help them to do wrong. And he wasn't a coward, either, as you will see.
He spoke right up, and told them kindly what he thought, and begged
_them_ not to do evil, either.
One day he was walking peaceably along, thinking happy thoughts, when a
party of bad boys came up to him, saying: "Knud, we know where there is
some splendid fruit, and we want some, and what is more, we are
determined to have some; and we want you to go with us and help us to
get it."
"What, _steal_?" said Knud; fixing his clear, pure eyes on the naughty
boys. "Steal! I would not do it for all the world."
"But you _shall_," said a great, strong boy, bigger than Knud.
"You shall?" echoed all the other boys, "or, we will drown you, Knud;
yes, drown you in the river, just as sure as you stand there."
Knud looked at them. He saw that they were in earnest. They were
stronger than he, and Knud knew that they _could_ kill him, for there
was nobody near to help him. His father and mother were not within
call. Knud loved his father and mother; he thought this world a very
fair and pleasant one, with its birds, its sunshine and its flowers;
but, did he tremble and drop on his knees before those wicked boys and
say, "_Don't_ kill me--_don't_--I will do _anything_ if you won't kill
me!"
No, no; dear, noble, courageous little fellow! He stood up and faced
them all, and said, "I cannot steal; no--not even if you kill me!"
You would have thought that they would have put their arms about his
neck and begged his forgiveness, but they were little monsters. I
cannot bear to think there are _children_ with such bad hearts, because
we look to see _them_ innocent, and good, and pure. But you will weep
when I tell you that they seized Knud and dragged him down to the river
and plunged him in, and that the waters closed over the sunny little
head, that is now wearing a martyr's crown.
You pity Knud? _I_ pity his murderers.
Do you think that they can sleep peaceably at night? No; in their
dreams they hear the plashing waves, and see a pallid, upturned face,
with pure and pleading eyes, from which _they turned away_!
Ever at their side, at golden morn, and busy noon, and dewy eve, a
little form, unseen by other eyes, shall follow--follow--follow. Ever
in their startled ears, a little childish voice, that no noise may
drown, no earthly power may hush, shall ring, "Oh, I _cannot_ steal,
not even if you _kill_ me! I _cannot_ steal!"
CHILDREN IN 1853.
I went with a friend, the other day, to look at some "rooms to let."
She liked the rooms, and the man who owned them liked she should have
them; but when she mentioned she had children--he stepped six paces
off--set his teeth together--pulled his waist-coat down with a jerk,
and said--"_Never--take--children,--ma'am!_"
Now, I'd like to know if that man was _born_ grown up?
I'd like to know if children are to have their necks wrung like so many
chickens, if they happen to "_peep_?"
I'd like to know if they haven't just as much right in the world as
grown folks?
I begin to feel catamount-y about it!
I'd like to know if boarding-house keepers, (after children have been
in a close school-room for five or six hours, feeding on verbs and
pronouns,) are to put them off with a "second table," leaving them to
stand round in the entries on one leg, smelling the dinner, while grown
people (who have lunched at oyster shops and confectioner's saloons)
sit two or three hours longer than is necessary at dessert, cracking
their nuts and their jokes?
I'd like to know if, when they have a quarter given them to spend, they
must _always_ receive a bad shilling out of it at the stores, in
"change"?
I'd like to know if people in omnibuses are at liberty to take them by
the coat collar, lift them out of a nice seat, take it themselves, and
then perch them on their sharp knee-bones, to jolt over the pavements?
I have a great mind to pick up all the children, and form a colony on
some bright island, where these people, who were made up in a hurry,
without hearts, couldn't find us; or if they did, we'd just say to them
when they tried to come ashore--_Never take grown-up folks here, sir!_
or, we'd treat them to a "second dinner,"--bill of fare, cold potatoes,
bad cooking butter, bread full of saleratus, bones without any meat on
them, watery soups, and curdled milk--(that is to say, after we had
picked our nuts long enough to suit us at dessert!) How do you suppose
they'd like to change places with "children" that way?
Now here's Aunt Fanny's creed, and you may read it to your mother if
you like.
I believe in great round apples and _big_ slices of good plain
gingerbread for children.
I believe in making their clothes loose enough to enable them to eat it
all, and jump round in when they get through.
I believe in not giving away their little property, such as dolls,
kites, balls, hoops, and the like, without their leave.
I believe in not promising them a ride, and then forgetting all about
it.
I believe in not teasing them for amusement, and then punishing them
for being "troublesome."
I believe in not allowing Bridget and Betty to box their ears because
the pot boils over, or because their beaux didn't come the evening
before.
I believe in sending them to school where there are backs to the
benches, and where the schoolma'am has had at least "_one_ offer."
I believe no house can be properly furnished with out at least a
_dozen_ children in it.
I believe little children to be all that is left us of Paradise; and
that any housekeeper harboring a person who "don't like them," had
better _count up her silver, without loss of time_!
THE END
* * *
ELEGANT JUVENILE BOOKS.
Little Cross-Bearers.
By Caroline Chesebro. 16mo. muslin. Price 75 cents.
THE STRING OF PEARLS,
_For Boys and Girls._
By T. S. Arthur. 16mo. muslin. Price 75 cents.
STORIES ABOUT ANIMALS,
_With Pictures to Match._
By F. C. Woodworth. 16mo. muslin. Price 75 cents.
STORIES ABOUT BIRDS,
_With Pictures to Match._
By F. C. Woodworth. 16mo. muslin. Price 75 cents.
PUBLISHED BY MILLER, ORTON & MULLIGAN,
Auburn and Buffalo.
THRILLING TEMPERANCE TALE.
Dick Wilson,
THE RUMSELLER'S VICTIM:
Or, Humanity pleading for the Maine Law.
BY REV. J. K. CORNYN.
_A Temperance Story, founded on fact--Introduction by Thurlow W.
Brown, editor of the "Cayuga Chief."_
12mo. muslin. Price $1,25.
"It is founded on fact, and is well adapted, by the impressive scenes
which it describes, to arouse the attention of the reader to the
mischiefs of the liquor traffic. We trust this volume will find a wide
circulation. It cannot fail to exert a salutary influence."--_N. Y.
Tribune._
"A powerful appeal in behalf of the Maine Law. The story is terribly
true to life."--_N. Y. Independent._
"It is a temperance tale, containing some striking scenes, and aiming,
by sturdy blows, to overthrow a great existing evil, by exposing it in
its deformity, and suggesting the remedy."--_Temperance Journal._
"Written in a passionate, glowing style, as if the author were in
earnest, and had seen the thing he describes. The friends of the Maine
Law will find this book a strong pleader."--_N. Y. Observer._
"The author of this work has done good service to the cause by a series
of spirit-stirring sketches, founded on fact."--_N. Y. Evangelist._
"The story is well conceived, and finely narrated. While it will
entertain those who like to peruse the description of stirring scenes,
it will at the same time, if they have any hearts, fill them with utter
enmity against the 'fire-water,' which steals away men's property,
character and happiness. The work is very popular."--_Christian
Ambassador._
"The author of this work has done good service to the cause, by a
series of spirit-stirring sketches, founded on fact."--_Northern
Christian Advocate._
PUBLISHED BY MILLER, ORTON & MULLIGAN,
Auburn and Buffalo.
FANNY FERN'S NEW BOOK.
Fern Leaves
FROM
FANNY'S PORTFOLIO.
One elegant 12mo volume.
_With Eight Illustrations._ 400 _Pages. Price_ $1,25.
She has a mine of fun, tenderness, and truth somewhere, and though the
jewels she polishes for the world are not large, they are of the purest
water and bright.--_Eliza Cook's Journal_, (_England_.)
Sweet, womanly, and surcharged with a tender pathos, we predict that
her "Leaves" will become favorites.--_N. Y. Tribune._
There is not a hearth that will not commune with her--there is not a
heart that will not echo back the breathings of her nature.--_Buffalo
Republic._
They relate to almost everything of feeling, duty, foible, and things
of beauty, and leave a moral impress.--_N. Y. Evangelist._
So true to life, they can hardly be called fictions.--_Literary
Advertiser._
Winning upon the affections as a tender, thoughtful, and pathetic
moralist.--_Arthur's Home Gazette._
The product of an inventive and beautiful mind, and a pure, gentle and
loving spirit.--_Albany Argus._
There are pictures of love, of beauty, and of suffering here, equal to
the best sketches of Dickens.--_N. Y. Mirror._
We do not believe the author exists, who can equal her
sketches.--_Canada Christian Advocate._
As her "Leaves" wear a healthy hue, it matters not how widely they
float upon the breeze of popularity.--_New-York Recorder._
They are the genuine offspring of an original mind, the characteristic
product of New England.--_Home Journal._
SECOND SERIES.
Fern Leaves from Fanny's Portfolio,
SECOND SERIES--uniform with the First--(in January, 1854.)
PUBLISHED BY MILLER, ORTON & MULLIGAN,
Auburn and Buffalo.
NEW AND POPULAR BIOGRAPHY.
THE LIFE
OF
LADY JANE GRAY.
BY D. W. BARTLETT.
One vol. 16mo., muslin. Price $1,00.
"His work is done carefully. His style is clear and graceful, and his
sympathies are always engaged by the best aspects of whatever he takes
in hand."--_Boston Daily Commonwealth._
"A volume which will be eagerly sought. * * The reader has in one vol.,
one of the most interesting portions of English history."--_Cayuga
Chief._
"A judicious biography of one of the most charming heroines of
history."--_N. Y. Daily Times._
"A charming book. We have read it with the most thrilling
interest."--_Religious Herald._
"Mr. Bartlett always writes well, and he sustains his high reputation
in this work, which is well set off by the publishers."--_Boston Olive
Branch._
"A very readable book."--_Hartford Courant._
"We could wish that this volume might find a place in every young
lady's library, to the displacement of some of the pernicious novels
of the day."--_Albany Courier._
"Very well written, and certainly worthy of becoming widely
known."--_Arthur's Home Gazette._
"His chapters and sentences are symmetrically constructed, while his
ready perception appropriates all the points of interest in his
subject, and rejects that which is irrelevant or not
authentic."--_Hartford Times._
"An easy, graceful writer--he seldom fails to add interest to the
subject on which he writes."--_Christian Secretary._
PUBLISHED BY MILLER, ORTON & MULLIGAN,
Auburn and Buffalo.
_MILLER ORTON & MULLIGAN, PUBLISH_
LIFE OF GENERAL LAFAYETTE,
By P. C. Headley, 12mo. with a portrait, uniform with Headley's
Josephine, muslin, 1 25
LIFE OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS,
Sixth President of the United States, by William H. Seward,
12mo. muslin, 1 25
LIFE OF LOUIS KOSSUTH,
Governor of Hungary, by P. C. Headley, with an Introduction by
Horace Greeley, one vol. 12mo. muslin, 1 25
LIFE OF GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR,
Twelfth President of the United States, by H. Montgomery, 12mo.
muslin, 1 00
LIFE OF WINFIELD SCOTT,
By E. D. Mansfield, illustrated, 12mo. muslin, 1 25
LIFE OF GENERAL FRANK PIERCE,
Fourteenth President of the United States, by D. W. Bartlett,
12mo. muslin, 75
GENERALS OF THE LAST WAR,
With Great Britain, with portraits of Generals Brown, Macomb,
Scott, Jackson, Harrison and Gaines, by John S. Jenkins, muslin,
12mo. 1 25
LIVES OF JAMES MADISON AND JAMES MONROE,
By J. Q. Adams, 12mo. muslin, 1 00
LIFE OF ANDREW JACKSON,
President of the United States, by John S. Jenkins, muslin,
12mo. 1 25
VOICE TO THE YOUNG,
Or, Lectures for the Times, by W. W. Patton, 12mo. muslin, 62
MISSIONARY OFFERING,
A Memorial of Christ's Messengers in Heathen Lands, dedicated to
Dr. Judson, 8 engravings, 12mo. muslin, 1 00
PURE GOLD,
Or, Truth in its Native Loveliness, by Rev. D. Holmes, muslin, 1 00
METHODIST PREACHER,
Containing 28 Sermons upon Doctrinal Subjects, by Bishop Hedding,
Dr. Fisk, Dr. Bangs, Dr. Durbin, and other eminent preachers
of the M. E. Church, octavo, 1 00
EPISCOPAL METHODISM AS IT WAS AND IS,
Being a History of the M. E. Church in the United States, &c., by
Rev. P. Douglass Gorrie, 12mo. muslin, 1 00
LIVES OF EMINENT METHODIST MINISTERS,
By Rev. P. Douglass Gorrie, 12mo. muslin, 1 25
FREMONT'S EXPLORING EXPEDITION,
Through the Rocky Mountains, Oregon and California, with additional
"El Dorado" matter, with several portraits and illustrations,
435 pages, 12mo. muslin, 1 25
SIR JOHN FRANKLIN,
And the Arctic Expeditions, by P. L. Simmonds, 12mo. muslin, 1 25
FRONTIER LIFE,
Or, Scenes and Adventures in the South-west, by F. Hardman,
12mo. muslin, 1 25
INDIAN CAPTIVES,
Or, Life in the Wigwam, being true narratives of Captives who
have been carried away by the Indians from the frontier settlements
of the United States, from the earliest period, by Samuel G.
Drake, 12mo. muslin, 1 25
HISTORY OF THE MORMONS,
Or, Latter Day Saints, with Memoirs of Joe Smith, the "American
Mahomet," illustrated, 1 vol. 12mo. muslin, 1 25
HISTORY OF THE WAR WITH MEXICO,
From the commencement of hostilities with the United States, to
the ratification of peace--embracing detailed accounts of the
brilliant achievements of Generals Taylor, Scott, Worth, Twiggs,
Kearney and others, by John S. Jenkins, 514 pp. large 12mo. 20
illustrations, gilt back, muslin, 1 25
FROST'S PICTORIAL HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA,
Illustrated, 12mo. muslin, 1 50
THRILLING ADVENTURES,
By Land and by Sea, 12mo. muslin, illustrated by J. O. Brayman, 1 25
DARING DEEDS OF AMERICAN HEROES,
12mo. illustrated, by J. O. Brayman, 1 25
WESTERN SCENES,
And Reminiscences, together with thrilling Legends and Traditions of
the Red Man of the Forest, octavo, muslin, 2 50
WILD SCENES OF A HUNTER'S LIFE,
Including Cummings' Adventures among the Lions, Elephants and other
wild Animals of Africa, with 300 illustrations, by John Frost,
LL.D., two colored plates, 1 50
BORDER WARS OF THE WEST,
By Professor Frost, 300 illustrations, octavo, muslin, 2 50
YOUNG'S SCIENCE OF GOVERNMENT,
New and improved edition, 12mo. muslin, 1 00