Elsies Motherhood

Elsie's Motherhood

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Title: Elsie's Motherhood
Author: Martha Finley
Release Date: January 3, 2005 [eBook #14566]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELSIE'S
MOTHERHOOD***
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ELSIE'S MOTHERHOOD
A Sequel to _Elsie's Womanhood_
by
MARTHA FINLEY (FARQUHARSON)
Author of The Story of Elsie, Casella, _Wanted, a Pedigree_,
_Old-Fashioned Boy_, etc.
1876

"Sweet is the image of the brooding dove! Holy as heaven a mother's
tender love! The love of many prayers and many tears, Which changes
not with dim declining years-- The only love which, on this teeming
earth, Asks no return for passion's wayward birth."
MRS. NORTON.

PREFACE.
In compliance with the expressed desire of many of Elsie's friends and
admirers, the story of her life is continued in this, the fifth volume of
the series.
When about to undertake its preparation the suggestion was made to
the author that to bring in the doings of the Ku Klux would add interest
to the story, and at the same time give a truer picture of life in the
South during the years 1867-68 in which its events take place.
The published reports of the Congressional Committee of Investigation
were resorted to as the most reliable source of information, diligently
examined, and care taken not to go beyond the facts there given as
regards the proceedings of the Klan, the clemency and paternal acts of
the Government, or the kindly, fraternal feelings and deeds of the
people of the North toward their impoverished and suffering brethren
of the South.
These things have become matters of history: vice and crime should be
condemned wherever found; and naught has been set down in malice;
for the author has a warm love for the South as part and parcel of the
dear land of her birth.
May this child of her brain give pain to none, but prove pleasant and
profitable to all who peruse its pages, and especially helpful to young
parents,
M. F.

Chapter First.
"Meantime a smiling offspring rises round, And mingles both their
graces. By degrees The human blossom blows, and every day, Soft as it
rolls along, shows some new charm, The father's lustre, and the
mother's bloom." --Thomson's Seasons
"Mamma! Papa too!" It was a glad shout of a chorus of young voices as
four pairs of little feet came pattering up the avenue and into the
veranda; then as many ruby lips were held up for the morning kiss from
the children's dearly loved father.
They had already had their half hour with mamma, which made so

sweet a beginning of each day, yet she too must have a liberal share of
the eagerly bestowed caresses; while Bruno, a great Newfoundland, the
pet, playfellow, and guardian of the little flock, testified his delight in
the scene by leaping about among them, fawning upon one and another,
wagging his tail, and uttering again and again a short, joyous bark.
Then followed a merry romp, cut short by the ringing of the breakfast
bell, when all trooped into the house, Harold riding on papa's shoulder,
mamma following with Elsie, Eddie and Vi; while Dinah, with Baby
Herbert in her arms; brought up the rear.
The children had been very gay, full of laughter and sweet innocent
prattle, but a sudden hush fell upon them when seated about the table in
the bright, cheerful breakfast parlor; little hands were meekly folded
and each young head bent reverently over the plate, while in a few
simple words which all could understand, their father gave God thanks
for their food and asked his blessing upon it.
The Ion children were never rude even in their play, and their table
manners were almost perfect; made the constant companions of
cultivated, refined parents--whose politeness springing from genuine
unselfishness, was never laid aside, but shown on all occasions and to
rich and poor, old and young alike--and governed with a wise mixture
of indulgence and restraint, mildness and firmness, they imitated the
copies set before them and were seldom other than gentle and amiable
in their deportment, not only toward their superiors, but to equals and
inferiors also.
They were never told that "children should be seen and not heard," but
when no guests were present, were allowed to talk in moderation; a
gentle word or look of reproof from papa or mamma being quite
sufficient to check any