Visit to the School-mistress.—True and false Pride.
Their dress was soon adjusted, and the girls plucked flowers to adorn
themselves, and a nosegay to present to the school-mistress, whose garden
was but small.
They met the children just released from confinement; the swarm came
humming round Mrs. Mason, endeavouring to catch her eye, and obtain the
notice they were so proud of. The girls made their best courtesies,
blushing; and the boys hung down their heads, and kicked up the dust, in
scraping a bow of respect.
They found their mistress preparing to drink tea, to refresh herself
after the toils of the day; and, with the ease peculiar to well-bred
people, she quickly enabled them to partake of it, by giving the
tea-board a more sociable appearance.
The harvest-home was soon the subject of conversation, and the harper was
mentioned. The family pride of the Welsh, said Anna, has often diverted
me; I have frequently heard the inhabitants of a little hut, that could
scarcely be distinguished from the pig-sty, which stood in the front of
it, boast of their ancestors and despise trade. They have informed me,
that one branch of their family built the middle aisle of the church;
that another beautified the chancel, and gave the ten commandments, which
blaze there in letters of gold. Some rejoice that their forefathers
sleep in the most conspicuous tombs—and that their ashes have an
inscription to point out where they are returning to their mother earth.
And those graves, which only a little stone at the head gives consequence
to, are adorned every Sunday with flowers, or ever-greens. We perceive,
in all the various customs of men, a desire to live in the past and in
the future, if I may be allowed the expression.
Mrs. Mason then observed, that of all the species of pride which carry a
man out of himself, family pride was the most beneficial to society.
Pride of wealth produces vanity and ostentation; but that of blood seems
to inspire high notions of honour, and to banish meanness. Yet it is
productive of many ill consequences, the most obvious is, that it renders
individuals respectable to the generality, whose merit is only reflected:
and sometimes the want of this accidental advantage throws the most
shining personal virtues and abilities into obscurity. In weak minds
this pride degenerates into the most despicable folly; and the wise will
not condescend to accept of fame at second-hand, replied Anna. We ought
to be proud of our original, but we should trace it to our Heavenly
Father, who breathed into us the breath of life.—We are His children when
we try to resemble Him, when we are convinced that truth and goodness
must constitute the very essence of the soul; and that the pursuit of
them will produce happiness, when the vain distinctions of mortals will
fade away, and their pompous escutcheons moulder with more vulgar dust!
But remember, my young friends, virtue is immortal; and goodness arises
from a quick perception of truth, and actions conformable to the
conviction.
Different subjects beguiled the time, till the closing evening admonished
them to return home; and they departed reluctantly, filled with respect.