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From:
The Happy Family: or, scenes of American life.
By William S. Cardell.
Philadelphia: Uriah Hunt, 1853.
Originally published in 1832.
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“Soon after moving into the
new houses, the settlers at Jefferson [Ohio] saw, by the newspapers,
that the governor of Massachusetts had issued his proclamation, on a day
of thanksgiving.
Mr. Johnson told Capt. Warner and their families, that they could thank
the same great Parent, for the same kind of mercies, as their old
neighbors did…
In the forenoon there was a religious meeting in Capt. Warner’s
largest room. These people
thought, that, though they were now far distant from their old friends,
and could not meet in the same building with them, as they once did, yet
it was pleasing to reflect, that they should be employed in the same
exercises, at the same time; and thus be together in the worship of
their God, while rivers and mountains were between them…
After conversing a while, in the evening, on different subjects, the
children of the two families were called upon, one after another,
beginning with the oldest, to bring forward a piece of composition, to
speak a lesson, or to read one…
When the youngest child, in a large family, is very bright and good, she
is generally much beloved. So
it was with little Charlotte, at Mr. Johnson’s.
She was a sweet little girl, kind tempered, dutiful to her
parents, and loved all her friends.
When the rest had got through with their pieces. She came up to
her mother, and said.
’Ma, will you please to let me speak?’
’Yes, my dear,’ said her mother.
’Shall I speak about the planets, m’a?’
‘Yes,” Mrs. Johnson said. She
walked to the back side of the room. One of he young lads, in a moment, had a square box, set
bottom upwards, for her to stand upon.
The school mistress sat hear her.
They lifted Charlotte upon the box: she held out her right hand,
and began.
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’Of all the planets in
the sky,
The brightest is
the sun;
Lest
I should tire your patience,
Ladies and
gentleman, I’ve done.’ |
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