Once more the doors of Greylock were opened wide, and children and
grandchildren flocked together for the Christmas festival. But it was
the last assemblage of the sort. It needed an immense power to call
so many, and so widely-scattered households into one; and that power
was gone. They loved each other dearly still, but she who held them
united was gone; the sacrifice of time, and the thousand discomforts
of winter-travel, never thought of during her life, now asserted their
rights, and were heard. Now one family dropped off, now another,
until at last Laura and her husband and children, with Margaret, held
undisputed possession of the house. Yet the strong character of the
mother lived still. In every one of the homes this was done, that left
undone, to please her. On some of them, it is true, her influence was
in the main unconscious, but with most of them she was the constant
object of love, study, and imitation. They obeyed her as implicitly
as when they were little children, for her laws were those of sound
common sense, sanctified by the Word of God and by prayer. Belle wore
the mantle of her piety, and her judgment was consulted by them all,
in every domestic emergency. Laura went on having Pugs and Trots, whom
she never seemed to "manage" at all, but who were delightful creatures;
bright, wide-awake, spirited, but in all other points original and
dissimilar. She always said she destroyed the pattern by which each
child was made, that no other might be made like it, and that if they
all had dared to have blue, or all black eyes, she would have put some
of them out in order to have variety in the house. But it was enough
to her to be a mother, so, though she had one of her quaint babies at
all sorts of irregular times, she contrived to bring forth books as
well, while developing more and more, not into a second Mrs. Grey, but
into a character as pronounced, and as formed to influence her day and
generation.
Gabrielle developed very rapidly. At seventeen, she was where many
girls are at twenty-five. Her mother thankfully dropped the household
reins the moment she saw her ready to take them up, and with grandmamma
for her model, she made a well-ordered home for them all.
As to Margaret, there were so many sides to her character that it would
be impossible to paint close enough to nature to depict her, without
producing an exaggeration. Very few ever did her justice, owing to
a modesty of the most deep-seated character. She never did or said
anything in order to shine, but when admirers pressed upon her, shrank
back, and back, and back, till they wearied of the pursuit and gave
her up as a paradox beyond their comprehension. No matter what she
acquired or how famous she became, she never seemed to know it, and
a little child could always lead her. She knelt to those she loved,
even when they were her inferiors; they were not many, but they were a
happy few. As Mrs. Grey had predicted, more than one brilliant career
lay open to her, but she was too truly a woman, too steadfastly and
deeply religious to venture upon either. To follow in the footsteps of
that venerated and beloved one, was ambition enough for her; to serve
God as she had served Him, to lend herself to every human soul that
needed her, as she had done; this was her choice. The humble pathway
was little heeded by a world that, struggling for the honors of life,
cannot conceive of their being deliberately put by. But it was watched
by the eye of God, and how often He met her upon and blessed her in it,
is known only to Him.
* * * * *
By Mrs. E. PRENTISS.
STEPPING HEAVENWARD. 12mo, $1.75
THE HOME AT GREYLOCK. 12mo, 1.50
URBANÉ AND HIS FRIENDS. 12mo, 1.50
AUNT JANE'S HERO. 12mo, 1.50
THE STORY LIZZIE TOLD. 16mo, 60
GOLDEN HOURS. Hymns and Songs of
the Christian life--(originally published under
the title of Religious Poems). 16mo, 1.50
THE LITTLE PREACHER. 16mo, cloth, 1.00
SIX LITTLE PRINCESSES. 16mo, 75
_BOOKS FOR CHILDREN._
For Girls from 12 to 16 years of age.
THE FLOWER OF THE FAMILY. 16mo, 1.50
For Children from 10 to 12 years of age.
THE PERCYS. 16mo, 1.25
For Children from 10 to 14 years of age.
ONLY A DANDELION, and other Stories, 1.25
NIDWORTH AND HIS THREE MAGIC
WANDS. 16mo, 1.25
For Children from 7 to 10 years of age.
HENRY AND BESSIE, and what they did
in the Country. 16mo, 1.00
LITTLE THREADS. 16mo, 1.00
For Children from 4 to 8 years of age.
PETERCHEN AND GRETCHEN. 16mo, 1.00
For Children from 4 to 6 years of age.
SUSY'S SIX TEACHERS. Large type, 85
SUSY'S SIX BIRTHDAYS. Large type, 85
SUSY'S LITTLE SERVANTS. Large type, 85
Sent by mail, prepaid, upon remitting price to the Publishers,
ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH & CO.,
900 BROADWAY, NEW YORK.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
MY GOLDEN HOURS;
HYMNS AND SONGS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
By the Author of "Stepping Heavenward."
"For purity of thought, earnestness and spirituality of feeling, and
smoothness of diction, they are all, without exception, good--if they
are not great. If no one rises to the height which other poets have
occasionally reached, they are, nevertheless, always free from those
defects which sometimes mar the perfectness of far greater productions.
Each portrays some human thirst or longing, and so touches the heart of
every thoughtful reader. There is a sweetness running through them all
which comes from a higher than earthly source, and which human wisdom
can neither produce nor enjoy."--_The Churchman_ (Hartford).
"Will have, and deserves to have, many appreciative readers."
_Harper's Magazine._
"We do not think there is a poem in this book which it will not do one
good to read; while there are many which will quicken the aspirations
and desires."--_Christian Weekly._
12mo, cloth, $1 50. Gilt edges, $3 00.
Sent by mail, prepaid, on receipt Of the price.
ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH & CO., NEW YORK.
BOOKS FOR
CHILDREN and YOUTH,
By Mrs. E. PRENTISS,
AUTHOR OF "STEPPING HEAVENWARD."
_Adapted to Girls from 12 to 16 years of Age._
THE FLOWER OF THE FAMILY. A Book for Girls. 16mo, 400 pages, $1.50.
"It aims to exact trivial home duty, by showing how such duty performed
in the fear of God and the love of Christ may lead upward and onward
through present self denial, to the highest usefulness, peace and joy."
"Published more than seventeen years ago, it has continued to hold
its place among the foremost books of its class. It is free from
the objections which characterize too many of the modern story
books prepared for the young. It is full of interest, without being
sensational, and the standard of duty which it sets up is within the
possible reach of all."
_Adapted to Children from 10 to 12 years of Age._
THE PERCYS. 16mo, 350 pages, $1.25.
"The Percys, originally published in the columns of the NEW YORK
OBSERVER and now first issued in book form, is a picture of a genial,
happy Christian Home, saintly without being sanctimonious, heavenly
without asceticism or formality; one too which, when it sorrows, 'is
always rejoicing.'"
_Adapted to Children from 10 to 14 years of Age._
ONLY A DANDELION, AND OTHER STORIES. 18mo, 300 pages, $1.25.
"A collection of stories in Prose and Verse, that cannot fail to
interest older readers, as well as the class for whom they were
specially prepared."
_Adapted to Children from 7 to 10 years of Age._
HENRY AND BESSIE, and what they did in the Country. 16mo, with
Illustrations, $1.00.
"A charming story of a summer spent in the country, by a family of city
children. The new scenes and the change in the daily life are portrayed
with unusual naturalness and simplicity. We know of no more beautiful
book for the class of children for whom it was prepared."
LITTLE THREADS: TANGLED THREAD, SILVER THREAD, AND GOLDEN THREAD.
16mo, with Illustrations, $1.25.
"There are few children who would not be interested in this story,
while it is full of wise thought and suggestion for parents in matters
pertaining to the training of their little ones."
_Adapted to Children from 4 to 8 years of Age._
PETERCHEN AND GRETCHEN: TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN. 16mo, with
Illustrations, $1.00.
"One of the simplest and most pleasing books for young children with
which we are acquainted. It has all the quaintness and homeness, if we
may use such a word, that belongs to the German-child's book."
_Adapted for Children from 4 to 6 years of Age._
THE SUSY BOOKS. 3 volumes.
SUSY'S SIX BIRTHDAYS.
SUSY'S SIX TEACHERS.
SUSY'S LITTLE SERVANTS
Price per set, $2.50, or sold separately at 85 cts. each.
"There is nothing in the way of story books for young children that
will compare with the "Susy Books". Ask any mother of a family in which
they have been placed, and she will make answer after this manner. No
one but a mother could have written them, and the children never grow
weary of Little Susy."
THE LITTLE PREACHER. 18mo, 223 pp., $1.00.
"A charming, loving, thoughtful book, in its style and in its lessons.
Were it not that its title foretells us that it is by an American
author, we should say that it was written in Germany. We commend it
gladly to old as well as to young readers. It is rich in lessons of
Divine Wisdom, as well as deeply interesting." Published by
THE STORY LIZZIE TOLD. 2 Illustrations, square 24mo. Paper, 35 cents.
Cloth, 60 cents.
"Young and old alike will read this little story of one of God's little
ones, with pleasure and profit."
ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH & CO.,
900 BROADWAY, COR. 20th ST., NEW YORK.
Sent by mail, prepaid, on receipt of the price.
AUNT JANE'S HERO
"_Aunt Jane's Hero is so like people we meet, that we are anxious to
have them read the book, in order to profit by its teachings. We like
it and believe others will._"--The Advance.
A New Volume by the Author of "Stepping Heavenward."
AUNT JANE'S HERO. One Vol. 12mo, 300 pp. $1.50.
"The object of _Aunt Jane's Hero_ is to depict a Christian home whose
happiness flows from the living Rock, Christ Jesus. It protests also
against the extravagance and other evils of the times, which tend
to check the growth of such homes, and to show that there are still
treasures of love and peace on earth, that may be bought without money
and without price."
"The plot of this story is the simplest, the materials the
commonest--only a young man, professedly a Christian, yet living a life
of worldliness--who is brought back through sharp trials to regain some
of his lost ground; the story of his love and marriage, and pictures
of a happy Christian home, with Aunt Jane's influence, like a golden
thread running through the whole; just such scenes and incidents as
may happen any day, anywhere. Yet out of these simple materials is
wrought a story of great beauty and power. The title of the book seems
to us a misnomer. Aunt Jane's Hero is really much less of a hero than
is his wife, little Maggie, of a heroine. Her character is one of
rare strength and sweetness; but she needs it all in keeping up her
husband's courage in dark days, in sustaining his faith, in redeeming
him from selfishness and prompting him to active Christian work. The
key-note of the volume is struck in one of the closing paragraphs:
'Those who have got into the heart of this happy home have wanted to
know its secret, seeing plainly that money had little to do with it;
and as you have confided in me, I will be equally frank with you, and
tell you this secret in a few words: We love God and we love each
other.'"--_The Advance_, Chicago.
"The power of a living practical religion, as the main thing in life,
is brought out in contrast with the standards of fashionable morality.
Some things in the book we might criticise, but these may be safely
left to the reader's judgment. It has most of the features which made
_Stepping Heavenward_ so deservedly popular, and, like it, deserves
thoughtful reading."--_Christian Witness._
"Aunt Jane's Hero is a very human being, and like all of Mrs. Prentiss'
characters, has just that taint of 'total depravity' which proves him
a child of Adam and not a creature of fancy. Her characters are not
_so_ good, but the lessons taught by their lives may be learned and
practiced by others."--_The Interior._
"To mention another volume from the pen and heart of Mrs. Prentiss is
to send a pleasure and the promise of good to every reader. Already has
she secured such a place in the affections of those whose sympathies
are with us, that we have but to tell them that this new book is rich
in all that wealth of thought and sentiment and feeling which have made
her other works so useful and popular, and our readers will wish to see
_Aunt Jane's Hero_ at once."--_N. Y. Observer._
ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH & CO., 900 Broadway, N. Y.
_Sold by all Booksellers, and sent by mail prepaid on receipt of the
price._
[Transcriber's Notes:
Adjustments to punctuation to correct printers errors (e.g. "!" in
place of "?"). Hyphens left as in original even if inconsistent.
Spelling only amended if very obvious: e.g. "her" for "hear".
No publisher in original for "The Little Preacher".
Advert page moved from front to be first advert at back.
Table of Contents generated, not in original.]
End of Project Gutenberg's The Home at Greylock, by Elizabeth Prentiss