Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber's Note:

Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. A list of the changes is found at the end of the text. Inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation have been maintained. A list of inconsistently spelled and hyphenated words is found at the end of the text.

The following less-common character is used in this version of the book. If it does not display properly, please try changing your font.

o o with breve

SIX TO SIXTEEN.
_A STORY FOR GIRLS._

BY
JULIANA HORATIA EWING.

LONDON:
SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE,
NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C.
NEW YORK: E. & J. B. YOUNG & CO.

[Published under the direction of the General Literature Committee.]

DEDICATION.

TO MISS ELEANOR LLOYD.

MY DEAR ELEANOR,

I wish that this little volume were worthier of being dedicated to you.

It is, I fear, fragmentary as a mere tale, and cannot even plead as an excuse for this that it embodies any complete theory on the vexed question of the upbringing of girls. Indeed, I should like to say that it contains no attempt to paint a model girl or a model education, and was originally written as a sketch of domestic life, and not as a vehicle for theories.

That it does touch by the way on a few of the many strong opinions I have on the subject you will readily discover; though it is so long since we held discussions together that I hardly know how far your views will now agree with mine.

If, however, it seems to you to illustrate a belief in the joys and benefits of intellectual hobbies, I do not think that we shall differ on that point; and it may serve, here and there, to recall one, nearly as dear to you as to me, for whom the pleasures of life were at least doubled by such interests, and who found in them no mean resource under a burden heavier than common of life's pain.

That, whatever labour I may spend on this or any other bit of work--whatever changes or confirmations time and experience may bring to my views of people and things--I cannot now ask her approval of the one, or delight in the play of her strong intellect and bright wit over the other, is an unhealable sorrow with which no one sympathizes more fully than you.

This story was written before her death: it has been revised without her help.

Such as it is, I beg you to accept it in affectionate remembrance of old times and of many common hobbies of our girlhood in my Yorkshire home and in yours.

J. H. E.

CONTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE

Introduction 11

I. My Pretty Mother--Ayah--Company 20

II. The Cholera Season--My Mother Goes Away--My Sixth
Birthday 26

III. The Bullers--Matilda takes Me up--We Fall Out--Mr. George 34

IV. Sales--Matters of Principle--Mrs. Minchin Quarrels with
the Bride--Mrs. Minchin Quarrels with Everybody--Mrs.
Minchin is Reconciled--The Voyage Home--A Death on Board 40

V. A Home Station--What Mrs. Buller thought of it--What
Major Buller thought of it 53

VI. Dress and Manner--I Examine Myself--My Great-Grandmother 59

VII. My Great-Grandmother--The Duchess's Carriage--Mrs.
O'Connor is Curious 67

VIII. A Family History 73

IX. Hopes and Expectations--Dreams and Daydreams--The
Vine--Elspeth--My Great-Grandfather 84

X. Thomas the Cat--My Great-Grandfather's Sketches--Adolphe
is my Friend--My Great-great-great-Grandfather Disturbs
my Rest--I Leave The Vine 96

XI. Matilda's News--Our Governess--Major Buller turned
Tutor--Eleanor Arkwright 103

XII. Poor Matilda--The Awkward Age--Mrs. Buller takes Counsel
with her Friends--The 'Milliner and Mantuamaker'--Medical
Advice--The Major Decides 120

XIII. At School--The Lilac Bush--Bridget's Posies--Summer--
Health 138

XIV. Miss Mulberry--Discipline and Recreation--Madame--
Conversation--Eleanor's Opinion of the Drawing-master--
Miss Ellen's--Eleanor's Apology 146

XV. Eleanor's Theories reduced to Practice--Studies--The
Arithmetic-master 159

XVI. Eleanor's Reputation--The Mad Gentleman--Fancies and
Follies--Matilda's Health--The New Doctor 166

XVII. Eleanor's Health--Holy Living--The Prayer of the Son
of Sirach 175

XVIII. Eleanor and I are late for Breakfast--The School Breaks
Up--Madame and Bridget 179

XIX. Northwards--The Black Country--The Stone Country 183

XX. The Vicarage--Keziah--The Dear Boys--The Cook--A
Yorkshire Tea--Bed-fellows 191

XXI. Gardening--Drinkings--The Moors--Wading--Batrachosperma--
The Church--Little Margaret 197

XXII. A New Home--The Arkwrights' Return--The Beasts--Going
to Meet the Boys--Jack's Hat-box--We Come Home a Rattler 209

XXIII. I Correspond with the Major--My Collection--Occupations--
Madame Again--Fete de Village--The British Hooray 219

XXIV. We and the Boys--We and the Boys and our Fads--The Lamp
of Zeal--Clement on Unreality--Jack's Ointment 234

XXV. The "Household Album"--Sketching under Difficulties--A
New Species?--Jack's Bargain--Theories 242

XXVI. Manners and Customs--Clique--The Lessons of Experience--
Out Visiting--House-pride--Dressmaking 257

XXVII. Matilda--Ball Dresses and the Ball--Gores--Miss
Lining--The 'Parishioner's Pennyworth' 269

XXVIII. I go Back to The Vine--After Sunset--A Twilight
Existence--Salad of Monk's-hood--A Royal Summons 279

XXIX. Home Again--Home News--The Very End 293

SIX TO SIXTEEN.