PHILADELPHIA:
PRINTED BY KING & BAIRD,
607 SANSOM STREET.
PREFACE
We think few mothers can read this volume without being struck with the great importance of care in regard to the dispositions and moral qualities of those into whose hands they place their children. There are sad disorders in society at the present time, and influences of a baleful character at work: above all things, let tender, innocent children be kept wholly beyond their sphere. In but rare cases should there be a delegation of the mother’s duties: extreme ill health is, perhaps, the only excuse for such delegation; but when it is made, let the nurse or governess be of known pure life and firm integrity. There should be no guess-work here; no trusting of a stranger, unless under the amplest testimonials from known parties; for wrong done to childhood is, too often, wrong done for the whole life. But we can only hint here at what we have endeavored to illustrate in the present volume.
CONTENTS.
| PAGE | ||
| Chap. [I]. | —THE YOUNG GOVERNESS | 9 |
| [II]. | —GAINING INFLUENCE | 21 |
| [III]. | —TRIALS | 32 |
| [IV]. | —WORTH AND PRETENSION | 40 |
| [V]. | —THE WIND AND THE SUN | 48 |
| [VI]. | —THE GOVERNESS DISMISSED | 60 |
| [VII]. | —A REVELATION | 71 |
| [VIII]. | —THE NEW GOVERNESS | 82 |
| [IX]. | —THE SHADOW OF EVIL | 91 |
| [X]. | —A LITTLE BREEZE | 101 |
| [XI]. | —THE DEMON UNVEILED | 108 |
| [XII]. | —A FEARFUL MYSTERY | 119 |
| [XIII]. | —DOUBT AND ANXIETY | 127 |
| [XIV]. | —PAINFUL CONSEQUENCES | 138 |
| [XV]. | —ALARMING OCCURRENCE | 150 |
| [XVI]. | —DISAPPEARANCE OF MADELINE | 158 |
| [XVII]. | —THE SEARCH | 165 |
| [XVIII]. | —A NEST OF PSEUDO-SPIRITUALISTS | 189 |
| [XIX]. | —THE BIRD AND THE SERPENT | 204 |
| [XX]. | —THE RESCUE | 215 |
| [XXI]. | —THE ARREST | 223 |
| [XXII]. | —BREAKING THE SPELL | 236 |
| [XXIII]. | —THE ANGEL STRONGER THAN THE DEMON | 245 |
| [XXIV]. | —AN UNEXPECTED REVELATION | 269 |
| [XXV]. | —A REVELATION | 278 |
| [XXVI]. | —REVIEWING THE MATTER | 287 |
| [XXVII]. | —GETTING RIGHT | 298 |
| [XXVIII]. | —CONCLUSION | 304 |
THE
ANGEL AND THE DEMON.
CHAPTER I.
THE YOUNG GOVERNESS.
Mrs. Dainty’s health was poor, and her nerves delicate. It was no use, she said: the wear and tear of body and mind were more than she could stand. She must have a governess for the children. Mr. Dainty never opposed his wife in any thing, and so replied,—
“Very well, Madeline. Find your governess.”