the urn with water, and Miss _Lydia_ made tea in a very composed and
becoming manner. The evening was passed in cheerful and inoffensive
amusement, where the chief contest was, who should please and oblige the
other most.
CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH.
_THE AGREEABLE TOUR._
When Miss _Fanny_ had been two months with her aunt, her Mamma returned
from her journey, and came to fetch her.
Not only Miss _Fanny_, but the rest of the family, were rejoiced to see
her: the young persons asked her many questions; whither she had been?
and what she had seen?
She was ready to answer all their inquiries with great good-humour;
and taking out a book of pocket-maps, said, I will show you the route
I have been. We set out, you know, from _Berkshire_. We went through
_Oxfordshire_, stopped at _Oxford_, and there, Miss _Lydia_, saw your
brother, who shewed us the university, and entertained us with great
politeness.
We likewise passed through _Woodstock_; and I have brought each of you a
pair of gloves; a manufacture for which you know _Woodstock_ is famous.
We then proceeded through _Warwickshire_, _Staffordshire_, _Cheshire_,
_Lancashire_, _Westmoreland_, _Cumberland_, and _Northumberland_, where
Fanny, your father’s business was.
As we returned, we came by _Durham_, _Yorkshire_, _Derbyshire_,
_Lincolnshire_, _Huntingdonshire_, and _Hertfordshire_.
I have brought my little niece and _Fanny_ a set of doll’s plates and
dishes, from _Staffordshire_, and a piece of muslin dimity, for gowns for
my elder cousins, from _Manchester_, in _Lancashire_; where we stopped a
whole day, to see the very great manufacture that is carrying on there,
of cottons, dimities, muslins, &c.
While we were in _Lancashire_, we went to _Ancliff_ near _Wigan_, to see
the famous burning well.
The water of this well is cold, and has no smell, yet there is so strong
a vapour of sulphur issuing out with the stream, that upon applying a
light to it, the top of the water is covered with a flame, like that of
burning spirits, which lasts several hours, and emits so fierce a heat,
that meat may be boiled over it. The fluid itself will not burn when
taken out of the well.
In _Cumberland_ we saw the black-lead mine, from whence your pencils,
young gentlemen, are furnished, which have assisted you in adorning my
dressing-room with such handsome drawings.
While we staid in _Northumberland_, we went to see the coal-pits, from
whence we who live in the southern countries are supplied: the cargoes
are shipped from _Newcastle upon Tyne_, which is also famous for its
fishery of Salmon.
The young gentlemen, I hope, will accept of a pair of shoe-buckles from
_Birmingham_, in _Warwickshire_, and the ladies of a pair of scissors
from _Sheffield_, in _Yorkshire_; both places are famous for the
manufacture of hard-ware.
While we were in _Derbyshire_, we went to see the dropping-well near
_Buxton_: which gives the appearance of stone to every thing that is put
into it; and I have brought you some petrifactions from thence.
One day we spent at _Buxton_, and saw the company who go to drink the
medicinal waters there.
We likewise went to see _Poole’s Hole_, by _Buxton_; but of that you will
find a better account than I can give you in the _Gentleman’s Magazine_,
written by a gentleman who went with a party to visit it.
I have brought your Mamma, Miss _Lydia_, some ornaments for her
mantle-piece, made of Derbyshire spar; and an egg of that substance for
your sister _Caroline_’s netting: the spar is said to be water petrified
as it drops through rocks, and to take the variety of its colours from
the different metals or minerals it passes through.
I have likewise brought a carpet for your papa’s study, from
_Kidderminster_, in _Worcestershire_, which, I think, he will not esteem
inferior to the Turkey carpets, which we fetch from so far.
From _Dunstable_ in _Bedfordshire_ I have brought a set of little
tea-things, some work-baskets, and some toys for the young folk, all made
of straw, like your hat, Miss _Lydia_. And now, perhaps, I have tired you
by talking, and you will be better pleased with seeing all my collection.
The young people listened with great attention to the lady. Soon after
she produced her treasures, and desired them to recollect the place from
whence each came.
They acquitted themselves very well, and were not deficient in proper
thanks to their aunt, for her kind attention to them.
A day or two afterwards Miss _Fanny_ and her Mamma took their leave; not
without mutual regret on the part of Miss _Lydia_ and Miss _Fanny_, who
were most affectionately attached to each other.
CHAPTER THE FIFTEENTH.
_GENEROSITY AND GRATITUDE._
Sometime after Miss _Lydia_’s cousin _Fanny_ had left her, little
_Lydia_, on her return from a walk with the maid, ran, all in tears, into
her Mamma’s room; and told her, that little _Sally_’s mother was in very
great distress.
LYDIA.
She owes, Mamma, four guineas to Mr. _Flint_ for living in his house;
and because she has not money to pay him, he is going to take every
thing she has, and turn her into the street. The poor woman and children
were crying so sadly when I went by the door, that it made me quite
uncomfortable, as Miss _Seymour_ says, to see them.
The poor woman said, she and her children must go into the workhouse.
The little girl was crying to see her mother cry; and the boy said, they
would take away his rabbit, and his little chair in which he used to
sit by the fire-side. Do, pray, Mamma, do something for the poor woman.
Perhaps, if you speak to Mr. _Flint_ he will not take her things.
MAMMA.
My dear love, I know Mr. _Flint_ better than you do: it is not possible
to persuade him to forego his money; and as to assisting her with four
guineas, it is more than I can well spare; besides, you know there are
many people in distress as well as she.
LYDIA.
Perhaps so: but I have seen this poor woman and the children cry so! and
the little ones have been so civil to me!
MAMMA.
I am sincerely sorry for them.—Why do you look so earnestly at me,
_Lydia_?—Have you any money at all?
LYDIA.
No, Mamma; I have no money; but you know, Mamma, you were going to buy
me a pink silk slip, to wear under my muslin frock. What would that have
cost?—I can do very well with my dimity ones.
MAMMA.
My dearest girl! come to my arms, and enjoy a pleasure you so richly
deserve! that of making the poor people happy. Your slip would not have
cost two guineas, so that sacrifice alone would not do; but you have set
me a noble example; and I will also give up a carpet which I intended to
buy for my dressing-room; and the price of that added to the other, will
be sufficient to redeem Mrs. _Brush_’s goods, and set her mind at ease.
LYDIA.
My dear Mamma! I am so glad! Then I may go directly with the money?
MAMMA.
We will go together. You would be at a loss by yourself. Go, pray, and
ask for my great-coat and my gloves.
_Lydia_ flew like lightening; and her Mamma being soon equipped, they
hastened to Mrs. _Brush_.
The first thing they saw, was all her little scholars turned out of the
room, and in a heap before the door crying.
When they went in, they found every thing pulled out of its place: a
rough looking man had dragged her bedstead down stairs; and the little
boy stood with his eyes fixed upon him, and sobbing said, What must
mammy and I do for a bed? I am sure Mr. _Flint_ does not want this: he
has got a great many fine beds.
Upon being asked where his mammy was? he said in the garden. As they were
passing through to go to her, they saw another man just going to pull
her little copper down. Miss _Lydia_’s Mamma begged he would desist a
little while, and he should not be a loser by it. She then went on; at
the further end of the garden they saw the little girl and her mother
in an arbour, which they had taken great pains to adorn with roses and
honeysuckles; and in which they were now sitting, as they supposed, for
the last time: they were weeping bitterly. The little girl’s eyes were
fixed on the parrot, which hung on a tree near them, and which seemed to
take part with them, by crying every minute, Poor Poll! What’s the matter?
The Lady and her daughter went on towards them; but as they were walking
a young woman entered the garden hastily, and rushing by them, ran up to
the woman, and catching hold of her arm, with great affection said, Thank
God, cousin! I am come just in time! As soon as ever I heard you were in
trouble, I left my place; and what with my wages, and the money I have
raised upon my cloaths, I have been able to bring you enough to pay your
rent. Take the four guineas, and let us get these frightful people out of
the house.
The good woman looked very much amazed, and was silent for a moment; then
again bursting into tears; God forbid, my dear _Jenny_! said she, that
I should strip you. No, I can bear my own troubles; but I could never
support the thought, that I had taken your bread out of your mouth. How
could you think of leaving your place? so good a one as you had: and what
have you done with your cloaths? I never thought I should be the occasion
of doing you so much harm.
While these two friends were talking thus, the Lady and her daughter came
up to them. The unfortunate woman, in the midst of her trouble, did not
neglect to pay them proper respect: the young person stopped to make them
a courtesy, and then earnestly went on. Never think about me, I am young,
and can get my living; and after all you have done for me, I should be
the most ungrateful creature in the world did I not assist you. If it
had not been for you, I should not have been alive now; or, if I had,
I should have been in a workhouse. When I was ill with that fever, you
nursed me, laid me in your own bed, and sat up with me yourself, to tend
me; and then paid my doctor’s bill, that I might not be obliged to sell
my cloaths: and have not you the best right to them?
I a right! no, indeed said her cousin.
Surely you have, returned she: the money you spent upon me would have
paid almost two years rent; and now you who lived so neatly, and so
comfortably, are going to be pulled all to pieces. You will break my
heart if you do not take the money: but why should I stand arguing with
you, when I can go and pay the money myself. So saying, she was hastening
out of the garden; when Miss _Lydia_’s Mamma catching hold of her, said,
I was unwilling to interrupt so generous a dispute, and I waited a little
to see what would be the end of it: but as to the rent, my daughter and I
came on purpose to discharge it. Receive from my daughter (Mrs. _Brush_)
four guineas, which we were going to spend otherwise; but upon nothing
that would have given us half the pleasure which we feel in putting you
in possession of your house again. As to you, young woman, your conduct
is above all reward from man; and yet I wish—
It was impossible for the Lady to go on; the joy and gratitude of these
worthy people quite overpowered her; and the only way she could get rid
of their thanks, was by hurrying them into the house, to secure all the
goods.
When the rent was discharged, and the men sent away, Mrs. _Brush_ and her
cousin were able to converse more composedly with their benefactors. The
former, in the midst of her joy, expressed great concern that her cousin
had thrown herself out of place; and asked, with great anxiety, what she
had done with her cloaths?
The young woman said, she could not rest a moment, after she heard from
an acquaintance, who called upon her, that her landlord was very cruel to
her; and that she expected every day to have her goods seized for rent.
That she, therefore, went directly to her mistress, and told her, that a
relation in the country wanted her very much, and begged to be discharged.
She would not tell her the whole story for fear she should oppose her
intentions; and as to asking leave to go out for a time, she could not
expect to return to her place, when she had disposed of all her cloaths.
Her mistress appeared displeased; but paid her her wages, which was about
a guinea: that she then sold some of her cloaths, and pawned the rest to
raise the remainder, and as much as would pay her passage from _London_;
however, as to her cloaths, she said, she had not a doubt but she could
get them again; for the woman who took them was a very good sort of
woman, and indeed could hardly be persuaded to receive them of her.
And do you think, Mrs. _Jenny_, said the Lady, your mistress could not be
prevailed on to take you again? Surely, if she knew the whole truth, she
would think herself happy in such a servant.
It is not probable she should have got another in so short a time. You
shall return as soon as you can; and I will send a letter by you to the
lady you have left, to inform her from what generous motives you left her
so abruptly. I will take my leave of you both now; and in an hour’s time
the letter shall be ready.
The young woman called at the time mentioned for the letter; and after
many expressions of gratitude for the kindness shown to her cousin and
herself, returned to _London_, carried it to her late mistress, and in a
few days, Miss _Lydia_ had the pleasure of knowing, that her Mamma had
received a letter from the lady, to thank her for restoring so valuable
a servant to her, and to inform her, that as her own maid was going to
be married, she meant to take her to wait upon herself; and should ever
esteem a person capable of such noble conduct, rather as a friend than a
servant.
_CONCLUSION._
Miss _Lydia_, when her Mamma first began to write down an account of her
behaviour throughout the day, was so much alarmed, lest the story should
not be to her credit, that she never went to sleep, without endeavouring
to recollect how she had passed the day, and whether she had been good
or not. When her conscience told her of any fault, her concern for it
naturally led her to consider how she might have avoided that fault,
and how she ought to have behaved. In the morning, likewise, when she
awoke, the journal was the first thing that came into her mind; and she
used to think what business she had to do that day, and what faults she
was in the most danger of committing; particularly if she had done any
thing wrong the day before, she always considered how she should conduct
herself so as not to have the same sad story told of her again.
Her Mamma, when she found those faults thoroughly corrected, which were
her first motive for writing an account of her daughter’s conduct,
discontinued her journal; but _Lydia_ had so accustomed herself to
the above mentioned inquiry, that she still continued so excellent a
practice; and nothing so much assisted her, in her wish to be good,
as this habit; for by such a frequent review of her behaviour, she
discovered many little faults, which she would not otherwise have
noticed; and by correcting them in the beginning, she escaped falling
into many vices and bad habits, which, though very easily checked at
first, become, after they are long indulged, very difficult to break.
I very affectionately recommend this practice to any young persons who
desire in earnest to be good: and if the little anecdotes I have written
shall persuade any one little boy or girl to correct their faults, and
become more happy in themselves, and a greater comfort to their parents,
I shall be abundantly recompensed for my trouble.
THE END.