The Inconveniences of immoderate Indulgence.
The children were allowed to help themselves to fruit, when it made a
part of their meal; and Caroline always took care to pick out the best,
or swallow what she took in a hurry, lest she should not get as much as
she wished for. Indeed she generally eat more than her share. She had
several times eaten more than a person ought to eat at one time, without
feeling any ill effects; but one afternoon she complained of a pain in
her stomach in consequence of it, and her pale face, and languid eyes,
plainly shewed her indisposition. Mrs. Mason gave her an emetic, and
after the operation she was obliged to go to bed, though she had promised
herself a pleasant walk that evening. She was left alone, for Mary was
not permitted to stay at home with her, as she offered to do. Had her
sickness been accidental, we would both have tried to amuse her, said
Mrs. Mason; but her greediness now receiving its natural and just
punishment, she must endure it without the alleviation which pity
affords; only tell her from me, that the pleasure was but momentary,
while the pain and confinement it produced, has already lasted some
hours.
The next morning, though scarcely recovered, she got up, as usual, to
have a walk before breakfast. During these walks, Mrs. Mason told them
stories, pointed out the wisdom of God in the creation, and took them to
visit her poor tenants. These visits not only enabled her to form a
judgment of their wants, but made them very industrious; for they were
all anxious that she might find their houses and persons clean. And
returning through the farmyard, Mrs. Mason stopped according to custom,
to see whether the poor animals were taken care of—this she called
earning her breakfast. The servant was just feeding the pigs, and though
she poured a great quantity into the trough, the greedy creatures tried
to gobble it up from one another. Caroline blushed, she saw this sight
was meant for her, and she felt ashamed of her gluttony. But Mrs. Mason,
willing to impress her still more strongly, thus addressed her.
Providence, my child, has given us passions and appetites for various
purposes—two are generally obvious, I will point them out to you. First
to render our present life more comfortable, and then to prepare us for
another, by making us sociable beings; as in society virtue is acquired,
and self-denial practised. A moderate quantity of proper food recruits
our exhausted spirits, and invigorates the animal functions; but, if we
exceed moderation, the mind will be oppressed, and soon become the slave
of the body, or both grow listless and inactive. Employed various ways,
families meet at meals, and there giving up to each other, learn in the
most easy, pleasant way to govern their appetites. Pigs, you see, devour
what they can get; but men, if they have any affections, love their
fellow-creatures, and wish for a return; nor will they, for the sake of a
brutish gratification, lose the esteem of those they value. Besides, no
one can be reckoned virtuous who has not learned to bear poverty: yet
those who think much of gratifying their appetites, will at last act
meanly in order to indulge them. But when any employment of the
understanding, or strong affection occupies the mind, eating is seldom
thought a matter of greater importance than it ought to be. Let the idle
_think_ of their meals; but do you employ the intermediate time in a
different manner, and only enjoy them when you join the social circle. I
like to see children, and even men, eat chearfully, and gratefully
receive the blessings sent by Heaven; yet I would not have them abuse
those blessings, or ever let the care necessary to support the body,
injure the immortal spirit: many think of the sustenance the former
craves, and entirely neglect the latter.
I remarked to you before, that in the most apparently trivial concerns,
we are to do as we would be done by. This duty must be practised
constantly; at meals there are frequent opportunities, and I hope,
Caroline, I shall never again see you eager to secure dainties for
yourself. If such a disposition were to grow up with you, you ought to
live alone, for no one should enjoy the advantages and pleasures which
arise from social intercourse, who is unwilling to give way to the
inclinations of others, and allow each their share of the good things of
this life.
You experienced yesterday, that pain follows immoderate indulgence; it is
always the case, though sometimes not felt so immediately; but the
constitution is insensibly destroyed, and old age will come on, loaded
with infirmities. You also lost a very pleasant walk, and some fine
fruit. We visited Mrs. Goodwin’s garden, and as Mary had before
convinced me that she could regulate her appetites, I gave her leave to
pluck as much fruit as she wished; and she did not abuse my indulgence.
On the contrary, she spent most part of the time in gathering some for
me, and her attention made it taste sweeter.
Coming home I called her my friend, and she deserved the name, for she
was no longer a child; a reasonable affection had conquered an appetite;
her understanding took the lead, and she had practised a virtue.
The subject was now dropped; but, Caroline determined to copy in future
her sister’s temperance and self-denial.