Oliver's Old Pictures; Or, the Magic Circle (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.1888 Excerpt: ... "that he was the slowest and dreamiest boy she ever came across," though all the same she loved him, because she couldn't help herself, he was so like her Charlie. "Come in, Kezia; I'll go and speak to Mr. and Mrs. Cuninghame." Mrs. Satherwaite was then invited by Hannah to a seat in the kitchen, and asked to have some bread and cheese and cider, while Oliver went back to the studio. He was away about half an hour, and then returned with a black travelling-bag, into which he had packed some of his possessions, and which Mrs. Cuninghame had lent him. Neithei of his good friends seemed to doubt that Oliver ought to go and help his aunt in her distress. And Mr. Cuninghame said, in his usual bright, cheerful way, "You can come back again, you know, Oliver. And, my boy, there is a motto I'm very fond of, and 1 have got it printed somewhere. There have been times when I have had to lay it to heart. So I hand it to you." The words were these: --"Straight is the line of duty, Curved is the line of beauty; Walk in the first, and thou shalt see The other ever follow thee." CHAPTER XXIII. THE LINE OF BEA UTY. The cart was waiting at Lazonby Station when Kezia and Oliver reached it. Oliver remembered his first arrival the year before, and that his aunt had been kindly in her welcome to him and Madge, and had really given a home to the homeless. "It is the line of duty," Oliver said to himself, "and I must do my best to walk in it." But it was a hard and rugged path for poor Oliver. He found Mr. Roper irascible and exacting, and it needed all his patience and forbearance to endure the perpetual scolding, which seemed the only thing Mr. Roper could give in return for service. Poor Mrs. Roper lay in another room worn out and consumed by fever, while Madge, who, as Mrs. Sat...