THE CAGE OF AMBITION.
"Well furnished, yet simply furnished--all good, plain, solid--that is
what I like and approve!"
Nelly looked up on hearing these words, and her glance became one of
surprise when she saw by whom they had been uttered. Pride was standing
with folded arms not at the door but at the window; his dark, haughty
expression was gone, and he looked mildly down at the child.
"Do not fear me, Nelly," he said, "I shall make no attempt to enter. I
know that you have been set against me by those who have little
acquaintance with me. I blame them not, they act for the best; and I
honour you for following the counsels of such friends as Duty and
Affection."
"Really," thought Nelly as she listened, "Pride is not so bad as I took
him to be."
"Perhaps," continued the cunning deceiver, "were my character better
known, even virtuous Duty herself would find me no foe, but a friend.
Mr. Learning I often have served, though he will not acknowledge my
services. I have spurred on his cleverest pupil to efforts which,
without me, he would never have made."
"But have you not brought Dick into some trouble?" suggested Nelly,
glancing timidly up at Pride.
"Such troubles as generous natures encounter, the dangers that await the
daring--dangers much to be preferred to the inglorious safety of the
sluggard. To yourself, Nelly, I appeal, for you are a girl of rare
sense; your brave perseverance in labour, your wise use of the bridge of
Patience, your attention to the call of Duty, show that you possess a
judgment far beyond what might be expected at your age."
"Pride is not half so ugly as I used to fancy that he was," thought
Nelly.
"To you I appeal," continued Pride. "Had I possessed the same influence
over Lubin as that which I have exercised over his brother, would not
the result have been for good? Would not Lubin's cottage have been
better furnished, his hours more nobly employed; would he not have
scorned to throw away so much money on sweetmeats; would not honest
Pride have kept him from the meanness of giving up everything for
Amusement?"
"Yes, I believe so," answered Nelly, and she was only speaking the
truth; she might have added, however, that no efforts are really noble,
no acts really worthy of praise, that are owing, not to a regard for
Duty, but to the influence of selfish Pride.
"I could not forbear calling here," continued the deceiver, who felt
that his artful words were beginning to make an impression, "to
congratulate you, as I do with all my heart, upon your late conduct, so
noble and wise."
"When--where?" asked the wondering Nelly.
"I speak of your triumph over Miss Folly--over that weak, silly,
frivolous creature who has, unhappily, so much power over the minds of
ignorant girls. Wise were you, Nelly, most wise, not to exchange your
beautiful Content for false pearls or prating Parade. You have a soul
above froth and frippery, you despise both flattery and Folly, no one
will catch you blowing bubbles of Fancy to furnish a most empty
dwelling!"
Nelly began to understand how it was that Dick had found Pride such a
pleasant companion.
"Yes," continued the deceiver, leaning through the open window, on the
sill of which he rested his arms, "you scorn that poor wretched Parade,
that screams 'Ain't I fine?' to each passer-by, as if seeking to attract
vulgar notice. Independent of others, you can stand by yourself; you
have won Content, you prize it, you deserve it; but has it never struck
your mind, Nelly, how difficult it may prove for you to _keep_ it?"
"No," replied Nelly, caressing her bird; "I shall never give my
favourite away."
"But your favourite may take wing and depart. Do you expect Content to
remain in this small cottage, with all the free air to soar in?"
Nelly looked uneasy and anxious, and pressed her bird closer to her
heart.
"It is the nature of birds to mount aloft. Trust me, Nelly, Content will
not linger long here while he has unrestrained use of his wings."
"I could not bear to lose him!" cried Nelly.
"To save you that pain," said Pride, watching closely her face as he
spoke, "see what I have brought for you here!" and he raised and placed
on the sill of the window the gilded cage of Ambition.
"Oh, what a splendid, magnificent cage!" cried poor simple Nelly,
suspecting no evil; "and did you really intend it for me?"
"See how ready I am to forgive and forget," said Pride, with a wicked,
mocking smile, as he saw the guileless child lay her hand on the
poisoned gift; "you have spoken against me, tried to drive me away--nay,
at this very moment, I believe, you would not suffer me to enter your
door--and yet I bring you this cage that you may never lose your
Content; that you may see it grow greater and greater, and never fly
from your home!"
"You are very good," began Nelly, and stopped short; she was startled at
the sound of her own words.
"Yes, I am _very good_, am I?" laughed Pride, as he turned away from the
window, and then began to stalk down the hill, muttering to himself as
he walked, "Ay, she will think me very good, doubtless, when she
sees--as she will see before morning--her beautiful, her cherished
Content gasping and swelling in the agonies of death!" and as in thought
he enjoyed his barbarous triumph, how hideous grew the dark features of
Pride.
But the wicked one was blowing the trumpet of victory before the battle
had been won! Nelly, indeed, looked with admiration and pleasure upon
the glittering cage, and was about to place her favourite within it,
when a thought arrested her hand. "My mother has warned us very often to
have nothing to do with Pride; Duty has told me again and again that
nowhere upon earth could I find a more dangerous companion than he.
Ought I to accept this gift? is it suitable, is it right, to take a
present from one whom I dare not invite to enter my cottage? Oh, surely
I have done wrong in listening with such pleasure to his flattering
words! What should I do now; what would Duty counsel me to do? I will
return to him his beautiful cage, and keep nothing, however charming,
that ever belonged to Pride!"
Catching up the tempting gift, Nelly hastened out of her cottage and saw
Pride descending the hill.
"Pride! Pride!" she called out as loudly as she could. The dark one
pretended not to hear, and only quickened his steps.
"Oh, how shall I ever overtake him," thought lame Nelly; and again she
called, but in vain, while she followed as fast as she could.
"Had I not better keep and use the cage, since it is so hard to return
it?" thought Nelly. Inclination bade her go back, and imprison Content
within the glittering bars; but the recollection of Duty was strong, and
exerting her utmost efforts, the child succeeded in overtaking Pride
when he had almost reached brook Bother.
"Oh, take this back," gasped the panting Nelly; "it is fine and
tempting, I own, but Duty would not allow me to keep it."
"You don't mean to insult me by returning my gift?" exclaimed Pride, in
a tone of fierce disappointment.
"I must do what is right," said Nelly, though frightened by his
threatening scowl; "take back your cage of Ambition, I dare give it no
place in my home!"
"Then--there, let it go!" thundered Pride; and snatching up the poisoned
cage, he sent it whirling round and round through the air till it fell
splashing into brook Bother! "I only wish that I could send you after
it!" he exclaimed, and gnashing his teeth with disappointment and fury,
Pride rushed away from the spot.
Little Nelly returned up the hill at a much slower pace than that at
which she had descended it. Ere she had gone half-way a bright silver
wing gleamed through the air, and Content alighted on her shoulder.
Perched there, the sweet bird poured forth so loud and joyous a lay that
one might fancy that he knew the danger from which he had so narrowly
escaped, and was aware of the fact which so many, by bitter experience,
have learned, that Content must be poisoned and perish if placed in the
gilded cage of Ambition.