Little Girl in Old Philadelphia

Minnie Douglas Amanda

Description

In this historical novel geared for younger readers, little Primrose Henry is a kindhearted but fiercely independent orphan who is shuttled back and forth between relatives, many of which are Quakers. But an exciting change is happening, and Primrose gets a chance to explore the cosmopolitan city of Philadelphia.

Sujets

• Historical fiction

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 décembre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776594177
• Langue: English

Extrait

A LITTLE GIRL IN OLD PHILADELPHIA
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AMANDA MINNIE DOUGLAS
 
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A Little Girl in Old Philadelphia First published in 1898 Epub ISBN 978-1-77659-417-7 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77659-418-4 © 2014 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Chapter I - Here and There Chapter II - Bessy Wardour Chapter III - In a New World Chapter IV - Of Many Things Chapter V - A Bouleversement Chapter VI - To the Rescue Chapter VII - At Some Crossroads Chapter VIII - A Little Rebel Chapter IX - Fate to the Fore Chapter X - To Turn and Fight Chapter XI - A Rift of Suspicion Chapter XII - True to Her Colors Chapter XIII - Under the Rose Chapter XIV - For Native Land and Loyalty Chapter XV - Parting Chapter XVI - Love and True Love Chapter XVII - Mid War's Alarms Chapter XVIII - Whom Shall She Pity? Chapter XIX - The Midnight Tidings of Great Joy Chapter XX - When the World Went Well Chapter XXI - An April Girl Chapter XXII - Polly and Phil Chapter XXIII - Primrose Chapter XXIV - The Old and the New
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TO MR. AND MRS. HENRY HORTON LAWRENCE.
The early youth of an old town has a certain simplicity like the youthof human life. Its struggles, its romance, its unfolding come downthrough the earnest hands that have labored for its welfare and leftimperishable monuments. To the legacies of remembrances you have hadhanded down to you, I add this little story of a long ago time, a posyculled from quaint gardens.
With sincere regard ,
AMANDA M. DOUGLAS.
NEWARK, N.J., 1899.
Chapter I - Here and There
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She was swinging her gingham sunbonnet, faded beyond any recognition ofits pristine coloring, her small hand keeping tight hold of the strings.At every revolution it went swifter and swifter until it seemed agrayish sort of wheel whirling in the late sunshine that sent longshadows among the trees. When she let it go it flew like a great bird,while she laughed sweet, merry childish notes that would have stirredalmost any soul. A slim, lithe little maid with a great crop of yellowhair, cut short in the neck, and as we should say now, banged across theforehead. But it was a mass of frowzy curls that seemed full ofsunshine.
With two or three quick leaps she captured it again and was justpreparing for her next swirl.
"Primrose! Primrose! I think thee grows more disorderly every day. Whatcaper is this? Look at these strings, they are like a twisted rope. Andif thy bonnet had gone into the pond! For that matter it needs thewashtub."
Primrose laughed again and then broke it in the in the middle with afunny little sound, and glanced at the tall woman beside her, who wassmoothing out the strings with sundry pinches.
"Certainly thou art a heedless girl! What thou wilt be—" She checkedherself. "Come at once to the kitchen. Wash thy face and hands and combout that nest of frowze. Let me see"—surveying her. "Thou must have aclean pinafore. And dust thy shoes."
Primrose followed Aunt Lois in a spell of wonderment. The scolding wasnot severe, but it was generally followed by some sort of punishment. Aclean pinafore, too! To be set on a high stool and study a Psalm, or berelegated to bread and water, and, oh! she was suddenly hungry. Down inthe orchard were delicious ripe apples lying all about the ground. Whyhad she not gone and taken her fill?
She scrubbed her face with her small hands until Aunt Lois said, "Thatis surely enough." Then she wet her hair and tugged at the tangles, butas for getting it straight that was out of the question. All this timeAunt Lois stood by silent, with her soft gray eyes fixed on the culprit,until Prim felt she must scream and run away.
The elder turned to a chest of drawers and took out an apron of homespunblue-and-white check, a straight, bag-like garment with plain armholesand a cord run in at the neck. A bit of tape was quite a luxury, as ithad to be imported, while one could twist cords, fine or coarse, athome.
"Your Aunt Wetherill's housekeeper is in the next room. She has comehither to give notice. Next week will be the time to go in town."
"Oh, Aunt Lois! Aunt Lois!" Primrose buried her face in the elder'sgown. A curious yearning passed over the placid countenance, followed bya stronger one of repression, and she unclasped the clinging hands.
"It is a misfortune, as I have ever said, and there will be justshifting hither and yon, until thou art eighteen, a long way off. Itmakes thee neither fish nor fowl, for what is gained in one six monthsis upset in the next. But thy mother would have it so."
Primrose made no further protest, but swallowed over a great lump in herthroat and winked hard. What she longed to do was to jump up and downand declare she would not go, in a tone that would reach the townitself. Even well-trained children had unregenerate impulses, butself-control was one of the early rules impressed upon childhood, theseason and soil in which virtues were supposed to take root and flourishmost abundantly.
There were two doors opening from this kitchen to a small hall, fromthence to the ordinary living room, and a smaller one adjoining, usedfor a sort of parlor, as we should call it now, a kind of state roomwhere the Friends often held meetings. It was very plain indeed. Therewere straight white curtains at the windows, without a bit of fringe ornetting. Women used to make these adornments as a kind of fancy work,but the rigid rules of the Friends discountenanced all such employments,even if it was to improve odd moments. There was no carpet on the floor,which was scrubbed to spotlessness; chairs of oaken frame, bent, andpolished by the busy housewife until they shone, with seats of broadsplint or rushes painted yellow. A large set of drawers with severalshelves on top stood between the windows, and a wooden settle was rangedalong the wall. A table with a great Bible and two or three religiousbooks, and a high mantel with two enormous pitchers that glittered in abrilliant color which was called British luster, with a brass snuffersand tray and candlesticks, were the only concession to the spirit ofworldliness.
Primrose entered with a lagging step behind her aunt. There sat MistressJanice Kent in her riding habit of green cloth faced with red silk, anda habit shirt of the same color just showing at the neck where thelapels crossed. Her hat was wound around with a green veil, and hergauntlet gloves were of yellow buckskin broidered with black. In onehand she still held her riding whip. A somewhat airy butdignified-looking person with dark, rather sharp eyes, and dark hair;and a considerable amount of color, heightened now by the rapidexercise.
"Mercy of me! The child has grown mightily!" she exclaimed. "Indeed,there will not be a thing fit for her to wear! Madam Wetherill wasconsidering that, and has sent for new measurements. With the lastvessel in, has come lots of choice stuffs of every kind, and the maidhas already fallen to work. How do you do, Mistress Primrose? Rose wouldbetter become such a blossoming maid without the Prim," and she laughedgayly, as if pleased with her conceit. "Come hither, child; do not beafraid. There, I'll lay my whip on the floor. It has a threatening look,I will admit, yet 'tis a harmless thing without the owner's hand. I amsent to measure thee, Mistress Rose, and to announce that next Wednesdaythe chaise will be sent out for you, with perhaps Madam Wetherill.Meanwhile we shall be making ready to transform you from a sober grayFriend to a gay young damsel. It is a pity you are not older. Therewill be great doings this winter."
Lois Henry's face settled into sterner lines. It was a sweet andpeaceful face, rendered so by some discipline and much freedom fromcare. For the Friends made small efforts to shine in society, and atthis period there were few calls upon charity or even sympathy. JamesHenry was a prosperous farmer, and the style of living simple. Fair asto complexion, rather aquiline in features, with blue-gray eyes andnearly straight brows, her soft hair drawn back from her forehead andgathered under a plain cap with a frill a little full at the sides andscant across the top, a half square of white linen crossed over herbosom, a gray homespun gown reaching barely to the ankles, with bluehomeknit stockings and stout low shoes with a black buckle on the top,Lois Henry was a fine sample of a Quaker gentlewoman.
"There are many things to life beside gayety," she said rather severely."And such a child hath much that is useful to learn."
"Oh, we have a tutor in the house, Madam Wetherill's two cousins willspend the winter in town, Miss Betty Randolph from Virginia, and MarthaJohns from some western county. There will be lessons on the spinet andin dancing."
Mistress Kent gave a little smile of malice and a jaunty toss to herhead.
"The child needs nothing of that since she comes back to us and plainerliving. She reads well and is not slow in figures. I shall see that sheis instructed in all housewifely ways, but it is ill making headway whenthe tide runs down the stream."
Lois Henry really sighed then. She did hate to have her six months'labor and interest come to naught. She longed to snatch the child fromthese paths of temptation, for now, as she was growing older, they mightbe more alluring.
"Come hither, little one, and let me measure you. My, but you have growntall, and keep slim, so there will be less for stays to do. 'As the twigis bent,' you know," laughing and showing her even teeth,