Chapter I

THE NEW HOME.
PAGE
The trunk—What made it so heavy—Jessie’s gold—The Hapley
family—The separation—Jessie’s new position—Her mother’s
departure—The Pages—Going to work—Ronald’s flag—A patriotic
appeal—A job for Jessie—The flag-staff—Ronald’s shrewdness
questioned—Some criticisms on the flag—Worth all it
cost—Alterations proposed—An unexpected difficulty—How to make
an American flag—The repairs completed—The flag hoisted—A
surprise—Crying before breakfast—Two sober ones—Jessie in
retirement—Traces of tears—Henry’s visit—Homesickness—A dory
voyage across the ocean—What Marcus was thinking
about—Celebrating Washington’s birth-day—Marcus explains his
plan—An objection to a bonfire—The committee of
arrangements—Preparations for the celebration—The
pictures—Washington and his home—A busy time—The programme—The
parlor and the audience—The exercises—The tableau—A scene not in
the bill—Sound sleepers, 19

CHAPTER II.

SOMETHING ABOUT DIARIES.

How Jessie happened to keep a journal—Advantages of the habit—The
blank book—The title-page—origin of the motto—Abby Leonard—A
cutting remark—Its effect—Jessie’s resolution—Divine aid
sought—Abby conquered by kindness—The first record in the
journal—Benny’s death—Specimen of a Diary in Dry Measure—One in
Long Measure—One in Solid Measure—Which is best, 41

CHAPTER III.

SNOW AND ICE.

Building a snow-house—A disagreement—The work goes on—Another
dispute—Obstinacy—View of the snow-hut—Going to see the
ice-boat—Angry words—Ronald’s early life—Esquimaux snow-houses—A
traveller’s testimony—An ice-boat—Round Hill Pond—A lively
scene—The coasters—Description of the ice-boat—sailing wrong end
first—A western ice-boat—Invitation declined—The boat under
sail—Going home—The snow-slide—A vast heap of snow—A narrow
escape—Thoroughly alarmed—Ronald’s snow-hut, 57

CHAPTER IV.

THE REFEREE CASE.

Henry missing—Oscar’s account of the falling out—Jessie
incredulous—Henry’s defence—A reluctant admission—Jessie’s plan
for settling the quarrel—Rights of partners—Henry
obstinate—Another proposal—Referees—Henry’s reluctance—He
yields—The award to be binding—Ronald’s version of the
quarrel—Wherein he was to blame—He agrees to the referee
plan—The referees chosen—The meeting—Henry’s arrival—His
embarrassment—Ronald’s talkativeness—Fast skating—Subsiding into
silence—Examination of the two parties—Ronald’s comments on the
proceedings—Anticipating the decision—Making up—Summoned to the
tribunal—The referees surprised—They take it coolly—Looking
after the fees—Reading the award—The decision carried out—The
gallery of literary portraits—Jessie’s taste for
drawing—Twenty-four characters enigmatically expressed—The key, 71

CHAPTER V.

A DAY AT SCHOOL.

Two new comers—The academy—The opening exercises—The sentence on
the blackboard—The definition of wisdom—Knowledge brings
promotion—Education a good investment—Cuffee and the
calf—Charging for “the know how”—Building a house—The
laborers—Masons and carpenters—The “boss”—The
architect—Knowledge promotes a man in other ways—Jessie’s
appointment as assistant—The monitorial desk—The dinner
hour—Good riddance—The slow boy—A good time among the girls—Abby
and her pickles—The cake—Bragging—The squint-eyed girl—Making
fun of Abby—How she tried to make herself pale—Is it scandal to
tell the truth?—Evil speaking—Jessie called to account—Lucy
Grant—Strabismus, or squinting—A surgical operation—The slight
put upon Lucy—Jessie dispels the clouds—Closing the afternoon
session—Mr. Upton’s remarks—The evening hymn, 91

CHAPTER VI.

SWEETS AND BITTERS.

The Home Wreath—Jessie’s doubts about the nature of scandal—Light
from the dictionary—A note of inquiry—Henry missing—His
appearance—The temple of peace abandoned—Henry’s explanation—His
troubles—Mrs. Allen—Making husk mats—What Jessie said—How to be
loved—Jessie’s entreaties—The promise—The sugar season—Ronald’s
sugar enterprise—Tapping the trees—The sap—Sugar grown, not
made—Boiling down the sap—Clarifying it—“Sugaring off”—The
cakes—Going to a sugar camp—Who went, and who did
not—Description and view of the camp—Appearance of the Home
Wreath—Editorial reply to Jessie’s inquiry—The Bible on
scandal—Writers on moral science—Scandal is the worst kind of
robbery—Cases in which it is right to speak evil of
another—Prevalence of scandal—A noble exception—A secret well
kept—Oscar’s career, 110

CHAPTER VII.

HOW TO BE HAPPY.

What Henry thought of his promise—The real origin of Henry’s
troubles—Mrs. Allen’s rigid neatness—Scrubbing through the
floor—Henry roughly touches her weak point—Grows reckless—The
change in Mrs. Allen—The scolding—A forgotten duty—Dressing
up—Henry’s altered bearing—His explanation about the
wood—Attending school—Work and play—A decided improvement—An
approving conscience—Disappointment—Voluntary mat-braiding—A
welcome order—Another disappointment—How Henry bore it—Story of
the tornado—A stage-coach blown over—Freaks of the wind—Firm
buildings—A song—Learning it—Henry’s pictures—The top in rhyme—A
story—An abrupt ending—Willie’s talk about sending Henry to the
“Boy-Tamer”—A call from Jessie—Her gratification—Mrs. Allen’s
return, 130

CHAPTER VIII.

SABBATH LESSONS.

The miniature—Sad Associations—A life history—Melancholy
thoughts—Going to church—The sermon—The universal
burden—Laughing it away—Moping over it—Running away from it—The
man who was haunted by a goblin—One only true remedy for
sorrow—How to cast our burdens on the Lord—The Sabbath
School—The lesson—Why prayer is a duty—God requires it—Our
dependence upon Him—Not to pray is unnatural—Our need of
forgiveness—The boy who was too old to pray—A talk with him—His
great mistake—A ridiculous excuse—The climax of
meanness—Conscience prompts us to pray—Prayer a natural and
universal instinct—Prayer of infidels—Prayer brings
blessings—Its happy influence on our hearts—Good men have always
been praying men—Examples from history—Recapitulation—Jessie’s
eighth argument for prayer—Evening devotions, 149

CHAPTER IX.

RAINY-DAY DIVERSIONS.

The equinoctial storm—An argument postponed—Distribution of
work—An afternoon of leisure—Nothing to do—Andrew Airpump and
his comrades—An unceremonious check—Alliteration—Univocalic
verses—Task verses—Thread-paper poetry—How to write it—A
specimen—Cento verses—Pith-tumblers—The Grand Mufti—The sleepy
Brahmin—Balancing a coin on a needle—The trick
explained—Ronald’s experiment—The Moslem oracle—Its five
responses—Kate’s cento poem—How she found the lines—Contents of
the Wreath—Arithmetical puzzles and answers, 169

CHAPTER X.

ALL FOOLS’ DAY.

The boys’ chamber—Early and late rising—Ronald’s trick—Otis enjoys
a long nap—The clean plate—Suspicions allayed—More
tricks—Imaginary chalk—The railroad whistle—Easter—Easter
eggs—Trial of strength—Another trial—The soft egg—The pitched
seat—Otis missed at school—Inquiries—Aunt Fanny’s
discovery—Vexation—Otis at school—Interview with Ronald—A talk
about April-fooling—Difference of opinion—A court proposed—A
family custom—How the court managed business—The trial—The
prosecuting Attorney’s speech—The complaint—The plea of “not
guilty”—The first witness—Amusing cross-examination—Other
witnesses—The prisoner’s speech—A question arises—The judge’s
decision—The prisoner’s admission—His argument and appeal—The
prosecuting attorney’s closing plea—An interruption—Can you tell
a lie to a hen?—Conclusion of the argument—The charge—The
verdict—The sentence—Its execution, 185

CHAPTER XI.

SCHOLARS.

Good spelling—A spelling match—Choosing sides—Evils attending
spelling matches—An incident—Jessie blamed for an act of
kindness—Another incident—The last of choosing sides—Jessie’s
rank in school—Disadvantages—Secret of her success—Good and poor
memories—Abby’s memory—Lord Adolphus D’Orsay—The list of
irregular verbs—Saying over lessons before sleep—A contrast—The
good and the poor scholar—Concentrating the mind—Luther’s
testimony—Anecdote of St. Bernard—Power of early culture and
discipline—Why Jessie and Abby associated—Novel reading—Its
effects on Abby—Objections to it—Jessie proof against the
temptation, 209

CHAPTER XII.

A FEW BUSINESS MATTERS.

Driving a bargain—Beating down the price—Jessie’s rule, in
trading—Mrs. Page’s practice—How Jessie got her new dress so
cheap—Shillings and pence—Was Jessie to blame?—Selling for less
than cost—Motives for doing so—Meanness—Getting out of debt—An
unexpected application of good advice—Ronald’s debt—The lost
Reader—Plans frustrated—Dunning—An arrangement effected—The note
of hand—Interest—The receipt—Negotiating the note—A good
rule—Keeping account of expenses—Jessie’s poverty—Longings—Uncle
Morrison—His proposal to adopt Jessie—Jessie’s perplexity—Her
uncle’s tavern—His character—His wife—The
decision—Surprise—Further proposals—Jessie firm—A wise choice, 222