From fb92e888ee15ae75f817ec9b24f4b9f63c8bb2aa Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Roger Frank Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2025 04:36:02 -0700 Subject: initial commit of ebook 11121 --- .gitattributes | 3 + 11121-0.txt | 1557 +++++++++++++++++++++++ 11121-h/11121-h.htm | 1935 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 11121-h/images/appleton.jpg | Bin 0 -> 9486 bytes 11121-h/images/bible.jpg | Bin 0 -> 9976 bytes 11121-h/images/blossoms.jpg | Bin 0 -> 8180 bytes 11121-h/images/bracelets.jpg | Bin 0 -> 9154 bytes 11121-h/images/girls.jpg | Bin 0 -> 16364 bytes 11121-h/images/picturebooks.jpg | Bin 0 -> 6368 bytes 11121-h/images/prize.jpg | Bin 0 -> 8041 bytes 11121-h/images/rhymes.jpg | Bin 0 -> 8783 bytes 11121-h/images/songs.jpg | Bin 0 -> 6098 bytes 11121-h/images/storybook.jpg | Bin 0 -> 8989 bytes 11121-h/images/tales.jpg | Bin 0 -> 7102 bytes 11121-h/images/treasure.jpg | Bin 0 -> 15487 bytes LICENSE.txt | 11 + README.md | 2 + old/11121-h.zip | Bin 0 -> 150009 bytes old/11121-h/11121-h.htm | 2382 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ old/11121-h/images/appleton.jpg | Bin 0 -> 9486 bytes old/11121-h/images/bible.jpg | Bin 0 -> 9976 bytes old/11121-h/images/blossoms.jpg | Bin 0 -> 8180 bytes old/11121-h/images/bracelets.jpg | Bin 0 -> 9154 bytes old/11121-h/images/girls.jpg | Bin 0 -> 16364 bytes old/11121-h/images/picturebooks.jpg | Bin 0 -> 6368 bytes old/11121-h/images/prize.jpg | Bin 0 -> 8041 bytes old/11121-h/images/rhymes.jpg | Bin 0 -> 8783 bytes old/11121-h/images/songs.jpg | Bin 0 -> 6098 bytes old/11121-h/images/storybook.jpg | Bin 0 -> 8989 bytes old/11121-h/images/tales.jpg | Bin 0 -> 7102 bytes old/11121-h/images/treasure.jpg | Bin 0 -> 15487 bytes old/11121.txt | 1979 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ old/11121.zip | Bin 0 -> 32638 bytes 33 files changed, 7869 insertions(+) create mode 100644 .gitattributes create mode 100644 11121-0.txt create mode 100644 11121-h/11121-h.htm create mode 100644 11121-h/images/appleton.jpg create mode 100644 11121-h/images/bible.jpg create mode 100644 11121-h/images/blossoms.jpg create mode 100644 11121-h/images/bracelets.jpg create mode 100644 11121-h/images/girls.jpg create mode 100644 11121-h/images/picturebooks.jpg create mode 100644 11121-h/images/prize.jpg create mode 100644 11121-h/images/rhymes.jpg create mode 100644 11121-h/images/songs.jpg create mode 100644 11121-h/images/storybook.jpg create mode 100644 11121-h/images/tales.jpg create mode 100644 11121-h/images/treasure.jpg create mode 100644 LICENSE.txt create mode 100644 README.md create mode 100644 old/11121-h.zip create mode 100644 old/11121-h/11121-h.htm create mode 100644 old/11121-h/images/appleton.jpg create mode 100644 old/11121-h/images/bible.jpg create mode 100644 old/11121-h/images/blossoms.jpg create mode 100644 old/11121-h/images/bracelets.jpg create mode 100644 old/11121-h/images/girls.jpg create mode 100644 old/11121-h/images/picturebooks.jpg create mode 100644 old/11121-h/images/prize.jpg create mode 100644 old/11121-h/images/rhymes.jpg create mode 100644 old/11121-h/images/songs.jpg create mode 100644 old/11121-h/images/storybook.jpg create mode 100644 old/11121-h/images/tales.jpg create mode 100644 old/11121-h/images/treasure.jpg create mode 100644 old/11121.txt create mode 100644 old/11121.zip diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/11121-0.txt b/11121-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..81ac4c2 --- /dev/null +++ b/11121-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1557 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11121 *** + +[Illustration: The Bracelets. Edgeworth.] + +[Illustration] + + +THE BRACELETS; + +OR, +AMIABILITY AND INDUSTRY REWARDED. + + +BY +MARIA EDGEWORTH, + +AUTHOR OF "POPULAR TALES," "MORAL TALES," ETC. ETC. + +With Illustrations from Original Designs. + + + +1850. + + + + +THE BRACELETS. + + * * * * * + +In a beautiful and retired part of England lived Mrs. Villars, a +lady whose accurate understanding, benevolent heart, and steady +temper, peculiarly fitted her for the most difficult, as well as most +important of all occupations--the education of youth. This task she had +undertaken; and twenty young persons were put under her care, with the +perfect confidence of their parents. No young people could be happier; +they were good and gay, emulous, but not envious of each other; for Mrs. +Villars was impartially just. Her praise they felt to be the reward of +merit, and her blame they knew to be the necessary consequence of ill +conduct; to the one, therefore, they patiently submitted, and in the +other consciously rejoiced. They rose with fresh cheerfulness in the +morning, eager to pursue their various occupations; they returned in the +evening with renewed ardour to their amusements, and retired to rest +satisfied with themselves and pleased with each other. + +Nothing so much contributed to preserve a spirit of emulation in this +little society as a small honorary distinction given annually, as the +prize of successful application. The prize this year was peculiarly dear +to each individual, as it was the picture of a friend whom they all +dearly loved--it was the picture of Mrs. Villars in a small bracelet. +It wanted neither gold, pearls, nor precious stones, to give it value. + +The two foremost candidates for the prize were Cecilia and Leonora. +Cecilia was the most intimate friend of Leonora, but Leonora was only +the favourite companion of Cecilia. + +Cecilia was of an active, ambitious, enterprising disposition; more +eager in the pursuit than happy in the enjoyment of her wishes. Leonora +was of a contented, unaspiring, temperate character, not easily roused +to action, but indefatigable when once excited. Leonora was proud, +Cecilia was vain. Her vanity made her more dependent upon the +approbation of others, and therefore more anxious to please, than +Leonora; but that very vanity made her, at the same time, more apt to +offend. In short, Leonora was the most anxious to avoid what was wrong, +Cecilia the most ambitious to do what was right. Few of their companions +loved, but many were led by Cecilia, for she was often successful; many +loved Leonora, but none were ever governed by her, for she was too +indolent to govern. + +On the first day of May, about six o'clock in the evening, a great bell +rang, to summon this little society into a hall, where the prize was to +be decided. A number of small tables were placed in a circle in the +middle of the hall; seats for the young competitors were raised one +above another, in a semicircle, some yards distant from the table; and +the judges' chairs, under canopies of lilacs and luburnums, forming +another semicircle, closed the amphitheatre. Every one put their +writings, their drawings, their works of various kinds, upon the tables +appropriated for each. How unsteady were the last steps to these tables! +How each little hand trembled as it laid down its claims! Till this +moment every one thought herself secure of success, but now each felt an +equal certainty of being excelled; and the heart which a few minutes +before exulted with hope, now palpitated with fear. + +The works were examined, the preference adjudged; and the prize was +declared to be the happy Cecilia's. Mrs. Villars came forward smiling, +with the bracelet in her hand. Cecilia was behind her companions, on the +highest row; all the others gave way, and she was on the floor in an +instant. Mrs. Villars clasped the bracelet on her arm; the clasp was +heard through the whole hall, and a universal smile of congratulation +followed. Mrs. Villars kissed Cecilia's little hand; and "now," said +she, "go and rejoice with your companions; the remainder of the day is +yours." + +Oh! you whose hearts are elated with success, whose bosoms beat high +with joy, in the moment of triumph, command yourselves; let that triumph +be moderate, that it may be lasting. Consider that, though you are good, +you may be better, and though wise, you may be weak. + +As soon as Mrs. Villars had given her the bracelet, all Cecilia's little +companions crowded round her, and they all left the hall in an instant. +She was full of spirits and vanity--she ran on, running down the flight +of steps which led to the garden. In her violent haste, Cecilia threw +down the little Louisa. Louisa had a china mandarin in her hand, which +her mother had sent her that very morning; it was all broke to pieces by +the fall. + +"Oh! my mandarin!" cried Louisa, bursting into tears. The crowd behind +Cecilia suddenly stopped. Louisa sat on the lowest step, fixing her eyes +upon the broken pieces; then turning round, she hid her face in her +hands upon the step above her. In turning, Louisa threw down the remains +of the mandarin; the head, which she had placed in the socket, fell from +the shoulders, and rolled bounding along the gravel-walk. Cecilia +pointed to the head and to the socket, and burst out laughing; the crowd +behind laughed too. At any other time they would have been more inclined +to cry with Louisa; but Cecilia had just been successful, and sympathy +with the victorious often makes us forget justice. Leonora, however, +preserved her usual consistency. "Poor Louisa!" said she, looking first +at her, and then reproachfully at Cecilia. Cecilia turned sharply round, +colouring, half with shame and half with vexation. "I could not help it, +Leonora," said she. + +"But you could have helped laughing, Cecilia." "I didn't laugh at +Louisa; and I surely may laugh, for it does nobody any harm." "I am +sure, however," replied Leonora, "I should not have laughed if I +had----" "No, to be sure you wouldn't, because Louisa is your favourite. +I can buy her another mandarin the next time that old pedlar comes to +the door, if that's all. I _can_ do no more. _Can_ I?" said she, +turning round to her companions. "No, to be sure," said they, "that's all +fair." + +Cecilia looked triumphantly at Leonora. Leonora let go her hand; she ran +on, and the crowd followed. When she got to the end of the garden, she +turned round to see if Leonora had followed her too; but was vexed to +see her still sitting on the steps with Louisa. "I'm sure I can do no +more than buy her another! _Can_ I?" said she, again appealing to her +companions. + +"No, to be sure," said they, eager to begin their plays. How many did +they begin and leave off before Cecilia could be satisfied with any. +Her thoughts were discomposed, and her mind was running upon something +else; no wonder then that she did not play with her usual address. She +grew still more impatient; she threw down the nine-pins: "Come, let us +play at something else--at threading the needle," said she, holding out +her hand. They all yielded to the hand which wore the bracelet. But +Cecilia, dissatisfied with herself, was discontented with everybody +else; her tone grew more and more peremptory,--one was too rude, another +too stiff; one was too slow, another too quick; in short, everything +went wrong, and everybody was tired of her humours. + +The triumph of _success_ is absolute, but short. Cecilia's companions at +length recollected that, though she had embroidered a tulip and painted +a peach better than they, yet that they could play as well, and keep +their tempers better: she was thrown out. Walking towards the house in a +peevish mood, she met Leonora; she passed on. + +"Cecilia!" cried Leonora. "Well, what do you want with me?" "Are we +friends?" "You know best." "We are; if you will let me tell Louisa that +you are sorry--" Cecilia, interrupting her, "O! pray let me hear no +more about Louisa!" "What! not confess that you were in the wrong! Oh, +Cecilia! I had a better opinion of you." "Your opinion is of no +consequence to me now; for you don't love me." "No, not when you are +unjust, Cecilia." "Unjust! I am not unjust; and if I were, you are not +my governess." "No, but am I not your friend?" "I don't desire to have +such a friend, who would quarrel with me for happening to throw down +little Louisa--how could I tell that she had a mandarin in her hand? and +when it was broken, could I do more than promise her another? Was that +unjust?" "But you know, Cecilia----" "_I know_," ironically, "I know, +Leonora, that you love Louisa better than you do me; that's the +injustice!" "If I did," replied Leonora gravely, "it would be no +injustice, if she deserved it better." "How can you compare Louisa to +me!" exclaimed Cecilia, indignantly. + +Leonora made no answer, for she was really hurt at her friend's conduct; +she walked on to join the rest of her companions. They were dancing in a +round upon the grass. Leonora declined dancing, but they prevailed upon +her to sing for them; her voice was not so sprightly, but it was sweeter +than usual. Who sung so sweetly as Leonora? or who danced so nimbly as +Louisa? + +Away she was flying, all spirits and gayety, when Leonora's eyes full of +tears, caught hers. Louisa silently let go her companions' hands, and +quitting the dance, ran up to Leonora to inquire what was the matter +with her. + +"Nothing," replied she, "that need interrupt you,--Go, my dear, and +dance again." + +Louisa immediately ran away to her garden, and pulling off her little +straw hat, she lined it with the freshest strawberry leaves, and was +upon her knees before the strawberry bed when Cecilia came by. Cecilia +was not disposed to be pleased with Louisa at that instant, for two +reasons: because she was jealous of her, and because she had injured +her. The injury, however, Louisa had already forgotten; perhaps, to tell +things just as they were, she was not quite so much inclined to kiss +Cecilia as she would have been before the fall of her mandarin, but this +was the utmost extent of her malice, if it can be called malice. + +"What are you doing there, little one?" said Cecilia in a sharp tone. +"Are you eating your early strawberries here all alone?" "No," said +Louisa, mysteriously; "I am not eating them." "What are you doing with +them--can't you answer then? I'm not playing with you, child!" "Oh! as +to that, Cecilia, you know I need not answer you unless I choose it; not +but what I would, if you would only ask me civilly--and if you would not +call me _child_." "Why should not I call you child?" +"Because--because--I don't know;--but I wish you would stand out of my +light, Cecilia, for you are trampling upon all my strawberries." "I have +not touched one, you covetous little creature!" "Indeed--indeed, +Cecilia, I am not covetous. I have not eaten one of them--they are all +for your friend Leonora. See how unjust you are." "Unjust! that's a cant +word you learned of my friend Leonora, as you call her, but she is not +my friend now." "Not your friend now!" exclaimed Louisa. "Then I am sure +you must have done something _very_ naughty." "How!" said Cecilia, +catching hold of her. "Let me go--Let me go!" cried Louisa, struggling. +"I won't give you one of my strawberries, for I don't like you at all." +"You don't, don't you?" said Cecilia, provoked; and catching the hat +from Louisa, she flung the strawberries over the hedge. "Will nobody +help me!" exclaimed Louisa, snatching her hat again, and running away +with all her force. + +"What have I done?" said Cecilia, recollecting herself. "Louisa! +Louisa!" She called very loud, but Louisa would not turn back! she was +running to her companions. + +They were still dancing, hand in hand, upon the grass, whilst Leonora, +sitting in the middle, sang to them. + +"Stop! stop! and hear me!" cried Louisa, breaking through them; and +rushing up to Leonora, she threw her hat at her feet, and panting for +breath---- + +"It was full--almost full of my own strawberries," said she, "the first +I ever got out of my own garden. They should all have been for you, +Leonora, but now I have not one left. They are all gone!" said she; and +she hid her face in Leonora's lap. + +"Gone! gone where?" said every one at once, running up to her. "Cecilia! +Cecilia!" said she, sobbing. "Cecilia!" repeated Leonora; "what of +Cecilia?" "Yes, it was--it was." + +"Come along with me," said Leonora, unwilling to have her friend +exposed; "come, and I will get you some more strawberries." "Oh, I don't +mind the strawberries, indeed; but I wanted to have had the pleasure of +giving them to you." + +Leonora took her up in her arms to carry her away, but it was too late. + +"What, Cecilia! Cecilia, who won the prize! It could not surely be +Cecilia," whispered every busy tongue. + +At this instant the bell summoned them in. + +"There she is!--There she is!" cried they, pointing to an arbour, where +Cecilia was standing, ashamed and alone; and as they passed her, some +lifted up their hands and eyes with astonishment, others whispered and +huddled mysteriously together, as if to avoid her. Leonora walked on, +her head a little higher than usual. + +"Leonora!" said Cecilia, timorously, as she passed. + +"Oh, Cecilia! who would have thought that you had a bad heart?" + +Cecilia turned her head aside and burst into tears. + +"Oh no, indeed, she has not a bad heart," cried Louisa, running up to +her, and throwing her arms round her neck; "she's very sorry!--are not +you, Cecilia? But don't cry any more, for I forgive you with all my +heart; and I love you now, though I said I did not when I was in a +passion." + +"O, you sweet-tempered girl! how I love you," said Cecilia, kissing her. + +"Well then, if you do, come along with me, and dry your eyes, for they +are so red." + +"Go, my dear, and I'll come presently." + +"Then I will keep a place for you next to me; but you must make haste, +or you will have to come in when we have all set down to supper, and +then you will be so stared at! So don't stay now." + +Cecilia followed Louisa with her eyes till she was out of sight. "And +is Louisa," said she to herself, "the only one who would stop to pity +me? Mrs. Villars told me that this day should be mine; she little +thought how it would end!" Saying these words, Cecilia threw herself +down upon the ground; her arm leaned upon a heap of turf which she had +raised in the morning, and which in the pride and gayety of her heart, +she had called her throne. + +At this instant, Mrs. Villars came out to enjoy the serenity of the +evening, and passing by the arbour where Cecilia lay, she started; +Cecilia rose hastily. + +"Who is there?" said Mrs. Villars. "It is I, madam." "And who is I?" +"Cecilia." "Why, what keeps you here, my dear--where are your +companions? this is, perhaps, one of the happiest days of your life." + +"O no, madam!" said Cecilia, hardly able to repress her tears. + +"Why, my dear, what is the matter?" + +Cecilia hesitated. + +"Speak, my dear. You know that when I ask you to tell me any thing as +your friend, I never punish you as your governess; therefore you need +not be afraid to tell me what is the matter." + +"No, madam, I am not afraid, but ashamed. You asked me why I was not +with my companions. Why, madam, because they have all left me, and----" +"And what, my dear?" "And I see that they all dislike me. And yet I +don't know why they should, for I take as much pains to please as any of +them. All my masters seem satisfied with me; and you yourself, ma'am, +were pleased this very morning to give me this bracelet; and I am sure +you would not have given it to any one who did not deserve it." +"Certainly not. You did deserve it for your application--for your +successful application. The prize was for the most assiduous, not for +the most amiable." "Then if it had been for the most amiable it would +not have been for me?" + +Mrs. Villars, smiling--"Why, what do you think yourself, Cecilia? You +are better able to judge than I am. I can determine whether or no you +apply to what I give you to learn; whether you attend to what I desire +you to do, and avoid what I desire you not to do. I know that I like you +as a pupil, but I cannot know that I should like you as a companion, +unless I were your companion; therefore I must judge of what I should do +by seeing what others do in the same circumstances." + +"O, pray don't, ma'am; for then you would not love me neither. And yet I +think you would love me; for I hope that I am as ready to oblige, and as +good-natured, as----" "Yes, Cecilia, I don't doubt but that you would be +very good-natured to me, but I am afraid that I should not like you +unless you were good-tempered too." "But, ma'am, by good-natured I mean +good-tempered--it's all the same thing." "No, indeed, I understand by +them two very different things. You are good-natured, Cecilia, for you +are desirous to oblige and serve your companions, to gain them praise +and save them from blame, to give them pleasure, and to relieve them +from pain; but Leonora is good-tempered, for she can bear with their +foibles, and acknowledge her own. Without disputing about the right, she +sometimes yields to those who are in the wrong. In short, her temper is +perfectly good, for it can bear and forbear." + +"I wish that mine could," said Cecilia, sighing. + +"It may," replied Mrs. Villars; "but it is not wishes alone which can +improve us in any thing. Turn the same exertion and perseverance which +have won you the prize to-day to this object, and you will meet with the +same success; perhaps not on the first, the second, or the third +attempt, but depend upon it that you will at last; every new effort will +weaken your bad habits and strengthen your good ones. But you must not +expect to succeed all at once; I repeat it to you, for habit must be +counteracted by habit. It would be as extravagant in us to expect that +all our faults could be destroyed by one punishment, were it ever so +severe, as it was in the Roman emperor we were reading of a few days ago +to wish that all the heads of his enemies were upon one neck, that he +might cut them off by one blow." + +Here Mrs. Villars took Cecilia by the hand, and they began to walk home. +Such was the nature of Cecilia's mind, that, when any object was +forcibly impressed on her imagination, it caused a temporary suspension +of her reasoning faculties. Hope was too strong a stimulus for her +spirits; and when fear did take possession of her mind, it was attended +with total debility. Her vanity was now as much mortified as in the +morning it had been elated. She walked on with Mrs. Villars in silence +until they came under the shade of the elm-tree walk, and then, fixing +her eyes upon Mrs. Villars, she stopped short. "Do you think, madam," +said she, with hesitation, "do you think, madam, that I have a bad +heart?" + +"A bad heart, my dear! why, what put that into your head?" + +"Leonora said that I had, ma'am, and I felt ashamed when she said so." + +"But, my dear, how can Leonora tell whether your heart be good or bad? +However, in the first place, tell me what you mean by a bad heart." + +"Indeed, I do not know what is meant by it, ma'am; but it is something +which every body hates." + +"And why do they hate it?" + +"Because they think that it will hurt them, ma'am, I believe; and that +those who have bad hearts take delight in doing mischief; and that they +never do any body good but for their own ends." + +"Then the best definition which you can give me of a bad heart is that +it is some constant propensity to hurt others, and to do wrong for the +sake of doing wrong." + +"Yes, ma'am, but that is not all neither; there is still something else +meant; something which I cannot express--which, indeed, I never +distinctly understood; but of which, therefore, I was the more afraid." + +"Well, then, to begin with what you do understand, tell me, Cecilia, do +you really think it possible to be wicked merely for the love of +wickedness? No human being becomes wicked all at once; a man begins by +doing wrong because it is, or because he thinks it is for his interest; +if he continue to do so, he must conquer his sense of shame, and lose +his love of virtue. But how can you, Cecilia, who feel such a strong +sense of shame, and such an eager desire to improve, imagine that you +have a bad heart?" + +"Indeed, madam, I never did, until every body told me so, and then I +began to be frightened about it. This very evening, ma'am, when I was +in a passion, I threw little Louisa's strawberries away; which, I am +sure, I was very sorry for afterwards; and Leonora and every body cried +out that I had a bad heart; but I am sure that I was only in a passion." + +"Very likely. And when you are in a passion, as you call it, Cecilia, +you see that you are tempted to do harm to others; if they do not feel +angry themselves, they do not sympathize with you; they do not perceive +the motive which actuates you, and then they say that you have a bad +heart. I dare say, however, when your passion is over, and when you +recollect yourself, you are very sorry for what you have done and said; +are not you?" + +"Yes, indeed, madam, very sorry." + +"Then make that sorrow of use to you, Cecilia, and fix it steadily in +your thoughts, as you hope to be good and happy, that, if you suffer +yourself to yield to your passion upon every trifling occasion, anger +and its consequences will become familiar to your mind; and in the same +proportion your sense of shame will be weakened, till what you began +with doing from sudden impulse you will end with doing from habit and +choice; and then you would, indeed, according to our definition, have a +bad heart." + +"Oh, madam! I hope--I am sure I never shall." + +"No, indeed, Cecilia; I do, indeed, believe that you never will; on the +contrary, I think that you have a very good disposition, and, what is of +infinitely more consequence to you, an active desire of improvement. +Show me that you have as much perseverance as you have candour, and I +shall not despair of your becoming every thing that I could wish." + +Here Cecilia's countenance brightened, and she ran up the steps in +almost as high spirits as she ran down them in the morning. + +"Good night to you, Cecilia," said Mrs. Villars, as she was crossing the +hall. "Good night to you, madam," said Cecilia; and she ran up stairs +to bed. + +She could not go to sleep, but she lay awake reflecting upon the events +of the preceding day, and forming resolutions for the future; at the +same time, considering that she had resolved, and resolved without +effect, she wished to give her mind some more powerful motive; ambition +she knew to be its most powerful incentive. + +"Have I not," said she to herself, "already won the prize of +application, and cannot the same application procure me a much higher +prize? Mrs. Villars said that if the prize had been promised to the most +amiable it would not have been given to me; perhaps it would not +yesterday--perhaps it might not to-morrow; but that is no reason that I +should despair of ever deserving it." + +In consequence of this reasoning, Cecilia formed a design of proposing +to her companions that they should give a prize, the first of the +ensuing month (the first of June), to the most amiable. Mrs. Villars +applauded the scheme, and her companions adopted it with the greatest +alacrity. + +"Let the prize," said they, "be a bracelet of our own hair;" and +instantly their shining scissors were procured, and each contributed a +lock of her hair. They formed the most beautiful gradation of colours, +from the palest auburn to the brightest black. Who was to have the +honour of plaiting them was now the question. + +Caroline begged that she might, as she could plait very neatly, she +said. + +Cecilia, however, was equally sure that she could do it much better, and +a dispute would inevitably have ensued, if Cecilia, recollecting herself +just as her colour rose to scarlet, had not yielded--yielded with no +very good grace indeed, but as well as could be expected for the first +time. For it is habit which confers ease; and without ease, even in +moral actions, there can be no grace. + +The bracelet was plaited in the neatest manner by Caroline, finished +round the edge with silver twist, and on it was worked, in the smallest +silver letters, this motto, TO THE MOST AMIABLE. The moment it was +completed, every body begged to try it on. It fastened with little +silver clasps, and as it was made large enough for the eldest girls, it +was too large for the youngest; of this they bitterly complained, and +unanimously entreated that it might be cut to fit them. + +"How foolish!" exclaimed Cecilia. "Don't you perceive that, if you win +it, you have nothing to do but to put the clasps a little further from +the edge? but if we get it, we can't make it larger." + +"Very true," said they, "but you need not to have called us foolish, +Cecilia!" + +It was by such hasty and unguarded expressions as these that Cecilia +offended; a slight difference in the manner makes a very material one in +the effect. Cecilia lost more love by general petulance than she could +gain by the greatest particular exertions. + +How far she succeeded in curing herself of this defect, how far she +became deserving of the bracelet, and to whom the bracelet was given, +shall be told in the history of the first of June. + + + + +CONTINUATION OF THE BRACELETS. + + +The first of June was now arrived, and all the young competitors were in +a state of the most anxious suspense. Leonora and Cecilia continued to +be the foremost candidates; their quarrel had never been finally +adjusted, and their different pretensions now retarded all thoughts of a +reconciliation. Cecilia, though she was capable of acknowledging any of +her faults in public before all her companions, could not humble herself +in private to Leonora; Leonora was her equal, they were her inferiors; +and submission is much easier to a vain mind, where it appears to be +voluntary, than when it is the necessary tribute to justice or candour. +So strongly did Cecilia feel this truth that she even delayed making any +apology, or coming to any explanation with Leonora, until success should +once more give her the palm. + +If I win the bracelet to-day, said she to herself, I will solicit the +return of Leonora's friendship; it will be more valuable to me than even +the bracelet; and at such a time, and asked in such a manner, she surely +cannot refuse it to me. Animated with this hope of a double triumph, +Cecilia canvassed with the most zealous activity; by constant attention +and exertion she had considerably abated the violence of her temper, and +changed the course of her habits. Her powers of pleasing were now +excited, instead of her abilities to excel; and, if her talents appeared +less brilliant, her character was acknowledged to be more amiable; so +great an influence upon our manners and conduct have the objects of our +ambition. Cecilia was now, if possible, more than ever desirous of +doing what was right, but she had not yet acquired sufficient fear of +doing wrong. This was the fundamental error of her mind; it arose in a +great measure from her early education. + +Her mother died when she was very young; and though her father had +supplied her place in the best and kindest manner, he had insensibly +infused into his daughter's mind a portion of that enterprising, +independent spirit, which he justly deemed essential to the character of +her brother. This brother was some years older than Cecilia, but he had +always been the favourite companion of her youth; what her father's +precepts inculcated, his example enforced, and even Cecilia's virtues +consequently became such as were more estimable in a man than desirable +in a female. + +All small objects and small errors she had been taught to disregard as +trifles; and her impatient disposition was perpetually leading her into +more material faults; yet her candour in confessing these, she had been +suffered to believe, was sufficient reparation and atonement. + +Leonora, on the contrary, who had been educated by her mother in a +manner more suited to her sex, had a character and virtues more peculiar +to a female; her judgment had been early cultivated, and her good sense +employed in the regulation of her conduct; she had been habituated to +that restraint, which, as a woman, she was to expect in life, and early +accustomed to yield; compliance in her seemed natural and graceful. + +Yet, notwithstanding the gentleness of her temper, she was in reality +more independent than Cecilia; she had more reliance upon her own +judgment, and more satisfaction in her own approbation. Though far from +insensible to praise, she was not liable to be misled by the +indiscriminate love of admiration; the uniform kindness of her manner, +the consistency and equality of her character, had fixed the esteem and +passive love of her companions. + +By passive love, we mean that species of affection which makes us +unwilling to offend, rather than anxious to oblige; which is more a +habit than an emotion of the mind. For Cecilia, her companions felt +active love, for she was active in showing her love to them. + +Active love arises spontaneously in the mind, after feeling particular +instances of kindness, without reflection on the past conduct or general +character; it exceeds the merits of its object, and is connected with a +feeling of generosity, rather than with a sense of justice. + +Without determining which species of love is the more flattering to +others, we can easily decide which is the most agreeable feeling to our +own minds; we give our hearts more credit for being generous than for +being just; and we feel more self-complacency when we give our love +voluntarily, than when we yield it as a tribute which we cannot +withhold. Though Cecilia's companions might not know all this in theory, +they proved it in practice; for they loved her in a much higher +proportion to her merits than they loved Leonora. + +Each of the young judges were to signify their choice by putting a red +or a white shell into a vase prepared for the purpose. Cecilia's colour +was red, Leonora's white. In the morning nothing was to be seen but +these shells, nothing talked of but the long-expected event of the +evening. Cecilia, following Leonora's example, had made it a point of +honour not to inquire of any individual her vote previous to their final +determination. + +They were both sitting together in Louisa's room; Louisa was recovering +from the measles. Every one, during her illness, had been desirous of +attending her; but Leonora and Cecilia were the only two that were +permitted to see her, as they alone had had the distemper. They were +both assiduous in their care of Louisa; but Leonora's want of exertion +to overcome any disagreeable feelings of sensibility often deprived her +of presence of mind, and prevented her being so constantly useful as +Cecilia. Cecilia, on the contrary, often made too much noise and bustle +with her officious assistance, and was too anxious to invent amusements +and procure comforts for Louisa, without perceiving that illness takes +away the power of enjoying them. + +As she was sitting in the window in the morning, exerting herself to +entertain Louisa, she heard the voice of an old pedlar who often used to +come to the house. Down stairs she ran immediately to ask Mrs. Villars's +permission to bring him into the hall. + +Mrs. Villars consented, and away Cecilia ran to proclaim the news to her +companions; then first returning into the hall, she found the pedlar +just unbuckling his box, and taking it off his shoulders. "What would +you be pleased to want, Miss?" said he. "I've all kinds of +tweezer-cases, rings, and lockets of all sorts," continued he, opening +all the glittering drawers successively. + +"Oh!" said Cecilia, shutting the drawer of lockets which tempted her +most, "these are not the things which I want; have you any china +figures, any mandarins?" + +"Alack-a-day, Miss, I had a great stock of that same china ware, but now +I'm quite out of them kind of things; but I believe," said he, rummaging +in one of the deepest drawers, "I believe I have one left, and here it +is." + +"Oh, that is the very thing! what's its price?" + +"Only three shillings, ma'am." Cecilia paid the money, and was just +going to carry off the mandarin, when the pedlar took out of his +great-coat pocket a neat mahogany case; it was about a foot long, and +fastened at each end by two little clasps; it had besides a small lock +in the middle. + +"What is that?" said Cecilia, eagerly. + +"It's only a china figure, Miss, which I am going to carry to an +elderly lady, who lives nigh at hand, and who is mighty fond of such +things." + +"Could you let me look at it?" + +"And welcome, Miss," said he, and opened the case. + +"O goodness! how beautiful!" exclaimed Cecilia. + +It was a figure of Flora, crowned with roses, and carrying a basket of +flowers in her hand. Cecilia contemplated it with delight. "How I should +like to give this to Louisa," said she to herself; and at last breaking +silence, "Did you promise it to the old lady?" + +"O no, Miss; I didn't promise it--she never saw it; and if so be that +you'd like to take it, I'd make no more words about it." + +"And how much does it cost?" + +"Why, Miss, as to that, I'll let you have it for half-a-guinea." + +[Illustration] + +Cecilia immediately produced the box in which she kept her treasure, and +emptying it upon the table, she began to count the shillings; alas! +there were but six shillings. "How provoking!" said she; "then I can't +have it--where's the mandarin? O I have it," said she, taking it up, and +looking at it with the utmost disgust. "Is this the same that I had +before?" + +"Yes, Miss, the very same," replied the pedlar, who, during this time, +had been examining the little box out of which Cecilia had taken her +money; it was of silver. + +"Why, ma'am," said he, "since you've taken such a fancy to the piece, if +you've a mind to make up the remainder of the money, I will take this +here little box, if you care to part with it." + +Now this box was a keepsake from Leonora to Cecilia. "No," said Cecilia +hastily, blushing a little, and stretching out her hand to receive it. + +"Oh, Miss!" said he, returning it carelessly, "I hope there's no +offence; I meant but to serve you, that's all. Such a rare piece of +china-work has no cause to go a begging," added he, putting the Flora +deliberately into the case; then turning the key with a jerk, he let it +drop into his pocket, and lifting up his box by the leather straps, he +was preparing to depart. + +"Oh, stay one minute!" said Cecilia, in whose mind there had passed a +very warm conflict during the pedlar's harangue. "Louisa would so like +this Flora," said she, arguing with herself; "besides, it would be so +generous in me to give it to her instead of that ugly mandarin; that +would be doing only common justice, for I promised it to her, and she +expects it. Though, when I come to look at this mandarin, it is not even +so good as hers was; the gilding is all rubbed off, so that I absolutely +must buy this for her. O yes, I will, and she will be so delighted! and +then every body will say it is the prettiest thing they ever saw, and +the broken mandarin will be forgotten forever." + +Here Cecilia's hand moved, and she was just going to decide: "O! but +stop," said she to herself; "consider Leonora gave me this box, and it +is a keepsake; however, now we have quarreled, and I dare say that she +would not mind my parting with it; I'm sure that I should not care if +she was to give away my keepsake the smelling bottle, or the ring which +I gave her; so what does it signify; besides, is it not my own, and have +I not a right to do what I please with it?" + +At this dangerous instant for Cecilia, a party of her companions opened +the door; she knew that they came as purchasers, and she dreaded her +Flora's becoming the prize of some higher bidder. "Here," said she, +hastily putting the box into the pedlar's hand, without looking at it; +"take it, and give me the Flora." Her hand trembled, though she snatched +it impatiently; she ran by, without seeming to mind any of her +companions--she almost wished to turn back. + +Let those who are tempted to do wrong by the hopes of future +gratification, or the prospect of certain concealment and impunity, +remember that, unless they are totally depraved, they bear in their own +hearts a monitor who will prevent their enjoying what they have ill +obtained. + +In vain Cecilia ran to the rest of her companions, to display her +present, in hopes that the applause of others would restore her own +self-complacency; in vain she saw the Flora pass in due pomp from hand +to hand, each viewing with the other in extolling the beauty of the gift +and the generosity of the giver. Cecilia was still displeased with +herself, with them, and even with their praise; from Louisa's gratitude, +however, she yet expected much pleasure, and immediately she ran up +stairs to her room. + +In the mean time Leonora had gone into the hall to buy a bodkin; she had +just broken hers. In giving her change, the pedlar took out of his +pocket, with some half-pence, the very box which Cecilia had sold him. +Leonora did not in the least suspect the truth, for her mind was above +suspicion; and besides, she had the utmost confidence in Cecilia. "I +should like to have that box," said she, "for it is like one of which I +was very fond." + +The pedlar named the price, and Leonora took the box; she intended to +give it to little Louisa. + +On going to her room she found her asleep, and she sat down softly by +her bed-side. Louisa opened her eyes. + +"I hope I didn't disturb you," said Leonora. + +"O no; I didn't hear you come in; but what have you got there?" + +"It is only a little box; would you like to have it? I bought it on +purpose for you, as I thought perhaps it would please you; because it's +like that which I gave Cecilia." + +"O yes! that out of which she used to give me Barbary drops. I am very +much obliged to you. I always thought _that_ exceedingly pretty; and +this, indeed, is as like it as possible. I can't unscrew it; will you +try?" + +Leonora unscrewed it. + +"Goodness!" exclaimed Louisa, "this must be Cecilia's box; look, don't +you see a great L at the bottom of it?" + +Leonora's colour changed. "Yes," she replied calmly, "I see that, but it +is no proof that it is Cecilia's; you know that I bought this box just +now of the pedlar." + +"That may be," said Louisa; "but I remember scratching that L with my +own needle, and Cecilia scolded me for it, too. Do go and ask her if she +has lost her box--do," repeated Louisa, pulling her by the sleeve, as +she did not seem to listen. + +Leonora indeed did not hear, for she was lost in thought; she was +comparing circumstances, which had before escaped her attention. She +recollected that Cecilia had passed her as she came into the hall, +without seeming to see her, but had blushed as she passed. She +remembered that the pedlar appeared unwilling to part with the box, and +was going to put it again into his pocket with the half-pence; "and why +should he keep it in his pocket and not show it with his other things?" +Combining all these circumstances, Leonora had no longer any doubt of +the truth; for though she had honourable confidence in her friends, she +had too much penetration to be implicitly credulous. "Louisa," she +began, but at this instant she heard a step, which, by its quickness, +she knew to be Cecilia's, coming along the passage. "If you love me, +Louisa," said Leonora, "say nothing about the box." + +"Nay, but why not? I dare say she has lost it." + +"No, my dear, I am afraid she has not." Louisa looked surprised. + +"But I have reasons for desiring you not to say any thing about it." + +"Well, then, I won't, indeed." + +Cecilia opened the door, came forward smiling, as if secure of a good +reception, and, taking the Flora out of the case, she placed it on the +mantel-piece, opposite to Louisa's bed. "Dear, how beautiful," cried +Louisa, starting up. + +"Yes," said Cecilia, "and guess who it's for?" + +"For me, perhaps!" said the ingenuous Louisa. + +"Yes, take it, and keep it for my sake; you know that I broke your +mandarin." + +"O! but this is a great deal prettier and larger than that." + +"Yes, I know it is; and I meant that it should be so. I should only have +done what I was bound to do if I had only given you a mandarin." + +"Well, and that would have been enough, surely; but what a beautiful +crown of roses! and then that basket of flowers! they almost look as if +I could smell them. Dear Cecilia! I'm very much obliged to you, but I +won't take it by way of payment for the mandarin you broke; for I'm sure +you could not help that; and, besides, I should have broken it myself by +this time. You shall give it to me entirely, and I'll keep it as long as +I live as your keepsake." + +Louisa stopped short and coloured. The word keepsake recalled the box +to her mind, and all the train of ideas which the Flora had banished. +"But," said she, looking up wishfully in Cecilia's face, and holding the +Flora doubtfully, "did you----" + +Leonora, who was just quitting the room, turned her head back, and gave +Louisa a look, which silenced her. + +Cecilia was so infatuated with her vanity, that she neither perceived +Leonora's sign, nor Louisa's confusion, but continued showing off her +present, by placing it in various situations, till at length she put it +into the case, and laying it down with an affected carelessness upon the +bed, "I must go now, Louisa. Good bye," said she, running up and kissing +her; "but I'll come again presently;" then clapping the door after her, +she went. + +But as soon as the fermentation of her spirits subsided, the sense of +shame, which had been scarcely felt when mixed with so many other +sensations, rose uppermost in her mind. "What?" said she to herself, +"is it possible that I have sold what I promised to keep for ever? and +what Leonora gave me? and I have concealed it too, and have been making +a parade of my generosity. O! what would Leonora, what would Louisa, +what would every body think of me, if the truth were known?" + +Humiliated and grieved by these reflections, Cecilia began to search in +her own mind for some consoling idea. She began to compare her conduct +with the conduct of others of her own age; and at length, fixing her +comparison upon her brother George, as the companion of whom, from her +infancy, she had been habitually the most emulous, she recollected that +an almost similar circumstance had once happened to him, and that he had +not only escaped disgrace, but had acquired glory by an intrepid +confession of his fault. Her father's words to her brother, on that +occasion, she also perfectly recollected. + +"Come to me, George," he said, holding out his hand; "you are a +generous, brave boy. They who dare to confess their faults will make +great and good men." + +These were his words; but Cecilia, in repeating them to herself, forgot +to lay that emphasis on the word _men_, which would have placed it in +contradistinction to the word women. She willingly believed that the +observation extended equally to both sexes, and flattered herself that +she should exceed her brother in merit, if she owned a fault which she +thought that it would be so much more difficult to confess. "Yes, but," +said she, stopping herself, "how can I confess it? This very evening, in +a few hours, the prize will be decided; Leonora or I shall win it. I +have now as good a chance as Leonora, perhaps a better; and must I give +up all my hopes? all that I have been labouring for this month past! O, +I never can;--if it were to-morrow, or yesterday, or any day but this, I +would not hesitate, but now I am almost certain of the prize, and if I +win it--well, why then I will--I think, I will tell all--yes, I will; I +am determined," said Cecilia. + +Here a bell summoned them to dinner. Leonora sat opposite to her, and +she was not a little surprised to see Cecilia look so gay and +unrestrained. "Surely," said she to herself, "if Cecilia had done this, +that I suspect, she would not, she could not look as she does." But +Leonora little knew the cause of her gayety; Cecilia was never in higher +spirits, or better pleased with herself, than when she had resolved upon +a sacrifice or a confession. + +"Must not this evening be given to the most amiable? Whose, then, will +it be?" All eyes glanced first at Cecilia and then at Leonora. Cecilia +smiled; Leonora blushed. "I see that it is not yet decided," said Mrs. +Villars; and immediately they ran up stairs, amidst confused +whisperings. + +Cecilia's voice could be distinguished far above the rest. "How can she +be so happy?" said Leonora to herself. "O, Cecilia, there was a time +when you could not have neglected me so!--when we were always together, +the best of friends and companions, our wishes, tastes, and pleasures +the same. Surely she did once love me," said Leonora; "but now she is +quite changed. She has even sold my keepsake, and would rather win a +bracelet of hair from girls whom she did not always think so much +superior to Leonora, than have my esteem, my confidence, and my +friendship, for her whole life; yes, for her whole life, for I am sure +she will be an amiable woman. Oh that this bracelet had never been +thought of, or that I was certain of her winning it; for I am certain +that I do not wish to win it from her. I would rather, a thousand times +rather, that we were as we used to be, than have all the glory in the +world. And how pleasing Cecilia can be when she wishes to please! how +candid she is! how much she can improve herself!--let me be just, +though she has offended me--she is wonderfully improved within this last +month; for one fault, and _that_ against myself, should I forget all her +merits?" + +As Leonora said these last words, she could but just hear the voices of +her companions; they had left her alone in the gallery. She knocked +softly at Louisa's door----"Come in," said Louisa. "I in not asleep. Oh," +said she, starting up with the Flora in her hand, the instant that the +door was opened. "I'm so glad you are come, Leonora, for I did so long +to hear what you were all making such a noise about--have you forgot +that the bracelet----" + +"O yes! is this the evening?" + +"Well, here's my white shell for you. I've kept it in my pocket this +fortnight; and though Cecilia did give me this Flora, I still love you a +great deal better." + +"I thank you, Louisa," said Leonora, gratefully. "I will take your +shell, and I shall value it as long as I live. But here is a red one, +and if you wish to show me that you love me, you will give this to +Cecilia. I know that she is particularly anxious for your preference, +and I am sure that she deserves it." + +"Yes, if I could I would choose both of you; but you know I can only +choose which I like the best." + +"If you mean, my dear Louisa," said Leonora, "that you like me the best, +I am very much obliged to you; for, indeed I wish you to love me; but it +is enough for me to know it in private. I should not feel the least more +pleasure at hearing it in public, or in having it made known to all my +companions, especially at a time when it would give poor Cecilia a great +deal of pain." + +"But why should it give her pain? I don't like her for being jealous of +you." + +"Nay, Louisa, surely you don't think Cecilia jealous; she only tries to +excel and to please. She is more anxious to succeed than I am, it is +true, because she has a great deal more activity, and perhaps more +ambition; and it would really mortify her to lose this prize. You know +that she proposed it herself; it has been her object for this month +past, and I am sure she has taken great pains to obtain it." + +"But, dear Leonora, why should you lose it?" + +"Indeed, my dear, it would be no loss to me; and, if it were, I would +willingly suffer it for Cecilia; for, though we seem not to be such good +friends as we used to be, I love her very much, and she will love me +again, I'm sure she will; when she no longer fears me as a rival, she +will again love me as a friend." + +Here Leonora heard a number of her companions running along the gallery. +They all knocked hastily at the door, calling, "Leonora! Leonora! will +you never come? Cecilia has been with us this half hour." + +Leonora smiled. "Well, Louisa," said she, smiling, "will you promise +me?" + +"O, I'm sure, by the way they speak to you, that they won't give you +the prize!" said the little Louisa; and the tears started into her eyes. + +"They love me though, for all that; and as for the prize, you know whom +I wish to have it." + +"Leonora! Leonora!" called her impatient companions; "don't you hear us? +What are you about?" + +"O, she never will take any trouble about any thing," said one of the +party; "let's go away." + +"O go! go! make haste," cried Louisa; "don't stay, they are so angry--I +will, I will, indeed!" + +"Remember, then, that you have promised me," said Leonora, and she left +the room. During all this time Cecilia had been in the garden with her +companions. The ambition which she had felt to win the first prize, the +prize of superior talents and superior application, was not to be +compared to the absolute anxiety which she now expressed to win this +simple testimony of the love and approbation of her equals and rivals. + +To employ her exuberant activity, she had been dragging branches of +lilacs, and laburnums, roses, and sweet-briar, to ornament the bower in +which her fate was to be decided. It was excessively hot, but her mind +was engaged, and she was indefatigable. She stood still, at last, to +admire her works; her companions all joined in loud applause. They were +not a little prejudiced in her favour by the great eagerness which she +expressed to win their prize, and by the great importance which she +seemed to affix to the preference of each individual. At last, "Where is +Leonora?" cried one of them, and immediately, as we have seen, they ran +to call her. + +Cecilia was left alone. Overcome with heat and too violent exertion, she +had hardly strength to support herself; each moment appeared to her +intolerably long; she was in a state of the utmost suspense, and all her +courage failed her; even hope forsook her, and hope is a cordial which +leaves the mind depressed and enfeebled. "The time is now come," said +Cecilia; "in a few moments it will be decided. In a few moments! +goodness! how much I do hazard! If I should not win the prize, how shall +I confess what I have done? How shall I beg Leonora to forgive me? I, +who hoped to restore my friendship to her as an honour!--they are gone +to seek for her--the moment she appears I shall be forgotten--what +shall--what shall I do?" said Cecilia, covering her face with her hands. + +Such was her situation, when Leonora, accompanied by her companions, +opened the hall-door; they most of them ran forward to Cecilia. As +Leonora came into the bower, she held out her hand to Cecilia----"We +are not rivals, but friends, I hope," said she. Cecilia clasped her +hand, but she was in too great agitation to speak. + +The table was now set in the arbour--the vase was now placed in the +middle. "Well!" said Cecilia, eagerly, "who begins?" Caroline, one of +her friends, came forward first, and then all the others successively. +Cecilia's emotion was hardly conceivable.----"Now they are all in. +Count them, Caroline!" + +"One, two, three, four; the numbers are both equal." There was a dead +silence. + +"No, they are not," exclaimed Cecilia, pressing forward and putting +a shell into the vase----"I have not given mine, and I give it to +Leonora." Then snatching the bracelet, "It is yours, Leonora," said she; +"take it, and give me back your friendship." The whole assembly gave a +universal clap and shout of applause. + +"I cannot be surprised at this from you, Cecilia," said Leonora; "and do +you then still love me as you used to do?" + +"O Leonora! stop! don't praise me; I don't deserve this," said she, +turning to her loudly applauding companions; "you will soon despise +me--O Leonora, you will never forgive me!--I have deceived you--I have +sold----" + +At this instant Mrs. Villars appeared--the crowd divided--she had heard +all that passed from her window. + +"I applaud your generosity, Cecilia," said she, "but I am to tell you +that in this instance it is unsuccessful; you have it not in your power +to give the prize to Leonora--it is yours--I have another vote to give +you--you have forgotten Louisa." + +"Louisa! but surely, ma'am, Louisa loves Leonora better than she does +me!" + +"She commissioned me, however," said Mrs. Villars, "to give you a red +shell, and you will find it in this box." + +Cecilia started, and turned as pale as death--it was the fatal box. + +Mrs. Villars produced another box--she opened it--it contained the +Flora--"And Louisa also desired me," said she, "to return you this +Flora"--she put it into Cecilia's hand--Cecilia trembled so that she +could not hold it; Leonora caught it. + +"O, madam! O, Leonora!" exclaimed Cecilia; "now I have no hope left. I +intended, I was just going to tell----" + +"Dear Cecilia," said Leonora, "you need not tell it me; I know it +already, and I forgive you with all my heart." + +"Yes, I can prove to you," said Mrs. Villars, "that Leonora has forgiven +you: it is she who has given you the prize; it was she who persuaded +Louisa to give you her vote. I went to see her a little while ago, and +perceiving, by her countenance, that something was the matter, I pressed +her to tell me what it was. + +"'Why, madam,' said she, 'Leonora has made me promise to give my shell +to Cecilia. Now I don't love Cecilia half so well as I do Leonora; +besides, I would not have Cecilia think I vote for her because she gave +me a Flora.' Whilst Louisa was speaking," continued Mrs. Villars, "I saw +the silver box lying on the bed; I took it up, and asked if it was not +yours, and how she came by it. + +"'Indeed, madam,' said Louisa, 'I could have been almost certain that +it was Cecilia's; but Leonora gave it me, and she said that she bought +it of the pedlar this morning. If any body else had told me so, I could +not have believed them, because I remembered the box so well; but I +can't help believing Leonora.' + +"'But did you not ask Cecilia about it?' said I. + +"'No, madam,' replied Louisa, 'for Leonora forbade me.' + +"I guessed her reason. 'Well,' said I, 'give me the box, and I will +carry your shell in it to Cecilia.' + +"'Then, madam,' said she, 'if I must give it her, pray do take the +Flora, and return it to her first, that she may not think it is for that +I do it.'" + +"O, generous Leonora!" exclaimed Cecilia; "but indeed, Louisa, I cannot +take your shell." + +"Then, dear Cecilia, accept of mine instead of it; you cannot refuse +it--I only follow your example. As for the bracelet," added Leonora, +taking Cecilia's hand, "I assure you I don't wish for it, and you do, +and you deserve it." + +"No," said Cecilia, "indeed I do not deserve it; next to you, surely, +Louisa deserves it best." + +"Louisa! O yes, Louisa," exclaimed every body with one voice. + +"Yes," said Mrs. Villars, "and let Cecilia carry the bracelet to her; +she deserves that reward. For one fault I cannot forget all your merits, +Cecilia; nor, I am sure, will your companions." + +"Then, surely, not your best friend," said Leonora, kissing her. + +Every body present was moved--they looked up to Leonora with respectful +and affectionate admiration. + +"O, Leonora, how I love you! and how I wish to be like you!" exclaimed +Cecilia; "to be as good, as generous!" + +"Rather wish, Cecilia," interrupted Mrs. Villars, "to be as just; to be +as strictly honourable, and as invariably consistent. + +"Remember that many of our sex are capable of great efforts, of making +what they call great sacrifices to virtue or to friendship; but few +treat their friends with habitual gentleness, or uniformly conduct +themselves with prudence and good sense." + + +THE END. + + + + +A +CATALOGUE +OF +ILLUSTRATED AND ENTERTAINING +JUVENILE WORKS. + +[Illustration] + +LITTLE ANNIE'S FIRST BOOK, +CHIEFLY IN WORDS OF THREE LETTERS. + +By Her Mother. + +Illustrated with Seventy Designs. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. + +This little volume will commend itself to parents, as a book for +children who have just mastered the alphabet. + + * * * * * + +THE +TRAVELS +AND +EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES +OF +BOB THE SQUIRREL. + +Illustrated with Twelve Engravings +by Distinguished Artists. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. + +Bob's adventures are full of interest, and no child can fail to be +amused and permanently benefited by the perusal of them. The book is +designed for a child from six to ten years of age. + + * * * * * + +CLARA'S AMUSEMENTS. + +"Oh, happy childhood! whose sweet fruits of pleasure Are plucked in the +safe garden of thy home."--M.S. + +By Mrs. Anna Bache. + +One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated with Original Designs. + +Price 50 cents. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + +THE BLOSSOMS OF MORALITY; +INTENDED FOR THE AMUSEMENT AND INSTRUCTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE. + +Illustrated with Twenty-three Designs by Darley. + +One Volume 15mo. Price 38 cts. + + * * * * * + +HOLIDAY HOUSE: +A SERIES OF TALES + +By Miss Sinclair. + +From the third London Edition. + +Prettily illustrated by Croome. + +One Volume 16mo. Price 75 cents. + +"We find in this volume, as in all of Miss Sinclair's other productions, +the same lively intellect, the same buoyant good humour, the same easy +and vigorous style, the same happy talent for observation and +description, the same warfare against the fashionable follies of the +day, and the same assiduity in inculcating the lessons of morality and +religion."--_Edinburgh Advertiser_. + + * * * * * + +THE +LIFE AND WANDERINGS +OF +A MOUSE + +Illustrated with Ten Designs by Croome. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. + +"An instructive and amusing volume, that will be read by every child +with pleasure." + + * * * * * + +THE CHILD'S OWN STORY BOOK; +OR, TALES AND DIALOGUES FOR THE NURSERY. + +BY Mrs. Jerram. + +Illustrated with Numerous Engravings. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + +THE CHILD'S DELIGHT; +A GIFT FOR ALL SEASONS. + +Edited by a lady. + +Prettily Illustrated with Coloured Steel Engravings, +Designed by Croome. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. + + * * * * * + +MARIA EDGEWORTH'S +CHEAP JUVENILE WORKS. + + * * * * * + +WASTE NOT, WANT NOT; +OR, +TWO STRINGS TO YOUR BOW. + +By Maria Edgeworth. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 25 cents. + + * * * * * + +LAZY LAWRENCE; +OR, +INDUSTRY AND IDLENESS CONTRASTED. + +By Maria Edgeworth. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 25 cents. + + * * * * * + +THE BRACELETS; +OR, +AMIABILITY AND INDUSTRY REWARDED. + +By Maria Edgeworth. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 25 cents. + + * * * * * + +THE FIRESIDE STORY BOOK; +CONTAINING +"LAZY LAWRENCE" "WASTE NOT, WANT NOT," AND "THE BRACELETS." + +Elegantly Illustrated. + +One Volume 16mo. Price 50 cents. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + +MAMMA'S BIBLE STORIES +FOR HER +LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS. + +A SERIES OF READING LESSONS TAKEN FROM THE BIBLE, AND +ADAPTED TO THE CAPACITIES OF VERY YOUNG CHILDREN. + +Illustrated with Numerous Engravings. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents + + * * * * * + +GRANDMAMMA EASY'S +BEAUTIFUL TOY BOOKS, +FOR ALL GOOD CHILDREN. + +Very large size, printed on very large type, and elegantly +coloured, with gilt edges. + +Put up in wrappers, each containing one dozen. + +Price $1.50 per Dozen. + +CONTENTS. + +New Story about Little Tom Thumb and his Mother. +New Little Stories about the Alphabet. +Merry Multiplication. +New Story about Old Daddy Longlegs. +New Story about Little Jack Horner, and of what his Pie was made. +Michaelmas Day, or the Fate of poor Molly Goosey. +Alderman's Feast: A new Alphabet. +New Story about the Queen of Hearts, and the Stolen Tarts. +New Pictorial Bible Alphabet. +Toy Shop Drolleries, or Wonders of a Toy Shop. +Travels of Matty Macaroni, the Little Organ Boy. +New Story of Joseph and his Brethren. + + * * * * * + +VERY LITTLE TALES FOR VERY LITTLE CHILDREN. + +In single syllables of three and four letters. Large and bold type. + +With Numerous Illustrations. + +Two Volumes 32mo. Price 75 cents. + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + +LITTLE LESSONS FOR LITTLE LEARNERS. + +In words of one syllable. + +By Mrs. Barwell, +Author of "Mamma's Bible Stories." + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. + + * * * * * + +POPULAR TALES. + +By Maria Edgeworth. + +With Original Designs by Croome. + +CONTENTS. + +MURAD THE UNLUCKY. +THE MANUFACTURERS. +THE CONTRAST. +THE GRATEFUL NEGRO. +TO-MORROW. + +One Volume 16mo. Price 75 cents. + +"The writings of Maria Edgeworth have rarely been approached, and none +have excelled her. Her stories are so natural, and are told with such +truthfulness, that the reader becomes completely captivated." + + * * * * * + +MORAL TALES. + +By Maria Edgeworth. + +Embellished with Original Designs by Darley. + +Price 75 cents. + +"If we wished to do a young person good while offering amusement, to +improve the heart while engaging the attention, and to give him or her +little books which convey no false or distorted notions of life--Maria +Edgeworth is our author."--_Post_. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + +DIVINE AND MORAL SONGS, +FOR THE USE OF CHILDREN + +By Isaac Watts, D.D. + +Illustrated with 24 Engravings in the Highest Style of Art. + +One elegant Volume, 16mo. Price 75 cts. + +"This will be a constant furniture for the minds of children, that they +may have something to think of when alone, and sing over to themselves. +This may sometimes give their thoughts a divine turn, and raise a young +meditation. Thus they will not be forced to seek relief for an emptiness +of mind out of the loose and dangerous sonnets of the age."--_Extract +from Author's Preface_. + + * * * * * + +MRS. SHERWOOD'S +PRETTILY ILUSTRATED JUVENILES. + + * * * * * + +DUTY IS SAFETY; +OR, +TROUBLESOME TOM. + +By Mrs. Sherwood. + +One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated. Price 25 cents. + + * * * * * + +THINK BEFORE YOU ACT. + +By Mrs. Sherwood. + +One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated. Price 25 cents. + + * * * * * + +JACK, THE SAILOR BOY. + +By Mrs. Sherwood. + +One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated. Price 25 cents. + + * * * * * + +CLEVER STORIES FOR CLEVER BOYS AND GIRLS. + +Containing + +"Think before you Act," "Jack, the Sailor Boy," "Duty is Safety." + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cts. + + * * * * * + +THE PRIZE STORY BOOK; +CONSISTING CHIEFLY OF +TALES TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN, FRENCH, AND ITALIAN, +TOGETHER WITH +SELECT TALES FROM THE ENGLISH. + +Illustrated with Numerous Designs. + +One Volume square 16mo. Half cloth 50 cts.; cloth extra 63 cts. + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + +GEORGE'S JOURNEY +TO THE +LAND OF HAPPINESS. + +By a Lady. + +Illustrated with Sixteen Coloured Engravings. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. + + * * * * * + +THE BOOK OF ANIMALS; +INTENDED FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT AND INSTRUCTION +OF +YOUNG PEOPLE. + +By R. Bilby. + +Illustrated with Twelve Designs of Animals. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. + +This volume is intended both as a useful and entertaining book for the +young, abounding with Anecdotes of the Quadrupeds, and illustrated with +numerous well executed designs. + + * * * * * + +THE HAPPY CHILDREN; +A TALE OF HOME +FOR +YOUNG PEOPLE. + +Illustrated with Elegant Engravings. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cts. + +A very interesting volume for children from six to twelve years of age. + + * * * * * + +RHYMES FOR THE NURSERY. + +By the Author of "Original Poems." + +Illustrated with Sixteen Designs. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cts. plain; 63 cts. coloured. + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + +HOLIDAY TALES. +CONTAINING PLEASING STORIES FOR THE YOUNG. + +Prettily Illustrated. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price in half cloth, 25 cents; cloth gilt, +38 cents. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + +UNCLE JOHN'S +FANCY PICTURE BOOKS. + +In a new and unique style, +put up in dozens assorted. Six kinds. + +CONTENTS. + +UNCLE JOHN'S PICTURE BIBLE ALPHABET. +UNCLE JOHN'S STORY OF BOB. +UNCLE JOHN'S STORY OF DOWNEY THE MOUSE. +UNCLE JOHN'S STORIES OF ANIMALS. +UNCLE JOHN'S BIBLE STORIES. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bracelets, by Maria Edgeworth + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11121 *** diff --git a/11121-h/11121-h.htm b/11121-h/11121-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f3c774d --- /dev/null +++ b/11121-h/11121-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1935 @@ + + + + + +The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Bracelets, by Maria Edgeworth. + + + + +
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11121 ***
+ +

 

+

 

+ +

+

+

 

+ +

+

+

 

+ +

THE BRACELETS;

+

OR,
+AMIABILITY AND INDUSTRY REWARDED. +

+

 

+ +

+BY
+MARIA EDGEWORTH, +

+

+AUTHOR OF "POPULAR TALES," "MORAL TALES," ETC. ETC. +

+

+With Illustrations from Original Designs. +

+

 

+ + +

+1850. +

+

 

+ +

+CONTENTS +

+

THE BRACELETS.

+

CONTINUATION OF THE BRACELETS.

+

 

+

+ILLUSTRATIONS +

+

+The Bracelets. Edgeworth +

+

+Two girls +

+

+Treasure box +

+

+Appleton List of Books +

+

+Blossoms of Morality +

+

+Child's Own Story Book +

+

+Mamma's Bible Stories +

+

+Very Little Tales for Very Little Children +

+

+Divine and Moral Songs +

+

+The Prize Story Book +

+

+Rhymes for The Nursery +

+

+Uncle John's Fancy Picture Books +

+ +

 

+ +

+

+THE BRACELETS. +

+

+In a beautiful and retired part of England lived Mrs. Villars, a lady +whose accurate understanding, benevolent heart, and steady temper, +peculiarly fitted her for the most difficult, as well as most important +of all occupations—the education of youth. This task she had +undertaken; and twenty young persons were put under her care, with the +perfect confidence of their parents. No young people could be happier; +they were good and gay, emulous, but not envious of each other; for Mrs. +Villars was impartially just. Her praise they felt to be the reward of +merit, and her blame they knew to be the necessary consequence of ill +conduct; to the one, therefore, they patiently submitted, and in the +other consciously rejoiced. They rose with fresh cheerfulness in the +morning, eager to pursue their various occupations; they returned in the +evening with renewed ardour to their amusements, and retired to rest +satisfied with themselves and pleased with each other. +

+

+Nothing so much contributed to preserve a spirit of emulation in this +little society as a small honorary distinction given annually, as the +prize of successful application. The prize this year was peculiarly dear +to each individual, as it was the picture of a friend whom they all +dearly loved—it was the picture of Mrs. Villars in a small bracelet. It +wanted neither gold, pearls, nor precious stones, to give it value. +

+

+The two foremost candidates for the prize were Cecilia and Leonora. +Cecilia was the most intimate friend of Leonora, but Leonora was only +the favourite companion of Cecilia. +

+

+Cecilia was of an active, ambitious, enterprising disposition; more +eager in the pursuit than happy in the enjoyment of her wishes. Leonora +was of a contented, unaspiring, temperate character, not easily roused +to action, but indefatigable when once excited. Leonora was proud, +Cecilia was vain. Her vanity made her more dependent upon the +approbation of others, and therefore more anxious to please, than +Leonora; but that very vanity made her, at the same time, more apt to +offend. In short, Leonora was the most anxious to avoid what was wrong, +Cecilia the most ambitious to do what was right. Few of their companions +loved, but many were led by Cecilia, for she was often successful; many +loved Leonora, but none were ever governed by her, for she was too +indolent to govern. +

+

+On the first day of May, about six o'clock in the evening, a great bell +rang, to summon this little society into a hall, where the prize was to +be decided. A number of small tables were placed in a circle in the +middle of the hall; seats for the young competitors were raised one +above another, in a semicircle, some yards distant from the table; and +the judges' chairs, under canopies of lilacs and luburnums, forming +another semicircle, closed the amphitheatre. Every one put their +writings, their drawings, their works of various kinds, upon the tables +appropriated for each. How unsteady were the last steps to these tables! +How each little hand trembled as it laid down its claims! Till this +moment every one thought herself secure of success, but now each felt an +equal certainty of being excelled; and the heart which a few minutes +before exulted with hope, now palpitated with fear. +

+

+The works were examined, the preference adjudged; and the prize was +declared to be the happy Cecilia's. Mrs. Villars came forward smiling, +with the bracelet in her hand. Cecilia was behind her companions, on the +highest row; all the others gave way, and she was on the floor in an +instant. Mrs. Villars clasped the bracelet on her arm; the clasp was +heard through the whole hall, and a universal smile of congratulation +followed. Mrs. Villars kissed Cecilia's little hand; and "now," said +she, "go and rejoice with your companions; the remainder of the day is +yours." +

+

+Oh! you whose hearts are elated with success, whose bosoms beat high +with joy, in the moment of triumph, command yourselves; let that triumph +be moderate, that it may be lasting. Consider that, though you are good, +you may be better, and though wise, you may be weak. +

+

+As soon as Mrs. Villars had given her the bracelet, all Cecilia's little +companions crowded round her, and they all left the hall in an instant. +She was full of spirits and vanity—she ran on, running down the flight +of steps which led to the garden. In her violent haste, Cecilia threw +down the little Louisa. Louisa had a china mandarin in her hand, which +her mother had sent her that very morning; it was all broke to pieces by +the fall. +

+

+"Oh! my mandarin!" cried Louisa, bursting into tears. The crowd behind +Cecilia suddenly stopped. Louisa sat on the lowest step, fixing her eyes +upon the broken pieces; then turning round, she hid her face in her +hands upon the step above her. In turning, Louisa threw down the remains +of the mandarin; the head, which she had placed in the socket, fell from +the shoulders, and rolled bounding along the gravel-walk. Cecilia +pointed to the head and to the socket, and burst out laughing; the crowd +behind laughed too. At any other time they would have been more inclined +to cry with Louisa; but Cecilia had just been successful, and sympathy +with the victorious often makes us forget justice. Leonora, however, +preserved her usual consistency. "Poor Louisa!" said she, looking first +at her, and then reproachfully at Cecilia. Cecilia turned sharply round, +colouring, half with shame and half with vexation. "I could not help it, +Leonora," said she. +

+

+"But you could have helped laughing, Cecilia." "I didn't laugh at +Louisa; and I surely may laugh, for it does nobody any harm." "I am +sure, however," replied Leonora, "I should not have laughed if I +had——" "No, to be sure you wouldn't, because Louisa is your favourite. +I can buy her another mandarin the next time that old pedlar comes to +the door, if that's all. I can do no more. Can I?" said she, +turning round to her companions. "No, to be sure," said they, "that's all +fair." +

+

+Cecilia looked triumphantly at Leonora. Leonora let go her hand; she ran +on, and the crowd followed. When she got to the end of the garden, she +turned round to see if Leonora had followed her too; but was vexed to +see her still sitting on the steps with Louisa. "I'm sure I can do no +more than buy her another! Can I?" said she, again appealing to her +companions. +

+

+"No, to be sure," said they, eager to begin their plays. How many did +they begin and leave off before Cecilia could be satisfied with any. +Her thoughts were discomposed, and her mind was running upon something +else; no wonder then that she did not play with her usual address. She +grew still more impatient; she threw down the nine-pins: "Come, let us +play at something else—at threading the needle," said she, holding out +her hand. They all yielded to the hand which wore the bracelet. But +Cecilia, dissatisfied with herself, was discontented with everybody +else; her tone grew more and more peremptory,—one was too rude, another +too stiff; one was too slow, another too quick; in short, everything +went wrong, and everybody was tired of her humours. +

+

+The triumph of success is absolute, but short. Cecilia's companions at +length recollected that, though she had embroidered a tulip and painted +a peach better than they, yet that they could play as well, and keep +their tempers better: she was thrown out. Walking towards the house in a +peevish mood, she met Leonora; she passed on. +

+

+"Cecilia!" cried Leonora. "Well, what do you want with me?" "Are we +friends?" "You know best." "We are; if you will let me tell Louisa that +you are sorry—" Cecilia, interrupting her, "O! pray let me hear no +more about Louisa!" "What! not confess that you were in the wrong! Oh, +Cecilia! I had a better opinion of you." "Your opinion is of no +consequence to me now; for you don't love me." "No, not when you are +unjust, Cecilia." "Unjust! I am not unjust; and if I were, you are not +my governess." "No, but am I not your friend?" "I don't desire to have +such a friend, who would quarrel with me for happening to throw down +little Louisa—how could I tell that she had a mandarin in her hand? and +when it was broken, could I do more than promise her another? Was that +unjust?" "But you know, Cecilia——" "I know," ironically, "I know, +Leonora, that you love Louisa better than you do me; that's the +injustice!" "If I did," replied Leonora gravely, "it would be no +injustice, if she deserved it better." "How can you compare Louisa to +me!" exclaimed Cecilia, indignantly. +

+

+Leonora made no answer, for she was really hurt at her friend's conduct; +she walked on to join the rest of her companions. They were dancing in a +round upon the grass. Leonora declined dancing, but they prevailed upon +her to sing for them; her voice was not so sprightly, but it was sweeter +than usual. Who sung so sweetly as Leonora? or who danced so nimbly as +Louisa? +

+

+Away she was flying, all spirits and gayety, when Leonora's eyes full of +tears, caught hers. Louisa silently let go her companions' hands, and +quitting the dance, ran up to Leonora to inquire what was the matter +with her. +

+

+"Nothing," replied she, "that need interrupt you,—Go, my dear, and +dance again." +

+

+Louisa immediately ran away to her garden, and pulling off her little +straw hat, she lined it with the freshest strawberry leaves, and was +upon her knees before the strawberry bed when Cecilia came by. Cecilia +was not disposed to be pleased with Louisa at that instant, for two +reasons: because she was jealous of her, and because she had injured +her. The injury, however, Louisa had already forgotten; perhaps, to tell +things just as they were, she was not quite so much inclined to kiss +Cecilia as she would have been before the fall of her mandarin, but this +was the utmost extent of her malice, if it can be called malice. +

+

+"What are you doing there, little one?" said Cecilia in a sharp tone. +"Are you eating your early strawberries here all alone?" "No," said +Louisa, mysteriously; "I am not eating them." "What are you doing with +them—can't you answer then? I'm not playing with you, child!" "Oh! as +to that, Cecilia, you know I need not answer you unless I choose it; not +but what I would, if you would only ask me civilly—and if you would not +call me child." "Why should not I call you child?" +"Because—because—I don't know;—but I wish you would stand out of my +light, Cecilia, for you are trampling upon all my strawberries." "I have +not touched one, you covetous little creature!" "Indeed—indeed, +Cecilia, I am not covetous. I have not eaten one of them—they are all +for your friend Leonora. See how unjust you are." "Unjust! that's a cant +word you learned of my friend Leonora, as you call her, but she is not +my friend now." "Not your friend now!" exclaimed Louisa. "Then I am sure +you must have done something very naughty." "How!" said Cecilia, +catching hold of her. "Let me go—Let me go!" cried Louisa, struggling. +"I won't give you one of my strawberries, for I don't like you at all." +"You don't, don't you?" said Cecilia, provoked; and catching the hat +from Louisa, she flung the strawberries over the hedge. "Will nobody +help me!" exclaimed Louisa, snatching her hat again, and running away +with all her force. +

+

+"What have I done?" said Cecilia, recollecting herself. "Louisa! +Louisa!" She called very loud, but Louisa would not turn back! she was +running to her companions. +

+

+They were still dancing, hand in hand, upon the grass, whilst Leonora, +sitting in the middle, sang to them. +

+

+"Stop! stop! and hear me!" cried Louisa, breaking through them; and +rushing up to Leonora, she threw her hat at her feet, and panting for +breath—— +

+

+"It was full—almost full of my own strawberries," said she, "the first +I ever got out of my own garden. They should all have been for you, +Leonora, but now I have not one left. They are all gone!" said she; and +she hid her face in Leonora's lap. +

+

+"Gone! gone where?" said every one at once, running up to her. "Cecilia! +Cecilia!" said she, sobbing. "Cecilia!" repeated Leonora; "what of +Cecilia?" "Yes, it was—it was." +

+

+"Come along with me," said Leonora, unwilling to have her friend +exposed; "come, and I will get you some more strawberries." "Oh, I don't +mind the strawberries, indeed; but I wanted to have had the pleasure of +giving them to you." +

+

+Leonora took her up in her arms to carry her away, but it was too late. +

+

+"What, Cecilia! Cecilia, who won the prize! It could not surely be +Cecilia," whispered every busy tongue. +

+

+At this instant the bell summoned them in. +

+

+"There she is!—There she is!" cried they, pointing to an arbour, where +Cecilia was standing, ashamed and alone; and as they passed her, some +lifted up their hands and eyes with astonishment, others whispered and +huddled mysteriously together, as if to avoid her. Leonora walked on, +her head a little higher than usual. +

+

+"Leonora!" said Cecilia, timorously, as she passed. +

+

+"Oh, Cecilia! who would have thought that you had a bad heart?" +

+

+Cecilia turned her head aside and burst into tears. +

+

+"Oh no, indeed, she has not a bad heart," cried Louisa, running up to +her, and throwing her arms round her neck; "she's very sorry!—are not +you, Cecilia? But don't cry any more, for I forgive you with all my +heart; and I love you now, though I said I did not when I was in a +passion." +

+

+"O, you sweet-tempered girl! how I love you," said Cecilia, kissing her. +

+

+"Well then, if you do, come along with me, and dry your eyes, for they +are so red." +

+

+"Go, my dear, and I'll come presently." +

+

+"Then I will keep a place for you next to me; but you must make haste, +or you will have to come in when we have all set down to supper, and +then you will be so stared at! So don't stay now." +

+

+Cecilia followed Louisa with her eyes till she was out of sight. "And +is Louisa," said she to herself, "the only one who would stop to pity +me? Mrs. Villars told me that this day should be mine; she little +thought how it would end!" Saying these words, Cecilia threw herself +down upon the ground; her arm leaned upon a heap of turf which she had +raised in the morning, and which in the pride and gayety of her heart, +she had called her throne. +

+

+At this instant, Mrs. Villars came out to enjoy the serenity of the +evening, and passing by the arbour where Cecilia lay, she started; +Cecilia rose hastily. +

+

+"Who is there?" said Mrs. Villars. "It is I, madam." "And who is I?" +"Cecilia." "Why, what keeps you here, my dear—where are your +companions? this is, perhaps, one of the happiest days of your life." +

+

+"O no, madam!" said Cecilia, hardly able to repress her tears. +

+

+"Why, my dear, what is the matter?" +

+

+Cecilia hesitated. +

+

+"Speak, my dear. You know that when I ask you to tell me any thing as +your friend, I never punish you as your governess; therefore you need +not be afraid to tell me what is the matter." +

+

+"No, madam, I am not afraid, but ashamed. You asked me why I was not +with my companions. Why, madam, because they have all left me, and——" +"And what, my dear?" "And I see that they all dislike me. And yet I +don't know why they should, for I take as much pains to please as any of +them. All my masters seem satisfied with me; and you yourself, ma'am, +were pleased this very morning to give me this bracelet; and I am sure +you would not have given it to any one who did not deserve it." +"Certainly not. You did deserve it for your application—for your +successful application. The prize was for the most assiduous, not for +the most amiable." "Then if it had been for the most amiable it would +not have been for me?" +

+

+Mrs. Villars, smiling—"Why, what do you think yourself, Cecilia? You +are better able to judge than I am. I can determine whether or no you +apply to what I give you to learn; whether you attend to what I desire +you to do, and avoid what I desire you not to do. I know that I like you +as a pupil, but I cannot know that I should like you as a companion, +unless I were your companion; therefore I must judge of what I should do +by seeing what others do in the same circumstances." +

+

+"O, pray don't, ma'am; for then you would not love me neither. And yet I +think you would love me; for I hope that I am as ready to oblige, and as +good-natured, as——" "Yes, Cecilia, I don't doubt but that you would be +very good-natured to me, but I am afraid that I should not like you +unless you were good-tempered too." "But, ma'am, by good-natured I mean +good-tempered—it's all the same thing." "No, indeed, I understand by +them two very different things. You are good-natured, Cecilia, for you +are desirous to oblige and serve your companions, to gain them praise +and save them from blame, to give them pleasure, and to relieve them +from pain; but Leonora is good-tempered, for she can bear with their +foibles, and acknowledge her own. Without disputing about the right, she +sometimes yields to those who are in the wrong. In short, her temper is +perfectly good, for it can bear and forbear." +

+

+"I wish that mine could," said Cecilia, sighing. +

+

+"It may," replied Mrs. Villars; "but it is not wishes alone which can +improve us in any thing. Turn the same exertion and perseverance which +have won you the prize to-day to this object, and you will meet with the +same success; perhaps not on the first, the second, or the third +attempt, but depend upon it that you will at last; every new effort will +weaken your bad habits and strengthen your good ones. But you must not +expect to succeed all at once; I repeat it to you, for habit must be +counteracted by habit. It would be as extravagant in us to expect that +all our faults could be destroyed by one punishment, were it ever so +severe, as it was in the Roman emperor we were reading of a few days ago +to wish that all the heads of his enemies were upon one neck, that he +might cut them off by one blow." +

+

+Here Mrs. Villars took Cecilia by the hand, and they began to walk home. +Such was the nature of Cecilia's mind, that, when any object was +forcibly impressed on her imagination, it caused a temporary suspension +of her reasoning faculties. Hope was too strong a stimulus for her +spirits; and when fear did take possession of her mind, it was attended +with total debility. Her vanity was now as much mortified as in the +morning it had been elated. She walked on with Mrs. Villars in silence +until they came under the shade of the elm-tree walk, and then, fixing +her eyes upon Mrs. Villars, she stopped short. "Do you think, madam," +said she, with hesitation, "do you think, madam, that I have a bad +heart?" +

+

+"A bad heart, my dear! why, what put that into your head?" +

+

+"Leonora said that I had, ma'am, and I felt ashamed when she said so." +

+

+"But, my dear, how can Leonora tell whether your heart be good or bad? +However, in the first place, tell me what you mean by a bad heart." +

+

+"Indeed, I do not know what is meant by it, ma'am; but it is something +which every body hates." +

+

+"And why do they hate it?" +

+

+"Because they think that it will hurt them, ma'am, I believe; and that +those who have bad hearts take delight in doing mischief; and that they +never do any body good but for their own ends." +

+

+"Then the best definition which you can give me of a bad heart is that +it is some constant propensity to hurt others, and to do wrong for the +sake of doing wrong." +

+

+"Yes, ma'am, but that is not all neither; there is still something else +meant; something which I cannot express—which, indeed, I never +distinctly understood; but of which, therefore, I was the more afraid." +

+

+"Well, then, to begin with what you do understand, tell me, Cecilia, do +you really think it possible to be wicked merely for the love of +wickedness? No human being becomes wicked all at once; a man begins by +doing wrong because it is, or because he thinks it is for his interest; +if he continue to do so, he must conquer his sense of shame, and lose +his love of virtue. But how can you, Cecilia, who feel such a strong +sense of shame, and such an eager desire to improve, imagine that you +have a bad heart?" +

+

+"Indeed, madam, I never did, until every body told me so, and then I +began to be frightened about it. This very evening, ma'am, when I was +in a passion, I threw little Louisa's strawberries away; which, I am +sure, I was very sorry for afterwards; and Leonora and every body cried +out that I had a bad heart; but I am sure that I was only in a passion." +

+

+"Very likely. And when you are in a passion, as you call it, Cecilia, +you see that you are tempted to do harm to others; if they do not feel +angry themselves, they do not sympathize with you; they do not perceive +the motive which actuates you, and then they say that you have a bad +heart. I dare say, however, when your passion is over, and when you +recollect yourself, you are very sorry for what you have done and said; +are not you?" +

+

+"Yes, indeed, madam, very sorry." +

+

+"Then make that sorrow of use to you, Cecilia, and fix it steadily in +your thoughts, as you hope to be good and happy, that, if you suffer +yourself to yield to your passion upon every trifling occasion, anger +and its consequences will become familiar to your mind; and in the same +proportion your sense of shame will be weakened, till what you began +with doing from sudden impulse you will end with doing from habit and +choice; and then you would, indeed, according to our definition, have a +bad heart." +

+

+"Oh, madam! I hope—I am sure I never shall." +

+

+"No, indeed, Cecilia; I do, indeed, believe that you never will; on the +contrary, I think that you have a very good disposition, and, what is of +infinitely more consequence to you, an active desire of improvement. +Show me that you have as much perseverance as you have candour, and I +shall not despair of your becoming every thing that I could wish." +

+

+Here Cecilia's countenance brightened, and she ran up the steps in +almost as high spirits as she ran down them in the morning. +

+

+"Good night to you, Cecilia," said Mrs. Villars, as she was crossing the +hall. "Good night to you, madam," said Cecilia; and she ran up stairs +to bed. +

+

+She could not go to sleep, but she lay awake reflecting upon the events +of the preceding day, and forming resolutions for the future; at the +same time, considering that she had resolved, and resolved without +effect, she wished to give her mind some more powerful motive; ambition +she knew to be its most powerful incentive. +

+

+"Have I not," said she to herself, "already won the prize of +application, and cannot the same application procure me a much higher +prize? Mrs. Villars said that if the prize had been promised to the most +amiable it would not have been given to me; perhaps it would not +yesterday—perhaps it might not to-morrow; but that is no reason that I +should despair of ever deserving it." +

+

+In consequence of this reasoning, Cecilia formed a design of proposing +to her companions that they should give a prize, the first of the +ensuing month (the first of June), to the most amiable. Mrs. Villars +applauded the scheme, and her companions adopted it with the greatest +alacrity. +

+

+"Let the prize," said they, "be a bracelet of our own hair;" and +instantly their shining scissors were procured, and each contributed a +lock of her hair. They formed the most beautiful gradation of colours, +from the palest auburn to the brightest black. Who was to have the +honour of plaiting them was now the question. +

+

+Caroline begged that she might, as she could plait very neatly, she +said. +

+

+Cecilia, however, was equally sure that she could do it much better, and +a dispute would inevitably have ensued, if Cecilia, recollecting herself +just as her colour rose to scarlet, had not yielded—yielded with no +very good grace indeed, but as well as could be expected for the first +time. For it is habit which confers ease; and without ease, even in +moral actions, there can be no grace. +

+

+The bracelet was plaited in the neatest manner by Caroline, finished +round the edge with silver twist, and on it was worked, in the smallest +silver letters, this motto, TO THE MOST AMIABLE. The moment it was +completed, every body begged to try it on. It fastened with little +silver clasps, and as it was made large enough for the eldest girls, it +was too large for the youngest; of this they bitterly complained, and +unanimously entreated that it might be cut to fit them. +

+

+"How foolish!" exclaimed Cecilia. "Don't you perceive that, if you win +it, you have nothing to do but to put the clasps a little further from +the edge? but if we get it, we can't make it larger." +

+

+"Very true," said they, "but you need not to have called us foolish, +Cecilia!" +

+

+It was by such hasty and unguarded expressions as these that Cecilia +offended; a slight difference in the manner makes a very material one in +the effect. Cecilia lost more love by general petulance than she could +gain by the greatest particular exertions. +

+

+How far she succeeded in curing herself of this defect, how far she +became deserving of the bracelet, and to whom the bracelet was given, +shall be told in the history of the first of June. +

 

+

+

+CONTINUATION OF THE BRACELETS. +

+The first of June was now arrived, and all the young competitors were in +a state of the most anxious suspense. Leonora and Cecilia continued to +be the foremost candidates; their quarrel had never been finally +adjusted, and their different pretensions now retarded all thoughts of a +reconciliation. Cecilia, though she was capable of acknowledging any of +her faults in public before all her companions, could not humble herself +in private to Leonora; Leonora was her equal, they were her inferiors; +and submission is much easier to a vain mind, where it appears to be +voluntary, than when it is the necessary tribute to justice or candour. +So strongly did Cecilia feel this truth that she even delayed making any +apology, or coming to any explanation with Leonora, until success should +once more give her the palm. +

+If I win the bracelet to-day, said she to herself, I will solicit the +return of Leonora's friendship; it will be more valuable to me than even +the bracelet; and at such a time, and asked in such a manner, she surely +cannot refuse it to me. Animated with this hope of a double triumph, +Cecilia canvassed with the most zealous activity; by constant attention +and exertion she had considerably abated the violence of her temper, and +changed the course of her habits. Her powers of pleasing were now +excited, instead of her abilities to excel; and, if her talents appeared +less brilliant, her character was acknowledged to be more amiable; so +great an influence upon our manners and conduct have the objects of our +ambition. Cecilia was now, if possible, more than ever desirous of +doing what was right, but she had not yet acquired sufficient fear of +doing wrong. This was the fundamental error of her mind; it arose in a +great measure from her early education. +

+

+Her mother died when she was very young; and though her father had +supplied her place in the best and kindest manner, he had insensibly +infused into his daughter's mind a portion of that enterprising, +independent spirit, which he justly deemed essential to the character of +her brother. This brother was some years older than Cecilia, but he had +always been the favourite companion of her youth; what her father's +precepts inculcated, his example enforced, and even Cecilia's virtues +consequently became such as were more estimable in a man than desirable +in a female. +

+

+All small objects and small errors she had been taught to disregard as +trifles; and her impatient disposition was perpetually leading her into +more material faults; yet her candour in confessing these, she had been +suffered to believe, was sufficient reparation and atonement. +

+

+Leonora, on the contrary, who had been educated by her mother in a +manner more suited to her sex, had a character and virtues more peculiar +to a female; her judgment had been early cultivated, and her good sense +employed in the regulation of her conduct; she had been habituated to +that restraint, which, as a woman, she was to expect in life, and early +accustomed to yield; compliance in her seemed natural and graceful. +

+

+Yet, notwithstanding the gentleness of her temper, she was in reality +more independent than Cecilia; she had more reliance upon her own +judgment, and more satisfaction in her own approbation. Though far from +insensible to praise, she was not liable to be misled by the +indiscriminate love of admiration; the uniform kindness of her manner, +the consistency and equality of her character, had fixed the esteem and +passive love of her companions. +

+

+By passive love, we mean that species of affection which makes us +unwilling to offend, rather than anxious to oblige; which is more a +habit than an emotion of the mind. For Cecilia, her companions felt +active love, for she was active in showing her love to them. +

+

+Active love arises spontaneously in the mind, after feeling particular +instances of kindness, without reflection on the past conduct or general +character; it exceeds the merits of its object, and is connected with a +feeling of generosity, rather than with a sense of justice. +

+

+Without determining which species of love is the more flattering to +others, we can easily decide which is the most agreeable feeling to our +own minds; we give our hearts more credit for being generous than for +being just; and we feel more self-complacency when we give our love +voluntarily, than when we yield it as a tribute which we cannot +withhold. Though Cecilia's companions might not know all this in theory, +they proved it in practice; for they loved her in a much higher +proportion to her merits than they loved Leonora. +

+

+Each of the young judges were to signify their choice by putting a red +or a white shell into a vase prepared for the purpose. Cecilia's colour +was red, Leonora's white. In the morning nothing was to be seen but +these shells, nothing talked of but the long-expected event of the +evening. Cecilia, following Leonora's example, had made it a point of +honour not to inquire of any individual her vote previous to their final +determination. +

+

+They were both sitting together in Louisa's room; Louisa was recovering +from the measles. Every one, during her illness, had been desirous of +attending her; but Leonora and Cecilia were the only two that were +permitted to see her, as they alone had had the distemper. They were +both assiduous in their care of Louisa; but Leonora's want of exertion +to overcome any disagreeable feelings of sensibility often deprived her +of presence of mind, and prevented her being so constantly useful as +Cecilia. Cecilia, on the contrary, often made too much noise and bustle +with her officious assistance, and was too anxious to invent amusements +and procure comforts for Louisa, without perceiving that illness takes +away the power of enjoying them. +

+

+As she was sitting in the window in the morning, exerting herself to +entertain Louisa, she heard the voice of an old pedlar who often used to +come to the house. Down stairs she ran immediately to ask Mrs. Villars's +permission to bring him into the hall. +

+

+Mrs. Villars consented, and away Cecilia ran to proclaim the news to her +companions; then first returning into the hall, she found the pedlar +just unbuckling his box, and taking it off his shoulders. "What would +you be pleased to want, Miss?" said he. "I've all kinds of +tweezer-cases, rings, and lockets of all sorts," continued he, opening +all the glittering drawers successively. +

+

+"Oh!" said Cecilia, shutting the drawer of lockets which tempted her +most, "these are not the things which I want; have you any china +figures, any mandarins?" +

+

+"Alack-a-day, Miss, I had a great stock of that same china ware, but now +I'm quite out of them kind of things; but I believe," said he, rummaging +in one of the deepest drawers, "I believe I have one left, and here it +is." +

+

+"Oh, that is the very thing! what's its price?" +

+

+"Only three shillings, ma'am." Cecilia paid the money, and was just +going to carry off the mandarin, when the pedlar took out of his +great-coat pocket a neat mahogany case; it was about a foot long, and +fastened at each end by two little clasps; it had besides a small lock +in the middle. +

+

+"What is that?" said Cecilia, eagerly. +

+

+"It's only a china figure, Miss, which I am going to carry to an +elderly lady, who lives nigh at hand, and who is mighty fond of such +things." +

+

+"Could you let me look at it?" +

+

+"And welcome, Miss," said he, and opened the case. +

+

+"O goodness! how beautiful!" exclaimed Cecilia. +

+

+It was a figure of Flora, crowned with roses, and carrying a basket of +flowers in her hand. Cecilia contemplated it with delight. "How I should +like to give this to Louisa," said she to herself; and at last breaking +silence, "Did you promise it to the old lady?" +

+

+"O no, Miss; I didn't promise it—she never saw it; and if so be that +you'd like to take it, I'd make no more words about it." +

+

+"And how much does it cost?" +

+

+"Why, Miss, as to that, I'll let you have it for half-a-guinea." +

+

+ +

+

+

+Cecilia immediately produced the box in which she kept her treasure, and +emptying it upon the table, she began to count the shillings; alas! +there were but six shillings. "How provoking!" said she; "then I can't +have it—where's the mandarin? O I have it," said she, taking it up, and +looking at it with the utmost disgust. "Is this the same that I had +before?" +

+

+"Yes, Miss, the very same," replied the pedlar, who, during this time, +had been examining the little box out of which Cecilia had taken her +money; it was of silver. +

+

+"Why, ma'am," said he, "since you've taken such a fancy to the piece, if +you've a mind to make up the remainder of the money, I will take this +here little box, if you care to part with it." +

+

+Now this box was a keepsake from Leonora to Cecilia. "No," said Cecilia +hastily, blushing a little, and stretching out her hand to receive it. +

+

+"Oh, Miss!" said he, returning it carelessly, "I hope there's no +offence; I meant but to serve you, that's all. Such a rare piece of +china-work has no cause to go a begging," added he, putting the Flora +deliberately into the case; then turning the key with a jerk, he let it +drop into his pocket, and lifting up his box by the leather straps, he +was preparing to depart. +

+

+"Oh, stay one minute!" said Cecilia, in whose mind there had passed a +very warm conflict during the pedlar's harangue. "Louisa would so like +this Flora," said she, arguing with herself; "besides, it would be so +generous in me to give it to her instead of that ugly mandarin; that +would be doing only common justice, for I promised it to her, and she +expects it. Though, when I come to look at this mandarin, it is not even +so good as hers was; the gilding is all rubbed off, so that I absolutely +must buy this for her. O yes, I will, and she will be so delighted! and +then every body will say it is the prettiest thing they ever saw, and +the broken mandarin will be forgotten forever." +

+

+Here Cecilia's hand moved, and she was just going to decide: "O! but +stop," said she to herself; "consider Leonora gave me this box, and it +is a keepsake; however, now we have quarreled, and I dare say that she +would not mind my parting with it; I'm sure that I should not care if +she was to give away my keepsake the smelling bottle, or the ring which +I gave her; so what does it signify; besides, is it not my own, and have +I not a right to do what I please with it?" +

+

+At this dangerous instant for Cecilia, a party of her companions opened +the door; she knew that they came as purchasers, and she dreaded her +Flora's becoming the prize of some higher bidder. "Here," said she, +hastily putting the box into the pedlar's hand, without looking at it; +"take it, and give me the Flora." Her hand trembled, though she snatched +it impatiently; she ran by, without seeming to mind any of her +companions—she almost wished to turn back. +

+

+Let those who are tempted to do wrong by the hopes of future +gratification, or the prospect of certain concealment and impunity, +remember that, unless they are totally depraved, they bear in their own +hearts a monitor who will prevent their enjoying what they have ill +obtained. +

+

+In vain Cecilia ran to the rest of her companions, to display her +present, in hopes that the applause of others would restore her own +self-complacency; in vain she saw the Flora pass in due pomp from hand +to hand, each viewing with the other in extolling the beauty of the gift +and the generosity of the giver. Cecilia was still displeased with +herself, with them, and even with their praise; from Louisa's gratitude, +however, she yet expected much pleasure, and immediately she ran up +stairs to her room. +

+

+In the mean time Leonora had gone into the hall to buy a bodkin; she had +just broken hers. In giving her change, the pedlar took out of his +pocket, with some half-pence, the very box which Cecilia had sold him. +Leonora did not in the least suspect the truth, for her mind was above +suspicion; and besides, she had the utmost confidence in Cecilia. "I +should like to have that box," said she, "for it is like one of which I +was very fond." +

+

+The pedlar named the price, and Leonora took the box; she intended to +give it to little Louisa. +

+

+On going to her room she found her asleep, and she sat down softly by +her bed-side. Louisa opened her eyes. +

+

+"I hope I didn't disturb you," said Leonora. +

+

+"O no; I didn't hear you come in; but what have you got there?" +

+

+"It is only a little box; would you like to have it? I bought it on +purpose for you, as I thought perhaps it would please you; because it's +like that which I gave Cecilia." +

+

+"O yes! that out of which she used to give me Barbary drops. I am very +much obliged to you. I always thought that exceedingly pretty; and +this, indeed, is as like it as possible. I can't unscrew it; will you +try?" +

+

+Leonora unscrewed it. +

+

+"Goodness!" exclaimed Louisa, "this must be Cecilia's box; look, don't +you see a great L at the bottom of it?" +

+

+Leonora's colour changed. "Yes," she replied calmly, "I see that, but it +is no proof that it is Cecilia's; you know that I bought this box just +now of the pedlar." +

+

+"That may be," said Louisa; "but I remember scratching that L with my +own needle, and Cecilia scolded me for it, too. Do go and ask her if she +has lost her box—do," repeated Louisa, pulling her by the sleeve, as +she did not seem to listen. +

+

+Leonora indeed did not hear, for she was lost in thought; she was +comparing circumstances, which had before escaped her attention. She +recollected that Cecilia had passed her as she came into the hall, +without seeming to see her, but had blushed as she passed. She +remembered that the pedlar appeared unwilling to part with the box, and +was going to put it again into his pocket with the half-pence; "and why +should he keep it in his pocket and not show it with his other things?" +Combining all these circumstances, Leonora had no longer any doubt of +the truth; for though she had honourable confidence in her friends, she +had too much penetration to be implicitly credulous. "Louisa," she +began, but at this instant she heard a step, which, by its quickness, +she knew to be Cecilia's, coming along the passage. "If you love me, +Louisa," said Leonora, "say nothing about the box." +

+

+"Nay, but why not? I dare say she has lost it." +

+

+"No, my dear, I am afraid she has not." Louisa looked surprised. +

+

+"But I have reasons for desiring you not to say any thing about it." +

+

+"Well, then, I won't, indeed." +

+

+Cecilia opened the door, came forward smiling, as if secure of a good +reception, and, taking the Flora out of the case, she placed it on the +mantel-piece, opposite to Louisa's bed. "Dear, how beautiful," cried +Louisa, starting up. +

+

+"Yes," said Cecilia, "and guess who it's for?" +

+

+"For me, perhaps!" said the ingenuous Louisa. +

+

+"Yes, take it, and keep it for my sake; you know that I broke your +mandarin." +

+

+"O! but this is a great deal prettier and larger than that." +

+

+"Yes, I know it is; and I meant that it should be so. I should only have +done what I was bound to do if I had only given you a mandarin." +

+

+"Well, and that would have been enough, surely; but what a beautiful +crown of roses! and then that basket of flowers! they almost look as if +I could smell them. Dear Cecilia! I'm very much obliged to you, but I +won't take it by way of payment for the mandarin you broke; for I'm sure +you could not help that; and, besides, I should have broken it myself by +this time. You shall give it to me entirely, and I'll keep it as long as +I live as your keepsake." +

+

+Louisa stopped short and coloured. The word keepsake recalled the box +to her mind, and all the train of ideas which the Flora had banished. +"But," said she, looking up wishfully in Cecilia's face, and holding the +Flora doubtfully, "did you——" +

+

+Leonora, who was just quitting the room, turned her head back, and gave +Louisa a look, which silenced her. +

+

+Cecilia was so infatuated with her vanity, that she neither perceived +Leonora's sign, nor Louisa's confusion, but continued showing off her +present, by placing it in various situations, till at length she put it +into the case, and laying it down with an affected carelessness upon the +bed, "I must go now, Louisa. Good bye," said she, running up and kissing +her; "but I'll come again presently;" then clapping the door after her, +she went. +

+

+But as soon as the fermentation of her spirits subsided, the sense of +shame, which had been scarcely felt when mixed with so many other +sensations, rose uppermost in her mind. "What?" said she to herself, +"is it possible that I have sold what I promised to keep for ever? and +what Leonora gave me? and I have concealed it too, and have been making +a parade of my generosity. O! what would Leonora, what would Louisa, +what would every body think of me, if the truth were known?" +

+

+Humiliated and grieved by these reflections, Cecilia began to search in +her own mind for some consoling idea. She began to compare her conduct +with the conduct of others of her own age; and at length, fixing her +comparison upon her brother George, as the companion of whom, from her +infancy, she had been habitually the most emulous, she recollected that +an almost similar circumstance had once happened to him, and that he had +not only escaped disgrace, but had acquired glory by an intrepid +confession of his fault. Her father's words to her brother, on that +occasion, she also perfectly recollected. +

+

+"Come to me, George," he said, holding out his hand; "you are a +generous, brave boy. They who dare to confess their faults will make +great and good men." +

+

+These were his words; but Cecilia, in repeating them to herself, forgot +to lay that emphasis on the word men, which would have placed it in +contradistinction to the word women. She willingly believed that the +observation extended equally to both sexes, and flattered herself that +she should exceed her brother in merit, if she owned a fault which she +thought that it would be so much more difficult to confess. "Yes, but," +said she, stopping herself, "how can I confess it? This very evening, in +a few hours, the prize will be decided; Leonora or I shall win it. I +have now as good a chance as Leonora, perhaps a better; and must I give +up all my hopes? all that I have been labouring for this month past! O, +I never can;—if it were to-morrow, or yesterday, or any day but this, I +would not hesitate, but now I am almost certain of the prize, and if I +win it—well, why then I will—I think, I will tell all—yes, I will; I +am determined," said Cecilia. +

+

+Here a bell summoned them to dinner. Leonora sat opposite to her, and +she was not a little surprised to see Cecilia look so gay and +unrestrained. "Surely," said she to herself, "if Cecilia had done this, +that I suspect, she would not, she could not look as she does." But +Leonora little knew the cause of her gayety; Cecilia was never in higher +spirits, or better pleased with herself, than when she had resolved upon +a sacrifice or a confession. +

+

+"Must not this evening be given to the most amiable? Whose, then, will +it be?" All eyes glanced first at Cecilia and then at Leonora. Cecilia +smiled; Leonora blushed. "I see that it is not yet decided," said Mrs. +Villars; and immediately they ran up stairs, amidst confused +whisperings. +

+

+Cecilia's voice could be distinguished far above the rest. "How can she +be so happy?" said Leonora to herself. "O, Cecilia, there was a time +when you could not have neglected me so!—when we were always together, +the best of friends and companions, our wishes, tastes, and pleasures +the same. Surely she did once love me," said Leonora; "but now she is +quite changed. She has even sold my keepsake, and would rather win a +bracelet of hair from girls whom she did not always think so much +superior to Leonora, than have my esteem, my confidence, and my +friendship, for her whole life; yes, for her whole life, for I am sure +she will be an amiable woman. Oh that this bracelet had never been +thought of, or that I was certain of her winning it; for I am certain +that I do not wish to win it from her. I would rather, a thousand times +rather, that we were as we used to be, than have all the glory in the +world. And how pleasing Cecilia can be when she wishes to please! how +candid she is! how much she can improve herself!—let me be just, +though she has offended me—she is wonderfully improved within this last +month; for one fault, and that against myself, should I forget all her +merits?" +

+

+As Leonora said these last words, she could but just hear the voices of +her companions; they had left her alone in the gallery. She knocked +softly at Louisa's door——"Come in," said Louisa. "I in not asleep. Oh," +said she, starting up with the Flora in her hand, the instant that the +door was opened. "I'm so glad you are come, Leonora, for I did so long +to hear what you were all making such a noise about—have you forgot +that the bracelet——" +

+

+"O yes! is this the evening?" +

+

+"Well, here's my white shell for you. I've kept it in my pocket this +fortnight; and though Cecilia did give me this Flora, I still love you a +great deal better." +

+

+"I thank you, Louisa," said Leonora, gratefully. "I will take your +shell, and I shall value it as long as I live. But here is a red one, +and if you wish to show me that you love me, you will give this to +Cecilia. I know that she is particularly anxious for your preference, +and I am sure that she deserves it." +

+

+"Yes, if I could I would choose both of you; but you know I can only +choose which I like the best." +

+

+"If you mean, my dear Louisa," said Leonora, "that you like me the best, +I am very much obliged to you; for, indeed I wish you to love me; but it +is enough for me to know it in private. I should not feel the least more +pleasure at hearing it in public, or in having it made known to all my +companions, especially at a time when it would give poor Cecilia a great +deal of pain." +

+

+"But why should it give her pain? I don't like her for being jealous of +you." +

+

+"Nay, Louisa, surely you don't think Cecilia jealous; she only tries to +excel and to please. She is more anxious to succeed than I am, it is +true, because she has a great deal more activity, and perhaps more +ambition; and it would really mortify her to lose this prize. You know +that she proposed it herself; it has been her object for this month +past, and I am sure she has taken great pains to obtain it." +

+

+"But, dear Leonora, why should you lose it?" +

+

+"Indeed, my dear, it would be no loss to me; and, if it were, I would +willingly suffer it for Cecilia; for, though we seem not to be such good +friends as we used to be, I love her very much, and she will love me +again, I'm sure she will; when she no longer fears me as a rival, she +will again love me as a friend." +

+

+Here Leonora heard a number of her companions running along the gallery. +They all knocked hastily at the door, calling, "Leonora! Leonora! will +you never come? Cecilia has been with us this half hour." +

+

+Leonora smiled. "Well, Louisa," said she, smiling, "will you promise +me?" +

+

+"O, I'm sure, by the way they speak to you, that they won't give you +the prize!" said the little Louisa; and the tears started into her eyes. +

+

+"They love me though, for all that; and as for the prize, you know whom +I wish to have it." +

+

+"Leonora! Leonora!" called her impatient companions; "don't you hear us? +What are you about?" +

+

+"O, she never will take any trouble about any thing," said one of the +party; "let's go away." +

+

+"O go! go! make haste," cried Louisa; "don't stay, they are so angry—I +will, I will, indeed!" +

+

+"Remember, then, that you have promised me," said Leonora, and she left +the room. During all this time Cecilia had been in the garden with her +companions. The ambition which she had felt to win the first prize, the +prize of superior talents and superior application, was not to be +compared to the absolute anxiety which she now expressed to win this +simple testimony of the love and approbation of her equals and rivals. +

+

+To employ her exuberant activity, she had been dragging branches of +lilacs, and laburnums, roses, and sweet-briar, to ornament the bower in +which her fate was to be decided. It was excessively hot, but her mind +was engaged, and she was indefatigable. She stood still, at last, to +admire her works; her companions all joined in loud applause. They were +not a little prejudiced in her favour by the great eagerness which she +expressed to win their prize, and by the great importance which she +seemed to affix to the preference of each individual. At last, "Where is +Leonora?" cried one of them, and immediately, as we have seen, they ran +to call her. +

+

+Cecilia was left alone. Overcome with heat and too violent exertion, she +had hardly strength to support herself; each moment appeared to her +intolerably long; she was in a state of the utmost suspense, and all her +courage failed her; even hope forsook her, and hope is a cordial which +leaves the mind depressed and enfeebled. "The time is now come," said +Cecilia; "in a few moments it will be decided. In a few moments! +goodness! how much I do hazard! If I should not win the prize, how shall +I confess what I have done? How shall I beg Leonora to forgive me? I, +who hoped to restore my friendship to her as an honour!—they are gone +to seek for her—the moment she appears I shall be forgotten—what +shall—what shall I do?" said Cecilia, covering her face with her hands. +

+

+Such was her situation, when Leonora, accompanied by her companions, +opened the hall-door; they most of them ran forward to Cecilia. As +Leonora came into the bower, she held out her hand to Cecilia——"We +are not rivals, but friends, I hope," said she. Cecilia clasped her +hand, but she was in too great agitation to speak. +

+

+The table was now set in the arbour—the vase was now placed in the +middle. "Well!" said Cecilia, eagerly, "who begins?" Caroline, one of +her friends, came forward first, and then all the others successively. +Cecilia's emotion was hardly conceivable.——"Now they are all in. +Count them, Caroline!" +

+

+"One, two, three, four; the numbers are both equal." There was a dead +silence. +

+

+"No, they are not," exclaimed Cecilia, pressing forward and putting +a shell into the vase——"I have not given mine, and I give it to +Leonora." Then snatching the bracelet, "It is yours, Leonora," said she; +"take it, and give me back your friendship." The whole assembly gave a +universal clap and shout of applause. +

+

+"I cannot be surprised at this from you, Cecilia," said Leonora; "and do +you then still love me as you used to do?" +

+

+"O Leonora! stop! don't praise me; I don't deserve this," said she, +turning to her loudly applauding companions; "you will soon despise +me—O Leonora, you will never forgive me!—I have deceived you—I have +sold——" +

+

+At this instant Mrs. Villars appeared—the crowd divided—she had heard +all that passed from her window. +

+

+"I applaud your generosity, Cecilia," said she, "but I am to tell you +that in this instance it is unsuccessful; you have it not in your power +to give the prize to Leonora—it is yours—I have another vote to give +you—you have forgotten Louisa." +

+

+"Louisa! but surely, ma'am, Louisa loves Leonora better than she does +me!" +

+

+"She commissioned me, however," said Mrs. Villars, "to give you a red +shell, and you will find it in this box." +

+

+Cecilia started, and turned as pale as death—it was the fatal box. +

+

+Mrs. Villars produced another box—she opened it—it contained the +Flora—"And Louisa also desired me," said she, "to return you this +Flora"—she put it into Cecilia's hand—Cecilia trembled so that she +could not hold it; Leonora caught it. +

+

+"O, madam! O, Leonora!" exclaimed Cecilia; "now I have no hope left. I +intended, I was just going to tell——" +

+

+"Dear Cecilia," said Leonora, "you need not tell it me; I know it +already, and I forgive you with all my heart." +

+

+"Yes, I can prove to you," said Mrs. Villars, "that Leonora has forgiven +you: it is she who has given you the prize; it was she who persuaded +Louisa to give you her vote. I went to see her a little while ago, and +perceiving, by her countenance, that something was the matter, I pressed +her to tell me what it was. +

+

+"'Why, madam,' said she, 'Leonora has made me promise to give my shell +to Cecilia. Now I don't love Cecilia half so well as I do Leonora; +besides, I would not have Cecilia think I vote for her because she gave +me a Flora.' Whilst Louisa was speaking," continued Mrs. Villars, "I saw +the silver box lying on the bed; I took it up, and asked if it was not +yours, and how she came by it. +

+

+"'Indeed, madam,' said Louisa, 'I could have been almost certain that +it was Cecilia's; but Leonora gave it me, and she said that she bought +it of the pedlar this morning. If any body else had told me so, I could +not have believed them, because I remembered the box so well; but I +can't help believing Leonora.' +

+

+"'But did you not ask Cecilia about it?' said I. +

+

+"'No, madam,' replied Louisa, 'for Leonora forbade me.' +

+

+"I guessed her reason. 'Well,' said I, 'give me the box, and I will +carry your shell in it to Cecilia.' +

+

+"'Then, madam,' said she, 'if I must give it her, pray do take the +Flora, and return it to her first, that she may not think it is for that +I do it.'" +

+

+"O, generous Leonora!" exclaimed Cecilia; "but indeed, Louisa, I cannot +take your shell." +

+

+"Then, dear Cecilia, accept of mine instead of it; you cannot refuse +it—I only follow your example. As for the bracelet," added Leonora, +taking Cecilia's hand, "I assure you I don't wish for it, and you do, +and you deserve it." +

+

+"No," said Cecilia, "indeed I do not deserve it; next to you, surely, +Louisa deserves it best." +

+

+"Louisa! O yes, Louisa," exclaimed every body with one voice. +

+

+"Yes," said Mrs. Villars, "and let Cecilia carry the bracelet to her; +she deserves that reward. For one fault I cannot forget all your merits, +Cecilia; nor, I am sure, will your companions." +

+

+"Then, surely, not your best friend," said Leonora, kissing her. +

+

+Every body present was moved—they looked up to Leonora with respectful +and affectionate admiration. +

+

+"O, Leonora, how I love you! and how I wish to be like you!" exclaimed +Cecilia; "to be as good, as generous!" +

+

+"Rather wish, Cecilia," interrupted Mrs. Villars, "to be as just; to be +as strictly honourable, and as invariably consistent. +

+

+"Remember that many of our sex are capable of great efforts, of making +what they call great sacrifices to virtue or to friendship; but few +treat their friends with habitual gentleness, or uniformly conduct +themselves with prudence and good sense." +

+

+THE END. +

+

 

+

 

+

+A CATALOGUE
+OF
+ILLUSTRATED AND ENTERTAINING
+JUVENILE WORKS. +

+ +

+

+ +
+

+LITTLE ANNIE'S FIRST BOOK,
+CHIEFLY IN WORDS OF THREE LETTERS. +

+
+By Her Mother. +
+
+Illustrated with Seventy Designs. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+
+This little volume will commend itself to parents, as a book for +children who have just mastered the alphabet. +
+
+

+THE TRAVELS
+AND
+EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES
+OF
+BOB THE SQUIRREL.
+

+
+Illustrated with Twelve Engravings
+by Distinguished Artists.
+
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+
+Bob's adventures are full of interest, and no child can fail to be +amused and permanently benefited by the perusal of them. The book is +designed for a child from six to ten years of age. +
+
+

+CLARA'S AMUSEMENTS. +

+
+"Oh, happy childhood! whose sweet fruits of pleasure Are plucked in the +safe garden of thy home."—M.S. +
+
+By Mrs. Anna Bache. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated with Original Designs. +
+
+Price 50 cents. +
+
+ +

+

+

+THE BLOSSOMS OF MORALITY;
+INTENDED FOR THE AMUSEMENT AND INSTRUCTION
+OF YOUNG PEOPLE. +

+
+Illustrated with Twenty-three Designs by Darley. +
+
+One Volume 15mo. Price 38 cts. +
+
+

+HOLIDAY HOUSE:
+A SERIES OF TALES +

+
+By Miss Sinclair. +
+
+From the third London Edition. +
+
+Prettily illustrated by Croome. +
+
+One Volume 16mo. Price 75 cents. +
+
+"We find in this volume, as in all of Miss Sinclair's other productions, +the same lively intellect, the same buoyant good humour, the same easy +and vigorous style, the same happy talent for observation and +description, the same warfare against the fashionable follies of the +day, and the same assiduity in inculcating the lessons of morality and +religion."—Edinburgh Advertiser. +
+
+

+THE
+LIFE AND WANDERINGS
+OF
+A MOUSE +

+
+Illustrated with Ten Designs by Croome. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+
+"An instructive and amusing volume, that will be read by every child +with pleasure." +
+
+

+THE CHILD'S OWN STORY BOOK;
+OR, TALES AND DIALOGUES FOR THE NURSERY. +

+
+By Mrs. Jerram. +
+
+Illustrated with Numerous Engravings. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+ +

+

+
+

+THE CHILD'S DELIGHT;
+A GIFT FOR ALL SEASONS. +

+
+Edited by a lady. +
+
+Prettily Illustrated with Coloured Steel Engravings,
+Designed by Croome. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+
+

+MARIA EDGEWORTH'S
+CHEAP JUVENILE WORKS. +

+

+WASTE NOT, WANT NOT;
+OR,
+TWO STRINGS TO YOUR BOW. +

+
+By Maria Edgeworth. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 25 cents. +
+

+LAZY LAWRENCE;
+OR,
+INDUSTRY AND IDLENESS CONTRASTED. +

+
+By Maria Edgeworth. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 25 cents. +
+

+THE BRACELETS;
+OR,
+AMIABILITY AND INDUSTRY REWARDED. +

+
+By Maria Edgeworth. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 25 cents. +
+

+THE FIRESIDE STORY BOOK;
+CONTAINING
+"LAZY LAWRENCE" "WASTE NOT, WANT NOT,"
+AND "THE BRACELETS." +

+
+Elegantly Illustrated. +
+
+One Volume 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+
+ +

+

+

+MAMMA'S BIBLE STORIES
+FOR HER
+LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS. +

+

+A SERIES OF READING LESSONS TAKEN FROM THE BIBLE, AND
+ADAPTED TO THE CAPACITIES OF VERY YOUNG CHILDREN. +

+
+Illustrated with Numerous Engravings. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents +
+
+

+GRANDMAMMA EASY'S
+BEAUTIFUL TOY BOOKS,
+FOR ALL GOOD CHILDREN. +

+
+Very large size, printed on very large type, and elegantly +coloured, with gilt edges. +
+
+Put up in wrappers, each containing one dozen. +
+
+Price $1.50 per Dozen. +
+
+CONTENTS. +
+
+New Story about Little Tom Thumb and his Mother.
+New Little Stories about the Alphabet.
+Merry Multiplication.
+New Story about Old Daddy Longlegs.
+New Story about Little Jack Horner, and of what his Pie was made.
+Michaelmas Day, or the Fate of poor Molly Goosey.
+Alderman's Feast: A new Alphabet.
+New Story about the Queen of Hearts, and the Stolen Tarts.
+New Pictorial Bible Alphabet.
+Toy Shop Drolleries, or Wonders of a Toy Shop.
+Travels of Matty Macaroni, the Little Organ Boy.
+New Story of Joseph and his Brethren.
+
+
+

+VERY LITTLE TALES FOR VERY LITTLE CHILDREN. +

+
+In single syllables of three and four letters. Large and bold type. +
+
+With Numerous Illustrations. +
+
+Two Volumes 32mo. Price 75 cents. +
+ +

+

+
+

+LITTLE LESSONS FOR LITTLE LEARNERS. +

+
+In words of one syllable. +
+
+By Mrs. Barwell,
+Author of "Mamma's Bible Stories." +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+
+

+POPULAR TALES. +

+
+By Maria Edgeworth. +
+
+With Original Designs by Croome. +
+
+CONTENTS. +
+
+MURAD THE UNLUCKY.
+THE MANUFACTURERS.
+THE CONTRAST.
+THE GRATEFUL NEGRO.
+TO-MORROW. +
+
+One Volume 16mo. Price 75 cents. +
+
+"The writings of Maria Edgeworth have rarely been approached, and none +have excelled her. Her stories are so natural, and are told with such +truthfulness, that the reader becomes completely captivated." +
+
+

+MORAL TALES. +

+
+By Maria Edgeworth. +
+
+Embellished with Original Designs by Darley. +
+
+Price 75 cents. +
+
+"If we wished to do a young person good while offering amusement, to +improve the heart while engaging the attention, and to give him or her +little books which convey no false or distorted notions of life—Maria +Edgeworth is our author."—Post. +
+
+ +

+

+

+DIVINE AND MORAL SONGS,
+FOR THE USE OF CHILDREN +

+
+By Isaac Watts, D.D. +
+
+Illustrated with 24 Engravings in the Highest Style of Art. +
+
+One elegant Volume, 16mo. Price 75 cts. +
+
+"This will be a constant furniture for the minds of children, that they +may have something to think of when alone, and sing over to themselves. +This may sometimes give their thoughts a divine turn, and raise a young +meditation. Thus they will not be forced to seek relief for an emptiness +of mind out of the loose and dangerous sonnets of the age."—Extract +from Author's Preface. +
+
+

+MRS. SHERWOOD'S
+PRETTILY ILUSTRATED JUVENILES. +

+

+DUTY IS SAFETY;
+OR,
+TROUBLESOME TOM. +

+
+By Mrs. Sherwood. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated. Price 25 cents. +
+

+THINK BEFORE YOU ACT. +

+
+By Mrs. Sherwood. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated. Price 25 cents. +
+

+JACK, THE SAILOR BOY. +

+
+By Mrs. Sherwood. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated. Price 25 cents. +
+

+CLEVER STORIES FOR CLEVER BOYS AND GIRLS. +

+
+Containing +
+
+"Think before you Act," "Jack, the Sailor Boy," "Duty is Safety." +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cts. +
+

+THE PRIZE STORY BOOK;
+CONSISTING CHIEFLY OF
+TALES TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN,
+FRENCH, AND ITALIAN,
+TOGETHER WITH
+SELECT TALES FROM THE ENGLISH.
+

+
+Illustrated with Numerous Designs. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Half cloth 50 cts.; cloth extra 63 cts. +
+ +

+

+
+

+GEORGE'S JOURNEY
+TO THE
+LAND OF HAPPINESS. +

+
+By a Lady. +
+
+Illustrated with Sixteen Coloured Engravings. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+
+

+THE BOOK OF ANIMALS;
+INTENDED FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT
+AND INSTRUCTION
+OF
+YOUNG PEOPLE. +

+
+By R. Bilby. +
+
+Illustrated with Twelve Designs of Animals. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+
+This volume is intended both as a useful and entertaining book for the +young, abounding with Anecdotes of the Quadrupeds, and illustrated with +numerous well executed designs. +
+
+

+THE HAPPY CHILDREN;
+A TALE OF HOME
+FOR
+YOUNG PEOPLE. +

+
+Illustrated with Elegant Engravings. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cts. +
+
+A very interesting volume for children from six to twelve years of age. +
+
+

+RHYMES FOR THE NURSERY. +

+
+By the Author of "Original Poems." +
+
+Illustrated with Sixteen Designs. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cts. plain; 63 cts. coloured. +
+ +

+

+
+

+HOLIDAY TALES.
+CONTAINING PLEASING STORIES FOR THE YOUNG. +

+
+Prettily Illustrated. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price in half cloth, 25 cents; cloth gilt, +38 cents. +
+
+ +

+

+

+UNCLE JOHN'S
+FANCY PICTURE BOOKS. +

+
+In a new and unique style, +put up in dozens assorted. Six kinds. +
+
+CONTENTS. +
+
+UNCLE JOHN'S PICTURE BIBLE ALPHABET.
+UNCLE JOHN'S STORY OF BOB.
+UNCLE JOHN'S STORY OF DOWNEY THE MOUSE.
+UNCLE JOHN'S STORIES OF ANIMALS.
+UNCLE JOHN'S BIBLE STORIES.
+UNCLE JOHN'S LITTLE RHYMER. +
+ +
*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11121 ***
+ diff --git a/11121-h/images/appleton.jpg b/11121-h/images/appleton.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e9fdfee Binary files /dev/null and b/11121-h/images/appleton.jpg differ diff --git a/11121-h/images/bible.jpg b/11121-h/images/bible.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e65ae00 Binary files /dev/null and b/11121-h/images/bible.jpg differ diff --git a/11121-h/images/blossoms.jpg b/11121-h/images/blossoms.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a923d91 Binary files /dev/null and b/11121-h/images/blossoms.jpg differ diff --git a/11121-h/images/bracelets.jpg b/11121-h/images/bracelets.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1587fea Binary files /dev/null and b/11121-h/images/bracelets.jpg differ diff --git a/11121-h/images/girls.jpg b/11121-h/images/girls.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..348f029 Binary files /dev/null and b/11121-h/images/girls.jpg differ diff --git a/11121-h/images/picturebooks.jpg b/11121-h/images/picturebooks.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0e2a109 Binary files /dev/null and b/11121-h/images/picturebooks.jpg differ diff --git a/11121-h/images/prize.jpg b/11121-h/images/prize.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..54d5390 Binary files /dev/null and b/11121-h/images/prize.jpg differ diff --git a/11121-h/images/rhymes.jpg b/11121-h/images/rhymes.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7cf724 Binary files /dev/null and b/11121-h/images/rhymes.jpg differ diff --git a/11121-h/images/songs.jpg b/11121-h/images/songs.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b36c1e4 Binary files /dev/null and b/11121-h/images/songs.jpg differ diff --git a/11121-h/images/storybook.jpg b/11121-h/images/storybook.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..db95058 Binary files /dev/null and b/11121-h/images/storybook.jpg differ diff --git a/11121-h/images/tales.jpg b/11121-h/images/tales.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..42d625c Binary files /dev/null and b/11121-h/images/tales.jpg differ diff --git a/11121-h/images/treasure.jpg b/11121-h/images/treasure.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..99bc8d1 Binary files /dev/null and b/11121-h/images/treasure.jpg differ diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..425e231 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #11121 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11121) diff --git a/old/11121-h.zip b/old/11121-h.zip new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3eff64a Binary files /dev/null and b/old/11121-h.zip differ diff --git a/old/11121-h/11121-h.htm b/old/11121-h/11121-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a182aa2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11121-h/11121-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2382 @@ + + + + + +The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Bracelets, by Maria Edgeworth. + + + + + + +
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bracelets, by Maria Edgeworth
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Bracelets
+
+Author: Maria Edgeworth
+
+Release Date: February 17, 2004 [EBook #11121]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRACELETS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Children, Andrea
+Ball and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ +

 

+

 

+ +

+

+

 

+ +

+

+

 

+ +

THE BRACELETS;

+

OR,
+AMIABILITY AND INDUSTRY REWARDED. +

+

 

+ +

+BY
+MARIA EDGEWORTH, +

+

+AUTHOR OF "POPULAR TALES," "MORAL TALES," ETC. ETC. +

+

+With Illustrations from Original Designs. +

+

 

+ + +

+1850. +

+

 

+ +

+CONTENTS +

+

THE BRACELETS.

+

CONTINUATION OF THE BRACELETS.

+

 

+

+ILLUSTRATIONS +

+

+The Bracelets. Edgeworth +

+

+Two girls +

+

+Treasure box +

+

+Appleton List of Books +

+

+Blossoms of Morality +

+

+Child's Own Story Book +

+

+Mamma's Bible Stories +

+

+Very Little Tales for Very Little Children +

+

+Divine and Moral Songs +

+

+The Prize Story Book +

+

+Rhymes for The Nursery +

+

+Uncle John's Fancy Picture Books +

+ +

 

+ +

+

+THE BRACELETS. +

+

+In a beautiful and retired part of England lived Mrs. Villars, a lady +whose accurate understanding, benevolent heart, and steady temper, +peculiarly fitted her for the most difficult, as well as most important +of all occupations—the education of youth. This task she had +undertaken; and twenty young persons were put under her care, with the +perfect confidence of their parents. No young people could be happier; +they were good and gay, emulous, but not envious of each other; for Mrs. +Villars was impartially just. Her praise they felt to be the reward of +merit, and her blame they knew to be the necessary consequence of ill +conduct; to the one, therefore, they patiently submitted, and in the +other consciously rejoiced. They rose with fresh cheerfulness in the +morning, eager to pursue their various occupations; they returned in the +evening with renewed ardour to their amusements, and retired to rest +satisfied with themselves and pleased with each other. +

+

+Nothing so much contributed to preserve a spirit of emulation in this +little society as a small honorary distinction given annually, as the +prize of successful application. The prize this year was peculiarly dear +to each individual, as it was the picture of a friend whom they all +dearly loved—it was the picture of Mrs. Villars in a small bracelet. It +wanted neither gold, pearls, nor precious stones, to give it value. +

+

+The two foremost candidates for the prize were Cecilia and Leonora. +Cecilia was the most intimate friend of Leonora, but Leonora was only +the favourite companion of Cecilia. +

+

+Cecilia was of an active, ambitious, enterprising disposition; more +eager in the pursuit than happy in the enjoyment of her wishes. Leonora +was of a contented, unaspiring, temperate character, not easily roused +to action, but indefatigable when once excited. Leonora was proud, +Cecilia was vain. Her vanity made her more dependent upon the +approbation of others, and therefore more anxious to please, than +Leonora; but that very vanity made her, at the same time, more apt to +offend. In short, Leonora was the most anxious to avoid what was wrong, +Cecilia the most ambitious to do what was right. Few of their companions +loved, but many were led by Cecilia, for she was often successful; many +loved Leonora, but none were ever governed by her, for she was too +indolent to govern. +

+

+On the first day of May, about six o'clock in the evening, a great bell +rang, to summon this little society into a hall, where the prize was to +be decided. A number of small tables were placed in a circle in the +middle of the hall; seats for the young competitors were raised one +above another, in a semicircle, some yards distant from the table; and +the judges' chairs, under canopies of lilacs and luburnums, forming +another semicircle, closed the amphitheatre. Every one put their +writings, their drawings, their works of various kinds, upon the tables +appropriated for each. How unsteady were the last steps to these tables! +How each little hand trembled as it laid down its claims! Till this +moment every one thought herself secure of success, but now each felt an +equal certainty of being excelled; and the heart which a few minutes +before exulted with hope, now palpitated with fear. +

+

+The works were examined, the preference adjudged; and the prize was +declared to be the happy Cecilia's. Mrs. Villars came forward smiling, +with the bracelet in her hand. Cecilia was behind her companions, on the +highest row; all the others gave way, and she was on the floor in an +instant. Mrs. Villars clasped the bracelet on her arm; the clasp was +heard through the whole hall, and a universal smile of congratulation +followed. Mrs. Villars kissed Cecilia's little hand; and "now," said +she, "go and rejoice with your companions; the remainder of the day is +yours." +

+

+Oh! you whose hearts are elated with success, whose bosoms beat high +with joy, in the moment of triumph, command yourselves; let that triumph +be moderate, that it may be lasting. Consider that, though you are good, +you may be better, and though wise, you may be weak. +

+

+As soon as Mrs. Villars had given her the bracelet, all Cecilia's little +companions crowded round her, and they all left the hall in an instant. +She was full of spirits and vanity—she ran on, running down the flight +of steps which led to the garden. In her violent haste, Cecilia threw +down the little Louisa. Louisa had a china mandarin in her hand, which +her mother had sent her that very morning; it was all broke to pieces by +the fall. +

+

+"Oh! my mandarin!" cried Louisa, bursting into tears. The crowd behind +Cecilia suddenly stopped. Louisa sat on the lowest step, fixing her eyes +upon the broken pieces; then turning round, she hid her face in her +hands upon the step above her. In turning, Louisa threw down the remains +of the mandarin; the head, which she had placed in the socket, fell from +the shoulders, and rolled bounding along the gravel-walk. Cecilia +pointed to the head and to the socket, and burst out laughing; the crowd +behind laughed too. At any other time they would have been more inclined +to cry with Louisa; but Cecilia had just been successful, and sympathy +with the victorious often makes us forget justice. Leonora, however, +preserved her usual consistency. "Poor Louisa!" said she, looking first +at her, and then reproachfully at Cecilia. Cecilia turned sharply round, +colouring, half with shame and half with vexation. "I could not help it, +Leonora," said she. +

+

+"But you could have helped laughing, Cecilia." "I didn't laugh at +Louisa; and I surely may laugh, for it does nobody any harm." "I am +sure, however," replied Leonora, "I should not have laughed if I +had——" "No, to be sure you wouldn't, because Louisa is your favourite. +I can buy her another mandarin the next time that old pedlar comes to +the door, if that's all. I can do no more. Can I?" said she, +turning round to her companions. "No, to be sure," said they, "that's all +fair." +

+

+Cecilia looked triumphantly at Leonora. Leonora let go her hand; she ran +on, and the crowd followed. When she got to the end of the garden, she +turned round to see if Leonora had followed her too; but was vexed to +see her still sitting on the steps with Louisa. "I'm sure I can do no +more than buy her another! Can I?" said she, again appealing to her +companions. +

+

+"No, to be sure," said they, eager to begin their plays. How many did +they begin and leave off before Cecilia could be satisfied with any. +Her thoughts were discomposed, and her mind was running upon something +else; no wonder then that she did not play with her usual address. She +grew still more impatient; she threw down the nine-pins: "Come, let us +play at something else—at threading the needle," said she, holding out +her hand. They all yielded to the hand which wore the bracelet. But +Cecilia, dissatisfied with herself, was discontented with everybody +else; her tone grew more and more peremptory,—one was too rude, another +too stiff; one was too slow, another too quick; in short, everything +went wrong, and everybody was tired of her humours. +

+

+The triumph of success is absolute, but short. Cecilia's companions at +length recollected that, though she had embroidered a tulip and painted +a peach better than they, yet that they could play as well, and keep +their tempers better: she was thrown out. Walking towards the house in a +peevish mood, she met Leonora; she passed on. +

+

+"Cecilia!" cried Leonora. "Well, what do you want with me?" "Are we +friends?" "You know best." "We are; if you will let me tell Louisa that +you are sorry—" Cecilia, interrupting her, "O! pray let me hear no +more about Louisa!" "What! not confess that you were in the wrong! Oh, +Cecilia! I had a better opinion of you." "Your opinion is of no +consequence to me now; for you don't love me." "No, not when you are +unjust, Cecilia." "Unjust! I am not unjust; and if I were, you are not +my governess." "No, but am I not your friend?" "I don't desire to have +such a friend, who would quarrel with me for happening to throw down +little Louisa—how could I tell that she had a mandarin in her hand? and +when it was broken, could I do more than promise her another? Was that +unjust?" "But you know, Cecilia——" "I know," ironically, "I know, +Leonora, that you love Louisa better than you do me; that's the +injustice!" "If I did," replied Leonora gravely, "it would be no +injustice, if she deserved it better." "How can you compare Louisa to +me!" exclaimed Cecilia, indignantly. +

+

+Leonora made no answer, for she was really hurt at her friend's conduct; +she walked on to join the rest of her companions. They were dancing in a +round upon the grass. Leonora declined dancing, but they prevailed upon +her to sing for them; her voice was not so sprightly, but it was sweeter +than usual. Who sung so sweetly as Leonora? or who danced so nimbly as +Louisa? +

+

+Away she was flying, all spirits and gayety, when Leonora's eyes full of +tears, caught hers. Louisa silently let go her companions' hands, and +quitting the dance, ran up to Leonora to inquire what was the matter +with her. +

+

+"Nothing," replied she, "that need interrupt you,—Go, my dear, and +dance again." +

+

+Louisa immediately ran away to her garden, and pulling off her little +straw hat, she lined it with the freshest strawberry leaves, and was +upon her knees before the strawberry bed when Cecilia came by. Cecilia +was not disposed to be pleased with Louisa at that instant, for two +reasons: because she was jealous of her, and because she had injured +her. The injury, however, Louisa had already forgotten; perhaps, to tell +things just as they were, she was not quite so much inclined to kiss +Cecilia as she would have been before the fall of her mandarin, but this +was the utmost extent of her malice, if it can be called malice. +

+

+"What are you doing there, little one?" said Cecilia in a sharp tone. +"Are you eating your early strawberries here all alone?" "No," said +Louisa, mysteriously; "I am not eating them." "What are you doing with +them—can't you answer then? I'm not playing with you, child!" "Oh! as +to that, Cecilia, you know I need not answer you unless I choose it; not +but what I would, if you would only ask me civilly—and if you would not +call me child." "Why should not I call you child?" +"Because—because—I don't know;—but I wish you would stand out of my +light, Cecilia, for you are trampling upon all my strawberries." "I have +not touched one, you covetous little creature!" "Indeed—indeed, +Cecilia, I am not covetous. I have not eaten one of them—they are all +for your friend Leonora. See how unjust you are." "Unjust! that's a cant +word you learned of my friend Leonora, as you call her, but she is not +my friend now." "Not your friend now!" exclaimed Louisa. "Then I am sure +you must have done something very naughty." "How!" said Cecilia, +catching hold of her. "Let me go—Let me go!" cried Louisa, struggling. +"I won't give you one of my strawberries, for I don't like you at all." +"You don't, don't you?" said Cecilia, provoked; and catching the hat +from Louisa, she flung the strawberries over the hedge. "Will nobody +help me!" exclaimed Louisa, snatching her hat again, and running away +with all her force. +

+

+"What have I done?" said Cecilia, recollecting herself. "Louisa! +Louisa!" She called very loud, but Louisa would not turn back! she was +running to her companions. +

+

+They were still dancing, hand in hand, upon the grass, whilst Leonora, +sitting in the middle, sang to them. +

+

+"Stop! stop! and hear me!" cried Louisa, breaking through them; and +rushing up to Leonora, she threw her hat at her feet, and panting for +breath—— +

+

+"It was full—almost full of my own strawberries," said she, "the first +I ever got out of my own garden. They should all have been for you, +Leonora, but now I have not one left. They are all gone!" said she; and +she hid her face in Leonora's lap. +

+

+"Gone! gone where?" said every one at once, running up to her. "Cecilia! +Cecilia!" said she, sobbing. "Cecilia!" repeated Leonora; "what of +Cecilia?" "Yes, it was—it was." +

+

+"Come along with me," said Leonora, unwilling to have her friend +exposed; "come, and I will get you some more strawberries." "Oh, I don't +mind the strawberries, indeed; but I wanted to have had the pleasure of +giving them to you." +

+

+Leonora took her up in her arms to carry her away, but it was too late. +

+

+"What, Cecilia! Cecilia, who won the prize! It could not surely be +Cecilia," whispered every busy tongue. +

+

+At this instant the bell summoned them in. +

+

+"There she is!—There she is!" cried they, pointing to an arbour, where +Cecilia was standing, ashamed and alone; and as they passed her, some +lifted up their hands and eyes with astonishment, others whispered and +huddled mysteriously together, as if to avoid her. Leonora walked on, +her head a little higher than usual. +

+

+"Leonora!" said Cecilia, timorously, as she passed. +

+

+"Oh, Cecilia! who would have thought that you had a bad heart?" +

+

+Cecilia turned her head aside and burst into tears. +

+

+"Oh no, indeed, she has not a bad heart," cried Louisa, running up to +her, and throwing her arms round her neck; "she's very sorry!—are not +you, Cecilia? But don't cry any more, for I forgive you with all my +heart; and I love you now, though I said I did not when I was in a +passion." +

+

+"O, you sweet-tempered girl! how I love you," said Cecilia, kissing her. +

+

+"Well then, if you do, come along with me, and dry your eyes, for they +are so red." +

+

+"Go, my dear, and I'll come presently." +

+

+"Then I will keep a place for you next to me; but you must make haste, +or you will have to come in when we have all set down to supper, and +then you will be so stared at! So don't stay now." +

+

+Cecilia followed Louisa with her eyes till she was out of sight. "And +is Louisa," said she to herself, "the only one who would stop to pity +me? Mrs. Villars told me that this day should be mine; she little +thought how it would end!" Saying these words, Cecilia threw herself +down upon the ground; her arm leaned upon a heap of turf which she had +raised in the morning, and which in the pride and gayety of her heart, +she had called her throne. +

+

+At this instant, Mrs. Villars came out to enjoy the serenity of the +evening, and passing by the arbour where Cecilia lay, she started; +Cecilia rose hastily. +

+

+"Who is there?" said Mrs. Villars. "It is I, madam." "And who is I?" +"Cecilia." "Why, what keeps you here, my dear—where are your +companions? this is, perhaps, one of the happiest days of your life." +

+

+"O no, madam!" said Cecilia, hardly able to repress her tears. +

+

+"Why, my dear, what is the matter?" +

+

+Cecilia hesitated. +

+

+"Speak, my dear. You know that when I ask you to tell me any thing as +your friend, I never punish you as your governess; therefore you need +not be afraid to tell me what is the matter." +

+

+"No, madam, I am not afraid, but ashamed. You asked me why I was not +with my companions. Why, madam, because they have all left me, and——" +"And what, my dear?" "And I see that they all dislike me. And yet I +don't know why they should, for I take as much pains to please as any of +them. All my masters seem satisfied with me; and you yourself, ma'am, +were pleased this very morning to give me this bracelet; and I am sure +you would not have given it to any one who did not deserve it." +"Certainly not. You did deserve it for your application—for your +successful application. The prize was for the most assiduous, not for +the most amiable." "Then if it had been for the most amiable it would +not have been for me?" +

+

+Mrs. Villars, smiling—"Why, what do you think yourself, Cecilia? You +are better able to judge than I am. I can determine whether or no you +apply to what I give you to learn; whether you attend to what I desire +you to do, and avoid what I desire you not to do. I know that I like you +as a pupil, but I cannot know that I should like you as a companion, +unless I were your companion; therefore I must judge of what I should do +by seeing what others do in the same circumstances." +

+

+"O, pray don't, ma'am; for then you would not love me neither. And yet I +think you would love me; for I hope that I am as ready to oblige, and as +good-natured, as——" "Yes, Cecilia, I don't doubt but that you would be +very good-natured to me, but I am afraid that I should not like you +unless you were good-tempered too." "But, ma'am, by good-natured I mean +good-tempered—it's all the same thing." "No, indeed, I understand by +them two very different things. You are good-natured, Cecilia, for you +are desirous to oblige and serve your companions, to gain them praise +and save them from blame, to give them pleasure, and to relieve them +from pain; but Leonora is good-tempered, for she can bear with their +foibles, and acknowledge her own. Without disputing about the right, she +sometimes yields to those who are in the wrong. In short, her temper is +perfectly good, for it can bear and forbear." +

+

+"I wish that mine could," said Cecilia, sighing. +

+

+"It may," replied Mrs. Villars; "but it is not wishes alone which can +improve us in any thing. Turn the same exertion and perseverance which +have won you the prize to-day to this object, and you will meet with the +same success; perhaps not on the first, the second, or the third +attempt, but depend upon it that you will at last; every new effort will +weaken your bad habits and strengthen your good ones. But you must not +expect to succeed all at once; I repeat it to you, for habit must be +counteracted by habit. It would be as extravagant in us to expect that +all our faults could be destroyed by one punishment, were it ever so +severe, as it was in the Roman emperor we were reading of a few days ago +to wish that all the heads of his enemies were upon one neck, that he +might cut them off by one blow." +

+

+Here Mrs. Villars took Cecilia by the hand, and they began to walk home. +Such was the nature of Cecilia's mind, that, when any object was +forcibly impressed on her imagination, it caused a temporary suspension +of her reasoning faculties. Hope was too strong a stimulus for her +spirits; and when fear did take possession of her mind, it was attended +with total debility. Her vanity was now as much mortified as in the +morning it had been elated. She walked on with Mrs. Villars in silence +until they came under the shade of the elm-tree walk, and then, fixing +her eyes upon Mrs. Villars, she stopped short. "Do you think, madam," +said she, with hesitation, "do you think, madam, that I have a bad +heart?" +

+

+"A bad heart, my dear! why, what put that into your head?" +

+

+"Leonora said that I had, ma'am, and I felt ashamed when she said so." +

+

+"But, my dear, how can Leonora tell whether your heart be good or bad? +However, in the first place, tell me what you mean by a bad heart." +

+

+"Indeed, I do not know what is meant by it, ma'am; but it is something +which every body hates." +

+

+"And why do they hate it?" +

+

+"Because they think that it will hurt them, ma'am, I believe; and that +those who have bad hearts take delight in doing mischief; and that they +never do any body good but for their own ends." +

+

+"Then the best definition which you can give me of a bad heart is that +it is some constant propensity to hurt others, and to do wrong for the +sake of doing wrong." +

+

+"Yes, ma'am, but that is not all neither; there is still something else +meant; something which I cannot express—which, indeed, I never +distinctly understood; but of which, therefore, I was the more afraid." +

+

+"Well, then, to begin with what you do understand, tell me, Cecilia, do +you really think it possible to be wicked merely for the love of +wickedness? No human being becomes wicked all at once; a man begins by +doing wrong because it is, or because he thinks it is for his interest; +if he continue to do so, he must conquer his sense of shame, and lose +his love of virtue. But how can you, Cecilia, who feel such a strong +sense of shame, and such an eager desire to improve, imagine that you +have a bad heart?" +

+

+"Indeed, madam, I never did, until every body told me so, and then I +began to be frightened about it. This very evening, ma'am, when I was +in a passion, I threw little Louisa's strawberries away; which, I am +sure, I was very sorry for afterwards; and Leonora and every body cried +out that I had a bad heart; but I am sure that I was only in a passion." +

+

+"Very likely. And when you are in a passion, as you call it, Cecilia, +you see that you are tempted to do harm to others; if they do not feel +angry themselves, they do not sympathize with you; they do not perceive +the motive which actuates you, and then they say that you have a bad +heart. I dare say, however, when your passion is over, and when you +recollect yourself, you are very sorry for what you have done and said; +are not you?" +

+

+"Yes, indeed, madam, very sorry." +

+

+"Then make that sorrow of use to you, Cecilia, and fix it steadily in +your thoughts, as you hope to be good and happy, that, if you suffer +yourself to yield to your passion upon every trifling occasion, anger +and its consequences will become familiar to your mind; and in the same +proportion your sense of shame will be weakened, till what you began +with doing from sudden impulse you will end with doing from habit and +choice; and then you would, indeed, according to our definition, have a +bad heart." +

+

+"Oh, madam! I hope—I am sure I never shall." +

+

+"No, indeed, Cecilia; I do, indeed, believe that you never will; on the +contrary, I think that you have a very good disposition, and, what is of +infinitely more consequence to you, an active desire of improvement. +Show me that you have as much perseverance as you have candour, and I +shall not despair of your becoming every thing that I could wish." +

+

+Here Cecilia's countenance brightened, and she ran up the steps in +almost as high spirits as she ran down them in the morning. +

+

+"Good night to you, Cecilia," said Mrs. Villars, as she was crossing the +hall. "Good night to you, madam," said Cecilia; and she ran up stairs +to bed. +

+

+She could not go to sleep, but she lay awake reflecting upon the events +of the preceding day, and forming resolutions for the future; at the +same time, considering that she had resolved, and resolved without +effect, she wished to give her mind some more powerful motive; ambition +she knew to be its most powerful incentive. +

+

+"Have I not," said she to herself, "already won the prize of +application, and cannot the same application procure me a much higher +prize? Mrs. Villars said that if the prize had been promised to the most +amiable it would not have been given to me; perhaps it would not +yesterday—perhaps it might not to-morrow; but that is no reason that I +should despair of ever deserving it." +

+

+In consequence of this reasoning, Cecilia formed a design of proposing +to her companions that they should give a prize, the first of the +ensuing month (the first of June), to the most amiable. Mrs. Villars +applauded the scheme, and her companions adopted it with the greatest +alacrity. +

+

+"Let the prize," said they, "be a bracelet of our own hair;" and +instantly their shining scissors were procured, and each contributed a +lock of her hair. They formed the most beautiful gradation of colours, +from the palest auburn to the brightest black. Who was to have the +honour of plaiting them was now the question. +

+

+Caroline begged that she might, as she could plait very neatly, she +said. +

+

+Cecilia, however, was equally sure that she could do it much better, and +a dispute would inevitably have ensued, if Cecilia, recollecting herself +just as her colour rose to scarlet, had not yielded—yielded with no +very good grace indeed, but as well as could be expected for the first +time. For it is habit which confers ease; and without ease, even in +moral actions, there can be no grace. +

+

+The bracelet was plaited in the neatest manner by Caroline, finished +round the edge with silver twist, and on it was worked, in the smallest +silver letters, this motto, TO THE MOST AMIABLE. The moment it was +completed, every body begged to try it on. It fastened with little +silver clasps, and as it was made large enough for the eldest girls, it +was too large for the youngest; of this they bitterly complained, and +unanimously entreated that it might be cut to fit them. +

+

+"How foolish!" exclaimed Cecilia. "Don't you perceive that, if you win +it, you have nothing to do but to put the clasps a little further from +the edge? but if we get it, we can't make it larger." +

+

+"Very true," said they, "but you need not to have called us foolish, +Cecilia!" +

+

+It was by such hasty and unguarded expressions as these that Cecilia +offended; a slight difference in the manner makes a very material one in +the effect. Cecilia lost more love by general petulance than she could +gain by the greatest particular exertions. +

+

+How far she succeeded in curing herself of this defect, how far she +became deserving of the bracelet, and to whom the bracelet was given, +shall be told in the history of the first of June. +

 

+

+

+CONTINUATION OF THE BRACELETS. +

+The first of June was now arrived, and all the young competitors were in +a state of the most anxious suspense. Leonora and Cecilia continued to +be the foremost candidates; their quarrel had never been finally +adjusted, and their different pretensions now retarded all thoughts of a +reconciliation. Cecilia, though she was capable of acknowledging any of +her faults in public before all her companions, could not humble herself +in private to Leonora; Leonora was her equal, they were her inferiors; +and submission is much easier to a vain mind, where it appears to be +voluntary, than when it is the necessary tribute to justice or candour. +So strongly did Cecilia feel this truth that she even delayed making any +apology, or coming to any explanation with Leonora, until success should +once more give her the palm. +

+If I win the bracelet to-day, said she to herself, I will solicit the +return of Leonora's friendship; it will be more valuable to me than even +the bracelet; and at such a time, and asked in such a manner, she surely +cannot refuse it to me. Animated with this hope of a double triumph, +Cecilia canvassed with the most zealous activity; by constant attention +and exertion she had considerably abated the violence of her temper, and +changed the course of her habits. Her powers of pleasing were now +excited, instead of her abilities to excel; and, if her talents appeared +less brilliant, her character was acknowledged to be more amiable; so +great an influence upon our manners and conduct have the objects of our +ambition. Cecilia was now, if possible, more than ever desirous of +doing what was right, but she had not yet acquired sufficient fear of +doing wrong. This was the fundamental error of her mind; it arose in a +great measure from her early education. +

+

+Her mother died when she was very young; and though her father had +supplied her place in the best and kindest manner, he had insensibly +infused into his daughter's mind a portion of that enterprising, +independent spirit, which he justly deemed essential to the character of +her brother. This brother was some years older than Cecilia, but he had +always been the favourite companion of her youth; what her father's +precepts inculcated, his example enforced, and even Cecilia's virtues +consequently became such as were more estimable in a man than desirable +in a female. +

+

+All small objects and small errors she had been taught to disregard as +trifles; and her impatient disposition was perpetually leading her into +more material faults; yet her candour in confessing these, she had been +suffered to believe, was sufficient reparation and atonement. +

+

+Leonora, on the contrary, who had been educated by her mother in a +manner more suited to her sex, had a character and virtues more peculiar +to a female; her judgment had been early cultivated, and her good sense +employed in the regulation of her conduct; she had been habituated to +that restraint, which, as a woman, she was to expect in life, and early +accustomed to yield; compliance in her seemed natural and graceful. +

+

+Yet, notwithstanding the gentleness of her temper, she was in reality +more independent than Cecilia; she had more reliance upon her own +judgment, and more satisfaction in her own approbation. Though far from +insensible to praise, she was not liable to be misled by the +indiscriminate love of admiration; the uniform kindness of her manner, +the consistency and equality of her character, had fixed the esteem and +passive love of her companions. +

+

+By passive love, we mean that species of affection which makes us +unwilling to offend, rather than anxious to oblige; which is more a +habit than an emotion of the mind. For Cecilia, her companions felt +active love, for she was active in showing her love to them. +

+

+Active love arises spontaneously in the mind, after feeling particular +instances of kindness, without reflection on the past conduct or general +character; it exceeds the merits of its object, and is connected with a +feeling of generosity, rather than with a sense of justice. +

+

+Without determining which species of love is the more flattering to +others, we can easily decide which is the most agreeable feeling to our +own minds; we give our hearts more credit for being generous than for +being just; and we feel more self-complacency when we give our love +voluntarily, than when we yield it as a tribute which we cannot +withhold. Though Cecilia's companions might not know all this in theory, +they proved it in practice; for they loved her in a much higher +proportion to her merits than they loved Leonora. +

+

+Each of the young judges were to signify their choice by putting a red +or a white shell into a vase prepared for the purpose. Cecilia's colour +was red, Leonora's white. In the morning nothing was to be seen but +these shells, nothing talked of but the long-expected event of the +evening. Cecilia, following Leonora's example, had made it a point of +honour not to inquire of any individual her vote previous to their final +determination. +

+

+They were both sitting together in Louisa's room; Louisa was recovering +from the measles. Every one, during her illness, had been desirous of +attending her; but Leonora and Cecilia were the only two that were +permitted to see her, as they alone had had the distemper. They were +both assiduous in their care of Louisa; but Leonora's want of exertion +to overcome any disagreeable feelings of sensibility often deprived her +of presence of mind, and prevented her being so constantly useful as +Cecilia. Cecilia, on the contrary, often made too much noise and bustle +with her officious assistance, and was too anxious to invent amusements +and procure comforts for Louisa, without perceiving that illness takes +away the power of enjoying them. +

+

+As she was sitting in the window in the morning, exerting herself to +entertain Louisa, she heard the voice of an old pedlar who often used to +come to the house. Down stairs she ran immediately to ask Mrs. Villars's +permission to bring him into the hall. +

+

+Mrs. Villars consented, and away Cecilia ran to proclaim the news to her +companions; then first returning into the hall, she found the pedlar +just unbuckling his box, and taking it off his shoulders. "What would +you be pleased to want, Miss?" said he. "I've all kinds of +tweezer-cases, rings, and lockets of all sorts," continued he, opening +all the glittering drawers successively. +

+

+"Oh!" said Cecilia, shutting the drawer of lockets which tempted her +most, "these are not the things which I want; have you any china +figures, any mandarins?" +

+

+"Alack-a-day, Miss, I had a great stock of that same china ware, but now +I'm quite out of them kind of things; but I believe," said he, rummaging +in one of the deepest drawers, "I believe I have one left, and here it +is." +

+

+"Oh, that is the very thing! what's its price?" +

+

+"Only three shillings, ma'am." Cecilia paid the money, and was just +going to carry off the mandarin, when the pedlar took out of his +great-coat pocket a neat mahogany case; it was about a foot long, and +fastened at each end by two little clasps; it had besides a small lock +in the middle. +

+

+"What is that?" said Cecilia, eagerly. +

+

+"It's only a china figure, Miss, which I am going to carry to an +elderly lady, who lives nigh at hand, and who is mighty fond of such +things." +

+

+"Could you let me look at it?" +

+

+"And welcome, Miss," said he, and opened the case. +

+

+"O goodness! how beautiful!" exclaimed Cecilia. +

+

+It was a figure of Flora, crowned with roses, and carrying a basket of +flowers in her hand. Cecilia contemplated it with delight. "How I should +like to give this to Louisa," said she to herself; and at last breaking +silence, "Did you promise it to the old lady?" +

+

+"O no, Miss; I didn't promise it—she never saw it; and if so be that +you'd like to take it, I'd make no more words about it." +

+

+"And how much does it cost?" +

+

+"Why, Miss, as to that, I'll let you have it for half-a-guinea." +

+

+ +

+

+

+Cecilia immediately produced the box in which she kept her treasure, and +emptying it upon the table, she began to count the shillings; alas! +there were but six shillings. "How provoking!" said she; "then I can't +have it—where's the mandarin? O I have it," said she, taking it up, and +looking at it with the utmost disgust. "Is this the same that I had +before?" +

+

+"Yes, Miss, the very same," replied the pedlar, who, during this time, +had been examining the little box out of which Cecilia had taken her +money; it was of silver. +

+

+"Why, ma'am," said he, "since you've taken such a fancy to the piece, if +you've a mind to make up the remainder of the money, I will take this +here little box, if you care to part with it." +

+

+Now this box was a keepsake from Leonora to Cecilia. "No," said Cecilia +hastily, blushing a little, and stretching out her hand to receive it. +

+

+"Oh, Miss!" said he, returning it carelessly, "I hope there's no +offence; I meant but to serve you, that's all. Such a rare piece of +china-work has no cause to go a begging," added he, putting the Flora +deliberately into the case; then turning the key with a jerk, he let it +drop into his pocket, and lifting up his box by the leather straps, he +was preparing to depart. +

+

+"Oh, stay one minute!" said Cecilia, in whose mind there had passed a +very warm conflict during the pedlar's harangue. "Louisa would so like +this Flora," said she, arguing with herself; "besides, it would be so +generous in me to give it to her instead of that ugly mandarin; that +would be doing only common justice, for I promised it to her, and she +expects it. Though, when I come to look at this mandarin, it is not even +so good as hers was; the gilding is all rubbed off, so that I absolutely +must buy this for her. O yes, I will, and she will be so delighted! and +then every body will say it is the prettiest thing they ever saw, and +the broken mandarin will be forgotten forever." +

+

+Here Cecilia's hand moved, and she was just going to decide: "O! but +stop," said she to herself; "consider Leonora gave me this box, and it +is a keepsake; however, now we have quarreled, and I dare say that she +would not mind my parting with it; I'm sure that I should not care if +she was to give away my keepsake the smelling bottle, or the ring which +I gave her; so what does it signify; besides, is it not my own, and have +I not a right to do what I please with it?" +

+

+At this dangerous instant for Cecilia, a party of her companions opened +the door; she knew that they came as purchasers, and she dreaded her +Flora's becoming the prize of some higher bidder. "Here," said she, +hastily putting the box into the pedlar's hand, without looking at it; +"take it, and give me the Flora." Her hand trembled, though she snatched +it impatiently; she ran by, without seeming to mind any of her +companions—she almost wished to turn back. +

+

+Let those who are tempted to do wrong by the hopes of future +gratification, or the prospect of certain concealment and impunity, +remember that, unless they are totally depraved, they bear in their own +hearts a monitor who will prevent their enjoying what they have ill +obtained. +

+

+In vain Cecilia ran to the rest of her companions, to display her +present, in hopes that the applause of others would restore her own +self-complacency; in vain she saw the Flora pass in due pomp from hand +to hand, each viewing with the other in extolling the beauty of the gift +and the generosity of the giver. Cecilia was still displeased with +herself, with them, and even with their praise; from Louisa's gratitude, +however, she yet expected much pleasure, and immediately she ran up +stairs to her room. +

+

+In the mean time Leonora had gone into the hall to buy a bodkin; she had +just broken hers. In giving her change, the pedlar took out of his +pocket, with some half-pence, the very box which Cecilia had sold him. +Leonora did not in the least suspect the truth, for her mind was above +suspicion; and besides, she had the utmost confidence in Cecilia. "I +should like to have that box," said she, "for it is like one of which I +was very fond." +

+

+The pedlar named the price, and Leonora took the box; she intended to +give it to little Louisa. +

+

+On going to her room she found her asleep, and she sat down softly by +her bed-side. Louisa opened her eyes. +

+

+"I hope I didn't disturb you," said Leonora. +

+

+"O no; I didn't hear you come in; but what have you got there?" +

+

+"It is only a little box; would you like to have it? I bought it on +purpose for you, as I thought perhaps it would please you; because it's +like that which I gave Cecilia." +

+

+"O yes! that out of which she used to give me Barbary drops. I am very +much obliged to you. I always thought that exceedingly pretty; and +this, indeed, is as like it as possible. I can't unscrew it; will you +try?" +

+

+Leonora unscrewed it. +

+

+"Goodness!" exclaimed Louisa, "this must be Cecilia's box; look, don't +you see a great L at the bottom of it?" +

+

+Leonora's colour changed. "Yes," she replied calmly, "I see that, but it +is no proof that it is Cecilia's; you know that I bought this box just +now of the pedlar." +

+

+"That may be," said Louisa; "but I remember scratching that L with my +own needle, and Cecilia scolded me for it, too. Do go and ask her if she +has lost her box—do," repeated Louisa, pulling her by the sleeve, as +she did not seem to listen. +

+

+Leonora indeed did not hear, for she was lost in thought; she was +comparing circumstances, which had before escaped her attention. She +recollected that Cecilia had passed her as she came into the hall, +without seeming to see her, but had blushed as she passed. She +remembered that the pedlar appeared unwilling to part with the box, and +was going to put it again into his pocket with the half-pence; "and why +should he keep it in his pocket and not show it with his other things?" +Combining all these circumstances, Leonora had no longer any doubt of +the truth; for though she had honourable confidence in her friends, she +had too much penetration to be implicitly credulous. "Louisa," she +began, but at this instant she heard a step, which, by its quickness, +she knew to be Cecilia's, coming along the passage. "If you love me, +Louisa," said Leonora, "say nothing about the box." +

+

+"Nay, but why not? I dare say she has lost it." +

+

+"No, my dear, I am afraid she has not." Louisa looked surprised. +

+

+"But I have reasons for desiring you not to say any thing about it." +

+

+"Well, then, I won't, indeed." +

+

+Cecilia opened the door, came forward smiling, as if secure of a good +reception, and, taking the Flora out of the case, she placed it on the +mantel-piece, opposite to Louisa's bed. "Dear, how beautiful," cried +Louisa, starting up. +

+

+"Yes," said Cecilia, "and guess who it's for?" +

+

+"For me, perhaps!" said the ingenuous Louisa. +

+

+"Yes, take it, and keep it for my sake; you know that I broke your +mandarin." +

+

+"O! but this is a great deal prettier and larger than that." +

+

+"Yes, I know it is; and I meant that it should be so. I should only have +done what I was bound to do if I had only given you a mandarin." +

+

+"Well, and that would have been enough, surely; but what a beautiful +crown of roses! and then that basket of flowers! they almost look as if +I could smell them. Dear Cecilia! I'm very much obliged to you, but I +won't take it by way of payment for the mandarin you broke; for I'm sure +you could not help that; and, besides, I should have broken it myself by +this time. You shall give it to me entirely, and I'll keep it as long as +I live as your keepsake." +

+

+Louisa stopped short and coloured. The word keepsake recalled the box +to her mind, and all the train of ideas which the Flora had banished. +"But," said she, looking up wishfully in Cecilia's face, and holding the +Flora doubtfully, "did you——" +

+

+Leonora, who was just quitting the room, turned her head back, and gave +Louisa a look, which silenced her. +

+

+Cecilia was so infatuated with her vanity, that she neither perceived +Leonora's sign, nor Louisa's confusion, but continued showing off her +present, by placing it in various situations, till at length she put it +into the case, and laying it down with an affected carelessness upon the +bed, "I must go now, Louisa. Good bye," said she, running up and kissing +her; "but I'll come again presently;" then clapping the door after her, +she went. +

+

+But as soon as the fermentation of her spirits subsided, the sense of +shame, which had been scarcely felt when mixed with so many other +sensations, rose uppermost in her mind. "What?" said she to herself, +"is it possible that I have sold what I promised to keep for ever? and +what Leonora gave me? and I have concealed it too, and have been making +a parade of my generosity. O! what would Leonora, what would Louisa, +what would every body think of me, if the truth were known?" +

+

+Humiliated and grieved by these reflections, Cecilia began to search in +her own mind for some consoling idea. She began to compare her conduct +with the conduct of others of her own age; and at length, fixing her +comparison upon her brother George, as the companion of whom, from her +infancy, she had been habitually the most emulous, she recollected that +an almost similar circumstance had once happened to him, and that he had +not only escaped disgrace, but had acquired glory by an intrepid +confession of his fault. Her father's words to her brother, on that +occasion, she also perfectly recollected. +

+

+"Come to me, George," he said, holding out his hand; "you are a +generous, brave boy. They who dare to confess their faults will make +great and good men." +

+

+These were his words; but Cecilia, in repeating them to herself, forgot +to lay that emphasis on the word men, which would have placed it in +contradistinction to the word women. She willingly believed that the +observation extended equally to both sexes, and flattered herself that +she should exceed her brother in merit, if she owned a fault which she +thought that it would be so much more difficult to confess. "Yes, but," +said she, stopping herself, "how can I confess it? This very evening, in +a few hours, the prize will be decided; Leonora or I shall win it. I +have now as good a chance as Leonora, perhaps a better; and must I give +up all my hopes? all that I have been labouring for this month past! O, +I never can;—if it were to-morrow, or yesterday, or any day but this, I +would not hesitate, but now I am almost certain of the prize, and if I +win it—well, why then I will—I think, I will tell all—yes, I will; I +am determined," said Cecilia. +

+

+Here a bell summoned them to dinner. Leonora sat opposite to her, and +she was not a little surprised to see Cecilia look so gay and +unrestrained. "Surely," said she to herself, "if Cecilia had done this, +that I suspect, she would not, she could not look as she does." But +Leonora little knew the cause of her gayety; Cecilia was never in higher +spirits, or better pleased with herself, than when she had resolved upon +a sacrifice or a confession. +

+

+"Must not this evening be given to the most amiable? Whose, then, will +it be?" All eyes glanced first at Cecilia and then at Leonora. Cecilia +smiled; Leonora blushed. "I see that it is not yet decided," said Mrs. +Villars; and immediately they ran up stairs, amidst confused +whisperings. +

+

+Cecilia's voice could be distinguished far above the rest. "How can she +be so happy?" said Leonora to herself. "O, Cecilia, there was a time +when you could not have neglected me so!—when we were always together, +the best of friends and companions, our wishes, tastes, and pleasures +the same. Surely she did once love me," said Leonora; "but now she is +quite changed. She has even sold my keepsake, and would rather win a +bracelet of hair from girls whom she did not always think so much +superior to Leonora, than have my esteem, my confidence, and my +friendship, for her whole life; yes, for her whole life, for I am sure +she will be an amiable woman. Oh that this bracelet had never been +thought of, or that I was certain of her winning it; for I am certain +that I do not wish to win it from her. I would rather, a thousand times +rather, that we were as we used to be, than have all the glory in the +world. And how pleasing Cecilia can be when she wishes to please! how +candid she is! how much she can improve herself!—let me be just, +though she has offended me—she is wonderfully improved within this last +month; for one fault, and that against myself, should I forget all her +merits?" +

+

+As Leonora said these last words, she could but just hear the voices of +her companions; they had left her alone in the gallery. She knocked +softly at Louisa's door——"Come in," said Louisa. "I in not asleep. Oh," +said she, starting up with the Flora in her hand, the instant that the +door was opened. "I'm so glad you are come, Leonora, for I did so long +to hear what you were all making such a noise about—have you forgot +that the bracelet——" +

+

+"O yes! is this the evening?" +

+

+"Well, here's my white shell for you. I've kept it in my pocket this +fortnight; and though Cecilia did give me this Flora, I still love you a +great deal better." +

+

+"I thank you, Louisa," said Leonora, gratefully. "I will take your +shell, and I shall value it as long as I live. But here is a red one, +and if you wish to show me that you love me, you will give this to +Cecilia. I know that she is particularly anxious for your preference, +and I am sure that she deserves it." +

+

+"Yes, if I could I would choose both of you; but you know I can only +choose which I like the best." +

+

+"If you mean, my dear Louisa," said Leonora, "that you like me the best, +I am very much obliged to you; for, indeed I wish you to love me; but it +is enough for me to know it in private. I should not feel the least more +pleasure at hearing it in public, or in having it made known to all my +companions, especially at a time when it would give poor Cecilia a great +deal of pain." +

+

+"But why should it give her pain? I don't like her for being jealous of +you." +

+

+"Nay, Louisa, surely you don't think Cecilia jealous; she only tries to +excel and to please. She is more anxious to succeed than I am, it is +true, because she has a great deal more activity, and perhaps more +ambition; and it would really mortify her to lose this prize. You know +that she proposed it herself; it has been her object for this month +past, and I am sure she has taken great pains to obtain it." +

+

+"But, dear Leonora, why should you lose it?" +

+

+"Indeed, my dear, it would be no loss to me; and, if it were, I would +willingly suffer it for Cecilia; for, though we seem not to be such good +friends as we used to be, I love her very much, and she will love me +again, I'm sure she will; when she no longer fears me as a rival, she +will again love me as a friend." +

+

+Here Leonora heard a number of her companions running along the gallery. +They all knocked hastily at the door, calling, "Leonora! Leonora! will +you never come? Cecilia has been with us this half hour." +

+

+Leonora smiled. "Well, Louisa," said she, smiling, "will you promise +me?" +

+

+"O, I'm sure, by the way they speak to you, that they won't give you +the prize!" said the little Louisa; and the tears started into her eyes. +

+

+"They love me though, for all that; and as for the prize, you know whom +I wish to have it." +

+

+"Leonora! Leonora!" called her impatient companions; "don't you hear us? +What are you about?" +

+

+"O, she never will take any trouble about any thing," said one of the +party; "let's go away." +

+

+"O go! go! make haste," cried Louisa; "don't stay, they are so angry—I +will, I will, indeed!" +

+

+"Remember, then, that you have promised me," said Leonora, and she left +the room. During all this time Cecilia had been in the garden with her +companions. The ambition which she had felt to win the first prize, the +prize of superior talents and superior application, was not to be +compared to the absolute anxiety which she now expressed to win this +simple testimony of the love and approbation of her equals and rivals. +

+

+To employ her exuberant activity, she had been dragging branches of +lilacs, and laburnums, roses, and sweet-briar, to ornament the bower in +which her fate was to be decided. It was excessively hot, but her mind +was engaged, and she was indefatigable. She stood still, at last, to +admire her works; her companions all joined in loud applause. They were +not a little prejudiced in her favour by the great eagerness which she +expressed to win their prize, and by the great importance which she +seemed to affix to the preference of each individual. At last, "Where is +Leonora?" cried one of them, and immediately, as we have seen, they ran +to call her. +

+

+Cecilia was left alone. Overcome with heat and too violent exertion, she +had hardly strength to support herself; each moment appeared to her +intolerably long; she was in a state of the utmost suspense, and all her +courage failed her; even hope forsook her, and hope is a cordial which +leaves the mind depressed and enfeebled. "The time is now come," said +Cecilia; "in a few moments it will be decided. In a few moments! +goodness! how much I do hazard! If I should not win the prize, how shall +I confess what I have done? How shall I beg Leonora to forgive me? I, +who hoped to restore my friendship to her as an honour!—they are gone +to seek for her—the moment she appears I shall be forgotten—what +shall—what shall I do?" said Cecilia, covering her face with her hands. +

+

+Such was her situation, when Leonora, accompanied by her companions, +opened the hall-door; they most of them ran forward to Cecilia. As +Leonora came into the bower, she held out her hand to Cecilia——"We +are not rivals, but friends, I hope," said she. Cecilia clasped her +hand, but she was in too great agitation to speak. +

+

+The table was now set in the arbour—the vase was now placed in the +middle. "Well!" said Cecilia, eagerly, "who begins?" Caroline, one of +her friends, came forward first, and then all the others successively. +Cecilia's emotion was hardly conceivable.——"Now they are all in. +Count them, Caroline!" +

+

+"One, two, three, four; the numbers are both equal." There was a dead +silence. +

+

+"No, they are not," exclaimed Cecilia, pressing forward and putting +a shell into the vase——"I have not given mine, and I give it to +Leonora." Then snatching the bracelet, "It is yours, Leonora," said she; +"take it, and give me back your friendship." The whole assembly gave a +universal clap and shout of applause. +

+

+"I cannot be surprised at this from you, Cecilia," said Leonora; "and do +you then still love me as you used to do?" +

+

+"O Leonora! stop! don't praise me; I don't deserve this," said she, +turning to her loudly applauding companions; "you will soon despise +me—O Leonora, you will never forgive me!—I have deceived you—I have +sold——" +

+

+At this instant Mrs. Villars appeared—the crowd divided—she had heard +all that passed from her window. +

+

+"I applaud your generosity, Cecilia," said she, "but I am to tell you +that in this instance it is unsuccessful; you have it not in your power +to give the prize to Leonora—it is yours—I have another vote to give +you—you have forgotten Louisa." +

+

+"Louisa! but surely, ma'am, Louisa loves Leonora better than she does +me!" +

+

+"She commissioned me, however," said Mrs. Villars, "to give you a red +shell, and you will find it in this box." +

+

+Cecilia started, and turned as pale as death—it was the fatal box. +

+

+Mrs. Villars produced another box—she opened it—it contained the +Flora—"And Louisa also desired me," said she, "to return you this +Flora"—she put it into Cecilia's hand—Cecilia trembled so that she +could not hold it; Leonora caught it. +

+

+"O, madam! O, Leonora!" exclaimed Cecilia; "now I have no hope left. I +intended, I was just going to tell——" +

+

+"Dear Cecilia," said Leonora, "you need not tell it me; I know it +already, and I forgive you with all my heart." +

+

+"Yes, I can prove to you," said Mrs. Villars, "that Leonora has forgiven +you: it is she who has given you the prize; it was she who persuaded +Louisa to give you her vote. I went to see her a little while ago, and +perceiving, by her countenance, that something was the matter, I pressed +her to tell me what it was. +

+

+"'Why, madam,' said she, 'Leonora has made me promise to give my shell +to Cecilia. Now I don't love Cecilia half so well as I do Leonora; +besides, I would not have Cecilia think I vote for her because she gave +me a Flora.' Whilst Louisa was speaking," continued Mrs. Villars, "I saw +the silver box lying on the bed; I took it up, and asked if it was not +yours, and how she came by it. +

+

+"'Indeed, madam,' said Louisa, 'I could have been almost certain that +it was Cecilia's; but Leonora gave it me, and she said that she bought +it of the pedlar this morning. If any body else had told me so, I could +not have believed them, because I remembered the box so well; but I +can't help believing Leonora.' +

+

+"'But did you not ask Cecilia about it?' said I. +

+

+"'No, madam,' replied Louisa, 'for Leonora forbade me.' +

+

+"I guessed her reason. 'Well,' said I, 'give me the box, and I will +carry your shell in it to Cecilia.' +

+

+"'Then, madam,' said she, 'if I must give it her, pray do take the +Flora, and return it to her first, that she may not think it is for that +I do it.'" +

+

+"O, generous Leonora!" exclaimed Cecilia; "but indeed, Louisa, I cannot +take your shell." +

+

+"Then, dear Cecilia, accept of mine instead of it; you cannot refuse +it—I only follow your example. As for the bracelet," added Leonora, +taking Cecilia's hand, "I assure you I don't wish for it, and you do, +and you deserve it." +

+

+"No," said Cecilia, "indeed I do not deserve it; next to you, surely, +Louisa deserves it best." +

+

+"Louisa! O yes, Louisa," exclaimed every body with one voice. +

+

+"Yes," said Mrs. Villars, "and let Cecilia carry the bracelet to her; +she deserves that reward. For one fault I cannot forget all your merits, +Cecilia; nor, I am sure, will your companions." +

+

+"Then, surely, not your best friend," said Leonora, kissing her. +

+

+Every body present was moved—they looked up to Leonora with respectful +and affectionate admiration. +

+

+"O, Leonora, how I love you! and how I wish to be like you!" exclaimed +Cecilia; "to be as good, as generous!" +

+

+"Rather wish, Cecilia," interrupted Mrs. Villars, "to be as just; to be +as strictly honourable, and as invariably consistent. +

+

+"Remember that many of our sex are capable of great efforts, of making +what they call great sacrifices to virtue or to friendship; but few +treat their friends with habitual gentleness, or uniformly conduct +themselves with prudence and good sense." +

+

+THE END. +

+

 

+

 

+

+A CATALOGUE
+OF
+ILLUSTRATED AND ENTERTAINING
+JUVENILE WORKS. +

+ +

+

+ +
+

+LITTLE ANNIE'S FIRST BOOK,
+CHIEFLY IN WORDS OF THREE LETTERS. +

+
+By Her Mother. +
+
+Illustrated with Seventy Designs. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+
+This little volume will commend itself to parents, as a book for +children who have just mastered the alphabet. +
+
+

+THE TRAVELS
+AND
+EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES
+OF
+BOB THE SQUIRREL.
+

+
+Illustrated with Twelve Engravings
+by Distinguished Artists.
+
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+
+Bob's adventures are full of interest, and no child can fail to be +amused and permanently benefited by the perusal of them. The book is +designed for a child from six to ten years of age. +
+
+

+CLARA'S AMUSEMENTS. +

+
+"Oh, happy childhood! whose sweet fruits of pleasure Are plucked in the +safe garden of thy home."—M.S. +
+
+By Mrs. Anna Bache. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated with Original Designs. +
+
+Price 50 cents. +
+
+ +

+

+

+THE BLOSSOMS OF MORALITY;
+INTENDED FOR THE AMUSEMENT AND INSTRUCTION
+OF YOUNG PEOPLE. +

+
+Illustrated with Twenty-three Designs by Darley. +
+
+One Volume 15mo. Price 38 cts. +
+
+

+HOLIDAY HOUSE:
+A SERIES OF TALES +

+
+By Miss Sinclair. +
+
+From the third London Edition. +
+
+Prettily illustrated by Croome. +
+
+One Volume 16mo. Price 75 cents. +
+
+"We find in this volume, as in all of Miss Sinclair's other productions, +the same lively intellect, the same buoyant good humour, the same easy +and vigorous style, the same happy talent for observation and +description, the same warfare against the fashionable follies of the +day, and the same assiduity in inculcating the lessons of morality and +religion."—Edinburgh Advertiser. +
+
+

+THE
+LIFE AND WANDERINGS
+OF
+A MOUSE +

+
+Illustrated with Ten Designs by Croome. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+
+"An instructive and amusing volume, that will be read by every child +with pleasure." +
+
+

+THE CHILD'S OWN STORY BOOK;
+OR, TALES AND DIALOGUES FOR THE NURSERY. +

+
+By Mrs. Jerram. +
+
+Illustrated with Numerous Engravings. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+ +

+

+
+

+THE CHILD'S DELIGHT;
+A GIFT FOR ALL SEASONS. +

+
+Edited by a lady. +
+
+Prettily Illustrated with Coloured Steel Engravings,
+Designed by Croome. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+
+

+MARIA EDGEWORTH'S
+CHEAP JUVENILE WORKS. +

+

+WASTE NOT, WANT NOT;
+OR,
+TWO STRINGS TO YOUR BOW. +

+
+By Maria Edgeworth. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 25 cents. +
+

+LAZY LAWRENCE;
+OR,
+INDUSTRY AND IDLENESS CONTRASTED. +

+
+By Maria Edgeworth. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 25 cents. +
+

+THE BRACELETS;
+OR,
+AMIABILITY AND INDUSTRY REWARDED. +

+
+By Maria Edgeworth. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 25 cents. +
+

+THE FIRESIDE STORY BOOK;
+CONTAINING
+"LAZY LAWRENCE" "WASTE NOT, WANT NOT,"
+AND "THE BRACELETS." +

+
+Elegantly Illustrated. +
+
+One Volume 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+
+ +

+

+

+MAMMA'S BIBLE STORIES
+FOR HER
+LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS. +

+

+A SERIES OF READING LESSONS TAKEN FROM THE BIBLE, AND
+ADAPTED TO THE CAPACITIES OF VERY YOUNG CHILDREN. +

+
+Illustrated with Numerous Engravings. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents +
+
+

+GRANDMAMMA EASY'S
+BEAUTIFUL TOY BOOKS,
+FOR ALL GOOD CHILDREN. +

+
+Very large size, printed on very large type, and elegantly +coloured, with gilt edges. +
+
+Put up in wrappers, each containing one dozen. +
+
+Price $1.50 per Dozen. +
+
+CONTENTS. +
+
+New Story about Little Tom Thumb and his Mother.
+New Little Stories about the Alphabet.
+Merry Multiplication.
+New Story about Old Daddy Longlegs.
+New Story about Little Jack Horner, and of what his Pie was made.
+Michaelmas Day, or the Fate of poor Molly Goosey.
+Alderman's Feast: A new Alphabet.
+New Story about the Queen of Hearts, and the Stolen Tarts.
+New Pictorial Bible Alphabet.
+Toy Shop Drolleries, or Wonders of a Toy Shop.
+Travels of Matty Macaroni, the Little Organ Boy.
+New Story of Joseph and his Brethren.
+
+
+

+VERY LITTLE TALES FOR VERY LITTLE CHILDREN. +

+
+In single syllables of three and four letters. Large and bold type. +
+
+With Numerous Illustrations. +
+
+Two Volumes 32mo. Price 75 cents. +
+ +

+

+
+

+LITTLE LESSONS FOR LITTLE LEARNERS. +

+
+In words of one syllable. +
+
+By Mrs. Barwell,
+Author of "Mamma's Bible Stories." +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+
+

+POPULAR TALES. +

+
+By Maria Edgeworth. +
+
+With Original Designs by Croome. +
+
+CONTENTS. +
+
+MURAD THE UNLUCKY.
+THE MANUFACTURERS.
+THE CONTRAST.
+THE GRATEFUL NEGRO.
+TO-MORROW. +
+
+One Volume 16mo. Price 75 cents. +
+
+"The writings of Maria Edgeworth have rarely been approached, and none +have excelled her. Her stories are so natural, and are told with such +truthfulness, that the reader becomes completely captivated." +
+
+

+MORAL TALES. +

+
+By Maria Edgeworth. +
+
+Embellished with Original Designs by Darley. +
+
+Price 75 cents. +
+
+"If we wished to do a young person good while offering amusement, to +improve the heart while engaging the attention, and to give him or her +little books which convey no false or distorted notions of life—Maria +Edgeworth is our author."—Post. +
+
+ +

+

+

+DIVINE AND MORAL SONGS,
+FOR THE USE OF CHILDREN +

+
+By Isaac Watts, D.D. +
+
+Illustrated with 24 Engravings in the Highest Style of Art. +
+
+One elegant Volume, 16mo. Price 75 cts. +
+
+"This will be a constant furniture for the minds of children, that they +may have something to think of when alone, and sing over to themselves. +This may sometimes give their thoughts a divine turn, and raise a young +meditation. Thus they will not be forced to seek relief for an emptiness +of mind out of the loose and dangerous sonnets of the age."—Extract +from Author's Preface. +
+
+

+MRS. SHERWOOD'S
+PRETTILY ILUSTRATED JUVENILES. +

+

+DUTY IS SAFETY;
+OR,
+TROUBLESOME TOM. +

+
+By Mrs. Sherwood. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated. Price 25 cents. +
+

+THINK BEFORE YOU ACT. +

+
+By Mrs. Sherwood. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated. Price 25 cents. +
+

+JACK, THE SAILOR BOY. +

+
+By Mrs. Sherwood. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated. Price 25 cents. +
+

+CLEVER STORIES FOR CLEVER BOYS AND GIRLS. +

+
+Containing +
+
+"Think before you Act," "Jack, the Sailor Boy," "Duty is Safety." +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cts. +
+

+THE PRIZE STORY BOOK;
+CONSISTING CHIEFLY OF
+TALES TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN,
+FRENCH, AND ITALIAN,
+TOGETHER WITH
+SELECT TALES FROM THE ENGLISH.
+

+
+Illustrated with Numerous Designs. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Half cloth 50 cts.; cloth extra 63 cts. +
+ +

+

+
+

+GEORGE'S JOURNEY
+TO THE
+LAND OF HAPPINESS. +

+
+By a Lady. +
+
+Illustrated with Sixteen Coloured Engravings. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+
+

+THE BOOK OF ANIMALS;
+INTENDED FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT
+AND INSTRUCTION
+OF
+YOUNG PEOPLE. +

+
+By R. Bilby. +
+
+Illustrated with Twelve Designs of Animals. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. +
+
+This volume is intended both as a useful and entertaining book for the +young, abounding with Anecdotes of the Quadrupeds, and illustrated with +numerous well executed designs. +
+
+

+THE HAPPY CHILDREN;
+A TALE OF HOME
+FOR
+YOUNG PEOPLE. +

+
+Illustrated with Elegant Engravings. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cts. +
+
+A very interesting volume for children from six to twelve years of age. +
+
+

+RHYMES FOR THE NURSERY. +

+
+By the Author of "Original Poems." +
+
+Illustrated with Sixteen Designs. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cts. plain; 63 cts. coloured. +
+ +

+

+
+

+HOLIDAY TALES.
+CONTAINING PLEASING STORIES FOR THE YOUNG. +

+
+Prettily Illustrated. +
+
+One Volume square 16mo. Price in half cloth, 25 cents; cloth gilt, +38 cents. +
+
+ +

+

+

+UNCLE JOHN'S
+FANCY PICTURE BOOKS. +

+
+In a new and unique style, +put up in dozens assorted. Six kinds. +
+
+CONTENTS. +
+
+UNCLE JOHN'S PICTURE BIBLE ALPHABET.
+UNCLE JOHN'S STORY OF BOB.
+UNCLE JOHN'S STORY OF DOWNEY THE MOUSE.
+UNCLE JOHN'S STORIES OF ANIMALS.
+UNCLE JOHN'S BIBLE STORIES.
+UNCLE JOHN'S LITTLE RHYMER. +
+ + + + + + + +
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bracelets, by Maria Edgeworth
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRACELETS ***
+
+***** This file should be named 11121-h.htm or 11121-h.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/1/2/11121/
+
+Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Children, Andrea
+Ball and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's
+eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII,
+compressed (zipped), HTML and others.
+
+Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over
+the old filename and etext number.  The replaced older file is renamed.
+VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving
+new filenames and etext numbers.
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+
+EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000,
+are filed in directories based on their release date.  If you want to
+download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular
+search system you may utilize the following addresses and just
+download by the etext year.
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06
+
+    (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99,
+     98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90)
+
+EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are
+filed in a different way.  The year of a release date is no longer part
+of the directory path.  The path is based on the etext number (which is
+identical to the filename).  The path to the file is made up of single
+digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename.  For
+example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234
+
+or filename 24689 would be found at:
+     https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689
+
+An alternative method of locating eBooks:
+     https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL
+
+
+
+
+
+ + diff --git a/old/11121-h/images/appleton.jpg b/old/11121-h/images/appleton.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e9fdfee Binary files /dev/null and b/old/11121-h/images/appleton.jpg differ diff --git a/old/11121-h/images/bible.jpg b/old/11121-h/images/bible.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e65ae00 Binary files /dev/null and b/old/11121-h/images/bible.jpg differ diff --git a/old/11121-h/images/blossoms.jpg b/old/11121-h/images/blossoms.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a923d91 Binary files /dev/null and b/old/11121-h/images/blossoms.jpg differ diff --git a/old/11121-h/images/bracelets.jpg b/old/11121-h/images/bracelets.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1587fea Binary files /dev/null and b/old/11121-h/images/bracelets.jpg differ diff --git a/old/11121-h/images/girls.jpg b/old/11121-h/images/girls.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..348f029 Binary files /dev/null and b/old/11121-h/images/girls.jpg differ diff --git a/old/11121-h/images/picturebooks.jpg b/old/11121-h/images/picturebooks.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0e2a109 Binary files /dev/null and b/old/11121-h/images/picturebooks.jpg differ diff --git a/old/11121-h/images/prize.jpg b/old/11121-h/images/prize.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..54d5390 Binary files /dev/null and b/old/11121-h/images/prize.jpg differ diff --git a/old/11121-h/images/rhymes.jpg b/old/11121-h/images/rhymes.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7cf724 Binary files /dev/null and b/old/11121-h/images/rhymes.jpg differ diff --git a/old/11121-h/images/songs.jpg b/old/11121-h/images/songs.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b36c1e4 Binary files /dev/null and b/old/11121-h/images/songs.jpg differ diff --git a/old/11121-h/images/storybook.jpg b/old/11121-h/images/storybook.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..db95058 Binary files /dev/null and b/old/11121-h/images/storybook.jpg differ diff --git a/old/11121-h/images/tales.jpg b/old/11121-h/images/tales.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..42d625c Binary files /dev/null and b/old/11121-h/images/tales.jpg differ diff --git a/old/11121-h/images/treasure.jpg b/old/11121-h/images/treasure.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..99bc8d1 Binary files /dev/null and b/old/11121-h/images/treasure.jpg differ diff --git a/old/11121.txt b/old/11121.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..066871a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11121.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1979 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bracelets, by Maria Edgeworth + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Bracelets + +Author: Maria Edgeworth + +Release Date: February 17, 2004 [EBook #11121] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRACELETS *** + + + + +Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Children, Andrea +Ball and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +[Illustration: The Bracelets. Edgeworth.] + +[Illustration] + + +THE BRACELETS; + +OR, +AMIABILITY AND INDUSTRY REWARDED. + + +BY +MARIA EDGEWORTH, + +AUTHOR OF "POPULAR TALES," "MORAL TALES," ETC. ETC. + +With Illustrations from Original Designs. + + + +1850. + + + + +THE BRACELETS. + + * * * * * + +In a beautiful and retired part of England lived Mrs. Villars, a +lady whose accurate understanding, benevolent heart, and steady +temper, peculiarly fitted her for the most difficult, as well as most +important of all occupations--the education of youth. This task she had +undertaken; and twenty young persons were put under her care, with the +perfect confidence of their parents. No young people could be happier; +they were good and gay, emulous, but not envious of each other; for Mrs. +Villars was impartially just. Her praise they felt to be the reward of +merit, and her blame they knew to be the necessary consequence of ill +conduct; to the one, therefore, they patiently submitted, and in the +other consciously rejoiced. They rose with fresh cheerfulness in the +morning, eager to pursue their various occupations; they returned in the +evening with renewed ardour to their amusements, and retired to rest +satisfied with themselves and pleased with each other. + +Nothing so much contributed to preserve a spirit of emulation in this +little society as a small honorary distinction given annually, as the +prize of successful application. The prize this year was peculiarly dear +to each individual, as it was the picture of a friend whom they all +dearly loved--it was the picture of Mrs. Villars in a small bracelet. +It wanted neither gold, pearls, nor precious stones, to give it value. + +The two foremost candidates for the prize were Cecilia and Leonora. +Cecilia was the most intimate friend of Leonora, but Leonora was only +the favourite companion of Cecilia. + +Cecilia was of an active, ambitious, enterprising disposition; more +eager in the pursuit than happy in the enjoyment of her wishes. Leonora +was of a contented, unaspiring, temperate character, not easily roused +to action, but indefatigable when once excited. Leonora was proud, +Cecilia was vain. Her vanity made her more dependent upon the +approbation of others, and therefore more anxious to please, than +Leonora; but that very vanity made her, at the same time, more apt to +offend. In short, Leonora was the most anxious to avoid what was wrong, +Cecilia the most ambitious to do what was right. Few of their companions +loved, but many were led by Cecilia, for she was often successful; many +loved Leonora, but none were ever governed by her, for she was too +indolent to govern. + +On the first day of May, about six o'clock in the evening, a great bell +rang, to summon this little society into a hall, where the prize was to +be decided. A number of small tables were placed in a circle in the +middle of the hall; seats for the young competitors were raised one +above another, in a semicircle, some yards distant from the table; and +the judges' chairs, under canopies of lilacs and luburnums, forming +another semicircle, closed the amphitheatre. Every one put their +writings, their drawings, their works of various kinds, upon the tables +appropriated for each. How unsteady were the last steps to these tables! +How each little hand trembled as it laid down its claims! Till this +moment every one thought herself secure of success, but now each felt an +equal certainty of being excelled; and the heart which a few minutes +before exulted with hope, now palpitated with fear. + +The works were examined, the preference adjudged; and the prize was +declared to be the happy Cecilia's. Mrs. Villars came forward smiling, +with the bracelet in her hand. Cecilia was behind her companions, on the +highest row; all the others gave way, and she was on the floor in an +instant. Mrs. Villars clasped the bracelet on her arm; the clasp was +heard through the whole hall, and a universal smile of congratulation +followed. Mrs. Villars kissed Cecilia's little hand; and "now," said +she, "go and rejoice with your companions; the remainder of the day is +yours." + +Oh! you whose hearts are elated with success, whose bosoms beat high +with joy, in the moment of triumph, command yourselves; let that triumph +be moderate, that it may be lasting. Consider that, though you are good, +you may be better, and though wise, you may be weak. + +As soon as Mrs. Villars had given her the bracelet, all Cecilia's little +companions crowded round her, and they all left the hall in an instant. +She was full of spirits and vanity--she ran on, running down the flight +of steps which led to the garden. In her violent haste, Cecilia threw +down the little Louisa. Louisa had a china mandarin in her hand, which +her mother had sent her that very morning; it was all broke to pieces by +the fall. + +"Oh! my mandarin!" cried Louisa, bursting into tears. The crowd behind +Cecilia suddenly stopped. Louisa sat on the lowest step, fixing her eyes +upon the broken pieces; then turning round, she hid her face in her +hands upon the step above her. In turning, Louisa threw down the remains +of the mandarin; the head, which she had placed in the socket, fell from +the shoulders, and rolled bounding along the gravel-walk. Cecilia +pointed to the head and to the socket, and burst out laughing; the crowd +behind laughed too. At any other time they would have been more inclined +to cry with Louisa; but Cecilia had just been successful, and sympathy +with the victorious often makes us forget justice. Leonora, however, +preserved her usual consistency. "Poor Louisa!" said she, looking first +at her, and then reproachfully at Cecilia. Cecilia turned sharply round, +colouring, half with shame and half with vexation. "I could not help it, +Leonora," said she. + +"But you could have helped laughing, Cecilia." "I didn't laugh at +Louisa; and I surely may laugh, for it does nobody any harm." "I am +sure, however," replied Leonora, "I should not have laughed if I +had----" "No, to be sure you wouldn't, because Louisa is your favourite. +I can buy her another mandarin the next time that old pedlar comes to +the door, if that's all. I _can_ do no more. _Can_ I?" said she, +turning round to her companions. "No, to be sure," said they, "that's all +fair." + +Cecilia looked triumphantly at Leonora. Leonora let go her hand; she ran +on, and the crowd followed. When she got to the end of the garden, she +turned round to see if Leonora had followed her too; but was vexed to +see her still sitting on the steps with Louisa. "I'm sure I can do no +more than buy her another! _Can_ I?" said she, again appealing to her +companions. + +"No, to be sure," said they, eager to begin their plays. How many did +they begin and leave off before Cecilia could be satisfied with any. +Her thoughts were discomposed, and her mind was running upon something +else; no wonder then that she did not play with her usual address. She +grew still more impatient; she threw down the nine-pins: "Come, let us +play at something else--at threading the needle," said she, holding out +her hand. They all yielded to the hand which wore the bracelet. But +Cecilia, dissatisfied with herself, was discontented with everybody +else; her tone grew more and more peremptory,--one was too rude, another +too stiff; one was too slow, another too quick; in short, everything +went wrong, and everybody was tired of her humours. + +The triumph of _success_ is absolute, but short. Cecilia's companions at +length recollected that, though she had embroidered a tulip and painted +a peach better than they, yet that they could play as well, and keep +their tempers better: she was thrown out. Walking towards the house in a +peevish mood, she met Leonora; she passed on. + +"Cecilia!" cried Leonora. "Well, what do you want with me?" "Are we +friends?" "You know best." "We are; if you will let me tell Louisa that +you are sorry--" Cecilia, interrupting her, "O! pray let me hear no +more about Louisa!" "What! not confess that you were in the wrong! Oh, +Cecilia! I had a better opinion of you." "Your opinion is of no +consequence to me now; for you don't love me." "No, not when you are +unjust, Cecilia." "Unjust! I am not unjust; and if I were, you are not +my governess." "No, but am I not your friend?" "I don't desire to have +such a friend, who would quarrel with me for happening to throw down +little Louisa--how could I tell that she had a mandarin in her hand? and +when it was broken, could I do more than promise her another? Was that +unjust?" "But you know, Cecilia----" "_I know_," ironically, "I know, +Leonora, that you love Louisa better than you do me; that's the +injustice!" "If I did," replied Leonora gravely, "it would be no +injustice, if she deserved it better." "How can you compare Louisa to +me!" exclaimed Cecilia, indignantly. + +Leonora made no answer, for she was really hurt at her friend's conduct; +she walked on to join the rest of her companions. They were dancing in a +round upon the grass. Leonora declined dancing, but they prevailed upon +her to sing for them; her voice was not so sprightly, but it was sweeter +than usual. Who sung so sweetly as Leonora? or who danced so nimbly as +Louisa? + +Away she was flying, all spirits and gayety, when Leonora's eyes full of +tears, caught hers. Louisa silently let go her companions' hands, and +quitting the dance, ran up to Leonora to inquire what was the matter +with her. + +"Nothing," replied she, "that need interrupt you,--Go, my dear, and +dance again." + +Louisa immediately ran away to her garden, and pulling off her little +straw hat, she lined it with the freshest strawberry leaves, and was +upon her knees before the strawberry bed when Cecilia came by. Cecilia +was not disposed to be pleased with Louisa at that instant, for two +reasons: because she was jealous of her, and because she had injured +her. The injury, however, Louisa had already forgotten; perhaps, to tell +things just as they were, she was not quite so much inclined to kiss +Cecilia as she would have been before the fall of her mandarin, but this +was the utmost extent of her malice, if it can be called malice. + +"What are you doing there, little one?" said Cecilia in a sharp tone. +"Are you eating your early strawberries here all alone?" "No," said +Louisa, mysteriously; "I am not eating them." "What are you doing with +them--can't you answer then? I'm not playing with you, child!" "Oh! as +to that, Cecilia, you know I need not answer you unless I choose it; not +but what I would, if you would only ask me civilly--and if you would not +call me _child_." "Why should not I call you child?" +"Because--because--I don't know;--but I wish you would stand out of my +light, Cecilia, for you are trampling upon all my strawberries." "I have +not touched one, you covetous little creature!" "Indeed--indeed, +Cecilia, I am not covetous. I have not eaten one of them--they are all +for your friend Leonora. See how unjust you are." "Unjust! that's a cant +word you learned of my friend Leonora, as you call her, but she is not +my friend now." "Not your friend now!" exclaimed Louisa. "Then I am sure +you must have done something _very_ naughty." "How!" said Cecilia, +catching hold of her. "Let me go--Let me go!" cried Louisa, struggling. +"I won't give you one of my strawberries, for I don't like you at all." +"You don't, don't you?" said Cecilia, provoked; and catching the hat +from Louisa, she flung the strawberries over the hedge. "Will nobody +help me!" exclaimed Louisa, snatching her hat again, and running away +with all her force. + +"What have I done?" said Cecilia, recollecting herself. "Louisa! +Louisa!" She called very loud, but Louisa would not turn back! she was +running to her companions. + +They were still dancing, hand in hand, upon the grass, whilst Leonora, +sitting in the middle, sang to them. + +"Stop! stop! and hear me!" cried Louisa, breaking through them; and +rushing up to Leonora, she threw her hat at her feet, and panting for +breath---- + +"It was full--almost full of my own strawberries," said she, "the first +I ever got out of my own garden. They should all have been for you, +Leonora, but now I have not one left. They are all gone!" said she; and +she hid her face in Leonora's lap. + +"Gone! gone where?" said every one at once, running up to her. "Cecilia! +Cecilia!" said she, sobbing. "Cecilia!" repeated Leonora; "what of +Cecilia?" "Yes, it was--it was." + +"Come along with me," said Leonora, unwilling to have her friend +exposed; "come, and I will get you some more strawberries." "Oh, I don't +mind the strawberries, indeed; but I wanted to have had the pleasure of +giving them to you." + +Leonora took her up in her arms to carry her away, but it was too late. + +"What, Cecilia! Cecilia, who won the prize! It could not surely be +Cecilia," whispered every busy tongue. + +At this instant the bell summoned them in. + +"There she is!--There she is!" cried they, pointing to an arbour, where +Cecilia was standing, ashamed and alone; and as they passed her, some +lifted up their hands and eyes with astonishment, others whispered and +huddled mysteriously together, as if to avoid her. Leonora walked on, +her head a little higher than usual. + +"Leonora!" said Cecilia, timorously, as she passed. + +"Oh, Cecilia! who would have thought that you had a bad heart?" + +Cecilia turned her head aside and burst into tears. + +"Oh no, indeed, she has not a bad heart," cried Louisa, running up to +her, and throwing her arms round her neck; "she's very sorry!--are not +you, Cecilia? But don't cry any more, for I forgive you with all my +heart; and I love you now, though I said I did not when I was in a +passion." + +"O, you sweet-tempered girl! how I love you," said Cecilia, kissing her. + +"Well then, if you do, come along with me, and dry your eyes, for they +are so red." + +"Go, my dear, and I'll come presently." + +"Then I will keep a place for you next to me; but you must make haste, +or you will have to come in when we have all set down to supper, and +then you will be so stared at! So don't stay now." + +Cecilia followed Louisa with her eyes till she was out of sight. "And +is Louisa," said she to herself, "the only one who would stop to pity +me? Mrs. Villars told me that this day should be mine; she little +thought how it would end!" Saying these words, Cecilia threw herself +down upon the ground; her arm leaned upon a heap of turf which she had +raised in the morning, and which in the pride and gayety of her heart, +she had called her throne. + +At this instant, Mrs. Villars came out to enjoy the serenity of the +evening, and passing by the arbour where Cecilia lay, she started; +Cecilia rose hastily. + +"Who is there?" said Mrs. Villars. "It is I, madam." "And who is I?" +"Cecilia." "Why, what keeps you here, my dear--where are your +companions? this is, perhaps, one of the happiest days of your life." + +"O no, madam!" said Cecilia, hardly able to repress her tears. + +"Why, my dear, what is the matter?" + +Cecilia hesitated. + +"Speak, my dear. You know that when I ask you to tell me any thing as +your friend, I never punish you as your governess; therefore you need +not be afraid to tell me what is the matter." + +"No, madam, I am not afraid, but ashamed. You asked me why I was not +with my companions. Why, madam, because they have all left me, and----" +"And what, my dear?" "And I see that they all dislike me. And yet I +don't know why they should, for I take as much pains to please as any of +them. All my masters seem satisfied with me; and you yourself, ma'am, +were pleased this very morning to give me this bracelet; and I am sure +you would not have given it to any one who did not deserve it." +"Certainly not. You did deserve it for your application--for your +successful application. The prize was for the most assiduous, not for +the most amiable." "Then if it had been for the most amiable it would +not have been for me?" + +Mrs. Villars, smiling--"Why, what do you think yourself, Cecilia? You +are better able to judge than I am. I can determine whether or no you +apply to what I give you to learn; whether you attend to what I desire +you to do, and avoid what I desire you not to do. I know that I like you +as a pupil, but I cannot know that I should like you as a companion, +unless I were your companion; therefore I must judge of what I should do +by seeing what others do in the same circumstances." + +"O, pray don't, ma'am; for then you would not love me neither. And yet I +think you would love me; for I hope that I am as ready to oblige, and as +good-natured, as----" "Yes, Cecilia, I don't doubt but that you would be +very good-natured to me, but I am afraid that I should not like you +unless you were good-tempered too." "But, ma'am, by good-natured I mean +good-tempered--it's all the same thing." "No, indeed, I understand by +them two very different things. You are good-natured, Cecilia, for you +are desirous to oblige and serve your companions, to gain them praise +and save them from blame, to give them pleasure, and to relieve them +from pain; but Leonora is good-tempered, for she can bear with their +foibles, and acknowledge her own. Without disputing about the right, she +sometimes yields to those who are in the wrong. In short, her temper is +perfectly good, for it can bear and forbear." + +"I wish that mine could," said Cecilia, sighing. + +"It may," replied Mrs. Villars; "but it is not wishes alone which can +improve us in any thing. Turn the same exertion and perseverance which +have won you the prize to-day to this object, and you will meet with the +same success; perhaps not on the first, the second, or the third +attempt, but depend upon it that you will at last; every new effort will +weaken your bad habits and strengthen your good ones. But you must not +expect to succeed all at once; I repeat it to you, for habit must be +counteracted by habit. It would be as extravagant in us to expect that +all our faults could be destroyed by one punishment, were it ever so +severe, as it was in the Roman emperor we were reading of a few days ago +to wish that all the heads of his enemies were upon one neck, that he +might cut them off by one blow." + +Here Mrs. Villars took Cecilia by the hand, and they began to walk home. +Such was the nature of Cecilia's mind, that, when any object was +forcibly impressed on her imagination, it caused a temporary suspension +of her reasoning faculties. Hope was too strong a stimulus for her +spirits; and when fear did take possession of her mind, it was attended +with total debility. Her vanity was now as much mortified as in the +morning it had been elated. She walked on with Mrs. Villars in silence +until they came under the shade of the elm-tree walk, and then, fixing +her eyes upon Mrs. Villars, she stopped short. "Do you think, madam," +said she, with hesitation, "do you think, madam, that I have a bad +heart?" + +"A bad heart, my dear! why, what put that into your head?" + +"Leonora said that I had, ma'am, and I felt ashamed when she said so." + +"But, my dear, how can Leonora tell whether your heart be good or bad? +However, in the first place, tell me what you mean by a bad heart." + +"Indeed, I do not know what is meant by it, ma'am; but it is something +which every body hates." + +"And why do they hate it?" + +"Because they think that it will hurt them, ma'am, I believe; and that +those who have bad hearts take delight in doing mischief; and that they +never do any body good but for their own ends." + +"Then the best definition which you can give me of a bad heart is that +it is some constant propensity to hurt others, and to do wrong for the +sake of doing wrong." + +"Yes, ma'am, but that is not all neither; there is still something else +meant; something which I cannot express--which, indeed, I never +distinctly understood; but of which, therefore, I was the more afraid." + +"Well, then, to begin with what you do understand, tell me, Cecilia, do +you really think it possible to be wicked merely for the love of +wickedness? No human being becomes wicked all at once; a man begins by +doing wrong because it is, or because he thinks it is for his interest; +if he continue to do so, he must conquer his sense of shame, and lose +his love of virtue. But how can you, Cecilia, who feel such a strong +sense of shame, and such an eager desire to improve, imagine that you +have a bad heart?" + +"Indeed, madam, I never did, until every body told me so, and then I +began to be frightened about it. This very evening, ma'am, when I was +in a passion, I threw little Louisa's strawberries away; which, I am +sure, I was very sorry for afterwards; and Leonora and every body cried +out that I had a bad heart; but I am sure that I was only in a passion." + +"Very likely. And when you are in a passion, as you call it, Cecilia, +you see that you are tempted to do harm to others; if they do not feel +angry themselves, they do not sympathize with you; they do not perceive +the motive which actuates you, and then they say that you have a bad +heart. I dare say, however, when your passion is over, and when you +recollect yourself, you are very sorry for what you have done and said; +are not you?" + +"Yes, indeed, madam, very sorry." + +"Then make that sorrow of use to you, Cecilia, and fix it steadily in +your thoughts, as you hope to be good and happy, that, if you suffer +yourself to yield to your passion upon every trifling occasion, anger +and its consequences will become familiar to your mind; and in the same +proportion your sense of shame will be weakened, till what you began +with doing from sudden impulse you will end with doing from habit and +choice; and then you would, indeed, according to our definition, have a +bad heart." + +"Oh, madam! I hope--I am sure I never shall." + +"No, indeed, Cecilia; I do, indeed, believe that you never will; on the +contrary, I think that you have a very good disposition, and, what is of +infinitely more consequence to you, an active desire of improvement. +Show me that you have as much perseverance as you have candour, and I +shall not despair of your becoming every thing that I could wish." + +Here Cecilia's countenance brightened, and she ran up the steps in +almost as high spirits as she ran down them in the morning. + +"Good night to you, Cecilia," said Mrs. Villars, as she was crossing the +hall. "Good night to you, madam," said Cecilia; and she ran up stairs +to bed. + +She could not go to sleep, but she lay awake reflecting upon the events +of the preceding day, and forming resolutions for the future; at the +same time, considering that she had resolved, and resolved without +effect, she wished to give her mind some more powerful motive; ambition +she knew to be its most powerful incentive. + +"Have I not," said she to herself, "already won the prize of +application, and cannot the same application procure me a much higher +prize? Mrs. Villars said that if the prize had been promised to the most +amiable it would not have been given to me; perhaps it would not +yesterday--perhaps it might not to-morrow; but that is no reason that I +should despair of ever deserving it." + +In consequence of this reasoning, Cecilia formed a design of proposing +to her companions that they should give a prize, the first of the +ensuing month (the first of June), to the most amiable. Mrs. Villars +applauded the scheme, and her companions adopted it with the greatest +alacrity. + +"Let the prize," said they, "be a bracelet of our own hair;" and +instantly their shining scissors were procured, and each contributed a +lock of her hair. They formed the most beautiful gradation of colours, +from the palest auburn to the brightest black. Who was to have the +honour of plaiting them was now the question. + +Caroline begged that she might, as she could plait very neatly, she +said. + +Cecilia, however, was equally sure that she could do it much better, and +a dispute would inevitably have ensued, if Cecilia, recollecting herself +just as her colour rose to scarlet, had not yielded--yielded with no +very good grace indeed, but as well as could be expected for the first +time. For it is habit which confers ease; and without ease, even in +moral actions, there can be no grace. + +The bracelet was plaited in the neatest manner by Caroline, finished +round the edge with silver twist, and on it was worked, in the smallest +silver letters, this motto, TO THE MOST AMIABLE. The moment it was +completed, every body begged to try it on. It fastened with little +silver clasps, and as it was made large enough for the eldest girls, it +was too large for the youngest; of this they bitterly complained, and +unanimously entreated that it might be cut to fit them. + +"How foolish!" exclaimed Cecilia. "Don't you perceive that, if you win +it, you have nothing to do but to put the clasps a little further from +the edge? but if we get it, we can't make it larger." + +"Very true," said they, "but you need not to have called us foolish, +Cecilia!" + +It was by such hasty and unguarded expressions as these that Cecilia +offended; a slight difference in the manner makes a very material one in +the effect. Cecilia lost more love by general petulance than she could +gain by the greatest particular exertions. + +How far she succeeded in curing herself of this defect, how far she +became deserving of the bracelet, and to whom the bracelet was given, +shall be told in the history of the first of June. + + + + +CONTINUATION OF THE BRACELETS. + + +The first of June was now arrived, and all the young competitors were in +a state of the most anxious suspense. Leonora and Cecilia continued to +be the foremost candidates; their quarrel had never been finally +adjusted, and their different pretensions now retarded all thoughts of a +reconciliation. Cecilia, though she was capable of acknowledging any of +her faults in public before all her companions, could not humble herself +in private to Leonora; Leonora was her equal, they were her inferiors; +and submission is much easier to a vain mind, where it appears to be +voluntary, than when it is the necessary tribute to justice or candour. +So strongly did Cecilia feel this truth that she even delayed making any +apology, or coming to any explanation with Leonora, until success should +once more give her the palm. + +If I win the bracelet to-day, said she to herself, I will solicit the +return of Leonora's friendship; it will be more valuable to me than even +the bracelet; and at such a time, and asked in such a manner, she surely +cannot refuse it to me. Animated with this hope of a double triumph, +Cecilia canvassed with the most zealous activity; by constant attention +and exertion she had considerably abated the violence of her temper, and +changed the course of her habits. Her powers of pleasing were now +excited, instead of her abilities to excel; and, if her talents appeared +less brilliant, her character was acknowledged to be more amiable; so +great an influence upon our manners and conduct have the objects of our +ambition. Cecilia was now, if possible, more than ever desirous of +doing what was right, but she had not yet acquired sufficient fear of +doing wrong. This was the fundamental error of her mind; it arose in a +great measure from her early education. + +Her mother died when she was very young; and though her father had +supplied her place in the best and kindest manner, he had insensibly +infused into his daughter's mind a portion of that enterprising, +independent spirit, which he justly deemed essential to the character of +her brother. This brother was some years older than Cecilia, but he had +always been the favourite companion of her youth; what her father's +precepts inculcated, his example enforced, and even Cecilia's virtues +consequently became such as were more estimable in a man than desirable +in a female. + +All small objects and small errors she had been taught to disregard as +trifles; and her impatient disposition was perpetually leading her into +more material faults; yet her candour in confessing these, she had been +suffered to believe, was sufficient reparation and atonement. + +Leonora, on the contrary, who had been educated by her mother in a +manner more suited to her sex, had a character and virtues more peculiar +to a female; her judgment had been early cultivated, and her good sense +employed in the regulation of her conduct; she had been habituated to +that restraint, which, as a woman, she was to expect in life, and early +accustomed to yield; compliance in her seemed natural and graceful. + +Yet, notwithstanding the gentleness of her temper, she was in reality +more independent than Cecilia; she had more reliance upon her own +judgment, and more satisfaction in her own approbation. Though far from +insensible to praise, she was not liable to be misled by the +indiscriminate love of admiration; the uniform kindness of her manner, +the consistency and equality of her character, had fixed the esteem and +passive love of her companions. + +By passive love, we mean that species of affection which makes us +unwilling to offend, rather than anxious to oblige; which is more a +habit than an emotion of the mind. For Cecilia, her companions felt +active love, for she was active in showing her love to them. + +Active love arises spontaneously in the mind, after feeling particular +instances of kindness, without reflection on the past conduct or general +character; it exceeds the merits of its object, and is connected with a +feeling of generosity, rather than with a sense of justice. + +Without determining which species of love is the more flattering to +others, we can easily decide which is the most agreeable feeling to our +own minds; we give our hearts more credit for being generous than for +being just; and we feel more self-complacency when we give our love +voluntarily, than when we yield it as a tribute which we cannot +withhold. Though Cecilia's companions might not know all this in theory, +they proved it in practice; for they loved her in a much higher +proportion to her merits than they loved Leonora. + +Each of the young judges were to signify their choice by putting a red +or a white shell into a vase prepared for the purpose. Cecilia's colour +was red, Leonora's white. In the morning nothing was to be seen but +these shells, nothing talked of but the long-expected event of the +evening. Cecilia, following Leonora's example, had made it a point of +honour not to inquire of any individual her vote previous to their final +determination. + +They were both sitting together in Louisa's room; Louisa was recovering +from the measles. Every one, during her illness, had been desirous of +attending her; but Leonora and Cecilia were the only two that were +permitted to see her, as they alone had had the distemper. They were +both assiduous in their care of Louisa; but Leonora's want of exertion +to overcome any disagreeable feelings of sensibility often deprived her +of presence of mind, and prevented her being so constantly useful as +Cecilia. Cecilia, on the contrary, often made too much noise and bustle +with her officious assistance, and was too anxious to invent amusements +and procure comforts for Louisa, without perceiving that illness takes +away the power of enjoying them. + +As she was sitting in the window in the morning, exerting herself to +entertain Louisa, she heard the voice of an old pedlar who often used to +come to the house. Down stairs she ran immediately to ask Mrs. Villars's +permission to bring him into the hall. + +Mrs. Villars consented, and away Cecilia ran to proclaim the news to her +companions; then first returning into the hall, she found the pedlar +just unbuckling his box, and taking it off his shoulders. "What would +you be pleased to want, Miss?" said he. "I've all kinds of +tweezer-cases, rings, and lockets of all sorts," continued he, opening +all the glittering drawers successively. + +"Oh!" said Cecilia, shutting the drawer of lockets which tempted her +most, "these are not the things which I want; have you any china +figures, any mandarins?" + +"Alack-a-day, Miss, I had a great stock of that same china ware, but now +I'm quite out of them kind of things; but I believe," said he, rummaging +in one of the deepest drawers, "I believe I have one left, and here it +is." + +"Oh, that is the very thing! what's its price?" + +"Only three shillings, ma'am." Cecilia paid the money, and was just +going to carry off the mandarin, when the pedlar took out of his +great-coat pocket a neat mahogany case; it was about a foot long, and +fastened at each end by two little clasps; it had besides a small lock +in the middle. + +"What is that?" said Cecilia, eagerly. + +"It's only a china figure, Miss, which I am going to carry to an +elderly lady, who lives nigh at hand, and who is mighty fond of such +things." + +"Could you let me look at it?" + +"And welcome, Miss," said he, and opened the case. + +"O goodness! how beautiful!" exclaimed Cecilia. + +It was a figure of Flora, crowned with roses, and carrying a basket of +flowers in her hand. Cecilia contemplated it with delight. "How I should +like to give this to Louisa," said she to herself; and at last breaking +silence, "Did you promise it to the old lady?" + +"O no, Miss; I didn't promise it--she never saw it; and if so be that +you'd like to take it, I'd make no more words about it." + +"And how much does it cost?" + +"Why, Miss, as to that, I'll let you have it for half-a-guinea." + +[Illustration] + +Cecilia immediately produced the box in which she kept her treasure, and +emptying it upon the table, she began to count the shillings; alas! +there were but six shillings. "How provoking!" said she; "then I can't +have it--where's the mandarin? O I have it," said she, taking it up, and +looking at it with the utmost disgust. "Is this the same that I had +before?" + +"Yes, Miss, the very same," replied the pedlar, who, during this time, +had been examining the little box out of which Cecilia had taken her +money; it was of silver. + +"Why, ma'am," said he, "since you've taken such a fancy to the piece, if +you've a mind to make up the remainder of the money, I will take this +here little box, if you care to part with it." + +Now this box was a keepsake from Leonora to Cecilia. "No," said Cecilia +hastily, blushing a little, and stretching out her hand to receive it. + +"Oh, Miss!" said he, returning it carelessly, "I hope there's no +offence; I meant but to serve you, that's all. Such a rare piece of +china-work has no cause to go a begging," added he, putting the Flora +deliberately into the case; then turning the key with a jerk, he let it +drop into his pocket, and lifting up his box by the leather straps, he +was preparing to depart. + +"Oh, stay one minute!" said Cecilia, in whose mind there had passed a +very warm conflict during the pedlar's harangue. "Louisa would so like +this Flora," said she, arguing with herself; "besides, it would be so +generous in me to give it to her instead of that ugly mandarin; that +would be doing only common justice, for I promised it to her, and she +expects it. Though, when I come to look at this mandarin, it is not even +so good as hers was; the gilding is all rubbed off, so that I absolutely +must buy this for her. O yes, I will, and she will be so delighted! and +then every body will say it is the prettiest thing they ever saw, and +the broken mandarin will be forgotten forever." + +Here Cecilia's hand moved, and she was just going to decide: "O! but +stop," said she to herself; "consider Leonora gave me this box, and it +is a keepsake; however, now we have quarreled, and I dare say that she +would not mind my parting with it; I'm sure that I should not care if +she was to give away my keepsake the smelling bottle, or the ring which +I gave her; so what does it signify; besides, is it not my own, and have +I not a right to do what I please with it?" + +At this dangerous instant for Cecilia, a party of her companions opened +the door; she knew that they came as purchasers, and she dreaded her +Flora's becoming the prize of some higher bidder. "Here," said she, +hastily putting the box into the pedlar's hand, without looking at it; +"take it, and give me the Flora." Her hand trembled, though she snatched +it impatiently; she ran by, without seeming to mind any of her +companions--she almost wished to turn back. + +Let those who are tempted to do wrong by the hopes of future +gratification, or the prospect of certain concealment and impunity, +remember that, unless they are totally depraved, they bear in their own +hearts a monitor who will prevent their enjoying what they have ill +obtained. + +In vain Cecilia ran to the rest of her companions, to display her +present, in hopes that the applause of others would restore her own +self-complacency; in vain she saw the Flora pass in due pomp from hand +to hand, each viewing with the other in extolling the beauty of the gift +and the generosity of the giver. Cecilia was still displeased with +herself, with them, and even with their praise; from Louisa's gratitude, +however, she yet expected much pleasure, and immediately she ran up +stairs to her room. + +In the mean time Leonora had gone into the hall to buy a bodkin; she had +just broken hers. In giving her change, the pedlar took out of his +pocket, with some half-pence, the very box which Cecilia had sold him. +Leonora did not in the least suspect the truth, for her mind was above +suspicion; and besides, she had the utmost confidence in Cecilia. "I +should like to have that box," said she, "for it is like one of which I +was very fond." + +The pedlar named the price, and Leonora took the box; she intended to +give it to little Louisa. + +On going to her room she found her asleep, and she sat down softly by +her bed-side. Louisa opened her eyes. + +"I hope I didn't disturb you," said Leonora. + +"O no; I didn't hear you come in; but what have you got there?" + +"It is only a little box; would you like to have it? I bought it on +purpose for you, as I thought perhaps it would please you; because it's +like that which I gave Cecilia." + +"O yes! that out of which she used to give me Barbary drops. I am very +much obliged to you. I always thought _that_ exceedingly pretty; and +this, indeed, is as like it as possible. I can't unscrew it; will you +try?" + +Leonora unscrewed it. + +"Goodness!" exclaimed Louisa, "this must be Cecilia's box; look, don't +you see a great L at the bottom of it?" + +Leonora's colour changed. "Yes," she replied calmly, "I see that, but it +is no proof that it is Cecilia's; you know that I bought this box just +now of the pedlar." + +"That may be," said Louisa; "but I remember scratching that L with my +own needle, and Cecilia scolded me for it, too. Do go and ask her if she +has lost her box--do," repeated Louisa, pulling her by the sleeve, as +she did not seem to listen. + +Leonora indeed did not hear, for she was lost in thought; she was +comparing circumstances, which had before escaped her attention. She +recollected that Cecilia had passed her as she came into the hall, +without seeming to see her, but had blushed as she passed. She +remembered that the pedlar appeared unwilling to part with the box, and +was going to put it again into his pocket with the half-pence; "and why +should he keep it in his pocket and not show it with his other things?" +Combining all these circumstances, Leonora had no longer any doubt of +the truth; for though she had honourable confidence in her friends, she +had too much penetration to be implicitly credulous. "Louisa," she +began, but at this instant she heard a step, which, by its quickness, +she knew to be Cecilia's, coming along the passage. "If you love me, +Louisa," said Leonora, "say nothing about the box." + +"Nay, but why not? I dare say she has lost it." + +"No, my dear, I am afraid she has not." Louisa looked surprised. + +"But I have reasons for desiring you not to say any thing about it." + +"Well, then, I won't, indeed." + +Cecilia opened the door, came forward smiling, as if secure of a good +reception, and, taking the Flora out of the case, she placed it on the +mantel-piece, opposite to Louisa's bed. "Dear, how beautiful," cried +Louisa, starting up. + +"Yes," said Cecilia, "and guess who it's for?" + +"For me, perhaps!" said the ingenuous Louisa. + +"Yes, take it, and keep it for my sake; you know that I broke your +mandarin." + +"O! but this is a great deal prettier and larger than that." + +"Yes, I know it is; and I meant that it should be so. I should only have +done what I was bound to do if I had only given you a mandarin." + +"Well, and that would have been enough, surely; but what a beautiful +crown of roses! and then that basket of flowers! they almost look as if +I could smell them. Dear Cecilia! I'm very much obliged to you, but I +won't take it by way of payment for the mandarin you broke; for I'm sure +you could not help that; and, besides, I should have broken it myself by +this time. You shall give it to me entirely, and I'll keep it as long as +I live as your keepsake." + +Louisa stopped short and coloured. The word keepsake recalled the box +to her mind, and all the train of ideas which the Flora had banished. +"But," said she, looking up wishfully in Cecilia's face, and holding the +Flora doubtfully, "did you----" + +Leonora, who was just quitting the room, turned her head back, and gave +Louisa a look, which silenced her. + +Cecilia was so infatuated with her vanity, that she neither perceived +Leonora's sign, nor Louisa's confusion, but continued showing off her +present, by placing it in various situations, till at length she put it +into the case, and laying it down with an affected carelessness upon the +bed, "I must go now, Louisa. Good bye," said she, running up and kissing +her; "but I'll come again presently;" then clapping the door after her, +she went. + +But as soon as the fermentation of her spirits subsided, the sense of +shame, which had been scarcely felt when mixed with so many other +sensations, rose uppermost in her mind. "What?" said she to herself, +"is it possible that I have sold what I promised to keep for ever? and +what Leonora gave me? and I have concealed it too, and have been making +a parade of my generosity. O! what would Leonora, what would Louisa, +what would every body think of me, if the truth were known?" + +Humiliated and grieved by these reflections, Cecilia began to search in +her own mind for some consoling idea. She began to compare her conduct +with the conduct of others of her own age; and at length, fixing her +comparison upon her brother George, as the companion of whom, from her +infancy, she had been habitually the most emulous, she recollected that +an almost similar circumstance had once happened to him, and that he had +not only escaped disgrace, but had acquired glory by an intrepid +confession of his fault. Her father's words to her brother, on that +occasion, she also perfectly recollected. + +"Come to me, George," he said, holding out his hand; "you are a +generous, brave boy. They who dare to confess their faults will make +great and good men." + +These were his words; but Cecilia, in repeating them to herself, forgot +to lay that emphasis on the word _men_, which would have placed it in +contradistinction to the word women. She willingly believed that the +observation extended equally to both sexes, and flattered herself that +she should exceed her brother in merit, if she owned a fault which she +thought that it would be so much more difficult to confess. "Yes, but," +said she, stopping herself, "how can I confess it? This very evening, in +a few hours, the prize will be decided; Leonora or I shall win it. I +have now as good a chance as Leonora, perhaps a better; and must I give +up all my hopes? all that I have been labouring for this month past! O, +I never can;--if it were to-morrow, or yesterday, or any day but this, I +would not hesitate, but now I am almost certain of the prize, and if I +win it--well, why then I will--I think, I will tell all--yes, I will; I +am determined," said Cecilia. + +Here a bell summoned them to dinner. Leonora sat opposite to her, and +she was not a little surprised to see Cecilia look so gay and +unrestrained. "Surely," said she to herself, "if Cecilia had done this, +that I suspect, she would not, she could not look as she does." But +Leonora little knew the cause of her gayety; Cecilia was never in higher +spirits, or better pleased with herself, than when she had resolved upon +a sacrifice or a confession. + +"Must not this evening be given to the most amiable? Whose, then, will +it be?" All eyes glanced first at Cecilia and then at Leonora. Cecilia +smiled; Leonora blushed. "I see that it is not yet decided," said Mrs. +Villars; and immediately they ran up stairs, amidst confused +whisperings. + +Cecilia's voice could be distinguished far above the rest. "How can she +be so happy?" said Leonora to herself. "O, Cecilia, there was a time +when you could not have neglected me so!--when we were always together, +the best of friends and companions, our wishes, tastes, and pleasures +the same. Surely she did once love me," said Leonora; "but now she is +quite changed. She has even sold my keepsake, and would rather win a +bracelet of hair from girls whom she did not always think so much +superior to Leonora, than have my esteem, my confidence, and my +friendship, for her whole life; yes, for her whole life, for I am sure +she will be an amiable woman. Oh that this bracelet had never been +thought of, or that I was certain of her winning it; for I am certain +that I do not wish to win it from her. I would rather, a thousand times +rather, that we were as we used to be, than have all the glory in the +world. And how pleasing Cecilia can be when she wishes to please! how +candid she is! how much she can improve herself!--let me be just, +though she has offended me--she is wonderfully improved within this last +month; for one fault, and _that_ against myself, should I forget all her +merits?" + +As Leonora said these last words, she could but just hear the voices of +her companions; they had left her alone in the gallery. She knocked +softly at Louisa's door----"Come in," said Louisa. "I in not asleep. Oh," +said she, starting up with the Flora in her hand, the instant that the +door was opened. "I'm so glad you are come, Leonora, for I did so long +to hear what you were all making such a noise about--have you forgot +that the bracelet----" + +"O yes! is this the evening?" + +"Well, here's my white shell for you. I've kept it in my pocket this +fortnight; and though Cecilia did give me this Flora, I still love you a +great deal better." + +"I thank you, Louisa," said Leonora, gratefully. "I will take your +shell, and I shall value it as long as I live. But here is a red one, +and if you wish to show me that you love me, you will give this to +Cecilia. I know that she is particularly anxious for your preference, +and I am sure that she deserves it." + +"Yes, if I could I would choose both of you; but you know I can only +choose which I like the best." + +"If you mean, my dear Louisa," said Leonora, "that you like me the best, +I am very much obliged to you; for, indeed I wish you to love me; but it +is enough for me to know it in private. I should not feel the least more +pleasure at hearing it in public, or in having it made known to all my +companions, especially at a time when it would give poor Cecilia a great +deal of pain." + +"But why should it give her pain? I don't like her for being jealous of +you." + +"Nay, Louisa, surely you don't think Cecilia jealous; she only tries to +excel and to please. She is more anxious to succeed than I am, it is +true, because she has a great deal more activity, and perhaps more +ambition; and it would really mortify her to lose this prize. You know +that she proposed it herself; it has been her object for this month +past, and I am sure she has taken great pains to obtain it." + +"But, dear Leonora, why should you lose it?" + +"Indeed, my dear, it would be no loss to me; and, if it were, I would +willingly suffer it for Cecilia; for, though we seem not to be such good +friends as we used to be, I love her very much, and she will love me +again, I'm sure she will; when she no longer fears me as a rival, she +will again love me as a friend." + +Here Leonora heard a number of her companions running along the gallery. +They all knocked hastily at the door, calling, "Leonora! Leonora! will +you never come? Cecilia has been with us this half hour." + +Leonora smiled. "Well, Louisa," said she, smiling, "will you promise +me?" + +"O, I'm sure, by the way they speak to you, that they won't give you +the prize!" said the little Louisa; and the tears started into her eyes. + +"They love me though, for all that; and as for the prize, you know whom +I wish to have it." + +"Leonora! Leonora!" called her impatient companions; "don't you hear us? +What are you about?" + +"O, she never will take any trouble about any thing," said one of the +party; "let's go away." + +"O go! go! make haste," cried Louisa; "don't stay, they are so angry--I +will, I will, indeed!" + +"Remember, then, that you have promised me," said Leonora, and she left +the room. During all this time Cecilia had been in the garden with her +companions. The ambition which she had felt to win the first prize, the +prize of superior talents and superior application, was not to be +compared to the absolute anxiety which she now expressed to win this +simple testimony of the love and approbation of her equals and rivals. + +To employ her exuberant activity, she had been dragging branches of +lilacs, and laburnums, roses, and sweet-briar, to ornament the bower in +which her fate was to be decided. It was excessively hot, but her mind +was engaged, and she was indefatigable. She stood still, at last, to +admire her works; her companions all joined in loud applause. They were +not a little prejudiced in her favour by the great eagerness which she +expressed to win their prize, and by the great importance which she +seemed to affix to the preference of each individual. At last, "Where is +Leonora?" cried one of them, and immediately, as we have seen, they ran +to call her. + +Cecilia was left alone. Overcome with heat and too violent exertion, she +had hardly strength to support herself; each moment appeared to her +intolerably long; she was in a state of the utmost suspense, and all her +courage failed her; even hope forsook her, and hope is a cordial which +leaves the mind depressed and enfeebled. "The time is now come," said +Cecilia; "in a few moments it will be decided. In a few moments! +goodness! how much I do hazard! If I should not win the prize, how shall +I confess what I have done? How shall I beg Leonora to forgive me? I, +who hoped to restore my friendship to her as an honour!--they are gone +to seek for her--the moment she appears I shall be forgotten--what +shall--what shall I do?" said Cecilia, covering her face with her hands. + +Such was her situation, when Leonora, accompanied by her companions, +opened the hall-door; they most of them ran forward to Cecilia. As +Leonora came into the bower, she held out her hand to Cecilia----"We +are not rivals, but friends, I hope," said she. Cecilia clasped her +hand, but she was in too great agitation to speak. + +The table was now set in the arbour--the vase was now placed in the +middle. "Well!" said Cecilia, eagerly, "who begins?" Caroline, one of +her friends, came forward first, and then all the others successively. +Cecilia's emotion was hardly conceivable.----"Now they are all in. +Count them, Caroline!" + +"One, two, three, four; the numbers are both equal." There was a dead +silence. + +"No, they are not," exclaimed Cecilia, pressing forward and putting +a shell into the vase----"I have not given mine, and I give it to +Leonora." Then snatching the bracelet, "It is yours, Leonora," said she; +"take it, and give me back your friendship." The whole assembly gave a +universal clap and shout of applause. + +"I cannot be surprised at this from you, Cecilia," said Leonora; "and do +you then still love me as you used to do?" + +"O Leonora! stop! don't praise me; I don't deserve this," said she, +turning to her loudly applauding companions; "you will soon despise +me--O Leonora, you will never forgive me!--I have deceived you--I have +sold----" + +At this instant Mrs. Villars appeared--the crowd divided--she had heard +all that passed from her window. + +"I applaud your generosity, Cecilia," said she, "but I am to tell you +that in this instance it is unsuccessful; you have it not in your power +to give the prize to Leonora--it is yours--I have another vote to give +you--you have forgotten Louisa." + +"Louisa! but surely, ma'am, Louisa loves Leonora better than she does +me!" + +"She commissioned me, however," said Mrs. Villars, "to give you a red +shell, and you will find it in this box." + +Cecilia started, and turned as pale as death--it was the fatal box. + +Mrs. Villars produced another box--she opened it--it contained the +Flora--"And Louisa also desired me," said she, "to return you this +Flora"--she put it into Cecilia's hand--Cecilia trembled so that she +could not hold it; Leonora caught it. + +"O, madam! O, Leonora!" exclaimed Cecilia; "now I have no hope left. I +intended, I was just going to tell----" + +"Dear Cecilia," said Leonora, "you need not tell it me; I know it +already, and I forgive you with all my heart." + +"Yes, I can prove to you," said Mrs. Villars, "that Leonora has forgiven +you: it is she who has given you the prize; it was she who persuaded +Louisa to give you her vote. I went to see her a little while ago, and +perceiving, by her countenance, that something was the matter, I pressed +her to tell me what it was. + +"'Why, madam,' said she, 'Leonora has made me promise to give my shell +to Cecilia. Now I don't love Cecilia half so well as I do Leonora; +besides, I would not have Cecilia think I vote for her because she gave +me a Flora.' Whilst Louisa was speaking," continued Mrs. Villars, "I saw +the silver box lying on the bed; I took it up, and asked if it was not +yours, and how she came by it. + +"'Indeed, madam,' said Louisa, 'I could have been almost certain that +it was Cecilia's; but Leonora gave it me, and she said that she bought +it of the pedlar this morning. If any body else had told me so, I could +not have believed them, because I remembered the box so well; but I +can't help believing Leonora.' + +"'But did you not ask Cecilia about it?' said I. + +"'No, madam,' replied Louisa, 'for Leonora forbade me.' + +"I guessed her reason. 'Well,' said I, 'give me the box, and I will +carry your shell in it to Cecilia.' + +"'Then, madam,' said she, 'if I must give it her, pray do take the +Flora, and return it to her first, that she may not think it is for that +I do it.'" + +"O, generous Leonora!" exclaimed Cecilia; "but indeed, Louisa, I cannot +take your shell." + +"Then, dear Cecilia, accept of mine instead of it; you cannot refuse +it--I only follow your example. As for the bracelet," added Leonora, +taking Cecilia's hand, "I assure you I don't wish for it, and you do, +and you deserve it." + +"No," said Cecilia, "indeed I do not deserve it; next to you, surely, +Louisa deserves it best." + +"Louisa! O yes, Louisa," exclaimed every body with one voice. + +"Yes," said Mrs. Villars, "and let Cecilia carry the bracelet to her; +she deserves that reward. For one fault I cannot forget all your merits, +Cecilia; nor, I am sure, will your companions." + +"Then, surely, not your best friend," said Leonora, kissing her. + +Every body present was moved--they looked up to Leonora with respectful +and affectionate admiration. + +"O, Leonora, how I love you! and how I wish to be like you!" exclaimed +Cecilia; "to be as good, as generous!" + +"Rather wish, Cecilia," interrupted Mrs. Villars, "to be as just; to be +as strictly honourable, and as invariably consistent. + +"Remember that many of our sex are capable of great efforts, of making +what they call great sacrifices to virtue or to friendship; but few +treat their friends with habitual gentleness, or uniformly conduct +themselves with prudence and good sense." + + +THE END. + + + + +A +CATALOGUE +OF +ILLUSTRATED AND ENTERTAINING +JUVENILE WORKS. + +[Illustration] + +LITTLE ANNIE'S FIRST BOOK, +CHIEFLY IN WORDS OF THREE LETTERS. + +By Her Mother. + +Illustrated with Seventy Designs. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. + +This little volume will commend itself to parents, as a book for +children who have just mastered the alphabet. + + * * * * * + +THE +TRAVELS +AND +EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES +OF +BOB THE SQUIRREL. + +Illustrated with Twelve Engravings +by Distinguished Artists. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. + +Bob's adventures are full of interest, and no child can fail to be +amused and permanently benefited by the perusal of them. The book is +designed for a child from six to ten years of age. + + * * * * * + +CLARA'S AMUSEMENTS. + +"Oh, happy childhood! whose sweet fruits of pleasure Are plucked in the +safe garden of thy home."--M.S. + +By Mrs. Anna Bache. + +One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated with Original Designs. + +Price 50 cents. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + +THE BLOSSOMS OF MORALITY; +INTENDED FOR THE AMUSEMENT AND INSTRUCTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE. + +Illustrated with Twenty-three Designs by Darley. + +One Volume 15mo. Price 38 cts. + + * * * * * + +HOLIDAY HOUSE: +A SERIES OF TALES + +By Miss Sinclair. + +From the third London Edition. + +Prettily illustrated by Croome. + +One Volume 16mo. Price 75 cents. + +"We find in this volume, as in all of Miss Sinclair's other productions, +the same lively intellect, the same buoyant good humour, the same easy +and vigorous style, the same happy talent for observation and +description, the same warfare against the fashionable follies of the +day, and the same assiduity in inculcating the lessons of morality and +religion."--_Edinburgh Advertiser_. + + * * * * * + +THE +LIFE AND WANDERINGS +OF +A MOUSE + +Illustrated with Ten Designs by Croome. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. + +"An instructive and amusing volume, that will be read by every child +with pleasure." + + * * * * * + +THE CHILD'S OWN STORY BOOK; +OR, TALES AND DIALOGUES FOR THE NURSERY. + +BY Mrs. Jerram. + +Illustrated with Numerous Engravings. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + +THE CHILD'S DELIGHT; +A GIFT FOR ALL SEASONS. + +Edited by a lady. + +Prettily Illustrated with Coloured Steel Engravings, +Designed by Croome. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. + + * * * * * + +MARIA EDGEWORTH'S +CHEAP JUVENILE WORKS. + + * * * * * + +WASTE NOT, WANT NOT; +OR, +TWO STRINGS TO YOUR BOW. + +By Maria Edgeworth. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 25 cents. + + * * * * * + +LAZY LAWRENCE; +OR, +INDUSTRY AND IDLENESS CONTRASTED. + +By Maria Edgeworth. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 25 cents. + + * * * * * + +THE BRACELETS; +OR, +AMIABILITY AND INDUSTRY REWARDED. + +By Maria Edgeworth. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 25 cents. + + * * * * * + +THE FIRESIDE STORY BOOK; +CONTAINING +"LAZY LAWRENCE" "WASTE NOT, WANT NOT," AND "THE BRACELETS." + +Elegantly Illustrated. + +One Volume 16mo. Price 50 cents. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + +MAMMA'S BIBLE STORIES +FOR HER +LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS. + +A SERIES OF READING LESSONS TAKEN FROM THE BIBLE, AND +ADAPTED TO THE CAPACITIES OF VERY YOUNG CHILDREN. + +Illustrated with Numerous Engravings. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents + + * * * * * + +GRANDMAMMA EASY'S +BEAUTIFUL TOY BOOKS, +FOR ALL GOOD CHILDREN. + +Very large size, printed on very large type, and elegantly +coloured, with gilt edges. + +Put up in wrappers, each containing one dozen. + +Price $1.50 per Dozen. + +CONTENTS. + +New Story about Little Tom Thumb and his Mother. +New Little Stories about the Alphabet. +Merry Multiplication. +New Story about Old Daddy Longlegs. +New Story about Little Jack Horner, and of what his Pie was made. +Michaelmas Day, or the Fate of poor Molly Goosey. +Alderman's Feast: A new Alphabet. +New Story about the Queen of Hearts, and the Stolen Tarts. +New Pictorial Bible Alphabet. +Toy Shop Drolleries, or Wonders of a Toy Shop. +Travels of Matty Macaroni, the Little Organ Boy. +New Story of Joseph and his Brethren. + + * * * * * + +VERY LITTLE TALES FOR VERY LITTLE CHILDREN. + +In single syllables of three and four letters. Large and bold type. + +With Numerous Illustrations. + +Two Volumes 32mo. Price 75 cents. + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + +LITTLE LESSONS FOR LITTLE LEARNERS. + +In words of one syllable. + +By Mrs. Barwell, +Author of "Mamma's Bible Stories." + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. + + * * * * * + +POPULAR TALES. + +By Maria Edgeworth. + +With Original Designs by Croome. + +CONTENTS. + +MURAD THE UNLUCKY. +THE MANUFACTURERS. +THE CONTRAST. +THE GRATEFUL NEGRO. +TO-MORROW. + +One Volume 16mo. Price 75 cents. + +"The writings of Maria Edgeworth have rarely been approached, and none +have excelled her. Her stories are so natural, and are told with such +truthfulness, that the reader becomes completely captivated." + + * * * * * + +MORAL TALES. + +By Maria Edgeworth. + +Embellished with Original Designs by Darley. + +Price 75 cents. + +"If we wished to do a young person good while offering amusement, to +improve the heart while engaging the attention, and to give him or her +little books which convey no false or distorted notions of life--Maria +Edgeworth is our author."--_Post_. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + +DIVINE AND MORAL SONGS, +FOR THE USE OF CHILDREN + +By Isaac Watts, D.D. + +Illustrated with 24 Engravings in the Highest Style of Art. + +One elegant Volume, 16mo. Price 75 cts. + +"This will be a constant furniture for the minds of children, that they +may have something to think of when alone, and sing over to themselves. +This may sometimes give their thoughts a divine turn, and raise a young +meditation. Thus they will not be forced to seek relief for an emptiness +of mind out of the loose and dangerous sonnets of the age."--_Extract +from Author's Preface_. + + * * * * * + +MRS. SHERWOOD'S +PRETTILY ILUSTRATED JUVENILES. + + * * * * * + +DUTY IS SAFETY; +OR, +TROUBLESOME TOM. + +By Mrs. Sherwood. + +One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated. Price 25 cents. + + * * * * * + +THINK BEFORE YOU ACT. + +By Mrs. Sherwood. + +One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated. Price 25 cents. + + * * * * * + +JACK, THE SAILOR BOY. + +By Mrs. Sherwood. + +One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated. Price 25 cents. + + * * * * * + +CLEVER STORIES FOR CLEVER BOYS AND GIRLS. + +Containing + +"Think before you Act," "Jack, the Sailor Boy," "Duty is Safety." + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cts. + + * * * * * + +THE PRIZE STORY BOOK; +CONSISTING CHIEFLY OF +TALES TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN, FRENCH, AND ITALIAN, +TOGETHER WITH +SELECT TALES FROM THE ENGLISH. + +Illustrated with Numerous Designs. + +One Volume square 16mo. Half cloth 50 cts.; cloth extra 63 cts. + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + +GEORGE'S JOURNEY +TO THE +LAND OF HAPPINESS. + +By a Lady. + +Illustrated with Sixteen Coloured Engravings. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. + + * * * * * + +THE BOOK OF ANIMALS; +INTENDED FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT AND INSTRUCTION +OF +YOUNG PEOPLE. + +By R. Bilby. + +Illustrated with Twelve Designs of Animals. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents. + +This volume is intended both as a useful and entertaining book for the +young, abounding with Anecdotes of the Quadrupeds, and illustrated with +numerous well executed designs. + + * * * * * + +THE HAPPY CHILDREN; +A TALE OF HOME +FOR +YOUNG PEOPLE. + +Illustrated with Elegant Engravings. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cts. + +A very interesting volume for children from six to twelve years of age. + + * * * * * + +RHYMES FOR THE NURSERY. + +By the Author of "Original Poems." + +Illustrated with Sixteen Designs. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cts. plain; 63 cts. coloured. + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + +HOLIDAY TALES. +CONTAINING PLEASING STORIES FOR THE YOUNG. + +Prettily Illustrated. + +One Volume square 16mo. Price in half cloth, 25 cents; cloth gilt, +38 cents. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + +UNCLE JOHN'S +FANCY PICTURE BOOKS. + +In a new and unique style, +put up in dozens assorted. Six kinds. + +CONTENTS. + +UNCLE JOHN'S PICTURE BIBLE ALPHABET. +UNCLE JOHN'S STORY OF BOB. +UNCLE JOHN'S STORY OF DOWNEY THE MOUSE. +UNCLE JOHN'S STORIES OF ANIMALS. +UNCLE JOHN'S BIBLE STORIES. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Bracelets, by Maria Edgeworth + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRACELETS *** + +***** This file should be named 11121.txt or 11121.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/1/2/11121/ + +Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Children, Andrea +Ball and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + + https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/old/11121.zip b/old/11121.zip new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8563f79 Binary files /dev/null and b/old/11121.zip differ -- cgit v1.2.3