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. 1864. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. SWEET FERN AND THE LITTLE RIVER. Storms blow over easily at Gertrude's age. The next day the sky was as clear as ever. Gertrude lived, however, in fear all the rest of that week; and when Sunday came could only be content to lose sight of her cat for so long by leaving her under Lily's promised watch and protection. Gertrude had another hot walk, but she minded it not the least bit. She was so full of the pleasure of seeing her friend and having her lesson. For Gertrude had been studying the fifth chapter of Matthew all the week, and reading "Anna Koss" between times. Miss Edgar received her just the same; gave her a glass of raspberry syrup and water with ice in it; took off her hat, and looked very smilingly at her little scholar. Kitty Marsh was not there, nor Sally Simpson. Gertrude was, on the whole, glad at this; she wanted to talk alone to Miss Edgar. "I couldn't understand all that chapter, ma'am," she said, when she had finished her raspberry and water. "Couldn't you?" said Miss Edgar, taking her glass. "You shall tell me first what you did understand. Here is a Bible. Now begin at the beginning." Gertrude read past the first verses and fixed upon the sixth. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness." "I think I know what that means," she said; "isn't it wanting it very much?" "Yes, certainly. And what is 'righteousness?'" « Good, and right, isn't it?" "Yes, it means being good, or doing right; doing what pleases God." "I mean to be good, ma'am," said Gertrude. "Do you, my child? How do you expect to manage it?" "I think I can be good, ma'am, if I try." "As soon as you begin to try, you will find that you have a heart which likes very much to please itself." "Is it wrong to please myself?" "Not wrong, provi...
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