"But where is Charles all this time?" my readers will ask. Charles is
in London, endeavouring to discharge, to the best of his ability, the
duties of a situation which had been procured for him in the warehouse
of a general merchant, who had had dealings with Mr Forsyth, had always
esteemed him for his integrity, and was, therefore, willing to make
trial of the services of the youth who had been brought up under the eye
of such a father.
Charles found his situation a laborious one; and his salary was so small
that he could only by great frugality subsist upon it himself. He found
that he must wait till his character had been tried, and till he grew
older, before he could afford any substantial assistance to his family.
His state of mind and circumstances will be better understood from his
letters to Jane, than from any account we could give. Here, therefore,
are some of them, with Jane's answers.
"My dearest Jane,--
"I am glad that the day appointed for writing has arrived: you cannot
conceive the comfort your letters are to me, and the pleasure I have
in answering them. I suppose that in time I shall get accustomed to
the silence I am now obliged to observe with respect to the subjects I
love most to talk upon; but I sigh sometimes for some one to whom I
can speak of my father, and of times past; or of you, and time
present, and to come. My companions here are good-tempered enough,
and we go on smoothly and easily together, and I know that this is a
great thing to be able to say; and that many in my situation would be
glad to say as much: but yet I cannot help feeling the want of some
friend to whom I can speak of what is nearest to my heart, and there
is not one person in this wide city who knows you, or who could
possibly feel much interest in hearing me talk of you. Consequently I
hold my tongue, and your name has never passed my lips since we
parted. But, dearest Jane, my thoughts of you are all the more
frequent and the more dear, on this account; and on this account, I
feel the more deeply, the privilege of opening my heart to the One
friend who loves you better than any mortal can, who cares for your
interests, more than any earthly friend can care, and who can provide
for them when I can do nothing but love you, and pray for you. I
continually determine that I will not be anxious about you; that we
will all trust and be cheerful; and I generally keep my resolution. I
hope you do the same. Whatever anxious thoughts you may have, must be
for yourselves: you may be quite easy about me. I am well, very busy,
and of course very cheerful; my comfort is attended to, and I have
nothing to complain of in any body near me. I enjoy many privileges,
and shall be able to make more for myself, when I become better
acquainted with my situation. In short, the present is very tolerably
comfortable, I have the prospect of increasing comforts, and may in
time do grand things for you, as well as for myself. You shake your
head as you read this, I dare say: but I do not see why, by industry,
I may not do as grand things as others have done before me; especially
as I am blessed with good friends at my setting out, which is an
immense advantage to begin with. To shew you that I am not dreaming
about any _luck_ happening to me, and that I only mean to depend on
skill and industry for my prosperity, if I ever am to be prosperous, I
will tell you how I spend my three hours in the evening--I am actually
hard at work at the French and Spanish grammar. Yes, at grammar!
though, I dare say, that is the last thing you would have thought of
my applying to. I want to rise, as fast as possible, from trust to
trust, in this house, and it can only be done by duly qualifying
myself: so I mean to learn first every thing requisite for the proper
discharge of the most responsible situation of all; and then, if I
have time left, I will learn other things, to which my wishes begin to
tend, for the sake of general cultivation and enlargement of mind;
which, I am convinced, is as great an advantage to the man of
business, as to the professional man, or the private gentleman. I
will tell you always how far I am able to carry my plans into
execution, and you will give me what encouragement and assistance you
can. I wonder whether you like Mrs Everett as well as I like Mr
Gardiner. He is a most kind friend to me on the whole: I say `on the
whole,' because there is the drawback of a fault of temper, which will
occasionally try my patience; but this is all. I should not have
mentioned it, except that I wish you to know every particular of my
situation, and that, I am sure, what I say goes no further, at least
where _character_ is concerned. Mr Gardiner makes a point of
speaking to me every day, and seems to like to call me by my surname,
doubtless because it was my father's. One day he called me Alfred
Forsyth: he begged my pardon, and said he had been used to that name.
He has asked me to dine with him next Sunday. This is very kind of
him, I am sure.
"Now, Jane, be sure you tell me every thing about yourself, and the
other dear girls, and Alfred. Every little trifling particular is
pleasant to read about. I am very glad that Isabella's drawing
prospers so well: I wish she may be able to send me a drawing soon; it
would be quite a treasure to me. May I not see some of her
hand-writing in the next letter? There is only one thing more I wish
particularly to say. I entreat you, my dearest sister, not to work
too hard or too anxiously. Take care of your health and spirits as
you value ours. Give my best love to all at home, and my affectionate
respects to Mr and Mrs Barker, if they will accept them. I am,
dearest Jane,--
"Your most affectionate,--
"Charles Forsyth.
"Remember me kindly to Hannah."
_From Jane to Charles_.
"Exeter, September 5th.
"Dear Charles,--
"We all thank you for your long letter. It has made us, on the whole,
easy and comfortable about you. As long as you are as active and
enterprising as you are now, you will be happy, for I believe that the
grand secret of happiness consists in having a good pursuit, which can
be followed with some success. To ensure this success, the pursuit
must be rational; and I assure you, that so far from shaking my head
at your hopes of doing `grand things,' I think your hopes are very
rational, provided that by `grand things,' you and I mean the same. I
suppose you mean no more than that, by qualifying yourself for higher
situations than the one which you now hold, you hope to rise in rank
and riches high enough to assist your family, and to enable them to
work in the same manner for their own independence hereafter. This
prospect is quite grand enough for us at present. We must never dream
of being very rich; I am afraid that we must not even hope to
discharge our very heavy obligations to our friends in any other way
than by our gratitude, and by making the best use of their kindness.
The weight of obligation sits heavy on me: I am afraid I am proud, and
therefore it may be well for me that I am obliged to submit to
dependence; but I will never rest till I can relieve our friends from
a charge which extreme kindness has induced them to take upon
themselves, but which must in time become burdensome. How happy
should I be to do any kind of service to any of them! Amidst the
chances and changes of the world, who knows but we may? But I must
not think and write in this way. We must cheerfully and willingly, as
well as most gratefully, accept the kindness which they so cheerfully
and willingly offer. We go on very comfortably on the whole. We work
very hard, but not more so than is good for body and mind, as you
would be convinced if you could see how well we look and how happy we
are together. The only unpleasant circumstance which has occurred
lately, is a misunderstanding between Mrs Everett and myself. I
really cannot tell you, for I do not know myself, what it was about;
but she was, for two or three days, so dissatisfied with me, that I
was afraid of being obliged to give up my charge. I told no one of
it, but determined to bear it quietly for a few days, and to do my
best for the children, and see whether matters would not come round
again. My plan answered: we go on tolerably smoothly again, though
not so very comfortably as before. I must recollect, however, that in
my inexperience I may commit errors in my management of the children,
and that Mrs Everett may justly feel that she has something to bear
with in me. I wish, however, that she would tell me the causes of her
discontent, and then the evil might be remedied without any ill-will
on either side. Before this time, she was as kind as possible, and
will be so again, I hope. I cannot help seeing that the children
improve, and I have the satisfaction of knowing that Mr Everett
thinks so too. He told Mr Barker so, and I think I could have
guessed it from his manner towards me.
"Isabella desires her best love to you, and she will send you a
drawing by the first opportunity that offers. She has sketched your
favourite Bubbling Spring for the purpose, thinking you would like it
better than any other subject. I am sure you would think it
beautiful, independently of the sweet associations which endear that
spot peculiarly to us. I am really astonished at Isabella's progress
in drawing: her pencil sketches are beautiful, and she succeeds as
well or better in water-colours. She finishes very highly in the
latter, and yet she is quick. If she spent as much time as many girls
do on her drawing, I should not think it right to let her sacrifice
other things to this accomplishment, though it is useful and
beautiful, and may, she hopes, be turned to some good account.
Harriet and Alfred are as good as children can be. Their affection is
delightful to me. It is quite sufficient to repay all my cares for
them. They get on very well at school, though at their age their
progress cannot be so remarkable as Isabella's.
"Isabella is now come into the room, and she begs to fill the little
that remains of this sheet. She has a very fine subject to write
about, which I kept to the last, as being the most remarkable event
which has happened to us for a very long time. Farewell, my dearest
brother, we think of you hourly, and one of our greatest delights is
to talk over the probabilities of our meeting. O, when will it be?
"Ever your affectionate,--
"Jane Forsyth."
The subject on which Isabella wrote to her brother, was that of Mr and
Mrs Rathbone's noble present. As my readers are already acquainted
with the circumstances, there is no occasion to weary them with a
repetition. We also omit three or four of Charles's letters, which
contain no detail of new events, and proceed to one which he wrote on
Christmas-day.
"Dear Jane,--
"I address this letter to you, merely because I can express myself
better when writing to one person than to several; but the contents of
this are wholly, or in part, as you may see fit, for the public good:
by the public, meaning the inhabitants of Number 21, South Bridge
Street. In the first place, I offer you all my love, and best wishes
for a cheerful Christmas, and much enjoyment of your holidays. I am
afraid, dear Jane, that your holidays will be somewhat busy ones; but
you have Isabella to help you to make `a clearance of business,' as
you say. I do not know what you will say to me for providing more
work for you. I will explain presently what I mean by this. I hope
the beautiful bright sun of this happy day brings as much cheerfulness
to your hearts as it does to mine. There is no day of the year which
so forcibly reminds us of the great number and magnitude of our
blessings as this; and consequently there is no day on which we can
feel so happy. I am more impressed than ever with this feeling
to-day. It is the first Christmas-Day that I have ever passed away
from home; but so far from this making me melancholy, I am most happy
in the full tide of affection which is flowing towards you all, and
not less so, in the overflowing gratitude which I feel toward that
Parent who has blessed us in each other, in the love which is our
happiness here, and which, we hope, will make our joy hereafter. God
bless you all, and make you as happy as I wish you to be; as happy as
I am at this moment.
"I can quite imagine how you will spend this day. You will take a
long walk, and enjoy a long talk, in which I hope to come in for a
share; though, alas! too far off to have the benefit of what you are
saying. You will go to church, and I think I know what your feelings
will be there. The rest of the day will be spent at Mr Barker's, I
conjecture: but will good Hannah be at home alone? I am going to dine
at Mr Rathbone's, but as they dine late, I shall have time for a long
walk after church. You cannot imagine, no one who has not lived in
London can imagine, the delight of a country walk to me. I rejoice
that the day is so fine. Mr Gardiner was so kind as to ask me to
dine with him to-day: so you see there was no danger of my being
solitary, much less, melancholy.
"But now to my business, for even to-day I have business to write
about. You know when I arrived here, at Midsummer, Mr Gardiner paid
me my first quarter's salary in advance: he bid me not mention the
circumstance, for fear of others expecting the same favour. He said
at the same time, that he hoped I would make a friend of him in case
of any difficulty which might occur in money matters, as I was, he
thought, very young to manage for myself on a small salary. Knowing
that I was necessarily at some unusual expense on my first arrival, he
has frequently asked whether I wanted any assistance. I have always
said, no; for I have been really well off. Mr Barker sent me up with
ten pounds in my pocket, after my travelling expenses were paid, and
this, with my quarter's salary, has been more than sufficient for me.
Besides this I have the ten pound note that Mr Rathbone gave me still
unchanged, so that I have every reason to hope that I shall get on
till Midsummer, without taking any more money of Mr Gardiner; and
from that time, I shall take my salary half-yearly. Now, I think, I
have found a very good occasion for changing my note: I hope you and
Isabella will approve of my plan; as it is intended for your
advantage, I am anxious that it should succeed. I had occasion to go
last week, on some business of Mr Gardiner's, to a large toy-shop in
Holborn, and while I was waiting to speak to the owner, I saw the
shopman unpack a basket, which seemed to have arrived from the
country. It contained a great variety of work-bags and boxes,
card-racks, and such things, ornamented in various ways; many of them
with drawings. When I had finished my business, I enquired whether a
ready sale could be found for such articles, and what would be the
probable success, if some friends of mine, who could draw very well,
were to send up some specimens of their talents, like those on the
counter. The owner of the shop, Mr Blyth, said, that he found it
easy to obtain a supply of such articles, but that the best and
prettiest would always command the best sale. He told me I might, if
I chose, shew him what my friends could do, and that if their work was
approved he might employ them occasionally; but of course could
promise nothing at present. Now, my dear girls, I think you might
make a little money these holidays by trying your hand on these
things: you, Isabella, can draw all kinds of pretty things; and you,
Jane, can make up the bags, etcetera, very neatly. Let me know, by
the next post, whether you are inclined to try, and I will send you a
few patterns and materials. I have the opportunity of getting
remnants of coloured silk and ribbon cheap; so cheap that you need not
grudge the carriage of them. Suppose you make at first, with all your
skill and care, about a dozen bags, and netting-cases, and card-racks;
and pray, Isabella, let one of your card-racks have a sketch of the
Bubbling Spring on it, and another the cottage at the foot of Elston
Hill. Do not scruple, my dear girls, on account of the risk, the very
little risk to be incurred. If our scheme answers, I promise you that
you shall repay me; if not, I can spare the small sum needed. Let me
know exactly how your accounts stand this Christmas, and be easy and
hopeful, whatever may happen. I wanted to say a great deal about Mr
and Mrs Rathbone, but it is just time for church, and I must close my
letter. I can write again by the parcel, if you authorise me to send
it.--Farewell, my very dear sisters and brother.
"I am your most affectionate,--
"Charles Forsyth."
"What a comfortable letter!" exclaimed Jane, as she finished it. "Dear
Charles is as happy as we are!"
"And just as kind as ever," said Isabella: "he will never be spoiled by
living in London. He will never forget, or be ashamed of us. How ready
he is to set his head and hands to work in our service! But we are to
write by this day's post our answer to this proposal: what shall we do,
Jane?"
"Try, by all means, I think," said Jane. "What do you say, Isabella?"
"Try, by all means, I say too, and I have very little doubt of success.
The sooner we begin the better, so we will write immediately. I think
Mr Barker will not disapprove of it."
"Certainly not," said Jane. "But, if you please, we will tell no one
about it till we see whether the plan answers or not. I am not fond of
a hasty communication of plans; and besides, I wish that our friends,
instead of considering us as schemers, should see, that, while we form
plans, we have patience and industry to carry them through, or that they
should know nothing of the matter. When we can go with earned money in
our hands to Mr Barker, we will tell him how we got it: in the mean
while, we will not trouble him, or run the risk of interruption
ourselves."
"Very right," said Isabella. "What shall we do about Harriet and
Alfred? May we tell them?"
"I think they must know," replied Jane. "You must make use of the
day-light for your drawing, and they must see what you are doing. We
must trust them. It will be a good lesson in keeping a secret."
The whole plan was soon settled. The letter was dispatched to Charles,
and, by the earliest possible hour, the parcel with its pretty contents
arrived. Charles had most completely supplied all the necessary
materials, so that there were no purchases to be made, and nothing
hindered their setting immediately to work. During the first evening
Jane and Isabella very carefully cut paper patterns from the articles
which were sent as patterns, and marked them very exactly on the
pasteboard before they cut it. When the different sides of the bags,
etcetera, were cut out they were found to fit exactly; so that so far
all was right. This was all that they could do by candle-light, and
Isabella longed for the morning that she might begin her drawing. She
was pleased to see that the drawings on the pattern bags did not nearly
equal what she was capable of doing, though Charles had said that he
purposely picked out those which appeared to him the best done.
The next morning breakfast was soon over, and the table placed in the
best light by the window. Isabella was seated at her drawing, Jane at
work beside her, and the children at their amusements, very carefully
avoiding the table, lest they should shake it and spoil Isabella's
drawing. They were proud of their secret, and it was to be part of
their business to watch and give notice of the approach of any
uninitiated person, from whose sight all tale-telling materials were to
be quickly swept away.
By two hours before dinner one beautiful little drawing was finished.
It was duly admired, and Jane congratulated her sister on the success of
her first day's exertion; but she was surprised to see Isabella sitting
down to begin another. "My dear Isabella, you have done for to-day,
surely?"
"No, Jane; I must outline another. I can finish the outline and the
first shades before dinner."
"But when do you mean to walk? You do not, surely, mean to stay at home
this beautiful day?"
"Only this one day: you can do without me this one day. I cannot leave
off now, indeed."
"O, Isabella, how often have I gone with you when I had much more
necessary things than these trifles to do at home! Depend upon it, you
will not do the second so well as the first, if you sit so long at it;
you will bring on a headache, too, and make me sorry that Charles ever
devised this plan for us."
"Do put it by, Isabella," said Harriet, "and go with us."
"I will, directly," said Isabella. "I beg your pardon, Jane; I was
selfish, and you never are. There, they are locked up till to-morrow,
and now let us make haste, and go for our walk."
When Isabella had done a few drawings, and became more accustomed to the
employment, she found that she need not be so absorbed in it, as to be
unable to attend to her sisters while they read aloud. This added great
pleasantness to their morning employment, and both Jane's work, and
Isabella's drawing, got on fast while they listened to Harriet and
Alfred, who took it in turn to read. But when the pasting together of
their work began, there was an end of reading. It was too anxious a
business to admit of any division of attention. The gilt edges must be
exactly even, the sides must go exactly together, the bottoms must be
exactly flat; or they would be deformed and unsteady. Jane was the only
one careful enough to undertake this most difficult part of the
business, and she bestowed great pains upon it. In general, she
completely succeeded; but it was a work of time, and the fortnight of
her holidays was over before their task was more than two-thirds done.
Eight articles out of the dozen were finished, and she longed to see
them completed. It was with a sigh that she left the busy and happy
party at home, on the morning when she resumed her charge at Mrs
Everett's, and she could not help fancying that Mrs Everett was less
kind than usual, that the children were far from improved by their
release from her authority, that they had never been so troublesome, and
her task never so irksome. This was in part true; the children were
nearly as unwilling to be managed, as Jane was to manage them, and they
were fully as sorry as she, that the days of lessons and work, of
authority and obedience, were come again, after the romping hours of
their Christmas revellings.
A strong effort at patience on Jane's part, and something like an
endeavour to be good on the children's, soon restored things to their
usual state, and teacher and learners were on their old terms again.
When Jane returned home, she found that Isabella had put away her
drawing in time to take Harriet and Alfred a walk before dinner. The
evening was passed busily and happily, and the finishing stroke was put
to two more of the bags and baskets. In a week more all were completed.
Jane was glad of it. The last two or three drawings had not been quite
so well done, and it was easy to see that Isabella began to be tired.
She owned that she was a little, a very little; but said, that, after a
week's rest, she should be able to begin again with as much relish as
ever. Jane was sorry that she had worked so hard, and recommended her
to think no more of drawing for the rest of the holidays. Ten days only
now remained before school should begin again; and Isabella passed the
time very happily between books, walking, and work. We must not forget,
also, a long letter which she wrote to Charles, by the box which carried
their work. It will be in vain to guess at the hopes and fears, the
alternate confidence and anxiety which these industrious girls felt
about the probable reward of their labours. They calculated the number
of days which must pass before a letter from Charles could arrive, to
bid them rejoice or be patient yet longer. They told each other
continually that they were looking for a letter too soon; that it was
not likely they should have an answer till the things were sold. Their
kind brother could imagine their anxiety, and the very first moment that
he could send them intelligence of their success he did so, in the
following letter.
"My dear Girls,--
"I hope I have not disappointed you by delaying my letter for a few
days, but I thought it would be quite a pity to write till I could
give you Mr Blyth's opinion, and that of the public, about your
works. I have just been to the shop, and though it is late at night,
I cannot go to bed till I have offered you my congratulations. I have
in my pocket three guineas, which Mr Blyth thinks a fair price for
your work. I hope you will think so too, and be as well satisfied
with your gains as I am. Mr Blyth gave me an order for as many more
as you like to send up, for he has eyes to see that your things are
prettier, and better made, than any articles of the kind in his shop.
I hope you will be encouraged by your deserved success, and that the
next parcel you send will keep up your credit. I know you cannot get
on so fast when the holidays are over. Indeed I scarcely know how you
will find time at all; but as you desire me to send you more work, I
conclude you will make time for it some how or other. Your leisure
hours can hardly be better spent, I think; and I have no fear but that
you should overwork yourselves. That you will neglect your duties of
teaching and learning, I never, for a moment, supposed; so your
assurances on that head, my dear girls, are quite unnecessary. Now,
pray take care of your health and spirits: take exercise and
amusement, and remember that there is not the least hurry in the world
for these things. If they are not finished till Midsummer, it will be
of much less consequence than your over-working yourselves. I do not
send you the money. I can get your materials so very cheap that the
carriage of them will answer again. I have, according to your desire,
paid myself: so now you stand on your own ground, and are, in this
matter, under no obligations to any body, not even to your own
brother; so I hope my proud sisters will be satisfied. I laid out
only eighteen shillings. I have taken that sum from your three
guineas, and will lay out the remainder in silk, ribbon, paper,
etcetera. It is pleasanter, I know, to see money at once, than
materials for further work; but I think your present success, and
especially your darling independence, will afford you pleasure enough
for this time, and that you will be willing to wait awhile for more
substantial gains. You deserve all you can get, my dear girls, and I
am sure you cannot desire success so earnestly, or rejoice in it so
heartily, as I do for you. My concerns prosper: that is, I am busy,
well, and cheerful, and independent. Some little rubs I meet with,
like any body else; but I wonder sometimes to think how happy I am.
Anxious thoughts for you sadden me now and then; but I try to
remember, that the same kind Parent who has hitherto protected us, is
still about our path, and that we have nothing to do but to labour and
trust. We are doing now what we can, and therefore we ought to be
satisfied with the present and hopeful for the future, and grateful,
day by day, hour by hour.
"Your last letter was written in such a spirit of cheerfulness, that
if I had been miserable, I could not have shut my heart against its
influence: but I was not miserable. I was sitting alone, my thoughts
far from myself, from you, from every body; for I was absorbed in a
Spanish book which I was translating. You may imagine how readily it
was thrown aside when the postman knocked at the door, and how
joyously the full tide of my thoughts turned towards home, and how my
affection rested on each of you in turn, and blessed each of your
names as it rose, accompanied with a thousand sweet recollections, to
my remembrance. I hope you will give me the pleasure of such another
evening soon. I met Mr Rathbone in the street the other day. He
enquired how you all were, and said I must go and dine with him soon,
as he has something to say to me. He says that he has requested Mr
Barker to allow Harriet to learn music, as he hears she has a taste
for it. He hopes that dear Harriet will come to London some time or
other and play to him, as music is his passion. I cannot describe to
you how kind his manner is, nor how dearly I love the very sight of
this good man. And yet even he does not escape slander. I have heard
it said, often and often, that he is a perfect tyrant to his
inferiors, that as long as he is treated with deference, he is
unwearied in kindness, but that the least opposition enrages him, and
that once displeased he is an irreconcilable enemy. Of course I
believe nothing of all this, and have shewn no little indignation when
I have heard such things said. What a world it must be, when such a
man as Mr Rathbone is slandered! I do not intend to be curious about
what he has to say to me till the time comes. Perhaps he will tell me
what was the nature of the service which my dear father rendered him.
But I will not think more of the matter: it may be only a trifle after
all.
"I am very sorry to conclude, but I must be off to bed; it is very
late, and I must be at the warehouse two hours sooner than usual
to-morrow. I hope you will be satisfied with what I send you, and
that Harriet will be pleased at her musical prospects. Farewell, all
of you; let me hear soon, and believe me,--
"Your very affectionate brother,--
"Charles Forsyth.
"P.S. I have now received a note from Mr Rathbone, in which he says
that he and Mrs R. are obliged to leave town for some weeks: and that
therefore they must defer seeing me at present. He asks whether
Alfred has ever shewn any taste for mathematics, and expresses his
hope that his attention will be directed that way without delay. What
can this mean? You had better ask Mr Barker."
Mr Barker was no better able to guess Mr Rathbone's designs than
Charles himself; so they were all obliged to wait in patience till their
kind friend should return to town, which did not take place till the
following autumn. In the mean time, however, his directions were
observed, and Alfred began to learn mathematics.
Jane and Isabella had so little time now for the employment which their
brother had provided for them, that March was past before another box
was prepared for Mr Blyth. Their brother had the pleasure of
transmitting five guineas to them, as the reward of their industry; and
we may imagine the complacency and satisfaction with which they revealed
the history of their labours and earnings to their friend Mr Barker.
He was as much pleased as they expected, and even more surprised. He
asked them how they intended to apply the money. They replied without
hesitation, to the children's school expenses; for their only object was
to make themselves less burdensome to their friends. Mr Barker would
not allow of this. He recommended them to lay by their earnings as a
separate fund, to be applied when any extraordinary occasion should
arise. He kindly added, that money so earned should bring some pleasure
in its expenditure to those who had obtained it by industry, and that he
did not see why their parlour should not in time be graced by a pair of
globes, or even a piano, honourably obtained by their own exertions.
This was a splendid prospect, and an animating one for these good girls,
and they determined to set to work again, as soon as the holidays should
afford them leisure. It was now necessary, however, to try their hands
at something else, as Mr Blyth had given notice that it would be some
months before he should want a further supply of the articles on which
they had hitherto so profitably employed their ingenuity.
What should they next attempt? This was a difficult question to answer,
and the girls determined to look about them, and observe, and wait for
the present, and not expect to earn more money before the holidays. So
they spent their leisure time through April and May in reading and
drawing for improvement, and in work, of which their hands were always
full.
When Midsummer came, and Jane made up her accounts at the close of her
first year of housekeeping, she thought she had every reason to be
satisfied and grateful. She had the encouragement also of Mr Barker's
warm approbation of her self-denying industry, and of her excellent
management. He gave her encouragement of another kind also. He told
her that Mr Everett had expressed his entire satisfaction in her
conduct to the children under her care, and his intention of either
raising her salary, or doing something equivalent to this, at the end of
the next year. The lady whose school Isabella and Harriet attended,
also spoke in praise of the girls to Mr Barker, and told him that their
good principles, their influential sense of religion, which was evinced
by their uniform good conduct, afforded a certain proof of excellent
management at home. She made many enquiries concerning Jane, and
determined to keep her eye on her, and to find some opportunity of doing
service to one who so well merited kindness and assistance. Mr Barker
did not tell Jane all this; but he told her enough to cause tears of
pleasure to swell into her eyes, and emotions of unspeakable gratitude
to arise in her heart. She reserved the expression of this gratitude
till, alone in her chamber, she could pour out her whole soul before Him
who had directed and upheld her steps on the narrow path of duty, and
who was now showering rich blessings upon her, and filling her heart
with peace and hope. She thanked him that he had preserved them to each
other, and yet more, that their family peace was unbroken: that they
were closely united in the love of Him and of each other. She felt that
as long as this love subsisted she could bear any trials that came from
without; and though she looked forward to probable anxieties and
difficulties, the prospect did not dismay her, so strong did she now
feel in an Almighty support, and in perfect reliance on the goodness and
mercy which was now about her, and which, she trusted, would follow her
all the days of her life. It was not indeed to be expected that every
year should pass away so smoothly. They had all enjoyed health and
comfort at home, improvement and pleasure abroad. They had gained new
friends, and so far from suffering want, their affairs bore a more
cheering aspect than they could have hoped. Their income amounted, as I
have said, to eighty pounds a year, and they had besides a house of
their own. They had been at scarcely any expense for clothes, and their
good servant Hannah had very low wages. Their expenditure this year,
under Jane's excellent management, was only fifty-six pounds: the rest
of their income, with Jane's salary of twenty-five pounds, went
therefore towards the fund which their friends had raised for the
education of the three younger ones. Charles managed to be independent,
as we know, and Isabella hoped that in four or five years she might be
so too. Jane never expected to spend so little again. She could not
hope that their house would be always so free from sickness, or that
their wants would always be so few.
Mr Barker, after examining her accounts, and praising the accuracy with
which they were kept, congratulated her on the result. "I am glad, my
dear," said he, "that the first year has been so smooth an one. I hope
you find it an encouragement, and that you will not be dismayed if you
should meet with a few rubs before long. We all meet with rubs, and you
must expect your share."
"Certainly," replied Jane. "I am only surprised that we have done well
so far. We owe it to your help, Sir. We could have done nothing
without you."
"You can do some things without me, though, Jane. Remember you earned
five guineas, without my knowing any thing of the matter. I cannot tell
you how glad I am that Isabella is likely to prove a good help to you.
She is a sweet girl, and will do us honour, when a few years have
brought out her talents. But, my dear, she works very hard, and she is
too young to work all day long. My wife is going to take the children
to the sea, in July: if you will spare Isabella, a fortnight's run by
the sea will bring more colour into her cheeks, and make her ready to
begin school with new spirit."
Jane was beyond measure gratified by the indulgence offered to Isabella.
She most thankfully accepted the kindness; and we cannot better close
this part of our little history than by leaving our readers to imagine
the actual happiness and hopeful anticipations of Jane, her sisters and
brother, at the close of the first year, which had bound them together
in those ties, the tenderness and strength of which only the fatherless
can understand.