Mrs. Adair had selected from the first class four young ladies, to
regulate the younger pupils. They were to hear them repeat their lessons
before they entered the school-room; they were likewise to mark the
errors in their exercises, and endeavour, not only to instruct but
amuse.
It has been said that by teaching others we gain knowledge ourselves.
Miss Damer was fully aware of this truth; all her leisure time,
therefore, was devoted to the young people under her care. She had only
three, and they had very different abilities: Miss Bruce's capacity was
bright, but she loved to defer all to the last moment; there was a
mixture of good sense and childishness in her character, and she was
warm and impetuous. Isabella Vincent had moderate abilities, but a very
persevering temper; whatever she had to learn, she laboured at it with
her whole heart, and her disposition was placid and amiable. Miss Grey
was a clever girl; she had been at an excellent school, and was
proficient in most of the minor branches of education. She was fond of
exercising her ingenuity to amuse her companions. One evening she had
collected a party round her, intending to divert them with new
grammatical exercises.
"Now, ladies," she cried, as she held a paper in her hand, "are you all
ready, all prepared to listen and to learn? Miss Isabella Vincent, what
are you doing? I am certain you do not mean to attend."
"If she will not attend," said Miss Damer, stepping into the circle, "I
am quite prepared--"
"Oh, Miss Damer, are _you_ here?" cried Miss Bruce: "we shall have no
fun now! I thought you were in the drawing-room."
"Cheerfulness is one thing, fun another; but when they both come
together, they are often noisy companions so we must do without them
here."
"But we did not think you would come to us this evening," said Miss
Grey. "Oh, do, Miss Damer, leave us to ourselves one half hour."
"First let me read the paper you are trying to conceal."
"You will only think it nonsense," said Miss Grey; "but don't be angry,
I beg, for it was only for our diversion."
Miss Damer began to read:
'Mrs. Adair, substantive proper.'
"Very improper to take this liberty." 'Singular number, feminine gender,
indicative mood, perfect tense; face, mind, and figure, in the
superlative degree.--Miss Warner inclining to the acute accent.'
"But what is she?" asked Miss Damer.
"A noun proper, certainly, and of the singular number."
'Miss Cotton, demonstrative pronoun; compare _good_, and she is in the
superlative degree.
'Miss Hilton, voice semi-vowels; in the primitive order by nature,
governed by a queer looking definite article.
'Miss Vincent, manner the imperative mood; self, first person singular;
mind, imperfect tense; eyes, positive; voice, in the superlative degree;
nose, the interrogative point.
'Miss Bruce, an interjection, or an interrogative.'
"True," said Miss Damer, "particularly where books are concerned."
"Well, I do love books!" said Miss Bruce; "I do think I could read
every one in Mr. Chiswell's shop without being tired. Have you a new one
to lend me, Miss Damer?"
"If you say all your lessons well, and are good this week, I will lend
you a very amusing and instructive tale."
"But what is the title?" asked Miss Bruce.
"It is one word, meaning a mark of folly in young ladies. But I must
finish the grammatical exercise."
'Miss Rothman, a section sufficiently curved.'
"You should not have made this remark, Miss Grey. When you ridicule
deformity you shew a want of feeling; and, what is of more consequence,
you prove that you treat with contempt the works of your Creator. Miss
Rothman's talents, and amiable temper, we cannot too highly prize."
'Miss Russel, an index to point out disagreeables; make her an article,
and she will prove a bad one of the definite order.'
'The little Rhymer, a brace; and Miss Wise, a verb neuter.
'Miss Damer, auxiliary verb, or substantive proper; first person
singular, face--' Miss Darner stopped a moment, and then went on with,
'Miss Jane Adair,--temper, syntax; consisting of concord and government;
speech, a preposition; voice, liquids; face, mind, and figure, in the
superlative degree; as the verb to be loved, second person singular,
indicative mood, present tense, to myself and others. The remainder,
excepting Miss Arden, may be classed with mutes, crotchets, irregular
verbs, quotations, and parallels.'
"I wish," cried Isabella, "I could write exercises, or a theme, or
something, I don't care what."
"And what is to prevent you, my dear?"
"Oh, nothing at all, Miss Damer, if I could but tell what to write."
"Tell how the world was made," said Miss Bruce, "that would be a very
good subject."
"I cannot do that, I am sure! I do not know what stars are made of,
they twinkle so; nor what makes flowers look so pretty, and smell so
sweet; nor where the wind comes from, or what it is: it touches me, but
I cannot touch it."
"You have never read 'Evenings at Home,'" said Miss Bruce, "or you would
know that 'wind is but a quantity of air put into violent motion.'"
"But what is the air? Tell me this."
"A clear thin fluid, certainly, and the earth is a vast ball; it would
soon break its bounds, were it not attracted by the sun."
"But who preserves it in its regular motion?" asked Miss Damer.
"Oh, Miss Damer," exclaimed Miss Bruce, "all the stars, and the moon,
and the trees, and all that we behold had but one to make them, and one
to support them--the Great Almighty Maker, who gave me my voice to
speak, my mind to think, and my eyes to look at the wonders of his
works."
"I wish I knew how I speak, and look, and think," said Isabella.
"My dear little girl," said Miss Damer, "very wise people are ignorant
in many things. Learn to be good: it is the best knowledge."
"I do say my prayers every night and morning, and I'm sure I love papa
and mamma dearly, and I try to love every body."
"This is one way certainly to be good, if you obey your parents as well
as love them, and think of your prayers when you are repeating them."
"I am sure, Miss Damer, I should love you, you are so good. I never
could learn my lessons without you assisted me."
"Because you are a dunce," said Miss Bruce.
"We shall see who will be the best girl and the best scholar, 'the
bright and idle one,' or my little friend, with 'patience and
perseverance.'"