That a thorough, religious, _useful_ education is the best security
against misfortune, disgrace and poverty, is universally believed
and acknowledged; and to this we add the firm conviction, that,
when poverty comes (as it sometimes will) upon the prudent, the
industrious, and the well-informed, a judicious education is
all-powerful in enabling them to _endure_ the evils it cannot always
_prevent_. A mind full of piety and knowledge is always rich; it is a
bank that never fails; it yields a perpetual dividend of happiness.
In a late visit to the alms-house at ----, we saw a remarkable
evidence of the truth of this doctrine. Mrs. ---- was early left
an orphan. She was educated by an uncle and aunt, both of whom
had attained the middle age of life. Theirs was an industrious,
well-ordered, and cheerful family. Her uncle was a man of sound
judgment, liberal feelings, and great knowledge of human nature. This
he showed by the education of the young people under his care. He
allowed them to waste no time; every moment must be spent in learning
something, or in doing something. He encouraged an entertaining,
lively style of conversation, but discountenanced all remarks about
persons, families, dress, and engagements; he used to say, parents
were not aware how such topics frittered away the minds of young
people, and what inordinate importance they learned to attach to them,
when they heard them constantly talked about.
In his family, Sunday was a happy day; for it was made a day of
religious instruction, without any unnatural constraint upon the
gayety of the young. The Bible was the text book; the places mentioned
in it were traced on maps; the manners and customs of different
nations were explained; curious phenomena in the natural history of
those countries were read; in a word, everything was done to cherish
a spirit of humble, yet earnest inquiry. In this excellent family Mrs.
---- remained till her marriage. In the course of fifteen years, she
lost her uncle, her aunt, and her husband. She was left destitute, but
supported herself comfortably by her own exertions, and retained the
respect and admiration of a large circle of friends. Thus she passed
her life in cheerfulness and honor during ten years; at the end of
that time, her humble residence took fire from an adjoining house in
the night time, and she escaped by jumping from the chamber window.
In consequence of the injury received by this fall, her right arm was
amputated, and her right leg became entirely useless. Her friends were
very kind and attentive; and for a short time she consented to live
on their bounty; but, aware that the claims on private charity are
very numerous, she, with the genuine independence of a strong mind,
resolved to avail herself of the public provision for the helpless
poor. The name of going to the alms-house had nothing terrifying or
disgraceful to _her_; for she had been taught that _conduct_ is the
real standard of respectability. She is there, with a heart full of
thankfulness to the Giver of all things; she is patient, pious, and
uniformly cheerful. She instructs the young, encourages the old,
and makes herself delightful to all, by her various knowledge and
entertaining conversation. Her character reflects dignity on her
situation; and those who visit the establishment, come away with
sentiments of respect and admiration for this voluntary resident of
the alms-house.
* * * * *
What a contrast is afforded by the character of the woman who occupies
the room next hers! She is so indolent and filthy, that she can with
difficulty be made to attend to her own personal comfort; and even the
most patient are worn out with her perpetual fretfulness. Her mind
is continually infested with envy, hatred, and discontent She thinks
Providence has dealt hardly with her; that all the world are proud
and ungrateful; and that every one despises her because she is in the
alms-house. This pitiable state of mind is the natural result of her
education.
Her father was a respectable mechanic, and might have been a wealthy
one, had he not been fascinated by the beauty of a thoughtless, idle,
showy girl, whom he made his wife. The usual consequences followed--he
could not earn money so fast as she could spend it; the house became a
scene of discord; the daughter dressed in the fashion; learned to play
on the piano; was taught to think that being engaged in any useful
employment was very ungenteel; and that to be _engaged to be married_
was the chief end and aim of woman; the father died a bankrupt; the
weak and frivolous mother lingered along in beggary, for a while, and
then died of vexation and shame.
The friends of the family were very kind to the daughter; but her
extreme indolence, her vanity, pertness, and ingratitude, finally
exhausted the kindness of the most generous and forbearing; and as
nothing could induce her to personal exertion, she was at length
obliged to take shelter in the alms-house. Here her misery is
incurable. She has so long been accustomed to think dress and parade
the necessary elements of happiness, that she despises all that is
done for her comfort; her face has settled into an expression which
looks like an imbodied growl; every body is tired of listening to her
complaints; and even the little children run away, when they see her
coming.
May not those who have children to educate, learn a good lesson from
these women? Those who have wealth, have recently had many and bitter
lessons to prove how suddenly riches may take to themselves wings; and
those who _certainly_ have but little to leave, should indeed beware
how they bestow upon their children, the accursed inheritance of
indolent and extravagant habits.
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