Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.
[Illustration: SPARKLING GEMS
BY MRS. MADELINE LESLIE.]
Gem of Neatness:
OR,
THE COUSINS.
BY
MRS. MADELINE LESLIE
"Let all things be done decently and in order."—I COR 14:40.
BOSTON:
ANDREW F. GRAVES.
20 CORNHILL.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872,
BY A. R. BAKER, D.D.
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
J. D. Flagg & Co.
51 Walter and 57 Congress Sta.
Boston.
LIST
OF
SPARKLING GEMS
FOR YOUTH.
SERIES FOR GIRLS.
VOL. I. GEM OF COURTESY.
VOL. II. GEM OF COURAGE.
VOL. III. GEM OF FAITHFULNESS.
VOL. IV. GEM OF NEATNESS.
VOL. V. GEM OF TRUTHFULNESS.
VOL. VI. GEM OF EARNESTNESS.
LIST
OF
SPARKLING GEMS
FOR YOUTH.
SERIES FOR BOYS.
VOL. I. GEM OF UPRIGHTNESS.
VOL. II. GEM OF SELF-DENIAL.
VOL. III. GEM OF PERSEVERANCE.
VOL. IV. GEM OF TEMPERANCE.
VOL. V. GEM OF SELF-CONTROL.
VOL. VI. GEM OF GENEROSITY.
DEDICATION.
MY DEAR LITTLE HARRY:
I HAVE DEDICATED THESE SMALL VOLUMES TO YOU,
PRAYING THAT THE GEMS OF WHICH THEY TREAT, MAY
ADORN YOUR CROWN IN THE CORONATION DAY OF CHRIST'S
BELOVED.
Your affectionate grandmother,
THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE.
THE author of these volumes recently attended the commencement of a
seminary, in which sparkling crowns were placed on the heads of such of
the graduates as had been distinguished for diligence, faithfulness,
neatness and other virtues. Being very much pleased with the design,
I have appropriated the idea in these small volumes.
On the illuminated title page, the teacher and pupils appear. He holds
up to their view a sparkling gem, just taken from his cabinet. We may
imagine him explaining to them, that these precious stones are used in
the Bible as emblems of the different graces which adorn the character
of Christians, even as God says: these graces "shall be as the stones
of a crown," put upon their heads.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. EMILY'S BUREAU
CHAPTER II. OLD FRIENDS
CHAPTER III. MILLY'S ARRIVAL
CHAPTER IV. MILLY AT PRAYERS
CHAPTER V. MILLY AT TABLE
CHAPTER VI. MILLY'S REQUEST
CHAPTER VII. GRANDMA'S ARRIVAL
CHAPTER VIII. THE MISSIONARIES
CHAPTER IX. ORDER FROM CONFUSION
CHAPTER X. MILLY'S CHAMBER
CHAPTER XI. A DRIVE TO THE BEACH
CHAPTER XII. MILLY'S ESCAPE
GEM OF NEATNESS.
CHAPTER I.
EMILY'S BUREAU.
MRS. MORGAN stood at the door of her little daughter's chamber, a
bright smile of satisfaction illumining her countenance. Presently she
stepped back into the hall, and, leaning over the balustrade, called
out:
"Cousin Mary, come up here a moment."
A light step on the stairs, and cousin Mary stood by her side.
"This is Emily's room," said her mamma—"just as she left it for school.
Everything has a place, and is in its place."
Mrs. Roby, who was cousin Mary, entered the neat chamber, her eyes
beaming with pleasure.
"It looks just like Emily," she said in an enthusiastic tone.
"See! That book-rack,—How very even the row of volumes, and not one
speck of dust on them;—and this tiny vase, with one carnation-pink!
Priscilla, your daughter is a jewel of a girl as our old Pat used to
say. Her habit of neatness and order will be worth a fortune to her."
"She is naturally neat and orderly," added Mrs. Morgan. "When she was
not more than three years old, she used to want to help when I dusted
the parlors. I always take that duty on myself, you know. So Emily must
have an old veil tied over her golden curls, because mamma wore a veil
to keep off the dust; and she must have a piece of silk for a duster.
It was too funny to see her fly from one chair to another, just as soon
as I had dusted it, and rub, rub, with all her strength."
"Does she take the entire care of her room?"
"Yes, now she does," answered mamma. "Hannah used to open the bed, and
turn the mattress; but she was so anxious to do it all; and sometimes
she had to wait for Hannah to get through with other work, so her
father had the mattress carried to the upholsterer's, and cut in two
parts. She can lift it now without any difficulty."
While Mrs. Morgan was speaking, her cousin had gone toward the bureau,
and with her hands on the knobs of the upper drawer asked:
"May I look?"
"Certainly."
It was, indeed, a beautiful sight. A box in one of the front corners
contained a pile of pocket handkerchiefs. Another at the left was
filled with ribbons of various colors used for her hair and her neck.
Each piece was rolled up nicely and laid by itself. Then there was a
tiny box, holding a pretty brooch,—her last birthday gift from papa. A
black silk apron and two or three white ones neatly folded lay at the
back part of the drawer.
The next two contained different kinds of under clothes, each variety
in a pile by itself.
"She puts everything away herself," explained her mamma. "Hannah lays
her clean clothes on the bed, as they come up from the wash; and when
she comes home she takes care of them without being reminded to do so.
But look here?"
The lady opened the underdrawer, and displayed a beautiful wax doll
covered with a small quilt pieced from tiny scraps of bright-colored
silk. Miss Rose Standish lay with a sweet smile on her round face; and
well she might smile, for there within her reach at the back part of
the drawer was every thing in the shape of a wardrobe which the most
extravagant dolly could desire. There was a set of white furs, muff and
tippet to match; and another set of gray with the cunningest little
wristers you ever saw. There were hats with plumes, and hats with
velvet trimmings, and sacks, and skirts, and shoes and parasol to shade
the little Miss from the sun. Oh, it would be easier to tell what there
was not!
"It's a perfect show," exclaimed Mrs. Roby. "It's as good as Barnum's
baby show. I wonder what aunt Lydia will say to it."
"The best of it is," added mamma, "that she has made the most of the
clothes herself. I used to cut and baste for her; but of late, she has
had a pattern and cut them herself. Her father says he hopes she will
play with dolls till she is married. He is enthusiastic on the subject.
Why, you'd laugh to hear him talk. He believes that, the dressing and
undressing of dolls, and disciplining them, as Emily does hers, is
the very best preparation for the duties of a mother that a child can
possibly have. He would give Emily any amount of money she would ask to
buy materials to make up for Miss Rose. By and by, I must tell you a
story about that gray set of furs."
"Tell me now, please. I'm sure," added Mrs. Roby laughing, "if I had
ever disbelieved in hereditary traits, I would give up my doubts after
this."
"What do you mean?"
"Why from the stories I've heard Aunt Lydia tell about you, I think
Emily is just her mamma over again."
"Yes, I used to be ridiculously fond of dolls, there is no denying it;
but in those days, a wax doll was a thing unknown. My best doll was
a beauty though. She had eyes that shone like diamonds, and painted
curls. I used to call her Esther, after Queen Esther, I suppose; and I
was very proud of her."