Holiday House: A Series of Tales

Once upon a time Harry and Laura had got into so many scrapes, that there seemed really no end to their misconduct. They generally forgot to learn any lessons--often tore their...

Next Monday morning, at an early hour, Frank had again found his way with great difficulty to the house of Widow Mackay, where he spent all his pocket money on two fine scarlet...

Yet theirs the joy That lifts their steps, that sparkles in their eyes; That talks or laughs, or runs, or shouts, or plays, And speaks in all their looks, and all their ways.

One fine morning in Charlotte Square, Peter Grey persuaded a party of his companions to spend all the money they had on cakes and sugar-plums, to make a splendid entertainment u...

Full little know'st thou, that hast not tried, How strange it is in "steam-boat" long to bide,-- To fret thy soul with crosses and with cares, To eat thy heart through comfortle...

There's something in a noble boy, A brave, free-hearted, careless one; With his uncheck'd, unbidden joy, His dread of books and love of fun. And in his clear and ready smile, Un...

In the days of yore, children were not all such clever, good sensible people as they are now! Lessons were then considered rather a plague, sugar-plums were still in demand--hol...

"Oh! what a lovely cottage!" exclaimed Laura, in an ecstacy of joy, when they stopped before a beautiful house, with large airy windows down to the ground; walls that seemed one...

"Oh! uncle David! uncle David!" cried Laura, when they arrived from Holiday House, "I would jump out of the carriage window with joy to see you again; only the persons passing i...

Lady Harriet Graham was an extremely thin, delicate, old lady, with a very pale face, and a sweet gentle voice, which the children delighted to hear, for it always spoke kindly...

One night, about eight o'clock, Harry and Laura were playing in the nursery, building houses with bricks, and trying who could raise the highest tower without letting it fall, w...

Laura and Harry Graham could scarcely feel sure that they ever had a mama, because she died while they were yet very young indeed; but Frank, who was some years older, recollect...

Not all the fine things that fine people possess, Should teach them the poor to despise; For 'tis in good manners, and not in good dress, That the truest gentility lies.

There was a young pickle, and what do you think? He liv'd upon nothing but victuals and drink; Victuals and drink were the chief of his diet, And yet this young pickle could nev...

Frank felt no unnatural apathy or indifference about dying, for he looked upon it with awe, though not with fear; nor did he express any rapturous excitement on the solemn occas...

Lady Harriet was confined to bed for several days after Frank's departure from home, and during all that week Harry and Laura felt so melancholy, that even Mrs. Crabtree became...

Some weeks after Frank had left home, while lady Harriet and Major Graham were absent at Holiday House, Harry and Laura felt surprised to observe, that Mrs. Crabtree suddenly be...