Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Josephine Paolucci, and
Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders
1872
"Oh! time of promise, hope, and innocence, Of trust, and love, andhappy ignorance! Whose every dream is heaven, in whose fair joyExperience yet has thrown no black alloy."
Some years have now elapsed since my little heroine "ELSIE DINSMORE"made her début into the great world. She was sent out with many ananxious thought regarding the reception that might await her there.But she was kindly welcomed, and such has been the favor shown herever since that Publishers and Author have felt encouraged to preparea new volume in which will be found the story of those years that havecarried Elsie on from childhood to womanhood—the years in whichher character was developing, and mind and body were growing andstrengthening for the real work and battle of life.
May my readers who have admired and loved her as a child find herstill more charming in her fresh young girlhood; may she prove to alla pleasant companion and friend; and to those of them now treading thesame portion of life's pathway a useful example also, particularly inher filial love and obedience.
It is a busy, talking world.
"I think I shall enjoy the fortnight we are to spend here, papa; itseems such a very pleasant place," Elsie remarked, in a tone of greatsatisfaction.
"I am glad you are pleased with it, daughter," returned Mr. Dinsmore,opening the morning paper, which John had just brought up.
They—Mr. Dinsmore and Elsie, Rose and Edward Allison—were occupyingvery comfortable quarters in a large hotel at one of our fashionablewatering-places. A bedroom for each, and a private parlor for thejoint use of the party, had been secured in advance, and late thenight before they had arrived and taken possession.
It was now early in the morning, Elsie and her papa were in his room,which was in the second story and opened upon a veranda, shaded bytall trees, and overlooking a large grassy yard at the side of thebuilding. Beyond were green fields, woods, and hills.
"Papa," said Elsie, gazing longingly upon them, as she stood by theopen window, "can't we take a walk?"
"When Miss Rose is ready to go with us."
"May I run to her door and ask if she is?—and if she isn't, may Iwait for her out here on the veranda?"
"Yes."
She skipped away, but was back again almost immediately. "Papa, whatdo you think? It's just too bad!"
"What is too bad, daughter? I think I never before saw so cross a lookon my little girl's face," he said, peering at her over the top of hisnewspaper. "Come here, and tell me what it is all about."
She obeyed, hanging her head and blushing. "I think I have some reasonto be cross, papa," she said; "I thought we were going to have such adelightful time here, and now it is all spoiled. You could never guesswho has the rooms just opposite ours; on the other side of the hall."
"Miss Stevens?"
"Why, papa; did y