CHILDREN'S BOOK COLLECTION

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES

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HAPPY HEAETS

BY JUKE ISLE.

CINCINNATI:
PUBLISHED BY POE
E. P.

&

HITCHCOCK.

THOMPSON, PBINTEB.

Entered, according to Act of Congress,

in

the year 1864.

BY POE & HITCHCOCK,

ID the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United State
for the

Southern District of Ohio.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER.
I.

PAGE.

WHOM

HAVE WE ALWAYS
DEAD, YET LIVES

II. FRITZ

29
41

III.

How? ANSWERED
WHAT THE
STARS SAW

IV.

47

HAPPY HEARTS.

CHAPTER

I.

WHOM HAVE WE ALWAYS.

R. and Mrs.
.

Payson
had three

.little
children,
^j

who were

very dear to , them, and whom

-,

they amused

and instructed

in

many

pleasant ways.
just as the leaves

One Spring,

10

MAPLE GROVE

STORIES.

were bursting open and the birds were filling the air with gay
songs,

Mr. Payson

told the chil-

dren he had bought a home for

them

in the country.

This pleased the little ones, and they talked from morning
till

night about what they would do in their new home.

In-

the

pretty

country

they

watched 4he birds building their nests, and saw them feeding their

young and teaching them to fly; and then they saw them in great
cawing,
lands
twittering,
off

fluttering
to

swarms moving

warmer

when

the yellow
fall.

Autumn

leaves began to

HAPPY HEARTS.
y

11

But when the Winter winds

sung through the old pine
trees,

the children began to talk about Christmas.

"I wonder

if

Santa Glaus will

here,

come away out

one
-day.

with

his

great pack of toys," said Eebecca "

I

am

afraid he will

forget us, he

has

many

chil-

dren to remembe'ff"

perhap* forget us," Joshua; "for cousin Nelly ^ays that he, one time, forgot to put any thing in her stocking,
said

"He m$y

although she hung

could find
it."

it

where he

said

"But," said Eebecca, "Nelly it was a very stormy

12

MAPLE GROVE

STORIES.

and they lived on a hill, and the wind blew so hard they
were
afraid
it

would blow the

I think

house down.

And

Santa

Glaus was afraid the wind would

upset his pack of toys if he went up on aunt Judd's roof." " I .think," said Joshua, "we had better send Santa Glaus a letter,
telling

him

that

we have moved
this pretty

from town out into

pine grove, then he will

know

where
said

to find us."
will

"That

be a good way,"

Rebecca; "for I remember when Mrs. White, who lives in

our house in town, was here last

week, she told

mamma

that

many

HAPPY HEARTS.
persons had called there since
left,

13

we

and asked

for

Mr. Payson.

that

Now, if the people do not know we have moved away, Santa

Glaus

may
and,

not;

so he

may go
any

there and slide

ney,

down the chimasking

without
it,

put all the nice things, which he has in his pack for us, in Tommy and Jenny
White's stockings."
will write to Santa Glaus," Joshua, "as soon as I can find time."

thing about

"I

said

Joshua said

this in rather of

a large way, for he wished to talk like a man of business.

"I

will

run and get your

slate

14

MAPLE QEOVE
1

STORIES.

now/ said Kebecca; and she soon came with the slate and pencil. They all sat down and Joshua
took the pencil to write; but he

found he could not do much, as his mamma was not there to spell
the words for him.

"Let us ask papa

word
becca.
to

to

send

Santa Glaus/' said Kelet

"And
said

us ask Mrs. White/'

Newton,

"to watch, and,

when Santa Glaus comes to her" house, tell him where we live." "But Mrs. White might watch
all night,

and then not see him/'

said Eebecca; "for I think Santa

Glaus

never

makes any

noise

HAPPY HEARTS.
till lie is

15

just going out of sight;

then

his

eight

tiny

reindeers

jingle their bells as they scam-

per away with the sleigh

toys."

full of

Mrs.
nursery,

Payson came into the and the children told

her what they had been saying. " Santa Glaus shall be told
to find you/' said Mrs. Payson, "and you will have a happy Christmas if you are

where

happy
shall

in your own hearts. have a Christmas

will

You
tree,

and we
to

invite

some friends
fruits

come and enjoy its us. But I wish you

ber,

with

to

remem-

my

darlings,

if

you have

16

MAPLE GROVE

STORIES.

naughty thoughts you can not have a happy Christmas." "But if some naughty thoughts
come, what can

we do?" asked
about some-

Eebecca.

"Try

to

think

thing good and pleasant," said Mrs. Payson, "and ask God to
help
you.

Yesterday,
telling

when

heard
in

Joshua

an

hoped

angry way, Santa Glaus would

Newton, that he
not

bring him any thing, I thought my dear boy's thinker was

wrong."

"I know, mamma,"

ua,

said Josh-

"that
if

wish
lets

to

be

But,

God

me

be naughty,

HAPPY HEARTS.
what good does
to help
it

17

do to ask him

me?"

"God will help you if you ask him in the right way, and if
you watch yourselves," said Mrs.
Payson.
"If

happy

ourselves

something to and even little children can do

we wished to be we must do make others so;

much good if they try." " When we are trying

shall

to

make

others happy," said Joshua,

"we
re-

have good thoughts." "A little verse which you

peat J*' said Mrs. truly that

'

Payson, "says

Satan finds some mischief

still

For

idle

hands

to do.'
9

18

MAPLE GROVE

STORIES.

Now I wish my children,

Christmas."

to hear

what you,
do before

have

to

"We

must get our

gifts

ready

for the tree," said Eebecca.

"And we must
sons,

learn our les-

every day," said Joshua.

I

"And
ters, so

must learn

all

my

let-

papa wil^ give

is

me

a rock-

ing-horse," said little Newton.

"That
Pay son;

all right," said

Mrs.
not

"but

have

you

something more to do?"

"0, yes!" said Joshua, "we are to ride to town and invite
our visitors to come and have a
nice time with us
in

the holi-

days."

HAPPY HEARTS.
"But,
are

19

there

not

others

whom you
"those

can help to be happy and good?" asked Mrs. Payson;.

whom we

always

have

with us?"

"I do n't know," said Joshua, "as there are any persons that are always with us. Bridget has been here onty a few months,
.

and she says she must go away after New- Year; so you do not mean her. And John will leave
next Spring him."
;

so

you can not mean

learning your

"When you were

Sunday school
since,"

lesson a few

weeks

said

Mrs.

Payson,

"I

heai

you repeating these words

20
of

MAPLE GROVE
Christ,

STORIES.

with you

always;

'Ye have the poor and whensoye

ever ye will
good.'"

may
I

do them

"0,
think

yes,

mamma,
that,"
so

did not

of

said

Joshua.

"But, there are

people,

many poor

how can we do them

*

good?"

"We

can do our

little," said

Mrs. Payson, "and if we only make one sad heart glad we have done a good deed, and we shall
be better and happier ourselves while we are helping others."
"

When

Mrs. Blake comes here

to see you,

mamma," said Eebecca,^

"she talks about poor people, and

HAPPY HEARTS.

21

how much she does But Mrs. Blake does

to be
is

for

them.

not seem'

happy; and she says there no use in helping the poor, for if one begins there is no end."

son,

"Mrs. Blake," said Mrs. Pay"has not a pleasant way of-

talking; but I think she enjoys

doing good to others in her

cross way.

Yet,

if

own we would be

happy ourselves in making others happy, we must love to do it.

you should give little Harry Grant a pair of mittens because

If
I told you to do so, while you were fretting because you wished to keep them yourself, you would

be neither better nor happier for

22

MAPLE GROVE

STORIES.

doing it; and you would not speak gently and kindly to the
poor
face
little fellow,

and so make

his

and your own bright by Blake words. Mrs. pleasant

spends
helping
(

much time and money

poor
people;

in

but

she
"

forgets that she should

Speak gently, kindly
to the poor.'

"I have some

to

toys,

mamma,"

said Eebecca, "that I can give

Mrs. Grant's lame Harry; I

stfre

am

they will make his

I

little

pale face smile."

"And
Willie

should
pair
of

like

to

shoes,"

give said

Joshua; "for his are very ragged."

HAPPY HEARTS.
"Shall I give him my asked Newton.

23
sled,

mamma?"

Now Newton
plaything.
It

thought more of

his sled than he did of

any other was painted green and yellow, and had a bright colored strap which he called the
reins.

The runners were very

smooth, and he expected to have a gay time with it all Winter.

So,

giving his sled, he

when Newton asked about knew he was

giving what he liked best.

"No, my darling," said Mrs. Payson; "keep your sled. But, we will see what we all can do
Mrs. Grant and her children, by- the time Christmas comes.
for

24:

MAPLE GROVE
is

STORIES.

She

can do

much

good woman,, and we to make her happy

is

while her husband

war.

gone to the

"Then there is Mrs. who lives near town;

do

Fisher,

can

we

something for her?" Mrs. Pay son.

asked

"Mr. Fisher gets drunk," said Joshua; "and Mrs. Blake says it does no good to try to help them, for he sells things that are given
to his wife to

"But
Fisher

shall
to

buy whisky." we leave poor Mrs.

said

suffer?"

Mrs.
to

Payson.
children?

"Shall

we

try

do

nothing for

her

and her dear

often cold

They are

HAPPY HEARTS.
for

25
fire.

want They are

of clothes

and a

often

hungry, because
is

Mr. Fisher gets drunk, and unkind to them.

"With
around
help the

so

many good
hungry

things
to

us, shall
little

we not try

children

who have an unkind father?" "0, yes, mamma!" said

the children at once.

all

"May
"who

give

something

to

Martha Kelly," asked Eebecca,

says

she never has any

presents?"

"Poor

little

Martha
you
Mrs.

is

not

much

older than
said
is

are,

my

daughter," "yet she

Payson;
to

obliged

work

26

MAPLE GROVE

STOEIES.

quite hard; for her mother is sick and her father is poor.

But she has a sweet smiling

;

face,

and she
than
ents."

lives in a happier

home

many

children of rich par-

I know, mamma," said Joshua, "Martha always looks pleasant,

"

even in a shabby dress."

"Mr. Kelly
son;

is

a very

kind

and good man," said Mrs. Pay-

"and I hope, before another Christmas, he will be able to give his family a better home.

"They
they

look

happy

because

have

good

thoughts

and

try to

be

do their duty. None can happy, even in beautiful

HAPPY HEARTS.

27

homes, unless their thoughts are

right.

hope you will select a pleasant book for little Martha, my daughter, and I will send

"I

some
"It

articles to
is

her

mamma."

darlings.

now your bedtime, my To-morrow we will

begin to prepare our Christmas gifts for the poor."

The

children

kneeled
for

down

and thanked God

to them,

being so good

them
and

to

and asked him to help be kind and obedient,

to speak the truth. After they had said their Newton ran to his prayers,

mamma

and kneeled down again

28

MAPLE GROVE
side,

STORIES.

by her

and

said,

"Will God
little

please to help the

hungry
for

children

to

smile,

Christ's

sake ?"

HAPPY HEARTS.

29

CHAPTER

II.

FRITZ DEAD, YET LIVES.

next day,
after the chil-

dren had
ished

fin-

their

tell

you a
sto-

little

ry, showing how a child can do much good. "Many years ago, I knew a little boy who could not walk. His nurse let him fall, when he

30

MAPLE GROVE

STORIES.

his back, out of grew shape, and could not stand on his feet. so

was a baby, and hurt

that he

"The
in

little

boy's

name was

Fritz Eitter.

His parents lived a pleasant home, and did all

they could to make their darling lame boy happy. " They taught him to read, and write, and to draw pictures.

"But
enough. who do
I

Fritz said, 'That

I

is

not

have dear
thing

friends, for

every

me.
too.'

Now, "His father kept a man to draw him about in a little wagon;
BO Fritz

must do something

kne y
r

all

the streets in

town, and visited the machine-

HAPPY HEARTS.

31

shops and mills to see how things Almost every one are made.

face,

looked kindly on his sweet, pale and wherever he went the

people would talk with

him and
to see.

show him what he wished

"As he rode about the

city

he

saw many poor houses, and hungry and ragged children.

"One
laid

night,

when

his

mamma
quiet.

him
'

in his little

bed, she

saw that he was sad and

"

What

is

the matter with

my

little

boy to-night?' she asked. "'I have seen so many poor

children
said

little

on
Fritz,

Stone

Alley

to-day,'

'who were

ragged and dirty, I wished they

32

MAPLE GEOVE

STOEIES.

had good homes and good mammas.'

" I
'

am

children

who

sorry for are

all

poor

little

ragged

and
'But,

hungry/
as

said Mrs. Bitter.

we can not
them;

give

them pleasant

homes we must do what we can

for
for you know Christ "The poor ye have always;

says,

and whensoever ye
'

will, ye may' do them good." "Fritz turned his face away and shut his eyes as though

he was

tired.

But he was not

tired; he

"He

was only thinking. had stopped many times

at a little

shop, in the edge of town, where baskets were made;

HAPPY HEARTS.

33

a man, and a woman, and several

children worked there,

and they

made many kinds of baskets; some of them very fine and

pretty.

Fritz had sat in the shop a long time that day, and he asked the man if he might come every

"

day, and learn to

make
little

baskets.

"Now,
his

in his

bed, with

eyes shut, he was thinking

how he would make them and

sell

them

for

money

to help

poor

children.

"The next morning

his

Fritz told

mamma

what he had been

his

thinking about.

with "She was pleased r

34
plan;

MAPLE GROVE
for she

STORIES.
it

thought

would
lame

amuse her
boy.

darling

little

"Fritz went

to

the

basket-

maker's shop all Summer, and by the time cold weather came he
could
kets.

make very beautiful basSome merchants in town

sold

them for him, and by Christmas time he had laid up

several dollars, which he said he

should give to poor widow "Wilcox, who looked sick and pale,

and had two children.

"Mrs.
little

Hitter
at

gave

Fritz

room

home

for his shop;

it

and his papa put into

materials

all

the

necessary

for

making

HAPPY HEARTS.
baskets;

35

and there Fritz spent several hours every day at his

work.

'Now
can

"He was happy I am of some

help to

and
use,

said,

as

make

others

good
chil-

and happy.'

"Widow Wilcox and

dren had food, and a
clothes in the cold
er;

her
fire,

and

Winter weathlittle

and

it

was the

pale-

faced lame boy

to her.

who gave them

learned

"Jim and Dora Wilcox

them
to do so.

their books because Fritz wished

They would not bad children more with play any

on the
streets,

because Fritz told

36

MAPLE GROVE

STORIES.

them they must not. And when Jim promised that he would try to remember and not use any more naughty words, Fritz told him he would give him all the
books he would read to Dora -and
his mother.

to Fritz's little shop, to

"Finally, Jim went every day and learned

make

baskets.

handy

that,

He was so by the time another

money
that

Christmas came, he was able to

carry to his mother
" Fritz
old

he had himself earned.

was about ten years

when he began to make baskets. The Lord allowed him to

live only

two years longer; but,

HAPPY HEAKTS.

37

in that time, many poor children loved him, and thanked him for his kindness. When he died

many
alleys

tears

were

shed
streets,

in

the

and back
dear
to

where

the
tried

pale-faced

boy

had

make

others

good and
in

happy. "Little
great

children

went

company, when he was buried, and threw flowers into

his grave.

"We
gentle

believe that

when
the

Fritz's

spirit left his poor,

it

crooked

body,

went

to

happy

land, to

grow
is

But he

beauty forever. not forgotten on earth;

after, there

in

and now, many years

38

MAPLE GROVE

STORIES.

are those
tle

who

bless the dear lit-

lame boy."

"Did you know him, mamma?" asked Rebecca, with tears in her
eyes.

"Yes," said Mrs. Payson. "It was when I was a young girl
that I attended
little Fritz.

the funeral of

"Mr. Wilcox, who keeps the great store of baskets in town,

where you have sometimes
ped with
they are,
ful.

stop-

me
is

to see

the

how beautiful little Jim whom

Fritz taught to be good and use-

"He

has always taken tender

care of his mother,

who

is

now

HAPPY HEARTS.
so old she

39
little;

remembers but

but

if

you ask her about Fritz

she will talk a long time about him, whom she calls 'God's dear
"
child.'

"Your
Joshua,

true story,

mamma,

is

better than
as

made-up

ones," said

he walked away to
I

the window.

"When

look

at

my
said
of

little

work-basket,
becca, "that

mamma,"

Ee-

you bought

Mr.

Wilcox, I shall think of Fritz, and the basket will help me to be good."

"So you
said

see,

my

darling,"

Mrs.
are

Pay son,

"when our
dust in

bodies

turning to

40

MAPLE GROVE

STOEIES.

the ground, the deeds which we did may be helping others to be good or bad."

HAPPY HEAETS.

41

CHAPTEE

III.

HOW? ANSWEEED.
the

family

were gathi

ered in the
parlor, after

dinner Mrs.
;
:

Payson

said,

"We

will

now see how we can help

poor Mrs. Fisher;
'

for there are

none

who more need kind words and

deeds than
helpless

ones

whom
9

a bad husband and father leaves

42

MAPLE GEOVE

STORIES.
to per-

to suffer,
ish,

and sometimes

with hunger and cold." "But how can we give Mrs.

Fisher any thing, if her husband sells it?" asked Joshua.

"There

is

an honest

woman

living next to Mrs. Fisher's," said

for

Mrs. Payson, "who has washed me sometimes. I will hire a

place in her little yard for coal,

and send some

there.

I will give

Mrs. Fisher tickets for getting a half bushel at a time, when she
needs
it,

so she can
I will

have a

fire."

give her tickets for getting bread at the bakery,

"And

and meat and potatoes in mar"She ket," said Mr. Payson.

HAPPY HEARTS.
must get a
little

43

at a time,

and

not keep any in the house for her husband to carry off."

"That
Eebecca;

will

be

good/'
little

said

"the

hungry

children will smile."

"I
ey to

will give half of

my
for

monDick mine
for

buy some shoes

Fisher," said Joshua.

"And
to

I will give half of

buy a

flannel

petticoat

Mrs. Fisher," said Eebecca.

"Here
said

is my money, mamma," Newton, who had run to

bring his

little

box.

"May we send

the

children

some of our toys?" asked Eebecca. "You may send what you
^

44

MAPLE GROVE

STORIES.

please," said Mrs. Payson.

will

"We

put them in a basket with enough food for a good dinner,

and you may carry

Christmas
tickets."

all

to her,

morning,

with

the

"0,

mamma,"

said

Joshua,

"it will be pleasant to see

how
will

surprised
look."

and happy they

shall

"Now, what
son.

we do

for

Mrs. Grant?" asked Mrs. Pay-

ised

"Several neighbors have promto join me in giving her

'

coal, flour,

and

meat, as long as

she needs such help," said Mr.

Payson.

HAPPY HEARTS.
"I
for

45

will

herself

prepare some clothes and her children,"

said Mrs.

Pay son.

will give them some toys and books/' said Joshua. "Will you please, papa/' said

"And we

Newton, "send word

to

Santa

Glaus to carry his pack to the top of Mrs. Grant's chimney?

And
to

I will tell little

lame Harry

hang up

his stocking."

ing,

"Yes," said Mr. Payson smil"I will send word to Santa

Glaus to have his eight tiny reindeer jingle their bells right merrily over Mrs. Grant's chimney."

That night Mr. Payson's three

46

MAPLE GEOVE
went
for

STOEIES.

children

to

bed

feeling

they were tryvery happy; to make do to something ing

others good and happy.

HAPPY HEARTS.

CHAPTER
T

IV.

WHAT THE STARS

^

SAW.
stars

^
yet

were

~^L

winking
the

through
pine trees

on

Christmas
morning,
'

when the
Httle

BB^,-

_^_Pf

**$n/ji&

sons

Pay wen t
their

"

''^^li/ shouting
house.

"merry Christmas" through the

Santa Glaus
stockings

had

filled

their

with just

what

they

48

MAPLE G-ROVE

STORIES.

most wanted.
should

Strange that he
!

know

so well

There could be no more morning

stars

naps

now, and while the were shutting their eyes

-the early breakthe children might go

Bridget prepared
fast,

so

with

their

happy
words

hearts

and

their gifts to gladden those

who
good

needed
deeds.

kind

and

After the family had joined in

their

morning worship, Mr. Paysaid,

son

"JSTow,

my

children,

we

will

go

and see some sad

while mamma prefor she the Christmas-tree; pares says we must not have a peep
faces .smile,

HAPPY HEARTS.
at
it
till

49

our friends come this

evening." By the

time

the

sun
tree

was
tops,

looking

over

the

Mr.
were

Payson
riding

and

the

children

toward

Mrs.

Grant's with a basket of good things and a great many kind

words.

They found the

in

little

Grants

quite an uproar.

They had
and now

hung up
first

their stockings for the

lives,

time in their

they were spreading out Santa Claus's wonderful gifts with great
glee.

The basket was

4

carried

in,

and Mr. Payson told Mrs. Grant 9

50

MAPLE GEOVE

STORIES.
for

what more would be done

her every-day comfort. Tears came in her eyes when

she thanked
dren.

him and the

chil-

"It almost made

me

feel like

crying," said Kebecca, when they had left the house, "to see poor

lame Harry's face look so happy." At Mrs. Fisher's they found a

gloomy and unhappy scene. Mr. Fisher sat with his hair
falling

over his half-shut eyes,

while the hungry and cold children were huddled around the

half-warmed stove on which their

mother was trying to cook something for breakfast.

HAPPY HEARTS.

51

"My
bring

children

have come to
to

some smiles

yourself

and your little ones this Christmas morning," said Mr. Payson
to

into the miserable

you please says, have a good dinner?" said Rebecca, as she and Joshua carried
the basket to Mrs. Fisher, whose
eyes
filled

Mrs. Fisher, as they stepped home. " Mamma will

with tears at this un-

expected kindness.
ets for coal

Mr. Payson gave her the and food, and

that
his

tick-

told
call

her

wife

would

sometimes and see

how

she en-

joyed them. Mr. Fisher hung his head in

52

MAPLE GEOVE

STORIES.

shame
little

as the bright faces of the

of

Pay sons left. But a ray light had shone into that

sad face

gloomy home, and Mrs. Fisher's smiled when she saw

her children spreading out their Christmas gifts. Each one had

been kindly remembered and was bright with happiness.

Joshua, and Eebecca, and

New-

ton rode toward home, carrying hearts filled anew with love, and
gentleness,

and kindness.

Mr. Payson next knocked at Mrs. Kelly Mr. Kelly's door.

was

sitting,

wrapped up,

in

rocking chair, sick, but having a pleasant smile. Little Martha

HAPPY HEARTS.

53

was doing the morning work, and looked with surprise at the early visitors and their good
gifts.

The

children

soon

had the

food spread out for Mrs. Kelly to see what a nice dinner she

would have; and Martha fairly danced around the room hold;

ing
for

good Sunday frock herself and a pretty story

up

book.

"This
said

is a happy Christmas," Eebecca as they rode home.

7

"We
Mr.

learn,

my

children/ said
those

Pay son,
happy

"that

who

try to do their
in

duty

may
and

be rich
smiling

hearts

54

MAPLE GROVE
though

STOEIES.
are

homes
poor.

they

very

"But bad hearts and bad ways make the sunshine seem
gloomy in the finest parlors." "When the sun went down that
night,
friends,

both

old

and

young,
parlors,

gathered in

Mr. Payson's to pluck gifts from the

all

well-loaded Christmas-tree.

Fruits from

parts of the

world

were

branches,

and

in its hanging toys and books

peeped
leaves.

out

from

the

green

When
closed
stars

little

eyelids

were

in

sleep

winked

that night, the and smiled over

HAPPY HEARTS.
little

55
brimful

hearts
;

that were

of love

because,
rich.

by

giving, they

had grown