it on the floor, 
 in pieces ; then Harriet and Ellen came — 
 1 was glad to see them, but they did not 
 use my playthings carefully ; and that 
 made me very uncomfortable. Mamma, 
 it was difficult for me to speak good hu- 
 moredly to them ; but I tried to make my 
 bad feelings go away — and at last, they 
 
18 
 
 HAPPY NEW YEAR. 
 
 did go away. Now I love Harriet and 
 Ellen as much as I did before. " 
 
 u I do not think, my dear Susan," said 
 her mamma, u that you have 1 lost a day f 
 I shall count this one of your happy, and 
 one of your good days, too. You have 
 tried to govern your mind — and you have 
 done as much as such a little girl could 
 do ; for it is not easy to rule our feelings. 
 You now know the pleasure of a mind at 
 peace with itself, and others." 
 
 " So I do, mamma," said Susan; u I 
 know that I feel this gladness now, be- 
 cause I have tried to do well." 
 
 £C Yes, my daughter ; and you begin 
 to learn that your happiness depends more 
 on yourself than on others. Here comes 
 your brother Julius ; let us see if he has 
 spent a joyful day." 
 
 u Mamma," said Julius, as he entered 
 the parlor, u I have had a fine time with 
 my cousins. We have played at snow- 
 ball ; and made a snow house, and snow 
 men, and a snow mountain, too. Then 
 we made a road down the mountain, and 
 
HAPPI NEW YEAR. 
 
 19 
 
 went up and clown with sleds a long 
 while. Was'n't that good fail " I 
 dare say you thought so, " replied his 
 mother, "and I am pleased that your time 
 has passed so agreeably ; but come now, 
 my son, and sit by me with little Susan, 
 and think if you have not some other 
 sources of pleasure, besides these you 
 have told. Have you not had occasion, 
 amid all these frolics, to exercise some 
 kindness towards your companions? have 
 you been patient, forbearing, and yielding 
 to those with whom you were at play ? 
 Tell me. Julius, if you have to-day exer- 
 
HAPPY NEW YEAR. 
 
 cised these virtues ? for if you have, you 
 possess the treasures of a good conscience, 
 and a happy mind." 
 
 11 I have not been patient all the time, 
 mamma/' said Julius ; I spoke unkindly 
 to my cousin Frank, twice ; but I was 
 sorry afterwards, and I told him so ; then 
 we were friends again. And I tried, af- 
 ter that, not to do wrong again ; I feel glad 
 that I did not leave Frank in ill humor." 
 
 £< And I too, am glad that you did not, 
 my son ; for Frank is a good boy, and 
 you were right to act as you have done. 
 We should always feel willing to confess 
 our faults, and try to repair the injury we 
 may have done to others. Continue, Ju- 
 lius, and you too, Susan, thus to think, 
 daily, of what is right, and you will be 
 happy as well as good. Our Heavenly 
 Father will love you, if you try more ev- 
 ery year to do good, and to be good. Now 
 my dear children, give me one kiss, and 
 then, good night. May next New Year's 
 day find us all much better than we are 
 now." 
 
LITTLE FANNY. 
 
 Fanny was a pretty little girl, and not 
 of a bad temper, but she was too fond of 
 having her way in every respect. When 
 Fanny played with other children of her 
 own age, she was sure to dictate what 
 game they should pursue, and if they did 
 not do as she said, she would sit down 
 and refuse to join in their sport ; and the 
 more they were vexed at her anger, the 
 more sulky she would be. At length the 
 school children did not care to play with 
 one who wished to rule them j and when 
 Fanny wished to mix in their games, 
 they were cool to her, because they knew 
 she would be sure to oppose their wishes, 
 and spoil their mirth ; till Fanny, want- 
 ing always to do just as she liked, had no 
 longer a single friend in the whole school. 
 One day, Mrs. Mansel, the governess, on 
 
22 LITTLE FANNY. 
 
 coming into the garden, where the chil- 
 dren were always sent to enjoy them- 
 selves, after school hours, found Miss Fan- 
 
 Fsmaay isi tlae Arbor. 
 
 ny seated on a stool in an arbor, by her- 
 self, shedding tears ; and wishing to know 
 what ailed her, was told, in reply, that she 
 could procure no one to play with. — Mrs. 
 Mansel was hurt at this news, and begged 
 to hear why the young ladies would not 
 permit Fanny to partake of their pastime ; 
 on which they said it was not their fault, 
 but Fanny's, who wanted to govern in 
 every thing. Mrs. Mansel took Fanny 
 
LITTLE FANNY. 
 
 23 
 
 aside, when she had learned the cause of 
 her grief, and told her the ill effects of a 
 stubborn temper,- and a perverse mind, 
 which are sure to excite dislike. Fanny 
 felt the truth of all this, in the neglect 
 which she now had brought upon herself 
 from her companions, and promised to be 
 more humble in future. — Mrs.Mansel now 
 took Fanny by the hand, and kissing 
 away her tears, led her again into the 
 garden, and desired that the children 
 would receive her as before, which they 
 did gladly, when they came to see how 
 sorry she was for her past conduct ; and 
 Fanny soon found " That the way to be 
 obliged one's self, is to study how we 
 may oblige others." 
 
^x< eaGcxx^H.3e^'s books, 
 
 »<« • • - - i • . o . » : « 
 
 »X< Containing instructive and interesting Stones, »!« 
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 »j« and illustrated with beauliful engravings, »;« 
 
 »1« n . - , r »:« 
 
 Published and for sale, wholesale and retail, />?/»}« 
 
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