The Writings of Harriet Beecher Stowe (Volume 15); Religious Studies, Sketches and Poems (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1896. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... RELIGIOUS SKETCHES CHILDEEN "A little child shall lead them." One cold market morning I looked into a milliner's shop, and there I saw a hale, hearty, well-browned young fellow from the country, with his long cart whip, and lionshag coat, holding up some little matter, and turning it about on his great fist. And what do you suppose it was? A baby's bonnet A little, soft, blue satin hood, with a swan's-down border, white as the new-fallen snow, with a frill of rich blonde around the edge. By his side stood a very pretty woman, holding, with no small pride, the baby--for evidently it was the baby. Any one could read that fact in every glance, as they looked at each other, and then at the large, unconscious eyes, and fat, dimpled cheeks of the little one. It was evident that neither of them had ever seen a baby like that before. "But really, Mary," said the young man, "isn't three dollars very high 1" Mary very prudently said nothing, but taking the little bonnet, tied it on the little head, and held up the baby. The man looked, and without another word down went the three dollars--all the avails of last week's butter; and as they walked out of the shop, it is hard to say which looked the more delighted with the bargain. "Ah," thought I, "a little child shall lead them." Another day, as I was passing a carriage factory along one of our principal back streets, I saw a young mechanic at work on a wheel. The rough body of a carriage stood beside him, and there, wrapped up snugly, all hooded and cloaked, sat a little dark-eyed girl, about a year old, playing with a great, shaggy dog. As I stopped, the man looked up from his work, and turned admiringly towards his little companion, as much as to say, "See what I have got here " "Yes," thought I; "and if the little lady...