The Project Gutenberg EBook of Effie Maurice, by Fanny Forester

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Title: Effie Maurice
Or What do I Love Best

Author: Fanny Forester

Release Date: January 5, 2006 [EBook #17467]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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[Illustration: "Give it to the poor woman with the sick baby," whispered
Effie--CHAPTER III]

EFFIE MAURICE

OR

What do I Love Best

A TALE

London
GALL AND INGLIS, 25 PATERNOSTER SQUARE;
_AND EDINBURGH_.

Contents.

CHAPTER

I. THE FIRST COMMANDMENT

II. PLANS PROPOSED

III. NEW YEAR'S DAY

IV. THE MISER

V. THE POOR WIDOW

VI. GENEROSITY AND JUSTICE

VII. THE NEW BOOK

VIII. ANOTHER OF MR. MAURICE'S LESSONS

IX. THE FUNERAL

EFFIE MAURICE

OR

What do I Love Best

CHAPTER I.

'Thou shalt have no other gods before me.'

'Mother,' said little Effie Maurice, on a Sabbath evening in winter, 'Mr
L---- said to-day that we are all in danger of breaking the first
commandment,--do you think we are?'

'Did not Mr L. give you his reasons for thinking so?'

'Yes, mother.'

'Didn't you think he gave good reasons?'

'I suppose he did, but I could not understand all he said, for he
preached to men and women. Perhaps he thought children were in no danger
of breaking it.'

'Well, bring your Bible--'

'O mother, I can say all the commandments, every word. The first is,
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." I thought this was for the
Burmans and Chinese, and all those who worship idols where the
missionaries go.'

'The poor heathen are not the only idolaters in the world, my child; we
have many of them in our own Christian land.'

'What! _here_, mother? Do people worship idols in this country?'

'Yes, my dear, I fear we do.'

'_We_ do, mother? You don't mean to say that you, and papa, and Deacon
Evarts, and all such good people, worship idols?'

'Do you suppose, Effie, that all the idols or false gods in the world
are made of wood and stone?'

'Oh no, mother, I read