‘My life,’ said Miss Betty Ford, ‘has hitherto passed very like that of
Miss Nanny Spruce, only with this difference, that as all her thoughts
were fixed on finery, my head ran on nothing but beauty. I had an elder
sister, who was, I must own, a great deal handsomer than me; and yet, in
my own mind, at that time, I did not think so, though I was always told
it was not for me to pretend to the same things with pretty Miss Kitty
(which was the name of my sister); and in all respects she was taken so
much more notice of than I was, that I perfectly hated her, and could
not help wishing that, by some accident, her beauty might be spoiled:
whenever any visitors came to the house, their praises of her gave me
the greatest vexation; and as I had made myself believe I was a very
great beauty, I thought that it was prejudice and ill-nature in all
around me, not to view me in that light. My sister Kitty was very good
natured; and though she was thus cried up for her beauty, and indulged
most on that account, yet she never insulted me, but did all in her
power to oblige me. But I could not love her, and sometimes would raise
lies against her, which did not signify, for she could always justify
herself. I could not give any reason for hating her, but her beauty,
for she was very good; but the better she was, I thought the worse
I appeared. I could not bear her praises without teasing and vexing
myself. At last, little Kitty died of a fever, to my great joy, though,
as everybody cried for her, I cried too for company, and because I would
not be thought ill-natured.
‘After Kitty’s death, I lived tolerably easy, till I came to school.
Then the same desire of beauty returned, and I hated all the misses who
were handsomer than myself, as much as I had before hated my sister, and
always took every opportunity of quarrelling with them, till I found my
own peace was concerned, in getting the better of this disposition; and
that, if I would have any content, I must not repine at my not being so
handsome as others.’
When Miss Betty Ford ceased, Miss Jenny said, ‘Indeed, my dear, it is
well you had not at that time the power of the eagle in the fable;
for your poor sister might then, like the peacock, have said in a soft
voice, “You are, indeed, a great beauty; but it lies in your beak and
your talons, which make it death to me to dispute it.”’
Miss Betty Ford rejoiced, that her power did not extend to enable her to
do mischief, before she had seen her folly. And now this little society,
in good humour and cheerfulness, attended their kind governess’s summons
to supper; and then, after the evening prayers, they retired to their
peaceful slumbers.