Full Download PDF of Test Bank For Ethics: Theory and Practice, Updated Edition, 11th Edition, Jacques P. Thiroux All Chapter
Full Download PDF of Test Bank For Ethics: Theory and Practice, Updated Edition, 11th Edition, Jacques P. Thiroux All Chapter
Full Download PDF of Test Bank For Ethics: Theory and Practice, Updated Edition, 11th Edition, Jacques P. Thiroux All Chapter
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you are the captain of a submarine on a difficult mission….” etc. My favorite is to place students
on a “health committee” with limited resources making decisions on utilitarian lines about which
patients to treat. If carefully thought out these kinds of activities really can be used to bring out
pros and cons that students might not ordinarily see. The material on “care” at the end of the
chapter could be easily developed into classroom discussion. Most students are very interested in
differences between men and women, and introducing questions early in the course about
whether ethics is in some sense “male,” or marginalizes “female” perspectives, could be useful
later on.
The philosophical material in this chapter is rich and lends itself to a wide range of activities,
seminars, group work, etc., limited only by how imaginative you can be.
Chapter Summary
Psychological Egoism
Ethical Egoism
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Ethical egoism has three main forms:
1. Individual ethical egoism: Everyone ought to act in my self-interest.
2. Personal ethical egoism: I ought to act in my own self-interest.
3. Universal ethical egoism: Everyone should act in their own self-interest.
Most common version of egoist theory: Everyone should act in his or her own self-interest.
Problems with universal ethical egoism:
1. Inconsistency.
2. What is meant by everyone?
3. Difficulty in giving moral advice.
4. Blurring the moral and nonmoral use of “ought” and “should.”
5. Inconsistent with helping professions.
Universal ethical egoism overall: Works plausibly when individuals are isolated. Conflicts arise
when interests overlap. Communities are now increasingly interconnected socially, politically,
economically, etc., so egoism is less plausible.
Ayn Rand (1905-1982) is the most prominent modern universal ethical egoist. Rand argued that
conflicts wouldn’t arise between individuals if they were “rational.” But conflicts do arise among
rational individuals.
Conclusion: Ethical egoism can only work if you advocate some other theory and don’t tell
anyone.
Utilitarianism
17
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Utilitarianism derives from “utility” or usefulness. Morality is or ought to be useful. Most
prominent philosophers of utilitarianism were Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and John Stuart
Mill (1806-1873).
1. Act utilitarianism: Everyone should perform that act that will bring about the greatest good
for everyone.
2. Rule utilitarianism: Everyone should follow that rule that will bring about the greatest good
for everyone.
Act Utilitarianism
Perform that act that will bring about the most good for everyone affected by that act. Act
utilitarians believe that each situation is different. Each individual must try to bring about the
greatest amount of good consequences for all involved in this situation at this time.
Rule Utilitarianism
Rule utilitarianism emerges out of criticisms of act utilitarianism. Rather than acts, rule
utilitarianism believes that everyone should establish and follow that rule that will bring about
the greatest good for all concerned. Human motives, beliefs, actions, and situations are
sufficiently similar to justify setting up rules to generate the greatest good.
1. Is the utility criterion understood as the “greatest good for the greatest number” always the
right thing to strive for?
2. Are individuals “ends in themselves” such that the “cost-benefit” type of analysis treats
individuals merely as means?
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Conclusion: Although utilitarianism, unlike egoism, tries to consider others, it runs into difficulty
determining what would be good for others. In act utilitarianism, there are no rules as such. In
rule utilitarianism, which rules cover all situations? Does the end always justify the means?
Can we discover all the consequences of our decisions in the present? This is especially difficult
for utilitarians because they are concerned with the effects of their decisions on others.
Care Ethics
Men and Women Are Different When It Comes to Ethical Decision Making
Men and women think differently but unequally when it comes to morality (Kohlberg). For
Kohlberg, women’s moral reasoning is inferior. For Gilligan, women’s moral reasoning is
different but equal. Different answers to moral dilemmas explained not by inferior moral
development by women, but by the tendency for men to focus on “justice” and women on “care.”
For Gilligan, we need both justice and care.
ESSAY QUESTIONS
1. What is egoism? Explain the differences between the various “egoisms.” Are you an egoist?
19
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LO #/Text: 2.1: Distinguish between psychological and ethical egoism
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
2. What is act utilitarianism? Analyze its strengths and weaknesses. Is it a good theory?
Topic/Concept: Utilitarianism
LO #/Text: 2.3: Analyze act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism as the two general forms of
utilitarianism
Skill Level: Analyze
Difficulty Level: Moderate
3. What is rule utilitarianism? Analyze its strengths and weaknesses. Is it a good theory?
Topic/Concept: Utilitarianism
LO #/Text: 2.3: Analyze act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism as the two general forms of
utilitarianism
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
TRUE/FALSE
1. The two major views in the history of ethics are consequentialism and nonconsequentialism.
Answer: T
Topic/Concept: Care Ethics
LO #/Text: 2.5: Examine care ethics and the arguments against it
20
Copyright © 2017, 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
2. The distinction between psychological egoism and ethical egoism is that one is true and
the other is false.
Answer: F
Topic/Concept: Psychological Egoism
LO #/Text: 2.1: Distinguish between psychological and ethical egoism
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
3. Many philosophers believe that there is no connection between the way people do act and
the way they ought to act.
Answer: T
Topic/Concept: Ethical Egoism
LO #/Text: 2.2: Evaluate individual ethical egoism, personal ethical egoism, and universal
ethical egoism
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
4. The problem with egoistic theories is that what they claim ought to be advocated cannot
be stated since to do so would undermine the major principle of egoism: self-interest.
Answer: T
Topic/Concept: Psychological Egoism
LO #/Text: 2.1: Distinguish between psychological and ethical egoism
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
5. Utilitarianism was developed in its modern form by the British philosophers John Stuart
Mill and Jeremy Bentham.
Answer: T
Topic/Concept: Utilitarianism
LO #/Text: 2.3: Analyze act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism as the two general forms
of utilitarianism
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
21
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Answer: F
Topic/Concept: Utilitarianism
LO #/Text: 2.3: Analyze act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism as the two general forms
of utilitarianism
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
Answer: F
Topic/Concept: Utilitarianism
LO #/Text: 2.3: Analyze act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism as the two general forms
of utilitarianism
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
8. The problem with utilitarians is that they are too focused on the minority.
Answer: F
Topic/Concept: Utilitarianism
LO #/Text: 2.3: Analyze act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism as the two general forms
of utilitarianism
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
9. Lawrence Kohlberg believed that women and men were equal in moral reasoning.
Answer: F
Topic/Concept: Care Ethics
LO #/Text: 2.5: Examine care ethics and the arguments against it
Skill Level: Analyze
Difficulty Level: Moderate
10. Gilligan’s “Care Ethics” argues for a balance between the principles of care and justice.
Answer: T
Topic/Concept: Care Ethics
LO #/Text: 2.5: Examine care ethics and the arguments against it
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
MULTIPLE CHOICE
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11. Consequentialists believe that the central part of moral action is
a) the self.
b) the virtues.
c) the other.
d) the consequences.
Answer: D
Topic/Concept: Ethical Egoism
LO #/Text: 2.2: Evaluate individual ethical egoism, personal ethical egoism, and universal
ethical egoism
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
Answer: C
Topic/Concept: Psychological Egoism
LO #/Text: 2.1: Distinguish between psychological and ethical egoism
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
13. Who said that the self-interests of rational human beings would never conflict?
a) Albert Einstein
b) Bertrand Russell
c) Ayn Rand
d) Edward Teller
Answer: C
Topic/Concept: Ethical Egoism
LO #/Text: 2.2: Evaluate individual ethical egoism, personal ethical egoism, and universal
ethical egoism
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
14. All human beings should act in their own self-interest according to the
a) universal ethical egoist.
b) psychological egoist.
c) personal ethical egoist.
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d) individual ethical egoist.
Answer: A
Topic/Concept: Ethical Egoism
LO #/Text: 2.2: Evaluate individual ethical egoism, personal ethical egoism, and universal
ethical egoism
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
15. Who argued that an action is right if it helps in “bringing about a desirable or good end”?
a) The deontologists
b) The ethical egoists
c) The Mormons
d) The utilitarians
Answer: D
Topic/Concept: Utilitarianism
LO #/Text: 2.3: Analyze act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism as the two general forms
of utilitarianism
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
Answer: B
Topic/Concept: Utilitarianism
LO #/Text: 2.3: Analyze act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism as the two general forms
of utilitarianism
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
Answer: C
Topic/Concept: Utilitarianism
24
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LO #/Text: 2.3: Analyze act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism as the two general forms
of utilitarianism
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
Answer: B
Topic/Concept: Difficulty with Consequentialist Theories in General
LO #/Text: 2.4: Evaluate the pitfalls of the consequentialist theories
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
19. Carol Gilligan suggests that a basis for morality must include
a) care.
b) consequences.
c) the moral law.
d) virtue.
Answer: A
Topic/Concept: Care Ethics
LO #/Text: 2.5: Examine care ethics and the arguments against it
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
Answer: C
Topic/Concept: Care Ethics
LO #/Text: 2.5: Examine care ethics and the arguments against it
Skill Level: Understanding
Difficulty Level: Easy
25
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"I think she will do very well," said Mrs. Richardson. "Blandina and
her room-mate are very nice, kind, well-principled girls; and if they
have your niece in their room, they will keep a kind of oversight of
her, and help her when she needs help."
"This is our room," said she, as she entered. "My cousin and I sleep
in the large bed, and this will be yours in here. It is a little place, you
see, but comfortable enough; and you can study here or in the large
room just as you like, only you know we shall expect you to be quiet
when we are busy. What did your aunt call you—Percy? What an
odd pretty name!"
"I think it is very pretty," replied Percy; and indeed it was, being
nicely carpeted and papered, and tastefully though plainly furnished.
"You can bring some little things from home to ornament it, you
know," observed Miss St. Clair. "Those brackets are Jenny's and
mine, and so are the pictures."
"I always thought it would be very nice to have a great many pretty
little things," said Percy, venturing on an original remark. "Mamma
never could, because she and papa were always travelling about,
and living in camps; and an officer's wife can only have just so much
baggage, you know."
Blandina did not know, and began asking Percy questions, and
before they had made the round of the house, they were so well
acquainted that Percy ventured to ask about the lessons.
"Oh, no," replied Blandina: "we are never allowed but three at the
most; and the teachers are very good at explaining. But then we
must mind what we are about, and do our best."
"I don't mind that. I like to work hard when I do work," said Percy;
"but I am afraid I shall be very ignorant and backward, because I
have never been to school. I have always done my lessons at home
with my father or mother."
"Don't you borrow any trouble about that," said Blandina. "Miss
Reynolds says she likes to teach girls who have never been to
school, because they have so much general information."
By the time Percy had finished seeing the house and returned to the
parlour, she felt considerably reassured, and bade her aunt "Good-
by" without crying. She did not very much mind the long tea-tables;
and she managed to get through the recreation hour very well, by
dint of keeping very close to Blandina. The reading hour was quite
delightful, when all the girls were assembled in the great room with
their work-baskets, their mending, and their fancy work, while one of
their number read aloud. Percy had no work, and seeing one of the
elder girls winding some worsted on her arm, she plucked up
courage to offer her hands as a reel. Mrs. Richardson noticed the
movement, as she did most things, and was pleased to see it.
But she made herself very miserable during the forty minutes when
the other girls were studying, and while she, having no lessons to
prepare, sat with her eyes fixed on a story-book which Blandina had
borrowed for her; and it was with a terrible sinking of heart that she
followed her companions up-stairs to their room. Miss Merton had
been spending the evening out of the house. She was quite a grown-
up young lady, and looked, Percy thought, very elegant and
fashionable in her black silk; but she kissed Percy and made her
welcome; saying, at the same time, that it would seem pleasant to
have a little girl with them again. There was a quiet chat while they
were undressing and brushing their hair; and then Jenny said to
Blandina in French:
"I should like it very much, if you please; but—" she added, with a
desperate effort, "I think I ought to tell you and Miss Merton that I
understand French, because you might say something you didn't
want me to hear."
The girls looked at each other, and then Jenny bent down and kissed
Percy again.
"You are a dear, honest little girl, and I am sure we shall get on nicely
together. I am glad that you speak French, because we can talk
together; and it is such good practice. But where did you learn to
speak French?"
"Papa taught me. His father was of French descent, and all the
family speak the language. It comes almost as natural to me as
English."
"Well, we will have our reading, and go to bed," said Blandina. "It is
almost time to put out the light."
When Percy said her prayers that night she did not forget to thank
her heavenly Father for making everything so smooth and easy for
her in her new home; but she did not think to ask Him to keep her
from useless fears in future. She had not yet found out that her habit
of making herself miserable by borrowing trouble was a fault.
The next morning she was examined in her studies, and, very much
to her own surprise and pleasure, she was put into the intermediate
instead of into the primary department, as she had expected.
CHAPTER III.
A TERRIBLE TRIAL.
"I did have my lesson perfectly, after all," she wrote to Aunt Zoe (for
she always wrote home every week); "and Miss Reynolds says I
made the lesson interesting, because I could tell about Arizona and
Colorado."
"I am glad you had no trouble with your lesson," wrote Aunt Zoe; "but
I was not surprised, because I had no idea you would have any. It
would be a good thing if you could learn a good old maxim: 'Never
cross a bridge till you come to it.'"
"I know I am silly," said she; "but, somehow, I can't help it."
"I can't make out," said Flora. "It was something in her aunt's letter;
but I can't find out what; only that Miss Devine wants her to go away
somewhere."
"I am sure I don't see anything here to cry about," said she, when
she had finished it. "Miss Devine tells you that your aunt, Mrs.
Ackerman, in New York, wants you to spend your Christmas holidays
with her; and Miss Devine thinks you had better do so, as she wants
to make a visit to some friends in Millby. What is there so dreadful in
that? Is Mrs. Ackerman an ogress, who dines on little girls? Come,
tell me, Percy?" she added, sitting down on the bed; "what do you
know about this dreadful aunt of yours? What has she ever done to
you?"
"The long and the short of the matter is, that Percy has been
tormenting herself for nothing, as usual," said Jenny Merton. "I must
say, I don't think she is very gracious or very grateful. Why do you
suppose your aunt took the trouble of inviting you to visit her, except
to give you pleasure and do you a kindness? I wish I had somebody
to spend my holidays with. When you have spent your whole life at
school, holidays and all, as I have done, ever since I was six years
old, you won't cry because any one sends you an invitation."
"Why, Jenny, don't you ever go home for holidays? Why not?" asked
Percy, forgetting her own troubles for the moment and sitting up.
Percy was a little afraid of Jenny, who, though very kind, was not so
indulgent to her humours as Blandina. She made a great effort to
swallow her sobs, and presently was ready for her walk.
"Did you think I was very silly, Florry?" asked Percy, when they were
alone together.
"I suppose it was," said Percy, dolefully. "But then you see, Florry,
don't know her the least bit: I have never even seen her."
"Well, you had never seen me only a little while ago. It doesn't follow
that people are bad because you don't know them. Your Aunt Zoe is
acquainted with Mrs. Ackerman, and she thinks her a nice woman,
you see."
"No; but it doesn't make her a monster, either. I think it is all the more
kind in her to ask you."
"And then she is so rich, and lives in a grand house; and I am sure
she and my cousin will think me a silly little goose!"
Flora thought they might have had some grounds for their opinion, if
they had seen Percy in her present mood.
"Well, there, don't cry in the street," said Flora, rather alarmed. "How
do you know that you won't have a nice time, as it is? I am sure I
think it will be very nice. Does your aunt keep a carriage?"
"Yes!" said Percy, as though Flora had asked, "Does your aunt keep
a tame dragon?"
"I dare say she will take you to Central Park, and Greenwood, and
everywhere," continued Florry; "and you will see the pretty holiday
things in the shops; and I dare say have plenty of nice presents. And
oh, Percy, perhaps you can match my worsted for me. Will you try? I
do hate to give up my work," said Flora, alluding to a wonderful
camp-chair which could not be completed for the want of certain
"dead-leaf" greens, which were not to be had even in Millby.
"It happens nicely that Aunt Ackerman should have asked you just at
this time," remarked Miss Devine; "because I really did want very
much to visit Cousin Julia's family once more before they went away
West. I should have taken you with me, and Julia would have made
you welcome, I am sure; but their house is small; and I don't know
how you would have got on with all their noisy big boys."
The thought of the noisy big boys did something to reconcile Percy
to the New York visit, and she was able to tell Aunt Zoe with truth
that she thought she should like it better than going to Cousin Julia's.
"Oh, you will have a very nice time, you'll see," said Aunt Zoe. "I
know Mrs. Ackerman and her daughter; and I think they will make
their house very pleasant for you."
Percy was to have gone down to New York with Mr. and Mrs.
Hausen, but something occurred at the last moment to change their
plans; and she was committed to the care of Miss Baldwin, one of
the lady teachers, who was going home to New Haven for the
holidays. Percy was, as usual, afraid that she should be late, and
quite sure that they should miss the train at A—; for, as Round
Springs is not on any railroad, they were obliged to go to a
neighbouring city to take the cars for New York.
"Well, if we are late, we will wait for the next train," said Miss
Baldwin.
"But, then, my aunt would not be there to meet me; and what shall I
do, if she isn't?"
"You have the address, haven't you?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Oh, well, you won't have any trouble: I shall ask somebody to find
us a carriage, and we can drive straight to your aunt's door."
"But suppose the driver should be a bad man, and should carry us to
some lonely place, and rob us," said Percy. "I have read of such
things, Miss Baldwin; haven't you?"
"My dear child," interrupted Miss Baldwin, "I have passed through
New York on an average six times a year for the last six years, and I
have never yet met with the least annoyance or unpleasant
adventure. Nobody has ever robbed or murdered me, or ever wished
to do so, as far as I know. Why should we meet with anything now?
New York might be better, no doubt; but it is not such a dreadful
place after all, and a great many nice people live there. Do put all
these worries out of your head, and think about something else. You
will not enjoy your journey at all, at this rate; and I am sure I shall
not."
Percy was nervously sensitive about annoying other people, and she
at once resolved that, however much frightened she might be, she
would not show it nor speak of it. This was a very good resolution,
and Percy kept it all the way to New York. The train was behind time,
and there was nobody to meet the little girl.
"Here we are, all right," said Miss Baldwin. "See there the name on
the door. Good-by, dear; I hope you will have a very nice time. The
expressman will bring your trunk before long."
"Oh, yes!" replied Sylvester, all smiles, directly. "Missy will be the
young lady that was expected to-morrow morning. Let me take your
things, Miss, and please walk up-stairs. How you do favour your dear
ma, to be sure. This way, Miss. Mrs. Ackerman is in her room, but
she will be down directly. Take a seat by the fire."
Percy sank into the depths of the comfortable arm-chair placed for
her by a bright, open fire in the handsomest room she had ever
seen; and she waited what seemed to her an hour before anybody
came—though in reality it was not more than ten minutes. The house
seemed wonderfully still. The drawing-room opened into a beautiful
conservatory, where there were plants in flower and birds in cages;
there were handsome books on the tables and pictures on the walls,
which Percy would have liked to look at, if she had not been too
much scared. A solemn clock in the hall ticked loudly, and she could
hear somebody moving over her head. Percy began to think about
enchanted castles and the palace of the White Cat, when her
reveries were interrupted by the entrance of a very handsome and
handsomely dressed lady, whom Percy guessed at once to be her
cousin Margaret.
CHAPTER IV.
AUNT ACKERMAN.
Percy had to explain that Mr. Hausen had changed his plans, which
had changed her own; and added, that Mrs. Richardson had
telegraphed to that effect.
"See, this is your room," said Miss Ackerman, opening a door. "We
could have given you a larger one up-stairs, but mamma thought you
would like to be near us. Do you think you shall like this little blue
and brown place?"
"I think it is lovely," answered Percy, who had a great liking for all
sorts of pretty things. The room was finished with light oak wood in
the natural colour, and the furniture was of the same. The curtains
were of blue and white, and there was a blue and oak carpet on the
floor. Some pretty china figures and a sociable little clock stood on
the mantel; there was a dainty little writing-desk, and three or four
shelves hung over it, filled with books both new and old.
"I am glad you like it," said Miss Ackerman. "Mamma had it fitted up
on purpose for you." She did not say that Mrs. Ackerman had given
up her own special sitting-room, that the strange little girl might not
have to go up-stairs alone to sleep. "Mamma is dressing to go out,"
continued Miss Ackerman; "and I hope you won't consider us uncivil
if We leave you to your own devices for a couple of hours. You see,
we have an engagement at the Orphans' Home, which can't be very
well put off. I will tell them to send you up some lunch; and you can
amuse yourself with a book, or in any way you please. You won't
mind, will you?"
"Yes, mamma."
"Indeed! You must be a very careful little girl, I think. And how do you
like your school?"
"Oh, very much!" answered Percy, with animation. "It is not a bit like
a school: it seems just like home."
"It must be very unlike any boarding school I ever attended," said
Miss Ackerman. "Mamma, the carriage is ready; and there is not
much time to spare, you know."
"True," answered her mother. "Good-by, my love; you must try not to
feel lonely. Sylvester will show you the library and the flowers, if you
like, or you can lie down and rest after your lunch, just as you feel
disposed. It seems pleasant to have a little girl in the house once
more: doesn't it, Margaret?"
"Yes, indeed," answered Margaret, and Percy was sure that she saw
tears in her beautiful eyes. She wondered whom they could be
thinking of. There was a lovely picture over the mantel, of a little fair
girl playing with some flowers, and both the ladies looked at it as
they spoke.
Then they kissed her and went away, and presently Sylvester
brought her up a dainty luncheon.
"The very picture of her. I've often said that very thing myself,"
replied Sylvester, evidently pleased with being talked to. "Miss
Margaret and your ma were near about of an age, and more like
sisters than aunt and niece. You see, your aunt—the first lady, as I
may say—was much older than your ma; and after your grandma
died, she took the charge of her. She was a splendid lady, was the
first Mrs. Ackerman; and the second is just as good, only different—
more quiet and gentle like, and apt to believe everything anybody
tells her. The way them beggars and folks does impose on her! Do
you like stewed oysters, Miss?"
"Very much."
"Then you are just suited, for here they are. I told Symantha I
guessed you would like something kind of hot and comfortable; and
she thought of oysters the very first thing. Symantha, she's my wife,
and Drusilla, the chambermaid, she's our girl. We've got a boy, too,
but he works out for himself. Just ring the bell, Miss, when you want
anything." And Sylvester departed, coming back again presently with
the evening papers.
Percy was hungry, and she ate her oysters and drank her coffee with
great satisfaction, thinking, as she did so, that the dreadful part of
her visit had not begun as yet. Aunt Ackerman was not in the least
like the image she had formed in her own mind; which image was
modelled principally on that fashionable city aunt to be found, I
believe, only in a certain class of story-books. Milly Russell's aunt, in
the story of "The Broken Saucer," had been very wicked and worldly,
and had treated Milly with such scorn and contempt, because the
said Milly had read her Bible on Sundays. But Aunt Ackerman,
though she was beautifully dressed, and lived in such a fine house,
did not seem as if she could be either scornful or unkind.
"And I am sure it was very good in her to fit up this pretty room for
me, next her own," thought Percy; "and I am sure Cousin Margaret
looks good. Oh, dear, I hope they will like me. I wish I was fair and
rosy, like the little girl in the picture."
"Oh, you beauties!" she exclaimed. "I wonder if I dare give you a little
milk. I have heard that milk is dreadfully dear in New York; but, then,
aunt is so rich, I dare say she won't mind."
Pussy accepted the milk, and drank it with an air of having conferred
a polite attention on a stranger, and established herself on the rug
before the fire, while the kitten frisked about the room. Percy finished
her own lunch, and then began exploring her new quarters. The
room was furnished with every convenience, and on opening the
desk she found a store of nice paper and envelopes, all—wonderful
to tell!—marked with the name of Percy in bright blue and red. There
was an inkstand filled with perfumed violet ink, a gold pen,—even a
little waferstand and a box of wax matches: and on the top of all lay
a card with this inscription, "To Percy from Aunt Ackerman."
"What a lovely Christmas present!" exclaimed Percy, as she turned
over the contents of the desk. "I always did want some paper
stamped with my name. I mean to write to Aunt Zoe directly, and to
Blandina and Florry, and everybody."
"That looks nice," said Sylvester, as he came after the dishes and
found Percy busy at her letter-writing. "Looks as if Missy was getting
to feel at home. Mrs. Ackerman she bought that desk herself on
purpose for your room. I am so glad you have come, Miss Percy. I
am sure you will do Mrs. Ackerman good; and it seems so nice to
have a young lady in the house again."
"I wrote to her this afternoon," answered Percy; "and oh, aunt, I want
to thank you and Cousin Margaret for my beautiful writing paper and
things. I always wanted some paper stamped with my name, and I
never saw any so pretty."
"And the desk? I hope you like that," said Margaret; "because it is my
taste. We will have it safely boxed for you to carry home."
"Why, Cousin Margaret! You don't mean that the desk is mine to take
home with me? Not mine to keep? I thought it belonged to the room."
"You have said just the right thing, dear," remarked Margaret. "You
can't please mamma better than by being pleased yourself."
"Well, I do like to have people pleased when I take pains for them,"
said Mrs. Ackerman, piling some raisins and almonds on Percy's
plate. "Now there was old Mrs. Smith, at the Aged Widows' Asylum,
you know, Margaret: I hunted the city over to find her a purple-and-
black checked shawl, because she wanted one so much; and, after
all, she said she thought she would rather have a black and white
one, because the purple made the black look green. And when I
bought that Paisley shawl for Cousin Sarah, I am sure I would not
have taken so much pains for myself, that hot weather. I actually put
off going out of town three days, on purpose to buy that shawl; and
yet Sarah was not pleased, because she said she was sure she
found three threads of cotton on the wrong side."
"I have about made up my mind that I shall not do any more
shopping for Cousin Sarah," said Margaret; "only, I suppose, if I
don't, you will: and she can't impose on me quite so badly as she
does on you; I am not so good-natured. But, as you say, mamma, I
do love to have people show themselves gratified, when one tries to
please them. I think you must be satisfied this time."
Percy resolved that she would be pleased with everything her aunt
did for her. She was examining her desk again before she went to
bed, hardly able to believe that she could be the possessor of so
many little drawers and pigeon-holes, when there was a knock at a
door which Percy had not seen opened, and presently her aunt
opened it.
"I was only going to tell you that you can have this door opened into
my room, if you like," said she. "You need not hurry in the morning.
We are not very early risers; and I will see that you are called in time
for prayers and breakfast. You say your own prayers: don't you,
dear?"
"Well," thought Percy, as she lay down, "I don't think the dreadful
place has come yet. I do believe I was silly, as Jenny said. I wish she
had as nice a place to spend her Christmas in."
CHAPTER V.
SEEING ONE'S SELF.
A WEEK of Percy's visit had passed, and yet the "dreadful place"
had not come. Percy had thought it just at hand two or three times.
Once when Aunt Ackerman left her alone, at a great fancy store, to
select wools for a sofa cushion, and to match Flora's dead-leaf
greens; and once when she went with Margaret to spend the day at
a house where there were two girls of her own age. But the young
woman in the worsted shop was very polite and helpful. She assisted
Percy in her choice; told her how much of each colour she would
need, and, when she had finished, set her a chair and gave her a
great heap of patterns to amuse herself with, while she was waiting
for her aunt.