The Pansy Magazine, July 1886

In Short

This monthly periodical compiles instructional fiction, Christian devotionals, natural science sketches, poetry, and publisher advertisements designed for American youth. Across its pages, children navigate small moral trials such as overeating wild strawberries, facing the prospect of strict boarding school, or managing personal tempers. Interspersed among these stories are historical games, explanations of calendar names, accounts of missionary life, and notices offering premiums like microscopes and tools. The issue endures as a representative artifact of nineteenth-century Sunday school culture, illustrating how religious instruction, child-rearing advice, and consumer commerce intertwined to shape the daily lives of Victorian children.

The Story

The issue opens with commercial advertisements for household goods, embroidery patterns, and breakfast cocoa, establishing a bridge between domestic life and childhood instruction. The narrative contents begin with realistic domestic fiction centered on character building and self-discipline. In one story, the young members of the "Do-Nothing Club" secretly organize a plan to pick and sell wild strawberries, only to spend their Sunday suffering from severe headaches and stomachaches after gorging on their harvest. Their secret club, complete with Latin mottoes and passwords, is quietly observed by a local father who allows the natural consequences of their greed to teach them moderation.

The focus then shifts to personal faith and physical healing through a grandmother’s recollection of her childhood. After a frightening accident threatens her eyesight, her family turned to prayer and scripture readings about biblical miracles. When her bandages are removed, her sight is unexpectedly preserved, an event she recalls not with complex explanations but as a quiet testament to simple faith. Social boundaries and practical kindness are explored in another narrative segment where Ermina Farley ignores the snobbish whispers of her peers to buy fish from Jerry, a hard-working local boy needing money. Ermina extends a warm invitation to Jerry and his neighbor Nettie for a youth gathering, while Jerry works alongside his family to improve their circumstances, noting the dramatic, positive transformation in his father's demeanor since adopting regular family prayer.

Educational and historical features balance these domestic tales. A brief legend explains the origin of bluebells as fallen heavenly toys, while a mother's poem reflects on the noisy, rowdy nature of Fourth of July celebrations compared to the solemnity of the nation's founders. Readers learn the natural history of "Old Abe," an eagle captured from a sheer cliff by a brave hunter who narrowly survives an attack by the parent bird. Moral guidance continues through schoolhouse scenes where a dedicated teacher, Alice Merwyn, spends her Sunday afternoons instructing local children in the Bible, witnessing gradual improvements in their conduct. Biographical sketches highlight the sacrifices of historical figures and missionaries, framing self-denial as a noble calling. The magazine concludes with direct correspondence between the editor and young readers, discussing personal pledges against gossiping or whining, followed by subscription notices offering practical rewards like scroll saws, foot-balls, and botanical field guides.

How It Unfolds

The club's secret indulgence Members of a boys' club gather after overeating wild strawberries they intended to sell, suffering from headaches while a parent quietly observes their scheme. The boys select a Latin motto and establish private club rules, learning an unstated lesson about self-restraint.

A grandmother's answered prayer An elderly woman relates how an eye injury in her youth brought fear to her family until scripture readings inspired her to pray for healing. When the doctor removes her bandages, her vision remains perfectly intact to the relief of her parents.

Crossing social barriers Ermina Farley politely purchases fish from Jerry despite the disapproval of her companions, inviting him and his neighbor to a gathering. Jerry returns home with his earnings, reflecting on his father's newfound gentle nature brought about by daily prayer.

Lessons in history and nature Brief entries explain the origins of month names, detail the dangerous capture of a wild eagle from a high cliff, and offer an educational card game based on English history. Verses remind young readers to honor their parents and act with integrity in daily life.

Faithful service in the schoolhouse Teacher Alice Merwyn uses her free Sundays to gather rural children for religious instruction, persisting despite the gentle protests of her acquaintance. Her patience pays off as the most unruly students begin showing signs of genuine moral change.

Direct words to the readers The editor addresses letters from children across the country, offering firm yet kind counsel on breaking bad habits like whining, teasing, or delaying obedience. The issue wraps up with extensive catalog listings of books and practical equipment available for securing new subscribers.

The People

• Will and the Do-Nothing Club Members: A group of local boys who organize a strawberry-picking scheme. They seek secret fun and pocket money but end up learning the unpleasant physical consequences of overindulgence.
• Grandma: An older woman sharing a vivid childhood memory with young listeners. Her story centers on her youthful accident, her quiet trust in God, and the miraculous relief of her restored sight.
• Ermina Farley: A thoughtful young girl who acts with independent kindness. She ignores class-conscious gossip to buy fish from a working boy and invites marginalized neighborhood children to her social circle.
• Jerry: A polite, hardworking youth who catches and sells fish to assist his family. He values genuine courtesy, supports his neighbor Nettie, and appreciates the peaceful environment created by his father's spiritual turnaround.
• Alice Merwyn: A dedicated schoolteacher who sees her occupation as a higher calling. She willingly spends her Sunday afternoons teaching basic religious lessons to untaught country children, earning their respect through steady affection.

In Its Own Voice

"He made no reply, for he knew that it was not the exposure to the sun that gave him the headache, but--quarts of wild strawberries!"

A young boy quietly suffers the consequences of his secret indulgence while his mother attempts to soothe his illness.

"'Father, they don't hurt a bit; not a single bit.'"

A child speaks with joy to her father the moment her eye bandages are removed, revealing that her vision has been spared.

"'True, Mr. Pratt engaged me for the school week, but I have another Master, May. And he seems to be saying to me 'do this thing.''"

Alice Merwyn explains to a friend why she chooses to give up her Sunday leisure to teach local children.

What It's Really About

The collection centers on the intentional cultivation of character in young people. It operates on the premise that childhood is not merely a time for idle play, but a formative period where daily choices shape future adults. The recurring themes emphasize that small acts of obedience, self-control, and unselfish kindness carry profound moral weight. Wealth and social standing are repeatedly presented as secondary to honest labor, humility, and personal integrity. Beneath the simple stories lies a firm conviction that faith should manifest in practical everyday behavior—how one treats a neighbor, accepts parental discipline, or handles disappointment—rather than in abstract theology alone.

Why Read It Today

This issue appeals to readers interested in nineteenth-century social history, historical children's literature, and the material culture of Victorian America. Reading it provides an unfiltered look into the educational tools and moral frameworks that shaped young minds over a century ago. The prose is clear, earnest, and direct, characteristic of period Sunday school publications. Readers will encounter the distinct cultural landscape of 1886, including period advertisements for items like cocoa, iron-on embroidery transfers, and simple scroll saws, alongside strict moral advice regarding prompt obedience and proper speech. While the straightforward moralizing and religious tone reflect the clear didactic priorities of its era, the text retains a genuine warmth and historical clarity that offers modern readers a vivid slice of late-nineteenth-century domestic life.