There lived in the northern parts of England a gentlewoman who
undertook the education of young ladies and this trust she endeavoured
faithfully to discharge by instructing those committed to her care in
reading writing working and in all proper forms of behaviour And
though her principal aim was to improve their minds in all useful
knowledge to render them obedient to their superiors and gentle kind
and affectionate to each other yet did she not omit teaching them an
exact neatness in their persons and dress and a perfect gentility in
their whole carriage
This gentlewoman whose name was Teachum was the widow of a clergyman
with whom she had lived nine years in all the harmony and concord which
forms the only satisfactory happiness in the married state Two little
girls the youngest of which was born before the second year of their
marriage was expired took up a great part of their thoughts and it was
their mutual design to spare no pains or trouble in their education
Mr Teachum was a very sensible man and took great delight in improving
his wife as she also placed her chief pleasure in receiving his
instructions One of his constant subjects of discourse to her was
concerning the education of children so that when in his last illness
his physicians pronounced him beyond the power of their art to relieve
him he expressed great satisfaction in the thought of leaving his
children to the care of so prudent a mother
Mrs Teachum though exceedingly afflicted by such a loss yet thought
it her duty to call forth all her resolutions to conquer her grief in
order to apply herself to the care of these her dear husbands children
But her misfortunes were not here to end for within a twelvemonth after
the death of her husband she was deprived of both her children by a
violent fever that then raged in the country and about the same time
by the unforeseen breaking of a banker in whose hands almost all her
fortune was just then placed she was bereft of the means of her future
support
The Christian fortitude with which through her husbands instructions
she had armed her mind had not left it in the power of any outward
accident to bereave her of her understanding or to make her incapable
of doing what was proper on all occasions Therefore by the advice
of all her friends she undertook what she was so well qualified for
namely the education of children But as she was moderate in her
desires and did not seek to raise a great fortune she was resolved to
take no more scholars than she could have an eye to herself without
the help of other teachers and instead of making interest to fill her
school it was looked upon as a great favour when she would take any
girl And as her number was fixed to nine which she on no account
would be prevailed on to increase great application was made when any
scholar went away to have her place supplied and happy were they who
could get a promise for the next vacancy
Mrs Teachum was about forty years old tall and genteel in her person
though somewhat inclined to fat She had a lively and commanding eye
insomuch that she naturally created an awe in all her little scholars
except when she condescended to smile and talk familiarly to them
and then she had something perfectly kind and tender in her manner Her
temper was so extremely calm and good that though she never omitted
reprehending and that pretty severely any girl that was guilty of the
smallest fault proceeding from an evil disposition yet for no cause
whatsoever was she provoked to be in a passion but she kept up such a
dignity and authority by her steady behavior that the girls greatly
feared to incur her displeasure by disobeying her commands and were
equally pleased with her approbation when they had done anything worthy
her commendation
At the time of the ensuing history the school being full consisted of
the nine following young ladies
Miss JENNY PEACE
Miss NANNY SPRUCE
Miss SUKEY JENNETT
Miss BETTY FORD
Miss DOLLY FRIENDLY
Miss HENNY FRET
Miss LUCY SLY
Miss POLLY SUCKLING
Miss PATTY LOCKIT
The eldest of these was but fourteen years old and none of the rest had
yet attained their twelfth year
It was on a fine summers evening when the schoolhours were at an end
and the young ladies were admitted to divert themselves for some time
as they thought proper in a pleasant garden adjoining to the house
that their governess who delighted in pleasing them brought out a
little basket of apples which were intended to be divided equally
amongst them but Mrs Teachum being hastily called away one of her
poor neighhours having had an accident which wanted her assistance
she left the fruit in the hands of Miss Jenny Peace the eldest of her
scholars with a strict charge to see that every one had an equal share
of her gift
But here a perverse accident turned good Mrs Teachums design of giving
them pleasure into their sorrow and raised in their little hearts
nothing but strife and anger for alas there happened to be one apple
something larger than the rest on which the whole company immediately
placed their desiring eyes and all at once cried out Pray Miss
Jenny give me that apple Each gave her reasons why she had the best
title to it the youngest pleaded her youth and the eldest her age one
insisted on her goodness another from her meekness claimed a title to
preference and one in confidence of her strength said positively
she would have it but all speaking together it was difficult to
distinguish who said this or who said that
Miss Jenny begged them all to be quiet but in vain for she could not
be heard they had all set their hearts on that fine apple looking upon
those she had given them as nothing She told them they had better
be contented with what they had than be thus seeking what it was
impossible for her to give to them all She offered to divide it into
eight parts or to do anything to satisfy them but she might as well
have been silent for they were all talking and had no time to hear
At last as a means to quiet the disturbance she threw this apple
the cause of their contention with her utmost force over a hedge into
another garden where they could not come at it
At first they were all silent as if they were struck dumb with
astonishment with the loss of this one poor apple though at the same
time they had plenty before them
But this did not bring to pass Miss Jennys design for now they all
began again to quarrel which had the most right to it and which ought
to have had it with as much vehemence as they had before contended for
the possession of it and their anger by degrees became so high that
words could not vent half their rage and they fell to pulling of caps
tearing of hair and dragging the clothes off one anothers backs
though they did not so much strike as endeavour to scratch and pinch
their enemies
Miss Dolly Friendly as yet was not engaged in the battle but on hearing
her friend Miss Nanny Spruce scream out that she was hurt by a sly
pinch from one of the girls she flew on this sly pincher as she called
her like an enraged lion on its prey and not content only to return
the harm her friend had received she struck with such force as felled
her enemy to the ground And now they could not distinguish between
friend and enemy but fought scratched and tore like so many cats
when they extend their claws to fix them in their rivals heart
Miss Jenny was employed in endeavouring to part them
In the midst of this confusion appeared Mrs Teachum who was returning
in hopes to see them happy with the fruit she had given them but she
was some time there before either her voice or presence could awaken
them from their attention to the fight when on a sudden they all faced
her and fear of punishment began now a little to abate their rage
Each of the misses held in her right hand fast clenched some marks
of victory for they beat and were beaten by turns One of them held a
little lock of hair torn from the head of her enemy another grasped a
piece of a cap which in aiming at her rivals hair had deceived her
hand and was all the spoils she could gain a third clenched a piece of
an apron a fourth of a frock In short everyone unfortunately held
in her hand a proof of having been engaged in the battle And the ground
was spread with rags and tatters torn from the backs of the little
inveterate combatants
Mrs Teachum stood for some time astonished at the sight but at last
she enquired of Miss Jenny Peace who was the only person disengaged
to tell her the whole truth and to inform her of the cause of all this
confusion
Miss Jenny was obliged to obey the commands of her governess though
she was so good natured that she did it in the mildest terms and
endeavoured all she could to lessen rather than increase Mrs
Teachums anger The guilty persons now began all to excuse themselves
as fast as tears and sobs would permit them
One said Indeed madam it was none of my fault for I did not begin
for Miss Sukey Jennett without any cause in the world for I did
nothing to provoke her hit me a great slap in the face and made my
tooth ache the pain DID make me angry and then indeed I hit her a
little tap but it was on her back and I am sure it was the smallest
tap in the world and could not possibly hurt her half so much as her
great blow did me
Law miss replied Miss Jennett how can you say so when you know
that you struck me first and that yours was the great blow and mine
the little tap for I only went to defend myself from your monstrous
blows
Such like defences they would all have made for themselves each
insisting on not being in fault and throwing the blame on her
companion but Mrs Teachum silenced them by a positive command and
told them that she saw they were all equally guilty and as such would
treat them
Mrs Teachums method of punishing I never could find out But this
is certain the most severe punishment she had ever inflicted on any
misses since she had kept a school was now laid on these wicked girls
who had been thus fighting and pulling one another to pieces for a
sorry apple
The first thing she did was to take away all the apples telling them
that before they had any more instances of such kindness from her they
should give her proofs of their deserving them better And when she had
punished them as much as she thought proper she made them all embrace
one another and promise to be friends for the future which in
obedience to her commands they were forced to comply with though there
remained a grudge and illwill in their bosoms every one thinking she
was punished most although she would have it that she deserved to be
punished least and they continued all the sly tricks they could think
on to vex and tease each other
The next morning Miss Jenny Peace used her utmost endeavours to bring
her schoolfellows to be heartily reconciled but in vain for each
insisted on it that she was not to blame but that the whole quarrel
arose from the faults of others At last ensued the following dialogue
between Miss Jenny Peace and Miss Sukey Jennett which brought about
Miss Jennys designs and which we recommend to the consideration of all
our young readers
MISS JENNY Now pray Miss Sukey tell me what did you get by your
contention and quarrel about that foolish apple
MISS SUKEY Indeed maam I shall not answer you I know that you only
want to prove that you are wiser than I because you are older But I
dont know but some people may understand as much at eleven years old as
others at thirteen but because you are the oldest in the school you
always want to be tutoring and governing I dont like to have more than
one governess and if I obey my mistress I think that is enough
MISS JENNY Indeed my dear I dont want to govern you nor to prove
myself wiser than you I only want that instead of quarrelling and
making yourself miserable you should live at peace and be happy
Therefore pray do answer my question whether you get anything by your
quarrel
MISS SUKEY No I cannot say I got anything by it for my mistress was
angry and punished me and my hair was pulled off and my clothes torn
in the scuffle neither did I value the apple but yet I have too much
spirit to be imposed on I am sure I had as good a right to it as any of
the others and I would not give up my right to anyone
MISS JENNY But dont you know Miss Sukey it would have shown much
more spirit to have yielded the apple to another than to have fought
about it Then indeed you would have proved your sense for you would
have shown that you had too much understanding to fight about a trifle
Then your clothes had been whole your hair not torn from your head
your mistress had not been angry nor had your fruit been taken away
from you
MISS SUKEY And so miss you would fain prove that it is wisest to
submit to everybody that would impose upon one But I will not believe
ii say what you will
MISS JENNY But is not what I say true If you had not been in the
battle would not your clothes have been whole your hair not torn your
mistress pleased with you and the apples your own
Here Miss Sukey paused for some time for as Miss Jenny was in the right
and had truth on her side it was difficult for Miss Sukey to know what
to answer For it is impossible without being very silly to contradict
truth and yet Miss Sukey was so foolish that she did not care to own
herself in the wrong though nothing could have been so great a sign of
her understanding
When Miss Jenny saw her thus at a loss for an answer she was in hopes
of making her companion happy for as she had as much good nature as
understanding that was her design She therefore pursued her discourse
in the following manner
MISS JENNY Pray Miss Sukey do answer me one question more Dont you
lie awake at nights and fret and vex yourself because you are angry
with your schoolfellows Are not you restless and uneasy because you
cannot find a safe method to be revenged on them without being punished
yourself Do tell me truly is not this your case
MISS SUKEY Yes it is For if I could but hurt my enemies without
being hurt myself it would be the greatest pleasure I could have in the
world
MISS JENNY Oh fie Miss Sukey What you have now said is wicked Dont
you consider what you say every day in your prayers And this way of
thinking will make you lead a very uneasy life If you would hearken to
me I could put you into a method of being very happy and making all
those misses you call your enemies become your friends
MISS SUKEY You could tell me a method miss Do you think I dont know
as well as you what is fit to be done I believe I am as capable of
finding the way to be happy as you are of teaching me
Here Miss Sukey burst into tears that anybody should presume to tell
her the way to be happy
MISS JENNY Upon my word my dear I dont mean to vex you but only
instead of tormenting yourself all night in laying plots to revenge
yourself I would have you employ this one night in thinking of what I
have said Nothing will show your sense so much as to own that you have
been in the wrong Nor will anything prove a right spirit so much as
to confess your fault All the misses will be your friends and perhaps
follow your example Then you will have the pleasure of having caused
the quiet of the whole school your governess will love you and you
will be at peace in your mind and never have any more foolish quarrels
in which you all get nothing but blows and uneasiness
Miss Sukey began now to find that Miss Jenny was in the right and she
herself in the wrong but yet she was so proud she would not own it
Nothing could be so foolish as this pride because it would have been
both good and wise in her to confess the truth the moment she saw it
However Miss Jenny was so discreet as not to press her any farther that
night but begged her to consider seriously on what she had said and to
let her know her thoughts the next morning and then left her
When Miss Sukey was alone she stood some time in great confusion She
could not help seeing how much hitherto she had been in the wrong and
that thought stung her to the heart She cried stamped and was in as
great an agony as if some sad misfortune had befallen her At last when
she had somewhat vented her passion by tears she burst forth into the
following speech
It is very true what Miss Jenny Peace says for I am always uneasy I
dont sleep in quiet because I am always thinking either that I have
not my share of what is given us or that I cannot be revenged on any of
the girls that offend me And when I quarrel with them I am scratched
and bruised or reproached And what do I get by all this Why I
scratch bruise and reproach them in my turn Is not that gain enough
I warrant I hurt them as much as they hurt me But then indeed as Miss
Jenny says if I could make these girls my friends and did not wish
to hurt them I certainly might live a quieter and perhaps a happier
life But what then have I been always in the wrong all my lifetime
for I always quarrelled and hated everyone who had offended me Oh I
cannot bear that thought It is enough to make me mad when I imagined
myself so wise and so sensible to find out that I have been always a
fool If I think a moment longer about it I shall die with grief and
shame I must think myself in the right and I will too But as Miss
Jenny says I really am unhappy for I hate all my schoolfellows and
yet I dare not do them any mischief for my mistress will punish me
severely if I do I should not so much mind that neither but then those
I intend to hurt will triumph over me to see me punished for their
sakes In short the more I reflect the more I am afraid Miss Jenny is
in the right and yet it breaks my heart to think so
Here the poor girl wept so bitterly and was so heartily grieved that
she could not utter one word more but sat herself down reclining her
head upon her hand in the most melancholy posture that could be nor
could she close her eyes all night but lay tossing and raving with the
thought how she should act and what she should say to Miss Jenny the
next day
When the morning came Miss Sukey dreaded every moment as the time drew
nearer when she must meet Miss Jenny She knew it would not be possible
to resist her arguments and yet shame for having been in fault overcame
her
As soon as Miss Jenny saw Miss Sukey with her eyes cast down and
confessing by a look of sorrow that she would take her advice she
embraced her kindly and without giving her the trouble to speak took
it for granted that she would leave off quarreling be reconciled to
her schoolfellows and make herself happy
Miss Sukey did indeed stammer out some words which implied a confession
of her fault but they were spoke so low they could hardly be heard
only Miss Jenny who always chose to look at the fairest side of
her companions actions by Miss Sukeys look and manner guessed her
meaning
In the same manner did this good girl Jenny persuade one by one all
her schoolfellows to be reconciled to each with sincerity and love
Miss Dolly Friendly who had too much sense to engage the battle for
the sake of an apple and who was provoked to strike a blow only for
friendships sake easily saw the truth of what Miss Jenny said and was
therefore presently convinced that the best part she could have acted
for her friend would have been to have withdrawn her from the scuffle
After Miss Jenny had completed the good work of making all her
companions friends she drew them round her in a little arbour in that
very garden which had been the scene of their strife and consequently
of their misery and then spoke to them the following speech which
she delivered in so mild a voice that it was sufficient to charm her
hearers into attention and to persuade them to be led by her advice
and to follow her example in the paths of goodness
My dear friends and schoolfellows you cannot imagine the happiness it
gives me to see you thus all so heartily reconciled You will find
the joyful fruits of it Nothing can show so much sense as thus to own
yourselves in fault for could anything have been so foolish as to spend
all your time in misery rather than at once to make use of the power
you have of making yourselves happy Now if you will use as many
endeavours to love as you have hitherto done to hate each other you
will find that every one amongst you whenever you have anything given
you will have double nay I may say eight times as there are eight of
you the pleasure in considering that your companions are happy What
is the end of quarrels but that everyone is fretted and vexed and
no one gains anything Whereas by endeavouring to please and love each
other the end is happiness to ourselves and joy to everyone around us
I am sure if you will speak the truth none of you have been so easy
since you quarrelled as you are now you are reconciled Answer me
honestly if this is not truth
Here Miss Jenny was silent and waited for an answer But the poor
girls who had in them the seeds of goodwill to each other although
those seeds were choked and overrun with the weeds of envy and pride
as in a garden the finest strawberries will be spoiled by rank weeds if
care is not taken to root them out these poor girls I say now struck
with the force of truth and sorry for what they had done let drop some
tears which trickled down their cheeks and were signs of meekness
and sorrow for their fault Not like those tears which burst from their
swollen eyes when anger and hatred choked their words and their proud
hearts laboured with stubbornness and folly when their skins reddened
and all their features were changed and distorted by the violence of
passion which made them frightful to the beholders and miserable
to themselves No Far other cause had they now for tears and far
different were the tears they shed their eyes melted with sorrow for
their faults let fall some drops as tokens of their repentance but
as soon as they could recover themselves to speak they all with one
voice cried out Indeed Miss Jenny we are sorry for our fault and
will follow your advice which we now see is owing to your goodness
Miss Jenny now produced a basket of apples which she had purchased out
of the little pocketmoney she was allowed in order to prove that the
same things may be a pleasure or a pain according as the persons to
whom they are given are good or bad
These she placed in the midst of her companions and desired them to
eat and enjoy themselves and now they were so changed that each
helped her next neighbour before she would touch any for herself and
the moment they were grown thus good natured and friendly they were as
wellbred and as polite as it is possible to describe
Miss Jennys joy was inexpressible that she had caused this happy
change nor less was the joy of her companions who now began to
taste pleasures from which their animosity to each other had hitherto
debarred them They all sat looking pleased on their companions their
faces borrowed beauty from the calmness and goodness of their minds
and all those ugly frowns and all that illnatured sourness which when
they were angry and cross were but too plain in their faces were now
entirely fled jessamine and honeysuckles surrounded their seats and
played round their heads of which they gathered nosegays to present
each other with They now enjoyed all the pleasure and happiness that
attend those who are innocent and good
Miss Jenny with her heart overflowing with joy at this happy change
said Now my dear companions that you may be convinced what I have
said and done was not occasioned by any desire of proving myself wiser
than you as Miss Sukey hinted while she was yet in her anger I will
if you please relate to you the history of my past life by which you
will see in what manner I came by this way of thinking and as you will
perceive it was chiefly owing to the instructions of a kind mamma you
may all likewise reap the same advantage under good Mrs Teachum if
you will obey her commands and attend to her precepts And after I have
given you the particulars of my life I must beg that every one of you
will some day or other when you have reflected upon it declare all
that you can remember of your own for should you not be able to relate
anything worth remembering as an example yet there is nothing more
likely to amend the future part of anyones life than the recollecting
and confessing the faults of the past
All our little company highly approved of Miss Jennys proposal and
promised in their turns to relate their own lives and Miss Polly
Suckling cried out Yes indeed Miss Jenny Ill tell all when it comes
to my turn so pray begin for I long to hear what you did when you was
no bigger than I am now Miss Jenny then kissed little Polly and said
she would instantly begin
But as in the reading of any ones story it is an additional pleasure
to have some acquaintance with their persons and as I delight in giving
my little readers every pleasure that is in my power I shall endeavour
as justly as I can by description to set before their eyes the picture
of this good young creature and in the same of every one of our young
company as they begin their lives
Miss Jenny Peace was just turned of fourteen and could be called
neither tall nor short of her age but her whole person was the most
agreeable that can be imagined She had an exceeding fine complexion
with as much colour in her cheeks as is the natural effect of perfect
health Her hair was light brown and curled in so regular and yet easy
a manner as never to want any assistance from art Her eyebrows which
were not of that correct turn as to look as if they were drawn with a
pencil and her eyelashes were both darker than her hair and the
latter being very long gave such a shade to her eyes as made them often
mistaken for black though they were only a dark hazel To give any
description of her eyes beyond the colour and size which was perfectly
the medium would be impossible except by saying they were expressive
of everything that is amiable and good for through them might be read
every single thought of the mind from whence they had such a brightness
and cheerfulness as seemed to cast a lustre over her whole face She
had fine teeth and a mouth answering to the most correct rules of
beauty and when she spoke though you were at too great a distance to
hear what she said there appeared so much sweetness mildness modesty
and good nature that you found yourself filled more with pleasure than
admiration in beholding her The delight which everyone took in looking
on Miss Jenny was evident in this that though Miss Sukey Jennett and
Miss Patty Lockit were both what may be called handsomer girls and if
you asked any persons in company their opinion they would tell you so
yet their eyes were a direct contradiction to their tongues by being
continually fixed on Miss Jenny for while she was in the room it
was impossible to fix them anywhere else She had a natural ease and
gentility in her shape and all her motions were more pleasing though
less striking than what is commonly acquired by the instruction of
dancing masters
Such was the agreeable person of Miss Jenny Peace who in her usual
obliging manner and with an air pleasing beyond my power to express at
the request of her companions began to relate the history of her life
as follows
My father dying when I was but half a year old I was left to the care
of my mamma who was the best woman in the world and to whose memory
I shall ever pay the most grateful honour From the time she had any
children she made it the whole study of her life to promote their
welfare and form their minds in the manner she thought would best
answer her purpose of making them both good and happy for it was her
constant maxim that goodness and happiness dwelt in the same bosoms
and were generally found to life so much together that they could not
easily be separated
My mother had six children born alive but could preserve none beyond
the first year except my brother Harry Peace and myself She made it
one of her chief cares to cultivate and preserve the most perfect love
and harmony between us My brother is but a twelvemonth older than I
so that till I was six years old for seven was the age in which he was
sent to school he remained at home with me in which time we often had
little childish quarrels but my mother always took care to convince us
of our error in wrangling and fighting about nothing and to teach
us how much more pleasure we enjoyed whilst we agreed She showed no
partiality to either but endeavoured to make us equal in all things
any otherwise than that she taught me I owed a respect to my brother as
the eldest
Before my brother went to school we had set hours appointed us in
which we regularly attended to learn whatever was thought necessary
for our improvement my mamma herself daily watching the opening of our
minds and taking great care to instruct us in what manner to make the
best use of the knowledge we attained Whatever we read she explained to
us and made us understand that we might be the better for our lessons
When we were capable of thinking we made it so much a rule to obey our
parent the moment she signified her pleasure that by that means we
avoided many accidents and misfortunes for example my brother was
running one day giddily round the brink of a well and if he had made
the least false step he must have fallen to the bottom and been
drowned my mamma by a sign with her finger that called him to her
preserved him from the imminent danger he was in of losing his life
and then she took care that we should both be the better for this little
incident by laying before us how much our safety and happiness as well
as our duty were concerned in being obedient
My brother and I once had a quarrel about something as trifling as
your apple of contention and though we both heartily wished to be
reconciled to each other yet did our little hearts swell so much with
stubbornness and pride that neither of us would speak first by which
means we were so silly as to be both uneasy and yet would not use the
remedy that was in our own power to remove that uneasiness My mamma
found it out and sent for me into her closet and said She was sorry
to see her instructions had no better effect on me for continued she
indeed Jenny I am ashamed of your folly as well as wickedness in
thus contending with your brother A tear which I believe flowed from
shame started from my eyes at this reproof and I fixed them on the
ground being too much overwhelmed with confusion to dare to lift them
up on mamma On which she kindly said She hoped my confusion was a
sign of my amendment That she might indeed have used another method by
commanding me to seek a reconciliation with my brother for she did not
imagine I was already so far gone in perverseness as not to hold her
commands as inviolable but she was willing for my good first to
convince me of my folly As soon as my confusion would give me leave
to speak on my knees I gave her a thousand thanks for her goodness
and went immediately to seek my brother He joyfully embraced the
first opportunity of being reconciled to me and this was one of the
pleasantest hours of my life This quarrel happened when my brother came
home at a breakingup and I was nine years old
My mammas principal care was to keep up a perfect amity between me
and my brother I remember once when Harry and I were playing in the
fields there was a small rivulet stopped me in my way My brother
being nimbler and better able to jump than myself with one spring
leaped over and left me on the other side of it but seeing me uneasy
that I could not get over to him his good nature prompted him to come
back and to assist me and by the help of his hand I easily passed
over On this my good mamma bid me remember how much my brothers
superior strength might assist me in his being my protector and that I
ought to return to use my utmost endeavours to oblige him and that
then we should be mutual assistants to each other throughout life Thus
everything that passed was made use of to improve my understanding and
amend my heart
I believe no child ever spent her time more agreeably than I did for I
not only enjoyed my own pleasures but also those of others And when my
brother was carried abroad and I was left at home that HE was pleased
made me full amends for the loss of any diversion the contentions
between us where our parents commands did not interfere were always
exerted in endeavours each to prefer the others pleasures to our own
My mind was easy and free from anxiety for as I always took care to
speak truth I had nothing to conceal from my mamma and consequently
had never any fears of being found in a lie For one lie obliges us
to tell a thousand others to conceal it and I have no notion of
any conditions being so miserable as to live in a continual fear of
detection Most particularly my mamma instructed me to beware of all
sorts of deceit so that I was accustomed not only in words to speak
truth but also not to endeavour by any means to deceive
But though the friendship between my brother and me was so strongly
cultivated yet we were taught that lying for each other or praising
each other when it was not deserved was not only a fault but a very
great crime for this my mamma used to tell us was not love but
hatred as it was encouraging one another in folly and wickedness
And though my natural disposition inclined me to be very tender of
everything in my power yet was I not suffered to give way even to THIS
in an unreasonable degree One instance of which I remember
When I was about eleven years old I had a cat that I had bred up from
a little kitten that used to play round me till I had indulged for the
poor animal a fondness that made me delight to have it continually with
me wherever I went and in return for my indulgence the cat seemed
to have changed its nature and assumed the manner that more properly
belongs to dogs than cats for it would follow me about the house and
gardens mourn for my absence and rejoice at my presence And what was
very remarkable the poor animal would when fed by my hand lose that
caution which cats are known to be possessed of and eat whatever I gave
it as if it could reflect that I meant only its good and no harm could
come from me
I was at last so accustomed to see this little Frisk for so I called
it playing round me that I seemed to miss part of myself in its
absence But one day the poor little creature followed me to the door
when a parcel of schoolboys coming by one of them catched her up in his
arms and ran away with her All my cries were to no purpose for he was
out of sight with her in a moment and there was no method to trace his
steps The cruel wretches for sport as they called it hunted it the
next day from one to the other in the most barbarous manner till at
last it took shelter in that house that used to be its protection and
came and expired at my feet
I was so struck with the sight of the little animal dying in that
manner that the great grief of my heart overflowed at my eyes and I
was for some time inconsolable
My indulgent mamma comforted without blaming me till she thought I
had sufficient time to vent my grief and then sending for me into her
chamber spoke as follows
Jenny I have watched you ever since the death of your little
favourite cat and have been in hopes daily that your lamenting and
melancholy on that account would be at an end But I find you still
persist in grieving as if such a loss was irreparable Now though
I have always encouraged you in all sentiments of good nature and
compassion and am sensible that where those sentiments are strongly
implanted they will extend their influence even to the least animal
yet you are to consider my child that you are not to give way to
any passions that interfere with your duty for whenever there is any
contention between your duty and your inclinations you must conquer the
latter or become wicked and contemptible If therefore you give way
to this melancholy how will you be able to perform your duty towards
me in cheerfully obeying my commands and endeavouring by your lively
prattle and innocent gaiety of heart to be my companion and delight
Nor will you be fit to converse with your brother whom as you lost
your good papa when you were too young to know that loss I have
endeavoured to educate in such a manner that I hope he will be a father
to you if you deserve his love and protection In short if you do
not keep command enough of yourself to prevent being ruffled by every
accident you will be unfit for all the social offices of life and be
despised by all those whose regard and love are worth your seeking I
treat you my girl as capable of considering what is for your own good
for though you are but eleven years of age yet I hope the pains I have
taken in explaining all you read and in answering all your questions in
search of knowledge has not been so much thrown away but that you are
more capable of judging than those unhappy children are whose parents
have neglected to instruct them And therefore farther to enforce what
I say remember that repining at any accident that happens to you is
an offence to that God to whom I have taught you daily to pray for all
the blessings you can receive and to whom you are to return humble
thanks for every blessing
I expect therefore Jenny that you now dry up your tears and resume
your usual cheerfulness I do not doubt but your obedience to me will
make you at least put on the appearance of cheerfulness in my sight But
you will deceive yourself if you think that is performing your duty
for if you would obey me as you ought you must try heartily to root
from your mind all sorrow and gloominess You may depend upon it this
command is in your power to obey for you know I never require anything
of you that is impossible
After my mamma had made this speech she went out to take a walk in the
garden and left me to consider of what she had said
The moment I came to reflect seriously I found it was indeed in my
power to root all melancholy from my heart when I considered it was
necessary in order to perform my duty to God to obey the best of
mothers and to make myself a blessing and a cheerful companion to her
rather than a burden and the cause of her uneasiness by my foolish
melancholy
This little accident as managed by my mamma has been a lesson to me
in governing my passions ever since
It would be endless to repeat all the methods this good mother invented
for my instruction amendment and improvement It is sufficient to
acquaint you that she contrived that every new day should open to me
some new scene of knowledge and no girl could be happier than I was
during her life But alas when I was thirteen years of age the scene
changed My dear mamma was taken ill of a scarlet fever I attended her
day and night whilst she lay ill my eyes starting with tears to see her
in that condition and yet I did not dare to give my sorrows vent for
fear of increasing her pain
Here a trickling tear stole from Miss Jennys eyes She suppressed some
rising sobs that interrupted her speech and was about to proceed in her
story when casting her eyes on her companions she saw her sorrow had
such an effect upon them all that there was not one of her hearers who
could refrain from shedding a sympathising tear She therefore thought
it was more strictly following her mammas precepts to pass this part
of her story in silence rather than to grieve her friends and having
wiped away her tears she hastened to conclude her story which she did
as follows
After my mammas death my Aunt Newman my fathers sister took the
care of me but being obliged to go to Jamaica to settle some affairs
relating to an estate she is possessed of there she took with her my
Cousin Harriet her only daughter and left me under the care of the
good Mrs Teachum till her return And since I have been here you all
know as much of my history as I do myself
As Miss Jenny spoke these words the bell summoned them to supper into
the presence of their governess who having narrowly watched their looks
ever since the fray had hitherto plainly perceived that though they
did not dare to break out again into an open quarrel yet their hearts
had still harboured unkind thoughts of one another She was surprised
NOW as she stood at a window in the hall that overlooked the garden to
see all her scholars walk towards her hand in hand with such cheerful
countenances as plainly showed their inward good humour And as she
thought proper to mention to them her pleasure in seeing them thus
altered Miss Jenny Peace related to her governess all that had passed
in the arbour with their general reconciliation Mrs Teachum gave Miss
Jenny all the applause due to her goodness saying she herself had only
waited a little while to see if their anger would subside and love
take its place in their bosoms without her interfering again for THAT
she certainly should otherwise have done to have brought about what
Miss Jenny had so happily effected
Miss Jenny thanked her governess for her kind approbation and said
that if she would give them leave she would spend what time she was
pleased to allow them from school in this little arbour in reading
stories and such things as she should think a proper and innocent
amusement
Mrs Teachum not only gave leave but very much approved of this
proposal and desired Miss Jenny as a reward for what she had already
done to preside over these diversions and to give her an account in
what manner they proceeded Miss Jenny promised in all things to be
guided by good Mrs Teachum And now soon after supper they retired to
rest free from those uneasy passions which used to prevent their quiet
and as they had passed the day in pleasure at night they sunk in soft
and sweet repose
Early in the morning as soon as Miss Jenny arose all her companions
flocked round her for they now looked on her as the best friend they
had in the world and they agreed when they came out of school to
adjourn into their arbour and divert themselves till dinnertime which
they accordingly did When Miss Jenny proposed if it was agreeable to
them to hear it to read them a story which she had put in her pocket
for that purpose and as they now began to look upon her as the most
proper person to direct them in their amusements they all replied What
was most agreeable to her would please them best She then began to
read the following story with which we shall open their first days
amusement
A great many hundred years ago the mountains of Wales were inhabited
by two giants one of whom was the terror of all his neighbours and the
plague of the whole country He greatly exceeded the size of any giant
recorded in history and his eyes looked so fierce and terrible that
they frightened all who were so unhappy as to behold them
The name of this enormous wretch was Barbarico A name which filled
all who heard it with fear and astonishment The whole delight of this
monsters life was in acts of inhumanity and mischief and he was the
most miserable as well as the most wicked creature that ever yet was
born He had no sooner committed one outrage but he was in agonies
till he could commit another never satisfied unless he could find an
opportunity of either torturing or devouring some innocent creature
And whenever he happened to be disappointed in any of his malicious
purposes he would stretch his immense bulk on the top of some high
mountain and groan and beat the earth and bellow with such a hollow
voice that the whole country heard and trembled at the sound
The other giant whose name was Benefico was not so tall and bulky as
the hideous Barbarico He was handsome well proportioned and of a very
goodnatured turn of mind His delight was no less in acts of goodness
and benevolence than the others was in cruelty and mischief His
constant care was to endeavour if possible to repair the injuries
committed by this horrid tyrant which he had sometimes an opportunity
of doing for though Barbarico was much larger and stronger than
Benefico yet his coward mind was afraid to engage with him and always
shunned a meeting leaving the pursuit of any prey if he himself was
pursued by Benefico nor could the good Benefico trust farther to
this coward spirit of his base adversary than only to make the horrid
creature fly for he well knew that a close engagement might make him
desperate and fatal to himself might be the consequence of such a
brutal desperation therefore he prudently declined any attempt to
destroy this cruel monster till he should gain some sure advantage over
him
It happened on a certain day that as the inhuman Barbarico was prowling
along the side of a craggy mountain overgrown with brambles and briery
thickets taking most horrid strides rolling his ghastly eyes around
in quest of human blood and having his breast tortured with inward rage
and grief that he had been so unhappy as to live one whole day without
some act of violence he beheld in a pleasant valley at a distance a
little rivulet winding its gentle course through rows of willows mixed
with flowery shrubs Hither the giant hasted and being arrived he
gazed about to see if in this sweet retirement any were so unhappy as to
fall within his power but finding none the disappointment set him in
a flame of rage which burning like an inward furnace parched his
throat And now he laid him down on the bank to try if in the cool
stream that murmured as it flowed he could assuage or slack the fiery
thirst that burnt within him
He bent him down to drink and at the same time casting his baleful eyes
towards the opposite side he discovered within a little natural arbour
formed by the branches of a spreading tree within the meadows flowery
lawn the shepherd Fidus and his loved Amata
The gloomy tyrant no sooner perceived this happy pair than his heart
exulted with joy and suddenly leaping up on the ground he forgot his
thirst and left the stream untasted He stood for a short space to
view them in their sweet retirement and was soon convinced that in
the innocent enjoyment of reciprocal affection their happiness was
complete His eyes inflamed with envy to behold such bliss darted a
fearful glare and his breast swelling with malice and envenomed rage
he with gigantic pace approached their peaceful seat
The happy Fidus was at that time busy in entertaining his loved Amata
with a song which he had that very morning composed in praise of
constancy and the giant was now within one stride of them when Amata
perceiving him cried out in a trembling voice Fly Fidus fly or
we are lost for ever we are pursued by the hateful Barbarico She had
scarce uttered these words when the savage tyrant seized them by the
waist in either hand and holding up to his nearer view thus said
Speak miscreants and if you would avoid immediate death tell me
who you are and whence arises that tranquility of mind which even at a
distance was visible in your behaviour
Poor Fidus with looks that would have melted the hardest heart
innocently replied that they were wandering that way without designing
offence to any creature on earth That they were faithful lovers and
with the consent of all their friends and relations were soon to be
married therefore he entreated him not to part them
The giant now no sooner perceived from the last words of the affrighted
youth what was most likely to give them the greatest torment than with
a spiteful grin which made his horrible face yet more horrible and in
a hollow voice as loud as thunder he tauntingly cried out Hohoh
Youd not be parted would you For once Ill gratify thy will and thou
shalt follow this thy whimpering fondling down my capatious maw So
saying he turned his ghastly visage on the trembling Amata who being
now no longer able to support herself under his cruel threats fainted
away and remained in his hand but as a lifeless corpse When lifting
up his eyes towards the hill on the opposite side he beheld Benefico
coming hastily towards him This good giant having been that morning
informed that Barbarico was roaming in the mountains after prey
left his peaceful castle in hopes of giving protection to whatever
unfortunate creature should fall into the clutches of this so cruel a
monster
Barbarico at the sight of the friendly Benefico started with fear for
although in bulk and stature he was as we have said the superior yet
that cowardice which ever accompanies wickedness now wrought in him in
such a manner that he could not bear to confront him well knowing the
courage and fortitude that always attend the good and virtuous and
therefore instantly putting Fidus into the wallet that hung over his
shoulder he flung the fainting Amata whom he took to be quite expired
into the stream that ran hard by and fled to his cave not daring once
to cast his eyes behind him
The good Benefico perceiving the monsters flight and not doubting but
he had been perpetrating some horrid mischief immediately hastened
to the brook where he found the halfexpiring Amata floating down
the stream for her clothes had yet borne her up on the surface of the
water He speedily stepped in and drew her out and taking her in his
arms pressed her to his warm bosom and in a short space perceiving
in her face the visible marks of returning life his heart swelled with
kind compassion and he thus bespoke the tender maid Unhappy damsel
lift up thy gentle eyes and tell me by what hard fate thou hast fallen
into the power of that barbarous monster whose savage nature delights
in nothing but ruin and desolation Tremble not thus but without fear
or terror behold one who joys in the thought of having saved thee from
destruction and will bring thee every comfort his utmost power can
procure
The gentle Amata was now just enough recovered to open her eyes but
finding herself in a giants arms and still retaining in her mind the
frightful image of the horrid Barbarico she fetched a deep sigh crying
out in broken accents Fly Fidus fly and again sunk down upon the
friendly giants breast On hearing these words and plainly seeing by
the anguish of her mind that some settled grief was deeply rooted at her
heart and therefore despairing to bring her to herself immediately the
kind Benefico hastened with her to his hospitable castle where every
imaginable assistance was administered to her relief in order to
recover her lost sense and to reconcile her to her wretched fate
The cruel Barbarico was no sooner arrived at his gloomy cave than he
called to him his little page who trembling to hear the tyrant now
again returned quickly drew near to attend his stern commands when
drawing out of the wallet the poor Fidus more dead than alive the
monster cried out Here caitiff take in charge this smoothedfaced
miscreant and dye hear me see that his allowance be no more than one
small ounce of mouldy bread and half a pint of standing water for each
days support till his now blooming skin be withered his flesh be
wasted from his bones and he dwindle to a meagre skeleton So saying
he left them as he hoped to bewail each others sad condition But the
unhappy Fidus bereft of his Amata was not to be appalled by any of the
most horrid threats for now his only comfort was the hopes of a speedy
end to his miserable life and to find a refuge from his misfortunes
in the peaceful grave With this reflection the faithful Fidus was
endeavouring to calm the inward troubles of his mind when the little
page with looks of the most tender compassion and in gentle words
bid him be comforted and with patience endure his present affliction
adding that he himself had long suffered the most rigorous fate yet
despaired not but that one day would give them an opportunity to free
themselves from the wicked wretch whose sole delight was in others
torments As to his inhuman commands continued he I will sooner
die than obey them and in a mutual friendship perhaps we may find some
consolation even in this dismal cave
This little page the cruel Barbarico had stolen from his parents at five
years old ever since which time he had tortured and abused him till he
had now attained the age of oneandtwenty His mother had given him
the name of Mignon by which name the monster always called him as it
gratified his insolence to make use of that fond appellation whilst he
was abusing him only when he said Mignon he would in derision add the
word Dwarf for to say the truth Mignon was one of the least men that
was ever seen though at the same time one of the prettiest his limbs
though small were exactly proportioned his countenance was at once
sprightly and soft and whatever his head thought or his heart felt
his eyes by their looks expressed and his temper was as sweet as his
person was amiable Such was the gentle creature Barbarico chose to
torment For wicked giants no less than wicked men and women are
constantly tormented at the appearance of those perfections in another
to which they themselves have no pretensions
The friendship and affection of Fidus and Mignon now every day
increased and the longer they were acquainted the mere delight
they took in each others company The faithful Fidus related to
his companion the story of his loved Amata whilst the tender Mignon
consoled his friends inward sorrows and supplied him with necessaries
notwithstanding the venture he run of the cruel tyrants heavy
displeasure The giant ceased not every day to view the hapless Fidus
to see if the cruelty of his intentions had in any degree wrought its
desired effect but perceiving in him no alteration he now began to be
suspicious that the little Mignon had not punctually obeyed his savage
command In order therefore to satisfy his wicked curiosity he resolved
within himself narrowly to watch every occasion these poor unhappy
captives had of conversing with each other Mignon well knowing the
implacable and revengeful disposition of this barbarous tyrant had
taken all the precautions imaginable to avoid discovery and therefore
generally sought every opportunity of being alone with Fidus and
carrying him his daily provisions at those hours he knew the giant was
most likely to be asleep
It so befell that on a certain day the wicked giant had as was his
usual custom been abroad for many hours in search of some unhappy
creature on whom to glut his hateful inhumanity when tired with
fruitless roaming he returned to his gloomy cave beguiled of all his
horrid purposes for he had not once that day espied so much as the
track of man or other harmless animal to give him hopes even to
gratify his rage or cruelty but now raving with inward torment and
despair he laid him down upon his iron couch to try if he could close
his eyes and quiet the tumultuous passions of his breast He tossed and
tumbled and could get no rest starting with fearful dreams and horrid
visions of tormenting furies
Meanwhile the gentle Mignon had prepared a little delicate repast and
having seen the monster lay himself at length and thinking now that a
fit occasion offered in which to comfort and refresh his longexpecting
friend was hastening with it to the cell where the faithful Fidus
was confined At the fatal moment the giant rearing himself up on his
couch perceived the little Mignon just at the entrance of the cell
when calling to him in a hollow voice that dismally resounded through
the cave he so startled the poor unhappy page that he dropped the
cover from his trembling hand and stood fixed and motionless as a
statue
Come hither Mignon caitiff dwarf said then the taunting homicide
but the poor little creature was so thunderstruck he was quite unable
to stir one foot Whereat the giant rousing himself from off his couch
with one huge stride reached out his brawny arm and seized him by
the waist and pointing to the scattered delicates cried out Vile
miscreant is it thus thou hast obeyed my orders Is this the mouldy
bread and muddy water with which alone it was my command thou shouldst
sustain that puny mortal But Ill Here raising him aloft he was
about to dash him to the ground when suddenly revolving in his wicked
thoughts that if at once he should destroy his patient slave his
cruelty to him must also have an end he pausedand then recovering he
stretched out his arm and bringing the little trembler near his glaring
eyes he thus subjoins No Ill not destroy thy wretched life but
thou shalt waste thy weary days in a dark dungeon as far remote from
the least dawn of light as from thy loved companion And I myself will
carefully supply you both so equally with mouldy bread and water
that each by his own sufferings shall daily know what his dear friend
endures So saying he hastened with him to his deepest dungeon and
having thrust him in he doubly barred the iron door And now again
retiring to his couch this newwrought mischief which greatly
gratified his raging mind soon sunk him down into a sound and heavy
sleep The reason this horrid monster had not long ago devoured his
little captive for he thought him a delicious morsel was that he
might never want an object at hand to gratify his cruelty For though
extremely great was his voracious hunger yet greater still was his
desire of tormenting and oftentimes when he had teased beat and
tortured the poor gentle Mignon so as to force from him tears and
sometimes a soft complaint he would with a malicious sneer scornfully
reproach him in the following words Little does it avail to whine to
blubber or complain for remember abject wretch
I am a giant and I can eat thee
Thou art a dwarf and thou canst not eat me
When Mignon was thus alone he threw himself on the cold ground
bemoaning his unhappy fate However he soon recollected that patience
and resignation were his only succour in this distressful condition not
doubting but that as goodness cannot always suffer he should in time
meet with some unforeseen deliverance from the savage power of the
inhuman Barbarico
Whilst the gentle Mignon was endeavouring to comfort himself in his
dungeon with these good reflections he suddenly perceived at a little
distance from him a small glimmering light Immediately he rose from
the ground and going towards it found that it shone through a little
door that had been left at jar which led him to a spacious hall
wherein the giant hoarded his immense treasures Mignon was at first
dazzled with the lustre of so much gold and silver and sparkling jewels
as were there heaped together But casting his eyes on a statue that was
placed in the middle of the room he read on the pedestal written in
very small letters the following verses
Wouldst thou from the rage be free
Of the tyrants tyranny
Loose the fillet which is bound
Twice three times my brows around
Bolts and bars shall open fly
By a magic sympathy
Take him in his sleeping hour
Bind his neck and break his powr
Patience bids make no delay
Haste to bind him haste away
Mignons little heart now leapt for joy that he had found the means
of such a speedy deliverance and eagerly climbing up the statue he
quickly unbound the magic fillet which was no sooner done but suddenly
the bolts and bars of the brazen gates through which the giant used to
pass to this his treasury were all unloosed and the foldingdoors of
their own accord flew open grating harsh thunder on their massy hinges
At the same instant stretched on his iron couch in the room adjoining
to the hall the giant gave a deadly groan Here again the little
Mignons trembling heart began to fail for he feared the monster was
awakened by the noise and that he should now suffer the cruellest
torments his wicked malice could invent Wherefore for a short space he
remained clinging round the statue till he perceived that all again was
hushed and silent when getting down he gently stole into the giants
chamber where he found him still in a profound sleep
But here to the great mortification of Miss Jennys attentive hearers
the hour of entertaining themselves being at an end they were obliged
to leave the poor little Mignon in the greatest distress and fright
lest the giant should awake before he could fulfil the commands of
the oracle and to wait for the remainder of the story till another
opportunity
In the evening as soon as school was over the little company again met
in their arbour and nothing could be greater than their impatience to
hear the event of Mignons hazardous undertaking Miss Dolly Friendly
said that if the poor little creature was destroyed she should not
sleep that night But they all joined in entreating Miss Jenny to
proceed which she did in the following manner
Now thought Mignon is the lucky moment to fulfil the instructions of
the oracle And then cautiously getting up the side of the couch with
trembling hands he put the fillet round the monsters neck and tied it
firmly in a threefold knot and again softly creeping down he retired
into a corner of the room to wait the wished event In a few minutes the
giant waked and opening his enormous eyes he glared their horrid orbs
around but without the least motion of his head or body and spied the
little Mignon where he lay close shrinking to avoid his baleful sight
The giant no sooner perceived his little page at liberty but his heart
sorely smote him and he began to suspect the worst that could befall
for recollecting that he had carelessly left open the little door
leading from the dungeon to the great hall wherein was placed the fatal
magic statue he was now entirely convinced that Mignon had discovered
the secret charm on which his power depended for he already found the
magic of the fillet round his neck fully to operate his sinews all
relax his joints all tremble and when he would by his own hand have
tried to free himself his shivering limbs he found refused obedience to
their office Thus bereft of all his strength and well nigh motionless
in this extremity of impotence he cast about within himself by what sly
fraud for fraud and subtlety were now his only refuge he best might
work upon the gentle Mignon to lend his kind assistance to unloose him
Wherefore with guileful words and seeming courtesy still striving to
conceal his cursed condition he thus bespake his little captive
Come hither Mignon my pretty gentle boy come near me This fillet
thou has bound around my neck to keep me from the cold gives me some
pain I know thy gentle nature will not let thee see thy tender master
in the least uneasiness without affording him thy cheerful aid and kind
relief Come hither my dear child I say and loose the knot which in
thy kind concern I thank thee for thy care thou hast tied so hard it
somewhat frets my neck
These words the insidious wretch uttered in such a low trembling tone of
voice and with such an affectation of tenderness that the little page
who had never before experience from him any such kind of dialect and
but too well knew his savage nature to believe that anything but guile
or want of power could move him to the least friendly speech or kind
affection began now strongly to be persuaded that all was as he wished
and that the power of the inhuman tyrant was at an end He knew full
well that if the giant had not lost the ability of rising from the
couch he should ere now too sensibly have felt the sad effects of his
malicious resentment and therefore boldly adventured to approach him
and coming near the couch and finding not the least effort in the
monster to reach him and from thence quite satisfied of the giants
total incapacity of doing farther mischief he flew with raptures to the
cell where Fidus lay confined
Poor Fidus all this time was quite disconsolate nor could he guess the
cause why his little friend so long had kept away one while he thought
the giants stern commands had streightened him of all subsistence
another while his heart misgave him for his gentle friend lest unawares
his kind beneficence towards him had caused him to fall a sacrifice
to the tyrants cruel resentment With these and many other like
reflections the unhappy youth was busied when Mignon suddenly unbarred
the cell flew to his friend and eagerly embraced him cried out Come
Fidus haste my dearest friend for thou and all of us are from this
moment free Come and behold the cruel monster where he lies bereft of
all his strength I cannot stay to tell thee now the cause but haste
and thou shall see the dreadful tyrant stretched on his iron couch
deprived of all his wicked power But first let us unbar each cell
wherein is pent some wretched captive that we may share a general
transport for this our glad deliverance
The faithful Fidus whose heart had known but little joy since he had
lost his loved Amata now felt a dawning hope that he might once more
chance to find her if she had survived their fatal separation and
without one word of answer he followed Mignon to the several cells and
soon released all the astonished captives
Mignon first carried them to behold their former terror now to
appearance almost a lifeless corpse who on seeing them all surround
his couch gave a most hideous roar which made them tremble all but
the gentle Mignon who was convinced of the impotence of his rage and
begged them to give him their attendance in the hall where they were no
sooner assembled than he showed them the statue read them the oracle
and told them every circumstance before related
They now began to bethink themselves of what method was to be taken
to procure their entire liberty for the influence of the magic
fillet extended only to the gates of the hall and still they remained
imprisoned within the dismal cave and though they knew from the oracle
as well as from what appeared that the monsters power was at an end
yet still were they to seek the means of their escape from this his
horrid abode At length Mignon again ascended the couch to find the
massy key and spying one end of it peep out from under the pillow he
called to Fidus who first stepped up to his friends assistance the
rest by his example quickly followed and now by their united force
they dragged the ponderous key from under the monsters head and then
descending they all went to the outer door of the cave where with some
difficulty they set wide open the folding iron gates
They now determined to dispatch a messenger to the good Benefico with
the news which they knew would be so welcome to him and all his guests
and with one voice agreed that Fidus should bear the joyful tidings
and then returned to observe the monster and to wait the coming of
Benefico The nimble Fidus soon reached the giants dwelling where at
a little distance from the castle he met the good Benefico with a
train of happy friends enjoying the pleasures of the evening and the
instructive and cheerful conversation of their kind protector Fidus
briefly told his errand and instantly Benefico with all his train
joyfully hastened to behold the wonders he had related for now many
hearts leapt for joy in hopes of meeting some friend of whom they had
been bereft by the cruelty of the savage Barbarico
They were not long before they arrived at the horrid cave where
Benefico proceeding directly to the monsters chamber suddenly
appeared to him at the side of his couch Barbarico on seeing him
gave a hideous yell and rolled his glaring eyes in such a manner as
expressed the height of rage and envious bitterness
Benefico turning to all the company present thus spoke How shall I
enough praise and admire the gentle Mignon for having put in my power
to justice on this execrable wretch and freeing you all from an
insufferable slavery and the whole country from their terror Then
reaching the monsters own sword which hung over his couch his hand
yet suspended over the impious tyrant he thus said Speak wretch
if yet the power of speech is left thee and with thy latest breath
declare what advantage hast thou found of all thy wicked life
Barbarico well knew that too bad had been that life to leave the least
room for hope of mercy and therefore instead of an answer he gave
another hideous yell gnashing his horrid teeth and again rolling his
ghastly eyes on all around
Benefico seeing him thus impenitent and sullen lifted on high the
mighty sword and with one blow severed his odious head from his
enormous body
The whole assembly gave a shout for joy and Benefico holding in his
hand the monsters yet grinning head thus addressed his halfastonished
companions See here my friends the proper conclusion of a rapacious
cruel life But let us hasten from this monsters gloomy cave and on
the top of one of our highest mountains fixed on a pole will I set up
this joyful spectacle that all the country round may know themselves at
liberty to pursue their rural business or amusements without the
dread of any annoyance from a devouring vile tormentor And when his
treasures which justly all belong to the good patient Mignon are
removed we will shut up the mouth of this abominable dwelling and
casting on the door a heap of earth well hope in time that both
place and remembrance of this cruel savage may in time be lost
Every one readily cried out that to Benefico the good Benefico
alone belonged the tyrants treasures that Benefico should ever be as
heretofore their governor their father and their kind protector
The beneficent heart of the good giant was quite melted with this their
kind confidence and dependence upon him and assured them he should
ever regard them as his children and now exulting in the general joy
that must attend the destruction of this savage monster when the whole
country should find themselves freed from the terror his rapine and
desolation he sent before to his castle to give intelligence to all
within that happy place of the grim monsters fall and little Mignons
triumph giving in charge to the harbinger of these tidings that it
should be his first and chiefest care to glad the gentle bosom of a
fair disconsolate who kept herself retired and pent up within her own
apartment with the knowledge that the inhuman monster was no more and
that henceforth sweet peace and rural innocence might reign in all their
woods and groves The hearts of all within the castle bounded with
joy on hearing the report of the inhuman monsters death and the
deliverance of all his captives and with speedy steps they hastened
to meet their kind protector nor did the melancholy fair one lest
she should seem unthankful for the general blessing refuse to join the
train
It was not long after the messenger that Benefico and those his joyful
friends arrived but the faithful Fidus alone of all this happy
company was tortured with the inward pangs of a sad grief he could
not conquer and his fond heart remained still captivated to a melting
sorrow nor could even the tender friendship of the gentle Mignon quite
remove though it alleviated his sadness but the thoughts of his loved
lost amata embittered every joy and overwhelmed his generous soul with
sorrow
When the company from the castle joined Benefico he declared to them in
what manner their deliverance was effected and as a general shout of
joy resounded through the neighbouring mountains Fidus lifting up
his eyes beheld in the midst of the multitude standing in a pensive
posture the fair disconsolate Her tender heart was at the instant
overflowing in soft tears caused by a kind participation of their
present transport yet mixed with the deep sad impression of a grief her
bosom was full fraught with Her face at first was almost hid by her
white handkerchief with which she wiped away the trickling drops which
falling had bedewed her beauteous cheeks but as she turned her lovely
face to view the joyful conquerors and to speak a welcome to her kind
protector what words can speak the raptures the astonishment that
swelled the bosom of the faithful youth when in this fair disconsolate
he saw his loved his constant his longlost Amata Their delighted
eyes in the same instant beheld each other and breaking on each
side from their astonished friends they flew like lightning into each
others arms
After they had given a short account of what had passed in their
separation Fidus presented to his loved Amata the kind the gentle
Mignon with lavish praises of his generous friendship and steady
resolution in hazarding his life by disobeying the injunctions of the
cruel tyrant No sooner had Amata heard the name of Mignon but she
cried out Surely my happiness is now complete and all my sorrows by
this joyful moment are more than fully recompensed for in the kind
preserver of my Fidus I have found my brother My mother lost her
little Mignon when he was five years old and pining grief after some
years vain search ended her wretched life
The generous hearts of all who were present shared the raptures of
the faithful Fidus the lovely Amata and gentle Mignon on this happy
discovery and in the warmest congratulations they expressed their joy
Benefico now led all the delighted company into his castle where
freedom was publicly proclaimed and every one was left a liberty either
to remain there with Benefico or loaded with wealth sufficient for
their use to go where their attachments or inclinations might invite
them
Fidus Amata and the little Mignon hesitated not one moment to declare
their choice of staying with the generous Benefico
The nuptials of the faithful Fidus and his loved Amata were solemnized
in the presence of all their friends
Benefico passed the remainder of his days in pleasing reflections on his
wellspent life
The treasures of the dead tyrant were turned into blessings by the use
they were now made of little Mignon was loved and cherished by all his
companions Peace harmony and love reigned in every bosom dissension
discord and hatred were banished from this friendly dwelling and that
happiness which is the natural consequence of goodness appeared in
every cheerful countenance throughout the castle of the good Benefico
and as heretofore affright and terror spread itself from the monsters
hateful cave so now from this peaceful castle was diffused tranquility
and joy through all the happy country round
Thus ended the story of the two giants and Miss Jenny being tired with
reading they left the arbour for that night and agreed to meet there
again the next day
As soon as they had supped Mrs Teachum sent for Miss Jenny Peace into
her closet and desired an exact account from her of this their first
days amusement that she might judge from thence how far they might be
trusted with the liberty she had given them
Miss Jenny showed her governess the story she had read and said I
hope madam you will not think it an improper one for it was given
me by my mamma and she told me that she thought it contained a very
excellent moral
Mrs Teachum having looked it over thus spoke I have no objection
Miss Jenny to your reading any stories to amuse you provided you read
them with the proper disposition of mind not to be hurt by them A very
good moral may indeed be drawn from the whole and likewise from almost
every part of it and as you had this story from your mamma I doubt not
but you are very well qualified to make the proper remarks yourself
upon the moral of it to your companions But here let me observe to you
which I would have you communicate to your little friends that giants
magic fairies and all sorts of supernatural assistances in a story
are only introduced to amuse and divert for a giant is called so only
to express a man of great power and the magic fillet round the statue
was intended only to show you that by patience you will overcome all
difficulties Therefore by no means let the notion of giants or magic
dwell upon your minds And you may farther observe that there is
a different style adapted to every sort of writing and the various
sounding epithets given to Barbarico are proper to express the raging
cruelty of his wicked mind But neither this highsounding language nor
the supernatural contrivances in this story do I so thoroughly approve
as to recommend them much to your reading except as I said before
great care is taken to prevent your being carried away by these
highflown things from that simplicity of taste and manners which it is
my chief study to inculcate
Here Miss Jenny looked a little confounded and by her downcast eye
showed a fear that she had incurred the disapprobation if not the
displeasure of her governess upon which Mrs Teachum thus proceeded
I do not intend by this my dear to blame you for what you have done
but only to instruct you how to make the best use of even the most
trifling things and if you have any more stories of this kind with
an equal good moral when you are not better employed I shall not be
against your reading them always remembering the cautions I have this
evening been giving you
Miss Jenny thanked her governess for her instructions and kind
indulgence to her and promised to give her an exact account of their
daily amusements and taking leave retired to her rest
That Miss Jennys meeting with her companions in the morning after
school she asked them how they liked the history of the giants They
all declared they thought it a very pretty diverting story Miss Jenny
replied though she was glad they were pleased yet she would have them
look farther than the present amusement for continued she my mamma
always taught me to understand what I read otherwise she said it was
to no manner of purpose to read ever so many books which would only
stuff my brain without being any improvement to my mind
The misses all agreed that certainly it was of no use to read without
understanding what they read and began to talk of the story of the
giants to prove they could make just remarks on it
Miss Sukey Jennett said I am most pleased with that part of the story
where the good Benefico cuts off the monsters head and puts an end
to his cruelty especially as he was so sullen he would not confess his
wickedness because you know Miss Jenny if he had had sense enough to
have owned his error and have followed the example of the good giant
he might have been happy
Miss Lucy Sly delivered the following opinion My greatest joy was
whilst Mignon was tying the magic fillet round the monsters neck and
conquering him
Now I said Miss Dolly Friendly am most pleased with that part of the
story were Fidus and Amata meet the reward of their constancy and love
when they find each other after all their sufferings
Miss Polly Suckling said with some eagerness My greatest joy was in
the description of Mignon and to think that it should be in the power
of that little creature to conquer such a great monster
Miss Patty Lockit Miss Nanny Spruce Miss Betty Ford and Miss Henny
Fret advanced no new opinions but agreed some to one and some to
another of those that were already advanced And as every one was eager
to maintain her own opinion an argument followed the particulars of
which I could never learn only thus much I know that it was concluded
by Miss Lucy Sly saying with an air and tone of voice that implied
more anger than had been heard since the reconciliation that she was
sure Miss Polly Suckling only liked that part about Mignon because she
was the least in the school and Mignon being such a little creature
put her in mind of herself
Miss Jenny Peace now began to be frighted lest this contention should
raise another quarrel and therefore begged to be heard before they went
any farther They were not yet angry enough to refuse hearing what she
had to say and then Miss Jenny desired them to consider the moral of
the story and what use they might make of it instead of contending
which was the prettiest part For otherwise continued she I have
lost my breath in reading to you and you will be worse rather than
better for what you have heard Pray observe that Beneficos happiness
arose entirely from his goodness he had less strength and less riches
than the cruel monster and yet by the good use he made of what he
possessed you see how he turned all things to his advantage But
particularly remember that the good little Mignon in the moment
that he was patiently submitting to his sufferings found a method of
relieving himself from them and of overcoming a barbarous monster who
had so cruelly abused him
Our good governess last night not only instructed me in this moral I
am now communicating to you but likewise bid me warn you by no means
to let the notion of giants or magic to dwell upon your minds for by a
giant is meant no more than a man of great power and the magic fillet
round the head of the statue was only intended to teach you that by the
assistance of patience you may overcome all difficulties
In order therefore to make what you read of any use to you you must
not only think of it thus in general but make the application to
yourselves For when as now instead of improving yourselves by
reading you make what you read a subject to quarrel about what is this
less than being like the monster Barbarico who turned his very riches
to a curse I am sure it is not following the example of Benefico who
made everything a blessing to him Remember if you pinch and abuse a
dog or cat because it is in your power you are like the cruel Monster
when he abused the little Mignon and said
I am a giant and I can eat thee
Thou art a dwarf and thou canst not eat me
In short if you will reap any benefit from this story towards
rendering you happy whenever you have any power you must follow the
example of the giant Benefico and do good with it and when you are
under any sufferings like Mignon you must patiently endure them till
you can find a remedy then in one case like Benefico you will enjoy
what you possess and in the other you will in time like Mignon
overcome your sufferings for the natural consequence of indulging
cruelty and revenge in the mind even where there is the highest power
to gratify it is misery
Here Miss Sukey Jennet interrupted Miss Jenny saying that she herself
had experienced the truth of that observation in the former part of her
life for she never had known either peace or pleasure till she had
conquered in her mind the desire of hurting and being revenged on those
who she thought did not by their behaviour show the same regard for her
that her own good opinion of herself made her think she deserved Miss
Jenny then asked her if she was willing to lead the way to the rest of
her companions by telling her past life She answered she would do it
with all her heart and by having so many and great faults to confess
she hoped she should by her true confessions set them an example of
honesty and ingenuity
Miss Sukey Jennett who was next in years to Miss Jenny Peace was not
quite twelve years old but so very tall of her age that she was within
a trifle as tall as Miss Jenny Peace and by growing so fast was
much thinner and though she was not really so well made yet from an
assured air in her manner of carrying herself she was called much the
genteelest girl There was on first view a great resemblance in their
persons Her face was very handsome and her complexion extremely good
but a little more inclined to pale than Miss Jennys Her eyes were a
degree darker and had a life and fire in them which was very beautiful
but yet her impatience on the least contradiction often brought a
fierceness into her eyes and gave such a discomposure to her whole
countenance as immediately took off your admiration But her eyes had
now since her hearty reconciliation with her companions lost a great
part of their fierceness and with great mildness and an obliging
manner she told her story as follows
My mamma died when I was so young that I cannot remember her and my
papa marrying again within half a year after her death I was chiefly
left to the care of an old servant that had lived many years in the
family I was a great favourite of hers and in everything had my own
way When I was but four years old if ever anything crossed me I was
taught to beat it and be revenged of it even though it could not
feel If I fell down and hurt myself the very ground was to be beat for
hurting the sweet child so that instead of fearing to fall I did not
dislike it for I was pleased to find that I was of such consequence
that everything was to take care that I came by no harm
I had a little playfellow in a child of one of my papas servants who
was to be entirely under my command This girl I used to abuse and beat
whenever I was out of humour and when I had abused her if she dared
to grumble or make the least complaint I thought it the greatest
impudence in the world and instead of mending my behaviour to her
I grew very angry that she should dare to dispute my power for my
governess always told her that she was but a servants girl and I was
a gentlemans daughter and that therefore she ought to give way to me
for that I did her great honour in playing with her Thus I thought the
distance between us was so great that I never considered that she could
feel but whilst I myself suffered nothing I fancied everything was
very right and it never once came into my head that I could be in the
wrong
This life I led till I came to school when I was eleven years
old Here I had nobody in my power for all my schoolfellows thought
themselves my equals so that I could only quarrel fight and contend
for everything but being liable to be punished when I was trying to be
revenged on any of my enemies as I thought them I never had a moments
ease or pleasure till Miss Jenny was so good to take the pains to
convince me of my folly and made me be reconciled to you my dear
companions
Here Miss Sukey ceased and Miss Jenny smiled with pleasure at the
thoughts that she had been the cause of her happiness
Mrs Teachum being now come into the arbour to see in what manner
her little scholars passed their time they all rose up and do her
reverence Miss Jenny gave her an account how they had been employed
and she was much pleased with their innocent and useful entertainment
but especially with the method they had found out of relating their past
lives She took little Polly Suckling by the hand and bidding the rest
follow it being now dinner time she walked towards the house attended
by the whole company
Mrs Teachum had a great inclination to hear the history of the lives
of all her little scholars but she thought that being present at those
relations might be a balk to the narration as perhaps they might be
ashamed freely to confess their past faults before her and therefore
that she might not be any bar in this case to the freedom of their
speech and yet might be acquainted with their stories though this was
not merely a vain curiosity but a desire by this means to know their
different dispositions she called Miss Jenny Peace to her parlour
after dinner and told her she would have her get the lives of her
companions in writing and bring them to her and Miss Jenny readily
promised to obey her commands
In the evening our little company again met in their charming arbour
where they were no sooner seated with that calmness and content which
now always attended them than the cries and sobs of a child at a
little distance from their garden disturbed their tranquility
Miss Jenny ever ready to relieve the distressed ran immediately to
the place whence the sound seemed to come and was followed by all her
companions when at a small distance from Mrs Teachums gardenwall
over which from the terrace our young company looked they saw under a
large spreading tree part of the branches of which shaded a seat at
the end of that terrace a middleaged woman beating a little girl who
looked to be about eight years old so severely that it was no wonder
her cries had reached their arbour
Miss Jenny could not forbear calling out to the woman and begging her
to forbear and little Polly Suckling cried as much as the girl and
desired she might not be beat any more The woman in respect to them
let the child go but said Indeed young ladies you dont know what
a naughty girl she is for though you now see me correct her in this
manner yet am I in all respects very kind to her and never strike her
but for lying I have tried all means good and bad to break her of
this vile fault but hitherto all I have done has been in vain nor
can I ever get one word of truth out of her mouth But I am resolved to
break her of this horrid custom or I cannot live with her for though I
am but poor yet I will breed up my child to be honest both in word and
deed
Miss Jenny could not but approve of what the poor woman said However
they all joined in begging forgiveness for the girl this time provided
she promised amendment for the future and then our little society
returned to their arbour
Miss Jenny could not help expressing her great detestation of all lying
whatsoever when Miss Dolly Friendly colouring confessed she had often
been guilty of this fault though she never scarcely did it but for her
friend
Here Miss Jenny interrupting her said that even that was no sort of
excuse for lying besides that the habit of it on any occasion even
with the appearance of a good intention would but too likely lead to
the use of it on many others and as she did not doubt by Miss Dollys
blushing that she was now very sensible of the truth of what she had
just been saying she hoped she would take this opportunity of obliging
them with the history of her past life which request she made no
hesitation to grant saying the shame of her past faults should by o
means induce her to conceal them
Miss Dolly Friendly was just turned of eleven years of age Her person
was neither plain nor handsome and though she had not what is properly
called one fine feature in her face yet the disposition of them were so
suitable to each other that her countenance was rather agreeable than
otherwise She had generally something very quiet or rather indolent
in her look except when she was moved by anger which seldom happened
but in defense of some favourite or friend and she had then a
fierceness and eagerness which altered her whole countenance for she
could not bear the least reflection or insult on those she loved This
disposition made her always eager to comply with her friends requests
and she immediately began as follows
I was bred up till I was nine years of age with a sister who was one
year younger than myself The chief care of our parents was to make us
love each other and as I was naturally inclined to have very strong
affections I became so fond of my sister Molly which was her name
that all my delight was to please her and this I carried to such a
height that I scrupled no lies to excuse her faults and whatever she
did I justified and thought right only because she did it
I was ready to fight her quarrels whether right or wrong and hated
everybody that offended her My parents winked at whatever I did in
defence of my sister and I had no notion that any thing done for her
could be unreasonable In short I made it my study to oblige and please
her till I found at last it was out of my power for she grew so very
humoursome that she could not find out what she had most mind to have
and I found her always miserable for she would cry only because she did
not know her own mind
She never minded what faults she committed because she knew I would
excuse her and she was forgiven in consideration of our friendship
which gave our parents great pleasure
My poor little sister grew very sickly and she died just before I
came to school but the same disposition still continued and it was my
friends outcries of being hurt that drew me into that odious quarrel
that we have all now repented
Here Miss Dolly Friendly ceased and Miss Jenny said she hoped Miss
Dolly would remember for the rest of her life what HER good mamma had
always taught her namely that it was not the office of friendship to
justify or excuse our friend when in the wrong for that was the way
to prevent their ever being in the right that it was rather hatred
or contempt than love when the fear of anothers anger made us forego
their good for the sake of our own present pleasure and that the
friends who expected such flattery were not worth keeping
The bell again summoned our little company to supper but before they
went in Miss Dolly Friendly said if Miss Jenny approved of it she
would the next morning read them a story given her by an uncle of
hers that she said she was sure would please her as its subject was
friendship Miss Jenny replied that she was certain it would be a great
pleasure to them all to hear any story Miss Dolly thought proper to
read them
As soon as school was over in the morning our little company were
impatient to go into the arbour to hear Miss Dollys story but
Mrs Teachum told them they must be otherwise employed for their
writingmaster who lived some miles off and who was expected in the
afternoon was just then come in and begged that they would give him
their attendance though out of schooltime because he was obliged to
be at home again before the afternoon to meet a person who would confer
some favour on him and would be highly disobliged should he not keep
his appointment And I know said Mrs Teachum my little dears you
would rather lose your own amusement than let any one suffer a
real inconvenience on your accounts They all readily complied and
cheerfully set to their writing and in the afternoon Mrs Teachum
permitted them to leave off work an hour sooner than usual as a reward
for their readiness to lose their amusement in the morning and being
met in their arbour Miss Dolly read as follows
Caelia and Chloe were both left orphans at the tender age of six years
Amanda their aunt who was very rich and a maiden took them directly
under her care and bred them up as her own children Caelias mother
was Amandas sister and Chloes father was her brother so that she was
equally related to both
They were left entirely unprovided for were both born on the same day
and both lost their mothers on the day of their birth their fathers
were soldiers of fortune and both killed in one day in the fame
engagement But their fortunes were not more similar than their persons
and dispositions They were both extremely handsome and in their
Childhood were so remarkable for liveliness of parts and sweetness of
temper that they were the admiration of the whole country where they
lived
Their aunt loved them with a sincere and equal affection and took the
greatest pleasure imaginable in their education and particularly to
encourage that love and friendship which she with pleasure perceived
between them Amanda being as was said very rich and having no other
relations it was supposed that these her nieces would be very great
fortunes and as soon as they became women they were addressed by all
the men of fortune and no fortune round the neighbourhood But as the
love of admiration and a desire of a large train of admirers had
no place in their minds they soon dismissed in the most civil and
obliging manner one after another all these lovers
The refusing such numbers of men and some such as by the world were
called good offers soon got them the name of jilts and by that means
they were freed from any farther importunity and for some years enjoyed
that peace and quiet they had long wished Their aunt from being their
mother and their guardian was now become their friend For as she
endeavoured not in the least to force their inclinations they never
kept anything concealed from her and every action of their lives was
still guided by her advice and approbation
They lived on in this way perfectly happy in their own little
community till they were about twoandtwenty years old when there
happened to be a regiment quartered in the neighbouring town to which
their house was nearly situated and the lieutenantcolonel a man about
fourandthirty years old hearing their names had a great desire to
see them For when he was a boy of sixteen he was put into the Army
under the care of Chloes father who treated him with the greatest
tenderness and in that fatal engagement in which he lost his life
received his deaths wound by endeavouring to save him from being taken
by the enemy And gratitude to the memory of so good a friend was as
great an inducement to make him desire to see his daughter as the
report he had heard both of hers and her cousins great beauty
Sempronius for so this Colonel was called was a very sensible
wellbred agreeable man and from the circumstances of his former
acquaintance and his present proper and polite behaviour he soon
became very intimate in the family The old lady was particularly
pleased with him and secretly wished that before she died she might
be so happy as to see one of her nieces married to Sempronius She could
not from his behaviour see the least particular liking to either though
he showed an equal and very great esteem and regard for both
He in reality liked them both extremely and the reason of making no
declaration of love was his being so undetermined in any preference
that was due to either He saw plainly that he was very agreeable to
both and with pleasure he observed that they made use of none of those
arts which women generally do to get away a disputed lover and this
sincere friendship which subsisted between them raised in him the
highest degree of love and admiration However he at last determined to
make the following trial
He went first to Chloe and finding her alone told her that he had
the greatest liking in the world to her cousin and had really a mind
to propose himself to her but as he saw a very great friendship between
them he was willing to ask her advice in the matter and conjured her
to tell him sincerely whether there was anything in Caelias temper
not discoverable by him which as a wife would make him unhappy He
told her that if she knew any such thing it would be no treachery
but rather kind in her to declare it as it would prevent her friends
being unhappy which must be the consequence in marriage of her making
him so
Chloe could not help seeing very plainly that if Caelia was removed she
stood the very next in Semproniuss favour Her lover was presenther
friend was absentand the temptation was too strong and agreeable to be
resisted She then answered that since he insisted upon the truth and
had convinced her that it was in reality acting justly and kindly by her
friend she must confess that Caelia was possessed though in a very
small degree of what she had often heard him declare most against of
anything in the world and that was an artfulness of temper and some
few sparks of envy
Chloes confused manner of speaking and frequent hesitation as
unwilling to pronounce her friends condemnation which as being
unused to falsehood was really unaffected he imputed to tenderness
and concern for Caelia but he did not in the least doubt but on his
application to her he should soon be convinced of the truth of what
Chloe had said
He then went directly to the arbour at the end of the garden and there
to his wish he found Caelia quite alone and he addressed her exactly in
the same manner concerning her cousin as he had before spoke to Chloe
concerning her Caelia suddenly blushed from motives I leave those to
find out who can put themselves in her circumstances and then fetched a
soft sigh from the thought that she was hearing a man she loved declare
a passion of which she was not the object But after some little
pause she told him that if Chloe had any faults they were to her yet
undiscovered and she really and sincerely believed her cousin would
make him extremely happy Sempronius then said that of all other
things TREACHERY and ENVY were what he had the greatest dislike to and
he asked her if she did not think her cousin was a little tainted with
theseHere Caelia could not help interrupting and assuring him that
she believed her totally free from both And from his casting on
her friend an aspersion which her very soul abhorred forgetting all
rivalship she could not refrain from growing quite lavish in her
praise Suppose then said Sempronius I was to say the same to your
cousin concerning my intentions towards you as I have to you concerning
her do you think she would say as many fine things in your praise as
you have done in hers
Caelia answered that she verily believed her cousin would say as much
for her as she really deserved but whether that would be equal to what
with justice she could say of Chloe her modesty left her in some doubt
of
Sempronius had too much penetration not to see the real and true
difference in the behaviour of these two women and could not help
crying out O Caelia your honest truth and goodness in every word and
look are too visible to leave me one doubt of their reality But could
you believe it this friend of yours is false I have already put her
to the trial by declaring to her my sincere and unalterable passion
for you When on my insisting as I did to you upon her speaking the
truth she accused you of what nothing should now convince me you are
guilty of I own that hitherto my regard esteem and love have been
equal to both but now I offer to the sincere artless and charming
Caelia my whole heart love and affection and the service of every
minute of my future life and from this moment I banish from my mind the
false and ungrateful Chloe
Caelias friendship for Chloe was so deeply rooted in her breast that
even a declaration of love from Sempronius could not blot it one moment
from her heart and on his speaking the words false Chloe she burst
into tears and said Is it possible that Chloe should act such a part
towards her Caelia You must forgive her Sempronius it was her violent
passion for you and fear of losing you which made her do what hitherto
her nature has ever appeared averse to
Sempronius answered that he could not enough admire her goodness to
her friend Chloe but such proofs of passion he said were to him at
the same time proofs of its being such a passion as he had no regard
for since it was impossible for any one to gain or increase his love
by an action which at the same time lessened his esteem This was so
exactly Caelias own way of thinking that she could not but assent to
what he said
But just as they were coming out of the arbour Chloe unseen by them
passed by and from seeing him kiss her hand and the complacency of
Caelias look it was easy for her to guess what had been the result
of their private conference She could not however help indulging her
curiosity so far as to walk on the other side of a thick yew hedge to
listen to their discourse and as they walked on she heard Sempronius
entreat Caelia to be cheerful and think no more of her treacherous
friend whose wickedness he doubted not would sufficiently punish
itself She then heard Caelia say I cannot bear Sempronius to hear
you speak so hardly of my Chloe Say that you forgive her and I will
indeed be cheerful
Nothing upon earth can be conceived so wretched as poor Chloe for on
the first moment that she suffered herself to reflect on what she had
done she thoroughly repented and heartily detested herself for
such baseness She went directly into the garden in hopes of meeting
Sempronius to have thrown herself at his feet confessed her treachery
and to have begged him never to have mentioned it to Caelia but now she
was conscious her repentance would come too late and he would despise
her if possible still more for such a recantation after her knowledge
of what had passed between him and Caelia
She could indeed have gone to him and not have owned what she had seen
or heard but now her abhorrence of even the appearance of treachery or
cunning was so great that she could not bear to add the smallest grain
of falsehood or deceit to the weight of her guilt which was already
almost insupportable and should she tell him of her repentance with a
confession of her knowledge of his engagement with Caelia it would as
has been before observed appear both servile and insincere
Nothing could now appear so altered as the whole face of this once happy
family Sempronius as much as possible shunned the sight of Chloe for
as she was the cause of all the confusion amongst them he had almost an
aversion to her Though he was not of an implacable temper yet as the
injury was intended to one he sincerely loved he found it much harder
to forgive it than if it had even succeeded against himself and as he
still looked upon Chloe as the cause of melancholy in his dear Caelia
he could hardly have any patience with her
No words can describe the various passions which were expressed in the
sad countenance of Chloe when first she met her friend They were both
afraid of speaking Shame and the fear of being and with too good
reason suspected of insincerity withheld Chloe and an unwillingness
to accuse or hurt her friend withheld the gentle Caelia She sometimes
indeed thought she saw repentance in Chloes face and wished for
nothing more than to seal her pardon But till it was asked she was
in doubt from what had passed whether such pardon and proffered
reconciliation might not be rejected She knew that her friends
passions were naturally stronger than hers and she therefore trembled
at the consequences of coming to an explanation
But there was hardly a greater sufferer in this scene of confusion than
the poor old Lady Amanda She saw a sort of horror and wildness in the
face of Chloe and in Caelias a settled melancholy and such an unusual
reserve in both towards each other as well as to herself as quite
astonished her
Sempronius came indeed to the house as often as usual but in his
countenance she could perceive a sort of anger and concern which
perfectly frightened her But as they did not speak to her she could
not bring herself to ask the cause of this woeful change for fear of
hearing something too bad to bear
Caelia had absolutely refused granting to Sempronius leave to ask her
aunts consent till she should come to some explanation with Chloe
which seemed every day farther off than ever
The great perturbation of Chloes mind threw her into a disorder not
many degrees short of madness and at last she was seized with a violent
fever so as to keep her bed She said she could not bear to look on
Amanda but begged Caelia to be with her as much as possible which she
did in hopes of bringing herself to ease her mind by speaking to her
of what had given them all this torment
Caelia watched with her night and day for three days when the physician
who attended her pronounced that there was no hope of her life Caelia
could not any longer bear to stay in the room and went downstairs
expecting every moment to hear she was expired
Chloe soon perceived by Caelias abrupt leaving the room and the looks
of those who were left in it that her fate was pronounced which
instead of sinking her spirits and making her dejected gave a
tranquillity to her mind for she thought within herself I shall now
make my dear cousin happy by removing out of her way an object that
must embitter all her joy and now likewise as she is convinced I am on
my deathbed she will once more believe me capable of speaking truth
and will in the manner I could wish receive my sincere repentance
Then sending for Caelia up to her bedside she in a weak voice with
hardly strength for utterance spoke in this manner My dear Caelia
though you know me to be a worthless base wretch yet do not think so
hardly of me as to imagine I would deceive you with my last breath
Believe me then when I tell you that I sincerely repent of my treachery
towards you and as sincerely rejoice that it has in reality been
the cause of your happiness with Sempronius Tell him this and then
perhaps he will not hate my memory Here she fainted away and they
forced Caelia out of the room thinking her breath was for ever flown
But in some time she came again to herself and cried out What would
not my dear Caelia say that she forgave me Methinks I would not die
till I had obtained her pardon She is too good to refuse her friend
this last request Her attendants then told her that seeing her faint
away they had forced Caelia out of the room and they begged her to try
to compose herself for they were sure that seeing her friend again at
this time would only disturb her mind and do her an injury
Chloe from the vent she had given her grief in speaking to Caelia
found herself something more easy and composed and desiring the room to
be made perfectly quiet she fell into a gentle sleep which lasted two
hours and when she awaked she found herself so much better that those
about her were convinced from her composed manner of speaking that she
was now able to bear another interview
They again called for Caelia and told her of her cousins amendment
She flew with all speed to her chamber and the moment she entered
Chloe cried out Can you forgive me Caelia Yes with the greatest
joy and sincerity imaginable my dearest Chloe answered Caelia and
never let it be again mentioned or remembered
The sudden recovery of Chloe was almost incredible for in less than a
week she was able to quit both her bed and room and go into her aunts
chamber The good old lady shed tears of joy to see such a return of
Chloes health and of cheerfulness in the family and was perfectly
contented now she saw their melancholy removed not to inquire into the
late cause of it for fear of renewing their trouble even one moment by
the remembrance of it
Sempronius in the meantime upon some affairs of his duty in the army
had been called away and was absent the whole time of Chloes illness
and was not yet returned Caelia spent almost her whole time with Chloe
but three weeks passed on and they were often alone yet they had never
once mentioned the name of Sempronius which laid Caelia still under
the greatest difficulty how to act so as to avoid giving her friend any
uneasiness and yet not disoblige Sempronius for she had promised
him at his departure that she would give him leave to ask her aunts
consent immediately upon his return But the very day he was expected
she was made quite easy by what passed between her and her friend
Chloe in this time by proper reflections and a due sense of Caelias
great goodness and affection to her had so entirely got the better
of herself in this affair that she found she could now without any
uneasiness see them married and calling Caelia to her she said with a
smile I have my dear friend been so long accustomed to read in that
intelligible index your countenance all your most inmost thoughts
that I have not been unobserving of those kind fears you have had on
my account and the reason I have so long delayed speaking was my
resolution if possible never again to deceive you I can with pleasure
now assure you that nothing can give me so much joy as to see your
wedding with Sempronius I make no doubt but if you ask it you will
have my aunts consent and if any intercession should be wanting
towards obtaining it I will if you can trust me use all my influence
in your behalf Be assured my dear Caelia I have now no farther regard
left for Sempronius than as your husband and that regard will increase
in proportion as he is the cause of your happiness
They were interrupted in their discourse by news being brought of
the arrival of Sempronius and Chloe received him with that ease and
cheerfulness as convinced Caelia her professions were unfeigned
Caelia related to Sempronius all that had passed between her and
Chloe and by her continued cheerfulness of behaviour the peace and
tranquillity of the family was perfectly restored and their joy greatly
increased by Amandas ready consent to the marriage of Sempronius and
Caelia having first settled all her fortune to be divided at her death
equally between her nieces and in her lifetime there was no occasion of
settlements or deeds of gift for they lived all together and separate
property was not so much as mentioned or thought on in this family of
harmony and peace
Here Miss Dolly ceased reading and all her hearers sat some little time
silent and then expressed their great joy that Caelia and Chloe were at
last happy for none of them had been able to refrain from tears whilst
they were otherwise On which Miss Jenny Peace begged them to observe
from this story the miserable effects that attend deceit and treachery
For continued she you see you could not refrain from tears only by
imagining what Chloe must feel after her wickedness by which indeed she
lost the very happiness she intended treacherously to gain nor could
she enjoy one moments peace till by confessing her fault and
heartily repenting of it her mind was restored to its former calm and
tranquility Miss Dolly thanked Miss Jenny for her remarks but Miss
Lucy Sly was most sensibly touched with this story as cunning had
formerly entirely possessed HER mind and said that if her companions
were not weary at present of their arbour she would now recount to them
the history of her life as this story was a proper introduction to it
Miss Lucy Sly was of the same age as Miss Dolly Friendly but shorter
at least by half the head She was generally called a pretty girl
from having a pair of exceeding fine black eyes only with the allay of
something cunning in their look She had a high forehead and very good
curling black hair She had a sharp high nose and a very small mouth
Her complexion was but indifferent and the lower part of her face
illturned for her chin was too long for due proportion
From the time I was two years old said Miss Lucy my mamma was so
sickly that she was unable to take any great care of me herself and I
was left to the care of a governess who made it her study to bring me
to do what she had a mind to have done without troubling her head what
induced me so to do And whenever I did anything wrong she used to say
it was the footboy and not miss that was naughty Nay she would say
it was the dog or the cat or anything she could lay the blame upon
sooner than own it was me I thought this pure that I was never in
fault and soon got into a way of telling any lies and of laying my own
faults on others since I found I should be believed I remember once
when I had broken a fine chinacup that I artfully got out of the
scrape and hid the broken cup in the footboys room He was whipped
for breaking it and the next day whilst I was at play about the room
I heard my governess say to a friend who was with her Yesterday Miss
Lucy broke a chinacup but the artful little hussy went and hid it
in the footboys room and the poor boy was whipped for it I dont
believe there was ever a girl of her age that had half her cunning and
contrivance I knew by her tone of voice and her manner of speaking
that she did not blame me in her heart but rather commended my
ingenuity And I thought myself so wise that I could thus get off the
blame from myself that I every day improved in new inventions to save
myself and have others punished in my place
This life of endeavouring to deceive I led till I came to school But
here I found that I could not so well carry on my little schemes for I
was found out and punished for my own faults and this created in me a
hatred to my companions For whatever Miss I had a mind to serve as I
used to serve our footboy in laying the blame falsely upon her if she
could justify herself and prove me in the wrong I was very angry with
her for daring to contradict me and not submitting as quietly to be
punished wrongfully as the footboy was forced to do
This is all I know of my life hitherto
Thus ended Miss Lucy Sly and Miss Jenny Peace commended Miss Lucy for
her free confession of her faults and said She doubted not but she
would find the advantage of amending and endeavouring to change a
disposition so very pernicious to her own peace and quiet as well as
to that of all her friends but they now obeyed the summons of the
supperbell and soon after retired to rest
Our little company as soon as the morning schoolhours were over
hastened to their arbour and were attentive to what Miss Jenny Peace
should propose to them for their amusement till dinnertime when Miss
Jenny looking round upon them said that she had not at present any
story to read but that she hoped from Miss Dolly Friendlys example
yesterday some of the rest might endeavour sometimes to furnish out
the entertainment of the day Upon which Miss Sukey Jennett said
that though she could not promise them such an agreeable story as Miss
Dollys yet she would read them a letter she had received the evening
before from her Cousin Peggy Smith who lived at York in which there
was a story that she thought very strange and remarkable They were all
very desirous of it when Miss Sukey read as follows
Dear cousinI promised you know to write to you when I had anything
to tell you and as I think the following story very extraordinary I
was willing to keep my word
Some time ago there came to settle in this city a lady whose name was
Dison We all visited her but she had so deep a melancholy arising as
it appeared from a settled state of ill health that nothing we could
do could afford her the least relief or make her cheerful In this
condition she languished amongst us five years still continuing to grow
worse and worse
We all grieved at her fate Her flesh was withered away her appetite
decayed by degrees till all food became nauseous to her sight her
strength failed her her feet could not support her tottering body
lean and worn away as it was and we hourly expected her death When at
last she one day called her most intimate friends to her bedside and
as well as she could spoke to the following purpose I know you all
pity me but alas I am not so much the object of your pity as your
contempt for all my misery is of my own seeking and owing to the
wickedness of my own mind I had two sisters with whom I was bred up
and I have all my lifetime been unhappy for no other cause but for
their success in the world When we were young I could neither eat nor
sleep in peace when they had either praise or pleasure When we grew
up to be women they were both soon married much to their advantage and
satisfaction This galled me to the heart and though I had several
good offers yet as I did not think them in all respects equal to my
sisters I would not accept them and yet was inwardly vexed to refuse
them for fear I would get no better I generally deliberated so long
that I lost my lovers and then I pined for that loss I never wanted
for anything and was in a situation in which I might have been happy
if I pleased My sisters loved me very well for I concealed as much
as possible from them my odious envy and yet never did any poor wretch
lead so miserable a life as I have done for every blessing they enjoyed
was as so many daggers to my heart Tis this envy that has caused all
my ill health has preyed upon my very vitals and will now bring me to
my Grave
In a few days after this confession she died and her words and death
made such a strong impression on my mind that I could not help sending
you this relation and begging you my dear Sukey to remember how
careful we ought to be to curb in our minds the very first risings of a
passion so detestable and so fatal as this proved to poor Mrs Dison
I know I have no particular reason for giving you this caution for I
never saw anything in you but what deserved the love and esteem of
Your very affectionate cousin
As soon as Miss Sukey had finished her letter Miss Patty Lockit rose
up and flying to Miss Jenny Peace embraced her and said What
thanks can I give you my dear friend for having put me into a way of
examining my heart and reflecting on my own actions by which you have
saved me perhaps from a life as miserable as that of the poor woman
in Miss Sukeys letter Miss Jenny did not thoroughly understand her
meaning but imagining it might be something relating to her past life
desired her to explain herself which she said she would do telling
now in her turn all that had hitherto happened to her
Miss Patty Lockit was but ten years old tall inclined to fat Her
neck was short and she was not in the least genteel Her face was very
handsome for all her features were extremely good She had large blue
eyes was exceeding fair and had a great bloom on her cheeks Her hair
was the very first degree of light brown was bright and shining and
hung in ringlets half way down her back Her mouth was rather too large
but she had such fine teeth and looked so agreeably when she smiled
that you was not sensible of any fault in it
This was the person of Miss Patty Lockit who was slow to relate her
past life which she did in the following manner
I lived till I was six years old in a very large family for I had
four sisters all older than myself and three brothers We played
together and passed our time much in the common way sometimes we
quarrelled and sometimes agreed just as accident would have it Our
parents had no partiality to any of us so we had no cause to envy one
another on that account and we lived tolerably well together
When I was six years old my grandmother by my fathers side and
who was also my godmother offering to take me to live with her and
promising to look upon me as her own child and entirely to provide
for me my father and mother as they had a large family very readily
accepted her offer and sent me directly to her house
About half a year before this she had taken another goddaughter the
only child of my Aunt Bradly who was lately dead and whose husband was
gone to the West Indies My cousin Molly Bradly was four years older
than I and her mother had taken such pains in her education that the
understood more than most girls of her age and had so much liveliness
good humour and ingenuity that everybody was fond of her and wherever
we went together all the notice was taken of my cousin and I was very
little regarded
Though I had all my life before lived in a family where every one in it
was older and knew more than myself yet I was very easy for we were
generally together in the nursery and nobody took much notice of us
whether we knew anything or whether we did not But now as I lived
in the house with only one companion who was so much more admired than
myself the comparison began to vex me and I found a strong hatred and
aversion for my cousin arising in my mind and yet I verily believe I
should have got the better of it and been willing to have learnt of my
cousin and should have loved her for teaching me if any one had told
me it was right and if it had not been that Betty the maid who took
care of us used to be for ever teasing me about the preference that was
shown to my cousin and the neglect I always met with She used to tell
me that she wondered how I could bear to see Miss Molly so caressed
and that it was want of spirit not to think myself as good as she was
and if she was in my place she would not submit to be taught by a
child for my Cousin Molly frequently offered to instruct me in anything
she knew but I used to say as Betty had taught me that I would not
learn of her for she was but a child though she was a little older
and that I was not put under her care but that of my grandmamma But
she poor woman was so old and unhealthy that she never troubled her
head much about us but only to take care that we wanted for nothing I
lived in this manner three years fretting and vexing myself that I did
not know so much nor was not so much liked as my Cousin Molly and yet
resolving not to learn anything she could teach me when my grandmamma
was advised to send me to school but as soon as I came here the case
was much worse for instead of one person to envy I found many
for all my schoolfellows had learned more than I and instead of
endeavouring to get knowledge I began to hate all those who knew more
than myself and this I am now convinced was owing to that odious
envy which if not cured would always have made me as miserable as
Mrs Dison was and which constantly tormented me till we came to live
in that general peace and goodhumour we have lately enjoyed and as I
hope this wicked spirit was not natural to me but only blown up by
that vile Bettys instigations I dont doubt but I shall now grow
very happy and learn something every day and be pleased with being
instructed and that I shall always love those who are so good as to
instruct me
Here Miss Patty Lockit ceased and the dinnerbell called them from
their arbour
Mrs Teachum as soon as they had dined told them that she thought
it proper they would use some bodily exercise that they might not
by sitting constantly still impair their health Not but that she was
greatly pleased with their innocent and instructive manner of employing
their leisure hours but this wise woman knew that the faculties of the
mind grow languid and useless when the health of the body is lost
As soon as they understood their governesss pleasure they readily
resolved to obey her commands and desired that after school they
might take a walk as far as the dairy house to eat some curds and
cream Mrs Teachum not only granted their request but said she would
dispense with their schoolattendance that afternoon in order to give
them more time for their walk which was between two and three miles
and she likewise added that she herself would go with them They all
flew like lightning to get their hats and to equip themselves for their
walk and with cheerful countenances attended Mrs Teachum in the
schoolroom This good gentlewoman so far from laying them under a
restraint by her presence encouraged them to run in the fields and
to gather flowers which they did each miss trying to get the best
to present to her governess In this agreeable manner with laughing
talking and singing they arrived at the dairyhouse before they
imagined they had walked a mile
There lived at this dairyhouse an old woman near seventy years of age
She had a fresh colour in her face but was troubled with the palsy
that made her head shake a little She was bent forward with age and
her hair was quite grey but she retained much goodhumour and received
this little party with hearty welcome
Our little gentry flocked about this good woman asking her a thousand
questions Miss Polly Suckling asked her Why she shook her head so
and Miss Patty Lockit said She hoped her hair would never be of such a
colour
Miss Jenny Peace was afraid they would say something that would offend
the old woman and advised them to turn their discourse Oh let the
dear rogues alone says the old woman I like their prattle and
taking Miss Polly by the hand said Come my dear we will go into
the dairy and skim the milk pans At which words they all run into the
dairy and some of them dipped their fingers in the cream which when
Mrs Nelly perceived who was the eldest daughter of the old woman
and who managed all the affairs she desired they would walk out of the
dairy and she would bring them what was fit for them upon which Miss
Dolly Friendly said she had rather be as old and goodnatured as the
mother than as young and illnatured as the daughter
The old woman desired her company to sit down at a long table which
she soon supplied with plenty of cream strawberries brown bread and
sugar Mrs Teachum took her place at the upper end and the rest sat
down in their usual order and eat plentifully of these good things
After which Mrs Teachum told them they might walk out and see the
garden and orchard and by that time it would be proper to return home
The good old woman showed them the way into the garden and gathered the
finest roses and pinks she could pick and gave them to Miss Polly to
whom she had taken a great Fancy
At their taking leave Mrs Teachum rewarded the good old woman for her
trouble who on her part expressed much pleasure in feeing so many
wellbehaved young ladies and said she hoped they would come often
These little friends had not walked far in their way home before they
met a miserable ragged fellow who begged their charity Our young
folks immediately gathered together about this poor creature and were
hearkening very earnestly to his story which he set forth in a terrible
manner of having been burnt out of his house and from one distress
to another reduced to that miserable state they saw him in when Mrs
Teachum came up to them She was not a little pleased to see all
the misses hands in their pockets pulling out halfpence and some
sixpences She told them she approved of their readiness to assist the
poor fellow as he appeared to them but oftentimes those fellows made
up dismal stories without much foundation and because they were lazy
and would not work Miss Dolly said indeed she believed the poor
man spoke truth for he looked honest and besides he seemed almost
starved
Mrs Teachum told them it would be late before they could get home
so after each of them had given what they thought proper they pursued
their walk prattling all the way
They got home about nine oclock and as they did not choose any
supper the bell rang for prayers after which our young travellers
retired to their rest where we doubt not but they had a good repose
Mrs Teachum in the morning inquired how her scholars did after
their walk and was pleased to hear they were all very well They then
performed their several tasks with much cheerfulness and after the
schoolhours they were hastening as usual to their arbour when Miss
Jenny desired them all to go thither without her and she would soon
follow them which they readily consented to but begged her not to
deprive them long of the pleasure of her sweet company
Miss Jenny then went directly into her governesss parlour and told her
that she had some thoughts of reading to her companions a fairy tale
which was also given her by her mamma and though it was not in such a
pompous style nor so full of wonderful images as the giantstory
yet she would not venture to read anything of that kind without her
permission but as she had not absolutely condemned all that sort
of writing she hoped she was not guilty of a fault in asking that
permission Mrs Teachum with a gracious smile told her that she
seemed so thoroughly well to understand the whole force of her Monday
nights discourse to her that she might be trusted almost in anything
and desired her to go and follow her own judgment and inclinations in
the amusement of her happy friends Miss Jenny overjoyed with this kind
condescension in her governess thanked her with a low courtesy and
said she hoped she should never do anything unworthy of the confidence
reposed on her and hastening to the arbour she there found all her
little companions quite impatient of this short absence
Miss Jenny told them that she had by her a fairytale which if they
liked it she would read and as it had pleased her she did not doubt
but it would give them equal pleasure
It was the custom now so much amongst them to assent to any proposal
that came from Miss Jenny that they all with one voice desired her
to read it till Miss Polly Suckling said that although she was very
unwilling to contradict anything Miss Jenny liked yet she could not
help saying she thought it would be better if they were to read some
true history from which they might learn something for she thought
fairytales were fit only for little children
Miss Jenny could not help smiling at such an objections coming from
the little dumpling who was not much above seven years of age and then
said I will tell you a story my little Polly of what happened to me
whilst I was at home
There came into our village when I was six years old a man who
carried about a rareeshow which all the children of the parish were
fond of seeing but I had taken it into my head that it was beneath my
wisdom to see rareeshows and therefore would not be persuaded to
join my companions to see this sight and although I had as great an
inclination as any of them to see it yet I avoided it in order to
boast of my own great sense in that I was above such trifles
When my mamma asked me why I would not see the show when she had
given me leave I drew up my head and said Indeed I did not like
rareeshows That I had been reading and I thought that much more
worth my while than to lose my time at such foolish entertainments
My mamma who saw the cause of my refusing this amusement was only a
pretence of being wise laughed and said She herself had seen it
and it was really very comical and diverting On hearing this I was
heartily vexed to think I had denied myself a pleasure which I fancied
was beneath me when I found even my mamma was not above seeing it This
in a great measure cured me of the folly of thinking myself above any
innocent amusement And when I grew older and more capable of hearing
reason my mamma told me She had taken this method of laughing at me
as laughing is the proper manner of treating affectation which of all
things she said she would have me carefully avoid otherwise whenever
I was found out I should become contemptible
Here Miss Jenny ceased speaking and Miss Polly Suckling blushing that
she had made any objection to what Miss Jenny had proposed begged her
to begin the fairy tale when just at that instant Mrs Teachum who
had been taking a walk in the garden turned into the arbour to delight
herself with a view of her little school united in harmony and love and
Miss Jenny with great good humour told her mistress the small contest
she had just had with Miss Polly about reading a fairy tale and the
occasion of it Mrs Teachum kindly chucking the little dumpling under
the chin said she had so good an opinion of Miss Jenny as to answer
for her that she would read nothing to them but what was proper and
added that she herself would stay and hear this fairy tale which Miss
Jenny on her commands immediately began
Above two thousand years ago there reigned over the kingdom of Tonga
a king whose name was Abdallah He was married to a young princess the
daughter of a king of a neighbouring country whose name was Rousignon
Her beauty and prudence engaged him so far in affection to her that
every hour he could possibly spare from attending the affairs of his
kingdom he spent in her apartment They had a little daughter to whom
they gave the name of Hebe who was the darling and mutual care of both
The king was quiet in his dominion beloved by his subjects happy in
his family and all his days rolled on in calm content and joy The
kings brother Abdulham was also married to a young princess named
Tropo who in seven years had brought him no children and she conceived
so mortal a hatred against the queen for she envied her the happiness
of the little Princess Hebe that she resolved to do her some mischief
It was impossible for her during the kings lifetime to vent her
malice without being discovered and therefore she pretended the
greatest respect and friendship imaginable for the unsuspecting queen
Whilst things were in this situation the king fell into a violent
fever of which he died and during the time that the queen was in the
height of her affliction for him and could think of nothing but his
loss the Princess Tropo took the opportunity of putting in execution
her malicious intentions She inflamed her husbands passions by
setting forth the meanness of his spirit in letting a crown be ravished
from his head by a female infant till ambition seized his mind and he
resolved to wield the Tongian sceptre himself It was very easy to bring
this about for by his brothers appointment he was protector of
the realm and guardian to the young princess his niece and the queen
taking him and the princess his wife for her best friends suspected
nothing of their designs but in a manner gave herself up to their
power
The protector Abdulham having the whole treasure of the kingdom at
his command was in possession of the means to make all his schemes
successful and the Princess Tropo by lavishly rewarding the
instruments of her treachery contrived to make it generally believed
that the queen had poisoned her husband who was so much beloved by his
subjects that the very horror of the action without any proof of her
guilt raised against the poor unhappy Queen a universal clamour and a
general aversion throughout the whole kingdom The princess had so well
laid her scheme that the guards were to seize the queen and convey her
to a place of confinement till she could prove her innocence which
that she might never be able to do proper care was taken by procuring
sufficient evidence to accuse her on oath and the Princess Hebe her
daughter was to be taken from her and educated under the care of her
uncle But the night before this cruel design was to have been put in
execution a faithful attendant of the queens named Loretta by the
assistance of one of the Princess Tropos confidants who had long
professed himself her lover discovered the whole secret of which she
immediately informed her royal mistress
The horrors which filled the queens mind at the relation of the
Princess Tropos malicious intentions were inexpressible and her
perturbation so great that she could not form any scheme that appeared
probable to execute for her own preservation Loretta told her that the
person who had given her this timely notice had also provided a peasant
who knew the country and would meet her at the western gate of the
city and carrying the young Princess Hebe in his arms would conduct
her to some place of safety but she must consent to put on a disguise
and escape that very night from the palace or she would be lost for
ever Horses or mules she said it would be impossible to come at
without suspicion therefore she must endeavour though unused to such
fatigue to travel afoot till she got herself concealed in some cottage
from her pursuers if her enemies should think of endeavouring to find
her out Loretta offered to attend her mistress but she absolutely
forbad her going any farther than to the western gate where delivering
the little Princess Hebe into the arms of the peasant who was there
waiting for them she reluctantly withdrew
The good queen who saw no remedy to this her terrible disgrace could
have borne this barbarous usage without much repining had she herself
been the only sufferer by it for the loss of the good king her husband
so far exceeded all her other misfortunes that every everything else
was trifling in comparison of so dreadful an affliction But the young
Princess Hebe whom she was accustomed to look on as her greatest
blessing now became to her an object of pity and concern for from
being heiress to a throne the poor infant not yet five years old was
with her wretched mother become a vagabond and knew not whither to fly
for protection
Loretta had prevailed on her royal mistress to take with her a few
little necessaries besides a small picture of the king and some of her
jewels which the queen contrived to conceal under her nightclothes in
the midst of that hair they were used to adorn when her loved husband
delighted to see it displayed in flowing ringlets round her snowy neck
This lady during the life of her fond husband was by his tender
care kept from every inclemency of the air and preserved from every
inconvenience that it was possible for human nature to suffer What then
must be her condition now when through bypaths and thorny ways she was
obliged to fly with all possible speed to escape the fury of her cruel
pursuers for she too well knew the merciless temper of her enemies
to hope that they would not pursue her with the utmost diligence
especially as she was accompanied by the young Princess Hebe whose life
was the principal cause of their disquiet and whose destruction they
chiefly aimed at
The honest peasant who carried the Princess Hebe in his arms followed
the queens painful steps and seeing the day begin to break he begged
her if possible to hasten on to a wood which was not far off where it
was likely she might find a place of safety But the afflicted queen
at the sight of the opening morn which once used to fill her mind with
rising joy burst into a flood of tears and quite overcome with
grief and fatigue cast herself on the ground crying out in the most
affecting manner The end of my misfortunes is at hand My weary limbs
will no longer support me My spirits fail me In the grave alone must
I seek for shelter The poor princess seeing her mother in tears cast
her little arms about her neck and wept also though she knew not why
Whilst she was in this deplorable condition turning round her head she
saw behind her a little girl no older in appearance than the Princess
Hebe who with an amiable and tranquil countenance begged her to
rise and follow her and she would lead her where she might refresh and
repose herself
The queen was surprised at the manner of speaking of this little child
as she took her to be but soon thought it was some kind fairy sent to
protect her and was very ready to submit herself to her guidance and
protection
The little fairy for such indeed was the seeming child who had thus
accosted them ordered the peasant to return back and said that she
would take care of the queen and her young daughter and he knowing
her to be the good fairy Sybella very readily obeyed
Sybella then striking the ground three times with a little wand there
suddenly rose up before them a neat plain car and a pair of milkwhite
horses and placing the queen with the Princess Hebe in her lap by her
side she drove with excessive swiftness full westward for eight hours
when just as the sun began to have power enough to make the queen
almost faint with the heat and her former fatigue they arrived at the
side of a shady wood upon entering of which the fairy made her horses
slacken in their speed and having travelled about a mile and a half
through rows of elms and beech trees they came to a thick grove of
firs into which there seemed to be no entrance For there was not any
opening to a path and the underwood consisting chiefly of rosebushes
whitethorn eglantine and other flowering shrubs was so thick that
it appeared impossible to attempt forcing through them But alighting
out of the car which immediately disappeared the fairy bidding the
queen follow her pushed her way through a large bush of jessamine
whose tender branches gave way for their passage and then closed again
so as to leave no traces of an entrance into this charming grove
Having gone a little way through an extreme narrow path they came into
an opening quite surrounded by these firs and sweet underwood not very
large but in which was contained everything that is necessary towards
making life comfortable At the end of a green meadow was a plain neat
house built more for convenience than beauty fronting the rising sun
and behind it was a small garden stored only with fruits and useful
herbs Sybella conducted her guests into this her simple lodging and
as repose was the chief thing necessary for the poor fatigued queen
she prevailed with her to lie down on a couch Some hours sound sleep
which her weariness induced gave her a fresh supply of spirits the
ease and safety from her pursuers in which she then found herself made
her for a short time tolerably composed and she begged the favour
of knowing to whom she was so greatly obliged for this her happy
deliverance but the fairy seeing her mind too unsettled to give any
due attention to what she should say told her that she would defer the
relation of her own life which was worth her observation till she had
obtained a respite from her own sorrows and in the meantime by all
manner of obliging ways she endeavoured to divert and amuse her
The queen after a short interval of calmness of mind occasioned only
by her so sudden escape from the terrors of pursuit returned to her
former dejection and for some time incessantly wept at the dismal
thought that the princess seemed now by this reverse of fate to be
for ever excluded all hopes of being seated on her fathers throne
and by a strange perverse way of adding to her own grief she afflicted
herself the more because the little princess was ignorant of her
misfortune and whenever she saw her diverting herself with little
childish plays instead of being pleased with such her innocent
amusement it added to her sorrow and made her tears gush forth in a
larger stream than usual She could not divert her thoughts from the
palace from which she had been driven to fix them on any other object
nor would her grief suffer her to reflect that it was possible for the
princess to be happy without a crown
At length time the great cure of all ills in some measure abated her
Sorrows her grief began to subside in spite of herself the reflection
that her misery was only in her own fancy would sometimes force itself
on her mind She could not avoid seeing that her little hostess enjoyed
as perfect a state of happiness as is possible to attain in this world
that she was free from anxious cares undisturbed by restless passions
and mistress of all things that could be of any use to make life easy or
agreeable The oftener this reflection presented itself to her thoughts
the more strength it gained and at last she could even bear to think
that her beloved child might be as happy in such a situation as was her
amiable hostess Her countenance now grew more cheerful she could take
the Princess Hebe in her arms and thinking the jewels she had preserved
would secure her from any fear of want look on her with delight and
began even to imagine that her future life might be spent in calm
content and pleasure
As soon as the voice of reason had gained this power over the queen
Sybella told her that now her bosom was so free from passion she would
relate the history of her life The queen overjoyed that her curiosity
might now be gratified begged her not to delay giving her that pleasure
one moment on which our little fairy began in the following manner
But there Mrs Teachum told Miss Jenny that the bell rung for dinner on
which she was obliged to break off But meeting again in the same arbour
in the evening when their good mistress continued to them the favour of
her presence Miss Jenny pursued her story
My father said the fairy was a magician he married a lady for
love whose beauty far outshone that of all her neighbours and by means
of that beauty she had so great an influence over her husband that she
could command the utmost power of his art But better had it been for
her had that beauty been wanting for her power only served to make her
wish for more and the gratification of every desire begot a new one
which often it was impossible for her to gratify My father though he
saw his error in thus indulging her could not attain steadiness of mind
enough to mend it nor acquire resolution enough to suffer his beloved
wife once to grieve or shed a tear to no purpose though in order to
cure her of that folly which made her miserable
My grandfather so plainly saw the temper and disposition of his son
towards women that he did not leave him at liberty to dispose of his
magic art to any but his posterity that it might not be in the power
of a wife to tease him out of it But his caution was to very little
purpose for although my mother could not from herself exert any magic
power yet such was her unbounded influence over her husband that she
was sure of success in every attempt to persuade him to gratify her
desires For if every argument she could invent happened to fail yet
the shedding but one tear was a certain method to prevail with him to
give up his reason whatever might be the consequence
When my father and mother had been married about a year she was
brought to bed of a daughter to whom she gave the name of Brunetta Her
first request to my father was that he would endow this infant with as
much beauty as she herself was possessed of and bestow on her as much
of his art as should enable her to succeed in all her designs My father
foresaw the dreadful tendency of granting this request but said he
would give it with this restriction that she should succeed in all
her designs that were not wicked for said he the success of wicked
designs always turns out as a punishment to the person so succeeding
In this resolution he held for three days till my mother being weak
in body after her lyingin worked herself with her violent passions to
such a degree that the physicians told my father they despaired of her
life unless some method could be found to make her mind more calm
and easy His fondness for his wife would not suffer him to bear the
thoughts of losing her and the horror with which that apprehension had
but for a moment possessed his mind prevailed with him to bestow on
the little Brunetta though foreseeing it would make her miserable the
fatal gift in its full extent But one restriction it was out of his
power to take off namely that all wicked designs ever could and should
be rendered ineffectual by the virtue and perseverance of those against
whom they were intended if they in a proper manner exerted that virtue
I was born in two years after Brunetta and was called Sybella but my
mother was so taken up with her darling Brunetta that she gave herself
nut the least concern about me and I was left wholly to the care of my
father In order to make the gift she had extorted from her fond husband
as fatal as possible to her favourite child she took care in her
education by endeavouring to cultivate in her the spirit of revenge and
malice against those who had in the least degree offended her to
turn her mind to all manner of mischief by which means she lived in a
continual passion
My father as soon as I was old enough to hearken to reason told me
of the gift he had conferred on my sister said he could not retract it
and therefore if she had any mischievous designs against me they must
in some measure succeed but she would endow me with a power superior to
this gift of my sisters and likewise superior to any thing else that
he was able to bestow which was strength and constancy of mind enough
to bear patiently any injuries I might receive and this was a strength
he said which would not decay but rather increase by every new
exercise of it and to secure me in the possession of this gift he
likewise gave me a perfect knowledge of the true value of everything
around me by which means I might learn whatever outward accidents
befell me not to lose the greatest blessing in this world namely a
calm and contented mind He taught me so well my duty that I cheerfully
obeyed my mother in all things though she seldom gave me a kind word
or even a kind look for my spiteful sister was always telling some lies
to make her angry with me But my heart overflowed with gratitude to my
father that he would give me leave to love him whilst he instructed me
that it was my duty to pay him the most strict obedience
Brunetta was daily encouraged by her mother to use me ill and chiefly
because my father loved me and although she succeeded in all her
designs of revenge on me yet was she very uneasy because she could not
take away the cheerfulness of my mind for I bore with patience whatever
happened to me and she would often say must I with all my beauty
power and wisdom for so she called her low cunning be suffering
perpetual uneasiness and shall you who have neither beauty power nor
wisdom pretend to be happy and cheerful Then would she cry and stamp
and rave like a mad creature and set her invention at work to make my
mother beat me or lock me up or take from me some of my best clothes
to give to her yet still could not her power extend to vex my mind and
this used to throw her again into such passions as weakened her health
and greatly impaired her so much boasted beauty
In this manner we lived till on a certain day after Brunetta had been
in one of her rages with me for nothing my father came in and chid
her for it which when my mother heard she threw herself into such a
violent passion that her husband could not pacify her And being big
with child the convulsions caused by her passions brought her to her
grave Thus my father lost her by the same uncontrollable excesses the
fatal effects of which he had before ruined his daughter to preserve her
from He did not long survive her but before he died gave me a little
wand which by striking three times on the ground he said would at
any time produce me any necessary or convenience of life which I really
wanted either for myself or the assistance of others and this he gave
me because he was very sensible he said that as soon as he was dead
my sister would never rest till she had got from me both his castle
and everything that I had belonging to me in it But continued he
whenever you are driven from thence bend your course directly into the
pleasant wood Ardella there strike with your wand and everything you
want will be provided for you But keep this wand a profound secret or
Brunetta will get it from you and then though you can never while you
preserve your patience be unhappy you will not have it in your power
to be of so much use as you would wish to be to those who shall stand
in need of your assistance Saying these words he expired as I
kneeled by his bedside attending his last commands and bewailing the
loss of so good a father
In the midst of this our distress we sent to my Uncle Sochus my
fathers brother to come to us and to assist us in an equal division
of my deceased fathers effects but my sister soon contrived to make
him believe that I was the wickedest girl alive and had always set
my father against her by my art which she said I pretended to call my
wisdom and by several handsome presents she soon persuaded him for he
did not care a farthing for either of us to join with her in saying
that as she was the eldest sister she had a full right to the castle
and everything in it but she told me I was very welcome to stay there
and live with her if I pleased and while I behaved myself well she
should be very glad of my company
As it was natural for me to love every one that would give me leave to
love them I was quite overjoyed at this kind offer of my sisters and
never once thought on the treachery she had so lately been guilty of
and I have since reflected that happy was it for me that passion was
so much uppermost with her that she could not execute any plot that
required a dissimulation of any long continuance for had her good
humour lasted but one fourandtwenty hours it is very probable that
I should have opened my whole heart to her should have endeavoured to
have begun a friendship with her and perhaps have betrayed the secret
of my wand but just as it was sunset she came into the room where I
was in the most violent passion in the world accusing me to my uncle
of ingratitude to her great generosity in suffering me to live in her
castle She said that she had found me out and that my crimes were of
the blackest dye although she would not tell me either what they were
or who were my accusers She would not give me leave to speak either
to ask what my offence was or to justify my innocence and I plainly
perceived that her pretended kindness was only designed to make my
disappointment the greater and that she was now determined to find me
guilty whether I pleaded or not And after she had raved on for some
time she said to me with a sneer Since you have always boasted of
your calm and contented mind you may now try to be contented this night
with the softness of the grass for your bed for here in my castle you
shall not stay one moment longer And so saying she and my uncle led
me to the outer court and thrusting me with all their force from them
they shut up the gates bolting and barring them as close as if to keep
out a giant and left me at that time of night friendless and as
they thought destitute of any kind of support
I then remembered my dear fathers last words and made what haste I
could to this wood which is not above a mile distant from the castle
and being as I thought about the middle of it I struck three times
with my wand and immediately up rose this grove of trees which you
see this house and all the other conveniences which I now enjoy and
getting that very night into this my plain and easy bed I enjoyed as
sweet a repose as ever I did in my life only delayed indeed a short
time by a few sighs for the loss of so good a parent and the unhappy
state of a selftormented sister whose slumbers I fear on a bed of
down were more restless and interrupted that night than mine would have
been even had not my fathers present of the wand prevented me from the
necessity of using the bed of grass which she in her wrath allotted
me In this grove which I call Placid Grove is contained all that I
want and it is so well secured from any invaders by the thick briars
and thorns which surround it having no entrance but through that tender
jessamine that I live in no apprehensions of any disturbance though so
near my sisters castle But once indeed she came with a large train
and whilst I was asleep set fire to the trees all around me and
waking I found myself almost suffocated with smoke and the flames had
reached one part of my House I started from my bed and striking on
the ground three times with my wand there came such a quantity of water
from the heavens as soon extinguished the fire and the next morning
by again having recourse to my wand all things grew up into their
convenient and proper order When my sister Brunetta found that I had
such a supernatural power at my command though she knew not what it
was she desisted from ever attempting any more by force to disturb me
and now only uses all sorts of arts and contrivances to deceive me
or any persons whom I would wish to secure One of my fathers daily
lessons to me was that I should never omit any one day of my life
endeavouring to be as serviceable as I possibly could to any person in
distress And I daily wander as far as my feet will carry me in search
of any such and hither I invite them to peace and calm contentment But
my father added also this command that I should never endeavour doing
any farther good to those whom adversity had not taught to hearken to
the voice of reason enough to enable them so to conquer their passions
as not to think themselves miserable in a safe retreat from noise and
confusion This was the reason I could not gratify you in relating the
history of my life whilst you gave way to raging passions which only
serve to blind your eyes and shut your ears from truth But now great
queen for I know your state from what you vented in your grief I am
ready to endow this little princess with any gift in my power that I
know will tend really to her good and I hope your experience of the
world has made you too reasonable to require any other
The queen considered a little while and then desired Sybella to endow
the princess with that only wisdom which would enable her to see and
follow what was her own true good to know the value of everything
around her and to be sensible that following the paths of goodness and
performing her duty was the only road to content and happiness
Sybella was overjoyed at the queens request and immediately granted
it only telling the Princess Hebe that it was absolutely necessary
towards the attainment of this great blessing that she should entirely
obey the queen her mother without ever pretending to examine her
commands for true obedience said she consists in submission and
when we pretend to choose what commands are proper and fit for us
we dont obey but set up our own wisdom in opposition to our
governorsthis my dear Hebe you must be very careful of avoiding if
you would be happy She then cautioned her against giving way to the
persuasions of any of the young shepherdesses thereabouts who would
endeavour to allure her to disobedience by striving to raise in her
mind a desire of thinking herself wise whilst they were tearing from
her what was indeed true wisdom For said Sybella my sister Brunetta
who lives in the castle she drove me from about a mile from this wood
endows young shepherdesses with great beauty and everything that is in
appearance amiable and likely to persuade in order to allure away and
make wretched those persons I would preserve and all the wisdom with
which I have endowed the Princess Hebe will not prevent her falling into
my sisters snares if she gives the least way to temptation for my
fathers gift to Brunetta in her infancy enables her as I told you
to succeed in all her designs except they are resisted by the virtue of
the person she is practising against Many poor wretches has my sister
already decoyed away from me whom she now keeps in her castle
where they live in splendor and seeming joy but in real misery from
perpetual jars and tumults railed by envy malice and all the train of
tumultuous and tormenting passions
The Princess Hebe said she doubted not but she should be able to
withstand any of Brunettas temptations Her mother interrupting her
cried out Oh my dear child though you are endowed with wisdom enough
to direct you in the way to virtue yet if you grow conceited and proud
of that wisdom and fancy yourself above temptation it will lead you
into the worst of all evils Here the fairy interposed and told the
Princess Hebe that if she would always carefully observe and obey her
mother who had learned wisdom in that best school adversity she would
then indeed be able to withstand and overcome every temptation and
would likewise be happy herself and able to dispense happiness to all
around her Nothing was omitted by the fairy to make this retirement
agreeable to her royal guests and they had now passed near seven years
in this delightful grove in perfect peace and tranquillity when one
evening as they were walking in the pleasant wood which surrounded
their habitation they espied under the shade and leaning against
the bark of a large oak a poor old man whose limbs were withered and
decayed and whose eyes were hollow and sunk with age and misery They
stopped as soon as they saw him and heard him in the anguish of his
heart with a loud groan utter these words When will my sorrows end
Where shall I find the good fairy Sybella The fairy immediately begged
to know his business with her and said if his sorrows would end on
finding Sybella he might set his heart at ease for she stood now
before him and ready to serve him if his distresses were such as would
admit of relief and he could prove himself worthy of her friendship
The old Man appeared greatly overjoyed at having found the fairy and
began the following story
I live from hence a thousand leagues All this tiresome way have I come
in search of you My whole life has been spent in amassing wealth to
enrich one only son whom I doted on to distraction It is now five
years since I have given him up all the riches I had laboured to get
only to make him happy But alas how am I disappointed His wealth
enables him to command whatever this world produces and yet the poorest
wretch that begs his bread cannot be more miserable He spends his days
in riot and luxury has more slaves and attendants than wait in the
palace of a prince and still he sighs from morning till night because
he says there is nothing in this world worth living for All his
dainties only sate his palate and grow irksome to his sight He daily
changes his opinion of what is pleasure and on the trial finds
none that he can call such and then falls to sighing again for the
emptiness of all that he has enjoyed So that instead of being my
delight and the comfort of my old age sleepless nights and anxious
days are all the rewards of my past labours for him But I have had
many visions and dreams to admonish me that if I would venture with my
old frame to travel hither afoot in search of the fairy Sybella she
had a glass which if she showed him he would be cured of this dreadful
melancholy and I have borne the labour and fatigue of coming this
long tiresome way that I may not breathe my last with the agonizing
reflection that all the labours of my life have been thrown away
But what shall I say to engage you to go with me Can riches tempt or
praise allure you
No answered the fairy neither of them has power to move me but
I compassionate your age and if I thought I could succeed would not
refuse you The glass which I shall bid him look in will show him his
inward self but if he will not open both his eyes and heart enough to
truth to let him understand that the pleasures he pursues not only are
not but cannot be satisfactory I can be of no sort of service to him
And know old man that the punishment you now feel is the natural
result of your not having taught him this from his infancy for instead
of heaping up wealth to allure him to seek for happiness from such
deceitful means you should have taught him that the only path to it
was to be virtuous and good
The old man said he heartily repented of his conduct and on his knees
so fervently implored Sybellas assistance that at last she consented
to go with him Then striking on the ground three times with her wand
the car and horses rose up and placing the old Man by her after taking
leave of the queen and begging the Princess Hebe to be careful to guard
against all temptations to disobedience she set out on her journey
It being now come to the latest hour that Mrs Teachum thought proper
for her little scholars to stay out in the air she told Miss Jenny that
she must defer reading the remaining part of her story till the next
day Miss Jenny always with great cheerfulness obeyed her governess and
immediately left off reading and said she was ready to attend her and
the whole company rose up to follow her
Mrs Teachum had so much judgment that perceiving such a ready
obedience to all her commands she now endeavoured by all means she
could think of to make her scholars throw off that reserve before her
which must ever make it uneasy to them for her ever to be present
whilst they were following their innocent diversions for such was the
understanding of this good woman that she could keep up the authority
of the governess in her school yet at times become the companion of
her scholars And as she now saw by their good behaviour they deserved
that indulgence she took the little dumpling by the hand and followed
by the rest walked towards the house and discoursed familiarly with
them the rest of the evening concerning all their past amusements
It was the custom on Saturdays to have no school in the afternoon and
it being also their writing day from morningschool till dinner Mrs
Teachum knowing how eager Miss Jennys hearers were for the rest of the
story accompanied them into the arbour early in the afternoon when
Miss Jenny went on as follows
The queen and the Princess Hebe remained by the good fairys desire in
her habitation during her absence They spent their time in serenity and
content the princess daily improving herself in wisdom and goodness by
hearkening to her mothers instructions and obeying all her commands
and the queen in studying what would be of most use to her child She
had now forgot her throne and palace and desired nothing for her than
her present peaceful retreat One morning as they were sitting in a
little arbour at the corner of a pleasant meadow on a sudden they
heard a voice much sweeter than they had ever heard warble through the
following song
Virtue soft balm of every woe
Of evry grief the cure
Tis thou alone that canst best bestow
Pleasures unmixd and pure
The shady wood the verdant mead
Are Virtues flowry road
Nor painful are the steps which lead
To her divine abode
Tis not in palaces of halls
She or their train appear
Far off she flies from pompous walls
Virtue and Peace dwell here
The queen was all attention and at the end of the song she gazed around
her in hopes of seeing the person whose enchanting voice she had been
so eagerly listening to when she espied a young shepherdess not
much older than the Princess Hebe but possessed of such uncommon and
dazzling beauty that it was some time before she could disengage her
eyes from so agreeable an object As soon as the young shepherdess found
herself observed she seemed modestly to offer to withdraw but the
queen begged her not to go till she had informed them who she was that
with such a commanding aspect had so much engaged them in her favour
The shepherdess coming forward with a bashful blush and profound
obedience answered that her name was Rozella and she was the daughter
of a neighbouring shepherd and shepherdess who lived about a quarter of
a mile from thence and to confess the truth she had wandered thither
in hopes of seeing the young stranger whose fame for beauty and wisdom
had filled all that country round
The Princess Hebe well knowing of whom she spoke conceived from that
moment such an inclination fur her acquaintance that she begged her to
stay and spend that whole day with them in Placid Grove Here the queen
frowned upon her for she had by the fairys desire charged her never
to bring any one without her permission into that peaceful grove
The young Rozella answered that nothing could be more agreeable to her
inclinations but she must be at home by noon for so in the morning
had her father commanded her and never yet in her life had she either
disputed or disobeyed her parents commands Here the young princess
looked on her mother with eyes expressive of her joy at finding a
companion which she and even the fairy herself could not disapprove
When Rozella took her leave she begged the favour that the little Hebe
for so she called her not knowing her to be a princess might come
to her fathers small cottage and there partake such homely fare as it
afforded a welcome she said she could insure her and though poor
yet from the honesty of her parents who would be proud to entertain
so rare a beauty she was certain no sort of harm could happen to the
pretty Hebe from such a friendly visit and she would be in the same
place again tomorrow to meet her in hopes as she said to conduct her
to her humble habitation
When Rozella was gone the queen though highly possessed in her favour
both by her beauty and modest behaviour yet pondered some time on the
thought whether or no she was a fit companion for her daughter She
remembered what Sybella had told her concerning Brunettas adorning
young shepherdesses with beauty and other excellences only to enable
them the better to allure and entice others into wickedness Rozellas
beginning her acquaintance too with the princess by flattery had no
good aspect and the sudden effect it had upon her so as to make her
forget or wilfully disobey her commands by inviting Rozella to
Placid Grove were circumstances which greatly alarmed her But by
the repeated entreaties of the princess she gave her consent that she
should meet Rozella the next day and walk with her in that meadow and
in the wood but upon no account should she go home with her or
bring Rozella back with her The queen then in gentle terms chid the
princess for her invitation to the young shepherdess which was contrary
to an absolute command and said You must my dear Hebe be very
careful to guard yourself extremely well against those temptations
which wear the face of virtue I know that your sudden affection to this
apparent good girl and your desire of her company to partake with
you the innocent pleasures of this happy place arise from a good
disposition but where the indulgence of the most laudable passion even
benevolence and compassion itself interferes with or runs counter to
your duty you must endeavour to suppress it or it will fare with you
as it did with that hen who thinking that she heard the voice of a
little duckling in distress flew from her young ones to go and give it
assistance and following the cry came at last to a hedge out of which
jumped a subtle and wicked fox who had made that noise to deceive
her and devoured her in an instant A kite at the same time taking
advantage of her absence carried away one by one all her little
innocent brood robbed of that parent who should have been their
protector The princess promised her mother that she would punctually
obey all her commands and be very watchful and observant of everything
Rozella said and did till she had approved herself worthy of her
confidence and friendship
The queen the next morning renewed her injunctions to her daughter that
she should by no means go farther out of the wood than into the meadow
where she was to meet Rozella and that she should give her a faithful
account of all that should pass between them
They met according to appointment and the princess brought home so good
an account of their conversation which the queen imagined would help to
improve rather than seduce her child that she indulged her in the same
pleasure as often as she asked it They passed some hours every day
in walking round that delightful wood in which were many small green
meadows with little rivulets running through them on the banks of
which covered with primroses and violets Rozella by the side of her
sweet companion used to sing the most enchanting songs in the world
the words were chiefly in praise of innocence and a country life
The princess came home every day more and more charmed with her young
shepherdess and recounted as near as she could remember every word
that had passed between them The queen very highly approved of their
manner of amusing themselves but again enjoined her to omit nothing
that passed in conversation especially if it had the least tendency
towards alluring her from her duty
One day as the princess Hebe and Rozella were walking alone and
talking as usual of their own happy state and the princess was
declaring how much her own happiness was owing to her thorough obedience
to her mother Rozella with a tone of voice as half in jest said But
dont you think my little Hebe that if I take a very great pleasure in
any thing that will do me no hurt though it is forbidden I may disobey
my parents in enjoying it provided I dont tell them of it to vex them
with the thought that I have disobeyed them And then my dear what
harm is done
Great harm answered the princess looking grave and half angry I am
ashamed to hear you talk so Rozella Are you not guilty of treachery
as well as disobedience Neither ought you to determine that no harm
is done because you do not feel the immediate effects of your
transgression for the consequence may be out of our narrow
inexperienced view and I have been taught whenever my mother lays
any commands on me to take it for granted she has some reason for
so doing and I obey her without examining what those reasons are
otherwise it would not be obeying her but setting up my own wisdom
and doing what she bid me only when I thought proper
They held a long argument on this head in which Rozella made use of
many a fallacy to prove her point but the princess as she had not yet
departed from Truth nor failed in her duty could not be imposed upon
Rozella seeing every attempt to persuade her was in vain turned all
her past discourse into a jest said she had only a mind to try her and
was overjoyed to find her so steady in the cause of truth and virtue
The princess resumed her usual cheerfulness and good humour Rozella
sung her a song in praise of constancy of mind and they passed the rest
of the time they stayed together as they used to do
But just before they parted Rozella begged she would not tell her
mother of the first part of the conversation that had passed between
them The princess replied that it would be breaking through one of her
mothers commands and therefore she dared not grant her request Then
said Rozella Here I must for ever part with my dear little Hebe
Your mother not knowing the manner in which I spoke will have an ill
opinion of me and will never trust you again in my company Thus will
you be torn from me and loss will be irreparable These words she
accompanied with a flood of tears and such little tendernesses as
quite melted the princess into tears also But she still said that she
could not dare to conceal from her mother anything that had happened
though she could not but own she believed their separation would be
the consequence Well then cried Rozella I will endeavour to be
contented as our separation will give you less pain than what you call
this mighty breach of your duty and though I would willingly undergo
almost any torments that could be invented rather than be debarred one
moment the company of my dearest Hebe yet I will not expect that she
should suffer the smallest degree of pain or uneasiness to save me
from losing what is the whole pleasure of my life
The princess could not bear the thought of appearing ungrateful to such
a warm friendship as Rozella expressed and without farther hesitation
promised to conceal what she had said and to undergo anything rather
than lose so amiable a friend
After this they parted But when the princess entered the Grove she did
not as usual run with haste and joy into the presence of her indulgent
mother for her mind was disturbed she felt a conscious shame on seeing
her and turned away her face as wanting to shun the piercing look of
that eye which she imagined would see the secret lurking in her
bosom Her mother observed with concern her downcast look and want of
cheerfulness And asking her what was the matter she answered her
walk had fatigued her and she begged early to retire to rest Her
kind mother consented but little rest had the poor princess that whole
night for the pain of having her mind touched with guilt and the fear
she was under of losing her dear companion kept her thoughts in one
continued tumult and confusion The fairys gift now became her curse
for the power of seeing what was right as she had acted contrary to her
knowledge only tormented her
She hastened the next morning to meet Rozella and told her all that had
passed in her own mind the preceding night declaring that she would not
pass such another for the whole world but yet would not dispense with
her promise to her without her consent and therefore came to ask her
leave to acquaint her good mother with all that had passed For said
she my dear Rozella we must if we would be happy do always what is
right and trust for the consequences Here Rozella drew her features
into the most contemptuous sneer imaginable and said Pray what are
all these mighty pains you have suffered Are they not owing only to
your want of sense enough to know that you can do your mother no harm
by concealing from her this or anything else that will vex her and
my dear girl continued she when you have once entered into this way of
thinking and have put this blind duty out of your head you will spend
no more such restless nights which you must see was entirely owing to
your own imaginations
This startled the princess to such a degree that she was breaking from
her but putting on a more tender air Rozella cried And can
you then my dear Hebe determine to give me up for such a trifling
consideration Then raising her voice again in a haughty manner she
said I ought to despise and laugh at you for your folly or at best
pity your ignorance rather than offer a sincere friendship to one so
undeserving
The princess having once swerved from her duty was now in the power of
every passion that should attack her
Pride and indignation at the thought of being despised bore more sway
with her than either her duty or affection to her fond mother and she
was now determined she said to think for herself and make use of her
own understanding which she was convinced would always teach her what
was right Upon this Rozella took her by the hand and with tears
of joy said Now my dearest girl you are really wise and cannot
therefore according to your own rule fail of being happy But to show
that you are in earnest in this resolution you shall this morning go
home with me to my fathers cot it is not so far off but you will be
back by the time your mother expects you and as that will be obeying
the chief command it is but concealing from her the thing that would
vex her and there will be no harm done Here a ray of truth broke in
upon our young princess but as a false shame and fear of being laughed
at had now got possession of her she with a soft sigh consented to
the proposal
Rozella led the way But just as they were turning round the walk which
leads out of the wood a large serpent darted from one side out of a
thicket directly between them and turning its hissing mouth towards
the princess as seeming to make after her she fled hastily back and
ran with all her speed towards the grove and panting for breath flew
into the arms of her ever kind protectress
Her mother was vastly terrified to see her tremble and look so pale
and as soon as she was a little recovered asked her the occasion of her
fright and added with tears running down her cheeks I am afraid my
dear Hebe some sad disaster has befallen you for indeed my child I
but too plainly saw last night
Here the princess was so struck with true shame and confusion for her
past behaviour that she fell down upon her knees confessed the whole
truth and implored forgiveness for her fault
The queen kindly raised her up kissed and forgave her I am overjoyed
my dear child said she at this your sweet repentance though the
effect of mere accident as it appears but sent without doubt by some
good fairy to save you from destruction and I hope you are thoroughly
convinced that the serpent which drove you home was not half so
dangerous as the false Rozella
The princess answered that she was thoroughly sensible of the dangers
she had avoided and hoped she never should again by her own folly and
wickedness deserve to be exposed to the danger from which she had so
lately escaped
Some days passed without the princesss offering to stir out of the
grove and in that time she gave a willing and patient ear to all her
mothers instructions and seemed thoroughly sensible of the great
deliverance she had lately experienced But yet there appeared in her
countenance an uneasiness which the queen wishing to remove asked her
the cause of
It is dear madam answered the princess because I have not yet had
it in my power to convince you of my repentance which though I know it
to be sincere you have had no proof of but in words only and indeed
my heart longs for an occasion to show you that I am now able to resist
any allurement which would tempt me from my duty and I cannot be easy
till you have given me an opportunity of showing you the firmness of
my resolution and if you will give me leave to take a walk in the
wood alone this evening I shall return to you with pleasure and will
promise not to exceed any bounds that you shall prescribe
The queen was not much pleased with this request but the princess was
so earnest with her to grant it that she could not well refuse without
seeming to suspect her sincerity which she did not but only feared for
her safety and giving her a strict charge not to stir a step out of
the wood or to speak to the false Rozella if she came in her way she
reluctantly gave her consent
The princess walked through all the flowery labyrinths in which she had
so often strayed with Rozella but she was so shocked with the thoughts
of her wickedness that she hardly gave a sigh for the loss of a
companion once so dear to her and as a proof that her repentance
was sincere though she heard Rozella singing in an arbour purposely
perhaps to decoy her she turned away without the least emotion and
went quite to the other side of the wood where looking into the meadow
in which she first beheld that false friend she saw a girl about her
own age leaning against a tree and crying most bitterly But the
moment she came in sight the young shepherdess for such by her dress
she appeared to be cried out O help dear young lady help me for I
am tied here to this tree by the spiteful contrivance of a wicked young
shepherdess called Rozella my hands too you see are bound behind me
so that I cannot myself unloose the knot and if I am not released here
must I lie all night and my wretched parents will break their hearts
for fear some sad accident should have befallen their only child their
poor unhappy Florimel
The Princess hearing her speak of Rozella in that manner had no
suspicion of her being one of that false girls deluding companions
but rather thought that she was a fellowsufferer with herself and
therefore without any consideration of the bounds prescribed she
hastened to relieve her and even thought that she should have great
pleasure in telling her mother that she had saved a poor young
shepherdess from Rozellas malice and restored her to her fond parents
But as soon as she had unloosed the girl from the tree and unbound her
hands instead of receiving thanks for what she had done the wicked
Florimel burst into a laugh and suddenly snatching from the Princess
Hebes side her fathers picture which she always wore hanging in a
ribbon she ran away with it as fast as she could over the meadow
The Princess was so astonished at this strange piece of ingratitude
and treachery and was so alarmed for fear of losing what she knew her
mother so highly valued that hardly knowing what she was about she
pursued Florimel with all her speed begging and entreating her not to
bereave her so basely and ungratefully of that picture which she would
not part with for the world but it was all to no purpose for Florimel
continued her flight and the princess her pursuit till they arrived
at Brunettas castlegate where the fairy herself appeared dressed and
adorned in the most becoming manner and with the most bewitching smile
that can come from dazzling beauty invited the princess to enter her
castle into which Florimel was run to hide herself and promised her
on that condition to make the idle girl restore the picture
It was now so late that it was impossible for the princess to think
of returning home that night and the pleasing address of Brunetta
together with the hopes of having her picture restored soon prevailed
with her to accept of the fairys invitation
The castle glittered with gaudy furniture sweet music was heard in
every room the whole company who were all of the most beautiful forms
that could be conceived strove who should be most obliging to this
their new guest They omitted nothing that could amuse and delight the
senses And the Princess Hebe was so entranced with joy and rapture
that she had not time for thought or for the least serious reflection
and she now began to think that she had attained the highest happiness
upon earth
After they had kept her three days in this round of pleasure and
delight they began to pull of the mask nothing was heard but quarrels
jars and galling speeches Instead of sweet music the apartments were
filled with screams and howling for every one giving way to the most
outrageous passions they were always doing each other some malicious
turn and only universal horror and confusion reigned
The princess was hated by all and was often asked with insulting
sneers why she did not return to her peaceful grove and condescending
mother But her mind having been thus turned aside from what was right
could not bear the thoughts of returning and though by her daily tears
she showed her repentance shame prevented her return but this again
was not the right sort of shame for then she would humbly have taken
the punishment due to her crime and it was rather a stubborn pride
which as she knew herself so highly to blame would not give her leave
to suffer the confusion of again confessing her fault and till she
could bring herself to such a state of mind there was no remedy for her
misery
Just as Miss Jenny had read these words Mrs Teachum remembering some
orders necessary to give in her family left them but bid them go on
saying she would return again in a quarter of an hour But she was no
sooner gone from them than our little company hearing the sound of
trumpets and kettledrums which seemed to be playing at some little
distance from Mrs Teachums house suddenly started from their seats
running directly to the terrace and looking over the garden wall
they saw a troop of soldiers riding by with these instruments of music
playing before them
They were highly delighted with the gallant and splendid appearance of
these soldiers and watched them till they were out of sight and were
then returning to their arbour where Miss Jenny had been reading but
Miss Nanny Spruce espied another such troop coming out of the lane from
whence the first had issued and cried out O here is another fine
sight let us stay and see these go by too Indeed said Miss Dolly
Friendly I am in such pain for the poor princess Hebe while she is in
that sad castle that I had rather hear how she escaped for that I hope
she will than see all the soldiers in the world and besides it is but
seeing the same thing we have just looked at before Here some were for
staying and others for going back but as Miss Dollys party was the
strongest the few were ashamed to avow their inclinations and they
were returning to the arbour when they met Mrs Teachum who informed
them their dancing master was just arrived and they must attend him
but in the evening they might finish their story
They were so curious and especially Miss Dolly Friendly to know what
was to become of the princess that they could have wished not to have
been interrupted but yet without one word of answer they complied
with what their governess thought most proper and in the evening
hastening to their arbour Mrs Teachum herself being present Miss
Jenny went on in the following manner
The queen in the meantime suffered for the loss of her child more than
words can express till the good fairy Sybella returned The queen burst
into tears at the sight of her but the fairy immediately cried out
You may spare yourself my royal guest the pain of relating what has
happened I know it all for that old man whom I took such pity on was
a phantom raised by Brunetta to allure me hence in order to have an
opportunity in my absence of seducing the princess from her duty
She knew nothing but a probable story could impose on me and therefore
raised that story of the misery of the old mans son from motives which
too often indeed cause the misery of mortals as knowing I should
think it my duty to do what I could to relieve such a wretch I will not
tell you all my journey nor what I have gone through I know your
mind is at present too much fixed on the princess to attend to such
a relation Ill only tell you what concerns yourself When the phantom
found that by no distress he could perturb my mind he said he was
obliged to tell the truth what was the intention of my being deluded
from home and what had happened since and then vanished away Here
the fairy related to the queen everything that had happened to the
princess as has already been written and concluded with saying that
she would wander about the castle walls for Brunetta had no power over
her and if she could get a sight of the princess she would endeavour
to bring her to a true sense of her fault and then she might again be
restored to happiness
The queen blessed the fairy for her goodness and it was not long before
Sybellas continual assiduity got her a sight of the princess for
she often wandered a little way towards that wood she had once so
much delighted in but never could bring herself to enter into it the
thought of seeing her injured mother made her start back and run half
wild into the fatal castle Rozella used frequently to throw herself
in her way and on hearing her sighs and seeing her tears would burst
into a sneering laugh at her folly to avoid which laugh the poor
princess first suffered herself to throw off all her principles of
goodness and obedience and was now fallen into the very contempt she so
much dreaded
The first time the fairy got a sight of her she called to her with the
most friendly voice but the princess stung to the soul with the sight
of her fled away and did not venture out again in several days The
kind Sybella began almost to despair of regaining her lost child but
never failed walking round the castle many hours every day And one
evening just before the sun set she heard within the gates a loud
tumultuous noise but more like riotous mirth than either the voice
either of rage or anger and immediately she saw the princess rush out
at the gate and about a dozen girls laughing and shouting running
after her The poor princess flew with all her speed till she came to a
little arbour just by the side of the wood and her pursuers as they
intended only to tease her did not follow her very close but as soon
as they lost sight of her turned all back again to the castle
Sybella went directly into the arbour where she found the little
trembler prostrate on the ground crying and sobbing as if her heart was
breaking The fairy seized her hand and would not let her go till she
had prevailed with her to return to the Placid Grove to throw herself
once more at her mothers feet assuring her that nothing but this
humble state of mind could cure her misery and restore her wonted peace
The queen was filled with the highest joy to see her child but
restrained herself so much that she showed not the least sign of it
till she had seen her some time prostrate at her feet and had heard
her with tears properly confess and ask pardon for all her faults She
then raised and once more forgave her but told her that she must learn
more humility and distrust of herself before she should again expect to
be trusted
The princess answered not but with a modest downcast look which
expressed her concern and true repentance and in a short time recovered
her former peace of mind and as she never afterwards disobeyed her
indulgent mother she daily increased in wisdom and goodness
After having lived on in the most innocent and peaceful manner for three
years the princess being just turned of eighteen years old the fairy
told the queen that she would now tell her some news of her kingdom
which she had heard in her journey namely that her sisterinlaw
was dead and her brotherinlaw had made proclamation throughout the
kingdom of great rewards to any one who should produce the queen and
the Princess Hebe whom he would immediately reinstate on the throne
The Princess Hebe was by when she related this and said she begged
to lead a private life and never more be exposed to the temptation of
entering into vice for which she already had so severely smarted
The fairy told her that since she doubted herself she was now fit
to be trusted for said she I did not like your being so sure of
resisting temptation when first I conferred on you the gift of wisdom
But you will my princess if you take the crown have an opportunity
of doing so much good that if you continue virtuous you will have
perpetual pleasures for power if made a right use of is indeed a very
great blessing
The princess answered that if the queen her mother thought it her
duty to take the crown she would cheerfully submit though a private
life would be otherwise her choice
The queen replied that she did not blame her for choosing a private
life but she thought she could not innocently refuse the power that
would give her such opportunities of doing good and making others
happy since by that refusal the power might fall into hands that
would make an ill use of it
After this conversation they got into the same car in which they
travelled to the wood of Ardella arrived safely at the city of
Algorada and the Princess Hebe was seated with universal consent on
her fathers throne where she and her people were reciprocally happy
by her great wisdom and prudence and the queenmother spent the
remainder of her days in peace and joy to see her beloved daughter
prove a blessing to such numbers of human creatures whilst she herself
enjoyed that only true content and happiness this world can produce
namely a peaceful conscience and a quiet mind
When Miss Jenny had finished her story Mrs Teachum left them for
the present that they might with the utmost freedom make their own
observations for she knew she should be acquainted with all their
sentiments from Miss Jenny afterwards
The little hearts of all the company were swelled with joy in that
the Princess Hebe was at last made happy for hope and fear had each by
turns possessed their bosoms for the fate of the little princess and
Miss Dolly Friendly said that Rozellas artful manner was enough to
have drawn in the wisest girl into her snares and she did not see how
it was possible for the Princess Hebe to withstand it especially when
she cried for fear of parting with her
Miss Sukey Jennett said that Rozellas laughing at her and using her
with contempt she thought was insupportable for who could bear the
contempt of a friend
Many and various were the remarks made by Miss Jennys hearers on the
story she had read to them But now they were so confirmed in goodness
and every one was so settled in her affection for her companions
that instead of being angry at any opposition that was made to their
judgments every one spoke her opinion with the utmost mildness
Miss Jenny sat some time silent to hear their conversation on her fairy
tale But her seeing them so much altered in their manner of talking to
each other since the time they made their little remarks on her story
of the giants filled her whole mind with the most sincere pleasure and
with a smile peculiar to herself and which diffused a cheerfulness to
all around her she told her companions the joy their present behaviour
had inspired her with but saying that it was as late as their governess
chose they should stay out she rose and walked towards the house
whither she was cheerfully followed by the whole company
Mrs Teachum after supper again in a familiar manner talked to
them on the subject of the fairy tale and encouraged them as much as
possible to answer her freely in whatever she asked them and at last
said My good children I am very much pleased when you are innocently
amused and yet I would have you consider seriously enough of what you
read to draw such morals from your books as may influence your future
practice and as to fairy tales in general remember that the fairies
as I told Miss Jenny before of giants and magic are only introduced by
the writers of those tales by way of amusement to the reader For if
the story is well written the common course of things would produce the
same incidents without the help of fairies
As for example in this of the Princess Hebe you see the queen her
mother was not admitted to know the fairys history till she could calm
her mind enough to hearken to reason which only means that whilst we
give way to the raging of our passions nothing useful can ever sink
into our minds For by the fairy Sybellas story you find that by our
own faults we may turn the greatest advantages into our own misery as
Sybellas mother did her beauty by making use of the influence it gave
her over her husband to tease him into the ruin of his child and as
also Brunetta did by depending on her fathers gift to enable her to
complete her desires and therefore never endeavouring to conquer them
You may observe also on the other side that no accident had any power
to hurt Sybella because she followed the paths of virtue and kept her
mind free from restless passions
You see happiness in the good Sybellas peaceful grove and misery
in the wicked Brunettas gaudy castle The queen desiring the fairy to
endow her child with true wisdom was the cause that the Princess Hebe
had it in her power to be happy But take notice that when she swerved
from her duty all her knowledge was of no use but only rendered her
more miserable by letting her see her own folly in the stronger light
Rozella first tempted the princess to disobedience by moving her
tenderness and alarming her friendship in fearing to part with her
and then by persuading her to set up her own wisdom in opposition to
her mothers commands rather than be laughed at and despised by
her friends You are therefore to observe that if you would steadily
persevere in virtue you must have resolution enough to stand the sneers
of those who would allure you to vice for it is the constant practice
of the vicious to endeavour to allure others to follow their example
by an affected contempt and ridicule of virtue
By the Princess Hebes being drawn at last beyond the prescribed
bounds by the cries and entreaties of that insidious girl you are to
learn that whatever appearance of virtue any action may be attended
with yet if it makes you go contrary to the commands of those who know
better what is for your good than you do your selves and who can see
farther into the consequences of actions than can your tender years it
will certainly lead you into error and misfortune and you find as soon
as the princess had once overleaped the bounds another plausible excuse
arose to carry her on and by a false fear of incurring her mothers
displeasure she really deserved that displeasure and was soon reduced
into the power of her enemy
The princess you see could have no happiness till she returned again
to her obedience and had confessed her fault And though in this story
all this is brought about by fairies yet the moral of it is that
whenever we give way to our passions and act contrary to our duty we
must be miserable
But let me once more observe to you that these fairies are only
intended to amuse you for remember that the misery which attended the
Princess Hebe on her disobedience was the natural consequence of that
disobedience as well as the natural consequence of her amendment and
return to her duty was content and happiness for the rest of her life
Here good Mrs Teachum ceased and Miss Jenny in the name of the
company thanked her for her kind instructions and promised that they
would endeavour to the utmost of their power to imprint them on their
memory for the rest of their lives
This morning our little society rose very early and were all dressed
with neatness and elegance in order to go to church Mrs Teachum put
Miss Polly Suckling before her and the rest followed two and two with
perfect regularity
Mrs Teachum expressed great approbation that her scholars at this
solemn place showed no sort of childishness notwithstanding their
tender age but behaved with decency and devotion suitable to the
occasion
They went again in the same order and behaved again in the same manner
in the afternoon and when they returned from church two young ladies
Lady Caroline and Lady Fanny Delun who had formerly known Miss Jenny
Peace and who were at present in that neighbourhood with their uncle
came to make her a visit
Lady Caroline was fourteen years of age tall and genteel in her person
of a fair complexion and a regular set of features so that upon the
whole she was generally complimented with being very handsome
Lady Fanny who was one year younger than her sister was rather little
of her age of a brown complexion her features irregular and in
short she had not the least real pretensions to beauty
It was but lately that their father was by the death of his eldest
brother become Earl of Delun so that their titles were new and they
had not been long used to your ladyship
Miss Jenny Peace received them as her old acquaintance however she
paid them the deference due to their quality and at the same time
took care not to behave as if she imagined they thought of anything
else
As it was her chief delight to communicate her pleasures to others she
introduced her newmade friends to her old acquaintance and expected to
have spent a very agreeable afternoon But to describe the behaviour of
these two young ladies is very difficult Lady Caroline who was dressed
in a pink robe embroidered thick with gold and adorned with very fine
jewels and the finest Mechlin lace addressed most of her discourse to
her sister that she might have the pleasure every minute of uttering
Your ladyship in order to show what she herself expected And as
she spoke her fingers were in perpetual motion either adjusting her
tucker placing her plaits of her robe or fiddling with a diamond
cross that hung down on her bosom her eyes accompanying her fingers as
they moved and then suddenly being snatched off that she might not be
observed to think of her own dress yet was it plain that her thoughts
were employed on only that and her titles Miss Jenny Peace although
she would have made it her choice always to have been in company who did
not deserve ridicule yet had she humour enough to treat affectation
as it deserved And she addressed herself to Lady Caroline with so many
ladyships and such praises of her fine clothes as she hoped would have
made her ashamed but Lady Caroline was too full of her own vanity to
see her design and only exposed herself ten times the more till she
really got the better of Miss Jenny who blushed for her since she was
incapable of blushing for herself
Lady Fannys dress was plain and neat only nor did she mention anything
about it and it was very visible her thoughts were otherwise employed
neither did she seem to take any delight in the words Your ladyship
but she tossed and threw her person about into so many ridiculous
postures and as there happened unfortunately to be no lookingglass
in the room where they sat she turned and rolled her eyes so many
different ways in endeavouring to view as much of herself as possible
that it was very plain to the whole company she thought herself a
beauty and admired herself for being so
Our little society whose hearts were so open to each other that they
had not a thought they endeavoured to conceal were so filled with
contempt at Lady Caroline and Lady Fannys behaviour and yet so
strictly obliged by good manners not to show that contempt that
the reserve they were forced to put on laid them under so great a
restraint that they knew not which way to turn themselves or how
to utter one word and great was their joy when Lady Caroline as the
eldest led the way and with a swimming curtsey her head turned half
round on one shoulder and a disdainful eye took her leave repeating
two or three times the word misses to put them in mind that she
was a lady She was followed by her sister Lady Fanny who made a slow
distinct curtsey to every one in the room that she might be the
longer under observation And then taking Miss Jenny by the hand said
Indeed Miss you are very pretty in order to put them in mind of her
own beauty
Our little society as soon as they were released retired to their
arbour where for some time they could talk of nothing but this visit
Miss Jenny Peace remarked how many shapes vanity would turn itself into
and desired them to observe how ridiculously Lady Caroline Delun turned
her whole thoughts on her dress and condition of life and how absurd
it was in Lady Fanny who was a very plain girl to set up for a beauty
and to behave in a manner which would render her contemptible even if
she had that beauty her own vanity made her imagine herself possessed
of
Miss Nanny Spruce said She was greatly rejoiced that she had seen her
folly for she could very well remember when she had the same vanity of
dress and superiority of station with Lady Caroline though she had not
indeed a title to support it and in what manner she said she would
tell them in the story of her life
Miss Nanny Spruce was just nine years old and was the very reverse of
Patty Lockit in all things for she had little limbs little features
and such a compactness in her form that she was often called the little
fairy She had the misfortune to be lame in one of her hips but by good
management and a briskness and alacrity in carrying herself it was a
very small blemish to her and looked more like an idle childish gait
than any real defect
My delight said Miss Nanny Spruce ever since I can remember
has been in dress and finery for whenever I did as I was bid I was
promised fine coats ribbons and laced caps and when I was stubborn
and naughty then my fine things were all to be locked up and I was to
wear only an old stuff coat so that I thought the only reward I could
have was to be dressed fine and the only punishment was to be plainly
dressed By this means I delighted so much in fine clothes that I never
thought of anything but when I should have something new to adorn myself
in and I have sat whole days considering what should be my next new
coat for I had always my choice given me of the colour
We lived in a country parish my papa being the only gentleman so that
all the little girls in the parish used to take it as a great honour to
play with me And I used to delight to show them my fine things and to
see that they could not come at any but very plain coats However as
they did not pretend to have anything equal with me I was kind enough
to them As to those girls whose parents were so very poor that they
went in rags I did not suffer them to come near me
Whilst I was at home I spent my time very pleasantly as no one
pretended to be my equal but as soon as I came to school where other
misses were as fine as myself and some finer I grew very miserable
Every new coat every silver ribbon that any of my schoolfellows wore
made me unhappy Your scarlet damask Miss Betty Ford cost me a weeks
pain and I lay awake and sighed and wept all night because I did not
dare to spoil it I had several plots in my head to have dirtied it or
cut it so as to have made it unfit to wear by some accident my plots
were prevented and then I was so uneasy I could not tell what to do
with myself and so afraid lest any body should suspect me of such a
thing that I could not sleep in peace for fear I should dream of it
and in my sleep discover it to my bedfellow I would not go through the
same dreads and terrors again for the world But I am very happy now
in having no thoughts but what my companions may know for since that
quarrel and Miss Jenny Peace was so good as to show me what Im sure
I never thought of before that is that the road to happiness is by
conquering such foolish vanities and the only way to be pleased is
to endeavour to please others I have never known what it was to be
uneasy
As soon as Miss Nanny had finished speaking Miss Betty Ford said that
she heartily forgave her all her former designs upon her scarlet coat
but added she Lady Fanny Delun put me no less in mind of my former
life than Lady Caroline did you of yours and if Miss Jenny pleases I
will now relate it
Miss Betty Ford was of the same age with Miss Nanny Spruce and much of
the same height and might be called the plainest girl in the school
for she had nothing pleasing either in her person or face except an
exceeding fair skin and tolerable good black eyes but her face was
illshaped and broad her hair very red and all the summer she was
generally very full of freckles and she had also a small hesitation in
her speech But without preamble she began her life as follows
My life said Miss Betty Ford has hitherto passed very like that of
Miss Nanny Spruce only with this difference that as all her thoughts
were fixed on finery my head ran on nothing but beauty I had an elder
sister who was I must own a great deal handsomer than me and yet in
my own mind at that time I did not think so though I was always told
it was not for me to pretend to the same things with pretty Miss Kitty
which was the name of my sister and in all respects she was taken so
much more notice of than I was that I perfectly hated her and could
not help wishing that by some accident her beauty might be spoiled
whenever any visitors came to the house their praises of her gave me
the greatest vexation and as I had made myself believe I was a very
great beauty I thought that it was prejudice and illnature in all
around me not to view me in that light My sister Kitty was very good
natured and though she was thus cried up for her beauty and indulged
most on that account yet she never insulted me but did all in her
power to oblige me But I could not love her and sometimes would raise
lies against her which did not signify for she could always justify
herself I could not give any reason for hating her but her beauty
for she was very good but the better she was I thought the worse
I appeared I could not bear her praises without teasing and vexing
myself At last little Kitty died of a fever to my great joy though
as everybody cried for her I cried too for company and because I would
not be thought illnatured
After Kittys death I lived tolerably easy till I came to school
Then the same desire of beauty returned and I hated all the misses who
were handsomer than myself as much as I had before hated my sister and
always took every opportunity of quarrelling with them till I found my
own peace was concerned in getting the better of this disposition and
that if I would have any content I must not repine at my not being so
handsome as others
When Miss Betty Ford ceased Miss Jenny said Indeed my dear it is
well you had not at that time the power of the eagle in the fable
for your poor sister might then like the peacock have said in a soft
voice You are indeed a great beauty but it lies in your beak and
your talons which make it death to me to dispute it
Miss Betty Ford rejoiced that her power did not extend to enable her to
do mischief before she had seen her folly And now this little society
in good humour and cheerfulness attended their kind governesss summons
to supper and then after the evening prayers they retired to their
peaceful slumbers
Early in the morning after the public prayers which Mrs Teachum read
every day our little company took a walk in the garden whilst the
breakfast was preparing
The fine weather the prospects round them all conspired to increase
their pleasure They looked at one another with delight their minds
were innocent and satisfied and therefore every outward object was
pleasing in their sight
Miss Jenny Peace said she was sure they were happier than any other
society of children whatever except where the same harmony and love
were preserved as were kept up in their minds For continued she
I think now my dear companions I can answer for you all that
no mischievous no malicious plots disturb the tranquility of your
thoughts plots which in the end constantly fall on the head of
those who invent them after all the pains they cost in forming and
endeavouring to execute
Whilst Miss Jenny Peace was talking Miss Dolly Friendly looked at her
very earnestly She would not interrupt her but the moment she was
silent Miss Dolly said My dear Miss Jenny what is the matter with
you your eyes are swelled and you look as if you had been crying If
you have any grief that you keep to yourself you rob us of the share we
have a right to demand in all that belongs to you
No indeed answered Miss Jenny I have nothing that grieves me
though if I had I should think it increased rather than lessened by
your being grieved too but last night after I went upstairs I found
amongst my books the play of the Funeral or Griefalamode where the
faithful and tender behaviour of a good old servant who had long lived
in his lords family with many other passages in the play which I
cannot explain unless you knew the whole story made me cry so that I
could hardly stop my tears
Pray Miss Jenny let us hear this play that had such an effect on
you was the general request and Miss Jenny readily promised when
they met in their arbour to read it to them
They eagerly ran to their arbour as soon as school was over and Miss
Jenny performed her promise and was greatly pleased to find such a
sympathy between her companions and herself for they were most of them
affected just in the same manner and with the same parts of the play
as had before affected her
By the time they had wiped their eyes and were rejoicing at the turn
at the end of the play in favour of the characters with which they were
most pleased Mrs Teachum entered the arbour and inquired what they
had been reading Miss Jenny immediately told her adding I hope
Madam you will not think reading a play an improper amusement for us
for I should be very sorry to be guilty myself or cause my companions
to be guilty of any thing that would meet with your disapprobation
Mrs Teachum answered that she was not at all displeased with her
having read a play as she saw by her fear of offending that her
discretion was to be trusted to Nay continued this good woman I
like that you should know something of all kinds of writings where
neither morals nor manners are offended for if you read plays and
consider them as you ought you will neglect and despise what is light
and useless whilst you will imprint on your minds every useful lesson
that is to be drawn from them I am very well acquainted with the play
you have been reading but that I may see whether you give the proper
attention to what you have heard I desire my little girls that one of
you will give me an account of the chief incidents in the play and tell
me the story just as you would do to one of your companions that had
happened to have been absent
Here they all looked upon Miss Jenny Peace as thinking her the most
capable of doing what their governess required But Mrs Teachum
reading their thoughts in their looks said I exclude Miss Jenny in
this case for as the play was of her choosing to read to you I doubt
not but she is thoroughly enough acquainted with every part of it and
my design was to try the memory and attention of some of the others
They all remained silent and seemed to wait for a more particular
command before any one would offer at the undertaking not through
any backwardness to comply with Mrs Teachums request but each from a
diffidence of herself to perform it
Miss Jenny Peace then said that she had observed a great attention in
them all and she did not doubt but every one was able to give a very
good account of what they had heard But as Miss Sukey Jennet is the
eldest I believe madam continued she if you approve it they will
all be very ready to depute her as their speaker
Each smiled at being so relieved by Miss Jenny and Mrs Teachum taking
Miss Sukey Jennet by the hand said Come my dear throw off all fear
and reserve imagine me one of your companions and tell me the story of
the play you have been reading
Miss Sukey thus encouraged by her kind governess without any
hesitation spoke in the following manner
If I understand your commands madam by telling the story of the play
you would not have me tell you the acts and scenes as they followed one
another for that I am afraid I can hardly remember as I have heard
it only once but I must describe the chief people in the play and the
plots and contrivances that are carried on amongst them
Mrs Teachum nodded her head and Miss Sukey thus proceeded
There is an old Lord Brumpton who had married a young wife that had
lived with him some years and by her deceitful and cunning ways had
prevailed with him to disinherit his only son Lord Hardy who was a very
sensible good young man and to leave him but a shilling And this Lord
Brumpton was taken in a fit so that all the house thought he was dead
and his lady sent for an undertaker one Mr Sable to bury him But
coming out of his fit when nobody but this Mr Sable and an old
servant called Trusty were by he was prevailed upon by the good old
Trusty to feign himself still dead and the undertaker promises secrecy
in order to detect the wickedness of his wife which old Trusty assures
him is very great and then he carries his lord where he overhears
a discourse between the widow as she thinks herself and her maid
Tattleaid and he bears his once beloved wife rejoicing in his supposed
death and in the success of her own arts to deceive him Then there are
two young ladies Lady Charlotte and Lady Harriet Lovely to whom this
Lord Brumpton was guardian and he had also left them in the care of
this wicked woman And this young Lord Hardy was in love with Lady
Charlotte and Mr Camply a very lively young gentleman his friend
was in love with Lady Harriet and Lady Brumpton locked the two young
ladies up and would not let them be seen by their lovers But there
at last they contrived by the help of old Trusty who had their real
guardians consent for it both to get away and Lady Harriet married
Mr Camply directly but Lady Charlotte did not get away so soon and
so was not married till the end of the play This Mr Camply was a
very generous man and was newly come to a large fortune and in the
beginning of the play he contrives in a very genteel manner to give
his friend Lord Hardy who very much wanted it three hundred pounds
but he takes care to let us know that my lord had formerly when he
waited his assistance been very kind to him And there at last when
Lady Brumpton finds out that the two young ladies are gone she goes
away in a rage to Lord Hardys lodgings and in an insulting manner she
pays all due legacies as she calls it that is she gives Lord Hardy
the shilling which by her wicked arts was all his father had left
him and she was insulting the young ladies and glorying in her
wickedness when honest old Trusty came in and brought in old Lord
Brumpton whom they imagined to be dead and all but Lady Brumpton
were greatly overjoyed to see him alive but when he taxed her with
her falsehood she defied him and said that she had got a deed of
gift under his hand which he could not revoke and she WOULD enjoy his
fortune in spite of him Upon which they all looked sadly vexed till
the good old Trusty went out and came in again and brought in a man
called Cabinet who confessed himself the husband to the pretended Lady
Brumpton and that he was married to her half a year before she was
married to my Lord Brumpton but as my lord happened to fall in love
with her they agreed to keep their marriage concealed in order that
she should marry my lord and cheat him in the manner she had done and
the reason that Cabinet came to confess all this was that he looked
into a closet and saw my lord writing after he thought he was dead
and taking it for his ghost was by that means frightened into this
confession which he first made in writing to old Trusty and therefore
could not now deny it They were all rejoiced at this discovery except
the late pretended Lady Brumpton who sneaked away with Cabinet her
husband and my Lord Brumpton embraced his son and gave his consent
that he should marry Lady Charlotte and they were all pleased and
happy
Here Miss Sukey ceased and Mrs Teachum told her she was a very good
girl and had remembered a great deal of the play But said she in
time with using yourself to this way of repeating what you have read
you will come to a better manner and a more regular method of telling
your story which you was now so intent upon finishing that you forgot
to describe what sort of women those two young ladies were though as
to all the rest you have been particular enough
Indeed madam said Miss Sukey I had forgot that but Lady Charlotte
was a very sensible grave young lady and lady Harriet was extremely
gay and coquettish but Mr Camply tells her how much it misbecomes her
to be so and she having good sense as well as good nature is convinced
of her folly and likes him so well for his reproof that she consents
to marry him
Mrs Teachum addressing herself to them all told them that this was
a method she wished they would take with whatever they read for nothing
so strongly imprinted anything on the memory as such a repetition and
then turning to Miss Jenny Peace she said And now Miss Jenny I
desire you will speak freely what you think is the chief moral to be
drawn from the play you have just read
Miss Jenny being thus suddenly asked a question of this nature
considered some time before she gave an answer for she was naturally
very diffident of her own opinion in anything where she had not been
before instructed by some one she thought wiser than herself At last
with a modest look and an humble voice she said Since madam
you have commanded me to speak my sentiments freely I think by what
happened to each character in this play the author intended to prove
what my good mamma first taught me and what you madam since have so
strongly confirmed me in namely that folly wickedness and misery
all three as constantly dwell together as wisdom virtue and
happiness do
Tis very true answered Mrs Teachum but this moral does not arise
only from the happy turn in favour of the virtuous characters in the
conclusion of the play but is strongly inculcated as you see all
along in the peace of mind that attends the virtuous even in the
midst of oppression and distress while the event is yet doubtful and
apparently against them and on the contrary in the confusion of mind
which the vicious are tormented with even whilst they falsely imagine
themselves triumphant
Mrs Teachum then taking the book out of Miss Jennys hands and turning
to the passage said How does Lady Brumpton show us the wretched
condition of her own mind when she says
How miserable tis to have one one hates always about one And when
one cant endure ones own reflections upon some actions who can bear
the thoughts of another upon them
Then with what perturbation of mind does she proceed to wish it was in
her power to increase her wickedness without making use enough of her
understanding to see that by that means she would but increase her own
misery
On the other hand what a noble figure does Lord Hardy make when by
this wicked womans contrivances he thinks himself disinherited of his
whole fortune illtreated and neglected by a father he never had in
thought offended He could give an opportunity to a sincere friend who
would not flatter him to say
No you are my lord the extraordinary man who on the loss of an
almost princely fortune can be master of a temper that makes you the
envy rather than pity of your more fortunate not more happy friends
This is a fine distinction between fortunate and happy and intimates
this happiness must dwell in the mind and depends upon no outward
accidents
Fortune indeed is a blessing if properly used which Camply shows
when by that means he can assist and relieve his worthy friend
With what advantage does Lady Charlotte appear over her sister when
the latter is trifling and dancing before the glass and the former
says
If I am at first so silly as to be a little taken with myself I know
it is a fault and take pains to correct it
And on Lady Harriets saying very giddily that it was too soon for
her to think at that rate Lady Charlotte properly adds
They that think it too soon to understand themselves will very soon
find it too late
In how ridiculous a light does Lady Harriet appear while she is
displaying all that foolish coquetry And how different a figure does
she make when she has got the better of it
My Lady Brumpton when alarmed with the least noise breaks out into
all the convulsive starts natural to conscious guilt
Ha what noise is thatthat noise of fightingRun I sayWhither
are you goingWhat are you madWill you leave me aloneCant you
stirWhat you cant take your message with youWhatever tis I
suppose you are not in the plot not younor that now theyre breaking
open my house for CharlotteNot youGo see whats the matter I say
I have nobody I can trustOne minute I think this wench honest and
the next falseWhither shall I turn me
This is a picture of the confused the miserable mind of a close
malicious cruel designing woman as Lady Brumpton was and as Lady
Harriet very properly calls her
Honesty and faithfulness shine forth in all their lustre in the
good old Trusty We follow him throughout with anxious wishes for his
success and tears of joy for his tenderness And when he finds that he
is likely to come at the whole truth and to save his lord from being
deceived and betrayed into unjustly ruining his noble son you may
remember that he makes this pious reflection
All that is ours is to be justly bent And Heaven in its own time will
bless th event
This is the natural thought that proceeds from innocence and goodness
and surely this state of mind is happiness
I have only pointed out a few passages to show you that though it is
the nature of comedy to end happily and therefore the good characters
must be successful in the last act yet the moral lies deeper and is
to be deduced from a proof throughout this play that the natural
consequence of vice is misery within even in the midst of an apparent
triumph and the natural consequence of goodness is a calm peace of
mind even in the midst of oppression and distress
I have endeavoured my little dears to show you as clearly as I can
not only what moral is to be drawn from this play but what is to be
sought for in all others and where that moral is not to be found the
writer will have it to answer for that he has been guilty of one of
the worst of evils namely that he has clothed vice in so beautiful
a dress that instead of deterring it will allure and draw into its
snares the young and tender mind And I am sorry to say that too many
of our dramatic performances are of this latter cast which is
the reason that wise and prudent parents and governors in general
discourage in very young people the reading of plays And though by what
I have said if it makes a proper impression I doubt not but you will
all have a just abhorrence of such immoral plays instead of being
pleased with them should they fall in your way yet I would advise you
rather to avoid them and never to read any but such as are approved of
and recommended to you by those who have the care of your education
Here good Mrs Teachum ceased and left her little scholars to reflect
on what she had been saying when Miss Jenny Peace declared for her
part that she could feel the truth of her governesss observations for
she had rather be the innocent Lord Hardy though she was to have but
that one shilling in the world which was so insolently offered him as
his fathers last legacy than be the Lady Brumpton even though she had
possessed the fortune she so treacherously endeavoured to obtain
Nay said Miss Dolly Friendly I had rather have been old Trusty with
all the infirmities of age following my Lord Hardy through the world
had his poverty and distress been ever so great than have been the
malicious Lady Brumpton in the height of her beauty surrounded by a
crowd of lovers and flatterers
Miss Henny Fret then declared how glad she was that she had now no
malice in her mind though she could not always have said so as she
would inform them in the history of her past life
Miss Henny Fret was turned of nine years old She was very prettily
made and remarkably genteel All her features were regular She was not
very fair and looked pale Her upper lip seemed rather shorter than it
should be for it was drawn up in such a manner as to show her upper
teeth and though this was in some degree natural yet it had been very
much increased by her being continually on the fret for every trifling
accident that offended her or on every contradiction that was offered
to her When you came to examine her face she had not one feature but
what was pretty yet from that constant uneasiness which appeared in
her countenance it gave you so little pleasure to look at her that she
seldom had common justice done her but had generally hitherto passed
for a little insignificant plain girl though her very face was so
altered since she was grown good natured and had got the better of that
foolish fretfulness she used to be possessed of that she appeared from
her goodhumoured smiles quite a different person and with a mild
aspect thus began her story
I had one brother said Miss Henny as well as Miss Jenny Peace but
my manner of living with him was quite the reverse to that in which
she lived with her brother All my praise or blame was to arise from my
being better or worse than my brother If I was guilty of any fault
it was immediately said Oh fie miss Master George that was my
brothers name would not be guilty of such a thing for the world If
he was carried abroad and I stayed at home then I was bemoaned over
that poor Miss Henny was left at home and her brother carried abroad
And then I was told that I should go abroad one of these days and my
brother be left at home so that whenever I went abroad my greatest joy
was that he was left at home and I was pleased to see him come out
to the coachdoor with a melancholy air that he could not go too If
my brother happened to have any fruit given him and was in a peevish
humour and would not give me as much as I desired the servant that
attended me was sure to bid me take care when I had anything he waited
not to give him any So that I thought if I did not endeavour to be
revenged of him I should show a want of spirit which was of all things
what I dreaded most I had a better memory than my brother and whenever
I learnt anything my comfort was to laugh at him because he could not
learn so fast by which means I got a good deal of learning but never
minded what I learnt nor took any pains to keep it so that what I was
eager to learn one day to show George how much I knew more than he I
forgot the next And so I went on learning and forgetting as fast as I
learnt and all the pains I took served only to show that I COULD learn
I was so great a favourite that I was never denied any thing I
asked for but I was very unhappy for the same reason that Miss Dolly
Friendlys sister was so and I have often sat down and cried because I
did not know what I would have till at last I own I grew so peevish and
humoursome that I was always on the fret and harboured in my mind a
kind of malice that made me fancy whatever my brother got I lost and
in this unhappy condition I lived till I came to school and here I
found that other misses wanted to have their humours as well as myself
This I could not bear because I had been used to have my own will and
never to trouble myself about what others felt For whenever I beat or
abused my brother his pain did not make me cry but I believe it was
thinking wrong made me guilty of these faults for I dont find I am
illnatured for now I have been taught to consider that my companions
can feel as well as myself I am sorry for their pain and glad when
they are pleased and would be glad to do anything to oblige them
Here Miss Henny ceased and Miss Jenny Peace then told her how glad she
was to hear that she had subdued all malice in her mind adding These
weeds my dear unless early plucked up are as I have heard our good
governess observe upon a like occasion very apt to take such deep root
as to choke every good seed around them and then who can tell whether
with the same opportunities they might not become Lady Brumptons before
the end of their lives
Little Polly Suckling remembered that all the company had told the story
of their past lives except herself and she thought she would not be
left out but yet she had a mind to be asked to tell it hoping that her
companions thought her of consequence enough not to leave her out of
any scheme therefore addressing herself to Miss Jenny she said she
thought it was very pleasant to hear anybody tell the history of their
own lives Miss Jenny saw her meaning and answered So it is my
little dear and now if you please you shall oblige us with relating
the history of yours Polly smiled at this request and said she was
ready to comply
Miss Polly Suckling was just turned of eight years old but so short
of her age that few people took her to be above five It was not a
dwarfish shortness for she had the most exact proportioned limbs in
the world very small bones and was as fat as a little cherub She was
extremely fair and her hair quite flaxen Her eyes a perfect blue her
mouth small and her lips quite plump and red She had the freshness
of a milkmaid and when she smiled and laughed she seemed to show an
hundred agreeable dimples She was in short the very picture of health
and goodhumour and was the plaything and general favorite of the whole
school
Now said little Polly I will tell you all my whole history I
hardly remember anything before I came to school for I was but five
years old when I was brought hither
All I know is that I dont love quarrelling for I like better to
live in peace and quietness But I have been always less than any of
my companions ever since I have been here and so I only followed the
example of the rest and as I found they contended about everything I
did so too Besides I have been always in fear that my schoolfellows
wanted to impose on me because I was little and so I used to engage in
every quarrel rather than be left out as if I was too little to give
any assistance but indeed I am very glad now we all agree because I
always came by the worst of it And besides it is a great pleasure
to me to be loved and every Miss is kind and good to me and ready to
assist me whenever I ask them And this is all I know of my whole life
When little Polly ceased she was kissed and applauded by the whole
company for the agreeable simplicity of her little history
And thus ended the eighth days amusement
Miss Jenny rose early in the morning and having collected the lives of
her companions which she had wrote down each day as they related them
she carried them after morning school according to her promise to her
governess
Mrs Teachum when she had perused them was much pleased and said that
she perceived by the manner in which her scholars had related their
lives how much they were in earnest in their design of amendment For
continued she they have all confessed their faults without reserve
and the untowardly bent of their minds which so strongly appeared
before the quarrel has not broke out in these their little histories
but on the contrary they all seem according to their capacities to
have endeavoured at imitating your style in the account you gave of
your own life I would have you continue to employ your leisure hours
in the manner you have lately done only setting apart a proper time
for exercise and today I will dispense with your attendance in the
schoolroom and indulge you this afternoon in another walk either to
the dairy house or to the cherrygarden whichever you all agree on
But as I shall not go with you myself and shall only find a servant
to take care of you I hope to hear from you Miss Jenny so good an
account of the behaviour of your little friends and companions that I
shall have no cause to repent my indulgence
Miss Jenny Peace respectfully took leave of her governess and hastened
to the arbour where her little friends were met in expectation of her
coming She told them how well pleased their governess was with them
all for the ingenuous confession of their faults in their past lives
and she then declared Mrs Teachums kind permission to them to take
another walk that afternoon
As no one had at present any story to read or relate they employed
their time till dinner some in walking and running about the garden
others in looking after and tending some plant or flower that they had
taken particularly under their care which Mrs Teachum both permitted
and encouraged them in whilst Miss Jenny Peace Miss Sukey Jennett
and Miss Dolly Friendly remained in the arbour the two latter asking
a thousand questions of the former both concerning all the instructions
she had ever learned from her mamma and by what means they should best
be able to preserve that friendship and happiness which had of late
subsisted amongst them saying how pleased their friends and relations
would be to see such a change in their temper and behaviour and how
much they should be beloved by every one
When they met at dinner Mrs Teachum asked them whether they had
determined upon the choice she had given them in their afternoons walk
and they were all desirous of going to the dairy house for little Polly
said she longed to see the goodhumoured old woman again and indeed
she would not now say anything to her of her shaking head or her
grey hair Mrs Teachum was pleased that little Polly so gratefully
remembered the old woman who had been so kind to her and readily
consented to their choice and approved of their determination
Being soon equipped for their walk they set out attended by two
maidservants and as soon as they arrived the good old woman expressed
the highest joy on seeing them and told little Polly that she should
have plenty of cream and strawberries for her daughter had been that
day in the wood and had brought home three baskets of very fine ones
Mrs Nelly her daughter said very crossly that she supposed there
would be fine work amongst them now their governess was not with them
but twas her mothers way to let all children be as rude as they
pleased Miss Sukey Jennett with some indignation in her look was
going to answer her but Miss Jenny Peace fearing she would say
something less mild than she wished gave her a nod and turning to the
young woman with great modesty and temper thus said You shall see
Mrs Nelly that our good governesss instructions are of more force
with us than to lose all their effect when we are out of her presence
and I hope you will have no cause when we go away to complain of the
ill behaviour of any of us
The good old woman declared she never saw such sweettempered children
in all her life and after they had eat their strawberries and cream
and were loaded with pinks and roses by the good womans bounty for
they did not gather one without her permission they took their leave
with the utmost civility and Miss Jenny handsomely rewarded the old
woman for her good cheer Mrs Nelly herself was so pleased with their
regular and inoffensive behaviour that she could not help telling Miss
Jenny that she and all her companions had indeed behaved as well as
if their governess had been with them on which Miss Jenny as they were
walking home observed to Miss Sukey Jennett whom she had prevented
from making any reply to Mrs Nellys speech how much better it was to
gain anothers good will by our own endeavours to be obliging than to
provoke them to be more cross by our angry answers and reproaches
When this little company employed in pleasing talk and lively
observations were come within about a mile of Mrs Teachums house and
within view of a noblemans fine seat Miss Jenny said that the next
time their governess permitted them to walk out she would ask her
leave that they might go and see that fine house for some time ago she
had told them that they should go thither when the family were absent
Mrs Wilson the housekeeper who by chance was walking that way and
heard what Miss Jenny said came up to them and told Miss Jenny that
her lord and lady were now both absent having set out one for London
and the other for another fine seat forty miles off that very morning
and as she knew them to be Mrs Teachums wellregulated family they
should be welcome to see the house and gardens now if they liked it
Miss Jenny thanked her and said as it was near two hours sooner than
their governess expected them home she would accept of her kind offer
The housekeeper led them through an avenue of tall elmtrees into this
magnificent house in which were many spacious apartments furnished
with the utmost grandeur and elegance Some of the rooms were adorned
with fine pictures others were hung with tapestry almost as lively as
those paintings and most of the apartments above stairs were furnished
with the finest sorts of needlework Our little company were struck
into a sort of silent wonder and admiration at the splendid appearance
of everything around them nor could they find words to express the
various reflections that passed in their minds on seeing such a variety
of dazzling gaudy things but when they came to the needlework Miss
Jenny could not help smiling to see how every one seemed most fixed in
attention upon that sort of work which she herself was employed in and
she saw in every face a secret wish that their own piece of work might
be finished with equal neatness and perfection The housekeeper was
greatly pleased to see them so much delighted and answered all their
questions concerning the stories that were represented in the pictures
and tapestry as fully as the time would permit but Miss Jenny being
fearful of exceeding the hour in which they would be expected home told
them they must not now stay any longer but if their governess would
give them leave and it would not be troublesome to Mrs Wilson they
would come another time She answered that it was so far from being
troublesome that she never had more pleasure in her life than to see
so many wellbehaved young ladies who all seemed not only pleased with
what they saw but doubly delighted and happy in seeing each other so
and for her part she could wish they were to stay with her all their
lives and in short they should not go till they had been in her room
and eat some sweetmeats of her own making The good woman seemed to take
so much delight in giving them any pleasure that Miss Jenny could not
refuse accepting her offer and when they were all in her room Polly
Suckling said Well this is a most charming house I wish we could all
live here for ever How happy must the lord and lady of this fine place
be
Indeed my little Polly said Miss Jenny you may be very much
mistaken for you know our good governess has taught us that there is
no happiness but in the content of our own minds and perhaps we may
have more pleasure in viewing these fine things than the owners have in
the possession of them
It is very true said the housekeeper for my lord and lady have no
delight in all this magnificence for by being so accustomed to it
they walk through all these apartments and never so much as observe or
amuse themselves with the work the pictures or anything else or if
they observe them at all it is rather with a look that denotes a sort
of weariness at seeing the same things continually before them than
with any kind of pleasure And then with a deep sigh she added You
are indeed young lady perfectly in the right when you say grandeur
and happiness do not always go together But turning off the discourse
Mrs Wilson forced them to take as many dried sweetmeats as they
could carry away with them and insisted upon their promise with
Mrs Teachums consent that they should come another time to see the
gardens They then took their leave with many thanks and the greatest
civility and discoursed all the way home on the fine things they
had seen Miss Betty Ford said that the fine gilding and so many
glittering lookingglasses made her think herself in Barbaricos great
hall where he kept all his treasure
No says Miss Nancy Spruce it was not half so much like that as it
was like Brunettas fine castle and I could not help thinking myself
the Princess Hebe and how much I should have been pleased with such a
fine place at first just as she was
Indeed says Miss Betty Ford you are in the right of it Miss Nanny
for twas much more like the description of Brunettas castle than what
I said myself
Miss Jenny was pleased to hear Miss Betty so ready to own herself
mistaken and said to Miss Nanny Spruce I am glad my dear to
find that you so well remember what you read for it is by recalling
frequently into our memories the things we have read that they are
likely to be of any service to us
Being now come home they entered into the presence of their governess
with that pleasure and proper confidence which ever attends innocence
and goodness and Mrs Teachum received them with a pleasing smile
Miss Jenny gave her governess a faithful account of all that had passed
with the agreeable entertainment they had accidentally met with of
seeing Lord Xs fine house and the great civility of Mrs Wilson
Which I hope madam said Miss Jenny I did not do wrong in
accepting You did very properly my dear said Mrs Teachum for
when any person is willing to oblige you without any inconvenience to
themselves it is always right to accept their offer as you thereby
gratify them by putting it in their power to give you pleasure
Miss Jenny then with great cheerfulness and freedom told her governess
all that had paled in conversation both in their walk to the
dairy house and at Lord Xs what little Polly had said in the
housekeepers room as also Mrs Wilsons answer and said by Mrs
Wilsons downcast look she was afraid that poor Lord X and his lady
were not so happy as might be wished But continued she I did
not ask Mrs Wilson any questions because you have taught me madam
carefully to avoid the least appearance of impertinent curiosity
You was very right my dear said Mrs Teachum in asking no farther
questions nor would she I dare say as she is a prudent woman have
gratified you if you had for though the unhappy story is too well known
all over the country yet it would have been very unbecoming in one
of the family to have published it Mrs Teachum saw in her little
scholars eyes a secret wish of knowing what this story was and after
a short pause she said Since I find you disposed my good girls to
make the proper use of what you hear I will indulge your curiosity
Lord X and his lady have been married seven years Lord X is
the wretchedest creature breathing because he has no children and
therefore no heir to his title and large estate He was naturally of a
haughty impetuous temper and impatient of any the least disappointment
and this disposition not being subdued in his youth has led him into
all sort of excesses His lady is not much better tempered than himself
and valuing herself highly upon her beauty and the large fortune
she brought him greatly resents his sometimes insolent and always
neglectful usage of her They have hitherto lived on in the most
jarring disputing manner and took no care to conceal their quarrels
from the world but at last they have agreed to part by consent and the
different journeys they this morning took I suppose was with an intent
of final separation
That grandeur and happiness do not always go together as Mrs Wilson
observed to you is seen by this story which I was the more willing
to tell you as it was a proper introduction to a fable I have been
collecting together from others for your use You know that all my
endeavours to make you good are only intended to make you happy and
if you thoroughly reflect upon the truth of this maxim which I so often
endeavour to inculcate you will doubtless reap no small advantage from
it
Here Mrs Teachum ceased speaking and giving Miss Jenny Peace a paper
she bid her read it aloud which she did and it contained the following
fable
In ancient days there was a great contention amongst the birds which
from his own perfections and peculiar advantages had the strongest
title to happiness and at last they agreed to refer the decision of the
debate to the eagle
A day was appointed for their meeting the eagle took his seat and the
birds all attended to give in their several pleas
First spoke the parrot Her voice so dearly resembling human speech and
which enabled her to converse with such a superior race she doubted not
she said would have its just weight with the eagle and engage him to
grant a decree in her favour and to this plea she also added that she
dwelt in a fine cage adorned with gold and was fed every day by the
hands a fair lady
And pray Mrs Poll said the eagle how comes it since you fare so
sumptuously that you are so lean and meagre and seem scarcely able
to exert that voice you thus make your boast of Alas replied
the parrot poor Polls lady has kept her bed almost this week the
servants have all forgot to feed me and I am almost starved Pray
observe said the eagle the folly of such pride Had you been able to
have conversed only with your own kind you would have fared in common
with them but it is to this vaunted imitation of the human voice that
you owe your confinement and consequently though living in a golden
cage your dependence upon the will and memory of others even for
common necessary food
Thus reproved the parrot with shame hastily retired from the
assembly
Next stood forth the daw and having tricked himself in all the gay
feathers he could muster together on the credit of these borrowed
ornaments pleaded his beauty as a title to the preference in dispute
Immediately the birds agreed to divest the silly counterfeit of all his
borrowed plumes and more abashed than the parrot he secretly slunk
away
The peacock proud of native beauty now flew into the midst of the
assembly He displayed before the sun his gorgeous tail Observe said
he how the vivid blue of the sapphire glitters in my neck and when
thus I spread my tail a gemmy brightness strikes the eye from a plumage
varied with a thousand glowing colours At this moment a nightingale
began to chant forth his melodious lay at which the peacock dropping
his expanded tail cried out Ah what avails my silent unmeaning
beauty when I am so far excelled in voice by such a little
russetfeathered wretch as that And by retiring he gave up all claim
to the contendedfor preference
The nightingale was so delighted with having got the better of the
peacock that he exerted his little voice and was so lost in the
conceit of his own melody that he did not observe a hawk who flew upon
him and carried him off in his claws
The eagle then declared That as the peacocks envy had taken away all
his claim so no less had the nightingales selfconceit frustrated
all his pretensions for those who are so wrapped up in their own
perfections as to mind nothing but themselves are forever liable to
all sorts of accidents And besides it was plain by the exultation
the nightingale expressed on his imagined glory over the peacock that
he would have been equally dejected on any preference given to another
And now the owl with an affected gravity and whooting voice pleaded
his wellknown wisdom and said He doubted not but the preference
would be granted to him without contest by all the whole assembly for
what was so likely to produce happiness as wisdom
The eagle declared That if his title to wisdom could be proved the
justice of his claim should be allowed and then asked him how he could
convince them of the truth of what he had advanced The owl answered
That he would willingly appeal to the whole assembly for their
decision in this point for he was positive nobody could deny his great
superiority as to wisdom Being separately asked they most of them
declared that they knew no one reason either from his words or
actions to pronounce him a wise bird though it was true that by an
affected solemnity in his looks and by frequent declarations of his
own that he was very wife he had made some very silly birds give
him that character but since they were called upon to declare their
opinions they must say that he was ever the object of contempt to all
those birds who had any title to common understanding The eagle then
said He could by no means admit a plea which as plainly appeared
to be counterfeit as were the jays borrowed feathers The owl thus
disappointed flew away and has ever since shunned the light of the
sun and has never appeared in the daytime but to be scorned and
wondered at
It would be endless to repeat all the several pleas brought by the
birds each desiring to prove that happiness ought to be his own
peculiar lot But the eagle observing that the arguments made use of to
prove their point were chiefly drawn from the disadvantages of others
rather than from any advantage of their own told them There was too
much envy and malice amongst them for him to pronounce any of them
deserving or capable of being happy but I wonder says he why the
dove alone is absent from this meeting I know of one in her nest hard
by answered the redbreast shall I go and call her No says the
eagle since she did not obey our general summons tis plain she had
no ambition for a public preference but I will take two or three chosen
friends and we will go softly to her nest and see in what manner she
is employing herself for from our own observations upon the actions
of any one we are more likely to form a judgment of them than by any
boasts they can make
The eagle was obeyed and accompanied only by the linnet the lark the
lapwing and the redbreast for his guide he stole gently to the place
where the dove was found hovering over her nest waiting the return of
her absent mate and thinking herself quite unobserved
While oer her callow brood she hung
She fondly thus addressd her young
Ye tender objects of my care
Peace peace ye little helpless pair
Anon he comes your gentle sire
And brings you all your hearts require
For us his infants and his bride
For us with only love to guide
Our lord assumes an eagles speed
And like a lion dares to bleed
Nor yet by wintry skies confind
He mounts upon the rudest wind
From danger tears the vital spoil
And with affection sweetens toil
Ah cease too ventrous cease to dare
In thine our dearer safety spare
From him ye cruel falcons stray
And turn ye fowlers far away
Allgiving Powr great source of life
Oh hear the parent hear the wife
That life thou lendest from above
Though little make it large in love
Oh bid my feeling heart expand
To evry claim on evry hand
To those from whom my days I drew
To these in whom those days renew
To all my kin however wide
In cordial warmth as blood allied
To friends in steely fetters twind
And to the cruel not unkind
But chief the lord of my desire
My life myself my soul my sire
Friends children all that wish can claim
Chaste passion clasp and rapture name
Oh spare him spare him gracious Powr
Oh give him to my latest hour
Let me my length of life employ
To give my sole enjoyment joy
His love let mutual love excite
Turn all my cares to his delight
And evry needless blessing spare
Wherein my darling wants a share
Let one unruffled calm delight
The loving and belovd unite
One pure desire our bosoms warm
One will direct one wish inform
Through life one mutual aid sustain
In death one peaceful grave contain
While swelling with the darling theme
Her accents pourd an endless stream
The wellknown wings a sound impart
That reachd her ear and touchd her heart
Quick droppd the music of her tongue
And forth with eager joy she sprung
As swift her entring consort flew
And plumd and kindled at the view
Their wings their souls embracing meet
Their hearts with answring measure beat
Half lost in sacred sweets and blessd
With raptures felt but neer expressd
Strait to her humble roof she led
The partner of her spotless bed
Her young a fluttring pair arise
Their welcome sparkling in their eyes
Transported to their sire they bound
And hang with speechless action round
In pleasure wrapt the parents stand
And see their little wings expand
The sire his life sustaining prize
To each expecting bill applies
There fondly pours the wheaten spoil
With transport givn though won with toil
While all collected at the sight
And silent through supreme delight
The fair high heavn of bliss beguiles
And on her lord and infants smiles
These verses are a quotation from that tender fable of
the Sparrow and the Dove in the Fables for the Female
Sex
The eagle now without any hesitation pronounced the dove to be
deservedly the happiest of the feathered kind and however unwilling the
rest of the birds were to assent to the judgment given yet could they
not dispute the justice of the decree
Here Miss Jenny ceased reading and all the little company expressed by
their looks that they were overjoyed at the eagles determination for
they had all in their own minds forestalled the eagles judgment of
giving the preference to the dove Now my good children said Mrs
Teachum if you will pass through this life with real pleasure imitate
the dove and remember that innocence of mind and integrity of heart
adorn the female character and can alone produce your own happiness
and diffuse it to all around you
Our little company thanked their governess for her fable and just
at that instant they heard a chariot drive into the court and Mrs
Teachum went out to see what visitor could be arrived so late in the
evening for it was near eight oclock
They all remained in the room where their governess left them for they
had been taught never to run out to the door or to the windows to look
at any strangers that came till they knew whether it was proper for
them to see them or not
Mrs Teachum soon returned with a letter open in her hand and remained
some little time silent but cast on every one round such a tender
and affectionate look a tear almost starting from her eye that the
sympathising sorrow seemed to spread through the whole company and they
were all silent and ready to cry though they knew not for what reason
I am sorry my little dears said Mrs Teachum to give your tender
bosoms the uneasiness I fear the contents of this letter will do as it
will deprive you of that your hearts so justly hold most dear And so
saying she delivered to Miss Jenny Peace the following letter
To Miss Jenny Peace
Monday night June 24
My dear nieceI arrived safe at my own house with your cousin
Harriet last Saturday night after a very tedious voyage by sea and
a fatiguing journey by land I long to see my dear Jenny as soon as
possible and Harriet is quite impatient for that pleasure
I have ordered my chariot to be with you tomorrow night and I desire
you would set out on Wednesday morning as early as your inclination
shall prompt you to come to
Your truly affectionate aunt
I have writ a letter of thanks to your kind governess for her care of
you
It is impossible to describe the various sensations of Miss Jennys
mind on the reading this letter Her rising joy at the thoughts of
seeing her kind aunt safely returned from a long and tedious voyage
was suppressed by a sorrow which could not be resisted on parting with
such dear friends and so good a governess and the lustre which such a
joy would have given to her eye was damped by rising tears Her heart
for some time was too full for utterance At last turning to her
governess she said And is the chariot really come to carry me to my
dear aunt Then after a pause the tears trickling down her cheeks
And must I so soon leave you madam and all my kind companions Mrs
Teachum on seeing Miss Jennys tender struggles of mind and all her
companions at once bursting into tears stood up and left the room
saying She would come to them again after supper For this prudent
woman well knew that it was in vain to contend with the very first
emotions of grief on such an occasion but intended at her return to
show them how much it was their duty and interest to conquer all sorts
of extravagant sorrow
They remained some time silent as quite struck dumb with concern till
at last Miss Dolly Friendly in broken accents cried out And must we
lose you my dear Miss Jenny now we are just settled in that love and
esteem for you which your goodness so well deserves
Miss Jenny endeavoured to dry up her tears and then said Although
I cannot but be pleased my dear companions at every mark of your
affection for me yet I beg that you would not give me the pain to see
that I make so many dear friends unhappy Let us submit cheerfully to
this separation which believe me is as deeply felt by me as any
of you because it is our duty so to do and let me entreat you to be
comforted by reflecting how much my good aunts safe return must
be conducive to my future welfare nor can you be unhappy while you
continue with so good a governess and persist in that readiness to obey
her which you have lately shown She will direct who shall preside over
your innocent amusements in my place I will certainly write to you and
shall always take the greatest delight in hearing from each of you both
while you continue here and when your duty and different connections
shall call you elsewhere We may some and perhaps all of us happen
often to meet again and I hope a friendship founded on so innocent and
so good a foundation as ours is will always subsist as far as shall be
consistent with our future situations in life
Miss Jennys friends could not answer her but by sobs and tears only
little Polly Suckling running to her clung about her neck and cried
Indeed indeed Miss Jenny you must not go I shall break my heart if
I lose you sure we shant nor we cant be half so happy when you are
gone though our governess was ten times better to us than she is
Miss Jenny again entreated them to dry up their tears and to be more
contented with the present necessity and begged that they would not
let their governess see them so overwhelmed in sorrow on her return for
she might take it unkindly that they should be so afflicted at the loss
of one person while they still remained under her indulgent care and
protection
It was with the utmost difficulty that Miss Jenny refrained from
shedding tear for tear with her kind companions but as it was her
constant maxim to partake with her friends all her pleasure and to
confine her sorrows as much as possible within her own bosom she chose
rather to endeavour by her own cheerfulness and innocent talk to steal
insensibly from the bosoms of her little companions half their sorrow
and they begin to appear tolerably easy
After supper Mrs Teachum returned and seeing them all striving who
should most conceal their grief for fear of giving uneasiness to the
rest yet with a deep dejection fixed in every countenance and little
Polly still sobbing behind Miss Jennys chair she was so moved herself
with the affecting scene that the tears stole from her eyes and the
sympathising company once more eased their almost bursting hearts by
another general flow of melting sorrow
My dear children said Mrs Teachum I am not at all surprised at
your being so much concerned to part with Miss Jenny I love her myself
with a motherly affection as I do all of you and shall ever continue
to do so while you so well deserve it and I could wish for my own
sake never to part with her as long as I live but I consider that it
is for her advantage and I would have you all remember in her absence
to let her example and friendship fill your hearts with joy instead of
grief It is now pretty late in the evening and as Miss Jenny is to set
out very early in the morning I must insist upon shortening your pain
for such is your present situation and desire you would take your
leave of this your engaging friend
They none of them attempted to speak another word for their hearts were
still too full for utterance and Miss Jenny took every one by the hand
as they went out of the room saluted them with the tenderest affection
mingling tears with those which flowed from every streaming eye and
wishing them all happiness and joy till their next meeting they all
with heavy hearts retired to rest
Miss Jenny returned the warmest and most grateful acknowledgments to her
good governess for all her care of her and said I shall attribute
every happy hour madam that I may hereafter be blessed with to
your wise and kind instruction which I shall always remember with the
highest veneration and shall ever consider you as having been to me no
less than a fond and indulgent mother
Mrs Teachum kept Miss Jenny in the room with her no longer than to
assure her how sincerely she should regret her absence and confessed
how much of the regularity and harmony of her school she owed to her
good example for sweetness of temper and conformity to rules
Although Miss Jenny Peace did not return any more to school yet she
ever gratefully remembered the kindness of her governess and frequently
corresponded with all her companions And as they continued their
innocent amusements and meetings in the arbour whenever the weather
would permit there was no day thought to be better employed than that
in which they received a letter from their absent instructive friend
whose name was always mentioned with gratitude and honour
Mrs Teachum continued the same watchful care over any young persons who
were entrusted to her management and she never increased the number
of her scholars though often entreated so to do All quarrels and
contentions were banished her house and if ever any such thing was
likely to arise the story of Miss Jenny Peaces reconciling all her
little companions was told to them so that Miss Jenny though absent
still seemed by the bright example which she left behind her to be the
cement of union and harmony in this wellregulated society And if any
girl was found to harbour in her breast a rising passion which it was
difficult to conquer the name and story of Miss Jenny Peace soon gained
her attention and left her without any other desire than to emulate
Miss Jennys virtues
In short Mrs Teachums school was always mentioned throughout the
country as an example of peace and harmony and also by the daily
improvement of all her girls it plainly appeared how early young people
might attain great knowledge if their minds were free from foolish
anxieties about trifles and properly employed on their own improvement
for never did any young lady leave Mrs Teachum but that her parents
and friends were greatly delighted with her behaviour as she had made
it her chief study to learn always to pay to her governors the most
exact obedience and to exert towards her companions all the good
effects of a mind filled with benevolence and love