Little May; Or, of What Use Am I? by the Author of 'Rosa's Childhood' Or, of What Use Am I? by the Author of 'Rosa's Childhood'.

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1878. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... f He next afternoon, ' when May came out of school, she went to 'carry a small parcel -- from Miss Bennett to a poor woman who lived a little way out of the village. After thanking her for the trouble which she had taken, the woman, who knew May's mother, said to her, So you've got old Hester and her grandson for neighbours, I hear; how do you like them? We have scarcely seen anything of them yet, said May. And the less you see of them the better, it's my opinion, was the rejoinder; Hester's temper is enough to provoke anybody; and Tom is up to all sorts of mischievous pranks. May walked away, feeling rather depressed. Such remarks as these were certainly not very cheering. As she turned out of the high road to meet her mother, who was returning from Mrs. Greenwood's, she wished most heartily that Hester had gone anywhere else in the world than to the cottage near them. It was so tiresome that they should be troubled with neighbours who appeared to be carefully avoided by all who knew them. May told her mother what she had heard. Mrs. Thornton smiled. Never fear, May; we shall get on better than you expect. At all events, we will try what we can do. And we must not mind all that folks say about them. Ill reports generally increase, you know, as they go from one person to another. We must hope on, hope ever. Just as the widow and her daughter were passing the door of Hester's cottage, Hester came out to fling some water into the road. We trust our young readers will not blame May's want of courage if we own that, upon the first glimpse which she caught of their new neighbour, she sheltered herself as much as she could from view by the side of her mother. Good evening, neighbour, said Mrs. Thornton, pleasantly. What beautiful 'weather we have. It...