When Eastwood was told by Mr. Campbell what were Mrs. Meridith's
intentions towards his child, and that she had really adopted her as her
own, he scarcely knew whether to lament or rejoice at it. "It is true,"
said he, "I don't deserve the comfort of her society, but I had allowed
myself to hope, that if she was spared, my latter days would have made
up to her my past conduct: but Mrs. Meridith and you have the greatest
claim to her," added he with a sigh. "You have performed a parent's
part; I only bore the name."
Mr. Campbell then related Mrs. Meridith's history, and that Anna's
attention seemed absolutely necessary to make her forget her griefs.
"Long may she be preserved to us," continued he, "but I have often heard
her say, that at her death this adopted daughter should be the mistress
of Rosewood; and of whom can she learn the duties of such a situation so
well as from her present instructress?"
Eastwood remained silent, and his mind seemed agitated with a variety of
emotions. "Setting interest aside," said he, "my duty and my gratitude
would not allow me, to take her from such a home: but Mrs. Meridith must
not be incumbered with me because she has taken my daughter; and yet I
should like to witness her goodness, and to live where I could have such
examples before me as you and her. Oh! had I not forfeited every claim
to your friendship, I might have been still an inhabitant of this quiet
village, and blessed as you are with a wife and family about me."
"Spare these self recriminations, my dear brother," said Campbell, "they
are only painful to yourself and me; if you think you could like the
situation, you might return to the farm you left."
"Oh, no! not that," returned Eastwood, "the remembrance would be too
painful; besides, I am too ignorant of farming, and too old to learn: my
brother, likewise, has a claim upon me."
"And a very great one," replied Campbell; "but I suppose him to be
indifferent where you settle, so you do not return to your former
habits. What think you of your first profession? I should imagine that
study and practice would make it easy to you."
"I have always thought of returning to that," said Eastwood, "whenever
business was talked of; and, did I know of any opening, should be glad
to accept it."
"If you allow me to advise you," resumed Campbell, "it would be to
enter into partnership with some one already established."
This was certainly the best plan, and it was agreed that they would talk
farther on the subject another day; in the mean time Mr. Campbell was to
make inquiries, and Mrs. Meridith was informed of their intention.
It met with her and Anna's concurrence, who only hoped a situation might
be found not very distant from them; and, agreeable to her wishes, Mr.
Campbell soon heard of a medical man in very good practice at L--,
who was desirous of taking a partner who was a few years younger than
himself.
Eastwood readily accepted the proposal; the money which he was to
advance was agreed on, and this was all he would accept from his brother
(who was made acquainted by letter of all that had passed), as his share
of their father's property; intending, if he was successful in his new
undertaking, to repay it him, as a small return for his kindness in
receiving and supporting him during his illness.
Till this was settled, Mrs. Meridith's house was his home; and Anna
had frequent opportunities of observing that her father possessed
both talents and genius, which not even the wretched way in which he
had spent great part of his life could obliterate. He, had received
a liberal education, both from the wish of his parents to give their
children that which themselves had felt the want of, and the favour
of his instructor, who admired his abilities, and hoped that they
would have led him to greater things than his father intended. But,
notwithstanding these advantages, Eastwood had to begin the world when
between forty and fifty years old; because he did not properly value
them at the first. The praises his abilities obtained, gave him a high
opinion of himself, but this did not keep him from the most odious
vices; he suffered his inclination to shine in company, and to appear
greater than he really was: till finding that he was not so highly
thought of by others as by himself, he sunk into the opposite extreme,
and had it not been for the reflections occasioned by a severe illness,
and the subsequent occurrences, he would have remained a disgrace
instead of a benefit to society, and among the lowest and vilest of his
fellow creatures, instead of filling the place for which his education
had fitted him.
In the evening before he left Rosewood to go to his new situation,
Mrs. Meridith put an hundred pound note into Anna's hands. "I need not
tell you what to do with it, my child," said she; "I hope it will be
well bestowed, and we shall then have the pleasure of seeing a fellow
creature restored to society."
Anna in trembling accents thanked her kind benefactress, and hastened to
present it to her father as Mrs. Meridith's gift.
"I want words to thank her," said he, "but it is too much: do you think
I dare be trusted with such a sum?"
"I hope so, my father," replied Anna, "and double that, had I it to give
you."
"Oh! my child, money is not what I want," said he; "do you think I am
now entering on business with a view to obtain it? No: but from a wish
of employment, and of being useful to my fellow creatures. Every thing
else is useless to me now you are provided for; and oh! my Anna, how
amply! What a friend have you found in Mrs. Meridith! May you and I be
ever grateful to her."
In the course of the next year, Anna, with her father and their kind
friend Mrs. Meridith, visited Hull, and were introduced to her uncle,
whom they found what the former had described, an industrious and
benevolent man, plain in his manners, but an honour to the station he
filled: and on their return to Rosewood, Mrs. Meridith celebrated
Anna's coming of age with all the festivity incident to the occasion.
The poor were feasted, and the bells were rung, but Anna's heart was
not vainly elated by the scene; the recollection of her birth, and her
father's past life, checked her rising pride; while the calm sedateness
which sat on her uncle's brow, and the propriety of the sentiments he
uttered, together with her father's humility, and earnest desire to
render his latter days more serviceable to mankind, taught her the just
value of this world's good; and from Mrs. Meridith (whose benevolence
entered into every plan she proposed, and every action of her life,) she
learnt duly to appreciate it; but as the means of assisting others, or,
in other words, as she had often told her when a child, "the way to be
happy ourselves is to add to the happiness of others, not to take from
it."
In a few years she married a gentleman who was a distant relation of
Mrs. Meridith's, and whose fortune was equal to her own; and that lady
and her father had the pleasure of seeing her fulfil the duties of a
wife and mother, as the education she had received allowed them to
expect.
Mrs. Meridith lived to an advanced age, and Anna never forgot the
attention that was due to her, and which she hoped to receive from her
own children when she most needed it.
Her father never entirely recovered his health; but his character, which
to him was far more desirable, was perfectly retrieved; and he died
lamented by many who experienced his attention, and was pleased with his
society.
Bella and Syphax both died before Mrs. Meridith was taken from the
world; and Betsey continued Anna's servant after she was married.
Mr. and Mrs. Campbell lived some years after the marriage of their
niece, and had the satisfaction of seeing their three eldest daughters
happily married, and settled in the neighbouring villages. William
inherited the farm after his father's death, and John became an eminent
lawyer; while a younger brother was brought up under Mr. Eastwood's
care, and supplied his place at his death.
THE END.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY COX AND BAYLIS,
GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S-INN-FIELDS.
The Publishers of this little Work, desirous of its being generally
circulated, have reduced the price from _Three Shillings and Sixpence_
to _Half-a-Crown_, and they have little doubt but the sale will become
as extensive as the TWIN SISTERS, written by the same Author (a Work
that has received the encomium of Mrs. Trimmer, and other persons who
have published Books for the Instruction of Youth), and of which 25,000
copies have been sold.--The following Books, written by the same Author,
may be had of the Publishers:
1. TWIN SISTERS, or the Advantages of Religion, by Miss
Sandham, 13th edit. 3s. 6d.
2. The HISTORY OF BRITANNICUS and his SISTER OCTAVIA, a Tale
from the Roman History, price 6s.
3. CHOSROES and HERACLIUS, or the Vicissitudes of a Century,
with 4 Engravings, price 3s.
4. The HISTORY of WILLIAM SELWYN, or the Folly of early
Indulgence, with a Frontispiece, price 4s.
5. The TRAVELS of ST. PAUL, in a Series of Letters, with a
Map, 2s.
_The undermentioned Books have also been recently published, and may
be had, Wholesale and Retail, of Harris and Son, Corner of St. Paul's
Church-yard._
1. FRUITS of ENTERPRIZE, exhibited in the Travels of Belzoni
in Egypt and Nubia, interspersed with the Observations of a Mother
to her Children, with 24 Engravings; price 6s. plain, and 7s. 6d.
coloured; by the Author of the "Indian Cabinet."
2. THEODORE, or, the Crusaders, by Mrs. Hofland, with 24
Engravings, price 5s. plain, and 6s. 6d. coloured.
3. POLAR SCENES, exhibited in the Voyages of Heamskirk and
Barenz to the Northern Regions, with 36 Engravings, price 5s.
plain, and 6s. 6d. col.
4. SCENES in GREAT BRITAIN, for the Amusement and Instruction
of little Tarry-at-home Travellers, illustrated with 84
Copper-plate Engravings, price, half-bound plain, 5s. and with
coloured plates, 7s.
5. SCENES in EUROPE, by the same Author, and same number of
Engravings, price 4s. plain, and 6s. coloured.
6. SCENES in ASIA, ditto.
7. SCENES in AFRICA, ditto.
8. SCENES in AMERICA, ditto.
9. TRUE STORIES from ANCIENT HISTORY, chronologically arranged
from the Creation of the World to the Death of Charlemagne, 2 vols,
price 6s.
⁂ Seventy-two Engravings from the Designs of Mr. Brooke, are
nearly ready to illustrate the Stories in the above work, which for
neatness of engraving and accuracy of design, are considered to
be superior to any work of a similar kind hitherto offered to the
public.
10. STORIES from MODERN HISTORY are also published on the same
plan, in 3 vols. price 7s. 6d. half-bound.
11. HINTS on the SOURCES of HAPPINESS. Written by a Mother;
Author of "Always Happy," &c. &c. in 2 vols. price 12s. boards.
12. SELECT TOPOGRAPHY of ENGLAND, or Historical and
Descriptive Delineations of the most curious Works of Nature and
Art in each County; calculated as an agreeable Companion to the
Tourist, or a Class Book for the Student. Illustrated with near
300 Views of ancient Castles, Cathedrals, Noblemen and Gentlemen's
Seats, &c. By I. N. Brewer, Author of the "Introduction to the
Beauties of England," and Writer of the Descriptions of many of the
Counties in that elaborate Work, 2 vols. 12mo.
13. The ESKDALE HERD BOY, a Scottish Tale for Youth; by Mrs.
Blackford, adorned with an elegant Frontispiece, in 1 vol. 12mo. 5s.
14. The ADVANTAGES of EDUCATION, or History of the Wingfield
Family, with an elegant Frontispiece, price 2s. half-bound.
15. The ADVENTURES of ROBINSON CRUSOE, a new and improved
edition; interspersed with Reflections, Religious and Moral, and
adorned with 12 neat Engravings, price 3s. plain, or 4s. coloured.
16. The CHAPTER of KINGS, by Mr. Collins; exhibiting the most
important Events in the English History, and calculated to impress
upon the Youthful Mind a recollection of the Succession of the
English Monarchs, illustrated by 38 Copper-plate Engravings, in
which the Costume of each Reign is strictly attended to. Price 3s.
6d. plain, or 5s. coloured.
17. A VISIT to UNCLE WILLIAM in TOWN; or, a Description of the
most remarkable Buildings in the British Metropolis, illustrated
with 66 Engravings. Price 4s. half-bound.
18. MARMADUKE MULTIPLY'S MERRY METHOD of MAKING MINOR
MATHEMATICIANS; or, the Multiplication Table, illustrated with 69
appropriate Engravings, to be had either in 4 parts, price 1s.
each, plain, and 1s. 6d. coloured; or half-bound together 4s. 6d.
plain, or 6s. 6d. coloured.
19. DAME TRUELOVE'S TALES, now first published, as Useful
Lessons for little Misses and Masters, and ornamented with 22
Engravings, price 2s. 6d. plain, or 3s. 6d. coloured, half-bound,
2d edit.
20. The CANARY BIRD, a Tale for Youth; by Miss Mant, Author of
many approved little Works for Young Persons. Price 4s. bound.
21. ALWAYS HAPPY!! or, Anecdotes of Felix and his Sister
Serena, a Tale, price 2s. 6d. half-bound.
22. RIGHT and WRONG, exhibited in the History of Rosa and
Agnes, price 2s. 6d. half-bound.
23. A KEY to KNOWLEDGE; or, Things in Common Use simply
and shortly explained, in a Series of Dialogues, price 2s. 6d.
half-bound.
24. A VISIT to the BAZAR, in which not only are described
the different Articles sold there, but an useful and appropriate
Lesson is deduced from them, by noticing in a pleasing manner every
Manufacture, Science, &c. that presents itself, illustrated by 32
Engravings, price 3s. plain, and 4s. coloured.
25. A FAMILIAR NATURAL HISTORY of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, and
Insects, illustrated by 64 Engravings, price 2s. 6d. plain, or 3s.
6d. coloured, half-bound.
26. The SPRING BUD, or Rural Scenery, in Verse; with
descriptive Notes for the Instruction and Amusement of Young
Persons. By Miss Appleton; adorned with an elegant Frontispiece,
from a Drawing by herself, engraved by Scott, price 2s. boards.
27. The PLEASURES of LIFE; written for the Use of her
Children, by the Author of "Always Happy," &c. With an elegant
Frontispiece, price 2s. 6d. half-bound.
28. The SON of a GENIUS, a Tale for Young Persons, by Mrs.
Hofland, price 2s. 6d. half-bound.
29. ELLEN the TEACHER, a Tale for Youth, by Mrs. Hofland, 1
vol. price 2s. 6d. half-bound.
30. The BLIND FARMER and his CHILDREN, by Mrs. Hofland, price
2s. 6d. half-bound.
⁂ _The following little Works by the late Mrs. Trimmer, having
been before the Public for some years, it is only necessary for the
Publishers to state, they are New Editions, printed on good Paper,
and a clear type._
1. MRS. TRIMMER'S ENGLISH HISTORY, brought down to the Peace of Paris;
with 48 Engravings on Wood; 2 vols. 9s. bound.
2. ---- Antient History, with 40 Engravings; 4s. 6d. bound.
3. ---- Roman History, with 40 Engravings; 4s. 6d. bound.
4. ---- Scripture History, New Testament, with 40 Engravings; 3s. bound.
5. ---- Scripture History, Old Testament, with 24 Engravings; 3s. bound.
6. ---- Old Testament Prints, with Descriptions on Copper-Plates; 2
vols. 3s. 6d. bound.
7. ---- New Testament Prints, with Descriptions on Copper-Plates; 2
vols. 5s. 6d. bound.
8. ---- Roman History Prints, with Descriptions on Copper-Plates; 2
vols. 5s. 6d. bound.
9. ---- Antient History Prints, with Descriptions on Copper-Plates; 2
vols. 5s. 6d. bound.
10. ---- QUESTIONS to her English, Antient, Roman and Scripture
Histories, 2 vols, bound in red. Price 6s.
HARRIS'S CABINET
OF
AMUSEMENT AND INSTRUCTION;
Consisting of the most approved NOVELTIES for the Nursery;
printed in a superior manner upon good Paper, 1s. 6d. each, and
illustrated with SIXTEEN Engravings neatly coloured.
1. MOTHER HUBBARD and her DOG.
2. DAME TROT and her CAT.
3. COCK ROBIN, a Painted Toy, for either Girl or Boy.
4. History of the HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT.
5. NURSERY NOVELTIES, or a New Alphabet for Children.
6. History of the APPLE PIE, written by Z; an Alphabet for little
Masters and Misses.
7. DAME DEARLOVE'S DITTIES for the Nursery, or Songs for the Amusement
of Infants.
8. PETER PIPER'S Practical Principles of Plain and Perfect Pronunciation.
9. The INFANT'S FRIEND, or Easy Reading Lessons.
10. The SNOW DROP, or Poetic Trifles for Little Folks, after the manner
of the "Daisy" and "Cowslip."
11. The HOBBY-HORSE, or the High Road to Learning: being a revival of
that favourite Alphabet, "_A was an Archer and shot at a Frog_."
12. CRIES of LONDON, or Sketches of various Characters in the Metropolis.
13. The Courtship, Marriage, and _Pic-Nic Dinner_, of COCK ROBIN and
JENNY WREN.
14. The Alphabet of GOODY TWO-SHOES; "by learning which she soon got
rich."
15. History of Sixteen WONDERFUL OLD WOMEN; illustrated with as many
Engravings, exhibiting their principal Eccentricities.
16. SPRING FLOWERS, or Easy Lessons for Young Children, not exceeding
Words of Two Syllables. By Mrs. Ritson.
17. Sir HARRY HERALD'S Graphical Representation of the DIGNITARIES of
England, shewing the Costume of different Ranks, from the KING to a
COMMONER, with the Regalia used at the Coronation.
18. The PATHS of LEARNING, strewed with Flowers, or English Grammar
illustrated.
19. TOMMY TRIP'S MUSEUM, or a Peep at the Quadruped Race, Part I.
20. TOMMY TRIP'S MUSEUM, Part II.
21. TOMMY TRIP'S MUSEUM, Part III.
22. The PHŒNIX, or a Choice Collection of Riddles and Charades.
23. The COSTUME of DIFFERENT NATIONS, illustrated.
24. WONDERS, descriptive of some of the most remarkable in Art and
Nature.
25. The MONTHLY MONITOR; or Short Stories, adapted to every Season of
the Year. By Mrs. Ritson.
26. SIMPLE STORIES in Words of One Syllable, by the Author of the
"Stories of Old Daniel."
27. The PICTURESQUE PRIMER, or First Step up the Ladder of Learning,
with 72 Engravings.
Transcriber's note:
Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as
possible. Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
The following is a list of changes made to the original.
The first line is the original line, the second the corrected one.
Page 32:
that it is not for any think extraordinary
that it is not for any thing extraordinary
Page 63:
have have had your sorrows also
have had your sorrows also
Page 104:
and to claim it for himself, as he had sufficent
and to claim it for himself, as he had sufficient
Page 126:
is most likely to sooth grief
is most likely to soothe grief
Page 133:
Anna, smiling at her childishnesss
Anna, smiling at her childishness
Page 145:
and as Mr. Mansel's was a very domestic family
and as Mr. Mansell's was a very domestic family
Page 148:
change their behavour towards her
change their behaviour towards her
Page 169:
CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XIII.
Page 198:
a medical man in very good practice at L----,
a medical man in very good practice at L--,
Page 206:
the Crusaders, by Mrs. Hoffland
the Crusaders, by Mrs. Hofland
End of Project Gutenberg's The Adopted Daughter, by Elizabeth Sandham