‘My mamma died when I was so young that I cannot remember her; and my
papa marrying again within half a year after her death, I was chiefly
left to the care of an old servant, that had lived many years in the
family. I was a great favourite of hers, and in everything had my own
way. When I was but four years old, if ever anything crossed me, I was
taught to beat it, and be revenged of it, even though it could not
feel. If I fell down and hurt myself, the very ground was to be beat for
hurting the sweet child: so that, instead of fearing to fall, I did not
dislike it; for I was pleased to find, that I was of such consequence,
that everything was to take care that I came by no harm.
‘I had a little playfellow, in a child of one of my papa’s servants, who
was to be entirely under my command. This girl I used to abuse and beat,
whenever I was out of humour; and when I had abused her, if she dared
to grumble, or make the least complaint, I thought it the greatest
impudence in the world; and, instead of mending my behaviour to her,
I grew very angry that she should dare to dispute my power: for my
governess always told her, that she was but a servant’s girl, and I was
a gentleman’s daughter; and that therefore she ought to give way to me;
for that I did her great honour in playing with her. Thus I thought the
distance between us was so great, that I never considered that she could
feel: but whilst I myself suffered nothing, I fancied everything was
very right; and it never once came into my head, that I could be in the
wrong.
‘This life I led till I came to school, when I was eleven years
old. Here I had nobody in my power; for all my schoolfellows thought
themselves my equals: so that I could only quarrel, fight, and contend
for everything: but being liable to be punished, when I was trying to be
revenged on any of my enemies, as I thought them, I never had a moment’s
ease or pleasure, till Miss Jenny was so good to take the pains to
convince me of my folly, and made me be reconciled to you, my dear
companions.’
Here Miss Sukey ceased; and Miss Jenny smiled with pleasure, at the
thoughts that she had been the cause of her happiness.
Mrs. Teachum being now come into the arbour, to see in what manner
her little scholars passed their time, they all rose up and do her
reverence. Miss Jenny gave her an account how they had been employed;
and she was much pleased with their innocent and useful entertainment;
but especially with the method they had found out of relating their past
lives. She took little Polly Suckling by the hand, and bidding the rest
follow, it being now dinner time, she walked towards the house, attended
by the whole company.
Mrs. Teachum had a great inclination to hear the history of the lives
of all her little scholars: but she thought, that being present at those
relations might be a balk to the narration, as perhaps they might be
ashamed freely to confess their past faults before her; and therefore,
that she might not be any bar in this case to the freedom of their
speech, and yet might be acquainted with their stories (though this was
not merely a vain curiosity, but a desire by this means to know their
different dispositions), she called Miss Jenny Peace to her parlour
after dinner, and told her, she would have her get the lives of her
companions in writing, and bring them to her; and Miss Jenny readily
promised to obey her commands.
In the evening our little company again met in their charming arbour;
where they were no sooner seated, with that calmness and content which
now always attended them, than the cries and sobs of a child, at a
little distance from their garden, disturbed their tranquility.
Miss Jenny, ever ready to relieve the distressed, ran immediately to
the place whence the sound seemed to come, and was followed by all her
companions: when, at a small distance from Mrs. Teachum’s garden-wall,
over which from the terrace our young company looked, they saw, under a
large spreading tree, part of the branches of which shaded a seat at
the end of that terrace, a middle-aged woman beating a little girl, who
looked to be about eight years old, so severely, that it was no wonder
her cries had reached their arbour.
Miss Jenny could not forbear calling out to the woman, and begging her
to forbear: and little Polly Suckling cried as much as the girl, and
desired she might not be beat any more. The woman, in respect to them,
let the child go; but said, ‘Indeed, young ladies, you don’t know what
a naughty girl she is: for though you now see me correct her in this
manner, yet am I in all respects very kind to her, and never strike her
but for lying. I have tried all means, good and bad, to break her of
this vile fault; but hitherto all I have done has been in vain: nor
can I ever get one word of truth out of her mouth. But I am resolved to
break her of this horrid custom, or I cannot live with her: for though I
am but poor, yet I will breed up my child to be honest, both in word and
deed.’
Miss Jenny could not but approve of what the poor woman said. However,
they all joined in begging forgiveness for the girl this time, provided
she promised amendment for the future: and then our little society
returned to their arbour.
Miss Jenny could not help expressing her great detestation of all lying
whatsoever; when Miss Dolly Friendly, colouring, confessed she had often
been guilty of this fault, though she never scarcely did it but for her
friend.
Here Miss Jenny, interrupting her, said, that even that was no sort of
excuse for lying; besides that the habit of it on any occasion, even
with the appearance of a good intention, would but too likely lead to
the use of it on many others: and as she did not doubt, by Miss Dolly’s
blushing, that she was now very sensible of the truth of what she had
just been saying, she hoped she would take this opportunity of obliging
them with the history of her past life: which request she made no
hesitation to grant, saying, the shame of her past faults should by o
means induce her to conceal them.