The Children of Cloverley. by the Author of 'Enoch Roden's Training'. (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. 1865 Excerpt: ...you have any true claim to be considered a Christian boy; but I have heard of this child before, and she makes me feel ashamed of myself. Little girl, if you have an hour or two to spare at times, and will come to see a poor solitary old woman like me, I shall be glad to see you." Miss Reynolds stood on her doorstep, and watched the children walking soberly down the weedy path to the gate; Ben's arm round Annie's neck, and her face turned fondly to his.-What thoughts passed through her mind we cannot tell; but she looked no longer at the up-rooted beds in the garden; and when she turned to enter the lonely house behind her, her eyes were so dim with tears, that she had to wipe them away before she could find her way to her customary corner in the kitchen fireplace. 105 CHAPTER XIII. Miss Reynolds had told Annie that she was a poor, solitary old woman; and it was perfectly true. The many rooms of her large hall were empty and unfurnished, and the walks in her garden were moss-grown, because so few feet trod along them.-More than five and twenty years ago her last brother had died, and ever since then Miss Reynolds had shut herself up within herself, with no care for anybody in the world, except a. little selfish consideration for her servant Rachel, without whom she would have been left utterly desolate. She had given herself up to a life of slothful indolehce and selfishness, which had grown upon her until it had become-too great a trouble even to keep her dwelling from falling into decay. As for thinking of the comfort-less lives-of the poor-people who dwelt in-the same neighbourhood, or exerting herself to try to increase their happiness in any way, Miss Reynolds would have scoffed at the very idea of such a thing, as if the-poor had nothing to do-wi...