Elsie's Young Folks in Peace and War
Martha Finley
language
(Transcript, Aug. 8, 2016)
Elsie's Young Folks in Peace and War by Martha FinleyMartha Finley (April 26, 1828 – January 30, 1909) was a teacher and author of numerous works, the most well known being the 28 volume Elsie Dinsmore series which was published over a span of 38 years. The daughter of Presbyterian minister Dr. James Brown Finley and his wife and cousin Maria Theresa Brown Finley, she was born on April 26, 1828, in Chillicothe, Ohio. Finley wrote many of her books under the pseudonym Martha Farquharson. It was a lovely summer day, bright and clear, but the heat so tempered—there on the coast of Maine—by the delicious sea breeze that it was delightful and exhilarating. The owner and passengers of the Dolphin had forsaken her more than a fortnight ago, and since spent their days and nights at a lovely villa on shore there in Bar Harbor; but now no longer able to resist the attractions of the beautiful sea, the most of them had come aboard, and were sitting, standing, or roaming about the deck."Oh, I'm so glad to be in our own dear sea home again!" cried Elsie Raymond. "Aren't you, Ned?""Yes; though we have been having a splendid time on shore in Bar Harbor.""Yes, so we have; but as we expect to be back again in a few days, we needn't fret at all about leaving it.""No, nor we needn't if we were just going back to Woodburn, our own beautiful home—certainly a better place than this in fall and winter, anyhow.""But I'm glad to have a sail again," said Elsie."Brother Max says we'll soon see some places where they had sea fights in our two wars with England," remarked Ned, with satisfaction."Oh, does he? I mean to ask papa or grandma to tell us about them," exclaimed Elsie, in tones of excitement."Oh, yes, let's!" cried Ned. "But the men are taking up the anchor," he added hastily, "and I must see that first. Come," catching his sister's hand and hurrying her along to a good position from which to view the operation.