What a different picture the other house presents to our view! The
parents of the Good Family are always cheerful and happy; the children
love each other and agree together; the servants are content and eager
to oblige, and visitors delight to come to the house, because they pass
their time there with both pleasure and profit.
MANLY EDWARD, the eldest son, is a fine youth, who makes himself the
friend and protector of his younger brothers and sisters. Edward has
true courage, for he will meet danger to help the helpless, to rescue
the oppressed, or in defence of the injured; yet he tries to avoid all
quarrels, and is very often the peacemaker among those who are engaged
in a dispute. His manners are gentle and graceful. He shuns the company
of the rude vulgar boys, yet insults no one by seeming to hold them in
contempt. It is not fine clothes or money that he pays respect to, it is
virtue and good manners; and if the poorest boy in the school has the
most of these good qualities, he gains the most of Manly Edward's love
and esteem.
STUDIOUS ARTHUR, the second son of the Good Family, does not learn
quickly, but what he wants of that power he makes up by diligence. As he
finds he cannot get his task by heart as fast as some other boys, he
therefore fixes his whole thoughts on his book; and no calls to go to
play, nor any sort of thing, can draw him from his lesson till he has
learned it perfectly. Arthur is seldom seen without a book in his hand;
and if he goes out to walk, he puts one in his pocket, to be ready if he
should chance to have a few minutes to himself. He never wastes any
time, and by that means he gains a great deal of knowledge. He is so
attentive that he never forgets what he reads and learns. Arthur will,
no doubt, become a very wise man, and already he often finds the
knowledge he has gained of great use to him. His parents commend him,
his friends admire him, and his schoolfellows respect him.
WELL-BRED CHARLES, the third son, is also a charming boy. He is greatly
remarked for his perfect good manners. He never forgets to behave with
politeness wherever he is. In the company of his parents and their
friends he is attentive to supply the wants of every one. He listens to
the discourse, and when he is spoken to he answers at once in a lively,
ready, and pleasant manner, but is never forward and talkative. When he
has a party of playfellows, his mirth is not noisy and boisterous. He
does not think, as some rude children do, that all play consists in
screaming, shouting, tearing clothes, and knocking things to pieces, but
finds plenty of sport for his little visitors without doing any of these
things, and makes them as merry as possible. When cakes or fruit are
sent into the playroom, he helps his guests all round before he touches
any himself. He places them in the seats nearest the fire, or, in fine
weather, where they can see the most pleasant prospect. As good manners
always arise from a good temper and a kind heart which desires to make
others happy, so they are sure to promote good-humour and happiness. The
play-parties of Charles, therefore, are never spoilt by disputes and
quarrels. His visitors come with delight, and leave him with regret.
WELL-BRED CHARLES is constantly attentive to the ease and comfort of
those about him. He pays great respect and deference to people who are
old. He never uses coarse words nor bad language, and always speaks
civilly to servants. He does not enter the parlour with dirty hands and
face, nor ever greases his clothes, for he knows that dirty habits are
offensive, disgusting things, and therefore he carefully avoids them.
Some children put on their good manners with their best clothes, and
think they need behave well only before company; but the politeness of
such children is stiff, awkward, and troublesome, and they always forget
themselves, and return to some of their vulgar habits, before they leave
the company. It is the constant practice of good manners, at all times
and in all places, that renders them easy, becoming, sweet and natural,
like those of Well-bred Charles.
The daughters of this good and happy family are no less worthy of praise
than the sons. The eldest girl, whom we may call PATIENT EMMA, has the
misfortune to suffer from illness. Sometimes she has severe pain, yet
she bears it with patience and fortitude. She even tries to hide what
she feels, that she may not afflict her kind parents; and the instant
she has a little ease she becomes as cheerful as any one. She submits
without a murmur to take what medicines the doctors prescribe for the
cure of her illness. She is not so foolish as to expect to find a
pleasant taste in physic, but she expects that it will be of service to
her; and she would rather have a bitter taste in her mouth for a few
moments, than endure days, weeks, and months of pain and sickness. As
peevish, fretful tempers often bring disease on the body, so a patient,
even temper not only lessens all suffering, but helps to cure the
diseases of the body; Miss Emma, therefore, will perhaps in a short time
regain her health, and should such an event happen, what joy it will
give to all who know, pity, and admire this excellent little girl!
GENEROUS SUSAN thinks all day long how she can add to the happiness of
others. It is her greatest pleasure to relieve distress, to do good, and
to promote the comforts of all around her. She watches the looks of her
parents, that she may fly to oblige them. If they are going out to ride
in the coach, and there is not room enough for all the children, she
will give up her place, that one of her brothers or sisters may go. She
will at all times leave play, or decline paying a visit, to attend on
Emma, her sick sister. She sits whole hours by her bed-side to watch her
while she sleeps, and is careful to stir neither hand or foot, lest she
should disturb her slumbers. When awake, she reads to her, talks to her,
or sings to her, if that seems most to amuse her. She would gladly bear
the pain herself, if it were possible so to relieve poor Emma.
When Susan has any money given to her, she does not treat herself with
sweetmeats or toys, but buys something that will be useful to her
brothers or sisters. At other times she will buy a pair of shoes for a
poor child that goes bare-footed, or purchase a book for some little boy
or girl to learn to read in. Her mamma often gives her old frocks and
gowns to bestow on some distressed family, and then Susan works with all
her might for several days, to mend and make them up in the most useful
manner: for she has been told that a poor woman who has two or three
children to take care of, and goes out to daily labour, has not time to
work with her needle, and perhaps does not know how to do it properly.
When Susan has mended or made three or four little frocks, and sees the
children neatly dressed in them, she feels more delight and pleasure than
if she had twenty dolls of her own, clothed in silks and satins. Generous
Susan has the blessing of the poor and the love of all her family.
MERRY AGNES, the youngest child of the whole, is a fine, healthy,
lively, sprightly, laughing little girl, who feels no pain, and has no
cause for sorrow. She is a kind of plaything for her elder brothers and
sisters, who all delight in her good-humour. They never tease, torment,
and try to put her out of temper, as some children do to those who are
younger than themselves, but they commend her goodness and strive to
improve her. When they tell her not to do anything, she obeys them at
once: for she sees that they are all gay, smiling, happy children,
because they do what is right. If she wants to have what is not proper
for her, she can bear to be denied, and skips away just as merry as
before. This little girl will become very clever, for her brothers and
sisters take pleasure in teaching her what they have been taught, and
she attends to their lessons, and improves by their advice. She knows
that they are all good, and she wishes to be like them.
It is a fine sight to see this Good Family all together: for among them
there are no sour looks or rude words, no murmurs, no complaints, or
quarrels. No: all is kindness, peace, and happiness.