interested in it all. I have known a number of wise small people
who, like yourself, made a great deal of trouble for themselves and
their best friends, by trying to have their own way. It is generally
a foolish thing to do. You must remember that it is not only “poor
people” who are in need of kind acts and words. Some of the most
unhappy persons I ever met, had plenty of money. What they needed was
sympathy, and a few gentle, helpful words.
_Carrie_ from Indian Territory. My dear Blossom, struggling with your
little garden away off from us, how glad we were to hear from you! It
is the same old story, though, which we hear from all over the country;
cross little tongues, speaking words that hurt, and for which they are
sorry afterwards, and all because Dame Passion gets hold of them, and
for the time makes them her slaves! Little Pixie too has her troubles.
It is very hard not to be selfish; especially if we are surrounded by
grown people who have been at work for a long time, teaching us to be
selfish, by giving up everything for our pleasure. And there is little
brother Tippie, wanting his own way, dreadfully! What busy gardeners
you will have to be working at all these weeds! If you were to sit down
and let them grow, I am afraid your buds would soon be choked. I am
glad you are not going to do this.
_Amelia_ from Indian Territory. What a beautiful pledge you have taken!
If you “do your duty in all things as long as you live,” you will be
sure to be one of whom I can be always proud. I should like to hear
from you often; and will always be glad to receive from you the history
of some of your “kind words” spoken for Jesus’ sake.
_Walter_ from New York. It was a grand idea to join us on your
birthday. I think the “lessons” must have felt the influence of that
pledge. To be as good a boy as one can, is promising a great deal, but
not too much if one is in tremendous earnest, as I think you are. We
enroll your name with pleasure.
_Mary_ from Vermont. I like your pledge; so many people ask useless
questions, wasting their time, and the patience of their friends, it is
well to break the habit while you are young. A gentleman called on me
the other day who had the same habit; he asked half a dozen questions,
any one of which he might have answered for himself if he had used his
eyes, and after sitting for half an hour, he turned to me and asked
three of them over again!
_Mary_ from New Hampshire. Your promise covers a great deal of ground.
If you keep it, you will be a true woman as long as you live. I like
your verses, and will print them in THE PANSY as soon as we have room.
I hope you find your badge helpful.
_Grace_ from New York. I could not have received the letter you
mention. I am glad you wrote again. What a large pledge you have taken!
To “do better in everything,” is surely worth one’s while. Your society
needs no name but P. S. We are all branches of the great Pansy Society
which reaches all over the country.
_Sarah_ from New York. We are glad to welcome you; may you be
successful in your efforts, as you surely will be if you live by the
Whisper Motto.
_Clara_ from Nebraska. I found your letter so full of helpful hints, my
dear, that I have copied from it for the magazine. I am glad you find
the badge a help.
_Josephine_, _Josephine_, _Mary_, _Robbie_, from New York. A bouquet of
Blossoms pledged to do battle against the weeds in their heart-gardens.
May you all succeed, and be fragrant flowers that shall give pleasure
wherever you go, and bloom forever in the garden above. This is Pansy’s
prayer for all her Blossoms.
_Florence_ from Ohio. The author of “My Brainless Acquaintance” sends
you thanks for your kind opinion of him. He will try to interest you
again. I am glad you find THE PANSY helpful in school. Look out for
some lovely recitations in it.
_Lillia_ from Connecticut. I hope the badges have been made right long
ago. I do not remember about it now, but I suppose the delay came from
getting out of badges. So many P. S. Blossoms sprang up at once all
over the country, that the first we knew, they had gotten ahead of us.
I am much interested in your society, and would like to hear from it
again. I will quote from your letter for the magazine, that some other
Pansies may get a hint from it how to employ their time.
_Mabel_ from Dakota. You have a great deal of company, my dear Mabel,
in the matter of wanting your own way. So that you are sure it is the
_right_ way, I don’t believe anybody will object. Shall I tell you how
to be sure of getting it? Have your way always _exactly_ what will most
honor Jesus.
_Claude_ from New York. Yes, I was once in Castile, and at Miss
Green’s; I loved her dearly, and owe her a great debt of gratitude.
I shall certainly come and see you if I visit your town. I think I
would like about a bushel of those “black caps.” So your hasty temper
troubles you? Temper is a very good thing if we put it under the right
Master. Take yours to Him, and ask Him to guard it for you.
_Pearl_ from Indiana. My dear, I think you must have a lovely walk
through the woods to school. I am glad you have decided to have
nothing to do with cards; I once heard a good man say: “They belong
to the enemy’s country; they gather under the flag which is a sign
of rebellion to King Jesus, so I will have nothing to do with them.”
I think that would be a very good rule for the Pansies to follow.
Whatever Satan makes marked use of, to injure others, I will not touch.
_Lita_ from Illinois. I hope you will succeed in overcoming the fault.
There is a sense in which it makes no difference whether or not I know
its name. You know, and Jesus knows; but if the Pansies choose to tell
us, it sometimes helps others.
_Alice and Emma_ from Wisconsin. Since you are dear friends, and wrote
me together, you will let me reply in the same way. I am glad to
welcome you both to our P. S. Glad also to hear that you both love and
serve the Lord Jesus. I hope your lives will be full of fragrance, and
suggest His name to all who know you.
_Jennie_ from Connecticut. I don’t know when I have enjoyed a story
more than the pleasant one you wrote me about that industrious
society. It told me a great many things; among others, that you have
dear helpful mothers, and friends. What should we do in this world
without the mothers who stand ready to help every effort of ours toward
usefulness, or right living? I hope you heard from the dolls. Write and
tell us how they were enjoyed.
_Milly_ from Pennsylvania. What a very fine beginning of a library you
have! I wish you had told us how you managed the books and what class
of books you had. How do you raise your money? When you hear from some
of those colored schools, will you tell us what they said to the help
you sent them?
_Hermon_ from Massachusetts. Prompt obedience is a very important habit
to form. It is a pleasure to me to notice how many young people are
resolved upon cultivating it. I think “Moses” has a responsible life to
live if he is to do honor to his name. I am not sure but “Aaron” was
wise in running away. At least, one can overlook running away from duty
when it is only a dog; but what shall be said of a boy or girl who does
the same?
_Finice_ from Kentucky. Is that the right name? I am not sure. “Hard
lessons” make a great deal of trouble in this world; but I know a
secret about them: they become easy as soon as they are learned; so
for one’s own sake it is worth while to overcome them. Sometimes,
schoolmates are very provoking, and it is hard to keep one’s temper
with them; but the boy or girl who does it soon acquires an influence
over his mates that others cannot have. I hope you know where to look
for help in keeping these pledges?
_Fannie_ from Kentucky. Do you think “all” little girls would really
like to overcome their faults? I have seen some young people whose
gravest fault seemed to me to be that they cared very little about
improving their habits, or getting control of their tongues or tempers.
I welcome you as one who is not of that company.
_Chester_ from Oregon. A “treasurer” is a very important officer in the
P. S., my boy, provided they have any money to care for; and most of
the societies have. They contrive ways of earning money, to spend in
benevolent work of some sort. It depends entirely on yourselves how you
will raise money, to what you will devote it, and how you will manage
your society. As a rule, the one who secures subscribers and starts a
club, becomes president; but if he, or she, thinks some other person
would make a better officer, one can be elected from the membership. I
like your pledge. The truth is, a boy who has a good mother, and who
always minds her promptly, is sure to be a boy to honor.
_Lois_ from Kentucky. “Cross” words make a great deal of trouble in
this world. Did you ever notice that they not only hurt the ones to
whom they are spoken, and the ones who hear them, but also those who
speak them! What a pity to cling to a habit which hurts in every
direction! I am glad you are going to be free.
_Lillie_, _Edna_, _Harry_, _Walter_, _Rose_, _Thad_, from Kansas. A
full bouquet which bloomed together! We welcome you, every one. Let
me see what weeds are to be rooted out; “Getting angry and answering
back,” “Forgetting work,” “Carelessness,” “Speaking cross words,”
“Being too noisy.” Just imagine what earnest work will have to be done
in getting rid of all these choking weeds! Besides these, one Blossom
is going to keep careful watch over a set of pearls which have been
given her for her own use. She knows that if she takes proper care
of them they will be beautiful and helpful all her life; and that if
she neglects them, they will become her enemies. I wish you all great
success, and will hope to hear from you.
_Freddie_ from New York. So you have a watch to prove to you what a
little persevering work will accomplish? Good! The people who get
discouraged seldom accomplish much. I hope your temper will, after
this, keep as good time as your watch; and that you will be as prompt
to follow orders as _it_ is to tick. My boy, you have a special work to
do for your mother, in trying to fill your dear father’s place as much
as you can. I hope you will be one of her greatest blessings.
_Mattie and Philemon_ from Georgia. A “careless” Blossom and an
“impatient” one starting together! Good! I fancy that the careless ways
may sometimes provoke the impatient words; and so you two can surely
help each other. We shall hope to hear of your great success.
_Frank_ from Massachusetts. “Kind words” are needed everywhere, my
boy; but I do not know that they will do more good anywhere than at
school among the scholars. I have often wondered at the rough words I
heard floating out on the air as I passed playgrounds. If one boy sets
an example of kindness and courtesy to all the young people around
him, who can tell how the habit may spread, and cause many Blossoms to
spring up?
_Davenport_ from Massachusetts. Glad to welcome you; I hope your badge
is helping you in all the ways in which you need help. Thank your kind
sister for writing in your name. I think she is a very excellent writer
for one so young. Let me hear what you are doing, in which your badge
has been a help.
_Arthur_ from New Jersey. Ever so many people “don’t want to do the
thing which they ought next to do.” Did you know that? the great
difference between them is, that some people seize hold of the thing
they didn’t want to do, and do it; while some growl around, or whine
around, and leave it undone as long as they can. I am glad to know you
are, from this time, to belong to the first class.
_Robbie_ from New York. I am very glad to welcome you to the P. S. I
am much interested in the club of which you are a member, and would be
glad to hear from it from time to time. You did not give me the special
habit which you are trying to conquer, but I suppose you know, very
well, which it is, and are doing brave work over it.
_Florence_ from New York. When you “get the better” of your temper,
and are its mistress instead of being controlled by it, what a happy
Blossom you will be! Some people do not think this can be done, but
I am sure it can by any one who truly wishes to do so, and seeks and
finds the right sort of help.
_Kimball_ from Illinois. Welcome to our garden. “Talking back” is a
weed which chokes many flowers; quite hides their sweetness oftentimes.
Root it out. Thank you for the kind invitation. I should like to accept
it, but fear I will not have time. Will you give my love to grandma,
and all the dear ones, and thank them for their kind words to me?
EXTRACTS FROM PANSY LETTERS.
DEAR PANSY:
I would like to become a member of the P. S. I am a little girl seven
years old. My mamma is an invalid and I am hands and feet for her as
she sits in her invalid chair. I have a brother and sister in Heaven.
My little sister Nellie was four years and a half old when she died.
She would have made a good member of the P. S., for mamma says she took
for her motto in everything, “For Jesus’ sake.” One day, before she was
sick, she said to mamma, “Me do love Jesus _so_ much, mamma, me want
to go see Him, and sing praise to Him.” Then she would hold out her
little arms, as though she was reaching up to some one, and ask mamma
when she thought God would send for her. One morning after looking at a
sunrise, she said, “Mamma, it looks like the golden streets of Heaven.”
I wanted to write to you about this little sister, for I thought she
would have made such a dear little Pansy. Now she is a Blossom in God’s
garden.
I live on a farm, but it is right by a little village. I play with
lambs, and ducks, and calves. My chickens follow me around and get
under my feet sometimes, so I can scarcely walk. I can pick them up and
pat them, any time. I wish to overcome two bad habits: selfishness and
whining. I had a gold ring to help me keep from whining; I had it last
fall, and it cured me until this spring; then the habit come back so
bad I had to give mamma the ring. Now I am going to try what the badge
and motto will do. I’ve tried the motto before, and it _always_ helped.
But someway, dear Pansy, I do not always keep hold of the Help. Mamma
says she thinks it might do grown people good to belong to a Pansy
Society. We have a great many of your books in our home. Mamma gets a
new one every year; we lend them to people to read. I hope I have not
tired you with my letter.
Yours, truly and lovingly,
BLANCHE PERKINS.
======
DEAR PANSY:
We are two little brothers away down in Va. We have taken THE PANSY for
four years. We like it more and more, and we love you very much. We
have two bad habits. We don’t keep things in place and we dispute with
each other. We found a bumblebee’s house in a part of an old barn. It
had fifteen apartments and two ways of entering them. The doors were
little round caps which looked something like stiff, dark brown paper.
Our love for you and all the Blossoms.
Your little Pansies,
DAVIS WILSON.
R. P. WILSON.
======
DEAR PANSY:
The boys in our society are making banners and books for the children
in the hospital. The girls are sewing dresses for the little orphans
who are found; they have hardly any clothes to cover them when they are
found. Our Sunday-school teacher has taken a great deal of interest
in our society. She has given us twenty-three books, and a great many
cards. We have learned a good many missionary hymns from the cards.
We have a library of sixty-three books; and a friend is going to give
us some more. We meet every Saturday at my house; we are going to use
our money to help provide schools for little colored children. There
are about thirty members of our society. We all want to see you; we
wish you would come and visit us. We will be much obliged to see you
any Saturday between half-past two and half-past five. I must bid you
good-by.
Your faithful friend,
MILLY.
======
DEAR PANSY:
I would like to join the P. S. And I will try to overcome the habit
of talking back. I am afraid I will have hard work and will need much
help. I have taken THE PANSY for four years, and I like it ever so
much. I like “Reaching Out” the best of all. Mother thinks “Hedge
Fence” was the best, for boys. I have been in school for two winters. I
am nine years old. I belong to a Bible class.
With a little of grandma’s help, I got ten new subscribers for THE
PANSY. When you go West, won’t you stop off and make us a visit?
Because you would find lots of friends here. There are four of us in
this family, grandma, papa, mamma, and I. And we will all be glad to
see you. We all feel acquainted with you, because we have two of your
pictures, and lots of your books.
Mamma says if I am a Pansy I must be a bronze one. Can you guess why?
Some time I will tell you “Where I Went and What I Saw,” in a summer
trip; but this summer I am to be one of the “stay at homes.”
Your friend,
KIMBALL GREENOUGH.
======
DEAR PANSY:
In “Where I Went, and What I Saw,” you once told about some Bible
verses, the first letters of which would spell “Our Sabbath School.”
I thought I would find some like them:—
O righteous Father, the world hath not known
thee; but I have known thee; and these
have known that thou hast sent me.—_John_
xvii:25.
U nderstanding is a wellspring of life unto
him that hath it: but the instruction of
fools, is folly.—_Proverbs_ xvi:22.
R emember the word that I said unto you,
The servant is not greater than his lord.—_John_
xv:20.
S uffer the little children to come unto me,
and forbid them not, for of such is the
kingdom of God.—_Mark_ x:14.
A bide in me and I in you; as the branch
cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide
in the vine; no more can ye, except ye
abide in me.—_John_ xv:4.
B ehold what manner of love the Father hath
bestowed upon us that we should be called
the sons of God.—_1 John_ iii:1.
B y this we know that we love the children
of God, when we love God, and keep His
commandments.—_1 John_ v:2.
A s the Father hath loved me, so have I loved
you. Continue ye in my love.—_John_
xv:9.
T hese things have I spoken unto you, that
my joy might remain in you, and that your
joy might be full.—_John_ xv:11.
H erein is my Father glorified that ye bear
much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.—_John_
xv:8.
S tudy to show thyself approved unto God;
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.—_2
Tim._ ii:15.
C ome unto me all ye that labor and are heavy-laden,
and I will give you rest.—_Matt._
xi:28.
H enceforth I call you not servants, for the
servant knoweth not what his lord doeth:
but I have called you friends.—_John_ xv:15.
O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth
in thee.—_Psalms_ lxxxiv:12.
O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou
doubt?—_Matt._ xiv:31.
L et not your heart be troubled: ye believe
in God, believe also in me.—_John_ xiv:1.
ARTHUR W. FISHER.
DEAR PANSY:
I am trying to overcome my habits very hard. My great fault is to get
mad so easy. And sometimes I pout when I get mad. I go off by myself,
often, and ask the Lord to help me to quit such a habit. Please help me
to overcome such a fault. Now my little sister Pixie wants to belong
to our Band. Her fault is selfishness; she thinks she ought to have
everything that is pretty. She tries to tear my PANSIES every time
she gets them. Still, she loves to read them. Mamma and I think they
are ever so nice. I won’t let Pixie have my PANSIES because I want to
keep them nice; she says mamma ought to subscribe for her. I hope she
will grow better as she grows older; she is very young. Now my brother
Tippie, he wants to join us; he is so contrary, he don’t know what to
do. But mamma says he isn’t contrary with anybody but Pixie and me.
Please let me have a letter of my own from you.
I am your little eight-year-old
CHEROKEE BLOSSOM.
======
DEAR PANSY:
I like our magazine very much. I am eleven years old. I recited a piece
at school that I learned from THE PANSY. It was very much liked. I
am going to have my magazines bound. I like the story “My Brainless
Acquaintance” almost better than anything else. My little sister enjoys
the pictures. I thought the last number was _never_ going to come!
Don’t you think a month is a long time to wait? Good-by.
FLORENCE ROBINSON.
A FAMILY FLIGHT THROUGH SPAIN.
DID you carefully read what I said about the Horners in their flight
through Egypt and Syria? And do you remember it in detail, as to price,
appearance, etc? No, of course you don’t. Who ever heard of these giddy
girls and boys remembering anything for a month? Oh! Oh! I can hear
your indignant voices. Well, that is too bad; and I believe in my heart
as many of you as sent for the book and read it, have a very vivid and
delightful memory of the family and their experiences. But for the
benefit of the new Pansies, and of those who could not or did not
send for the other book, let me introduce you to this one by the same
authors, and offer it to you on the same excellent terms: one dollar
and twenty cents, if you are willing to have it bound in boards, and
one dollar and fifty cents if you want it in cloth. Remember, that is
a dollar cheaper than any others can get it; a special offer to the
members of the P. S.
I had no idea that Spain was so interesting a country until I travelled
with the Horners. I think now that it makes a very great difference
about one’s enjoyment in travelling, who their companions are. I am
very fond of Bessie Horner, and for that matter of Tommy himself, while
Mr. Hervey is fully as good a friend of mine as he is of the other
travellers. This beautiful book which gives the story of the flight
through Spain, is very fully illustrated, giving one an excellent
idea of the country, its birds, its fruits, its buildings, etc. For
instance, take this description of
THE ALHAMBRA.
Under the Moors, the Alhambra was the scene of many romantic events,
the legends connected with which still people its courts with phantoms.
The road leading up from the hotel to the entrance is shaded with tall
trees, and the water trickles down the side, making the grass fresh
and green. The walls are of a beautiful red or orange color, which is
shared by the soil; this alone gives a glowing aspect to the scene.
The chief place of entrance is called the Gate of Justice. It is more
than a gate, being a square tower, the upper part of which contains
rooms where people live. Their little flower pots filled with bright
blossoms, stand on the ledge of the window. The horseshoe arch of
entrance is below; for as the ground is terraced, the level of the
palace is above that of the arch, and is approached by an ascent, and a
staircase within the tower.
[Illustration: COURT OF LIONS. (_From Family Flight through Spain._)]
Over this arch there is carved an outstretched hand pointing upward, to
avert the evil eye; over the second one a key is sculptured; a symbol
of the power of the prophet to open and shut the gates of heaven. The
passages within the tower wind about under several arches, until they
lead out and up to the walled-in plateau, on which the Alhambra
stands. A little farther on is another gateway, and building, called
the Puerto del Vino; it formerly contained a Mihrab, or Moorish chapel.
From the high terrace near these two gates is a lovely view across the
deep ravine to the Sierra Nevada, always slightly touched with snow,
and taking on beautiful lights, according to the time of day: dark blue
in the morning, and, as evening approaches, roseate; for in addition to
the sunset tints, the natural color of the soil and stone make the tone
of the range warm and rich. Here opens a large plaza, called the Place
of the Cisterns, on one side of which is the Alcazaba, or fortress,
with its dismantled castle, while opposite it appears the palace of
Charles the Fifth, which he began to build, but never finished. He
destroyed the greater part of the beautiful winter palace of the Moors,
to make room for his own, and afterward abandoned his plan, leaving
the unfinished ruin, with open arches, staring to the sky. It is said
that earthquakes discouraged him from going on with his palace. There
are planted garden beds, and walks leading along the side of it, to a
plain, unadorned wall, through which a door leads to the real glories
of the Alhambra.
Here found themselves one morning, Mr. Horner and Miss Lejeune, Bessie
and Tommy; Bessie grumbling, as usual, at Charles the Fifth, and
Ferdinand and Isabella, who have left their traces so often in the
destruction of Moorish ornament.
“I do believe,” said Bessie, “that Isabella herself rode on a whitewash
brush!”
“Perhaps she was the—
Old woman, old woman, said I,
To sweep the cobwebs from the sky!“
said Tommy.