Mary Lennox, an ornery, unlikable child, is sent to live with her uncle, Mr. Craven, in Misselthwaite Manor. She is placed under the loose care of a young housemaid named Martha. Mary learns to be curious and play in the gardens making friends with Ben Weatherstaff, a gardener, and a red robin.
Mother says a child need fresh hair and a jumping rope.
EXAMPLE 3
You should try to be nicer to people.
In India she had always been too hot and languid and weak to care much about anything, but in this place she was beginning to care and to want to do new things. Already she felt less “contrary,” though she did not know why.
Go and play. I have no more time for you!
Mistress Mary felt a little awkward as she went out of the room. Yorkshire people seemed strange, and Martha was always rather a puzzle to her. At first she had disliked her very much, but now she did not.
Mary had indeed been rather like him herself and since she had been at Misselthwaite had gradually discovered that her own manners had not been of the kind which is usual or popular.
COMPANIONSHIP
Thinking him over and saying to herself that, queer as it was, here was another person whom she liked in spite of his crossness. She liked old Ben Weatherstaff. Yes, she did like him. She always wanted to try to make him talk to her.
“Do you think he is?” cried Mary eagerly. She did so want to know. “Do you think he really likes me?”
"I wish my father would come home," he said. “I want to tell him myself. I’m always thinking about it-"