Books with author Mary Louisa S. Molesworth

A ghost? "One that was a woman, sir; but, rest her soul, she's dead."I myself have never seen a ghost (I am by no means sure that I wish ever to do so), but I have a friend whose experience in this respect has been less limited than mine. Till lately, however, I had never heard the details of Lady Farquhar's adventure, though the fact of there being a ghost story which she could, if she chose, relate with the authority of an eye-witness, had been more than once alluded to before me. Living at extreme ends of the country, it is but seldom my friend and I are able to meet; but a few months ago I had the good fortune to spend some days in her house, and one evening our conversation happening to fall on the subject of the possibility of so-called "supernatural" visitations or communications, suddenly what I had heard returned to my memory.Lady Farquhar hesitated for a moment, and her usually bright expression grew somewhat graver. When she spoke, it seemed to be with a slight effort.

Mary Louisa Molesworth wrote everything from adult novels and ghost stories to children's entertainment with a hearty Scottish dose of instruction. The Rectory Children upholds her belief in children's dramas played out in happy surroundings. A new family moves into the old rectory in the quiet little town of Seacove. The neglected port is home to a lonely "little maiden" named Celestina, and the Rev. Vane's three children arrive as just the change Celestina needs. But the girl her age, Bridget, is the opposite of Celestina's sweet nature. "I like to be useful to mother," Celestina says -- to which Mrs. Molesworth adds with all but a cluck of disapproval: "This was a new idea to Bridget." The bad little girl is headed toward a near disaster that will lead her to promise she'll "never be naughty again." Their story exemplifies all that made Mrs. Molesworth a children's favorite in her time. She eased her young readers from silly make-believe to more adult fare with books like The Rectory Children, set in the real world. It's the world at its best, though, where eyes sparkle, love abounds, and "cheerful patience" wins the day. Children earn their place with obedience. And "I don't know that it was altogether a bad thing for them," Mrs. Molesworth throws in like a pinch of salt in the oatmeal.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

"Beata is such a nice child," she says to Rosy's father, "and not one bit spoilt. I think it is sure to do Rosy good."But Rosy makes up her mind on the spot that she won't like Beata, and that her coming is on purpose to vex her, Rosy. "I wish I was back with auntie -- oh, I do, I do," she says, among her sobs. "Mamma doesn't love me. If she did, she wouldn't go and bring a nasty, horrible little girl to live with us. I hate her, and I shall always hate her -- nasty little thing!"Mary Louisa Molesworth (1836-1921), author of The Tapestry Room, tells of a girl's learning to recognize and rise above her limitations, in the entertaining and moving Rosy.

"Beata is such a nice child," she says to Rosy's father, "and not one bit spoilt. I think it is sure to do Rosy good."But Rosy makes up her mind on the spot that she won't like Beata, and that her coming is on purpose to vex her, Rosy. "I wish I was back with auntie -- oh, I do, I do," she says, among her sobs. "Mamma doesn't love me. If she did, she wouldn't go and bring a nasty, horrible little girl to live with us. I hate her, and I shall always hate her -- nasty little thing!"Mary Louisa Molesworth (1836-1921), author of The Tapestry Room, tells of a girl's learning to recognize and rise above her limitations, in the entertaining and moving Rosy.