Preface [5-6]
[5] Girls love heroism as much as boys do and probably love it for its own sake, apart from the excitement and glory often attendant upon it, – even more. They are, moreover, as capable of heroism as boys are and though, in the wider world of activity in which they move, boys have more prominent opportunities for the display of the heroic, if all the triumphs of moral heroism were added up, heroism no less real because evinced under mundane conditions and in obscure corners of the world’s workshop or playground, girls would have no reason to be ashamed of the record. The following stories have been written and selected in this belief and in the hope that the homely heroism they set forth, suggest and imply, may encourage the spirit they illustrate in those for whom these volumes are prepared. While keeping the heroic always in view, the Editor has allowed himself sufficient latitude to enable him to preserve that variety in the contents of the volume which is characteristic of all its predecessors and which appeals with so much force to young readers. […]
Contents
Home and SchoolA Brown Kid Glove. By Florence L. Henderson 11
Janet’s Burgler. By Alice F. Jackson 21
A Burgler’s Gratitude. By Alice F. Jackson 36
Elaine’s Garden Party. By Julia K. Hildreth 43
Dilly’s Easter Offering. By Sophie Swett 53
The Chums. By N. Holderness 61
The Adelphian Society. By E. C. Robbins 75
Aunt Lou’s Pug. By Matthew White, jun. 83
A Fortunate Mistake. By Florence Hallowell 90
How Susy Sold the Baby. Anonymous 95
Peas in the Princess’s Pillow. By Flora H. Loughead 102
Our School Flag. By Marian L. Cummings 111
Jean’s Outing. By Jennie M. D. Conklin 121
A January Thaw. By Sophie Swett 127
A True Ghost Story. Anonymous 139
Girlhood and Youth
Cinderella. By Alfred H. Miles 145
At the Sign of the “Thorn”. By Sarah Doudney 158
An Easter Lesson. By John J. à Becket 171
“In Doubt” . By L. T. Meade 183
The Langley Stories. By Janet Armstrong 197
I. The Nankin Jar
II. The Brocade Gown
Their Own Heroine. By Grace Stebbing 211
Jen’s Legacy. Anonymous 223
The Tale of a Tub Race. By John R. Coryell 229
The General’s Namesake. By Kate Whiting 233
Out West
Blingo, the Blacksmith. By H. Butterworth 239
Glaucus. Anonymous 249
Dilly’s Relations. By Fanny M. Johnson 258
The Conjuring of “Lieutenant General” . By Fanny C. Farinholt 275
Shascus Hain. By J.Emery 281
Flash-Light. By Henry Farley 285
The Treasure. By L. A. Erath 299
The Deacon’s Gravestone. By F. W. Palmer 308
Little Miss Santa Claus. By John R. Coryell 317
How Theophilus Fished. By Mary E. Vandyne 327
Life and Experience
God’s Wind on Christmas. By Eve Robert Overton 337
Aunt Huldy. By Julie M. Lippmann 346
Three Runaway Girls. By Kelvin Grove 355
Aunt Susan’s Quilt. By J. L. H. 364
Polite Jones’s Responsibility. By Henry A. Upham 372
A Bit of Blue Calico. By Annie M. L. Hawes 378
Praxiteles’s Partner. By Cora S. Wheeler 388
Uncle ’Lijah’s Property. By Walter L. Sawyer 395
How Grandma went Home. By M. E. W. 404
The Story of the Necklace. By E. D. Frances 409
Tales of Animals
A Cat’s Tale. By Allan Forman 417
A Dog’s Tale. By Emma Maude Phelps 421
A Monkey’s Tale. By H. Hervey 424
A Panther’s Tale. By Emily Bailey 432
A Bear’s Tale. By Richard Barry 436
An Elephant’s Tale. By H. Hervey 441
A Wolf’s Tale. By Ernest Ingersoll 450