Elsie Dinsmore | Page 5

a devoted Christian, had been greatly pained by the utter
disregard of the family in which she was sojourning for the teachings of
God's word. Rose Allison was from the North, and Mr. Dinsmore, the
proprietor of Roselands, was an old friend of her father, to whom he
had been paying a visit, and finding Rose in delicate health, he had
prevailed upon her parents to allow her to spend the winter months with
his family in the more congenial clime of their Southern home.

"My poor child," she said, passing her arm around the little one's waist,
"my poor little Elsie! that is your name, is it not?"
"Yes, ma'am; Elsie Dinsmore," replied the little girl.
"Well, Elsie, let me read you another verse from this blessed book.
Here it is: 'The blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.'
And here again: 'If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father
Jesus Christ the righteous.' Dear Elsie, 'if we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins.'"
"Yes, ma'am," said the child; "I have asked Him to forgive me, and I
know He has; but I am so sorry, oh! so sorry that I have grieved and
displeased Him; for, O Miss Allison! I do love Jesus, and want to be
like Him always."
"Yes, dear child, we must grieve for our sins when we remember that
they helped to slay the Lord. But I am very, very glad to learn that you
love Jesus, and are striving to do His will. I love Him too, and we will
love one another; for you know He says, 'By this shall men know that
ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another,'" said Miss Allison,
stroking the little girl's hair, and kissing her tenderly.
"Will you love me? Oh! how glad I am," exclaimed the child joyfully;
"I have nobody to love me but poor old mammy."
"And who is mammy?" asked the lady.
"My dear old nurse, who has always taken care of me. Have you not
seen her, ma'am?"
"Perhaps I may. I have seen a number of nice old colored women about
here since I came. But, Elsie, will you tell me who taught you about
Jesus, and how long you have loved Him?"
"Ever since I can remember," replied the little girl earnestly; "and it
was dear old mammy who first told me how He suffered and died on
the cross for us." Her eyes filled with tears and her voice quivered with

emotion. "She used to talk to me about it just as soon as I could
understand anything," she continued; "and then she would tell me that
my own dear mamma loved Jesus, and had gone to be with Him in
heaven; and how, when she was dying, she put me --a little, wee baby, I
was then not quite a week old--into her arms, and said, 'Mammy, take
my dear little baby and love her, and take care of her just as you did of
me; and O mammy! be sure that you teach her to love God.' Would you
like to see my mamma, Miss Allison?"
And as she spoke she drew from her bosom a miniature set in gold and
diamonds, which she wore suspended by a gold chain around her neck,
and put it in Rose's hand.
It was the likeness of a young and blooming girl, not more than fifteen
or sixteen years of age. She was very beautiful, with a sweet, gentle,
winning countenance, the same soft hazel eyes and golden brown curls
that the little Elsie possessed; the same regular features, pure
complexion, and sweet smile.
Miss Allison gazed at it a moment in silent admiration; then turning
from it to the child with a puzzled expression, she said, "But, Elsie, I do
not understand; are you not sister to Enna and the rest, and is not Mrs.
Dinsmore own mother to them all?"
"Yes, ma'am, to all of them, but not to me nor my papa. Their brother
Horace is my papa, and so they are all my aunts and uncles."
"Indeed," said the lady, musingly; "I thought you looked very unlike
the rest. And your papa is away, is he not, Elsie?"
"Yes, ma'am; he is in Europe. He has been away almost ever since I
was born, and I have never seen him. Oh! how I do wish he would
come home! how I long to see him! Do you think he would love me,
Miss Allison? Do you think he would take me on his knee and pet me,
as grandpa does Enna?"
"I should think he would, dear; I don't know how he could help loving
his own dear little