E-text prepared by Internet Archive, University of Florida; David Garcia,
and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team



Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
      file which includes the original illustrations.
      See 10915-h.htm or 10915-h.zip:
      (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/0/9/1/10915/10915-h/10915-h.htm)
      or
      (http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/1/0/9/1/10915/10915-h.zip)
      
      Actual images of the pages of the original book are available
      through the Florida Board of Education, Division of Colleges
      and Universities, PALMM Project, 2001 (Preservation and Access
      for American and British Children's Literature, 1850-1869).
      See
      http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/dl/uf00000422.jpg
      or
      http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/dl/uf00000422.pdf




THE GIRL'S CABINET OF INSTRUCTIVE AND MORAL STORIES

BY UNCLE PHILIP.

NEW YORK:
PHILIP J. COZANS, PUBLISHER,
No. 107 NASSAU STREET
1856.




[Illustration: Front Cover]




[Illustration: A Doll's Party.]

A DOLL'S PARTY.


Here is a Doll's party. All the little girls of the vicinity who have
Dolls, have assembled in order to give their little favorites a nice
party. You see they all have Dolls. They are good girls. They are very
obedient. They attend school regularly, and as they are well-behaved
girls, Santa Claus left each of them a Doll at Christmas time. They have
learned their lessons for to-morrow, as their mothers have told them,
that duty before pleasure is the good girl's motto. They will play
sometimes with their Dolls. Will settle on some new Doll dresses, and
then bidding each other a kind good night they will return home to
sleep. As God is the protector of all good girls, each will say a
little prayer to Him before she goes to bed.



[Illustration: The Vain Girl.]

THE VAIN GIRL.


Many years ago there lived in one of the New England States, a fine
family, composed of father, mother, and six children. The children were
all good, and kind, and industrious, except one. Kate never would do as
she was bid. She was in every sense, a disobedient child. She gave her
parents much pain and trouble. She was what is called a vain girl. You
all know what a vain girl is. A vain girl, is one who attends more to
her dress and toilet, than to her books. Kate's father was going to New
York some time before Christmas--he told the girls, that if they were
good, kind and obedient while he was gone, he would bring them each a
pretty Album. They all promised to do just as their mother should wish.
The father went to New York and returned. The day after his return they
reminded him of his promise. He went to his desk and said, "Here they
are, but you want me to paint some flowers in them, well Ellen what do
you wish?" Ellen said, "a lily Pa, if you please." Julia chose a tulip,
and Lizzie a rose. Kate was silent, and her father asked her--"Well Kate
what shall I paint for you?" She hesitated, but finally said, "I would
prefer a portrait of myself." "Very well Kate," said her father, but at
the same time a sneer might have been seen on his curled lip. A few
evenings after, when there was a large party in the parlor--the father
gave each of the girls their Albums. Every one was pleased except Kate,
who burst into tears, and tossing the book on the floor, left the room.
The Album was picked up and there was a portrait of Kate just as she had
desired, but beneath it was written, "The flower most admired by Kate."

It was a severe lesson--but let all vain girls profit by it.




[Illustration: Lizzie and Fashion.]

LIZZIE AND FASHION.


Lizzie is taking a ride on her pet Fashion. She is not afraid of
falling, for she can ride very well. Fashion seems proud to feel
such a nice little burden on his back. See how he capers and prances.
He knows Lizzie will not fall, and so he amuses himself and her, by
jumping about. Lizzie rides every morning and evening. She is delicate,
and so her Pa bought her a fine horse. She rides out alone. She is not
pretty--but she is happy and good natured. When the other girls see her
riding they sneer at her and say, "There goes ugly Liz on the pretty
horse." The girls are silly and thoughtless. They should reflect that
a happy face looks much more agreeable than a handsome one.

As soon as Lizzie has said her prayers in the morning, she goes out on
her horse. She rides some miles and then returns to breakfast. As she is
delicate, she does not go to school, but studies under her mother. She
studies hard, and is very obedient. After dinner she goes out again and
rides for two or three hours. It is pleasant to see how Fashion loves
her. As soon as she appears at the door--he is impatient of restraint,
and wishes to rush to her. When she has been riding, and returned, and
he is going to the stable, he will turn frequently to see her as she
goes along the piazza. She has learned him many tricks. He stands up
on his hind legs. He will dance: in fact, he will do almost anything
she will command him. She has accomplished it all by kindness and a
smiling face.




[Illustration: Eva's Pet.]

EVA'S PET.


You know what a pleasure it is to have a pretty pet Dog. I do not mean
those little lap dogs. They are of no use, and when I see a little girl
with a lap dog, I always say, "Well, well, that little girl is, and
always will be foolish." And why do I say so? Because I know she will
neglect her books and her other duties just to play with Flora. If you
want a good pet dog--get a large one. The best dogs are the St. Bernard
or Newfoundland. They are very large. They are jet black. They are very
intelligent, and after you have had them for some time, you can make
them perform many tricks for the amusement of your little friends. The
St. Bernard Dog is a native of the Alps. He is named after a convent on
Mount St. Bernard in Switzerland. The convent is 8,038 feet above the
foot of the mountain. It is a Benedictine monastery and hospital, and is
the highest inhabited spot in Europe. Travellers passing the Alps into
Italy have to pass over the mountains. They are covered with snow and
very dangerous. The good monks go out with their dogs and if they find
any traveller benighted or frozen in the snow, they lend him succour and
take him to the monastery. The dogs are very strong and can carry a man.
They are all good water dogs, and if you were to fall in the water, one
of them could hold you up until rescued by your friends. Growler is
waiting for his breakfast. He is Eva's pet. After she has eaten her
breakfast, she will give him his. See how quiet and submissive he looks.
He is a good dog.




[Illustration: Rescue of Eva.]

RESCUE OF EVA.


Eva's parents live in the South. Her father was a Planter. Their house
was but a short distance from the river. Eva and her pet dog Growler
used to romp up and down on the sandy shore of the river. One day Eva
and Growler went to the water as usual. Eva saw a boat there and thought
she would get in, but not untie the rope. She had not been in the boat
very long, when she felt it moving off--she was frightened and did not
know what to do. Growler rushed into the water, and continued to bark
very loud. As Eva saw the boat getting away out into the river, she
jumped out and with an oar commenced to swim for the shore. Growler took
hold of her dress, and was taking her ashore, when an old slave named
Sam, rushed into the water and taking her from the faithful dog, bore
her in safety to the land. She lay sick for some time and she had a
horrid fever for many days. Growler was always by her bed side, and
would only leave it to get something to eat. Eva's father gave Sam his
freedom and a purse of gold. Sam would not leave his master--"No--no,
Sambo no leave Massa and Eva--Sambo lub Massa," said the good old man.

Growler still continues in the family, and he is beloved by all--for
had it not been for him Eva would have been drowned. You see him in the
water; poor fellow he was tired--but he struggled on and was successful.




[Illustration: The Girl's Party.]

THE GIRLS PARTY.


This is a girls party. All the young ladies and gentlemen are assembled
to celebrate the birth day of Kate. They are playing one of the games of
Forfeits. Kate is on her knees. I will explain the game to you. It is a
nice game; so when you get a party of boys and girls together, you can
play it. There are various kinds of games of Forfeits; they are almost
as various as the forfeits themselves. The manner of conducting them is
the same for all. Some play is settled on, such as the "Arbor of love;"
"Spinning the plate," or any other. When all the ladies and gentlemen
have had to give various forfeits, the work of redeeming them commences.

A lady sits down and a gentleman blindfolded kneels at her feet. She
takes up each article separately, and asks for judgment. The gentleman
then tells what the owner of the forfeit must do, in order to redeem
it. The sentence once passed is never revoked, and so the sooner the
punishment is performed the better. The game waits until the culprit
performs his sentence.

In the party you see, they have been playing a game of forfeits and
sentence is being passed upon all those, who have been unfortunate
enough to have had them to pay. Kate, without not knowing it, has just
sentenced herself to kiss all the gentlemen in the room, but as there
are only two, it will be an easy task.




[Illustration: The Dispensary.]

THE DISPENSARY.


The Dispensary. What is a dispensary? The Dispensary is a room or house
in which medicines and drugs are compounded and dispensed. In all large
cities there are dispensaries where the poor people go and have their
ailments attended to for nothing. When any poor man or woman meets with
an accident he or she, is taken to the hospital where they receive
the best of care. In all boarding schools there is a room near the
Infirmary, where they keep the medicines. In the picture is a little
girl who has just entered the boarding school, and she is looking around
the buildings. She has come down to the Infirmary to see all the sick
girls, and to amuse them. She has stopped at the Dispensary, and as she
never was in one before, the good lady is explaining all the medicines.
She answers all her questions, and translates the name of the drugs for
her. She is a kind old lady, and Mary has promised to go down and see
her often, as she wishes to learn all she can about drugs.

Mary pointed to a large black bottle and asked if there was wine in it.
"Oh no, but vitriol, it burns awful and is very dangerous," said the
old lady. Mary did not wish to hear more, but rushed out of the room,
fearing the bottle would explode. She told the old lady that she never
would touch anything unless she knew what it was--and then she would
not "burn her fingers."




[Illustration: The May Queen.]

THE MAY QUEEN.


It is May morning. May is the most beautiful of all months. Then it is,
that all nature seems to awaken from its winter slumbers. The grass
springs up, the little birds sing and chirp, and display their beautiful
plumage. The trees shoot forth their buds, the fruitful covering of
future foliage. We no longer greet each other in the warmed room, but,
"Good morning," is sweetly spoken from the open window, or among the
bushes of the garden. We hunt flowers and climb hills, and thus exercise
both the body and the mind. In many parts of Europe, on the first of
May, all the juveniles of both sexes, walk to a neighboring wood, and
breaking limbs off trees, adorn them with ribbons and crowns of flowers.
They are accompanied by a band of music and the blowing of horns. They
then return to their homes and make their houses triumphant in the
flowery spoils. In the afternoon, a May pole is erected in the centre
of the village. The pole is consecrated to the goddess of flowers, and
is profusely adorned with them. It remains standing all the year.

The young girls then select by lot, one of their number to be crowned
as May Queen. She is crowned with a beautiful wreath of flowers and
presides for the rest of the day over the amusements of her subjects.
In the picture you see the May pole--the Queen, the crowner, and her
two maids of honor.




[Illustration: Strawberries.]

STRAWBERRIES.


Who does not like Strawberries? They are the most delicious of all
berries. They are to be found growing in a wild state in almost all
temperate climates. During the past few years, the consumption of the
strawberry has become so enormous, as to make it a profitable berry to
cultivate. Jane Smith has been cultivating some berries, not for the
market, but for her own use. She has her two sisters in the garden, and
is showing them her nice beds. You see the kind of place she has chosen
for her beds. Shaded and dark situations under the drip of trees, are
unfavorable for the fruit. You should always choose an open, airy and
warm exposure. The seeds should be sown in the spring, in a bed of light
rich mould. You must be careful and not allow the weeds to grow up with
your plants, as they will be sure to kill them. The plants do not bear
the first season, but produce well the second. The plant never bears
fruit but once, and is then turned down to make room for a new crop. You
must plant your seeds in rows, and do not plant any thing else between
the rows. The rows should be from nine to twelve inches apart. You must
not think this a great trouble, for you know how delicious they are; one
or two saucers of good berries and cream, will amply repay all trouble.




[Illustration: Going Alone.]

GOING ALONE.


Here is a lady showing her husband, how she has taught little Lizzie to
go alone. Lizzie is only fourteen months old, and can walk across the
room alone. She does not walk but runs. It is amusing to see her. She
will crawl to the side of the room, then stand up, and after balancing
herself for a moment, she will run towards her mother. See how delighted
they all seem. The father is pleased, to see his little girl walk, for
then, he can soon take her out with him in his walks. You know that it
is said we must all "creep before we walk," well, I will illustrate this
for you by a nice story. "Many centuries ago, there reigned over Thebes,
Laius and Iocasta. Laius was one day killed on the road as he was airing
himself in his chariot. Shortly after, a terrible plague broke out in
Thebes, and the Sphinx ravaged all the neighborhood. The Sphinx gave out
that the plague would cease and his ravages be ended, when this riddle
was solved:--'What animal walks on four feet in the morning, two at noon
day, and three in the evening.' None of the wise men could solve it, and
so their misfortune continued. At length, Iocasta the Queen, said that
whoever could solve the riddle, should be king and have her hand in
marriage. One Oedipsus hearing of the offer, and having been insulted in
Corinth, went to Thebes, and thus rendered the solution of the riddle.
'The animal,' he said, 'was man. In his infancy, the morning of life, he
walks on hands and feet: at manhood, the noon-day of life, he walks on
his feet alone: in old age, the evening of life, he walks with a stick.'
Oedipsus was married to Iocasta and reigned as King."




[Illustration: The Ill Natured Girl.]

THE ILL NATURED GIRL.


Here is a representation of an ill natured little girl. See what an
angry and unpleasant expression her countenance has assumed. She is
angry at her sister and is tearing up a note, sent to her sister by her
grandmother. I will tell you the story. The grandmother of those three
children, was on a visit to the house. She had observed how violent and
overbearing Susan was, and how properly her sister Annie behaved. Annie
was of a gentle, mild, and willing disposition. If Susan's brother
should happen to take up her book, she would immediately scream out in a
sharp tone, "let my book alone." If her brother should attempt to reply,
she would snappishly retort, "I don't care, you shall not meddle with
it." Her conduct towards Annie was just the same, in fact, she more than
once answered her grandmother in such a tart and abrupt manner, that her
mother whipped her for it.

A few days after the grandmother had left, there was a package came
for--"Miss Annie." It proved to be a most beautiful writing desk, made
of rosewood, inlaid with mother-of-pearl. It was filled with fine paper,
pens, wafers, sealing wax, and a nice seal. It contained a note in these
words:--"This present is for a little girl who knows how to keep her
temper. From her affectionate grandmother." Susan was so angry that she
snatched the paper and tore it into pieces. The lesson will do her good.




[Illustration: Lizzie's Pet.]

LIZZIE'S PET.


Lizzie is showing her grandfather her pet bird. Her grandfather has the
gout, and cannot walk. He has to keep his foot resting on a stool, and
all the amusement he has, is derived from Lizzie and her pet bird. It
is a Canary. She has a nice blue ribbon fastened to its foot so that
it cannot fly away. It is eating a cherry from the hands of the old
gentleman. The Canary bird is the most charming of all singing birds.
They can be tamed and when so, are very playful and full of capers. I
will tell you some of their tricks. Some years ago, there was an Italian
gentleman exhibiting some funny birds in New York. I went to see him and
his birds. One Canary jumped on the back of a crow and rode him around
the room. Another Canary bird stood on the barrel of a pistol, when his
master discharged it, without stirring at the report. The master then
suspended a ring from the ceiling to within a few feet of the floor. The
ring was surrounded with pitch and on fire. At his bidding, four or five
of the birds would fly through the ring, without burning their feathers.
He harnessed one to a little wagon and made him draw it around the
table. I was highly amused, and determined to buy a nice Canary and
learn it some tricks.

I am saving my pennies, and will soon have a pet like Lizzie's.





[Illustration: Back Cover]