Little Magda (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. 1874. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VIII. Magda's Guests. Magda flitted about, like a little fairy, among the rose-beds in the morning, singing, as usual, some little song of her own; composition, full of fun and nonsense, vying with the birds as to who should sing loudest. Her mother was with her, gathering fresh flowers for her vases. Magda was making a little bouquet to put into little Clare's room. The two Dacre children were expected at twelve that morning, but Prissy Mayne was not to come till the afternoon. 'You are like a young grasshopper or a butterfly this morning, Magda, you are so restless, ' said Mrs. Mayne. 'That's because I'm happy, mother. Oh, what a happy world this is I don't think I shall ever feel any trouble in it, --I mean real trouble like you talk about sometimes. Have you ever had any trouble, mother?" 'A little, darling, but not much as yet, not as much as most people.' 'Losing Baby Stella was a trouble, wasn't it?' 'Yes, losing dear little Stella was a great trouble when it came, but God sent me little Magda, and so my grief was taken from me.' 'Ah, I never thought of that, ' and then, childlike, her thoughts suddenly went to something quite different. 'How like old Joe that pansy is, mother; I mean the Douglas' Joe.' 'My dear Magda ' and Mrs. Mayne laughed at the child's fancy. 'Well, mother, it is. Just look; hasn't Joe got a good honest face? and that pansy--why, it's an open, honest flower too; pansies always make me think of Joe; they're nice and good-looking like he is, ' and Magda turned her head on one side to look at the beautiful violet and straw-coloured pansy she held in her hand. 'You get queer fancies into that head of yours, little one, ' said her mother, looking up at her fondly. 'I don't think they're queer; I think they're nice and real; and...