WHAT TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY GIRLS
CAN LEARN from ELSIE DINSMORE
RUNNER UP — 12 and UNDER CATEGORY
Amy Buchweitz
LEARNING from ELSIE
When Martha Finley wrote Elsie Dinsmore back in 1867, the main thing she taught
was how to love. In 1Corinthians 13, the famous chapter of love in the Bible, the
apostle Paul actually makes a list of character traits that describe Elsie perfectly.
When I was reading the books, Elsie made me cry because of how loving, and faithful
and just she was about anything that would happen in her life. She never would talk
back to her elders or repay evil with evil, but always repay evil with good. I am
grateful for the good example she gives. Even though I don’t have space to
write down everything she did, I’m going to try and choose specific examples
in her stories that show how Elsie Dinsmore loves.
“Love is patient, ... ” (I Corinthians 13:4) And Elsie was. She was patient
for her father’s love. In book one, Elsie Dinsmore, when Elsie was a little
girl, her father came home and turned out to be a mean tyrant. But she prayed for
God’s strength and made it through her life until her father accepted Jesus
and started to love her. She was patient with her awfully mean cousins. And later,
she was patient with her children.
“Love is kind....”(I Corinthians 13:4) And she was earnestly kind. One
year at Christmas time she used her pocket money so that she could have a present
for every person in her home. Every person that was mean to her, all of her teachers,
and even most of her slaves, every person in her house received a gift. And you
have to remember that this is only an eight-year-old girl with few savings. What
was given, was given from the heart. And, in book five when she had children and
the Civil War came, she helped the Fosters of Fairview who owned the plantation
adjoining her father’s plantation, when they ran out of money, and had to sell
their estate. She bought a neat little cottage in the vicinity and gave it to them
for a nominal rent.
“It does not envy, ...” (I Corinthians 13:4) In book 6, Elsie and her
family go and visit Lucy Ross, a childhood friend of Elsie’s. While the Travilla
family was staying with Lucy, Elsie’s namesake daughter got a toothache and
had to go to the dentist. When Mr. and Mrs. Travilla got back to the Ross’s
house with little Elsie, her tooth was pulled. Elsie’s other children gathered
about their mother then went to their sister, pestering her with questions, but
she didn’t mind a bit. One of their questions was “Oh Elsie, did it hurt?
” She answered “Yes, but, Mother gave me this!” And from a golden
chain around her neck came a golden watch, a watch that was her grandmothers and,
her mother had worn it since she was a little girl. Violet, little Elsie’s
sister, said “Ohhhh, wow! That was very good of Mommy!” without a hint
of jealousy in her voice. Because they had been raised by a loving mother, they
knew that envy was a horrible thing.
“It does not boast, it is not proud....” (I Corinthians 13:4) And a good
example of her being humble is in book one. She was still a young girl of eight.
She was sitting at the piano, playing her piece, when all of a sudden, she had a
feeling that someone was watching her. She turned around to see Mr. Travilla. He
bowed low and said, “I beg your pardon young lady, but I heard the music and,
being a music lover myself, entered.” She answered, “No excuse is necessary,
you will sit down, won’t you? Though my music will give you little enjoyment,
because I am such a little girl and cannot play very well yet.” And though
her piece was simple, she played beautifully.
“It is not rude, ...”(I Corinthians 13:5) When Elsie was eighteen she
went to visit her great Aunt Wealthy. While she was there, Ms. Schilling, a neighbor,
threw a party. When the refreshments came out, Elsie knew she was not allowed to
have any, and so did not have any. And when her hostess asked her to try some, she
gently refused. The hostess said, “Well, it looks as if you didn’t think
that my cakes are good enough for you to eat!” Elsie replied, “Oh no,
you must not think that! Your cakes looks very good, I just am not allowed to have
food in the evening because of the effect it could have on my health. Please don’t
tempt me any more, for I do enjoy dainties very much.” And, even though she
didn’t take the food, she was very courteous to her hostess. This happened
in book three.
“It is not self-seeking, ...”(I Corinthians 13:5) In book seven, Elsie’s
namesake daughter, gets married. And it is so wonderful that her parents were not
self-seeking, because when you think about it, her parents did not want her to go
and leave them, would you?
“It is not easily angered, ... ”(I Corinthians 13:5) She, along with her
father and others, are not angered easily. At the beginning of book two, Elsie is
fearful that her father is in love with Ms. Stevens, an untruthful insincere woman.
Elsie feared that Ms. Stevens would take her place in Mr. Dinsmore’s heart.
A party was going on at the Roseland’s house and Ms. Stevens was there. Ms.
Stevens was playing the piano and Elsie’s father was leaning over her shoulder
to turn the music, obviously intent upon listening to the gorgeous piece. Elsie’s
bed time came along and she did not want to ask her father for her kiss good night
with Ms. Stevens so near. So her father ends up forgetting to give Elsie a good
night kiss, so Elsie cried herself to sleep. In the morning, Mr. Dinsmore asked
what troubled her last night. Elsie answered that he would get angry, but her father
said tell me any way. She did and, though he could have been angry with her for
being so silly, he was not.
“It keeps no record of wrongs. ...” (I Corinthians 13:5) Six months after
Elsie had her first child (in book four) her father came to visit. Somewhere in
the conversation, Elsie mentioned to her father that she knew that if she and her
husband were to suddenly die, she new that Mr. Dinsmore would be as good and kind
a father as he was to Elsie when she was but a little girl. “And much better,
I hope” Mr. Dinsmore remarked, ” for I was far too hard on you at times.
But I know that you have forgiven me of it long ago.” “Papa, dear papa,
please do not speak of forgiveness from me! I was yours and whatever you did I believe
you did for my good; and what you have been and are to me no tongue can tell.”
Even though some things her father did to her were not right, Elsie had no record
of it in her mind.
“It always protects, ...”(I Corinthians 13:7) In book three, Arthur, Elsie’s
relative, falls into debt and requests a loan of fifty dollars. She says ”
I would be glad to, but I must get Father’s permission first.” The answer
came, “You always were the most disobliging creature, come now, you do your
own check booking don’t you?” Not waiting for an answer he continued “So
it would be easy for you to make it so your papa didn’t know, right?”
Elsie answered “Well yes but I never keep anything from Papa and do you suppose
he can not trust my word?” Arthur grew angry and abusive and at length went
so far as to strike her. A step sounded on the gravel walk and a strong grip was
laid on Arthur’s arm and he was jerked aside and blows started coming down
on him. “There, you unmitigated scoundrel, you cruel mean liar; lay your hand
on her again if you dare!” cried Mr. Travilla! So you see, Mr. Travilla had
affection for Elsie the moment he met her, but at this point it had turned into
love.
When Elsie was patient and kind, she was showing love. When she wasn’t envious,
didn’t boast or be proud, when she wasn’t rude or self-seeking, wasn’t
easily angered, when she kept no record of wrongs, she loved. Personally, I think
that Elsie is the perfect example to girls my age in this century. She teaches love.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these
is love.”(I Corinthians 13:13)
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