suspect you are;" and when was a spirited boy of thirteen so urged on
that had the prudence to know where to stop with propriety to himself.
Marten, choking with rage, did advance to the door pointed out, and put
his head inside, and there, on beholding a group of young ladies of all
ages, from eight to fourteen, and no little brother, and finding all
eyes turned upon himself as an impertinent intruder, he drew his head
back quickly, and was met with a loud laugh from Jane, which so annoyed
him, that without stopping to think, he ran off to his own room as fast
as he could. The voice of Mary Roscoe however reached him as he ran
along the gallery, uttering these words: "I'll take care of Reuben,
Master Marten--I'll take care of Reuben, he is very happy." And so
Marten allowed himself to be content, and as he knew dinner would
shortly be ready, he lost no more time, but set to dress himself in his
best as quickly as he could. Mr. and Mrs. Jameson did not dine with the
young people, but Mrs. Jameson came in and walked round the table, and
spoke to most of the young ladies and gentlemen, and asked after their
papas and mammas, and she said she hoped they would be good children and
enjoy themselves very much, and in the evening she and Mr. Jameson would
come in to see them at play. She told Jane Roscoe she expected her and
Mary to take care of the young ladies and see that they had everything
they wanted, and she said much the same to her son and William Roscoe
about the boys.
There was a very long dining table laid out, and, as might be expected,
all the boys got together at the end where Edward sat, and all the
girls got round Jane Roscoe, for it must be remembered that hostilities
had begun in the morning between the boys and girls, and Jane was not
the kind of girl to make peace, or desire to make peace and conduct
herself as would be becoming a young lady. Frank Farleigh, indeed,
crossed the barrier, and once again demanded his cap from his sister,
but he pleaded in vain, and I do not know how the matter would have been
settled if good-natured Mary Roscoe had not proposed that it should be
considered as a forfeit, and that the cap should be cried with the other
forfeits in the evening games. "And I promise you it shall be hardly
won," cried Jane, and Frank's sister then whispered to her as if they
were settling what Frank was to do for it, and then Jane laughed--her
teasing laugh--and if Frank did give his sister a most cruel schoolboy
pinch, I can't but say she had only herself and her rude companion to
thank for it. "I don't care," he said, as he joined the boys, "I can
wear that old cap of Edward's, and when I go home they _must_ give it
back to me."
During this time Marten was looking about for Reuben, and soon he saw
that the little fellow was seated by Mary Roscoe, as happy as possible,
for Mary was a kind-hearted girl, and loved every thing and every body,
and every body loved her, and now she was taking care that the child was
helped before herself, and with what he liked, and when she met Marten's
eye, she kissed Reuben very earnestly, and called him a sweet darling
and her own pet, and she asked the little one if he did not love Mary.
Reuben returned the kiss and looked so smilingly up at Marten, that his
brother could not but be contented, and having thanked Mary most
heartily for her very great kindness, he was only too glad to get away
once more to where the boys were seated. Poor Marten was not aware, and
I do not exactly see how he should have been aware, that the easy
kindness of Mary Roscoe was but too likely now to bring his brother into
trouble, for Mary did not like to refuse the little fellow any thing;
and as the child was hungry and more than ready for the meal, for it was
past his usual dinner hour, I am obliged to confess he ate greedily of
the good things set before him, one after another without moderation or
discernment, pudding following meat, and cheese after pudding, and fruit
after that, till quantity and diversity were so mingled together, that
it was a wonder the babe endured himself as well as he did. He was,
however, so satisfied and even cloyed, that towards the end of the time
he contented himself with a taste of this and that, and under the easy
rule of Miss Mary, the remnants of his desert were transferred to his
pockets, to serve to regale him at some future moment. I have said that
Marten could not have been aware of this foolish weakness of Mary
Roscoe, but Marten was not free of blame in the affair, for he had
started wrongly as regarded Reuben, and in his self conceit he had
placed himself in circumstances where the temptations that surrounded
him were more than his nature unaided could resist. Marten would not
listen to those who would have taught him that our blessed Saviour
verily took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed
of Abraham, wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto
his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in
things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the
people, for in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able
to succour those that are tempted. Heb. ii. 16, 17, 18. But we shall
soon see from Marten's story a verification of the words of St. Paul
addressed to the children of God. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he
standeth, take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but
such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you
to be tempted above that ye are able; but will, with the temptation,
also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Cor. x. 12,
13.
And now,--to return to Reuben, he had ate and ate so much, that I am
almost ashamed even to think of it; and silly Mary Roscoe, who should
have put a bridle on his little mouth, never once thought of doing so,
and how should she, for she had never had one on her own? till the poor
child felt so uncomfortable that he was half ready to cry--for, added to
the over quantity he had contrived to swallow, he was very weary, for he
was but a young one, and he had been out in the air all the morning and
undergoing more active exercise than even he was accustomed to go
through, for he had moved about at the direction of others, and not by
his own voluntary will. So feeling uneasy, he was just about to raise a
cry, which I believe would have recalled Marten to a sense of his duty,
when the whole troop of children rose from table to amuse themselves as
best they liked till six o'clock, when tea was to be served in a large
room for them, and the evening was to be finished in games of whatever
description they chose, Mr. and Mrs. Jameson having promised to be
present.
Marten just stopped to see Mary Roscoe lead off his brother, who
accompanied her very contentedly, and then I am obliged to own he
thought no more of the little fellow for such a length of time, that we
who take an interest in poor little Reuben must banish Marten from our
thoughts and follow the child, the poor little victim of his brother's
self conceit. The young ladies on leaving the dining room ascended the
stairs and went to the room with which Marten had so daringly put his
head in the morning, and here they divided into groups of two or three,
as chance might be, and a chattering began, the like of which could
never be heard again, unless under the like circumstances. It seems a
cruel thing to try to put down any of the nonsense, and perhaps worse
than nonsense, that was then and there talked; and I would not do so if
I did not hope it would prove a warning to some girls that persons do
listen to their conversation sometimes when they fancy no one hears, and
that those same persons do think them very silly and ignorant, and
occasionally wrong. And first, I will take a party of three girls, who
all went to the same school, and these three, I am sorry to say, were
talking of their governess and teachers in a way they ought never to
have done. It was not Mrs. Meredith and Miss Williams, and Miss Smith,
but it was "Meredith, that cross old thing," and "pretty little Smith,"
and that "detestable Williams." And then one asked the other if she
remembered how funnily Fanny Adams had managed in the affair, of
laughing at the French Master, how six of them had been sent up to their
bedrooms in disgrace, and when that detestable Williams came in and
found them still laughing, how she scolded them all, and how Fanny Adams
put some Eau-de-Cologne to her eyes, which nearly blinded her, and made
her eyes water very much, and so deceived Miss Williams that she
pardoned her, though all the rest were left in disgrace.
And here, because there was no better disposed person to speak to these
poor girls upon their light and improper discourse, I would just say one
word:--My dear school boys and school girls, our Saviour says, "Love thy
neighbour as thyself." Let me then ask you, do you in any way follow
this kind command when you so treat your teachers and governors? Think
you, for an instant, of the labour, the anxiety, the perpetual
self-denial, the patience required by an instructor of childhood, even
when the children do their best; but when deceit, hypocrisy, and
hardness of heart is also added to the giddiness and thoughtlessness of
youth, what must be the teacher's suffering?
Remember that our Lord himself was subject to his parents. Luke ii. 57.
Though what could they, poor human creatures, have taught him? Then
follow, as a loving child should do, his holy example, and remember his
precept, of "love thy neighbour as thyself," and inquire of yourself how
would I like to be treated as I treat my governess or tutor?
But perhaps you would wish to listen to another couple of girls, who
soon drew a larger party round them, and what folly were they about,
you would ask? Why, one child, who was very vain about her figure, must
needs get a piece of string, or tape, and begin to measure her
companion's wrist, thumb, neck, waist, and height, saying--"Twice round
the thumb, once round the wrist, twice round the wrist, once round the
neck, twice round the neck, once round the waist, and twice round the
waist, once the height." As Louisa Manners well knew of old that this
measurement suited herself, she was always disposed to try any young
girl by her rule, knowing well her own turn would come, and that she
would be able to appear with satisfaction to herself; and here again I
would say, was our Lord's precept followed, of love thy neighbour as
thyself? did Louisa desire a rival? This couple, as I said, soon drew a
party round them, and after the measurement, which lasted some time and
led to a discussion of dress, most of the frocks and sashes coming in
for notice, one of the three school girls, mentioned at first, named
some new step in dancing, just introduced at her school the last dancing
day, and then such a practising and trying of this step commenced
amongst the young ladies as made a pretty sight to look on, the young
ladies being all nicely dressed, and for the nonce thinking more of
their occupation than of themselves.
In the meanwhile Reuben had been supplied with something that served the
purpose of a plaything by Mary Roscoe, and being seated in a corner of
the room away from harm or interference, the little fellow shortly
became so drowsy, that before long, notwithstanding the noise and
chattering about him, his head drooped on his bosom, and he was so sound
asleep that he was unconscious of his uncomfortable position. He had
slept full a quarter of an hour when he was discovered by one of the
elder girls, who proposed that they should lift him from his seat and
take him to a bed in an adjoining chamber, where he would be more
comfortable. And here I must again remark, for want of some one else to
do so, that of the twelve or fourteen girls there assembled, there was
not one present who would have been unkind to the little fellow
intentionally; but yet I am afraid, that with the exception of the
good-natured Mary Roscoe, there was hardly one who would have put
themselves out of the way on his account, or have given up a pleasure or
amusement of even five or ten minutes to comfort the boy, who ought in
truth never to have been amongst them, so little had he been accustomed
to the ways of other children, even of his own age.
Reuben slept on, and that so soundly, that when tea was ready he was not
awake, and he would probably have been wholly forgotten if the young
ladies on their way down stairs had not made so much noise by the door
of his room, that startled and alarmed, he began to cry violently, and
his good friend Mary could not easily appease him. However, the child
was really refreshed from his sleep, and the kind girl having washed his
face and hands herself, and smoothed his pretty curling hair, led him
down with her to the room where the tea was served, and provided him
with all he wanted, and withal with such a large lump of sugar, the like
of which he had never perhaps, not even in his dreams, possessed before.
Whoever has read of Mrs. Indulgence in "The Infant's Progress" may have
some idea of Mary's management of Reuben, but if the little one could
have spoken or reasoned on the point, how heartily would he have said
that he pined for his own dear mamma's judicious kindness and controul,
under which he used to sport all day happy and joyful as a butterfly on
a bright summer's morning.
After tea, which did not last very long, the tables were cleared away
and the plays began--the elder children, as might be expected, taking
the lead, and for awhile all was order and propriety. Fortunately for
the young ones they had no lights near them from which they could be in
danger, for the lamp hung from the ceiling and the fire was allowed to
go out in the grate. The tables, as I said before, were moved away, and
the seats were piled one above another so that a good space was left in
the room for the games, and only two chairs were kept for Mr. and Mrs.
Jameson, who had sent word to say they were coming down to see the
sport, and as they were very fond of a dance, they expressed a wish
that the evening's amusement should begin in that way.
The boys were somewhat annoyed at this, as they wanted more active
games, and Frank Farleigh absolutely proposed to change the dance to
leap-frog; however, as Mrs. Jameson wished for dancing, no one was bold
enough openly to speak against it, and Miss Farleigh and Jane Roscoe,
who were intimate friends, played a duet together very nicely, to which
the rest danced.
And now it was that Mary Roscoe first felt the annoyance she had
incurred by her kindness to Reuben, for the child did not wish to leave
her, and seeing all were dancing, or jumping to the music as he thought,
he believed he could do the same, and clinging to her she found that to
appease him she must take him for her partner, and thus this really
good-natured girl was unable to dance with any pleasure to herself, as
the little one was unable to make his way alone. However, Mary was
truly kind-hearted, and not one cloud was on her fair brow when the
dance was finished, and she told her little partner to sit down amidst
the piled up chairs at one end of the room. But as nurse had said Reuben
was a weary little fellow, and Mary little knew the truth, if she
thought she was so easily to get rid of him, for the child was half
alarmed at the numbers of strange faces thronging around him; he was not
well, too, with the many sweet things and fruits he had eaten, and now
it was approaching his usual bed-time, and though he had had a sleep,
yet he had been roused from it suddenly and improperly, fed with sweet
cake since, and any experienced person present might know that shortly
the child would get so excited in the scene before him, it would be no
easy matter to soothe or calm him.
Now it happened that Marten, feeling exceedingly obliged to Mary for
her kindness to his brother, and equally disliking her sister, and Miss
Farleigh and some of the other young ladies, was very anxious to dance
with Mary, to thank her for her kindness to Reuben, but he little
thought that by doing so, the child finding both his friends together
must insist upon being with them, and the second set of quadrilles was
danced by poor Mary as the first had been, the little fellow clinging to
her, for both Marten and Mary were afraid of a burst of tears if they
opposed the child in this matter. Marten, however, spoke somewhat
sharply to him, saying he was teasing Miss Mary, and if they allowed him
to dance this time, he must promise to sit still afterwards, and not be
troublesome again. Reuben knew that he must obey his brother, so when
that dance was finished he went and sat himself down, as directed,
though his young heart was very sad, as he longed to be jumping about
with the other children. Mary was now able to enjoy herself, and I do
not hesitate to say she was very glad to get rid of Reuben and be at
liberty to run about where she would, for she was a happy girl, and this
evening she was the happiest of the happy, for she was a favourite of
all.
After the dancing had continued some time, a game was fixed upon, which
game being one that kept the children seated, they soon got tired of it,
and blindman's buff was proposed and entered into with great spirit,
though, as will presently be seen, this spirit, for want of some less
indulgent to controul it, became at last almost unbearable.
It was whilst Edward Jameson was blindfolded that the first rudeness
began, for Miss Jane seized hold of a newspaper and began rustling it
so about Edward's head, that being blindfolded he became so annoyed by
it, that he began to toss his arms about, making such rushes hither and
thither, that the girls had to run away, lest they should be struck.
Whilst Jane was teasing Edward, one of the boys seized hold of the
handkerchief that blindfolded him, and another boy made a thrust at him
in front, and it was only a wonder that Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, who were
sitting by, did not speak to the children, to advise a little more
quietness in the play. But there were a party of young girls whispering
together behind Jane, and when Edward turned in her direction, though
she escaped, he fell amongst these girls, and, as might be expected,
such a romping scene ensued, as may often be seen at blindman's buff.
Just at this moment a servant came in to say a gentleman had called on
some business, and both Mr. and Mrs. Jameson left the room together, to
see this gentleman. They were scarcely gone before the noise increased
to such an extent, that one or two of the servants came to the parlour
door; and well was it, as we shall shew presently, that they did so, but
Mr. and Mrs. Jameson being gone to another part of the house, were not
disturbed by the sounds. So, as I said, Edward found himself amongst the
group of young girls, who all struggled to get away from him; and then
such a scene of running and screaming, and shouting and romping
followed, as the like of which I have no desire to see. Every one ran,
and no one knew whither they were going, and it so chanced that some ran
in the direction of where Reuben had been seated by Marten, amidst the
piled-up chairs. The child, who had been sitting there sometime, and who
did not understand the game, for he had never seen it before, was
doubtful whether to be frightened or not; but as Edward, whom he knew so
well, and who was always kind to him, was the pursuer, and as the
children were laughing, he thought he might laugh too, and not liking
sitting still when all were running and jumping round him, he slid down
from his high seat and joined the group that had fled to that end of the
room from Edward. As ill luck would have it, Edward turned in that
direction somewhat suddenly, and there was a loud cry of one and all to
run, and instantly all did run, Reuben too obeying the call, and setting
off as fast as his little legs would let him.
As might have been expected, the elder children escaped, and Edward
caught the boy, whom he instantly named, and tearing off the
handkerchief from his eyes, he was going to tie it round those of
Reuben, when Marten interposed, and said "he would not understand the
game." Edward was, however, tired of being blinded and of being
buffetted about, and not thinking how very young Reuben was, for he knew
very little about children, as he had no little brothers nor sisters of
his own, he only said he had caught the child, and that it was but fair
he should be blinded, as he was caught and had absolutely prevented him
from catching one of the others when they were close to him. As Reuben
himself thought it was manly to be blinded, and believed all he had to
do was to run about with the handkerchief round his head, he was very
anxious to do as Edward had done, and Mary, to whom he pleaded for
permission so to do, blinded him herself, and as she tied the
handkerchief round him she said, "Now, young gentlemen, don't hurt the
little fellow, pray be gentle with him, for he's very young."
Mary then took his hand, and leading him into the centre of the room
she slightly directed him where to go. It must be understood that Reuben
knew no one in the room but Marten, Edward, and Mary, and as he did not
know the rules of the game, the elder boys and girls, soon wearied of
the little fellow running hither and thither, for they did not wish to
hurt the child, and so they ceased for awhile their boisterous play;
but, as might be expected, this would not last long, and Marten stepping
forwards on the little one laying hold of some boy near him, said, "My
brother does not know any one here by name, is it not enough that he has
caught some one? He does not know, I am sure, who his hand is upon, even
if he were unblinded."
"Oh! it is a boy," replied Reuben. "Me know it is a boy, and a large
boy. Yes, it is a large boy."
"That is enough, is it not?" asked Marten, looking round, "surely
that's enough;" and he unbound Reuben, telling; the child he had done
very well.