Happy Hearts

CHILDREN'S BOOK COLLECTION LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES

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HAPPY HEAETS

BY JUKE ISLE.

CINCINNATI: PUBLISHED BY POE E. P.

&

HITCHCOCK.

THOMPSON, PBINTEB.

Entered, according to Act of Congress,

in

the year 1864.

BY POE & HITCHCOCK, ID the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United State for the

Southern District of Ohio.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER. I.

WHOM

II. FRITZ

III.

IV.

PAGE.

HAVE WE ALWAYS DEAD, YET LIVES

9

29

How? ANSWERED

41

WHAT THE

47

STARS SAW

HAPPY HEARTS.

CHAPTER

I.

WHOM HAVE WE ALWAYS. R. and Mrs. .

(

Payson had three

.little children, ^j

who were

very dear to , them, and whom -,

they amused

many

and instructed

in

pleasant ways.

One Spring,

just as the leaves

10

MAPLE GROVE

STORIES.

were bursting open and the birds were filling the air with gay songs,

Mr. Payson

told the chil-

dren he had bought a home for

them

in the country.

This pleased the little ones, and they talked from morning night about what they would do in their new home.

till

In-

the

pretty

country

they

watched 4he birds building their nests, and saw them feeding their

young and teaching them to fly; and then they saw them in great cawing,

twittering,

swarms moving lands

when

off

fluttering to

the yellow

leaves began to

fall.

warmer

Autumn

HAPPY HEARTS.

11

y

But when the Winter winds sung through the old pine

trees,

the children began to talk about Christmas.

"I wonder

if

Santa Glaus will

come away out

here,

with

his

great pack of toys," said Eebecca "

one

I

-day.

forget us, he

am

afraid he will

has

p

many

chil-

dren to remembe'ff"

"He m$y

perhap* forget us," Joshua; "for cousin Nelly ^ays that he, one time, forgot to put any thing in her stocking, said

although she hung could find

it

where he

it."

"But," said Eebecca, "Nelly it was a very stormy

said

12

MAPLE GROVE

STORIES.

and they lived on a hill, and the wind blew so hard they were

afraid

would blow the

it

And

house down.

I think

Santa

Glaus was afraid the wind would upset his pack of toys if he went up on aunt Judd's roof." " I .think," said Joshua, "we had better send Santa Glaus a letter, telling

him

that

we have moved

from town out into

this pretty

pine grove, then he will

where

know

to find us."

"That

will

be a good way,"

Rebecca; "for I remember when Mrs. White, who lives in said

our house in town, was here last

week, she told

mamma

that

many

HAPPY HEARTS.

13

persons had called there since left,

and asked

for

we

Mr. Payson.

Now, if the people do not know we have moved away, Santa

that

Glaus

may

not;

there and slide ney,

and,

so he

without

thing about

may go

down the chimasking

any

put all the nice things, which he has in his pack for us, in Tommy and Jenny it,

White's stockings."

"I

will write to Santa Glaus," Joshua, "as soon as I can find time."

said

Joshua said

this in rather of

a large way, for he wished to talk like a man of business.

"I

will

run and get your

slate

14

MAPLE QEOVE

STORIES.

1

now/ said Kebecca; and she soon came with the slate and pencil. They all sat down and Joshua took the pencil to write; but he

found he could not do much, as his mamma was not there to spell the words for him.

"Let us ask papa word

to

send

Santa Glaus/' said Ke-

to

becca.

"And said

let

us ask Mrs. White/'

Newton,

"to watch, and,

when Santa Glaus comes to her" house, tell him where we live." "But Mrs. White might watch all night,

and then not see him/'

said Eebecca; "for I think Santa

Glaus

never

makes any

noise

HAPPY HEARTS. till lie is

then

his

15

just going out of sight;

eight

reindeers

tiny

jingle their bells as they scam-

per away with the sleigh

full of

toys."

Mrs. nursery,

Payson came into the and the children told

her what they had been saying. " Santa Glaus shall be told

where

to find you/' said Mrs. Payson, "and you will have a happy Christmas if you are

happy shall

in your own hearts. have a Christmas

and we

will

invite

some friends

come and enjoy its us. But I wish you to

ber,

my

darlings,

You tree,

if

fruits

to

with

remem-

you have

MAPLE GROVE

16

STORIES.

naughty thoughts you can not have a happy Christmas." "But if some naughty thoughts come, what can

we do?" asked

Eebecca. think

to

"Try

about

some-

thing good and pleasant," said Mrs. Payson, "and ask God to help

Joshua

an

in

Yesterday,

you.

heard

hoped

telling

when

I

Newton, that he

angry way, Santa Glaus would

not

bring him any thing, I thought my dear boy's thinker was

wrong."

"I know, mamma," ua,

But,

"that if

I

God

wish lets

me

to

said Josh-

be

be naughty,

HAPPY HEARTS. what good does to help

17

do to ask him

it

me?"

"God will help you if you ask him in the right way, and if you watch yourselves," said Mrs. Payson.

happy

"If

we wished to be we must do make others so;

ourselves

something to and even little children can do

much good if they try." " When we are trying

to

make

others happy," said Joshua,

"we

have good thoughts." "A little verse which you

shall

peat J*' said Mrs. truly that '

Satan finds some mischief

For

idle

hands

2

re-

Payson, "says

still

to do.' 9

MAPLE GROVE

18

Now I wish my children,

STORIES.

what you,

to hear

have

do before

to

Christmas."

"We

must get our

gifts

ready

for the tree," said Eebecca.

"And we must sons,

learn our les-

every day," said Joshua.

"And ters, so

I

must learn

all

papa wil^ give

me

my

let-

a rock-

ing-horse," said little Newton.

"That Pay son;

is

all right," said

"but

have

you

Mrs. not

something more to do?"

"0, yes!" said Joshua, "we are to ride to town and invite our visitors to come and have a nice time with us

days."

in

the holi-

HAPPY HEARTS. there

are

"But,

not

.

19

others

whom you

can help to be happy and good?" asked Mrs. Payson;.

"those

whom we

have

always

with us?"

"I do n't know," said Joshua, "as there are any persons that are always with us. Bridget has been here onty a few months, .

and she says she must go away after New- Year; so you do not mean her. And John will leave next Spring him."

;

so

you can not mean

"When you were Sunday school since,"

heai

1

said

learning your

lesson a few

Mrs.

weeks

Payson,

"I

you repeating these words

MAPLE GROVE

20 of

'Ye have the poor and whenso-

Christ,

with you

STORIES.

always;

ever ye will

ye

may

do them

good.'"

"0, think

yes,

of

"But, there are people,

did not

Joshua.

so

many poor

how can we do them *

good?"

"We

I

said

mamma, that,"

can do our

little," said

Mrs. Payson, "and if we only make one sad heart glad we have done a good deed, and we shall be better and happier ourselves while we are helping others." "

When

to see you,

Mrs. Blake comes here

mamma," said Eebecca,^

"she talks about poor people, and

HAPPY HEARTS.

how much she does But Mrs. Blake does

for

21

them.

not seem'

happy; and she says there no use in helping the poor, for if one begins there is no end." to be is

"Mrs. Blake," said Mrs. Pay"has not a pleasant way of-

son,

talking; but I think she enjoys

own we would be

doing good to others in her cross way.

Yet,

if

happy ourselves in making others happy, we must love to do it.

you should give little Harry Grant a pair of mittens because If

I told you to do so, while you were fretting because you wished to keep them yourself, you would

be neither better nor happier for

MAPLE GROVE

22

STORIES.

doing it; and you would not speak gently and kindly to the poor

little fellow,

and so make

his

and your own bright by Blake words. Mrs. pleasant face

spends

much time and money

helping

poor

people;

but

in

she

forgets that she should (

Speak gently, kindly

"I have some

to the poor.'

toys,

"

mamma,"

said Eebecca, "that I can give

Mrs. Grant's lame Harry; I

to

am

stfre

they will make his

little

pale face smile."

"And Willie

I

a

should pair

of

like

to

shoes,"

give said

Joshua; "for his are very ragged."

HAPPY HEARTS. "Shall I give him my asked Newton.

23 sled,

mamma?"

Now Newton

thought more of

his sled than he did of

any other was painted green and yellow, and had a bright colored strap which he called the

plaything.

reins.

It

The runners were very

smooth, and he expected to have a gay time with it all Winter. So,

when Newton asked about knew he was

giving his sled, he

giving what he liked best.

"No, my darling," said Mrs. Payson; "keep your sled. But, we will see what we all can do Mrs. Grant and her children, by- the time Christmas comes. for

24:

MAPLE GROVE

She

is

can do

a

STORIES.

good woman,, and we to make her happy

much

while her husband

is

gone to the

war.

"Then there is Mrs. who lives near town;

Fisher,

we

can

do

something for her?" Mrs. Pay son.

asked

"Mr. Fisher gets drunk," said Joshua; "and Mrs. Blake says it does no good to try to help them, for he sells things that are given to his wife to

"But Fisher

shall

suffer?"

to

Payson.

"Shall

nothing for children?

buy whisky." we leave poor Mrs.

her

we

said

try

Mrs. to

do

and her dear

They are

often cold

HAPPY HEARTS. want They are

for

of clothes

25

and a

fire.

hungry, because

often

Mr. Fisher gets drunk, and unkind to them.

"With around

so

many good

help the

little

things

we not try

us, shall

is

to

children

hungry

who have an unkind father?" "0, yes, mamma!" said

all

the children at once.

"May

I

something

give

to

Martha Kelly," asked Eebecca,

"who

says

she never has any

presents?"

"Poor

much

little

Martha

older than

daughter," "yet she

said is

you Mrs.

obliged

is

not

are,

my

Payson; to

work

MAPLE GROVE

26

STOEIES.

quite hard; for her mother is sick and her father is poor.

But she has a sweet smiling ;

and she than

lives in a happier

many

face,

home

children of rich par-

ents."

"

I know, mamma," said Joshua, "Martha always looks pleasant,

even in a shabby dress."

"Mr. Kelly

is

a very

kind

and good man," said Mrs. Pay-

"and I hope, before another Christmas, he will be able to give his family a better home. son;

"They they

have

good

happy

because

thoughts

and

do their duty. None can happy, even in beautiful

try to

be

look

HAPPY HEARTS.

27

homes, unless their thoughts are right.

"I

hope you will select a pleasant book for little Martha, my daughter, and I will send

some

articles to

"It

is

darlings.

her

mamma."

now your bedtime, my To-morrow we will

begin to prepare our Christmas gifts for the poor."

The

children

and thanked God to them,

them

to

kneeled for

down

being so good

and asked him to help be kind and obedient,

and

to speak the truth. After they had said their Newton ran to his prayers,

mamma

and kneeled down again

28

MAPLE GROVE

by her

side,

and

said,

please to help the

children

sake ?"

to

STORIES.

smile,

"Will God

hungry for

little

Christ's

HAPPY HEARTS.

CHAPTER

29

II.

FRITZ DEAD, YET LIVES. next day, after the chil-

dren had ished

tell

fin-

their

you a

little

sto-

ry, showing how a child can do much good. "Many years ago, I knew a little boy who could not walk. His nurse let him fall, when he

30

MAPLE GROVE

STORIES.

was a baby, and hurt

his back, out of grew shape, and could not stand on his feet. so

that he

"The

little

boy's

name was

His parents lived a pleasant home, and did all

Fritz Eitter. in

they could to make their darling lame boy happy. " They taught him to read, and write, and to draw pictures.

"But enough. who do I

Fritz said, 'That

have dear

I

every

thing

is

not

friends, for

must do something

me.

Now, "His father kept a man to draw him about in a little wagon; BO Fritz

kne y r

all

too.'

the streets in

town, and visited the machine-

HAPPY HEARTS.

31

shops and mills to see how things Almost every one are made.

looked kindly on his sweet, pale and wherever he went the

face,

people would talk with

him and

show him what he wished

"As he rode about the

to see.

city

he

saw many poor houses, and hungry and ragged children.

"One

night,

him

laid

when

his

in his little

mamma

bed, she

saw that he was sad and "

'

What

is

quiet.

the matter with

my

boy to-night?' she asked. "'I have seen so many poor

little

little

children

on

said

Fritz,

to-day,'

Stone

Alley

'who were

ragged and dirty, I wished they

MAPLE GEOVE

32

STOEIES.

had good homes and good mammas.'

" I '

am

sorry for are

who

children

poor

ragged

said Mrs. Bitter.

hungry/

we can not

as

all

give

little

and 'But,

them pleasant

homes we must do what we can for

for you know Christ "The poor ye have always;

them;

says,

and whensoever ye

will, ye may' do them good." "Fritz turned his face away and shut his eyes as though '

he was

tired.

But he was not

was only thinking. had stopped many times

tired; he

"He

at a little

shop, in the edge of town, where baskets were made;

HAPPY HEARTS.

33

a man, and a woman, and several

and they

children worked there,

made many kinds of baskets; some of them very fine and pretty.

"

Fritz had sat in the shop a long time that day, and he asked the man if he might come every

day, and learn to

"Now, his

in his

make little

baskets.

bed, with

eyes shut, he was thinking

how he would make them and sell

them

for

money

to help

poor

children.

"The next morning his

mamma

Fritz told

what he had been

thinking about.

with "She was pleased r

his

MAPLE GROVE

34 plan;

for she

amuse her

STORIES.

would

it

thought

little

darling

lame

boy.

"Fritz went

to

the

basket-

maker's shop all Summer, and by the time cold weather came he could kets.

make very beautiful basSome merchants in town

them for him, and by Christmas time he had laid up

sold

several dollars, which he said he

should give to poor widow "Wilcox, who looked sick and pale,

and had two children.

"Mrs. little

Hitter

room

at

necessary

a

for his shop;

and his papa put into materials

Fritz

gave

home

it

for

all

the

making

HAPPY HEARTS.

35

and there Fritz spent several hours every day at his baskets;

work.

"He was happy I am of some

and

'Now can

help to

make

use,

others

said,

as

I

good

and happy.'

"Widow Wilcox and dren had food, and a clothes in the cold er;

and

it

fire,

chil-

and

Winter weath-

was the

faced lame boy

her

little

pale-

who gave them

to her.

"Jim and Dora Wilcox

learned

their books because Fritz wished

them

They would not bad children more with play any to do so.

on the

streets,

because Fritz told

36

MAPLE GROVE

STORIES.

them they must not. And when Jim promised that he would try to remember and not use any more naughty words, Fritz told him he would give him all the books he would read to Dora -and his mother.

"Finally, Jim went every day and learned

to Fritz's little shop,

make

to

handy

He was so by the time another

baskets.

that,

Christmas came, he was able to carry to his mother

money

that

he had himself earned. " Fritz

was about ten years

when he began to make baskets. The Lord allowed him to old

live only

two years longer; but,

HAPPY HEAKTS.

37

in that time, many poor children loved him, and thanked him for his kindness. When he died

were

many

tears

alleys

and back

the

dear

tried

happy. "Little

others

where

had

good and

went

children

the

in

boy

pale-faced

make

to

shed streets,

in

a

company, when he was buried, and threw flowers into great

his grave.

"We gentle

believe that

when

spirit left his poor,

body,

But he

went

it

land, to

the

happy

in

beauty forever. not forgotten on earth;

grow is

to

Fritz's

crooked

and now, many years

after, there

MAPLE GROVE

38

are those

who

STORIES.

bless the dear lit-

lame boy."

tle

"Did you know him, mamma?" asked Rebecca, with tears in her eyes.

"Yes," said Mrs. Payson. "It was when I was a young girl that I attended

the funeral of

little Fritz.

"Mr. Wilcox, who keeps the great store of baskets in town, where you have sometimes ped with

me

they are,

is

stop-

how beautiful little Jim whom

to see

the

Fritz taught to be good and useful.

"He

has always taken tender

care of his mother,

who

is

now

HAPPY HEARTS. remembers but

so old she

but

39 little;

you ask her about Fritz

if

she will talk a long time about him, whom she calls 'God's dear " child.'

"Your

true story,

better than

Joshua,

mamma,

is

ones," said

made-up

he walked away to

as

the window.

"When

look

I

at

mamma,"

work-basket, becca, "that

my

little

said

Ee-

of

Mr.

you bought

Wilcox, I shall think of Fritz, and the basket will help me to be good."

"So you said

Mrs.

bodies

are

see,

my

Pay son,

darling,"

"when our

turning to

dust in

40

MAPLE GROVE

STOEIES.

the ground, the deeds which we did may be helping others to be good or bad."

HAPPY HEAETS.

CHAPTEE

41

III.

HOW? ANSWEEED. the

family

were gathi

ered in the parlor, after

dinner Mrs. ;

:

Payson

"We

said,

will

now see how we can help poor Mrs. Fisher; '

for there are

none

who more need kind words and deeds than

helpless

ones

whom

a bad husband and father leaves 9

-

MAPLE GEOVE

42

STORIES.

and sometimes

to suffer,

to per-

with hunger and cold." "But how can we give Mrs.

ish,

Fisher any thing, if her husband sells it?" asked Joshua.

"There

is

an honest

woman

living next to Mrs. Fisher's," said

Mrs. Payson, "who has washed me sometimes. I will hire a

for

place in her little yard for coal,

and send some

there.

I will give

Mrs. Fisher tickets for getting a half bushel at a time, when she needs

it,

"And

so she can

have a

fire."

give her tickets for getting bread at the bakery, I will

and meat and potatoes in mar"She ket," said Mr. Payson.

HAPPY HEARTS. must get a

little

43

and

at a time,

not keep any in the house for her husband to carry off."

"That

will

be

"the

Eebecca;

said

good/' little

hungry

children will smile."

"I

will give half of

my

mon-

ey to

buy some shoes

for

Dick

Fisher," said Joshua.

"And to

I will give half of

buy a

flannel

mine for

petticoat

Mrs. Fisher," said Eebecca.

"Here said

is my money, mamma," Newton, who had run to

bring his

little

box.

"May we send

the

children

some of our toys?" asked Eebecca. "You may send what you ^

9

MAPLE GROVE

44

STORIES.

please," said Mrs. Payson.

"We

put them in a basket with enough food for a good dinner, will

and you may carry Christmas

morning,

all

to her,

with

the

tickets."

"0,

mamma,"

said

Joshua,

"it will be pleasant to see

how

and happy they

will

surprised look."

"Now, what

shall

we do

for

Mrs. Grant?" asked Mrs. Payson.

"Several neighbors have promto join me in giving her '

ised

coal, flour,

and

meat, as long as

she needs such help," said Mr.

Payson.

HAPPY HEARTS. "I

will

herself

for

said Mrs.

45

prepare some clothes and her children,"

Pay son.

"And we

will give them some toys and books/' said Joshua. "Will you please, papa/' said

Newton, "send word

to

Santa

Glaus to carry his pack to the top of Mrs. Grant's chimney?

And to

I will tell little

hang up

lame Harry

his stocking."

"Yes," said Mr. Payson smil"I will send word to Santa

ing,

Glaus to have his eight tiny reindeer jingle their bells right merrily over Mrs. Grant's chimney."

That night Mr. Payson's three

46

MAPLE GEOVE

children

went

to

STOEIES.

bed

feeling

they were tryvery happy; to make do to something ing for

others good and happy.

HAPPY HEARTS.

CHAPTER

IV.

WHAT THE STARS ^

T

^

~^L

stars

yet

f

SAW.

were

winking the

through pine trees

on

Christmas morning, '

BB^,-

_^_Pf

when the Httle

sons

**$n/ji&

''^^li/ shouting

"

Pay wen t their

"merry Christmas" through the house.

Santa Glaus stockings

had

with just

filled

what

their

they

MAPLE G-ROVE

48

most wanted.

know

should

STORIES.

Strange that he

so well

!

There could be no more mornnow, and while the were shutting their eyes

naps

ing stars

-the early breakthe children might go

Bridget prepared so

fast,

with

their

hearts

happy

their gifts to gladden those

needed

kind

words

and

and

who good

deeds.

After the family had joined in their

son

we

morning worship, Mr. Paysaid,

will

"JSTow,

go

my

children,

and see some sad

while mamma prefor she the Christmas-tree; pares says we must not have a peep faces .smile,

HAPPY HEARTS. at

it

our friends come this

till

evening." By the

Mr.

time

over

looking

Payson

were

49

tree

and

the

tops,

children

toward

riding

was

sun

the

the

Mrs.

Grant's with a basket of good things and a great many kind

words.

They found the in

little

quite an uproar.

hung up first

Grants

They had

their stockings for the

time in their

lives,

and now

they were spreading out Santa Claus's wonderful gifts with great glee.

The basket was

carried

in,

and Mr. Payson told Mrs. Grant 9 4

MAPLE GEOVE

50

STORIES.

what more would be done

for

her every-day comfort. Tears came in her eyes when she thanked

him and the

chil-

dren.

"It almost made

me

feel like

crying," said Kebecca, when they had left the house, "to see poor

lame Harry's face look so happy." At Mrs. Fisher's they found a

gloomy and unhappy scene. Mr. Fisher sat with his hair falling

over his half-shut eyes,

while the hungry and cold children were huddled around the

half-warmed stove on which their

mother was trying to cook something for breakfast.

HAPPY HEARTS.

"My bring

children

51

have come to

some smiles

to

yourself

and your little ones this Christmas morning," said Mr. Payson to

Mrs. Fisher, as they stepped home. " Mamma will

into the miserable

you please says, have a good dinner?" said Rebecca, as she and Joshua carried the basket to Mrs. Fisher, whose eyes

filled

with tears at this un-

expected kindness.

Mr. Payson gave her the and food, and

tick-

would

call

ets for coal

her

that

his

wife

sometimes and see

how

told

she en-

joyed them. Mr. Fisher hung his head in

MAPLE GEOVE

52

shame

STORIES.

as the bright faces of the

Pay sons left. But a ray light had shone into that

little

of

gloomy home, and Mrs. Fisher's smiled when she saw

sad face

her children spreading out their Christmas gifts. Each one had

been kindly remembered and was bright with happiness. Joshua, and Eebecca, and

New-

ton rode toward home, carrying hearts filled anew with love, and gentleness,

and kindness.

Mr. Payson next knocked at Mrs. Kelly Mr. Kelly's door.

was

sitting,

wrapped up,

in

a

rocking chair, sick, but having a pleasant smile. Little Martha

HAPPY HEARTS.

53

was doing the morning work, and looked with surprise at the early visitors and their good gifts.

The

children

soon

had the

food spread out for Mrs. Kelly to see what a nice dinner she

would have; and Martha fairly danced around the room hold;

ing for

a

good Sunday frock herself and a pretty story

up

book.

"This said

is a happy Christmas," Eebecca as they rode home.

"We Mr.

7

learn,

Pay son,

try to do their in

happy

my

children/ said

"that

duty

hearts

those

may and

who

be rich smiling

54

MAPLE GROVE

homes

though

STOEIES. are

they

very

poor.

"But bad hearts and bad ways make the sunshine seem gloomy in the finest parlors." "When the sun went down that both

night,

friends,

young,

gathered in

old

and

Mr. Payson's to pluck gifts from the

parlors,

well-loaded Christmas-tree.

Fruits from

branches,

in its hanging toys and books

and

out

peeped

parts of the

all

were

world

from

the

green

leaves.

When closed stars

in

little

winked

eyelids

were

that night, the and smiled over

sleep

little

HAPPY HEARTS.

55

that were

brimful

hearts

of love

;

because,

had grown

rich.

by

giving, they