Mamma's budget, or, Daily reading for children

Front matter

UNITED STATES OF AMEtUCA. J

.

• •

Preface

TO THE

FIRST AMERICAN EDITION OF MAMMA’S BUDGET.

The following little work having met with a favorable reception from the children of Old England, its author has been induced to present it in a revised and enlarged form, to the millions of ‘Young America/ in full confidence that they will grant the stranger a kindly welcome, and a home in their library.

Parents and Teachers who are in want of instructive and amusing books for those under their charge, are earnestly invited ‘to examine this little work, which aims to inculcate the best feelings — the highest principles.

It might at first sight appear almost presumptuous to suppose that there is yet room for an addition to our juvenile literature ; but all who are interested in the education of young people, know that the love of reading is an ever-increasing appetite; and that instructive and amusing books, based on sound, moral and religious principles, are never too numerous.

OPINIONS OF THE ENGLISH PRESS

ON

MAMMA’S BUDGET.

“ The design of these pretty little Reading books is “ to inculcate love for whatever is useful aud excellent, and to impress on the minds of the rising generation, the necessity of Christian principles and profession, being exhibited in feelings and acts of kindness and gentleness.” The style, manner, and subject of these works fully sustain their professed design.” — Sunday School Teacher’s Magazine and Journal of Commerce. (England.)

6( A little Volume containing three pleasantly written Tales. They are likely to prove entertaining to children, and at the same time to inculcate useful moral lessons.” — Bristol Mercury. (England.)

“ These Stories are very natural and pretty ; they are neatly got up, and are embellished with wood cuts.” — The Church Warder and Domestic Magazine. (England.)

OK, THE

LITTLE COWSLIP GATHERERS.

Chapter I

COLD windy day towards the end of April, had succeeded to weather that had for a week past, rather resembled such as we commonly experience ill June, than the more fickle temperature so frequently met with during our spring months; several showers had prevented little Alice from taking her usual exercise in the morning ; but about three o’clock, the clouds dispersed, and though still blustering and disagreeable, Mrs. Grantham, her grandmother, and at whose house she was on a visit, desired her maid Bentley, to prepare the child for a walk, and advised her grand -daughter to go arid trundle the hoop up and down on the downs, immediately in front of their pretty villa. Alice would have preferred remaining within doors, working at a slipper she had commenced for her Papa, and listening to a story Mrs. Grantham had been reading to her, about two poor orphans ; but she remembered how often her mamma had told her that children should obey, without raising objections to the orders and wishes of their elders; so, merely expressing regret that they had not had time to finish the tale, and that it was too cold for her to hope for the society of her grandmother on the downs, Alice put away her work neatly, and hastened away to get ready, that she might not detain Bentley longer than necessary from the sewing. Before leaving the house, she ran into the drawing-room to kiss her grandmother.

THE LITTLE COWSLIP GATHERERS.

when this latter kindly smiling on her cheerful countenance, observed: —

“Alice, my dear, when your mamma ask- * ed me to have you at Clifton for a couple of months, she assured me I should find you a very obedient child; and I can say with sincere pleasure, that during the fortnight you have already spent here, I have found you a very good little girl: for a moment, I did fear that you were about to object to going out this afternoon, but after an instant’s struggle between duty and inclination, I was glad to see the complete triumph of the former over the latter : not only did you go off without making useless objections, but you went off at once, and cheerfully. Heaven grant, my child, that you may always thus prevail over your evil passions — And now, what little gratification can I afford you this evening ? — You need not remain out above an hour, and then you can return, and I will conclude the story ; or, I have been thinking, would you like the young Hayworths to be invited for a couple of hours'? you have frequently seen them on your former visits here; and they returned last night from London : Mary and Emma are nearly of your own

age.”

“ Thank you, dear grandmamma, I should like nothing better than to see them again : I was very much disappointed when mamma told me I should not find them here, and I was going to ask her to let me come some other time, but I heard papa say I ought to leave home at once, and then I knew it was useless to speak to mamma on the subject, though I could not understand why father thinks Oak Earm too cold for me during the spring months. Do you think if I were to ask for them, Mrs. Hayworth would let Emma and Mary come out with me \ we should have such a nice race.”

“ I know not, indeed, but you can try. Ask Bentley to be so good as to go with you, and here is a shilling you can spend in some cakes for a tea-party, which you will of course have on your return from your race.”

“ Oh, this will be delightful indeed :

THE LITTLE COWSLIP GATHERERS.

Bentley and I will go to the confectioner’s, whilst they are getting ready to come out and away ran Alice, to inform Bentley of her grandmother's wishes.

On their obtaining Mrs. Hayworth’s consent to Emma and Mary’s accompanying Alice, Edward begged so hard to be of the party, that his mamma consented, on condition of the three girls promising to take care of him ; but Alice found that she must defer purchasing the cakes until later, as Bentley wanted to hasten home to finish half an hour’s work that was wanted before her mistress could dress for dinner.

So the children played on the green — - sometimes they would all race after each other, at other times one of them would trundle Alice’s hoop, whilst another would toss up Edward’s ball. They never wearied of play till past five o’clock, when suddenly Alice recollected her cakes, and having informed her companions of the necessity of their seeking Bentley to make the required purchase, they turned their steps homewards. As they approached Mrs. Grantham’s gate, a poor boy with a large basket of cowslips begged them to buy a bunch of his pretty yellow flowers : the children, however, had no pennies to spend on the $ contents of his basket, for they had only the shilling with which they were going to buy t their cakes, and they had already decided to ( purchase three different kinds, which would use up every farthing of their money ; so, good-humouredly telling the lad they did not want any flowers, they hurried to the house, and Alice having called Bentley, they again sallied forth to make the purchases for their tea. This being done, they returned to Mrs. Grantham’s, but on again drawing near the gate, Bentley desired them all to run in, as she had forgotten to execute a commission her mistress had given her, and she had to go back to the shop they had just left.

f The next moment, Edward, who had run forward, screamed out, “ look here ! look here ! ” at the same time holding up a couple of bunches of beautiful cowslips.

“ Where did you get them 'l ” cried out

Frank offering his Cowslips for Sale.

THE LITTLE COWSLIP GATHERERS.

the girls, hastening up to him, when they immediately beheld the basket they had previously seen the little boy carrying.”

“ Where can the lad be?” said Alice, j “So strange of him to leave his flowers " here.”

“ He cannot be far off, I should think,” answered Emma, “ perhaps he has gone up to the house to enquire if any one will buy from him there.”

“ But how silly to leave his treasures here in the road ; so careless of him ! ”

“Here he is, here he is, said Edward, running back from the shrubbery which led from the gate to the house, and where he had gone, on Mary’s beginning to speak.”

“ Where, where,” cried all the girls ; “ asleep on the grass, behind the old chestnut tree : he never stirred when I went near him : there he is, there, see ! ” and the children beheld the little sleeper ; he was lying at full length on the soft turf, his arms serving for a pillow, his hat had fallen off, and a profusion of light curly hair, blown aside by the gentle breeze, exhibited a forehead as fair as its proportions were well formed. The little fellow slept soundly.

“ How pale he looks ;” said Emma: “ he did not look thus, when he spoke to us.”

“No, he looked rosy then; but now, he not only appears pale — he is skin and bone!”

“Just look at his fingers, Alice, dear; he does not seem to have a bit of flesh either on them, or on his cheeks : poor child, liovv tired he must be, to sleep so quietly.”

“Yes, and we all talking ! and so much noise in the road, and on the downs this evening. I could not sleep so fast, were I in his place : but what has made him so pale all of a sudden, I am afraid he must be very ill.”

“ No, no, Edward ; I fancy, that when he appeared so rosy to us, he was only heated : lie ran quickly to get near us, and that large basket must b£ very heavy.”

“ I never thought of that, Emma ; but what can we do, we ought to go in ; grandmamma will be expecting us, it is getting late, and yet I do not like to leave this poor

THE LITTLE COWSLIP GATHERERS.

bov asleep here, and his flowers outside the gate”.*

“ No indeed, some one may steal his cowslips, and then when he wakes up, he will be so disappointed. Could not we and Mary help each other to bring the basket within the gates? I think we might, though it is so very large.”

“ But you forget, Emma, that he is losing his time, he may sleep on here for an hour, and then it will be nearly dark, and he will find no one about to whom he can sell his flowers, and they will not be so fresh to-morrow.”

“ It would be a pity to wake him out of such a sound sleep:” expostulated Edward. But he expressed himself in so loud a tone, that the object of his remark began to move, and turning round on his side without opening his eyes, he murmured a few broken sentences, such as, only one penny all to-day — \ have only sold — only two — two bunches — I must, must, sell the rest — and here, he would have again dropped off to sleep, but Alice gently touched his arm, saying kindly as she did so: “ little boy, you have left your basket of cowslips in the road, you will be losing them, wake up, and try and sell them.”

The child started to his feet at once, and blushing deeply, began stammering out an apology for his having fallen asleep on their turf; he moved towards the gate as he spoke: but Alice seeing him walk as though he were still tired, said : — •

“ You appear fatigued yet ; how have you been so tired to-day ?”

“Please my little lady, I went off early this morning, but I could not get cowslips enough to fill my basket, until I had walked a distance of seven miles ; Tommy was with me, and he got so fatigued before we got back again, that I was obliged to carry his basket as well as my own. I have been out all day.’*

“And who is Tommy, pray?” cried Emma. “My little brother. Miss; he is quite young.”

“ How old is he ?” asked Edward. “ Nine years old last month, young master; but he

THE LITTLE COWSLIP GATHEREPS.

is not so strong as other boys of his age are; lie had scarlet fever last winter, and he has never been quite well since. Dame Hill says he will not get well she thinks and here, a tear gathered in either eye, but was hastily brushed away.

“ And who is dame Hill ?” demanded Edward, as he felt in his pocket for a couple of walnuts he just remembered his mother had given him that morning, and which he thought might as well be given for little Tommy as be eaten by himself. “ Who is this dame Hill that thinks your brother will not get well V*

“ Please, sir, she is a very good old woman with whom Tommy and I live.”

“ But why do you not live at home with your father and mother ?”

“ Oh sir, father and mother have been dead many years ; at least, I can only just recollect father, he must have been dead nearly seven years since ; and mother caught a severe cold some three years ago, and then followed father.”

“ And who has taken care of you two ever since your mother’s death?” continued Mary. “ Have you lived with dame Hill all this time, nearly three years?”

“ Yes, indeed, miss : though very poor, she ottered to let us sleep in a closet she has, and said we might have the good of whatever little firing she might contrive to get, and she promised she would never turn us off, so long as I could manage to procure food sufficient for Tommy and myself.”

“But you are too young to get food for yourself and your brother,” urged Alice.

“ No, Miss, I am not so young as I look. I was eleven years old last November.”

fc£ And have you always had enough for yourself and Tommy to eat?” said Emma, surprised that a boy only two years older than herself, could obtain by his own work food for himself and lhs little brother; “quite enough to eat V’

“ We could often have eaten more, miss, but we have managed very comfortably on the whole, until Tommy caught the feyer : then I lost a good deal of time in nursing

THE LITTLE COWSLIP GATHERERS.

him, at least, I could not earn so much money as formerly ; and since that time, I have not felt so strong myself, and dame Hill says Tommy wants nourishing food, and I cannot get him enough, I am afraid, but I do not like to part with him.”

“ Part with him !” exclaimed the children in one breath, “ why part with him ?”

“ The neighbours say, that if I would let him go into the house , he would obtain better food than I can get for him, but he cries if I speak of letting him go there.”

“ But your brothers crying at the thought of leaving you, should not deter you from following the advice of your neighbours, when they speak so wisely. Perhaps your sending Tommy to the workhouse may be the means of saving his life ; he probably requires more food than you can give him.”

The children turned towards Mrs. Grantham, as she stepped out from her drawing room window on to the piece of lawn. She had, unknown to the little party outside, heard much of the foregoing conversation, having been sitting behind the

THE TWO BROTHERS; Oil,

Venetian blinds : and her benevolent feelings were quickly interested in the poor little fellow who stood trembling before her, for the wind was high and very cold, whilst the boy, whose story had so touched the kind hearts of his sympathizing hearers, was very scantily clad, though his dress was extremely clean, and much patched.

Alice and Edward now vied with each other in endeavouring to prove to the kind old lady the cruelty of its being expected that the elder brother should send the young one from him. Mrs. Grantham good-humouredly answered,

“ I am very sorry my advice don't please you : I am afraid I shall be considered cruel, in recommending that we should no longer continue on this turf, which is rather damp after this morning’s rain ; and further, if I dared, I would humbly recommend that we retire within doors, for I am certain it is both too late and too cold for Alice to continue exposed to this chilly atmosphere. I hope no offence."

A gay laugh from Alice and the Hay-

THE LITTLE COWSLIP GATHEPEPS.

worths followed the above speech, but the next instant they all looked anxiously at the little stranger, when Edward, who stood nearest to Mrs. Grantham, said in a low voice, “ But this poor boy 1 what will become of him then ? and his poor little brother \ ”

“ I will invite him to come in also, and we will talk over his affairs quietly. I do not like being out this disagreeable evening, and I dare say you also will not object to the warmth of a good fire, and a bowl of bread and milk ; pray what is your name, my little man? I always like to know the names of those I speak with,” added Mrs. Grantham in a kind voice, as she motioned to the boy to enter her house. The latter bowed most gratefully, as he replied, 46 My name is Francis Wentworth, ma'am : neighbours generally call me Frank, but Tommy always calls me brother Frank.”

44 But the basket ! the basket !” cried out several of the children, as they saw Francis crossing the threshold, without apparently thinking of his property.

44 My cowslips ! please ma’am, excuse me

THU TWO BROTHERS.

one moment, whilst I go and fetch them ” and Frank, having ran down the steps with this view, was quickly followed by Edward, who insisted on helping him, though the young gentleman was far more likely to mar than forward the task ! However, the basket of cowslips was brought within the garden gate, and safely placed beneath the tree where their little owner had so lately obtained a sound sleep. In the mean time Mrs. Grantham had informed her old manservant, Wilcox, of the expected guest, and when the two boys entered the library, a large bowl of new milk, and a huge slice of home-made bread, stood on a small table near the window, where a chair had been placed by Alice, for the little hungry boy.

Chapter II

RANK was soon seated at his post, and the children prepared to arrange their evening meal ; for their anticipated pleasure consisted mainly in spreading bread and butter, putting the cakes in their respective dishes, making the tea, and setting forth to the best advantage a new service of china, which had been presented to Alice by her papa on the day of her leaving home. These different matters occupied their time for a full quarter of an hour, Edward being employed by each in turn ; when Alice, who by Mrs. Grantham’s advice had left Frank to eat his supper in quiet during the interval, now advanced to his chair to see if he would have anything more ; but what was Her surprise to lind that he had made away with scarcely a fourth ot‘ the bread, whilst the bowl was nearly as full of milk as in the first instance : and yet he still kept nibbling at his bread, and sipping the rich beverage that stood so temptingly before him.

“ Why you have eaten nothing, hardly, Frank, nor drank your milk.”

These exclamations brought the rest of the party to the spot at once.

“ Is not the milk good, Frank ? the weather is damp to-day,” urged Emma, as, with a spoon she held in her hand, she took a few drops to taste. “ Excellent ! why do you not drink it, and eat vour nice piece of bread?”

“ Perhaps he don't like milk,” said Mary, who was not very partial to it herself.

“ Oh yes, young ladies, I like it very much indeed:” interrupted Frank.

“You would perhaps like a cake,” put in Edward, as he hurried off* in direction of the tea table, to obtain one for the poor boy.

“ No sir, no ! ” cried Frank ; evidently distressed at the mere suspicion that he

THE LITTLE COWSLIP GATHERERS.

should not be quite satisfied with what had been provided him: “ indeed, young master, the bread is the best I have tasted this long time, and the milk too, only — only — ” and here, Frank hesitated, as though unable to explain himself; when fortunately, to the relief of all parties, Mrs. Grantham having dined, appeared within the door.

‘‘Grandmamma, he has eaten nothing, scarcely cried Alice, on seeing her venerable relative come into the room; and Emma says the milk is excellent, and Frank says the bread is the best he has eaten this long time ; then, why does he keep them standing there, as though the milk were sour and the bread hard ? and we have been so busy, thinking he was eating his supper all the time! and Alice stopped speaking for want of breath ; when Frank, who had risen on Mrs. Grantham’s entrance, now advanced towards the spot where she stood, surrounded by the children : — “If you please ma’am, I have eaten a tolerable good supper.”

“ But you were hungry, so why have you taken a tolerable , instead of a very good supper, my little man V’ demanded his kind questioner ; for, from his hesitating manner, and his varying countenance, she at once perceived, that there was a something which he either could not, or did not like to ex plain; but summoning courage, he began: — “ Indeed ma’am, I would have eaten more, only — only I just thought, that if I did not eat up all the bread, and drink all the milk, you might perhaps — perhaps, let me take it home for poor little Tommy.”

A pause of a couple of minutes ensued, after Frank’s avowal — the four children were silenced by a combined feeling of admiration at the boy’s fraternal affection, and of wonder at the necessity of its display in such a manner ; for though they had often heard of poverty, never had it been so forcibly presented to their notice, as at the present moment; whilst Mrs. Grantham was rapidly considering in her mind, how the scene might be turned to the greatest 'advantage of all parties concerned. Having decided, she replied: — “Well Frank, you can take it home if you like ; I do not how-

THE LITTLE COWSLIP GATHERERS.

ever think you have as yet taken a fair portion for yourself! but no matter, you can take a little more with your brother, I suppose, if you like/'

“ But dear grandmamma, Frank is hungry, I know he is ; surely he ought to eat that bread and milk himself! it was meant for him,”

“1 could eat three times as much as he has taken ! little fellow as I am and Master Edward Hayworth eyed with great contempt, the remaining bread and milk : when Mrs. Grantham mildly observed : — “But if he would rather give what remains to his young brother, I imagine you would not be so cruel as to forbid his doing so.”

“No, no, certainly not, dear grandmamma, only — only, I was thinking;” — and Alice looked from one to the other of her young companions in silence.

“What were you thinking about? something about us, I am sure,” said Emma, who had been watching the puzzled expression of Alice’s countenance.

“ I have it! 1 have it!” exclaimed Mary: “ it is about the cakes, is it not ? ”

“ Why yes,” answered Alice with a smile ; “ I was thinking, if I dare propose, that we should give up part of our cakes for Tommy.”

“And this loaf of bread,” chimed in Edward; “Wilcox will bring us another.”

“ Stop, if you please, young ladies and gentleman ! ” observed Mrs. Grantham : “I cannot allow of that loaf of bread being given away, because you must all have some supper, as wTell as Frank and his brother , I have given away all I can to night, not only have I provided suppers for you five young people, but there are two little girls expected momentarily in the kitchen, to whom I have promised a shilling’s worth of meat, for their poor old mother, who is a great invalid : but I tell you what I can allow, and that is, that you should give away the cakes, the bread and butter you have spread so nicely, and also the sugar, with which I see Bentley has filled your sugarbowl. These 1 am willing you should give

THE LITTLE COWSLIP GATHERERS.

away, they are not necessaries to you, and you can exist for one night on plain bread and milk, if you choose to do so. Are you all agreed V*

“ But grandmamma, how can we drink tea without sugar? ”

“ Oh, I forgot the tea ! but why not drink it without sugar? many people do so: or, which would be the wiser plan, you can give it away also : I dare say Frank has rarely tasted it, and though not particularly good for him or his brother, they may for once like to enjoy such a luxury; what do you say Frank ? ”

“ Thank you ma’am, kindly; but I would not deprive the young ladies and this little gentleman of all their good things, this nice bread and milk will do very well indeed for Tommy, and 1 have already eaten enough.”

“But you could eat more, I am sure, were it not for your brother,” said Alice.

“ Perhaps, Miss, I might; but then I took a penny as we were returning to town ; a gentleman bought a couple of bunches for two little girls lie was driving in a pony-

THE TWO brothers; ok,

carriage : with this I can buy more bread if we want it.”

“ And is that penny all the money you have, my poor boy ?” asked Emma.

Yes, my young lady, all I have to-night, but to-morrow we will be put early, calling our cowslips, and I hope we shall make as much as a whole shilling in the course of the day, or perhaps even more. But I forgot ! we met a gentleman and lady walking by the church, and their little dog caught hold of Tommy’s dress, so the lady kindly gave him a halfpenny.”

“ How many bunches have you got ? ” demanded Mary.

“ I have twenty-four in my own basket, little Miss ; and Tommy’s holds about eighteen ; but sometimes, when any one buys a large quantity for wine, we let them have the cowslips for less than a halfpenny a bunch; I would willingly let the whole w^e have, go for fifteen or eighteen pence. We could then go off and gather more at once.”

“ And do you always go so far as you did to day l ” asked Edward.

THE LITTLE COWSLIP GATHERERS.

“Yes, sir; or we should not get fine cowslips ; the fields nearer town have been visited so often, that there are now few good ones to be found in them.”

“And are you certain these are the kind used for the making of wine?”

“ Oh, yes, sir ; I gather no others.”

“'Are there more than one kind of cowslips, Edward ?”

“Yes, Alice; but only one that is used for wine.”

“ Did you know that, Mary ?”

“Not till last month, Alice; when our cousin Eustace having given Edward a little book, the latter found in it a short description of the common cowslip, on which he kindly joined Emma and myself in our pretty bower, and explained to us what he had read.”

“ I fear I did not pay much attention, Mary ; I was so busy sorting the flowers for mammas bouquet. You two seemed much interested in the subject ; one thing I remarked, there were several very hard words.”

“Ah, the hard words I could not have understood, but for the explanations of Eustace, who occasionally helped me to make their meaning clear to Mary.”

“ And where are these cowslips mostly found?”

“ They are very plentiful in meadows and pastures of England, and in some parts of Europe ; but only on a soil of clay or marie, Alice.”

“ What is marie ?”

“Eustace said it was a kind of clay, Emma”

“ Are they in flower all the summer, Edward ?”

“ Oh, no, Alice ; only in April or May.”

“ And have they no cowslips in America, Edward ?”