I have endeavored to put into this book of stories for children only such things as might be freely admitted into the best homes of the land, and I have written with the hope that many young minds may be elevated by means of these stories and many hearts filled with high and holy aspirations. Our nation has a right to expect that our boys and girls shall turn out to be good men and good women, and this book is meant to help in this process.
X. UNCLE NED AND THE INSURANCE SOLICITOR 56
XLVII. HENRY WARD BEECHER’S TESTIMONY 177
LI. THE BLACK SHEEP OF THE REYNOLDS FAMILY 188
LIII. ANDREW CARNEGIE’S ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN 198
LX. THE NICKEL THAT BURNED IN FRANK’S POCKET 214
LXIV. THOMAS GREENE BETHUNE (“BLIND TOM”) 226
LXXIV. BENJAMIN BANNEKER, THE NEGRO ASTRONOMER 254
LXXV. “A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM” 258
LXXXII. AN ANTE-BELLUM NEGRO PREACHER 284
LXXXVII. YOUNG PEOPLE AND LIFE INSURANCE 294
XCVI. FREDERICK DOUGLASS TO YOUNG PEOPLE 315
THAT’S A VERY PRETTY WAY TO SPELL “LOVE” 21
“HOW MANY PAPERS HAVE YOU SOLD TO-DAY, TOMMY?” 23
“HERE IS THE CARPET, YOUNG MAN; I HOPE I HAVE NOT KEPT YOU WAITING.” 34
HE STUFFS BOTH HANDS IN HIS TROUSERS POCKETS 52
“DAT’S JES’ WHAT MY ’LIGION DOES,” SAID THE OLD MAN 57
“MOTHER, I’M SO HAPPY. TEACHER FORGAVE ME” 74
“PAPA I AIN’T GOT NO LITTLE BABY BROTHER TO PLAY WITH” 91
“YOU ALL WAIT UNTIL I COME BACK AND THEN WE’LL PLAY AT FOX-HUNTING” 103
“THE BOY MARCHED STRAIGHT UP TO THE COUNTER” 140
“HUH! HUH! THERE DON’T SEEM TO BE BUT TWO OF US HERE TO-NIGHT” 145
“CHARGED WITH KISSING A GIRL ON THE STREET” 157
“I HAVE JUST FINISHED MY COURSE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL” 161
“SON, IT’S A MIGHTY LUCKY THING FOR YOU AND NANNIE THAT I DIDN’T HAVE MY GUN” 182
“HE CARRIED WITH HIM SOME WILD FLOWERS AND GREEN LEAVES” 190
“WELL, JOHN, I SUPPOSE SISTER IS DEAD” 194
“MAMMA TOLD ME NOT TO ASK FOR ANY MORE CREAM” 203
“MAMMA, I HEAR OLD SANTA’S BELLS, AND OF COURSE THIS IS THE PRESENT HE BROUGHT” 210
“PLAY FANTASTIC” ON THE FOURTH OF JULY 220
“I GOT IN THE HALL LAST NIGHT FOR NOTHING” 232
“SHE PUT OUT HER THIN LITTLE HAND AND FELT IT” 237
“GOODNIS GRACIOUS! I SEE DAT OLD CYCLOOM COMIN’ BACK AG’IN. HE LOOK BLACKAH AND WUSSAH DAN HE DONE BEFO. RUN, ISAAC, RUN!” 248
“I WISH I COULD HAVE MY WAY WITH THOSE BOYS FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES” 251