The cover image was restored by the transcriber and isplaced in the public domain.
"She suddenly perceived a dog at her dinner-basket." p. 13.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by
JAMES DUNLAP, Treas.,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern District
of Pennsylvania.
STEREOTYPED BY
JESPER HARDING & SON,
NO. 57 SOUTH THIRD STREET, PHILADELPHIA.
ELLA CLINTON
OR
"BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM."
CHAPTER I.
"Ella, you are the most provoking childthat ever was born. You can never let athing alone, but must have your fingers ineverything. You've no more idea of neatnessthan old Tabby; no, nor half so much.You come in from school, and bonnet goeshere, and book there. It's no use to talkto you, and one might run after you allday, and then couldn't keep the house torights. I declare, you're enough to try thepatience of Job!" So saying, Aunt Prudenceset herself energetically to work, to[4]put to rights the work-basket which poorElla had most unfortunately disarranged."I should like to know," she continued,"what children were ever made for. I'msure they're nothing but bother and trouble,from week's end to week's end."
Poor Ella darted up stairs to her ownroom, and throwing herself upon the bed,burst into a fit of passionate weeping.
"I hate Aunt Prudence! I hate her, soI do! She's always scolding and slappingme. I wish she was dead instead of mother.O mother, mother! why, O why, did youdie and leave me? I can't be good withoutyou. I do try to be good, but Aunt Prudencealways makes me naughty. I can'thelp hating her when she's so cross. Omother, mother! come back, come back!"
Poor little Ella was an orphan; thoughshe could remember a time when she hadhad a kind father and mother who lovedher dearly, and tried to teach her to do[5]what was right; but her father had beenlost at sea, and her mother, who had neverseemed well after she had heard of the lossof the vessel, had now been lying for nearlya year in the gr