TO
THE SUNBEAM OF OUR BRIGHT HOME,
MY SISTER GERTRUDE
CONTENTS.
CHAP.
I. [A SURPRISE]
II. [GRANDMAMMA'S STORY]
III. [SCHOOL]
IV. [SCHOOLMATES]
V. [THE PRIZES]
VI. [BELLE]
VII. [THE HURT FOOT]
VIII. [THE BROKEN CLOCK]
IX. [THE CONFESSION]
X. [A LITTLE LIGHT]
XI. [ABOUT "OUR FATHER'S" WORK]
XII. [BESSIE'S PARTY]
XIII. [LOST AND FOUND]
XIV. [THE AWARD]
XV. [A LETTER]
PREFACE
The author had intended that "Bessie among the Mountains" should close the series; but the entreaties of her young readers for "more Bessie books" have induced the publishers and herself to extend it somewhat further.
The following gratifying and touching communication is given here in the hope that this may meet the eye of her little unknown correspondent,—who has not given her residence,—and that she will send word where a letter may reach her:—
"DEAR LADY,—I love you for you write such nice Bessie books and I want to see you but I dont kno where you live and papa says I can send this to Mr. Carter. Please write a 100 Bessie books Bessie in truble and Bessie in plesure Bessie sick Bessie well and all. But not her mama to go to heven for my mama and the baby went to heven and I cry abot it yet and I want my mama in my hoeme. I am name Bessie but not so nice as book Bessie and I have 2 Maggies one my sister nice and good and one not nice and only a chamermade and dirty. And I love you dear lady and here is a kiss [kiss] for you.
BESSIE——."
But, pleased as the writer is with this precious little letter, she feels that "a 100 Bessie books" would tire even this enthusiastic young reader; and so, if the little friends who have gone with Maggie and Bessie to the seaside and the mountains, who have visited them in their home and accompanied them to school, will by and by go with them on their travels, we will afterwards say good-bye to them, with kind wishes on both sides, and the hope that there may be other children in some corner of her brain whose acquaintance will not be less agreeable than that of our Maggie and Bessie.