Scotia! Isn't that delightful? She is just like all the other little
Blossoms, too; troubled with weeds; doesn't like to obey promptly, and
"wants her own sweet little way, sometimes, instead of mamma's." But
like a brave Blossom she is going to try to get rid of these weeds and
grow beautifully for the great Gardener. We welcome you heartily to the
P. S., and hope you will train "Agnes" and "Margaret" so well, that
they will join us very soon.
_May_ from Virginia. Little seven-year-old May flower, I give you
greeting. It is such an easy thing for bright little tongues to "answer
back!" How glad I am that now, while you are so young, you are going to
overcome the bad habit! Why, here is brother Chester in your letter!
We are glad to welcome him. What a large pledge he has taken! Part of
it you are very glad to hear, I know. Chester, my boy, I hope you will
succeed. Write and let me know how you are getting on.
_Edith_ from California. "Selfishness" is a weed which seems to thrive
in a great many States. I am not surprised to hear that California has
its share. Glad you are going to root it from your grounds. I have
ordered the missing number of THE PANSY sent to you.
_Lowrie_ from Washington Territory. So you do not mean the rest of
us shall know what fault you are striving to overcome? Well, never
mind; so that you and Jesus know about it, that is all that is
really necessary. But if you honestly try, there are others who will
know about it. You may not hear them, but they will be saying among
themselves: "How much Lowrie is improving! Don't you know how often he
used to give way to that fault of his? Now he hardly ever does." When
your dear "chubby" fingers get so they can write, send me word how you
are prospering, and whether you find the badge a help.
_Calvert_ from Indiana. Here is a boy who is going to stop "putting
off things." Good! I wish you lived with a boy friend of mine long
enough for him to adopt your resolve. He troubles all his friends so
much with that very habit! Perhaps he will read this letter, and join
you. I am glad you try to increase the circulation of THE PANSY. If
every Blossom on our list should get one new subscriber a year, even,
what a _great_ new garden we should have!
_Nora_ from Minnesota. What sort of a "face" is it, my dear? I suspect,
a cross one; for I know several people who do not like to "practise."
Suppose you resolve to wear a smile, whenever you are told to do that
wearisome thing? In which case, you would be sure to keep your pledge.
Wouldn't you?
_Annie_ from Missouri. Five new subscribers in a week! What a bright
little worker it is! A "quick" temper is not a bad thing to have, when
it is a servant, and not a mistress. So long as you keep it under good
control, it will help you to move quickly, and work quickly, and think
quickly. Did you know that?
_Amy_ from New York. My dear Blossom, I want to preach a little sermon
to you, with one word for a text: PATIENCE. I know you have had to wait
long for the answer to your letter; but what would you do if you were
the editor of a magazine, which was published once a month, and had
room in it for replies to only a dozen or twenty letters each month,
and you received as many as twenty-five a day? You "would make shorter
answers," I think I hear you say. That is a good suggestion; I have
thought about it myself; but there is always so much to say! I am sorry
to hear that you have not kept your pledge very well, but the old motto
which my dear mother used to quote to me, when I was a very little
girl, is a good one for you: "If at first you don't succeed, try, try
again."
_Nellie_ from Maine. So I had the honor of receiving the first letter
you ever wrote! I am pleased with that. A good letter it was, too.
I have just been reading about a little girl in California who has
a habit of fretting; and now I find that they have the same disease
in Maine! Well, I am glad to know that there will be less of it from
this time. It is sometimes very hard work to obey promptly. You will
have to keep careful watch of yourself; but it will be a triumph worth
winning, when you form the habit.
_Winnie_ and _Helen_ from Minnesota. I am always glad to welcome
sisters; for I know how helpful they can be to each other. When we have
two, patient, lady-like, sweet Pansies who speak only gentle words,
how sweet the perfume will be! Perhaps the breath of such flowers will
creep all over the State of Minnesota! You don't think that possible?
Oh, yes indeed. I have known a sweet breath from a little human flower,
reach from New York to China. Try how far you can make your perfume
reach.
_Lucy_ from Massachusetts. Poor fingernails! I am always so sorry for
those faithful friends when they have to be bitten. I will hope for
better times with yours. It is astonishing how many warm friends Nettie
Decker has! She is a favorite of mine, so I am glad you like her. I
read your letter to the author of "My Brainless Acquaintance" and he
expressed much pleasure at the thought that you enjoyed it. I hope you
will give the "baby brother" a kiss for me.
_Margie_ from Massachusetts. That is the trouble, my dear little girl:
So many people are naughty "before they think."
I know of only one way to learn how to think, and that is, to ask Jesus
to keep your thoughts on what he wants you to remember. You must always
remember that it "takes two to make a quarrel;" so if you will not
quarrel with any person, no one can quarrel with you.
_Helen_ and _Frank_ from Maryland. Dear little brother and sister, we
are very glad to receive your names. There are a great many things to
"get mad" over. I heard a little boy say, yesterday, that when he was
in any trouble, he always got mad. I asked if that helped him any, and
he owned that he thought it made the matter worse. It is pleasant to
think that Frank will watch his temper, after this. And as for you,
Helen, I shall expect to hear that you make a great deal of sunshine
from this time.
_Mary_ from Minnesota. Dear little Blossom, with "ever so many bad
habits," what a work you have before you. But if you will hold your
ear close, and not tell anybody, I will whisper a secret to you. Every
little girl I know, has ever so many, also. The difference between
them is only, that some are trying to overcome, and some are not. Let
me tell you that is a _very great difference_; one that will reach all
through life. It is so good to think that our little Mary belongs to
those who are trying.
_Ned_ and _Willie_ from "Home." Well, my dear boys, that was what you
said; and glad am I that you can date your letters from home, but I
wish I knew in what State it was! I might have looked at the envelope,
it is true, but I "forgot" and threw it away. Never mind, _you_ know
where you live, and I hope will never forget that it is the best place
in the world. What a comfort to think of the hats and satchels, and all
the other school belongings carefully put away, instead of being tossed
on a chair, or under the table, or anywhere. Oh! I know all about it.
A boy of my acquaintance pitched his hat into the milk pitcher the
other day! Neither the hat nor the boy felt so well afterwards. As
for that habit of "exaggerating" it is astonishing as well as sad, to
think how it will grow. Not long ago I repeated a remark which a lady
made, who had called on me; I was at once asked where I heard it, and I
mentioned the lady's name. "Oh," said my friend, "that is probably not
true; I have not heard of it, and I think I certainly should have, if
it had been so. As for Miss ----, you cannot credit anything she says."
Then noticing my astonished look, she added earnestly: "I am sorry to
tell you so; but it is the truth. Not that I think she intends to be
false, but she has such a sad habit of exaggerating, that really no one
pretends to believe her stories." Think of it!
_Florence_ from Pennsylvania. A "grumbler" is a very uncomfortable
person, certainly. By all means let us uproot the weed from our Pansy
Beds. Thank your dear mamma for her kind words.
_Willie_ from Minnesota. Oh! I understand all about that habit; it
causes a great deal of annoyance in this world. Only a few minutes ago,
a boy rushed into the room where his mother was engaged with callers,
and shouted, "Mamma, may I go to the lake a little while?" The question
broke into the midst of this sentence which the caller was trying to
say: "What a gentlemanly boy you have, Mrs. ----. I admire his manners
very much!" Don't you think both she and the mother must have _admired_
him at that moment? I congratulate your mother on the pledge you have
taken.
_Mattie_ from New Hampshire. There are a great many faults to struggle
against, it is true; but those who overcome are always those who
earnestly wish to do so. Certainly our Pansies have a great many
ill-treated fingernails! We are glad to hear of improvements in that
direction.
_Belle_ from New York. You have a hard task before you, my dear; I know
by experience how easy it is to speak cross words. But when we remember
how they sting, and what harm they often do, which can never be undone,
we will surely try to give only "soft answers."
_Freddie_ from Connecticut. What a long word you chose to struggle
with--Impulsiveness. I ask a boy, near me, what it means, and he says:
"Oh, it means rushing off to do things, before a fellow knows whether
he ought to, or not." If his definition is good--do you accept it?--I
think you have made a wise pledge.
_Robbie_ from Maine. It is queer how many boys I know who are like my
Pansy Blossoms, scattered all over this big world of ours. A boy friend
of mine hates to go to the post-office at just the time when he ought;
and he so often says, "Won't it do by and by?" that he has earned the
name of "By and by."
_Mabel_ from Pennsylvania. If one only keeps one's eyes wide open, my
dear, it is very easy to see things with which to find fault; it is
wise to learn to shut one's eyes, on occasion, to the faults of others.
I am glad you have taken the pledge. Remember me to your dear mother,
and thank her for her kind words.
_Jessie_ from Missouri. People who are "patient about everything" are
very scarce, and very lovely. I am glad to think of Jessie as trying
for this. By all means "get out" of that habit of which you speak. You
will be a comfort to the teacher as well as a help to your classmates,
if you do. I am sorry you have been sick. Your letter was well written,
and gave me great pleasure.
_Florence_ from Iowa. Did you ever hear of the little girl whose father
gave her a birthday present of a necklace of little thorns, because
her tongue said so many sharp and spiteful words? He told her he had
intended to make the necklace of beautiful beads, but had decided that
thorns would match her style better. Such a necklace would not fit you,
now, would it? I rejoice over your pledge.
_Edwin_ and _Harold_ from Maine. Of course we will receive the little
brother. A boy five years old can keep a pledge as well as an older
person; sometimes better. I hope there will be fewer tears shed in your
home than ever before; also, that my boy Edwin will become noted for
the prompt manner in which he obeys all right calls.
_Maud_ from Pennsylvania. Impatient people are always "nervous;" did
you know it? I had an old aunt who used to say that "nervous" was a
new-fashioned word, which she did not believe in; that in her day, they
called it "cross." That is pretty hard on the nerves, isn't it? I don't
agree with her. Sometimes those nerves twinge in a very disagreeable
manner; but the strong will which they are trying to twist, gets the
better of them, and gentle patience is the result. I hope you will
succeed.
_Beverly_ from Maryland. My boy, you are growing rich, are you not?
So many dear friends already in Heaven, waiting and watching for you.
Would it not be sad if their boy should do anything to grieve them? I
hope your badge will be helpful. I see no sparrows about me, but while
I write, the mocking-birds are singing in the pine trees near by.
_Arthur_ from Pennsylvania. I like your verses very much. As soon as I
have time, I shall copy them for the magazine. I am afraid "Reaching
Out" must close with October, as I have another story waiting, which I
think you boys, particularly, will like quite as well as "Reaching Out."
_Ellen_ from Kansas. It is quite a common thing for people to see the
faults of others, and be blind to their own. Queer, isn't it? Do you
remember the old Scotch poem:
O wad some power the giftie gie us,
To see ourselves as ithers see us!
It wad from mony a blunder free us,
And foolish notion.
There is a wise old man who says that people are pretty sure to see in
others the very failings which they themselves possess. What do you
think of it? I am much interested in your "literary cat." What branch
of study does she appear to be taking up?
_Arthur_ from Tennessee. You had a chance to exercise patience in
waiting for your badge, did you not? I do not know why some of the
badges seem to think they must be so long on the road, unless it is to
help their owners to a little of that quality. Don't you think it is
generally a scarce article with boys?
_Birdie_ from Kentucky. O yes, Birdie, we have a great many Blossoms in
Kentucky, only we have not answered their letters yet. There are many
hundreds still waiting. My dear little girl, do you think one has to
"try" very hard to love such a Friend as Jesus? I suspect you mean that
you have not learned to love Him enough to obey Him perfectly. That is
a hard lesson; it gives me joy to think you are trying to learn it.
_Gertrude_ from Missouri. "Things" seem to be determined to lie around
in the way. All over the country I notice that the P. S. Blossoms have
the same trouble. They will certainly have to be willing to hang on
hooks, and nails, or lie quietly on clothespress shelves; for the P. S.
has gotten hold of them with determined wills. We are glad of a recruit
from Missouri.
_Sallie_ from Massachusetts. I like to hear of an interested reader of
my books, but, Sallie dear, do not let them lead you astray. I once
went to call on a woman who needed help. It was nearly twelve o'clock,
but her breakfast table still stood in the middle of the floor, black
with flies; the little mass of oil in which some of them were drowning,
had once been butter; her baby was playing with the coal hod, and his
face and clothes were the color of it; and everything about the room
was in disorder. The mother sat in the one rocking-chair, wiping her
eyes over a story which she was reading. "I ought to a done up my
work," she said, "but land, I do love to read. I always was literary!"
You will never be such a woman as that! I hear you say. No, I do not
think you will. Especially since you have taken your pledge.
_Helen_ from Missouri. Poor little Blossom! You have had a hard
experience. My heart aches for you; but I am hoping that before
this time you are well. I once knew of a boy who was sent to mend a
sidewalk, and did his work so poorly, that his mother tripped on the
place and broke her limb. I hope no careless boy was the cause of all
your suffering. There is a Bible verse for you; did you know it? Look
at the latter part of Matthew 8:17.
_Susie_ from Ohio. Welcome, little worker. I hope the new society
prospered; let us know how you conduct your meetings, for what are you
working, and all about it. With your dear father and mother waiting for
you in Heaven, you will want to be sure not to disappoint them. I hope
to meet you there.
_Kittie_ and _France_ from New York. To "obey promptly" and to avoid
all words and ways which come under the head of "contradicting" are
very important things to accomplish. May you and "little sister" be
great helps to each other. I am glad you like "Grandma Burton."
_Charlie_ from Missouri. There was no trouble in reading your letter,
Charlie. I wish all my correspondents would write as plainly. Oh poor
birds! Don't neglect them. If they could fly away in the free air, I
think they would feed themselves; but since they can't, help them. As
for the wood, perhaps it would come in of its own accord if it had
feet. Who knows? But since it hasn't, Charlie must be brisk feet for
it. "Do with your might what your hands find to do." Isn't that a good
motto?
_Millie_ from Pennsylvania. I am sorry you had such long waiting for
your badges. Your first letter must have gone a journey around the
world, for I have never seen it. However, I hope it has all been made
right at last. If I were not so far away, I would be tempted to accept
your kind invitation for Saturday afternoon, but I fear I could not get
back in time for Sabbath school, next day!
_Maud_ from Pennsylvania. So you "talk too loud!" Well, you have plenty
of company. I know a boy who has to be reminded several times a day,
that none of his friends are deaf. Are you ever just a trifle out of
patience when your voice is loud? It affects some people in that way.
_Lew_ from Pennsylvania. It is my opinion that a boy who has been
"good" for two or three days, can be good the rest of the time. Don't
you think so? Try it, my boy. Watch that tongue, for it is a good
friend, and a dangerous enemy.
DEAR PANSY:
Nearly two years ago I was visiting a friend in East St. Louis, and
she showed me THE PANSY, and mamma liked it so well she said I might
subscribe for it, and you cannot imagine how I have enjoyed it. I take
the _St. Nicholas_ also. Now, dear Pansy, I am going to confide to you
my great fault, which is not putting things in their places. It worries
mamma and it worries everybody around the house to see my cap in one
place, my cloak in another, my skates in another. I will promise to
keep the pledge and always keep the Whisper Motto in mind, for nothing
can be done without Jesus' help. I would like a badge. I have no little
brothers or sisters, and as none of my little friends take THE PANSY, I
cannot get up a society.
From a loving and constant reader,
CORA M. CASS.
DEAR PANSY:
I am a little girl nine years old. Sometimes I am very thoughtless,
and that is what I got my badge in August for. I think it has helped
me some. The Whisper Motto, "For Jesus' Sake," has helped me a heap. I
think THE PANSY is the best magazine I ever saw. "Little Fishers and
their Nets" is the nicest story I ever read. I have two little sisters,
Daisy, six years old, and Alice, three years old.
My father went to heaven last spring. He caught cold while preaching.
Excuse this writing with pencil, but the ink is frozen, for we had
_very_ cold weather. With much love,
One of your Little Southern Blossoms,
CORA STRONG.
DEAR PANSY:
I have been very much interested in reading the little letters from
different children, and I thought I would write too. May I tell you
something about myself? I have had spinal disease for years, and am
obliged to lie in bed all the time.
I am in a hospital where are many children; those who are able to be
up, go to school in the mornings, and in the afternoon the teacher
comes up stairs to give little lessons to those who are in bed.
The children have books, toys, games, and hobby horses. The girls like
to play "hospital," with their dollies, and have two or three boys for
doctors. The dolls are treated as though they really felt sick; and the
young doctors pretend to give them ether, before they perform their
surgical operations! It is quite funny to see how the very little boys
and girls will imitate doctors and nurses.
The children have a little society called the "Ready-To-Help." Sometime
I will tell you of some of the things which its members do to help.
Your loving BLOSSOM.
DEAR PANSY:
There is one Fault I want to over come and when i have any thing and
when i have anything to put it back where i got it from, and not to
laugh and talk i Sunday school and when i pull of my hat at night, i
cant find it next morning.
From your friend
ARCHER E. BANKS.
DEAR PANSY:
We have a beautiful Pansy bed. We have about twenty-five Blossoms. Some
are big, and some are little; some are golden color, and some are deep
purple. When the Pansies meet, the Vice-President takes the P. S. roll
book, goes to each Blossom and gets the record for the month. I have
promised to be patient, and to speak kindly. Willie's pledge was to try
to keep his temper; and his record was: "I forgot a few times, but it
helped; and I mean to try harder." One dark Pansy promised to brush her
teeth at least once a day, and not to be selfish.
The garden is growing very nicely; by and by we are going to plant new
seeds. The last time we met we played a nice game; we all stood around
the table, and fished with poles. The wee Blossoms were very much
delighted.
Good-by,
PRESIDENT HATTIE.
DEAR PANSY:
As you seem to have room in your heart for all little girls, I will be
one of the number. I enjoy your magazine very much. I am a cripple;
I was injured by falling through a sidewalk. I had to lie in bed for
thirteen months with a nine-pound weight attached to my limb, and it
bandaged to a board. I have tried to be patient. Words of sympathy
from my friends do me a great deal of good. I had a dream about you
last night; I thought you were talking about "Little Fishers and their
Nets." I do think Nettie Decker is the nicest and best Christian girl I
ever knew! I don't admire "Lorena Barstow," but mamma says she is sorry
to say there are many little girls like her. Dear Pansy, won't you come
and see me? I will meet you at the train and take you to my home.
Your little friend, HELEN.
_DEAR MRS ALDEN_
_I AM A LITTLE GIRL SIX YEARS OLD I AM GOING TO TRY NOT TO BE SO CROSS
MAY I HAVE A BADGE_
_ADA MAUD GUNNING_
[Illustration: KISS]
DEAR PANSY:
Mamma says I ought to tell you at the commencement that I am eleven
years old, but a poor penman, and she is afraid you cannot read my
letter, but I will try and do my best. I have taken THE PANSY for two
years, and enjoy it very much. I get so interested in "Reaching Out"
that I am almost impatient for the numbers to come. After reading them,
I send them away in our mission barrel to the children in Utah. I would
like to keep them; but mamma thinks we ought to let some one else enjoy
them. I have read nearly all your books. From reading "Pocket Measure"
I learned how nice it was to give. Mamma especially likes "Mrs. Solomon
Smith."
I would like to join the P. S. I have tried for a week to decide on
the fault that I needed most to overcome; but I do not know which one
it is, I have so many. (It seems to me as though every one else had
but one fault.) I know one of mine is not obeying quickly, when mamma
speaks. I would rather read your books and magazine than do my work. I
_do_ like to read very much. Another fault is a quick temper. I pray
over my faults and try to overcome them; I want to lead my dear friends
to the Saviour, but I have so many faults! I think I will wear my badge
for them all. I have a picture of you; papa is going to have it framed
for me to hang in my room. Lovingly, SALLIE.
"UP HILL AND DOWN DALE."
ANOTHER new book! It is astonishing how many beautiful books these
Pansies seem to think they need. Well, "Up Hill and Down Dale" is
delightful enough to make your eyes shine. Two hundred pages, and
numberless pictures, one of which I put before you.
The book is written by Laura D. Nichols; and those of the Pansies who
have read her "Overhead" and "Underfoot," need no further introduction
to this book. They know they will like it. For the rest of you, you
need to get acquainted with sweet, womanly little Nelly Marlow, and
her good brother Harry. You want to know how they went to the country,
leaving Harry behind to be brave and manly at his uncle's; how Nelly
cared for her mother's breakfast, and even, with "Miss Gage's" help,
went into the furniture business, and manufactured a lovely table for
the somewhat barely furnished room.
This is only a hint of her helpfulness, and her wise sweet ways. Plenty
of fun she had, too; and a most astonishing way of making friends with
everybody, and having unexpectedly good times because they liked to
have her with them. Just let me give you a taste of one of the days
which her good friend Dave planned for her:
"'Say, Nelly,' he began, 'do you want to go up to Hackmatack to-morrow?'
"'Of course I do!' cried she; 'who's going?'
"'Well, Abner is, an' I be, an' Sam, an' Sam's father. There's an ol'
house an' barn half-way up the mounting, where 'Siah Buckman's folks
used to live, an' they're all gone out West, an' Abner an' Sam's
father have bought the standin' grass on the halves, an' we're goin' up
to cut it. Miss Gage said she'd like to go, if you would, an' there's
a woman an' her boy boardin' at Sam's an' mebbe they'll go too. You
could take your dinner and have a kind of a picnic.'
[Illustration: IN SAP TIME.--_From "Up Hill and Down Dale."_]
"'O, that would be perfectly lovely!' cried Nelly. 'I'm so glad you
thought of it. I'll go and ask mother now. Good-night, aunty, I'll
come and tell you all about it, if we go.'