STORIES FOR HELEN
THE TELL TALE.STORIES FOR HELEN
BY
AUTHOR OF STORIES FOR EMMA, STORIES FOR ADELAIDE, ETC.
"Our most important are our earliest years."—Cowper.
PHILADELPHIA:
HENRY F. ANNERS.
CHESNUT STREET.
Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1845,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the EasternDistrict of Pennsylvania.
Printed by King & Baird.
[3]ADVERTISEMENT.
The following stories have been selected by the author, from a smallvolume originally published with the title of Atlantic Tales. They havebeen carefully revised; and she indulges the hope that her juvenilereaders may derive from them a little instruction blended with a littleamusement.
Philadelphia, October 1, 1845.[4]
CONTENTS.
| Page. | |
|---|---|
| The Tell-Tale, | 5 |
| The Boarding School Feast, | 28 |
| The Week of Idleness, | 67 |
| Madeline Malcolm, | 98 |
[5]THE TELL-TALE.
ROSAMOND EVERING was one of those indiscreet mischievous girls who arein the daily practice of repeating every thing they see and hear;particularly all the unpleasant remarks, and unfavourable opinions thathappen to be unguardedly expressed in their presence. She did notcontent herself with relating only as much as she actually saw andheard; but (as is always the case with tell-tales) she dealt greatly inexaggeration, and her stories never failed to exceed the reality in alltheir worst points.
This unamiable and dangerous propensity of their daughter, gave greatpain to Mr. and Mrs. Evering, who tried in vain to correct it.[6] Theyrepresented to her that as parents cannot be constantly on their guardin presence of their own family, and that as grown persons do notalways remember or observe when children are in the room, many thingsare inadvertently said, which, though of little consequence as long asthey remai