The Tender-hearted Society
Introduction
Beech-Holme. “The Tender-hearted Society.” Early Days 12.2 (1898): 18. Print.
“The Tender-hearted Society” is a short story about the importance of conversion in a young Christian’s life. Beech-Holme relates a tale about a young girl who has a sudden experience one Sunday evening where she recognizes her immense belief in Christ, and her willingness to serve Him and emulate Him in her life. She sets an example of service and kind actions at her school for her friends, and they too catch the service bug and try to be kind to all their schoolmates—even those who are not so popular.
Although relatively little is known concerning the author, Beech-Holme, this story is typical of the Early Days periodical. Many of the stories were examples of small things a child could do in their life to be a good Christian: a task that was becoming more and more difficult with the rising disillusionment many Victorians felt as science began to disprove many religious theories. 1898, the year this story was published, was part of the fin-de-siècle, the time of the disillusioned Aesthetes. Aesthetes, the most famous of whom is Oscar Wilde, rejected many social and cultural norms. These social and cultural norms were often based in Christianity, and it is against the influence of groups such as the Aesthetes that some parents may have wanted to protect their children. One way to do this was to subscribe to or purchase a magazine such as Early Days, to help their children see the “correct” way to live before being exposed to other decadent ideologies.
“The Tender-hearted Society” shows that a belief in Christ doesn’t just save one's spot in heaven, it actually makes the surrounding world a better place, especially when one is able to overcome adversity—even a little peer pressure. Although the story is simple and somewhat sentimentalized, it gives Victorian children an everyday example of dealing with school and friends to show how to live the beliefs and values their parents taught them at home.
Transcription
The Tender-hearted Society
(See PDF Version)
It was a very cold morning in early February, and Gladys Burton dressed herself rather grumblingly; but her face cleared as she remembered what had happened the evening before. It had been Sunday, and Gladys had made up her mind to be a follower of Jesus Christ; and now, as the remembrance came back to her, her lips began to smile and happy tears filled her eyes. “I must follow Jesus, all the while, at school as well as at home,” she whispered to herself; and downstairs she went with an earnest look upon her face.
Before breakfast came family prayer, and Gladys looked up with wonder at the words her father was reading, for they were her own daily portion. The word which impressed her most was one she had never seemed to notice before, “tender-hearted.” “Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted.” Gladys pondered over that word on her way to school. Surely it must mean feeling another’s troubles, and sympathizing with others’ sorrows. The way seemed shorter that morning, and Gladys forgot all about the cold, unpleasant weather.
At luncheon time Elsie Rundall and Lulu Foster ran to her as usual, and they were soon busily talking as only little girls can talk.
“Isn’t she an ugly girl?” said Elsie, showing whom she meant by the little nod towards a girl about their own age, who was walking, in a forlorn fashion, alone at the other side of the playground.
“Mother says we should call no one ugly,” said Gladys.
“Well, she’s extremely plain,” said Lulu.
“I don’t think she is,” put in Gladys. “Her clothes are plain and dull-looking, but she can’t help that, and I don’t think any of us would look pleasant had we been nearly two weeks at school without any one caring to play with us or talk to us.”
“I’m sure I have not been unkind to her,” murmured Elise rather reproachfully.
“Nor I,” said Lulu.
“No, and I have done nothing to her,” said Gladys; “but we have all let her alone, and we ought to have tried to love her.”
“Gladys, you are queer,” they said.
“I don’t think I am, but I will tell you all about it.” And with flushed face and downcast eyes Gladys told about Sunday evening, and all her new wishes and hopes.
“It sounds beautiful,” said Elsie, with a long sigh. “I should like to follow Jesus, too, Gladys.”
Lulu said nothing, but her hand stole gently into her friend’s, and somehow, without any more talking, the little girls went across to the lonely little Daisy, and she was admitted into their friendship. And it was only the beginning of good things amongst Miss Mason’s scholars. Without planning it or knowing it in any way, Gladys had that morning started a “tender-hearted” society, and those who joined it were always carrying out some work of love on those who were not so happy as themselves.
One of their first ideas—and oh! I cannot tell you what pleasure it gave to the little kind-hearted girls themselves—was to send a valentine to each of the girls in the school who seemed poorer and more friendless than themselves. Gladys and Lulu prepared them and painted them in their very best style, with loving words of greeting. They were the nicest valentines I ever heard of, giving such pleasure both to giver and to receiver.
Edited by: Carr, Lauren: section 1, Winter 2010
