One day, when Edmund and Charles had been at home about a week, the latter
ran eagerly into the sitting-parlour, crying out--"Oh, mamma! there is
Betty's sister down stairs, with the poor little twins in her arms, which
were born just when Matilda came; they have short frocks now, but I
perceive they have no shoes: suppose we young ones subscribe, and buy
them some, poor things! there is my eighteen-penny piece for shoes,
mamma--shoes, and hats too, if we can raise money enough."
Mrs. Harewood could not help smiling at Charles's eagerness, as she
remembered the useful mortification he had experienced the last time his
charity was called upon; and as she took up the money, she observed to
him--"I am glad to see this, Charles; it is a proof you are more provident
than you used to be; and, with your propensity to spending, it requires no
little effort to save, in a large school, where there are always many
temptations. I think your proposal is a very good one; and whilst I am
collecting the money, pray step down stairs, and tell Betty to bring up
the little innocents--we shall all be glad to see them."
Charles flew out of the room, and in less than a minute returned with the
mother, carrying a babe in each arm. She was a very decent woman, the widow
of a soldier, who died before his poor children were born; she now
endeavoured to maintain herself and them by taking in washing, together
with the pay of the parish, which, although small, she received very
thankfully, and managed very carefully.
"Look, mamma! what pretty little feet they have," cried Ellen; "I am sure
Charles was a good boy to think about shoes for them--was it not very kind
of him, Matilda? because you know little boys seldom love little babies so
much as girls do."
Matilda answered "yes," mechanically, for her mind was abstracted, and
affected by the remembrance this scene was calculated to inspire. Mrs.
Harewood, feeling for her evident embarrassment, sent the poor woman down
stairs to take some refreshment, and then laid a three-shilling piece, as
her own share of the contribution, besides Charles's subscription on the
table.
Edmund laid a shilling on the table, saying--"If more is wanted, I will
give you another with great pleasure: I hope, mamma, you _know_ that I
will?"
"Yes, Edmund, I _do_ know that you will do any thing in your power, for you
are regular and prudent, as well as a kind-hearted boy, and therefore have
always got something to spare for the wants of others; I perceive, too,
that you have the good sense to examine the nature of the claim made upon
you, and that you give accordingly; _you_ are aware, and I wish all the
young ones to be so likewise, that this, although an act of charity, is not
called for by any immediate distress; it is not one of those cases which
wring the heart and drain the purse, for the poor woman is neither
unprovided with lodgings nor food, and we ought always to keep something
for the sake of sufferers of that description: I wish you, children, to be
free and liberal, for we are told in the scriptures that 'God loveth a
cheerful giver;' but, in order to render you also frequent givers, you must
be prudent ones."
"I have only one shilling in the world," said Ellen, laying it on the
table.
"Then sixpence is as much as you ought to give," said Mrs. Harewood,
giving her a sixpence in change, when, observing that she took it with an
air of reluctance, she said--"My dear Ellen, be satisfied; you are a little
girl, and have not half your brother's allowance, you know--it is
sufficient."
While this was passing, Matilda had been fumbling in her pocket, and
blushing excessively; her mind was full of painful recollections, yet
fraught with gleams of satisfaction; but she wished very much to do two
very contrary things, and whilst she still hesitated, Miss Campbell
said--"Here is another sixpence, ma'am, which I will take, and give you an
eighteen-pence, as I wish to give you a shilling, with Edmund's proviso."
"But," said Matilda, with a mixture of eagerness and hesitation, "then
there will be no change for me, and I wish to give the same as Ellen; don't
I want change, ma'am? I--I believe I do."
There was, in this confusion, and the blush which deepened in her cheek, a
something which showed Mrs. Harewood a great deal of what was passing in
the mind of this self-convicted, but compassionate and ingenuous girl. Mrs.
Harewood took her shilling, and returned her sixpence, which she evidently
received with pain, but an effort to smile, as Ellen had done, in return
for the smile of her mamma.
After a short pause, Mrs. Harewood said--"Well, Matilda, your delicacy is
now satisfied--you have not affected any display of humanity, or
ostentatious exhibition of wealth, in order to humble your young friends;
but I perceive your heart is not satisfied; that heart is really interested
in these babes, and, conscious that it is in your power to do more, you are
mortified at stopping short of your own wishes and their wants."
"Oh dear, ma'am," replied Matilda, "you have read all the thoughts of my
heart, (at least all but one,) and if you think it right, and Ellen will
not think me proud, I will indeed be very glad if you will accept a crown
for my subscription."
"I shall receive it with pleasure; and I can venture to assure you, that my
children will neither feel envy, anger, nor any other emotion, except joy,
at seeing the little objects of their care benefited, and you happy; for
they have been taught only to value such actions, according to the motive
in one party, and their usefulness to the other: but, Matilda, if it is not
a very great secret, I should be glad to know what that _one_ other thought
in your heart was, which I did not guess, upon this occasion?"
Matilda did not find this question so easy of reply as Mrs. Harewood had
expected it to be; she blushed and hung down her head; but, on perceiving
that Mrs. Harewood was going to release her from all necessity of reply,
she struggled to conquer what she deemed a weakness in herself, and
answered thus--"Why, my dear madam, I was thinking what a little proud,
stubborn, ill-behaved girl I was, at the time when these twins were born,
and we first made a subscription for this poor woman; I remembered, too,
how miserable I was, and altogether how much I had to lament, and I felt
as if I could like to do something, to prove how thankful I am to God for
bringing me into a family like yours, where every day of my life I may
learn something good, and where I have been a great deal more happy than
ever I was before, even in the house with my own parents."
Matilda stopped a moment, as if she thought her confession had perhaps
infringed on her duty; but recollecting that all her past sorrow had been
laid to the proper account, which was her own bad temper and pride, she
again proceeded in it.
"When I thought on these things, I came close up to you; but my heart beat
so quick, I could not speak, or else I had a guinea in my hand, the last
my dear mamma gave me, and I wished very much to give you _that_; but then
the memory of my foolish pride, the last time, came again into my mind--I
became ashamed, and determined in all things to be guided by Ellen, who is
almost a year older than I, and a great deal better."
"No, no--not _better_," said Ellen, warmly; and even her brothers, who
loved her very dearly, struck with the same admiration of Matilda's
frankness and generosity, exclaimed--"You are as good as Ellen _now_,
Matilda--indeed you are!"
Mrs. Harewood, tenderly kissing her, assured her of her approbation,
saying--"All you have said, my dear, tends decidedly to prove that your
mind is indeed properly impressed with your duty both towards God and man,
and that you have the most sincere desire to conquer those faults which you
have already greatly amended; therefore I am determined to permit you to
exercise your benevolence, in the most extensive manner that your heart
could wish, knowing, as I do, that your fortune is fully equal to any act
of charity, and that your good mamma will not fail to approve of it."
"Thank you, thank you, dear Mrs. Harewood! oh, you are my English mother,
and I love you much more than any other person in the world, except my
Barbadoes mamma."
The children eagerly crowded round their mother's chair, to hear what the
good news was, which promised to benefit Sally, and make Matilda happy.
"I know," said Mrs. Harewood, "that the purchase of a mangle would set up
the poor woman in her profession as a washerwoman, and enable her to earn
at least ten shillings a-week more. It was my intention to purchase one for
her myself at Christmas; but I could not do it before, as my charity-purse
has been very much run upon lately. When Mr. Harewood comes in, I will ask
for the money, and to-morrow we will all go in the coach, and see Matilda
purchase it: but, my dear girl, suppose you just step and inform the poor
woman of your intention, which I am certain you had rather do without
witnesses; it will not only increase her pleasure, but enable her to
prepare her apartment for such a noble and useful piece of furniture."
Matilda left the room, but returned almost immediately.
"You have been very quick," said Ellen, in rather a murmuring voice; "I
wanted to know what she said and how she looked when you told her the good
news."
"I did not speak to her myself--I commissioned Zebby to do it, for I knew
it would give her quite as much pleasure as the poor woman herself could
receive; and surely she has a right to receive every good I can bestow, as
a slight atonement for the pain I have so very frequently given her."
Scarcely had Matilda given this proof of consideration and amiable feeling,
when Sally and Zebby rushed into the room together, followed by Betty, who
was truly grateful for the kindness thus bestowed on her sister.
Sally, with tears of joy, thanked her young benefactress; her words were
few, but they were those of respect and thankfulness, and showed she was
deeply sensible of the benefit she experienced.
Poor Zebby, delighted with the goodness of her young mistress, audibly
expressed her pleasure, with all the characteristic warmth of her country,
and not a little proud of those virtues which she fancied she had assisted
to nurture.--"Oh," cried she, "dis be my own beautiful Missy own goodness;
she makee joy in her mamma heart; she makee poor negro all happy--singee
and dancee every body; no more whip, massa Buckraman--every body
delight--every body glad--every body good Christian, when Missy go back!"
The spontaneous effusion of joy, uttered by this daughter of nature,
affected all the party, and the joyful bustle had not subsided when Mr.
Harewood entered. On being informed of the cause, he gave his full assent,
and produced the money necessary for the purchase of the mangle.
The following day was pleasantly employed in arranging the poor woman's
new acquisition; and when Matilda saw her grateful, happy countenance, and
learned the manner in which the machine would be worked, and its usefulness
in smoothing linen, she felt the value of a useful life, and a sense of her
own importance, distinct from the idle consequence which is the result of
vanity and pride, but perfectly compatible with the self-distrust and true
humility which was now happily taking a deep root in her young mind.
Mrs. Harewood was gratified in perceiving such results of her maternal care
for Matilda: still she did not relax in her vigilance; for she well knew,
that along with corn will spring up tares in every young mind, and that the
virtue of one day does not exempt from the vice of another, during the
years of early life; and there were still many points in which the errors
of her Barbadoes education were but too visible, and which called for the
pruning hand of a sensible and pious friend.