Bright Diamonds Set in Short Stories for the Young (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1866 Excerpt: ..."Tes, ma'am, I shall be glad to," said Susan. Domestic services were required of her which she attempted to perform, but not always successfully. Her aunt attributed her ignorance in this department to wilfulness, her sadness to discontent and ingratitude. The children finding her complying, imposed their tasks upon her; at first by way of request, then by falsely using their mother's authority; and then by assumed authority in their own right. For her there was no encouraging voice, no smile of love. Her uncle's was the only eye before which she did not quail. He knew nothing of her servitude. He was always at work in the field during the day, and slept in his chair as soon as evening came. For ought he knew, Susan was as kindly treated as all the other children. The consciousness that her uncle felt kindly towards her, led her to pay him those delicate attentions which even the rustic does not fail to appreciate. By this, her motives were misinterpreted, and her burden in consequence increased. We pass over an interval of five years. Those five long wearisome years Susan spent in that family, and the effects were apparent. All grace and elegance of forr. and manner had disappeared. She was timid, uncouth, and ignorant. No one would have taken her for the gentle and lady-like girl that five years before entered that dwelling. Her uncle at length perceived the treatment she received, but remonstrance was in vain, and his own attempts at especial kindness rendered her situation still more uncomfortable. He then declared that she should stay there no longer "like a cow to be hooked by every creature in the yard," a comparison characteristic and truthful. He placed her with a distant relative in the village of L--, and sent her to school, i...