Project Gutenberg's Phebe, The Blackberry Girl, by Edward Livermore

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Title: Phebe, The Blackberry Girl

Author: Edward Livermore

Release Date: February 18, 2004 [EBook #11147]

Language: English

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Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Children; Samuel Thompson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team

UNCLE THOMAS' STORIES FOR GOOD CHILDREN

PHEBE, THE BLACKBERRY GIRL.

[Illustration]

EDWARD LIVERMORE. WORCESTER.

UNCLE THOMAS'S STORIES FOR GOOD CHILDREN

[Illustration: UNCLE THOMAS.]

PHEBE, THE BLACKBERRY GIRL.

[Illustration]

1850.

INTRODUCTION.

Uncle Thomas's Stories for Good Children.

The design of this series of unpretending little books, is, to give to the Young information, joined with amusement.

They are prepared for young children, and if, from the reading of these stories, they acquire a love for good books, the compiler's object will be accomplished.

[Illustration]

CONTENTS

THE BLACKBERRY GIRL, PART I.

THE BLACKBERRY GIRL, PART II.

GOOD CHILDREN

POOR CRAZY ROBERT

THE PET LAMB

FATHER WILLIAM AND THE YOUNG MAN

THE LITTLE GIRL AND HER PETS

THE FLOWERS

THE CHILD AND THE FLOWERS

ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE

WASHING AND DRESSING

THE INDUSTRIOUS BOY

WE ARE SEVEN

THE IDLE BOY

CASABLANCA

TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR

[Illustration: Phebe, the Blackberry Girl]

THE BLACKBERRY GIRL.

PART I.

"Why, Phebe, are you come so soon,
  Where are your berries, child?
You cannot, sure, have sold them all,
  You had a basket pil'd."

"No, mother, as I climb'd the fence,
  The nearest way to town,
My apron caught upon a stake,
  And so I tumbled down."

"I scratched my arm, and tore my hair,
  But still did not complain;
And had my blackberries been safe,
  Should not have cared a grain.

[Illustration: Phebe and her Mother.]

"But when I saw them on the ground
  All scattered by my side,
I pick'd my empty basket up,
  And down I sat and cried.

"Just then a pretty little Miss
  Chanced to be walking by;
She stopp'd, and looking pitiful,
  She begg'd me not to cry.

"'Poor little girl, you fell,' said she,
  'And must be sadly hurt'—
'O, no,' I cried, 'but see my fruit,
  All mixed with sand and dirt!'

"'Well, do not grieve for that,' she said:
  'Go home, and get some more:'
Ah, no, for I have stripp'd the vines,
  These were the last they bore.

"My father, Miss, is very poor,
  And works in yonder stall;

He has so many little ones,
  He cannot clothe us all.

"I always long'd to go to church,
  But never could I go;
For when I ask'd him for a gown,
  He always answer'd, 'No.'

"'There's not a father in the world
  That loves his children more;
I'd get you one with all my heart,
  But, Phebe, I am poor.'

"But when the blackberries were ripe
  He said to me one day,
'Phebe, if you will take the time
  That's given you for play,

"And gather blackberries enough,—
  And carry them to town,—
To buy your bonnet and your shoes,
  I'll try to get a gown.'

[Illustration: Phebe and Billy going to School.]

"O Miss, I fairly jumped for joy,
  My spirits were so light:
And so, when I had leave to play,
  I pick'd with all my might.

"I sold enough to get my shoes,
  About a week ago;
And these, if they had not been spilt,
  Would buy a bonnet too.

"But now they are gone, they all are gone,
  And I can get no more,
And Sundays I must stay at home
  Just as I did before.

"And, mother, then. I cried again,
  As hard as I could cry;
And, looking up, I saw a tear
  Was standing in her eye.

"She caught her bonnet from her head—
  'Here, here,' she cried, 'take this!'

O, no, indeed—I fear your 'ma
  Would be offended, Miss.

[Illustration]

"'My 'ma! no, never! she delights
  All sorrow to beguile;
And 'tis the sweetest joy she feels,
  To make the wretched smile.

"'She taught me when I had enough,
  To share it with the poor:
And never let a needy child
  Go empty from the door.

[Illustration: The Church the Blackberry Girl went to.]

"'So take it, for you need not fear
  Offending her, you see;
I have another, too, at home,
  And one's enough for me.'

"So then I took it,—here it is—
  For pray what could I do?
And, mother, I shall love that Miss
  As long as I love you."

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Phebe with a Basket of Berries.]

THE BLACKBERRY GIRL.

PART II.

"What have you in that basket, child?"
  "Blackberries, Miss, all pick'd to-day;
They're very large and fully ripe;
  Do look at them, and taste them pray."

"O yes: they're very nice, indeed.
  Here's fourpence—that will buy a few:
Not quite so many as I want—
  However, I must make it do."

"Nay, Miss, but you must take the whole;"
  "I can't, indeed, my money's spent;
I should he glad to buy them all,
  But I have not another cent."

"And if you had a thousand, Miss,
  I'd not accept of one from you.
Pray take them, they are all your own.
  And take the little basket, too.

"Have you forgot the little girl
  You last year gave a bonnet to?
Perhaps you have—but ever will
  That little girl remember you.

"And ever since, I've been to church,
  For much do I delight to go;
And there I learn that works of love
  Are what all children ought to do.