The history of Fanny Thoughtless

H ISTORY

Fanny Thoughtless «

LONDON :

Printed by C. E. Knight,

St. Katharine's-square.

FOR J. DAVIS, No. 50,

PATERNOSTEK-ROW. 10

This little girl was called Fanny
Thoughtless. One day she saw
some jam upon a high shelf, and
I am sorry to say she tried to get
it without asking leave. See what
happened, she climbed on a chair
to reach the jam, the chair slip-
ped and down she fell, and cut her
forehead very sadly. The tenth
Commandment says " Thou shalt
not covet/'

It is raining very hard, and
Fanny Thoughtless and her com-
panion Sally Prate-apace have got
an umbrella ; but they are so busy
talking, that they do not hear
Fanny's little sister asking them
to stop, and let her come under
the umbrella. This is foolish talk
ing, as it causes them to be
kind.

un-

Lydia Sprightly came one day
to play with Fanny, and for some-
time they agreed very well; at
last they quarrelled which doll had
the prettiest coloured hair, and Fan-
ny was so naughty, that her mam-
ma was forced to order that she
should be put to bed. " The begin-
ning of strife is as w)ien one letteth
out water, therefore, leave offcon-
tention before it is meddled with."

That is Fanny's chaise, her papa
bought it for her, and one or other
of her brothers used to draw her
about in it, when she asked them
properly, as she appears to have
done now. I hope you remember
always to say, " If you please."
" A good word maketh the heart
glad." " Ye ask, and receive not,
because ye ask amiss."

6

Here is thoughtless Fanny trying
to have a ride upon the garden
roller, this was very silly, as she
had such a nice little chaise of her
own. But children, and grown
people too, often leave what is
good, and choose what is worse.
Let us pray, that we may be di-
rected to choose things which shall
bring us peace at the last.

Fanny undertook to teach her
Tittle brother William to read, but
she did not set about it in a kind
manner. See how she has seated
herself upon the sofa, and is say-
ing, 4< Come here now directly,
and mind you say your lesson pro-
perly." This was not the way to
make him love her. Little boys
rind girls do not love those who are
unkind to them.

Fanny's mamma gave her as
much fruit as was good for her,
but Fanny was so silly as to go
to that woman and buy some,
though it was not so nice as what
she had at home. Little William
is telling her it is not right to buy
fruit, without asking leave. Per-
haps he reminded her about Adam
and Eve eating the forbidden fruit.
I dare say you recollect about that.

0

The next day a poor lame man
Drought some 'books to the door,
printed on purpose for children,
vith a great many pretty pictures
n them. Fanny asked leave to
)uy one, and when she had chosen
>ne she liked, she put her hand in
ler pocket for a penny to pay for
t, but she had spent all her money
"or the fruit the day before : see
now sorrv she looks.

10

Fanny. I wish papa would
send for Punch, why does he not
like him to come to our house ?

Charles. Papa says that Punch
talks a great deal of nonsense, and
speaks many naughty words, and
that such things are much easier
learnt than forgotten ; besides the
men who show him are idle peo-
ple, and it is not right to encourage
them.

11

Fanny was walking with her
brothers one day, and she told
them that she was much cleverer
and wiser than they were, though
they were the eldest. They
laughed at her, and said if she
was so very clever and wise, she
had better not take the trouble to
walk with such children as they
were, and they left her as you see.
" Be not wise in your own conceit."

12

Fanny stood one day by a knife-
grinder s wheel, and she saw the
sparks which appeared very pret-
ty, and she was so thoughtless as
to attempt to catch them ; and
as m,ght be expected, she cut her"
hand very sadly with the knife the
man was grinding. The Bible
compares a deceitful tongue to a
sharp razor

13

Fanny, and some of her little
friends, went one day to a lady's
house, where she saw some gold
and silver fish. The lady is show-
ing them to the children, and ex-
plaining- that they are only to look
at them, but not to touch the ^lass.
Remember " every fool will be
meddling." I hope Fanny was not
so naughty.

kilt

I am glad to say that she wa
)t always Fanny Thoughtless. -
After some time, she found hoi
rery unhappy her thoughtless way
made her friends and herself; an<
remembered that her mothe
me day showed where it was writ
in the Bible, " The thought o
foolishness is sin."

Fanny prayed to God to forgive
her for her past foolishness, and
to give her a new heart which
should be wiser ; and that He
would keep her from foolish and
laughty ways. She remembered
.hat one of her little hymns said,
3hrist can all my sins forgive,

And wash away their stain ;
\nd fit my soul with him to live,

And in his kingdom reign.

And I am gkd to be able to
ay, that she is not called Fanny
'houghtless now.

Printed by C. E. Knicht, St. Kathari