The time had arrived for Miss Damer to go into a private family as a
governess: all the young ladies were anxious to give her a proof of
remembrance, and these tokens of esteem had chiefly been the work of
leisure hours.
As Miss Damer was collecting her painted boxes, velvet bags, and all her
little presents together, she thought, "who can say that there is no
kindness or friendship in the world? I have been in sorrow, perhaps for
a good purpose; at least, it has shewn me the disinterested regard of
others."
While similar reflections were passing in her mind, Miss Arden hastily
entered the chamber, and stepping towards her, abruptly put into her
hand a small parcel. "I have not a moment to speak to you," she
exclaimed, with tears in her eyes, "I cannot for the world take a formal
farewell; so when you leave us do not notice me: God bless you, Damer!"
and she hurried out of the room.
Miss Damer looked at the parcel with a countenance of sorrow, and as she
opened it a note dropped upon the floor; she took it up, and read the
paper she held in her hand.
"Accept these notes, my dear Damer, they are all that I have
been able to save from my scanty allowance; remit them to your
father, whose troubles I know have grieved you, and when I can I
will send you more. In fourteen months I shall be my own
mistress. How joyfully do I anticipate the time! Then, my dear
Damer, I shall have a home to offer you, and a purse to relieve
every care, as far as wealth can go. Farewell, my kind friend;
you and Mrs. Adair have all my affections in this world.
"ANN ARDEN."
* * * * *
As young people are always anxious to learn the destination of the
characters in the book they have been perusing,--in closing this little
work, I will give you a short sketch of those I have attempted to
delineate. And here let me observe, that the incidents are chiefly
drawn from facts.
The name of one of the principal characters was given, by the desire of
a young friend, two days before her death.
Miss Russel has lost her parents, and is wandering upon the Continent,
as companion or friend to a lady well known in the fashionable world.
Miss Vincent is removed from her family by her marriage to a gentleman
of consequence in Ireland. She is still the same character, haughty and
insolent.
Her sister Isabella, is improving in all the graces of mind and person;
she is the general favourite of the school.
Miss Bruce is becoming all that her father can desire.
When Miss Damer went into the situation as a governess, it was with the
hope of remaining some time, perhaps years. We can easily fix our plans,
but we are strangers to the future; it is not for us to say by what
means they are to be frustrated. When Miss Damer had been two months a
governess, she was told by the gentleman's sister in whose family she
was placed, that several friends were to dine with them, and she begged
that she would join their party. On that day she attracted the notice of
a gentleman who was one of the guests. When she entered the
drawing-room, and he heard her name announced, he turned quickly to look
at her; he beheld the same dark pensive eyes, the same noble features,
and modest, dignified manner, which seventeen years before had struck
him in another. But it was not her personal appearance altogether that
interested him: it was the character that had been given of her by Mrs.
Adair; and the remembrance of his feelings, when his daughter in her
troubled sleep exclaimed, "O, my dear Miss Damer, do come to me! Papa
then won't punish me, you are so like mamma!"
But I will not prolong this subject; I have only to add, that Miss Damer
is the happy wife of Mr. Bruce; and that few persons are more attached
to each other than the mother and the daughter Mr. Bruce, though several
years older than his wife, was exactly the person calculated to make
her happy, being a man of excellent character and good sense; giving
part of his time to the world, but considering home the chief place for
happiness.
When Miss Arden came into possession of her fortune, she remained as a
parlour boarder with Mrs. Adair, but the principal part of her time was
spent with Mrs. Bruce. A lingering disease, however, came on, and she
could not be happy separated from her friend: she therefore removed to
her house. After experiencing the most affectionate attention from Mr.
and Mrs. Bruce, she at length resigned her life, with hopes full of
immortality. Mrs. Adair and her friend were with her in her last
moments. She expressed her gratitude to them with all the energy of
health; and then, clasping a hand of each, died serenely, hoping to meet
them hereafter. To the father of her friend she left a very handsome
annuity for life. "I know," she had stated in her will, "that I cannot
oblige my friend in any other shape but by contributing to her father's
comfort, and oh, may he see the error of his ways, before it is too
late."
Most of her school companions she had remembered; but particularly a
young lady, whose parents had been unfortunate. After leaving tokens of
regard to every one to whom she had considered herself the least
indebted, she left the remainder of her fortune, to be equally divided
between Mrs. Adair, her daughter, and Miss Bruce. And here let me remind
young ladies of fortune, that they are too apt to neglect the
instructress under whose care they have spent the early part of life.
Surely, when young people have been years under one roof, gaining
knowledge, and daily indebted for care and kindness, they should not
discard from their thoughts one of their best friends; but how often is
this the case! The moment a young lady steps into a carriage, and drives
off for the last time from the dwelling of her instructress, she seems
to forget that there had ever been such a person in existence. Perhaps,
when her nuptial favours are preparing, and her hopes are bright, she
may exclaim in a careless tone, "O, we must not forget--" here she
mentions the lady to whom, next to her parents she is most indebted; and
here finishes her remembrance of school, and the friend of her youth: in
bridal favours, or flimsy letters, all her gratitude is shewn.
In giving a sketch of the young ladies, I must not forget Elizabeth, who
is now the happy wife of Colonel Vincent's brother. It had been her lot
to be doubtful of his regard several years. Her spirits had been elated
or depressed, as she had judged Mr. Vincent's feelings interested
towards herself. Had not that language which poets describe betrayed his
sentiments, she might justly have concluded that, of all persons
living, she would be the one to whom his affections would never
seriously incline; but no sooner did fortune second his wishes, and a
living was presented unto him, but his heart and hand were offered to
the object of his earliest regard under the happiest auspices; therefore
Elizabeth exchanged the useful employment of a teacher, for the
meritorious duties of a wife.
When Mrs. Adair received the fortune due to her from her pupil's will,
her friends concluded that she would resign the school. To the
intreaties of her daughter on the subject she gave this reply:
"Why should I give up an employment which is a relief to my mind? In my
earliest and brightest days, I never particularly relished the gaieties
of the world; with my friends, my chief happiness centred; the
associates of my youth are, to my fancy, as friends departed. The later
objects of my care are likewise withdrawn from me; but though I have
lost one dear to my heart by death, and another by marriage, still I
have affections warm and tender towards youth.
"There must be something to attach us to life, something to occupy time,
and interest our regard. As worldly beings, with worldly thoughts, we
must have resources independent of those in a religious point of view. I
trust I have chosen the wiser part, in preferring an active to an idle
life. At home, in the midst of my children (for so they are in my
esteem), I shall always have something to excite interest; and if
watchful care, tenderness, and exertion, can reclaim the stubborn, or
add to the happiness of my pupils, I shall think that I have not lived
in vain. When my course is finished upon earth, may you, my dear
Elizabeth, be enabled to say with truth to your daughters, 'Never was an
instructress more happy with her pupils, or pupils happier with an
instructress.'"
FINIS.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY COX AND BAYLIS, GREAT QUEEN STREET.
Transcriber's Note:
Archaic spelling of pourtrayed, viranda, Magna Charta, stupified,
shewn and Auld have been retained as they appear in the original
publication. Changes to the original have been made as follows:
Page 5 froward inclinations
forward inclinations
Page 18 a look: but I assure
a look; but I assure
Page 20 I have so few
"I have so few
Page 34 for our diverson
for our diversion
Page 44 prefer 'the Spy detected.'
prefer 'the Spy detected.'"
Page 54 I see few countenances
"I see few countenances
Page 63 and I hope I am
"and I hope I am
Page 71 inqured if Miss Damer
inquired if Miss Damer
Page 87 in particular cases."
in particular cases.
Page 93 I must think of my
"I must think of my
Page 101 into the play-ground.'
into the play-ground."
Page 102 her: "Now, my dear
"e" in her inverted
Page 109 who had been been ordered by
who had been ordered by
Page 105 her pupils.: but at
her pupils; but at
Page 139 Miss Bruce. It is in
Miss Bruce. "It is in
Page 166 into his preesnce
into his presence
Page 176 stangers to the future
strangers to the future
Page 176 to sayby what means they
to say by what means they