Melbourne House, Volume 1

er father asked at breakfast next morning. Company

a! It was as good

lph. "I wonder what pitc

r finding a fairy ta

ver read a

e you not tired wi

o, p

u like to

pa, ver

as you like-only alwa

t Mrs. Parsons wants?

he wanted anything, except to see m

dolph burst into a rou

h seeme

if she wanted t

ring; "she said so at any rate; but I cou

olph, drawing his little daughter into his arms; "but it w

; "and your aunt Gary and your cousins will be here.

" said Daisy, returni

ou please, if you wi

alk to Nora Din

se! Wha

consult

e would be a much

sober and s

Randolph. "Why not c

ly, "Ransom and I do no

father laughing; "what

is

by both father and mother she at length spoke. "I think,

vely amused. "Ransom!"-h

pa, don't!"

s this? your sister says y

bright-looking boy and a great pet of his mother,-"ther

ned eagerly and

re themselves are concerned!" went on Ra

nd your mother does not like fishing-tackle at the breakfast-table-go! I believe," he

andolph, "girls have eno

. "Daisy, I think I understand you. I do not require so much

get it," said Mrs. Randolph; while Daisy still in h

ay, Daisy?" said her father with

t. Mamma, do you like I sho

send for her and hold a grand counci

er noble trees dotted the ground here and there; some fine cattle shewed their red and white heads, standing or lying about in the shade. Above the distant thicket, far, far away, rose the heads of great blue mountains. The grass had just been mown, in part; and a very sweet smell from the hay floated about under the trees around the house. Daisy's tree however was at some distance from the house. In the absolute sweet quiet, Daisy and her Bible took possession of the place. The Bible had grown a wonderful book to her now. It was the book of the commandments of the Great King whose servant she felt herself. Now every

ad greeting the children sat down together, to talk much joyful talk and tell childish news, in the course of which Daisy's perplexities came out, for which she had wanted Nora's counsel. She explained that

ke, Daisy?" Daisy nodded. "O w

ld be nic

I should have-I sh

par

is what I s

t of a pic-nic; and of a great journey to Schroeder's Mount

uld have a party. O there are plent

itty Marsden, m

la Stan

tanfield"-said

e are the

ell;-when Alexander and Ransom get togeth

plan and the advantages of the party. Suddenly Daisy broke in with a new subject.

ra with open e

rest means; but do you know what the talents are? Is it just money?-because

hink of that just now? we w

while," said Daisy. "I was reading

king about the p

s; and then we will go on about th

t," said Nora, unwillingly c

e say it is? the t

as. Not money, everything-Now don't y

ttle-I want to know about this. W

Sunday-school, Daisy?

d ask Mr. Dinwiddie. That's why I want you to h

he said the talents meant everything God

ork with besides m

ir feet, and all they know, and all their love for people; and even the way we do

it," answered Daisy ev

it down, for fear I sh

exclaimed Nora. "Are you goi

nd making her repeat it for that purpose. When she had done she looked a little dub

ht to tell you--" was

t this means, that

o

s full upon her companion-"I want to tr

looked at Daisy as if a gap in the

y are, for fear I shouldn't use them all. I don't understand it yet, bu

sy--" sa

ha

u in ea

st," said Daisy gravely.

k your brother

,-but-you never to

"that I loved the Lord Jesus; but I know I do now, a

subject of the party again and to discuss it with any spirit. The discussion then did not come to any determination. Daisy was at least lukewarm in her fancy for that mode of spending her birthday; and separate plans of pic-nics and expeditions of pleasure were taken up and handled, sure

er in private. He was sauntering out the next morning after breakfast. Daisy joined him, and they strolled along through the grounds, giv

own here for a moment a

her, who knew by experience

ey sat down, "I want to

t is

oupe the other day, papa, I heard so

d y

ther as I went by, that it was your carriage, and then he said that

any conseque

id he say

you want

nor like it, papa; I want

y those who have not enough in the world are very apt

, pa

men, I suppose

pa-work

dear, are very apt to have

what,

to live better

oor people gene

They do not generall

g slowly, "how do you know? Wha

aisy, when they do not speak it. They shew it in various way

, that is

ha

eel so. I am sure rich peo

her head fondly,

believe th

it, papa?" said Daisy grow

, "they would be better satisfied if

ing under the shrubbery; there the gardener was setting out pots of greenhouse flowers; in another place there were holes digging for trees to be planted. Daisy went musing on whil

sy. I can't hope to escape

ey don't look

ey do not wish to

thing be done to mak

ther laughing, "are you

ow what tha

ake all the world wise, it would do, but foo

terest had much more knowledge about it than Daisy. She had been with her brother sometimes to the houses of poor children, and she gave Daisy a high-coloured picture of the ways of living in such houses and the absence of many things by Daisy and herself thought the necessaries of life. Daisy heard her with a lengthening face, and

there be a great plenty

gan says the vines are

choice of what I wou

my strawbe

a great table set out of doors somewhere,

lph. "I never heard anything

eyes for her father to sp

give you ple

, pa

that scheme in your he

at all, mamma. I p

did you

id "Speak." Then nestling up to him with her head on his breast, a favou

ear, for

le, papa-and partly from what

u found it in the Bible. I don't r

n it in ear

es

ither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind; and thou shalt be bless

to get ruined!" said Mrs

are not lame or blind-how wi

like to have the others too,

tle mouth that was lifted s

d neighbours? Shall we write to your aunt and cousins

et,-"you know I don't mean that. I would like to have them

rest of us have

For that day, I would like t

o find something as s

y's

surd plan I ever heard

s not a very good thing,

thout servants in the house, and wait upon ourse

isn't the servants-it's o

aisy?" said her father; "h

, and Michael, and Mr. Stilton

ur hay-

akers,

m in the fields next week. And

atrick at the gate.

of all these famil

hat do y

there will be str

six, and Michael has four, and I believe the herdsman has som

we do with t

men and their wives come, I think, and send some stra

some suitable baskets. Take the chaise and Sam. I expect you

Daisy looking somewhat doubtfully

olph. "I have no knowledge how to order such p

e went to

. "You and Joanna can manage i

hard-featured woman, with skill and capacity in every line of her face however, and almost in every fold of her gown. She heard

like that. The men won't forget it. Where ar

a. In some pretty, shady

that'll be as good a way as any. Now what are you

aid I was to arra

folded her arms to

y will t

ere will be about seventeen,

na. "You'll have to get the carpenter

l we have on it? There will want to be a good deal, fo

nna, looking as if sh

t'll have to be that, w

me manage it-and I'll s

s about the strawberri

de

the table with

a,-"I don't know anyth

ake ready, and

and coffe

be sure, they'll want something to d

ow. Won't y

of being taken on too fast by her little counsellor-"I don't know

e place for the table, had to be settled with Mr. Stilton, and the invitations given, and many particulars settled; but to settle them was extremely pleasant, and Daisy found that every face of those concerned in the invitations