|
|
|I Won't |--April, 1876 |"Old-fashioned | " |
| | | Fairy Tales" | |
| | | | |
|Father Hedgehog and|--June to August, 1876 |"Brothers of Pity, | " |
| His Neighbours | | and other Tales" | |
| | | | |
|House Building |--June, 1876 |"Doll's | " |
| and Repairs | | Housekeeping" | |
| | | | |
|An Only Child's |--July, 1876 | " | " |
| Tea-Party | | | |
| | | | |
|Dandelion Clocks |--August, 1876 |"Dandelion Clocks, | " |
| | | and other Tales" | |
| | | | |
|Our Field |--September, 1876 |"A Great Emergency,|Bell & Sons.|
| | | and other Tales" | |
| | | | |
|Papa Poodle |--September, 1876 |"Papa Poodle, and | S.P.C.K. |
| | | other Pets" | |
| | | | |
|A Week Spent in a |--October, 1876 |"A Week Spent in a |Wells, |
| Glass Pond | | Glass Pond" |Darton & Co.|
| | | | |
|Big Smith |--October, 1876 |"Little Boys and | S.P.C.K. |
| | |Wooden Horses" | |
| | | | |
|The Magician turned|--November, 1876 |"Old-fashioned | " |
| Mischief-Maker | | Fairy Tales" | |
| | | | |
|A Bad Habit |--January, 1877 |"Melchior's Dream, |Bell & Sons,|
| | | and other Tales" | 1885. |
| | | | |
|Brothers of Pity |--April, 1877 |"Brothers of Pity, | S.P.C.K. |
| | | and other Tales" | |
| | | | |
|Kit's Cradle |--April, 1877 |"Baby, Puppy, and | " |
| | | Kitty" | |
| | | | |
|Ladders to Heaven |--May, 1877 |"Dandelion Clocks,"| " |
| | | &c. | |
| | | | |
|Boy and Squirrel |--June, 1877 |"Tongues in Trees" | " |
| | | | |
|Master Fritz |--August, 1877 |"Master Fritz" | " |
| | | | |
|A Sweet Little |--September, 1877 |"A Sweet Little | " |
| Dear | | Dear" | |
| | | | |
|We and the World |--November, 1887, to |"We and the World" |Bell & Sons.|
| | June, 1878, and | | |
| | April to October, | | |
| | 1879 | | |
| | | | |
|The Yellow Fly |--December, 1877 |"Baby, Puppy, and | S.P.C.K. |
| | | Kitty" | |
| | | | |
|So-so |--September, 1878 |"Dandelion Clocks,"| " |
| | | &c. | |
| | | | |
|Flaps |_Aunt Judy's Magazine_ |"Brothers of Pity, | " |
| |January, 1879 | and other Tales" | |
| | | | |
|Canada Home |--January, 1879 |"Verses for | " |
| | | Children," &c. | |
| | | vol. ix. | |
| | | | |
|Garden Lore |--March, 1879 | " | " |
| | | | |
|A Soldier's |--July, 1879 |"A Soldier's | " |
| Children | | Children" | |
| | | | |
|Jackanapes |--October, 1879 |"Jackanapes" | " |
| | | | |
|Grandmother's |--June, 1880 |"Grandmother's | S.P.C.K. |
| Spring | | Spring" | |
| | | | |
|Touch Him if You |--July, 1880 |"Touch Him if you | " |
| Dare | | Dare" | |
| | | | |
|The Mill Stream |--August, 1881 |"The Mill Stream" | " |
| | | | |
|Blue and Red; or, |--September, 1881 |"Blue and Red," | " |
| the Discontented | | &c. | |
| Lobster | | | |
| | | | |
|Daddy Darwin's |--November, 1881 |"Daddy Darwin's | " |
| Dovecote | | Dovecote" | |
| | | | |
|Lætus Sorte Meâ: |--May to October, 1882 |"The Story of a | " |
| or, the Story | | Short Life" | |
| of a Short Life | | | |
| | | | |
|Sunflowers and a |--November, 1882 |"Mary's Meadow." | " |
| Rushlight | | &c., vol. xvi. | |
| | | | |
|The Poet and the |--January, 1883 |"The Poet and the | " |
| Brook | | Brook" | |
| | | | |
|Mother's Birthday |--April, 1883 |"Mother's Birthday | " |
| Review | | Review" | |
| | | | |
|Convalescence |--May, 1883 |"Convalescence" | " |
| | | | |
|A Happy Family |--September, 1883 |"Melchior's Dream, |Bell & Sons.|
| | | and other Tales" | |
| | | | |
|Mary's Meadow |--November, 1883, to |"Mary's Meadow, | S.P.C.K. |
| | March, 1884 | and other Tales" | |
| | | | |
|The Peace Egg. |--January, 1884 |"The Peace Egg," | " |
| A Christmas | | &c. | |
| Mumming Play | | | |
| | | | |
|Letters from a |--November, 1884, to |"Mary's Meadow, | " |
| Little Garden | February, 1885 | and other Tales" | |
| | | | |
|Tiny's Tricks and |_Child's Pictorial |"Brothers of Pity, | " |
| Toby's Tricks |Magazine_ | and other | |
| |May, 1885 | Tales," vol. xii.| |
| | | | |
|The Owl in the |--June, 1885 | " | " |
| Ivy Bush; or, | | | |
| the Children's | | | |
| Bird of Wisdom | | | |
| --Introduction | | | |
| --Owlhoot I. |--July, 1885 | " | " |
| --Owlhoot II. |--August, 1885 | " | " |
+-------------------+------------------------+-------------------+------------+
TRANSLATIONS.
+----------------------+-----------------------+--------------------------+
|A Child's Wishes |From the German of |_Aunt Judy's Magazine_, |
| | R. Reinick | 1866. |
| | | |
|War and the Dead |From the French of |--October, 1866. |
| | Jean Mace | |
| | | |
|Tales of the Khoja |From the Turkish |--April to December, 1874.|
| | | |
|The Adventures of an |Adapted from the German|--November and |
| of an Elf | | December, 1875. |
| | | |
|The Snarling Princess |Adapted from the German|--December, 1875. |
| | | |
|The Little Parsnip |Adapted from the German|--January, 1876. |
| Man | | |
+----------------------+-----------------------+--------------------------+
LETTERS
TO MISS E. LLOYD
_Ecclesfield._ August 19, 1864.
MY DEAREST ELEANOR
It is with the greatest pleasure that I "sit down" and square my
elbows to answer one question of your letter. The one about the
Liturgical Lessons. Nothing (I find) is more difficult in this short
life than to emulate John's example--and "explain my meaning!" but I
will do my best. Beloved! In the first place I am going to do what I
hope will be more to your benefit than my credit! Send you my rough
notes. If you begin at the first page and read straight ahead to where
allusion is made to the Apocryphal Lessons, you will have my first
Course, and you will see that I was working by degrees straight
through the Morning Prayer. But then (like the Turnip Tom-toddies!) we
found that "the Inspector was coming"--and though the class was pretty
well getting up "Matins"--it knew very little about the
Prayer-book--so then I took a different tack. We left off minutiæ and
Bible references and took to a sort of general sketch of the whole
Prayer-book. For this I did not make fresh notes at the time--but when
the Inspector came and I being too ill to examine them--M. did it--I
wrote out in a hurry the questions and answers that follow the
Apocrypha point for her benefit. My dear old Eleanor--I am such a bad
hand myself--that I feel it perfectly ludicrous to attempt to help
you--but here are a few results of my limited experience which are
probably all wrong--but the best I have to offer!
Don't teach all the school.
Make up a "Liturgical Class" (make a favour of it if possible) of
mixed boys and girls.
Have none that cannot read.
Tell them to bring their Prayer-books with them on the "Liturgy Day."
If any of them say they have none--let nothing induce you to supply
them.
Say "Well, you must look over your neighbour, but you ought to have
one for yourself--I can let you have one for _2d._, so when you go
home, 'ask Papa,' and bring me the _2d._ next time."
Never give the Prayer-book "in advance"--! (I never _pressed_ the
Prayer-books on them, or insisted on their having them. But gradually
they all wanted to have them, and I used to take them with me, and
they brought up their _2d._'s if they wanted any. The class is chiefly
composed of Dissenters, but they never have raised any objection, and
buy Prayer-books for children who never come to Church. The first
prize last time was very deservedly won by the daughter of the
Methodist Minister.)
If you know any that cannot afford them, give them in private.
Deal round the School Bibles to the Class for reference.
One's chief temptation is to attempt too much. The great art is to
make a good _skeleton_ lesson of the leading points, and fill in
afterwards.
_Wait_ a long time for your answers.
Repeat the question as simply as possible, and keep saying--Now
_think_--_think_. One generally gets it in time.
Lead up to your answer: thus--
_Eleanor._ "S. Augustine was a missionary Priest from--now answer all
together?"
_The whole Class._ Rome.
_Eleanor._ "Now who was S. Augustine?--All together."
The result probably will be that one or perhaps two will give the
whole answer--and then you can say--
"That's right. But I want you all to say it. Now all together. Who was
S. Augustine?"
Then you will get it from all.
If you don't mind it, the black board is often of great use. In this
way--
[_Sketch._] X represents the black board.
Suppose you have undertaken for the day's lesson (a _long_ one!) to
begin at the question of whether we know the exact date of the first
introduction of Christianity into England and to go on to S.
Augustine's Consecration. When you first arrive take your chalk and
write--
S. PAUL
and draw a line;
----------------------------
then
ARLES . . . . . 314
NICÆA . . . . . 323
----------------------------
AUGUSTINE
ROME
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
597
----------------------------
Make them read everything as you write it, telling them the words till
they are familiar. Then "lead up to" the written words in your
questions and point with the stick, so that they will finish the
answer by reading it _all together_. Thus--"The Council of ---- (stick
to Aries) in the year ---- (stick to 314)."
When you are _teaching_ a thing, make them answer all together. When
you are examining what you have taught before, let those answer who
can.
Of course my _notes_ give no idea of the way one teaches, I mean of
course one has perpetually to use familiar examples, and go back and
back--and _into_ things.
Put the more backward children _behind_ the others, and never let any
of the _front row_ answer till the back row have tried.
If they are very young or backward, perhaps before you attempt
anything like Church History, you might _familiarize_ them with the
Prayer-book services--by making them find the places in their proper
rotation--turn quickly to the Psalms for the Day. Make them find the
Lessons for the Day, for Holy-days--Collect for the week--Baptism
Service. In fact I should advise you to _begin_ so. Say for the first
Lesson you take a CHRISTMAS DAY Service--make them look out
everything in succession. Ask them what a Collect is--where the
Lessons come from--who wrote the Psalms, etc. Make them understand how
the Holy Communion is administered--suppose a Baptism--and make them
explain--the two Sacraments in the words of the Catechism. (Never mind
whether they understand it--one can't explain everything at once!)
Indeed I strongly advise you to go on this tack for some time.
Say that for the first lesson or two (the above is too advanced) you
take _the Psalms_. Ask them what Book they were taken from, etc.--make
them find them for the day, and show them where and how to find the
Proper Psalms. In succeeding lessons, if you like, you can explain
that the Psalms are translations--and why the Bible and Prayer-book
versions are different--show which are the seven Penitential--(the
three Morning and three Evening for Ash Wednesday and the 51st). Point
out the latter as used as a general confession in the Commination
Service--having been written on the occasion of David's fall. Also the
Psalms of Degrees (the most exquisite of all I think!), which were
used to be sung as the Jews came up from all parts of the land to
Jerusalem--"I was glad when they said unto me," etc.
Tell them of any Psalms authentically connected with History--and any
anecdotes or traditions that you can meet with connected with them.
How S. Augustine and his band of missionaries first encountered the
King with his choristers carrying the Cross and chanting Psalms to
those Gregorians that Gregory (birch in hand!) had taught him in Rome,
etc., etc.
I find they like stray anecdotes--and they are _pegs_ to hang things
on. (Trevor says that our Blessed Lord is supposed to have repeated
the _whole_ of the twenty-second Psalm on the Cross.) The "Hymn" sung
before they went out after the Last Supper was a Psalm. (See marginal
Bible notes.) You can do no greater kindness than give them an
appreciation and interest in that inexhaustible store of "Prayer and
Penitence and Praise"--that has put words into the mouth of the whole
Church of God from the days of David to the present time, which is
used by every Church (however else divided) in common--and rejected by
no sect however captious!
Point out what Psalms are used in the course of the services--(like
the _Venite_, etc.)
Don't be alarmed if the Psalms last you for months! you can't do
better--and you must go over and over unless your bairns are Solomons!
Make them understand that they were intended, and are adapted for
singing.
_Get up_ your lessons beforehand--but teach as familiarly and as much
with no book but the Prayer-book and Bible as you can.
Then you might take the Lessons in a similar fashion, and the
Collects, etc.
Excuse all this ramble. I have no doubt I have bored you with a great
deal of chaff--but I hardly know quite what you want to know. As to
the subject--it is a Hobby with me--so excuse rhapsodies!
I don't believe you can confer a greater kindness than to make them
well acquainted with their Prayer-books. I believe you may teach every
scrap of necessary theology from it--the Life of Jesus in the
Collects, and special services from Advent to Trinity--Practical
duties and the _morale_ of the Gospel in the twenty-five Sundays of
Trinity. Apostles--Martyrs--the Communion of Saints--and the Ministry
of Angels in the rest. As to the History of Liturgies--it is simply
the History of the Church. I believe the Prayer-book contains Prayer,
Praise, Confession, Intercession and Ejaculation fitted to every need
and occasion of all conditions of men!--with very rare if any
exceptions. I believe in _ignorance_ of the Prayer-book the poor lose
the greatest fund of instruction and consolation next to the Bible
(and it is our best Commentary on that!) that is to be got at. And
people's ignorance of it is _wonderful_! You hear complaints of the
shifting of the services--the arrangement of the Lessons--and a
precious muddle it must seem to any one who does not know--that Isaiah
is skipped in the reading of the Old Testament--that as the
Evangelical Prophet he may be read at the Advent and Nativity of
Christ--that we dip promiscuously into the Apocrypha on Saints'
Days--because those books are read "for example of life and
instruction of manners"--and not to establish doctrine, etc., etc.
Somebody has compiled a straight ahead Prayer-book, and I fancy it
will be found very useful--about the same time that we get a royal
road to learning--or that services compiled on the most comprehensive
and comprehensible system by men of the highest and devoutest
intellect for every age, class, sex, and succeeding generations of the
Church of a whole country, can be made at the same time to fit the
case of every ignoramus who won't take the trouble to do more than
lick his thumb and turn over a page!!! If people would but understand
that the shortest way to anything is to get at the first principles!!
When one humbles oneself to learn those, the arrangement of the
Liturgy becomes as beautiful and lovable a piece of machinery as that
of Nature or God's Providence almost! and is just as provocative of
ignorant complaint and sarcasm if one doesn't.
Oh! Eleanora! What _will_ you say to this sermon!!--My "lastly"
is--teach your bairns the "why" their great-great-great-(very great!)
Grandfathers put all these glorious Prayers together in their present
order--and "when they are old they will not" ... need any modern
wiseacres to help them to get blindfold from the _Venite_ to the
Proper Psalms.
Adieu, beloved. Post time almost--and another letter to write. I have
had a sort of double quinsy--but am better, thank God.
Your devoted and prosy,
JULIANA HORATIA GATTY.
The Books I have used are _Wheatley on the Common Prayer_, Hook's
_Lives of the Archbishops_, and _Church Dictionary_, and anything I
could get hold of. Get any decent book on the Psalms--compare the two
versions--read the _prefaces_, _rubrics_, etc.--above all. Have you
the Parker Society edition of Edward VI. Prayer-book?
To H.K.F.G.
_Hotel de l'Europe, Anvers._
September 22, 1865.
MY DEAREST D----,
"Here we are again!" at the Hotel Dr. Harvey recommended. The Captain
of our boat said it was cheaper and better than S. Antoine. You must
excuse a not very lively letter, for I am still so ill from the
voyage. I can't get over it somehow at present, but shall be all right
to-morrow. We enjoyed our day in Hull immensely! you will be amused to
hear. At night we went to the Harvest Thanksgiving service at S.
Mary's. Nice service, capital sermon, and crammed congregation. The
decorations were scarlet geraniums, corn, evergreen, and grapes. The
_Alster_ wasn't to time, but they said she would sail at four, so we
slept on board. We "turned over" an awful night. R. and I wandered
over the ship, and finally settled on the saloon benches. Then,
however, the Captain came, and said he couldn't allow us to sleep
there, so we sat up, for I couldn't breathe in the berth, and at last
I think the Captain saw I really couldn't stand it, and told me to lie
down again. At six we went on deck, and it was awfully jolly going up
the Humber. At eight we got into the sea, and I didn't get my "shore
legs" again till we got into the Scheldt this morning. At about three
this morning I went on deck, and R. and I enjoyed it immensely,
splendidly starlight, and we were just off Flushing, and the lights
looked wonderful with the flat shore and a black windmill. Then the
Captain gave me tea and packed me up in the saloon, and I slept till
six, when T. came out and woke me, and we went "aloft." We were going
down the Scheldt, and R. was in fits of delight because every tree you
see is exactly like the trees in boxes of toys. Not a bit like English
trees. The flat green banks and odd little villages (of which you can
only see the _tops_ of the houses) were charming.
To M.S.G.
_Hotel de l'Europe, Antwerp._
Sunday, September 24, 1865.
MY DEAREST M.,
We are getting on capitally, and enjoying it immensely. I hope T. got
home pretty well. I miss him dreadfully, tell him--especially
to-day--for both Churches and pictures bore R. However, I have only
taken him into one Church to-day, that of S. Jacques, where he really
was pleased to see the tomb of Rubens. I have found the whereabouts of
two other celebrated ones, and shall try to slip off without him. He
is utterly happy when he has got a cigar, "tooling" up and down the
streets, turning in at a café, or buying a peach, and doing "schneeze"
with the "Flams." He does a little French now and then with people in
the streets. I got into the Cathedral just in time to see the glorious
Descent from the Cross, and (which I admire less) the Elevation ditto
by Rubens. I must tell you this morning I went to high mass in the
Cathedral. In fact I heard two masses and a _sermon in Flemish_. It
was wonderful. A very intelligent-looking old priest in surplice and
stole, in the huge carved pulpit, preached with the most admirable
dramatic force, in a language that one can _all but_ understand. It is
so like English and German. Every now and then I could catch a word.
If you want to have an idea of the congregation, imagine the _nave_ of
York Minster (the side aisles rather filled up by altars,
etc.)--covered like a swarm of bees, with a congregation with really
rare exceptions of Flemish poor. Flam women, men, and children, and a
great many common soldiers. The women are dressed in white caps, and
all have scarves (just like funeral scarves) of fine ribbed black
silk; and, Flemish prayer-books in hand, they sit listening to the
sermon. Then it comes to an end with some invocation of something, at
which there is a scraping of chairs and everybody goes round to the
Altar. Then organ, fiddles, all sorts of instruments, and a splendid
"company" of singers--the musical Mass began.
* * * * *
It is all wonderful, and I feel laying up a store of happiness in
going over it at home. How I wish some of you were here! I know my
letters are very dull, and I am _so_ sorry. But though I have a famous
appetite, and can walk and "sight-see" like anything, I have not got
back my _nerve_. Somehow I can't describe it, but you must excuse my
stupidity. I hope R. is happy. He says he is, and dreads it coming to
an end!!! I am very glad, for I feel a heavy weight on _him_ and _he_
feels like reposing on a floating soap-bubble! We are as jolly as
possible really, and nothing is left in me, but a rather strained
nervous feeling, which will soon be gone. You would have laughed to
see R. buying snuff to-day, and cigars. He goes in, lays his finger on
the cigars, and says--"Poor wun frank?" To which the woman
replies--"trieze," and he buys six and sneezes violently, on which she
produces snuff, fills his box, and charges a trifle, and he abuses her
roundly in English, with a polite face, to his own great enjoyment. We
mean to make the cash hold out if possible to come home in the
_Alster_. If it runs short, we shall give up Ghent and Bruges--this
place alone is worth coming for.
Your ever loving sister, J.H.G.
To H.K.F.G.
_Hotel de Vieux, Doellen, The Hague._
September 27, 1865.
DEAREST D----,
This morning we had a great treat! We took an open carriage and drove
from the Hague to Scheveningen on the coast. All the way you go
through an avenue of elms, which is lovely. It is called "the Wood,"
and to the left is Sorgoliet, where the Queen mother lives, and which
was planted, the man says, by Jacob Cats. He lived there. Scheveningen
is a bare-looking shore, all sand, and bordered with sandbanks, or
Dunes. It was _fiercely_ hot, scorching, and not an atom of shade to
be had; but in spite of sun, slipping sandbank-seat, sand-fleas, and a
hornet circling round, I did make a sketch, which I hope to finish at
home. Both Regie and I bathed, and it was _delicious_--an utterly calm
sea, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. The bathing machines seem to be a
Government affair. They and the towels are marked with a _stork_, and
you take a ticket and get your gown and towels from a man at a
"bureau" on the sands. I must tell you, this morning when we came
down, we found breakfasting in the _salle-à-manger_ our Dutch friend,
the bulb merchant. We had our breakfast put at his table, and had a
jolly chat. It was so pleasant! Like meeting an old friend. He has
gone, I am sorry to say, but I have made great friends with
Stephanie's father; he cannot speak a word of English, so we can only
talk in such French as I can muster; but he is very pleasant, and his
children are so nice! eight--four boys and four girls. The wife is
Dutch, and I do not think can speak French, so I do not talk to her.
After dinner the _maître d'hôtel_ asked us if we would not go to "the
Wood" (on the road to Scheveningen), and hear the military band--so we
went. I can't describe it. It was like nothing but scenes in a
theatre. Pitch dark in all the avenues, except for little lamps like
tiny tumblers fixed on to the trees, and so [_Sketch_] on to the
Pavilion, which was lighted up by chains of similar lamps like an
illumination--[_Sketch_]--and round which--seated round little green
tables--were gathered, I suppose, about two thousand people. Their
politeness to each other--the perfect good-behaviour, the quiet and
silence during the music, and the buzz and movement when it was over,
were wonderful. The music was very good. R. and I had each a tiny cup
of coffee, and a little brandy and water, for it was very cold!! Now I
have come in, and he has gone back, I think. Stephanie was there, and
lots of children. As I lay awake last night I heard the old watchman
go round. He beats two pieces of wood together and calls the hours of
the night. I saw a funeral too, this morning, and the coachman wears a
hat like this--[_Sketch_]. In the streets we have met men in black
with cocked hats. They are "Ansprekers," who go to announce a man's
death to his friends. The jewellery of the common women is marvellous;
Mr. Krelage (our Dutch friend) says they have sometimes £400 of gold
and jewels upon them!!! A common market woman I saw to-day wore a
plate of gold under her cap of this shape--[_Sketch_]. Then a white
[_Sketch_] lace cap. Then a bonnet highly-trimmed with flowers, and a
white feather and green ribbons; and on her temples filagree gold and
pearl, pins, brooches and earrings; round her neck three gold
chains--one of many little ones together clasped by a gorgeous
clasp--the next supporting a highly-elaborate gold cross--a longer one
still supporting a heart and some other device. She had rings also,
and a short common purple stuff dress which she took up when she sat
down for fear of crushing it; no shawl and a black silk apron!!
_Thursday._ We have been to the Museum. Below is the "Royal Cabinet" of
curiosities, and above are the pictures. Some of the former were _very_
interesting. The hat, doublet, etc. in which William the Silent was
murdered--the pistol, two bullets, etc., and a copy of Balthazar
Geraardt's condemnation, and his watch, on which were some beautiful
little paintings. Admiral Ruiter's sabre, armour, chain and medal;
Admiral Tromp's armour; Jacqueline of Bavaria's chair, and locks of her
hair. Also a very curious model--a large baby-house imitating a Dutch
_ménage_, intended by Peter the Great as a present to his wife. A
wonderful toy!! R. was quite at home among the "relics." Besides
historical relics, the cabinet contains the most marvellous collection
of Japanese things. It is a most choice collection. There were some such
funny things--a _fiancé_ and _fiancée_ of Japan in costume were killing!
and made-up monsters like life-sized mummies of the most hideous demons!
Besides indescribably exquisite workmanship of all sorts. The pictures
are not so charming a collection as those at Antwerp, but there are some
grand ones. Tell Mother--Paul Potter's Bull is too indescribable! His
nose, his hair, and a frog at his feet are wonderful! There is a
portrait by Rubens of his second wife that would have charmed T.; she is
_lovely_, and the picture has that _sunshiny_ beauty he will remember in
"S. Anne teaching the B.V.M." I suspect she was the model for his most
lovable faces. There is a large and wonderful Rembrandt--a splendid
collection of Wouvermans--the most charming Ruisdael I ever saw. Some
beautiful Vandykes--a Van de Velde of Scheveningen, Teniers, Weenix,
Snyders, etc. I do so wish M. could see the pictures, she would enjoy
them so, and get more out of them than I can. The collection is _free_
to the public, and the utmost good behaviour prevails. After that R.
went into the town, and I sat down to a hurried sketch on the
"Vyfeiberg," a quiet sort of promenade. But gradually the populace
collected, till I was nearly smothered. My veil blew over my face, and I
suddenly felt it seized from behind, and looking round, found that a
young baker in white had laid hold of it, but only to fasten it out of
my way, as he began volubly to explain in Dutch! I couldn't speak, so
remonstrance was impossible, and I let them alone. Soldiers, boys,
women, etc.! I could hear them recognizing the various places. They were
very polite, kept out of my line of sight, and decided that it was
"Photogeraphee" like the people in Rotterdam! When we parted, I bowed to
them and they to me!!! To-morrow we go back to Rotterdam for one night,
the next day to Antwerp.
_Friday night. Michaelmas Day._ Hotel Pay Bas, Rotterdam.--Back again!
and to-morrow at 8.15 a. m. we go back to dear old Antwerp. For the
solemn fact has made itself apparent, that the money will not hold out
till to-morrow week, as we intended. So we must give up our dear
Captain, and come home in the _Tiger!!_ We shall be with you D.V. on
Saturday week, starting on Wednesday from Antwerp. We have been to the
Poste Restante, and got dear Mother's letter, to my infinite delight.
I am so glad Miss Yonge likes "the Brownies."
Your ever loving, JUDY
TO MRS. GATTY.
_Sevenoaks_. January 12, 1866.
MY DEAR, DEAR MOTHER,
I do humbly beg your pardon for having written such scrappish,
snappish, selfish letters! The tide of comfort has begun to set in
from Ecclesfield to my infinite delight. So far from being vexed at
your being so careful--I earnestly hope you will never be less so. If
you had been, _I_ should have been dead long ago. I have no more doubt
than of my present well-being. And as it is--taking care is so little
in my line--that if _you_ took to _ignoring_ one's delicacy, or
fancying it was fancy--I know I should merely (by instinct) hold out
to the last gasp of existence, and do _what_ I could, _while_ I
could!!...
I am cheered beyond anything with these critiques on "The Brownies." I
must tell you I have read Aunt Mary the beginning of my new story, and
she likes it very much. It will be longer than "The Brownies." ... I
am writing most conscientiously--it will not be a bit longer than it
should be, but naturally of itself will spread into a good deal. In
fact, it is several stories together--a _Russian_ one among them
("Mrs. Overtheway's Remembrances").
TO A.E.
_Ecclesfield_. May 28, 1866.
I send you a song,[33] "which is not very long"--and that is about its
only merit. I am utterly disgusted with it myself for producing
nothing better.... However, here it is, and now I must explain it.
I have endeavoured to bear in mind three things--simplicity of idea,
few verses, and a musical swing. I have constructed it so that one
child's voice may sing for the Child, another child's voice for the
Bird, and as many children as you please in the Chorus.
The "Hush! hush! hush!" I thought ought to have a piano effectiveness,
and it is a word children enjoy.
[Footnote 33: "The Promise": "Verses for Children." Vol. ix. Set to
music by Alexander Ewing.--_Aunt Judy's Magazine_, July 1866.]
THE PROMISE.
_Child._
Five blue eggs hatching,
With bright eyes watching,
Little brown mother, you sit on your nest.
_Bird._
Oh! pass me blindly,
Oh! spare me kindly,
Pity my terror, and leave me to rest.
_Chorus of Children._
Hush! hush! hush!
'Tis a poor mother thrush.
When the blue eggs hatch, the brown birds will sing--
This is a promise made in the spring.
_Child._
Five speckled thrushes,
In leafy bushes,
Singing sweet songs to the hot summer sky.
In and out twitting,
Here and there flitting,
Happy in life as the long days go by.
_Chorus._
Hush! hush! hush!
|
