Elsie's Kith and Kin eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 283 pages of information about Elsie's Kith and Kin.

Elsie's Kith and Kin eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 283 pages of information about Elsie's Kith and Kin.

“I was very sorry to hear of it all,” he said gravely:  “but what about it?”

“Don’t you have to punish me for it?” she asked, half under her breath.

“No:  the punishment I gave you the other night settled all accounts up to that date.”

She breathed more freely.

“Papa, would you have made me go back to that horrid man after he struck me?”

“It is not worth while to consider that question at this late day.  Now, what else?” he asked.

“Papa, I spoiled one of those valuable books of engravings belonging to grandpa Dinsmore; no, I didn’t exactly spoil it myself, but I took it out on the veranda without leave, and carelessly left it where Rosie’s dog could get at it; and he scratched and gnawed and tore it, till it is almost ruined.”

“I shall replace it at once,” he said.  “I am sorry you were so careless, and particularly that you took the book out there without permission; but that was not half so bad as flying into a passion, even if you hurt nothing or no one but yourself.”

“But I did get into a passion, papa, at the dog and at Rosie,” she acknowledged, in a frightened tone, and blushing more deeply than before.

“I am deeply grieved to hear it,” he said.

“And won’t you have to punish me for that, and for getting the book spoiled?”

“No:  didn’t I tell you just now that all accounts were settled up to the other night?”

“Papa, you’re very, very kind,” she said, putting her arm round his neck, and laying her head on his shoulder.

“I am very glad, that, with all her faults, my dear little daughter is so truthful and so open with me,” he said, smoothing her hair.

“Papa, I’m ever so sorry you’ll have to pay so much money to replace that book,” she said.  “But—­you often give me some pocket-money, and—­won’t you please keep all you would give me till it counts up enough to pay for the book?”

“It is a right feeling, a feeling that pleases me, which prompts you to make that request,” he said in a kind tone, and pressing his lips to her cheek; “and probably another time I may let you pay for such a piece of carelessness, but you need not in this instance.  I feel rich enough to spare the money quite easily for that and an increase in my children’s weekly allowance.  What is yours now?”

“Fifty cents, papa.”

“Where is your purse?”

She took it from her pocket, and put it into his hand.

“Only five cents in it,” he remarked, with a smile, when he had examined.

Then, taking a handful of loose change from his pocket, he counted out four bright quarters and ten dimes, and poured them into her purse.

“O papa! so much!” she cried delightedly, “I feel ever so rich!”

He laughed at that.  “Now,” he said, “you shall have a dollar every week, unless I should have to withdraw it on account of some sort of bad behavior on your part.  Max is to have the same; Gracie half a dollar till she is a little older:  and you are all to keep an account of your spendings.”

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Project Gutenberg
Elsie's Kith and Kin from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.