Produced by Michigan University, Joshua Hutchinson, and
the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
or, HOME IN THIS WORLD
by CHARLOTTE MARY YONGE
1871
[Illustration: "Stay here, Marian! I don't care if all the world heardme."]
In putting forth another work, the Author is anxious to say a few wordson the design of these stories; not with a view to obviate criticism,but in hopes of pointing to the moral, which has been thought notsufficiently evident, perhaps because it has been desired to convey,rather than directly inculcate it.
Throughout these tales the plan has been to present a picture ofordinary life, with its small daily events, its pleasures, and itstrials, so as to draw out its capabilities of being turned to the bestaccount. Great events, such as befall only a few, are thus excluded,and in the hope of helping to present a clue, by example, to theperplexities of daily life, the incidents, which render a storyexciting, have been sacrificed, and the attempt has been to make theinterest of the books depend on character painting.
Each has been written with the wish to illustrate some principle whichmay be called the key note. "Abbeychurch" is intended to show the needof self-control and the evil of conceit in different manifestations;according to the various characters, "Scenes and Characters" was meantto exemplify the effects of being guided by mere feeling, set incontrast with strict adherence to duty. In "Henrietta's Wish" theopposition is between wilfulness and submission—filial submission asrequired, in the young people, and that of which it is a commencement aswell as a type, as instanced in Mrs. Frederick Langford. The design ofthe "Castle Builders" is to show the instability and dissatisfaction ofmind occasioned by the want of a practical, obedient course of dailylife; with an especial view to the consequences of not seeking strengthand assistance in the appointed means of grace.
And as the very opposite to Emmeline's feeble character, the heroineof the present story is intended to set forth the manner in which aChristian may contend with and conquer this world, living in it but notof it, and rendering it a means of self-renunciation. It is thereforepurposely that the end presents no great event, and leaves Marianunrecompensed save by the effects her consistent well doing hasproduced on her companions. Any other compensation would render herself-sacrifice incomplete, and make her no longer invisibly above theworld.
October 14th, 1852.
"With fearless pride I say
That she is healthful, fleet, and strong
And down the rocks will leap along,
Like rivulets in May."
Along a beautiful Devonshire lane, with banks of rock overhung by tallbowery hedges, rode a lively and merry pair, now laughing and talking,now summoning by call or whistle the spaniel that ran by their side, orcareered through the fields within the hedge.
The younger was a maiden of about twelve years old, in a long black andwhite plaid riding-skirt, over a pink gingham frock, and her dark hairhidden beneath a little cap furnished with a long green veil, whichwas allow