I lived, till I was six years old, in a very large family; for I had
four sisters, all older than myself, and three brothers. We played
together, and passed our time much in the common way: sometimes we
quarrelled, and sometimes agreed, just as accident would have it. Our
parents had no partiality to any of us; so we had no cause to envy one
another on that account; and we lived tolerably well together.
‘When I was six years old, my grandmother by my father’s side (and
who was also my godmother) offering to take me to live with her, and
promising to look upon me as her own child, and entirely to provide
for me, my father and mother, as they had a large family, very readily
accepted her offer, and sent me directly to her house.
‘About half a year before this, she had taken another goddaughter, the
only child of my Aunt Bradly, who was lately dead, and whose husband was
gone to the West Indies. My cousin, Molly Bradly, was four years older
than I; and her mother had taken such pains in her education, that the
understood more than most girls of her age; and had so much liveliness,
good humour, and ingenuity, that everybody was fond of her; and wherever
we went together, all the notice was taken of my cousin, and I was very
little regarded.
‘Though I had all my life before lived in a family where every one in it
was older, and knew more than myself, yet I was very easy; for we were
generally together in the nursery; and nobody took much notice of us,
whether we knew anything, or whether we did not. But now, as I lived
in the house with only one companion, who was so much more admired than
myself, the comparison began to vex me, and I found a strong hatred and
aversion for my cousin arising in my mind; and yet, I verily believe I
should have got the better of it, and been willing to have learnt of my
cousin, and should have loved her for teaching me, if any one had told
me it was right; and if it had not been that Betty, the maid who took
care of us, used to be for ever teasing me about the preference that was
shown to my cousin, and the neglect I always met with. She used to tell
me, that she wondered how I could bear to see Miss Molly so caressed;
and that it was want of spirit not to think myself as good as she was;
and, if she was in my place, she would not submit to be taught by a
child; for my Cousin Molly frequently offered to instruct me in anything
she knew; but I used to say (as Betty had taught me) that I would not
learn of her; for she was but a child, though she was a little older;
and that I was not put under her care, but that of my grandmamma. But
she, poor woman, was so old and unhealthy, that she never troubled her
head much about us, but only to take care that we wanted for nothing. I
lived in this manner three years, fretting and vexing myself that I did
not know so much, nor was not so much liked, as my Cousin Molly, and yet
resolving not to learn anything she could teach me; when my grandmamma
was advised to send me to school; but, as soon as I came here, the case
was much worse; for, instead of one person to envy, I found many;
for all my schoolfellows had learned more than I; and, instead of
endeavouring to get knowledge, I began to hate all those who knew more
than myself; and this, I am now convinced, was owing to that odious
envy, which, if not cured, would always have made me as miserable as
Mrs. Dison was and which constantly tormented me, till we came to live
in that general peace and good-humour we have lately enjoyed: and as I
hope this wicked spirit was not natural to me, but only blown up by
that vile Betty’s instigations, I don’t doubt but I shall now grow
very happy, and learn something every day, and be pleased with being
instructed, and that I shall always love those who are so good as to
instruct me.’
Here Miss Patty Lockit ceased; and the dinner-bell called them from
their arbour.
Mrs. Teachum, as soon as they had dined, told them, that she thought
it proper they would use some bodily exercise, that they might not,
by sitting constantly still, impair their health. Not but that she was
greatly pleased with their innocent and instructive manner of employing
their leisure hours; but this wise woman knew that the faculties of the
mind grow languid and useless, when the health of the body is lost.
As soon as they understood their governess’s pleasure, they readily
resolved to obey her commands, and desired that, after school, they
might take a walk as far as the dairy house, to eat some curds and
cream. Mrs. Teachum not only granted their request, but said she would
dispense with their school-attendance that afternoon, in order to give
them more time for their walk, which was between two and three miles;
and she likewise added, that she herself would go with them. They all
flew like lightning to get their hats, and to equip themselves for their
walk; and, with cheerful countenances, attended Mrs. Teachum in the
schoolroom. This good gentlewoman, so far from laying them under a
restraint by her presence, encouraged them to run in the fields, and
to gather flowers; which they did, each miss trying to get the best
to present to her governess. In this agreeable manner, with laughing,
talking, and singing, they arrived at the dairy-house, before they
imagined they had walked a mile.
There lived at this dairy-house an old woman, near seventy years of age.
She had a fresh colour in her face; but was troubled with the palsy,
that made her head shake a little. She was bent forward with age, and
her hair was quite grey: but she retained much good-humour, and received
this little party with hearty welcome.
Our little gentry flocked about this good woman, asking her a thousand
questions. Miss Polly Suckling asked her, ‘Why she shook her head so?’
and Miss Patty Lockit said, ‘She hoped her hair would never be of such a
colour.’
Miss Jenny Peace was afraid they would say something that would offend
the old woman, and advised them to turn their discourse. ‘Oh! let the
dear rogues alone,’ says the old woman; ‘I like their prattle;’ and,
taking Miss Polly by the hand, said, ‘Come, my dear, we will go into
the dairy, and skim the milk pans.’ At which words they all run into the
dairy, and some of them dipped their fingers in the cream; which when
Mrs. Nelly perceived (who was the eldest daughter of the old woman,
and who managed all the affairs) she desired they would walk out of the
dairy, and she would bring them what was fit for them: upon which Miss
Dolly Friendly said, ‘she had rather be as old and good-natured as the
mother, than as young and ill-natured as the daughter.’
The old woman desired her company to sit down at a long table, which
she soon supplied with plenty of cream, strawberries, brown bread, and
sugar. Mrs. Teachum took her place at the upper end, and the rest sat
down in their usual order, and eat plentifully of these good things.
After which, Mrs. Teachum told them they might walk out and see the
garden and orchard, and by that time it would be proper to return home.
The good old woman showed them the way into the garden; and gathered the
finest roses and pinks she could pick, and gave them to Miss Polly, to
whom she had taken a great Fancy.
At their taking leave, Mrs. Teachum rewarded the good old woman for her
trouble; who, on her part, expressed much pleasure in feeing so many
well-behaved young ladies; and said, she hoped they would come often.
These little friends had not walked far in their way home, before they
met a miserable ragged fellow, who begged their charity. Our young
folks immediately gathered together about this poor creature, and were
hearkening very earnestly to his story, which he set forth in a terrible
manner, of having been burnt out of his house, and, from one distress
to another, reduced to that miserable state they saw him in, when Mrs.
Teachum came up to them. She was not a little pleased to see all
the misses’ hands in their pockets, pulling out half-pence, and some
sixpences. She told them, she approved of their readiness to assist the
poor fellow, as he appeared to them; but oftentimes those fellows made
up dismal stories without much foundation, and because they were lazy,
and would not work. Miss Dolly said, indeed she believed the poor
man spoke truth; for he looked honest; and, besides, he seemed almost
starved.
Mrs. Teachum told them it would be late before they could get home;
so, after each of them had given what they thought proper, they pursued
their walk, prattling all the way.
They got home about nine o’clock; and, as they did not choose any
supper, the bell rang for prayers; after which our young travellers
retired to their rest, where we doubt not but they had a good repose.