Daisy's Work: The Third Commandment

In Short

This 1870 juvenile novel centers on a young, displaced girl named Daisy who works as a street vendor. After a chance encounter with a soldier, she is taken into a loving home where she becomes an unlikely moral compass for her peers. The narrative explores the importance of the Third Commandment, specifically the practice of reverent speech. It is a quintessential example of late 19th-century moral fiction, enduring as a window into the era's domestic values, religious instruction, and the sentimental storytelling style popular among young readers of the period.

The Story

The story begins on a noisy, bustling street beside a railroad depot, where a young girl named Daisy sells bouquets to passersby. Despite her humble circumstances and the rough language surrounding her, Daisy maintains a sweet, innocent demeanor. One afternoon, she offers a bouquet to a distinguished soldier, General Forster. When a piece of orange peel nearly causes the General to fall, his instinctive, fearful oath is cut short by the child’s gentle presence. Deeply struck by the realization that he has spoken with more respect for his fellow men than for his Maker, the General is moved to immediate repentance. He vows to keep the Third Commandment and takes an interest in the "little flower-girl," who bears a striking resemblance to his own lost ideals.

Recognizing that she is a displaced child of higher standing, the General and his wife, Gertrude, take Daisy into their home. She leaves behind her impoverished life with the kindhearted Irishwoman Betty and her son, Jack—two people whose lives have already been quietly transformed by Daisy’s influence. In her new life at Glenwood, Daisy attends school, where she becomes a gentle moral influence. She is troubled by the casual, irreverent way her schoolmates, including the young Lily Ward, use sacred words in their daily play. Daisy’s insistence on "clean" communication leads the children to form a "swearing class"—not to learn how to swear, but to identify and purge their speech of casual blasphemy and thoughtless exclamations.

As Daisy adjusts to her new life, her memories of her past begin to surface. She recalls her parents and the name "Proudfoot," which eventually prompts the General to place advertisements to locate her family. The mystery of her origins intensifies when new, wealthy neighbors move into a nearby estate called Beechgrove. One of these newcomers is a little girl who bears a striking resemblance to Daisy. The climax occurs during a church service, where the arrival of a stranger—Daisy’s mother—leads to a tearful, joyous reunion. It is revealed that Daisy’s family survived the shipwreck that had separated them years prior, and they had spent much of the intervening time searching for her. Daisy is reunited with her parents, and while she returns to her rightful family, the two households remain close, forming a single, loving circle. The story concludes with the reflection that Daisy’s time as a "transplanted" flower was part of a divine plan, allowing her to spread goodness and honor her Creator before returning to her own kin.

How It Unfolds

The encounter A soldier narrowly avoids a fall in a busy street and finds his harsh language checked by the innocent intervention of a young flower-girl. This moment of grace leads him to reflect on his own irreverence and initiate a search for the girl’s background.

A new life begins Daisy is brought into the comfort of the Forster home, where she transitions from a street vendor to a student. She finds the school environment filled with children who, while well-meaning, treat sacred concepts with casual disregard.

The schoolroom mission Daisy expresses her discomfort with her classmates' habit of using sacred names during playtime. This sparks a series of conversations where the children, led by the spirited Lily, commit to refining their speech and understanding the gravity of their words.

The mystery of the name Daisy’s fragmented memories finally coalesce around the name "Proudfoot," providing a vital clue for the General. Simultaneously, the arrival of new neighbors at a nearby estate introduces a mysterious child who looks remarkably like Daisy.

The resolution During a church service, the long-separated mother and daughter are reunited in a moment of communal gratitude. The story closes with the understanding that Daisy’s journey was a purposeful test of faith and character for everyone she touched.

The People

Daisy Proudfoot is the story's moral anchor. Initially a destitute flower-girl, she possesses an innate grace and a firm, quiet commitment to her faith. She wants nothing more than to be good and to honor God, and her primary obstacle is her own lack of formal education and status—a barrier that is eventually overcome by her own earnestness and the kindness of others.

General Forster is a man of noble instincts hindered by a "hasty-tempered" habit of using coarse language. His encounter with Daisy transforms him from a man who is "unsociable" and prone to outbursts into a mentor who seeks to protect the vulnerable.

Betty Macarthy is the salt-of-the-earth Irishwoman who cares for Daisy during her years of poverty. She is defined by her "straightforward and simple pathos" and her willingness to sacrifice her own comfort for the child’s well-being. Her reward is the security and companionship she finds when she is brought into the Forsters' service.

Lily Ward is the "pet and darling of the school." She is impulsive, precocious, and prone to "saucy" behavior, yet she is Daisy’s most devoted student. She changes from a child who uses "naughty" words without understanding, into a defender of the rules she and Daisy create.

In Its Own Voice

"There she stood beside her basket of flowers, a little spot of brightness and beauty amidst all the dust and heat and turmoil of the noisy street, on that warm summer afternoon."

Daisy is introduced to the reader as she works her humble post near the railroad depot.

"The soldier was hasty-tempered and quick, and an oath--a fearful oath--burst from his lips."

The General’s reaction to a near-fall serves as the catalyst for the book's central lesson on the Third Commandment.

"It is whether my Maker can put up with it, and I believe that He cannot, since he has said He 'will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.'"

General Forster explains to his wife why he has resolved to stop using foul language.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an exploration of the power of individual conduct to influence a community. The argument is that true morality is not merely a matter of social etiquette, but a reflection of one’s relationship with the divine. By focusing on the Third Commandment, the text posits that the way we speak—the words we choose, the gravity we afford to sacred concepts, and our avoidance of casual profanity—is a fundamental measure of our respect for others and for God. It suggests that even the most "transplanted" or seemingly small life can bear significant fruit if it remains rooted in sincerity and prayer.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate the domestic settings of 19th-century literature, such as the works of Louisa May Alcott, will find a similar warmth in this narrative. The prose is earnest and descriptive, focusing on the internal lives of children who are trying to navigate the complexities of their moral world.

It is important to approach the book with an understanding of its period. The dialect used for the character of Betty reflects the era’s literary conventions regarding Irish immigrants, which may feel dated or stereotypical to a modern reader. Additionally, the plot relies heavily on the "lost child" trope common to Victorian sentimental fiction, and the religious didacticism is overt; those looking for a modern, nuanced exploration of faith may find the tone prescriptive. However, for those interested in the history of juvenile fiction, the book provides an invaluable look at the values and rhetorical styles of the 1870s. It feels like a quiet, deliberate piece of history—a reminder of a time when the "proper" way to speak was considered a cornerstone of a well-ordered life. Readers will likely be struck by how the book treats the "swearing class" with such grave, heartfelt importance, illustrating the period’s sincere belief that children were capable of profound moral discernment.