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diff --git a/37514.txt b/37514.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9a2383f --- /dev/null +++ b/37514.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2108 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Jemima Placid, by Mary Ann Kilner + +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: Jemima Placid + or, The Advantage of Good-Nature + +Author: Mary Ann Kilner + +Release Date: September 23, 2011 [EBook #37514] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JEMIMA PLACID *** + + + + +Produced by Delphine Lettau, Judith Wirawan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + JEMIMA PLACID; + + OR, THE + + ADVANTAGE + + OF + + GOOD-NATURE. + + + EXEMPLIFIED IN + _A VARIETY OF FAMILIAR INCIDENTS_. + + + A NEW EDITION. + + + _LONDON_: + Printed by T. C. HANSARD, Peterborough-court, Fleet-street, for + BALDWIN, CRADOCK, AND JOY, + 47, Paternoster-row; and + N. HAILES, Piccadilly. + + 1819. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +It has been often said, that infancy is the happiest state of human +life, as being exempted from those serious cares, and that anxiety which +must ever, in some degree, be an attendant on a more advanced age; but +the Author of the following little performance is of a different +opinion; and has ever considered the troubles of children as a severe +exercise to their patience; when it is recollected that the vexations +which they meet with are suited to the weakness of their understanding, +and though trifling perhaps in themselves, acquire importance from their +connexion with the puerile inclinations and bounded views of an infant +mind, where present gratification is the whole they can comprehend, and +therefore suffer in proportion when their wishes are obstructed. + +The main design of this publication is, to prove, from example, that the +pain of disappointment will be much increased by ill-temper; and that to +yield to the force of necessity will be found wiser than vainly to +oppose it. The contrast between the principal character, with the +peevishness of her cousin's temper, is intended as an incitement to that +placid disposition which will form the happiness of social life in every +stage; and which, therefore, should not be thought beneath any one's +attention, or undeserving of their cultivation. + + + + +JEMIMA PLACID; + +OR, THE + +ADVANTAGE + +OF + +GOOD-NATURE. + + +As I had nothing particular to do, I took a walk one morning as far as +St. James's Park, where meeting with a lady of my acquaintance, she +invited me to go home with her to breakfast; which invitation I +accordingly complied with. Her two daughters had waited for her a +considerable time, and expressed themselves to have been much disturbed +at her stay. They afterwards fretted at the heat of the weather; and the +youngest happening accidentally to tear her apron, she bewailed it the +succeeding part of the day with so much appearance of vexation, that I +could not help showing some degree of astonishment at her conduct; and +having occasion afterwards to mention Miss Placid; I added, that she was +the most agreeable girl I had ever known. + +Miss Eliza, to whom I was speaking, said, That she had long wished to +hear something farther concerning that young lady, as her mamma very +frequently proposed her as an example, without mentioning the +particulars of her conduct; but as I was so happy as to be favoured +with her intimacy, she should be glad to hear a recital of those +excellencies which acquired such universal approbation. + +In compliance with this request, I wrote the following sheets, and +dispatched them to Eliza, and by her desire it is that they are now +submitted to the world; as she obligingly assured me, that her +endeavours to imitate the calm disposition of the heroine of this +history, had contributed so much to her own happiness, and increased the +good opinion of her friends, that she wished to have so amiable an +example made public for the advantage of others. I shall therefore +present these memoirs to the world, just as they were sent to my young +friend; and sincerely wish they may meet with as favourable a reception +from the more general, as they did from a private perusal. + + * * * * * + +The high opinion, my dear Eliza, which you entertain of Jemima Placid, +would, I assure you, be much increased upon a more intimate knowledge of +her worth. The sweetness of her temper has made her the object of +particular estimation among all her acquaintance; and I had the +happiness to be admitted of that number at a very early period of her +life. Mr. Placid is a clergyman of distinguished merit, and has been for +many years the vicar of Smiledale. The situation of the parsonage is +truly beautiful, but the income of the living is not very considerable; +therefore, as the old gentleman has two sons with the young Jemima to +provide for, it is necessary to be rather frugal in his expenses. Mrs. +Placid was remarkably handsome in her youth, but the beauty of her +person has been much impaired by a continued state of ill health, which +she supports with such a degree of cheerful fortitude, as does honour +to human nature. As she has had the advantage of a liberal education, +and has been always accustomed to genteel company, her conversation is +uncommonly agreeable; and her daughter has derived from her +instructions, those engaging qualities, which are the most valuable +endowments a parent can bestow. The eldest son, whose name is Charles, +is about three years, and William, the youngest, near a year and a half +older than his sister. Their dispositions are not in all respects so +gentle as hers; yet, on the whole, they form the most agreeable family +I have ever known. + +When Jemima was about six years old, her mamma's health rendered it +necessary that she should take a journey to Bristol; and it being out of +her power to have Jemima with her, she left her with an aunt, whose name +was Piner, and who had two daughters a few years older than their +cousin. Miss Placid, who had never before been separated from her mamma, +was severely hurt at the thought of leaving home; but as she was told it +was absolutely necessary, she restrained her tears, from fear of +increasing the uneasiness which her mamma experienced. + +[Illustration] + +At last the day arrived, when her uncle (whom I before forgot to +mention) and his wife came to dinner at Smiledale, with an intention of +conducting Jemima back with them. She was in her papa's study at the +time they alighted, and could not help weeping at the idea of quitting +her friends; and throwing her arms around her brother William's neck, +silently sobbed forth that grief she wanted power to restrain. The poor +boy, who loved his sister with great tenderness, was nearly as much +agitated as herself, and could only, with affectionate kisses, every now +and then exclaim, Do not cry so, Jemima! pray do not! We shall soon +meet again, my love! pray do not cry!--When she had relieved her little +heart with this indulgence of her sorrow, she wiped her eyes, and walked +slowly up stairs to have her frock put on.--So your aunt is come, miss? +said Peggy, as she set down the basin on the table to wash her +hands.--Poor Jemima was silent.--I am sorry we are going to lose you, my +dear, added she, as she wiped the towel over her forehead, Peggy's hand +held back her head, and at the same time supported her chin, so that her +face was confined, and exposed to observation. She wanted to hide her +tears, but she could not; so at last, hastily covering herself with the +maid's apron, and putting her two hands round her waist, she renewed the +sorrow which she had so lately suppressed. + +[Illustration] + +Peggy was very fond of her young lady, as indeed was every servant in +the house; but there was a good woman, who went in the family by the +name of Nurse, for whom Jemima had a still greater attachment. She had +attended Mrs. Placid before her marriage, had nursed all her children +from their births, and Jemima was the darling of her heart. As she +entered the room at this time, she took the weeping girl into her lap, +and wept herself at the reflexion, that it was the first time in her +life she had slept without her!--And so pray, my dear, said she, take +care of yourself, and when you go to bed, mind that they pin your +night-cap close at the top, otherwise you will get cold; and do not +forget to have your linen well aired; for otherwise it is very +dangerous, love; and many a person, by such neglect, has caught a cold +which has terminated in a fever. Sweet child! I do not like to trust it +from me, added she, hugging her still closer, and smothering her face in +a check cotton handkerchief, which she wore on her neck. Jemima promised +an observance of her injunctions, and being now dressed, attended a +summons from her mamma, who was alone in her chamber, the company having +left her to walk in the garden, whither she was unable to accompany +them.--I see, my dear girl, said she, holding out her hand as she sat in +an easy chair by the window; I see that you are sorry to leave me; and +indeed, Jemima, I am much grieved that such a separation is necessary; +but I hope I shall be better when I return; and I am sure you would wish +me to be quite well. I hope, therefore, that you will be a good child +while you stay with your uncle and aunt, and not give more trouble than +you cannot avoid. You know, my love, that although you are going among +strangers, yet you will be properly and kindly taken care of; and though +I do not say it is so agreeable as to be at home with your nearer +friends, yet, as we cannot have every thing we wish for, we must not be +fretful, because that will not give us what we desire, and will +certainly make us more uncomfortable, and be disliked by all those with +whom we are connected. There are a great many little things, Jemima, +which you know I frequently tell you of, and which you must endeavour to +remember when I am not with you. Therefore, do not forget to hold up +your head, and behave gracefully; and when you are at dinner, if you +should be offered any thing improper, that is, what you are not +permitted to have at home, be sure civilly to refuse it, and say, Your +mamma does not choose you should eat any. My only reason, you must be +convinced, for denying you any indulgence of that kind, is, because it +would disagree with you, and make you ill; and you are so good, I dare +say, as never to do those things when your papa and I are absent, which +we should prevent if we were present.--Miss Placid assured her mamma of +her obedience, and her firm resolution to mind all her admonitions; when +she resumed her injunctions, and added--There is one thing, my dear, of +more importance than the rest, which I would have you chiefly attend to: +whatever may be your temptation to the contrary, remember to speak the +truth. Your absence from me will be no excuse for the neglect of your +duty; and if once you forfeit your honour, I can have no farther +dependence upon you; and never venture to rely on the concealment of a +fault; for you may depend upon it, such things are found out when least +expected; but if they should not be, the unhappiness you would feel at +having behaved wrongly, would be a great punishment of itself. Yet I +need not, I dare say, have mentioned this to my Jemima, as she is at all +times so good as to deserve reliance; only as you are going to be left +quite to yourself, I thought it necessary to put you particularly upon +your guard.--Mr. Piner returning at this period, interrupted any farther +discourse, only Mrs. Placid affectionately pressed her hand, and, after +giving her a kiss, Jemima sat down on a little stool by her side. + +[Illustration] + +When the hour of her departure was nearly arrived, she retired into the +garden to take leave of her brothers, and went round with them to all +the different places she had been accustomed to play in. They visited +together the poultry-yard, and Jemima fed her bantams before she left +them [see the following page], bidding them all adieu, and looking +behind her for the last time as she shut the gate. They then walked +round by some walnut-trees, where a seat had been put up for them to sit +in the shade.--I wish you were not going! said Charles; for I put this +box, and drove in these nails, on purpose for you to hang up your doll's +clothes, and now they will be of no farther use to us.--I wish so too! +replied his sister; but I cannot help it.--Well, do not cry, added +William; but come this way by the brewhouse, and bid my rabbits +good-bye, and take this piece of lettuce in your hand to feed the old +doe, and here is some parsley for the young ones; we shall have some +more before you come back, and I will send you word, if I can, how many +there be.--And, Jemima, said Charles, I wish I were going with you to +London! for I should like to see it, it is such a large place; a great +deal bigger than any villages which we have seen; and, they say, the +houses stand close together for a great way; and there are no fields or +trees, and the houses have no gardens to them; but then there is a great +number of shops, and you might perhaps get a collar for Hector! Do pray +try, Jemima, and buy him one, and have his name put upon it, and that he +belongs to the Rev. Mr. Placid, of Smiledale; for then, in case we +should lose him, folk would know where to return him.--And would it not +be better to have a bell, said William, as the sheep have? I like a +bell very much, it would make such a nice noise about the house! and +then we should always know where he was when we were reading, as my +father will not let us look after him. What else do we want her to buy, +Charles? Cannot you write a list?--That will be the best way, replied +he, taking out his pencil; and, very ungracefully, to be sure, he put +the point of it to his mouth two or three times before it would write; +and then, having but a small scrap of paper, he dispatched his brother, +as the shortest way, to fetch a slate, and he would transcribe it +afterwards with a pen and ink; for he had, in endeavouring to cut a new +point to his pencil, broken it off so frequently, that the lead was all +wasted, and nothing remained except the wood. William soon returned, +with the slate under his arm. Charles took it from him, and then went to +work to prepare a bill of necessary things, which his sister was to +purchase in London. He leaned so hard, and scratched in such a manner, +as, had any grown people been of the party, would have set their teeth +on edge (a sensation, I believe, with which children are unacquainted, +for they never seem to notice it at all).--First then, said he, I am to +mention a collar for Hector, with his name and place of abode; and I +should like very much to have some Indian glue, to mend our play things; +such as papa uses, and which we cannot get here, you know. + +[Illustration] + +William assented, and Jemima was as attentive as if she had been to +remember all the things he was writing, without the assistance of his +list. They sat some time in silence, to recollect the other necessary +commissions, when she reminded them, that a new pencil would be a useful +article; but Charles said, his father would supply that want, and there +was no need to spend his own money for things he could have without any +expense; but, if any how I could get a gun, with a touch-hole, I should +be quite happy.--No, you would not, returned William; for then, Charles, +you would want gunpowder, which you never could have; and if you had, +might never use it.--To be sure that is true! I have long wished for it; +but, as you say, I will be contented without it; so do not concern +yourself about that, and I need not set it down.--I shall not trouble +you with the rest of the consultation on this important subject, but +transcribe the list itself, which, with the account of the preceding +conversation, I received from a young lady, who frequently spent some +months with Mrs. Placid; and to whose kindness I am indebted for many of +the various incidents which compose this history. + + +_A List of the Things_ Jemima _is to bring from London._ + +A collar for Hector.--Indian glue.--Some little pictures to make a +show.--A pair of skates; as we shall like skating better than +sliding.--A large coach-whip for Charles, because John will not lend us +his;--and some little books which we can understand, and which mamma +told Mrs. West may be bought somewhere in London; but Jemima must +inquire about it. + +[Illustration] + +Such were the orders which Miss Placid received from her brothers on her +first journey to the metropolis. They then attended her to bid adieu to +her canary-bird, which she very tenderly committed to their care, and +desired they would feed it every day, and give it water in her absence; +and mind to turn the glass the right way, otherwise the poor thing might +be starved. While she was taking her leave of little Dick, who hung in +the hall by the window, her cat came purring to her, and rubbed its +head against her frock, and pushed against her feet; then lay down on +one side, and while Jemima stroked it with her hand, she licked her +fingers, and at last jumped up into the window-seat to be still nearer +to its mistress, who taking it into her arms, particularly desired her +brothers to give Puss some of their milk every morning, and to save some +bits of meat at dinner to carry to it; for my Pussey, added she, I am +quite sorry to leave you!--Another affair remained, which was, to put +away all her play-things; but this she had deferred so long, that the +carriage was ready before she had concluded; so with that, likewise, she +was obliged to entrust her brothers; and looking round her with a heavy +heart upon every object she had been accustomed to, she quitted the room +with regret; and after receiving the affectionate kisses of the whole +family, her papa lifted her into the carriage; and the tears running +down her cheeks, she looked out of the window as long as the house was +in sight, and her brothers continued to stand at the gate, till the road +to London turning into a contrary direction, they could no longer see +each other. She then, with a melancholy countenance, watched the fields +and lanes she passed by, till at last, quite fatigued, she sat down, and +soon after fell asleep. + +When they stopped at the inn where they intended to rest that night, she +was so much fatigued, having been up very early, that she did not wake +till she was nearly undressed; when finding herself in a house where she +had never before been, she looked about, but was too good to fret at +such a circumstance, though she wished to be at home again. The next +morning they renewed their journey, and in two days arrived at Mr. +Piner's house, about eight o'clock in the evening. + +Jemima, who had not seen her cousins since she was two years old, had +entirely forgotten them; and as they expected to find her as much a baby +as at their last interview, they appeared like entire strangers to each +other. They welcomed their papa and mamma, and looked at Miss Placid +with silent amazement; both parties, indeed, said the civil things they +were desired, such as, How do you do, cousin? rather in a low and +drawling tone of voice; and Miss Sally, who was eight years old, turned +her head on one side, and hung on her papa's arm, though he tried to +shake her off, and desired her to welcome Miss Placid to London, and to +say, She was glad to see her, to inquire after her papa, mamma, and +brothers, and, in short, to behave politely, and receive her in a +becoming manner. To do this, however, Mr. Piner found was impossible, as +his daughters were not at any time distinguished by the Graces, and were +always particularly aukward, from their shyness at a first +introduction.--In this place, my dear Eliza, you must excuse me, if I +stop to hint at a like error in your own conduct, and which indeed, +young ladies in general are too apt to be inattentive to: that as first +impressions are usually the strongest, it is of great consequence to +impress your company with a favourable opinion of your appearance. As +you are acquainted with the common forms of good breeding, you should +consider, that it is quite immaterial whether you address a lady you +have before seen, or one with whom you are unacquainted, since the +compliments of civility are varied only by the circumstances of your +knowledge, or the different connexions of the person to whom you are +speaking. When, therefore, you are in company with strangers, you should +accustom yourself to say what is proper (which will be to answer any +question they may ask you) without at all considering how long you have +known them; and, be assured, that as an easy behaviour is at all times +most agreeable, you will certainly please when you speak with a modest +degree of freedom. Do not, therefore, make yourself uneasy with the idea +of appearing aukward, for by that means you will defeat your wishes; but +endeavour to retain your natural voice, and express yourself with the +same unconcern as you do in common conversation; since every species of +affectation is disagreeable, and nothing will so strongly recommend you +as simplicity. + +[Illustration] + +Our young traveller became, by the next morning, very sociable with her +cousins, and complied with their customs with that cheerful obligingness +which has always so much distinguished her character. She was much +surprised at the bustle which she saw in the street, and the number of +carriages so agreeably engaged her attention, that it was with +reluctance she quitted her seat on a red trunk by the window, to enjoy +the plays in which her cousins were solicitous to engage her. Mrs. +Piner had been for some time engaged to dine with a lady of her +acquaintance, where she could not conveniently take either of her +children, and they both fretted and pined at the disappointment so as to +render themselves uncomfortable, and lose the pleasure of a holiday, +which their mamma had allowed them in consequence of their cousin's +arrival. Miss Ellen, the eldest, was continually teazing to know the +reason why she might not go? though she had repeatedly been told it was +inconvenient; and Jemima beheld with astonishment two girls, so much +older than herself, presume to argue with their mamma about the +propriety of her commands, when their duty should have been quiet +submission. When her aunt was gone, she took all the pains in her power +to engage them to be good-humoured, presented them with their toys, and +carried to them their dolls; but they sullenly replied, to all her +endeavours, they did not want them; and told her not to plague them so, +for they had seen them all a hundred times. At last, Sally taking up a +little tin fireplace, which belonged to her sister, Miss Ellen snatched +it from her, and said, She should not have it! Sally caught it back +again, and they struggled for it with such passion, as to be entirely +careless of the mischief they might do each other. + +[Illustration] + +Poor Jemima, who had never disagreed with her brothers, nor been witness +to such a scene in her life, was terrified to see them engage with a +degree of violence which threatened them with essential hurt. She +endeavoured to appease their fury, and ventured, after she had stood +still for some time between two chairs, to try if, by catching hold of +one of their hands, she could be able to part them; but they only gave +her some blows, and said, She had no business in their quarrel! She +then retired to the farther part of the room, and ardently wished +herself at home. When spying another fire-place under the table, she +took it up with good-natured transport, and running to Miss Piner, told +her, There was one for her; which she hoped would put an end to the +dispute. This, however, proved to be the property of Miss Sally, who +declared, in her turn, that her sister should not touch any of her +play-things; and finding she was not strong enough to retain it, she +threw it with all her force to the other end of the room, and +unfortunately hit Miss Placid a blow with one of the sharp corners, just +above her temple. This at once put an end to the battle, for the blood +immediately trickled down her cheek, and alarmed the two sisters, who, +forgetting the subject of the debate, began to be uneasy at the effects +of it; only Ellen, who considered herself as more innocent (merely +because she had not been the immediate cause of the accident), with a +recriminating air, said, There, miss, you have done it now; You have +killed your cousin, I believe! Jemima, though in a great deal of pain, +and much frightened, did not cry; as she seldom shed tears, unless from +sensibility, or at parting with her friends. She held her handkerchief +to the place, and became more alarmed, in proportion as she saw it +covered with blood; till at last, finding it was beyond their art to +stop the effusion, Ellen, with trembling steps, went up stairs to tell +the servant of their misfortune. Dinah, which was the maid's name, had +been so often accustomed to find her young ladies in mischief, that she +did not descend in very good-humour, and upon her entrance exclaimed, +That they were all the naughtiest girls in the world! without inquiring +how the accident happened, or making any exception to the innocence of +Jemima, who could only again most sincerely wish to be once more at +Smiledale with her mamma. Dinah, after washing her temple with vinegar, +which made it smart very much (though she did not complain), told them, +They had been so naughty that they should not go to play any more; nor +would she hear Miss Placid's justification, but crossly interrupted her, +by saying, Hold your tongue, child! and do not want to get into mischief +again; for my mistress will make a fine piece of work, I suppose, about +what you have done already!--Jemima was too much awed, by the ill-nature +of her looks and the anger of her expressions, to vindicate her conduct +any farther; but quietly sitting down, she comforted herself with the +reflection, that her displeasure was undeserved, and that to fret at +what she could not avoid, would not make her more happy; and therefore, +with great good humour, took up a bit of paper, which contained the +rough drawing of a little horse, which Charles had given her on the day +of her departure, and which she had since carefully preserved. + +[Illustration] + +In justice to Mrs. Dinah, I must here observe, that she was not +naturally ill-natured; but the Miss Piners were so frequently naughty, +as to give her a great deal of trouble, and tire out her patience; and +their mamma, by not taking the proper methods to subdue the errors of +their dispositions, had made them so refractory, that it soured her own +temper, and occasioned her to blame her servants for the consequence of +those faults which it was her duty to have prevented. So you see, my +dear Eliza, from such instances, how mistaken is that indulgence, which, +by gratifying the humours of children, will make them impatient and +vindictive, unhappy in themselves, and a trouble to every one with whom +they are connected. The amiable Jemima was always contented and +good-humoured, even when she was not in a state agreeable to her +wishes; and, by learning to submit to what she did not like, when it +could not be altered, she obtained the love of every body who knew her, +and passed through life with less trouble than people usually +experience; for, by making it a rule to comply with her situation, she +always enjoyed the comforts it afforded, and suffered as little as +possible from its inconvenience. In the present case, her cousins, by +their ill-temper and fretfulness, had quarrelled with each other; and +when Dinah would not let them play, as indeed they justly deserved to be +punished, they did nothing but grumble and cry the whole day; and were +so conscious of their bad behaviour, as to be afraid of seeing their +mamma; while Miss Placid, serene in her own innocence, entertained +herself for some time with looking at the horse above-mentioned, and +afterwards with pricking it, till Dinah set her at liberty; which, +seeing her good temper, she soon did, and gave her besides some pretty +pictures to look at, and some fruit to eat, of all which her cousins +were deprived. By the next morning Jemima's temple had turned black; and +Mrs. Piner inquired how she had hurt herself? She coloured at the +question with some confusion, not willing to inform her aunt of any +thing to Miss Sally's disadvantage; but as she was too honest to say any +thing but the truth, she begged Mrs. Piner would not be angry if she +informed her; which she having promised, Jemima told her; adding, that +her cousin had no intention to hurt her. + +Mrs. Piner kissed and commended Jemima very much; and Dinah having +likewise given a high account of her goodness, she told her daughters +she was much displeased with them; but in consequence of their cousin's +intercession, would not punish them that time, and desired them for the +future to imitate her example. + +[Illustration] + +As soon as breakfast was over, they were dismissed to school, while +Jemima remained with her aunt; who, after having heard her read, gave +her a handkerchief to hem, which she sat down by her to do; and when she +had done work, very prettily entered into conversation.--I should be +much obliged to you, madam (said she), as I do not know my way about +London, if you would go with me to buy some things for my brothers, +which I promised to carry back when I return. I have got some money to +pay for them, for Charles gave me a six-pence, and three halfpence, and +a farthing; and William gave me three-pence; and I have got a +silver-penny, and a two-pence of my own, all screwed safely in a little +red box. + +Mrs. Piner inquired what the articles were which she wished to purchase, +and smiled on perusing the list which Charles had written.--And pray, +my dear, said she, how do you intend to carry the coach-whip, for you +will not be able conveniently to pack it up; and as to the skates, I do +not think your papa would choose your brothers should make use of them +till they are much older, as they are very dangerous, and particularly +so to little boys. The other things I will endeavour to procure, and you +shall take a walk with me to buy the books, and choose them yourself, +and I will pay for them; so you may save your money in the little box, +for you are a very good girl, and therefore deserve to meet with +encouragement. Jemima thanked her aunt for her kind intentions, and +said, if she could get a coach-whip, she thought she could carry it to +Smiledale in her hand; and as her brothers were always kind to her, she +wished to do every thing in her power to oblige them. + +The next day was to be a holiday at her cousins' school, on account of +their dancing-master's ball, to which Miss Piners were invited; and Mrs. +Piner had promised Jemima she should be of the party. They rose in the +morning with the pleasing hopes of enjoying a dance in the evening; and +Ellen went a dozen times in the day to look at her new cap, wishing it +was time to put it on (for she was a silly, vain girl), and was so +foolish as to imagine herself of more consequence, because she was +better dressed than other children.--O Miss Placid! said she, you will +look so dowdy to-night in your plain muslin frock, while all the rest of +the ladies will wear either gauze frocks or silk coats full trimmed. +Have you seen how handsome our dresses will be? Do pray look at them, +added she, opening the drawer, and extending the silk, and then, glad of +an excuse to survey it, she went to a box, and taking out her cap, held +it on her hand, turning it round and round with a degree of pride and +pleasure, which was very silly. + +[Illustration] + +Jemima good-naturedly admired her cousin's finery, without wishing for +any addition to her own. I am sure, replied she, my mamma has provided +what is proper for me; and is so kind as to afford me every thing +necessary; and my frocks are always clean, and will do extremely well +for the present occasion, or else my aunt would have bought me +another.--But should not you like such a cap? said Miss Ellen, putting +it on Jemima's head: you look very pretty in it, indeed!--No, I think it +is too large for me, returned Miss Placid; and there is a piece of wire +in it, which scratches when you press it down; you should alter that, or +it will be very uncomfortable.--In short, the ball was the only subject +of conversation during the whole day; and although Miss Piner felt an +uncommon head-ach and sickness, yet she would not complain, for fear her +mamma should think proper to leave her at home. The pain, however, +increased greatly, and she frequently left the parlour to give vent to +her complaints, and avoid her mamma's notice. The heaviness of her eyes, +and alternate change of countenance from pale to red, at last took Mrs. +Piner's attention, and she tenderly inquired after her health; but Ellen +affected to treat her indisposition as a trifle; though, as she was by +no means patient in general, she would at any other time have made +incessant complaints. She attempted to laugh and play, but to no +purpose, for her illness became too violent to be suppressed; however, +upon her papa's hinting at dinner that she seemed to have no appetite, +and had better (if not well) go to-bed, she forced herself, against her +inclination, to eat some meat and pudding, and went up afterwards to +conceal her uneasiness, and put on her clothes; thinking, that if she +was in readiness it would be an additional reason for her going. But +alas! so foolish is vanity, and so insignificant are outward ornaments, +that when Miss Ellen was decked out in the gauze frock which had so long +engaged her thoughts, she felt such a degree of uneasiness from her +sickness, as to make her disregard what she had before wished for with +such ill-placed ardour. + +Having eaten more than was proper for her stomach in such a disordered +state, it increased her illness very much; but being determined to go, +though her mamma advised her to the contrary, and pretending she was +somewhat better, she stepped into the coach, the motion of which soon +produced a most terrible catastrophe; and before she could speak for +assistance, occasioned such a violent sickness, as totally spoiled her +own and her cousin's clothes, who sat opposite to her; nor did Sally's +quite escape the disaster; for as she had spread them over Jemima, with +an intent to display their beauties, they shared in part that calamity +which had so unfortunately overtaken the others. + +Mrs. Piner, though she was grieved at her daughter's indisposition, was +likewise extremely angry at the consequence of her obstinacy.--If you +had stayed at home, as I bade you, said she, somewhat angrily, nothing +of this would have happened! and pulling the check-string, added, We +must turn about, coachman, for we cannot proceed in this +condition!--Sally, notwithstanding her sister's illness, continually +teazed her mamma, to know whether they should go when Ellen was set +down, and her own dress wiped; without attending to her sister's +complaints. When the carriage reached Mr. Piner's, he came himself +hastily to the door, to know what accident had occasioned their +unexpected return; and upon being informed, lifted poor Ellen into the +house, while her sister declared she would not walk in-doors, as she +wanted to go to the ball. Dinah was, however, called down, and with much +resistance conveyed the young lady crying and kicking up stairs. + +Jemima stood by unnoticed in the general confusion, and Miss Piner was +undressed with the utmost expedition, and sincerely rejoiced to be rid +of the incumbrance of that finery which in another situation would have +excited her envy. Our little Heroine, whose sense as well as serenity +was uncommon, reflected, that gay clothes must certainly in themselves +be of little value, since they could not prevent the approach of +disease, or suspend for a moment the attacks of pain; that the pleasure +they bestowed, as it was ill-founded, was likewise extremely transient, +as Sally's passion on her disappointment was sufficient to prove; +since she was now mortified in proportion as she had before been elated. +And though her sister's reflexions were, for the present, suspended by +the violence of pain, yet her vexation, when she was restored to the +ability of contemplating the state of her clothes, would be equally +poignant, and without remedy. + +[Illustration] + +While Miss Placid, in obedience to her aunt, took off the frock which +had suffered so much in its short journey, Sally sat screaming and +crying in an easy chair, into which she had thrown herself, declaring +she would go! and pushed Dinah away as often as she attempted to take +out a pin. Nor would she be pacified by any endeavours which were used +to please and amuse her; till her mamma, quite tired with her noise and +ill-humour, declared she would send word to her governess the next +morning, if she did not do what she was desired; upon which threat she +submitted to be undressed; but petulantly threw every article of her +attire upon the ground, and afterwards sat down in one of the windows +in sullen silence, without deigning an answer to any question that was +proposed to her. Jemima was as much disappointed as her cousin could be, +and had formed very high expectations of the pleasure she should receive +at the ball; but she had been always accustomed to submit to unavoidable +accidents without repining, and to make herself happy with those +amusements in her power, when she was deprived of what she might wish +for, but could not procure. + +Some time after this, Mr. Steward, a gentleman who lived at Smiledale, +came up to town about business, and called upon Mr. Piner with an +intention of seeing Miss Jemima, who was much distressed that she +happened to be absent, as she wished to hear some news of her papa and +brothers. However, he returned again the next day, and Miss Placid very +gracefully paid her respects to him, and inquired after the friends she +had left. He satisfied her as to their health, and presented her with a +letter from her brother Charles, which, as soon as she could find an +opportunity, she retired to read. The contents were as follow:-- + +To MISS PLACID. + + MY DEAR SISTER; + + As William writes so very slowly, and as papa does not think he + should scribble at all, he has desired me to inform you of every + thing that has passed since you left us. And first I must + acquaint you with a sad accident, which will render one of your + commissions useless. Poor Hector, the day after you went away, + was lost for several hours. We went to every house in the + village, and hunted behind every tomb in the church-yard; + called, Hector! Hector! through all the fields, and then returned + and sought him in our own garden again; looked under the bench in + the poultry-yard, nay, even in the cellar and coal-hole; but no + Hector returned. We sat down together on the bottom stair in the + hall, and William cried ready to break his heart. Papa said he + was sorry; but told us our tears would not bring him back, and + advised us to bear the loss of him with more fortitude; took + William on his lap, and read a story to divert him. We got + tolerably cheerful, and went down to tea; but as soon as my + brother took up his bread and butter, the thoughts of Hector + always jumping up to him for a bit, and how he would bark, and + snap in play at his fingers, quite overcame his firmness, and he + could not touch a morsel. Well, to make short of the story, the + next morning John came in and told papa, that 'Squire Sutton's + game-keeper, not knowing to whom he belonged, had shot him for + running after the deer.--Why now, said I, if he had but stayed + away from the park till Jemima had brought him a collar, he would + not have been killed. Poor Hector! I shall hate Ben Hunt as long + as I live for it.--Fie, Charles! said my father.--Hector is dead, + Sir, said I; and I did not then stay to hear any farther. But + since that, we have talked a great deal about love and + forgiveness; and I find I must love Ben Hunt, even though I now + see poor Hector's tomb in the garden. For John went to fetch him, + and we buried him under the lilac-tree, on the right hand side, + just by the large sun-flower; and we cried a great deal, and made + a card tomb-stone over his grave; and papa gave us an old + hat-band, and we cut it into pieces, and we went as mourners. His + coffin was carried by Tom Wood, the carpenter's son, whose + father was so kind as to make it for us; while James Stavely (the + clerk's nephew), my brother, and I, followed as chief mourners; + and old Nurse and Peggy put on their black hoods, which they had + when Jane Thompson died, and went with us; and we had the kitchen + table-cloth for a pall, with the old black wrapper put over it + which used to cover the parrot's cage; but we did not read any + thing, for that would not have been right; as you know, after + all, he was but a dog. Papa, however, to please us, wrote the + following epitaph, which I very carefully transcribed, and + affixed over his grave:-- + + Here Hector lies, more bless'd by far, + Than he who drove the victor's car; + Who once Patroclus did subdue, + And suffer'd for the conquest too. + Like him, o'ercome by cruel fate, + Stern fortune's unrelenting hate; + An equal doom severe he found, + And Hunt inflicts the deadly wound. + Less cruel than Pelides, he + His manes were pursuits to be; + And satisfied to see him fall, + Ne'er dragg'd him round the Trojan wall. + + [Illustration] + + I am very sorry for the poor fellow's untimely end; and so, I + dare say, you will be.--Our rabbit has kindled; and we have one + in particular the skin of which is white, with black spots, the + prettiest I ever saw, and which we have called Jemima, and will + give it to you when you return.--Peggy has sprained her ancle, by + a fall down stairs. I forgot my wooden horse, and left it in the + way; and she came down in the dark, and stumbled over it. I was + very sorry, and my papa was much displeased, as it is what he has + so often cautioned us against.--Jack Dough, the baker's boy, + brought me a linnet yesterday, which I have placed in a cage near + your canary-bird; who is very well.--I do not think I have much + more to say, for writing is such tedious work that I am quite + tired, though what I have done has been a fortnight in hand. I + have a great many things which I want to tell you if we could + meet; and I should wish to know how you like London. Good bye! + William desires his love to you, and bids me say, that he, as + well as myself, will ever be + + Your affectionate Brother, + CHARLES PLACID. + + P. S. Inclosed I have sent you a sketch of Hector's funeral + procession, which your favourite, Ned Kindly, who was one of the + party, drew on purpose for you. + +You may be sure that the intelligence of Hector's death gave Jemima some +uneasiness; more especially, as at the first time Mr. Steward had +called, she was out with her aunt, and actually purchased a collar for +him; which, before the receipt of her letter, she had contemplated with +great satisfaction, in the idea of having so well executed her brothers' +commission, and the pleasure it would afford them. + +[Illustration] + +When Miss Placid had been in town about four months, and her mamma was +returned from Bristol, Mr. Placid came up to fetch her home, and invited +her cousins to accompany her to Smiledale, promising to take great care +of them, and to teach them to read and write; and that Mrs. Placid would +instruct them in every other part of their learning. To which Mr. and +Mrs. Piner consented. The pleasure which Jemima felt at seeing her papa +after so long an absence, can be better imagined than described. She +looked at him with such transport, that the tears started to her eyes; +and wanting words to declare the feelings of her heart, could only +express her joy by stroking and kissing his hand, as she sat on a stool +by his side; and pressing it with fervor between both hers, she +exclaimed, that she was glad to see him. Her uncle and aunt gave her the +highest praise for her good-behaviour, and assured her papa, that they +had never, during the whole time of her visit, seen her once out of +humour, or at all fretful upon any occasion. Mr. Placid said he was +extremely happy to hear so good an account of his little girl; but that +he expected every thing amiable from the sweetness of her disposition; +adding, it would be very strange if she had behaved otherwise with you, +as, I assure you, she is at all times equally tractable and engaging. +The evening before her departure, her aunt was so obliging as to present +her with a new doll, which she had taken great pains to dress, and had +made for it two dimity petticoats, with a nice pair of stays, a pink +sattin coat, and a muslin frock. She had likewise purchased some cotton +stockings, and a pair of red shoes with white roses, white gloves tied +with pink strings, and a gauze cap with pink sattin ribbons. Jemima, +with a graceful courtesy, paid her acknowledgments to Mrs. Piner for +that favour, and all the kind attentions she had received since she had +been in town, and saw it packed up with great care in a box by itself; +pleasing herself with the joy it would afford her, to show it to her +mamma. She then busied herself in putting up the Indian glue, and a +great quantity of pictures which had been given her; poor Hector's +collar, and several books which she had bought and had already perused +with much delight, particularly A Course of Lectures for Sunday +Evenings; The Village School, and Perambulation of a Mouse, 2 vols. +each; together with the First Principles of Religion, and the Adventures +of a Pincushion. All these mighty volumes she took with her to +Smiledale, and Mr. Placid was so much pleased with them, as to send for +an additional supply to present to his friends. As to the skates, he had +desired her not to think about them as he should by no means approve of +her brothers' using them; nor would they have occasion for a coach-whip; +but as he knew Charles had broken his bat, she might carry him one +instead. Jemima entreated permission to convey to them a drum, as she +thought it would be a play-thing they would much enjoy; to this he +immediately consented, and went himself to procure one. + +[Illustration] + +Miss Piners, who were in as great a hurry with their preparations as +Jemima, behaved with less composure on the occasion: they tossed every +thing out of their drawers in search of such toys as they could possibly +take with them, and wanted to pack up their whole stock of play-things +(which, indeed, was a very large one), and then as fast as Dinah put +what they desired into their trunk, Ellen snatched it out if it belonged +to her sister; and Sally did the same unless it happened to be her own. +So that, quite tired with their teazing, naughty behaviour, she turned +it topsy-turvy, and declared she would not put up any one thing except +their clothes; and added, She wished they were gone, with all her heart. + +[Illustration] + +I shall not take up your time with any account of their journey, nor +endeavour to describe the places which they passed through in their way +to Smiledale, whither they arrived about five o'clock in the afternoon. +Jemima ran to her mamma with a degree of rapture which evinced the +sincerity of her joy, in returning to her embraces, as soon as her +brothers would permit her to disengage herself from their caresses; for +as they knew the day which was fixed for their return, and could nearly +guess at the time she would arrive, they had taken their stand at the +very place where they had parted with her; and as soon as the carriage +came in sight, they ran with their utmost speed to meet it, and came +back again, jumping by the side, and when the coach stopped, were so +eager to welcome their sister, that they would scarcely leave room for +her to get out, and they were in such a hurry to show her every new +acquisition they had made since her departure, that they would not allow +her time to speak to any body but themselves. + +Charles wanted her to go into the hall to look at his linnet; and +William was as earnest to take her to his rabbits; while Jemima, who was +equally ready to oblige them both, stood still, without knowing which +she should first consent to follow; till Mr. Placid, taking hold of her +hand, thus moderated the impatience of his sons:--My dear boys, I am +much delighted to see your mutual affection for each other, and the +pleasure you express at your sister's return; but do not be in such a +hurry to show her those things which she will to-morrow have sufficient +time to inspect. We all wish at present to enjoy her company, and +therefore defer your intention of taking her from us to-night, as I hope +you will have no occasion to fear a speedy separation; besides, I think +you are a little wanting in politeness, not to take notice of your +cousins. + +Charles said he did not know them; and William declared he did not want +them; and both acknowledged they had nothing to say to them. + +[Illustration] + +Mrs. Placid blamed them for the rudeness of such declarations, and took +the young ladies and Jemima up stairs to their apartment, while tea was +getting ready. During this interval, William climbed upon his father's +knee, and as Mr. Placid was holding both his hands while he leaned back +his head till it nearly touched the ground, he pulled him up, and +kissing him, said, I am surprised, my boys, that you have not more +politeness, than to neglect Miss Piners in such a manner, and endeavour +to excuse it by further rudeness. Why, I do not want them, replied +William, and must not I speak the truth? You always tell me that the +naughtiest thing I can do, is to tell lies; and, I am sure, I am very +sorry they are come, for I like to have Jemima to ourselves; so pray, +Sir, what would you choose I should do? I would have you, my dear, +returned his papa, always endeavour to behave with good-nature and +politeness. You cannot think how much it will recommend you to general +approbation; nor of how great importance an attention to the trifling +graces of your conduct will prove in future life. And although you, +William, may not be glad of your cousins' company (which, in my opinion, +is rather a churlish speech), yet you might have behaved with civility; +might have inquired after your uncle and aunt, have reached them each a +chair to sit down upon, and if you had not (as you cannot do it with +truth) said you was glad to see them; yet you might have taken such +notice, by speaking kindly to them, as to vindicate yourself from the +charge of rudeness and ill-manners, which you have now incurred.--But as +we are boys, Sir, said Charles, such a neglect is not so bad in us, as +it does not so much signify. We are not, you know, expected to sit prim +all the day, as the girls do, and play the lady. O! how I should hate to +sit with my hands before me, bridling like them for a whole afternoon +together, without moving any more than my stick when I put it up in the +corner! I would not be a girl to go into company in such a manner for +the world!--I am glad to see you satisfied with your destination, +replied Mr. Placid; but you are much mistaken, I assure you, if you +think the study of politeness is unnecessary to a man; and however you +may flatter yourselves with an exemption from those more confined rules +of behaviour which young ladies are expected to observe, yet I would +advise you to remember, that a constant attention to your carriage is at +all times necessary, if you would wish to be loved and esteemed, or to +meet with success in your undertakings.--You, Charles, have frequently +remarked the amazing difference which is visible between Colonel +Armstrong, and Sir Hugh Forester, though the one is a man of more sense, +of larger fortune, and equally worthy as the other; yet, you regard the +Colonel with admiration, and are too apt to treat the Baronet with +ridicule and contempt; so great are the advantages of that polish, which +can only be acquired in early youth by diligent and constant attention: +for if you accustom yourself to lounge about, to eat with your fingers, +or hold your knife and fork so low that they scarcely save them from the +grease; if you slovenly dirt your clothes, either omit to bow at all or +else bend your body as aukwardly as Jack Carter, the plough-boy; in +short, if by any such trifling neglect you acquire a habit of clownish +ill-manners, you will fail to gain that respect which is only paid to +true merit, when accompanied by the graces. Custom has made it necessary +for you to be particularly attentive to the wants of those with whom you +are in company: you should use yourselves to watch when a lady's cup is +empty, that you may be ready to take it from her; or any thing has +fallen down by accident, that you may with briskness pick it up; when a +chair is wanting, to fetch it; or to give any assistance in your power +in those trifles which occur every day; and which, by attending to, you +will learn a habit of doing, as it were, mechanically; that is, without +the trouble of thinking about it, in the same manner as you eat your +dinner, without reflecting all the time what you are doing.--I confess, +said Charles, that Colonel Armstrong has always struck me as the most +agreeable man I ever saw; but he does not seem to take any peculiar +trouble to behave better than other people. On the contrary, I have +heard my mamma say, that he is more easy in his manners than Sir Hugh, +who labours to be polite, without in the least looking like a +gentleman.--That ease which you mention, said his father, is the degree +of perfection which I am so solicitous to have you acquire, and which is +the most difficult thing to attain, though it appears to be exercised +without trouble or attention. You must therefore endeavour, by the +influence of custom, to gain those natural advantages, which can only be +learned in the early season of youth, and to the neglect of which it is +to be ascribed, that so few men (comparatively speaking) are either +polite or graceful. + +[Illustration] + +Tea being now ready, Mrs. Placid and the young ladies made their +appearance; and Master Placids, to show they had profited by their +papa's advice, both ran to fetch a chair for Miss Sally, and reaching it +at the same time, pushed with such force against each other, that +Charles hurt William's forehead, and very nearly threw him down; at +which he expressing great sorrow, declared the accident was by no means +intended.--I wish I had not been so polite! said William, rubbing the +place; but I know, brother, you would not hurt me designedly, so pray do +not say any more about it, for I do not mind such a trifle.--I hope not, +said his papa, and I would not have you discouraged at the effects of +your aukwardness; for, my dear boy, it is to that, rather than your +politeness, that this terrible disaster is owing; for had you minded +where you were going, you would not so violently have encountered each +other; and either of you might, unhurt, have carried the chair to your +cousin, who has been waiting all this time without one. And this is a +proof of what I just now mentioned, that the grace which you admire in +Colonel Armstrong, will not be easily obtained, unless you be careful to +attend to what you are doing.--As Mr. Placid concluded this sentence, he +was interrupted by the entrance of Master Wagstaff, a young gentleman of +about thirteen, who had been for some years at Eaton, but was then +returned for the vacation. His father was a near neighbour to the vicar, +and had sent his son to invite the family to dine with him the next day; +to which Mr. and Mrs. Placid consented; and at the time appointed, they +set out for the Grove, which was the name of Mr. Wagstaff's house. On +their arrival, they found the company walking before dinner in the +garden. The party consisted of Mr., Mrs., and Miss Wagstaff, and an old +gentleman of the name of Crossly, and a young lady who was his niece. +She was just turned of fifteen, was very pretty and genteel, but +extremely affected in her manner and conversation; pretended to be +afraid of animals and insects, and tossed herself into a thousand +ridiculous attitudes at the sight of a spider, an earwig, or a wasp. +They were soon joined by Master Wagstaff and one of his school-fellows, +who was on a visit to him during the holidays; he was about the same +age, and was called Bob Sprightly. + +[Illustration] + +When they had walked for some time, they returned into the drawing-room; +and Mr. Crossly took up his snuff box, which he had left on the table, +declaring, he was rejoiced to find it, for that he was always +uncomfortable in its absence. Miss Myra, the young lady above-mentioned, +expressed her dislike to such a disagreeable habit, and declared, that +to be in the room when it was open always made her sneeze. Her uncle +looked at her with some displeasure, and ascribed it to her fanciful +maggots; saying, it was the best remedy for a head-ach he had ever +experienced, and that it never had any disagreeable effect on himself; +adding, as she was so squeamish, he would hold his box out of the window +while he took a pinch, from fear of offending her delicate nostrils. So, +saying he did as he had proposed, keeping his hand at a great distance, +and taking a large pinch, he snuffed it up with uncommon haste and +avidity. No sooner had his nose received the powerful scent, than he +began to cough, choke, and sneeze in such a manner as alarmed the +company, though Miss Myra seemed inclined to rejoice at it, and Bob +Sprightly, with his friend Samuel, could with difficulty refrain from a +violent burst of laughter. At length the old gentleman, being somewhat +recovered, began to reproach his niece with her treachery, in having +filled his box with pepper, which he declared it to be. She denied the +charge, and disowned any knowledge of the adventure. The truth indeed +was this: while Mr. Crossly was walking in the garden, the young +gentlemen found his box on the table, and thinking the effect would +afford them some occasion for their mirth, had desired the footman to +procure them a quantity of ground pepper, which they mixed with a little +snuff, and carefully replaced the box where they found it. I have +already informed you of the success of their scheme, in which they had +the more readily engaged, as Mr. Crossly was a man of no very agreeable +disposition, and, by his ill-nature, had rendered himself obnoxious to +their dislike. The preceding accident, it may be supposed, did not +increase his good-humour; and, to say the truth, he was in no great +harmony during the rest of the day. + +[Illustration] + +Some time after this, as Miss Myra was stooping to pick up her scissars, +Bob contrived to put a large spider upon the lappet of her cap, which +very quietly marched about without being perceived, and entertained +itself with the prospect of her ribbons, gauze, and flowers, surveyed +her curls, and examined the beauty of a bow which hung from the middle +of her head-dress. It afterwards very leisurely took its progress down +her neck, the tickling sensation of its footsteps she attributed to some +loose locks, which she stroked up with her hand. This motion quickened +its descent, and it now invaded her shoulder, and took its path quite in +sight down her arm, where she first discovered its appearance. With a +scream, which the whole house might have heard, she hastily jumped +across the room and overset a little table, at which the ladies were at +work, and which falling on poor Jemima, gave her a most violent blow on +the head and shoulders, she being at a distance playing with her cousins +at cards. The company, who were all ignorant of this sudden disturbance, +begged Miss Myra to inform them what was the matter with her? which she +at length complied with, by exclaiming, A spider! a spider! What shall I +do? Take it off, or I shall faint!--This Samuel immediately did; but as +her affectation was truly ridiculous, he was determined to divert +himself still further with the effects of her folly. In the mean time +her uncle blamed her, with some warmth, for the childish foolishness of +her behaviour. One would have thought, said he, it had been a giant +instead of a spider with which you were engaged. Such an outcry, indeed, +for nothing at all--I am quite ashamed of you! And pray see what +mischief you have done to Miss Placid! The young lady, in some +confusion, apologized for the hurt which her impetuosity had occasioned; +and Jemima, who was seldom ruffled by a trifling accident, soon resumed +her usual cheerfulness, though she felt the pain for a considerable +time. Peace and order being once more re-established, a basket of fruit +was brought to please the children, together with some biscuits, and +some small seed cakes, which Mrs. Wagstaff had provided for their +entertainment. + +Miss Myra was politely offered some by Master Sprightly; and upon +opening an apricot, a second object of her aversion presented itself, +not less dreadful than the former, a large earwig dropped into her lap. +Notwithstanding the late mischance which had happened, in consequence of +such a weak indulgence of her fears, she again shrieked as if violently +hurt, and started from her seat, which she kicked back at the same time, +without any regard to her uncle, who was stooping down behind her chair +to pick up the stalk of a bunch of currants, which he had let fall. + +[Illustration] + +The chair met his face with such violence, as to knock out one of his +front teeth, which had been loose a great while, and which he had +carefully preserved, as it much assisted his speech. You may imagine, +therefore, that this event did not restore him to a very placid state, +as he had already been sufficiently discomposed by the former +circumstances which I have mentioned. + +[Illustration] + +Added to her uncle's displeasure, Miss Myra had, in some degree, +suffered herself; having torn a muslin apron which she was working, and +which she had unpinned to show to Miss Wagstaff. Such was the state of +affairs, when Mr. Speedmore, a young country gentleman, entered the +room. He was about seventeen, very tall, and clumsy in his appearance, +and entirely destitute of those graces which Mr. Placid had, the +preceding evening, recommended to his sons. As soon as he had muttered +over his first compliments to the master of the house, he sneaked +himself into a chair that stood near the door, and sitting down on one +side of it, placed an oak stick, which he held in his hand, between his +legs, and leaning his chin upon the top, sometimes nibbled the head, and +at others gnawed a piece of his glove, which happened to be unsewed. +Miss Myra surveyed his figure with the utmost contempt, and whispered to +her companion, Miss Wagstaff, that she should like to teaze such a boor; +which, she supposed, might be easily done, by obliging him to speak, as +he absolutely seemed to have lost his tongue. + +In consequence of this resolution, she addressed herself particularly to +him, and inquired, whether he had been to a camp, which was at some +little distance from Smiledale? and whether he had yet learned, or +intended to learn, the manual exercise? To this question, as he was very +inattentive, he at first returned no answer; and upon its being +repeated, he misunderstood her meaning, and replied--No, Miss! I have +seen no Emanuel, nor do I know any such person.--This misapprehension +afforded great entertainment to the younger part of the company, who +laughed for some time at his mistake; till Mr. Placid inquired into the +cause, and, with great good-nature, blamed them for the indulgence of +their mirth at Mr. Speedmore's expense; and Miss Wagstaff, with a smile +at Miss Myra, added, That the laugh was turned since the earwig had +escaped. She blushed at the consciousness which she felt at the reproof, +and giving her friend a tap on the shoulder, enjoined her to be silent, +declaring, she would not again speak to the young man, though he should +gnaw his stick down to the ferrel. + +[Illustration] + +Mrs. Placid, though in some measure recovered from her late +indisposition, still continued extremely weak. The coach was therefore +ordered to attend them early; and taking their leave of the company, +they all returned home; when the young folk, after wishing them +good-night, retired to-bed. The next morning at breakfast, Miss Piner +began the conversation, by showing how awkwardly Mr. Speedmore had +behaved, and what a cross gentleman she thought Miss Myra's uncle +was.--I was so glad when the snuff made him sneeze and cough! said Miss +Sally.--And, I am sure, he deserved it, said William; for last Sunday +when we were coming home from church, he stood at the little gate in the +church-yard with fat Mr. Stopway, and would not let Tom Gibbons pass; +but took him by the shoulder, and shook him for being so rude, as to +push his way between two gentlemen. And is that the cause, returned his +father, that you rejoice so heartily at the inconvenience which he +suffered? Why, my dear, you take Tom's affront sadly to heart; but so +far from thinking it ill-natured of him to tell such a poor boy of a +fault, I dare say, he intended it as a kind admonition; for Tom has not +any body to instruct him in those common attentions of civility, which +are necessary to recommend even a day-labourer to regard. And if Mr. +Speedmore had the advantage of a friend to hint to him the use of +politeness, it might have saved him from the censure of your cousin, who +seems to have been quite astonished at the rusticity of his manners. +That young man, continued he, has received no advantage from his +education; his father having neglected to improve him in any thing but +the sports of the field, in which his own time is entirely engaged, and +to which he has brought up his son; so that you ought rather to +compassionate his misfortune, than ridicule his defects; and from +observing how unpleasing such a roughness of manners will make a person +of a good disposition, learn to bestow greater assiduity in the +cultivation of your own graces. But I am too apt to forget, Sir, said +Charles, that though I always intend to mind your advice, and think it +very just and reasonable at the time you are speaking to me, yet, when I +pass by a gentleman, I frequently do not pull off my hat till he is out +of sight and then I recollect it would have been more polite so to have +done; and thus in other cases, I do not remember to attend when any body +in company is addressing themselves to me; because I am busy, either in +looking out of the window, or playing with something that is near me, +and so they are obliged to speak several times before I hear they are +talking to me. But you should take pains not to forget any thing that +you are taught, replied Mr. Placid, or otherwise there will be no use in +my taking the trouble to instruct you. I will tell you a story, Charles. + +There was once a gentleman and a lady who had two children, a boy and a +girl. They were somewhat like you; that is, were troubled with short +memories: for although they were frequently told to hold up their +heads, turn out their toes, and say, Sir and Madam; when they addressed +any body, they constantly forgot to do it. Their papa was one day +lamenting this negligence of his children to a person who paid him a +visit, and who replied, that if he would trust them to his management, +he would engage in a short time so deeply to impress it upon their +minds, that they should ever after retain his instructions on their +memory. To this proposal the gentleman very willingly agreed; and Master +Ben and his sister Peggy accompanied their papa's friend to his house. +As they were acquainted with the design of their visit, he addressed +them the next morning in terms to this purpose:--As you well know what +is expected from you, and have been fully instructed in the requisite +attentions of polite behaviour, I shall hope you will observe them very +minutely; and in order to remind you when you are forgetful, I shall +keep this little spur in my hand; and whenever I see occasion shall take +the liberty of applying it, which will give you a sharp degree of pain; +and therefore, I dare say, you will take care to avoid it. Besides this, +I shall, as opportunities arise, punish your neglect by the loss of your +meals, or any thing else which I may think proper to deprive you of; and +the sooner you remember to observe every thing which you are desired, +the sooner you will return to your parents; with whom, if your memories +remain sufficiently good to do as you are bid, you will continue; but +whenever that fails you, they will turn you to my instructions. The +young folk listened very attentively to this discourse, and promised +obedience to his commands; in which promise their intention was to be +sincere, and he caressed them accordingly. But, my dear Charles, little +Ben soon forgot, that to loll his arms on the table at dinner-time was +by no means consistent with good manners; upon which his new tutor +applied his spur with such success to his elbows, that the smart he +experienced, in a moment occasioned their removal. His sister had soon +reason to sympathize with his misfortune from her own feelings; for as +she had an ugly custom of drinking with her mouth full, and breathing in +her glass, the reminding spur attacked her cheek so sharply, that the +smart would not let her forget the cause which had given an opportunity +for its use. + +[Illustration] + +Another day she ate her breakfast with such immoderate haste, that the +spur was applied to suggest the necessity of chewing her food more, and +not swallowing it as if she was afraid of losing it; which in effect she +did, for it was taken from her, because she cried at the pain which her +monitor occasioned, without minding its admonition. When she sat +cross-legged, she was surprised by the spur's touching her knee; and +when she illiberally scratched her head, it attacked her fingers; when +she stooped her head, she felt it in her neck; and, in short, was so +continually tormented with its painful invasion, that she was obliged, +as well as her brother (who was equally annoyed), to remember at all +times to behave gracefully. When, therefore, they had acquired this +necessary degree of attention, they were permitted to return home. They +never forgot the useful admonition of the friendly spur; as on any +occasion in which their memory proved defective, it was sufficient to +tell them, they should return to the gentleman who kept it in his +possession, and they immediately acted in a becoming manner. And do you +not think, Charles, concluded Mr. Placid, that such a spur would be of +infinite use to you, as you are so often apt to forget what it is of +great consequence to remember? + +Miss Piners smiled at each other, they being both conscious, as well as +Master Placid, that they had frequent occasions for its use. Indeed, +from this time, whenever any of them were guilty of any omission or +neglect, they were apt to laugh at each other and call out, That the +spur was wanting! By which means they frequently became more cautious +than they would otherwise have been. + +Jemima, whose natural sweetness of temper led her at all times to be +obliging, very seldom afforded them an opportunity of applying the hint +to her; but Miss Piners, who, as hath been before observed, were +frequently very silly and ill-natured, often deserved a more severe +reproof than to be told they stood in need of the spur. + +One day, when Miss Sally came down stairs, she found Miss Placid seated +at a table, making a pin-cloth for her wax-doll, in order to keep its +frock clean, while her sister had taken possession of the middle of the +window-seat, of which Sally begged to partake, and desired her to move a +little farther, and make room for her, which Ellen very crossly +refused.--Do pray, sister! said she, get another seat for yourself, for +you cannot come here, I assure you!--There is room enough for us both, +said Sally, and all the chairs are occupied. One has got a paper on it +full of William's shells; another has a band-box with my aunt's gauze; +and those two by the door, our dolls are asleep upon; you keep one +employed with your work, and I must not take that, for it is the chair +my aunt was sitting on, and I suppose she will want it again on her +return.--I do not care, said Ellen; I tell you, I shall not let you +come! so you may stand, if you like it, or go to the other window, +cannot you?--But I want to be near the table! so pray do, returned +Sally, endeavouring to squeeze herself into the seat; while her sister, +putting her hand against the wainscot, kept her place with all the force +she was mistress of; nor would give up an inch to the endeavours of +Sally, who now likewise growing warm by opposition, exerted all her +force to maintain the part she had gained; till at last she got pretty +near the centre, without having indeed any considerable advantage; for +both sisters were as close to each other as can well be imagined, each +with an extended arm against the window-shutter, and pushing against +each other with increasing anger and malevolence. + +Jemima had kindly gotten up at the beginning of the contest, and made an +offer of her chair to either of the combatants; but they were both so +much displeased, that they paid no attention to her good-natured +proposal; and, at length, Miss Ellen, to secure her situation, set her +foot against the table, and, struggling with all her force, overset it, +with every thing that was upon it, on the ground. Scissors, work bags, +doll's clothes, gauze ribbons, and various other things, fell in +confusion on the floor; among which number were a phial of physic and a +China cup, in which Mrs. Placid was going to take a medicine which had +been ordered for her, and which being broken in the fall, the draught +was spilled among the before-mentioned articles. But the worst part of +the accident remains still to be mentioned: poor Jemima's doll, which +had lain before her to fit on the things she was making for it, was, in +the disastrous fall, broken to pieces. She endeavoured in vain to catch +it, but the overthrow of the table was too sudden for her to prevent it, +and the noise of the affray brought Mrs. Placid, who had been up stairs +to fetch some thread, into the room. + +[Illustration] + +Miss Placid, with a tear starting to her eye, ran to her mamma, and +pointing to the broken pieces, without speaking, picked them up, and put +them into her hand. + +Mrs. Placid inquired into the cause which had produced such unfortunate +effects; and Sally, who imagined she was the party injured, related the +whole occasion. + +Her aunt, who perceived they were too angry to attend to her admonitions +at that time, told Miss Piner to go up stairs, and desire the maid to +come and pick up the broken glass, and sent Sally for a little while +into the garden. Then taking Jemima by the hand, and affectionately +kissing her, she thus addressed her beloved daughter on the loss of her +doll:--I am extremely sorry, my dear, that, by your cousins' foolish +contention, you are deprived of what has afforded you so much pleasure; +but as I see you are so good a child as to bear the accident with +composure, and do not fret about it, which, you well know, would never +be able to repair your loss, when I write to your aunt, which, I +believe, I shall do to-morrow, I will desire her to send you another +immediately; and as you have long wished for one that is made with its +eyes to open, you shall have one of that sort now. You see, my love, how +very naughty your cousins are, to be so passionate, and so frequently to +disagree with each other; as by this conduct they interrupt their own +happiness, and discompose every body who is connected with them. And +surely it is very easy for brothers and sisters to live in harmony and +affection, if they will but resolve to be good-natured and obliging; and +how much more comfortably do you pass your time, who never quarrel with +your brothers, than do those silly girls. + +Jemima thanked her mamma for her indulgent promise, and taking up her +faceless child, carried it with her up stairs, where she met her +brothers; and with a sad countenance held it up to their view. They +immediately desired to be informed what she had done with the face, and +were much grieved at the relation of its misfortune. + +[Illustration] + +She there undressed it, and put the clothes very carefully away; and so +great was her affection for its remains, that she laid the body in the +same drawer; nor could prevail with herself to part with it, although so +much disfigured as to renew her regret for its loss every time she +beheld it. + +Just as she finished this employment, her papa entered the apartment; +and calling her to him, commended the placid manner in which she had +supported an accident, which many little girls would have fretted about +for a long time.--You see, my dear, said he, that, young as you are, +numberless occasions arise, which are proper to exercise your +fortitude, and call forth your patience into action. Older people, my +Jemima, meet with greater trials; but there is as much merit in your +submitting calmly to such accidents as tend to discompose your temper, +and provoke your indignation, as in your elders bearing with the real +troubles of life. These mortifications, to which every child must +submit, should be always received with composure; and I hope you will +never suffer them to ruffle your temper, or make you forget, that to be +_good-natured_, is one of the first duties you can exercise in social +intercourse. I dare say, you are very sorry for the loss of your doll, +and I am grieved that it has so happened; for, I know, that a trial is +greater or less, in proportion to the value which the person affixed to +the object they are deprived of; that is, though I should not mind the +breaking of a dozen wax dolls on my own account, yet to you, who liked +to play with it, it is a great loss indeed. + +During this consolatory discourse, Mrs. Placid talked very seriously to +her two nieces. She began by telling Miss Piner, that she had on many +occasions observed her to behave very ill-naturedly to her sister;--and +as you are the eldest, my dear, said she, I think you ought to endeavour +to assist her, and set a good example; and how can you expect she should +be obliging to you, when she never sees any instances of kindness in +your behaviour? Why would you not make room for her this morning, when +she desired you? The window was large enough for both of you; and, I am +sure, your denial must have rendered you very uncomfortable. It is very +wicked, Ellen, to act in such a manner, and allow your passions to +become so violent that you are quite regardless of their +consequence.--But I had the window first, Madam, said Miss Piner, and +therefore she had no right to it; and I never heard that there was any +wickedness in keeping one's own place, when one had gotten +possession!--There is great wickedness, replied her aunt, in being so +tenacious of every trifle, as to disagree about it with those with whom +we live, especially between brothers and sisters, who ought always to be +united in affection and love; and if you now indulge your passions, so +that you will submit to no opposition, it will make you hated and +despised by every body, and constantly unhappy in your own mind. It is +impossible, my dear, to have every circumstance happen as we wish it to +do; but if a disappointment could at any time justify ill-nature and +petulance, it would certainly be adding greatly to the unhappiness of +life. And do you think, my dear, that to fight on every occasion with +those who oppose you, is at all consistent with the delicacy of a young +lady? I dare say, when you give yourself time to reflect on the subject, +you will perceive that you have been much to blame; and that, whenever +you have suffered yourself to be ill-natured and quarrelsome, you have +always been proportionably uneasy and wretched. Nothing can so much +contribute to your present felicity, or future peace, as a good +understanding, and cordial affection for your sister. You will most +probably be more in her company than in any other person's; and how +comfortable would it be, by every little office of kindness, to assist +each other! I am sure, if you will try the experiment, you will find it +much better than such churlish resistance, and provoking contentions. It +is by good-humour, and an attention to please in trifles, that love is +cherished and improved. If your sister want any thing, be assiduous to +fetch it. If she cannot untie a knot, do it for her. If she wish for a +place in the window, make room immediately. Share with her all that is +given to you; conceal her faults, as you dislike your own to be +observed; commend her good qualities, and never envy, but endeavour to +emulate her perfections. By this method you will ensure her regard, and +make yourself happy at the same time; that will give the highest +pleasure to your parents, and obtain the esteem of all your +acquaintance. Think of these motives, my dear girl, and resolve to exert +yourself; and when you feel inclined to be angry and cross, recollect +whether it will be worth while, because you have first gotten +possession, to engage in a contest which will forfeit all these +advantages. Think, with yourself, Shall I lose my sister's love, or +abate her regard, for an orange, a play-thing, or a seat? Do I not +prefer making her contented, and keeping my own mind serene and placid, +before the pleasure of enjoying a toy, or any other thing equally +trifling? Will it tire me to fetch down her cloke, or her doll, if she +be in want of them? And shall I not do it in less time than it will take +to dispute whose business it is to go? In short, my dear niece, you will +find so much ease and pleasure result from the resolution to oblige, +that I dare say, if you once attempt it, you will be inclined to +persevere. + +But indeed, Madam, returned Miss Ellen, my sister is as cross to me, as +I am to her; and therefore it is out of my power to do what you advise; +for I cannot bear to do every thing for her, when she will do nothing +for me!--You are both much to blame, said Mrs. Placid; but as you are +the elder, it is your place to set a good example; and you do not know, +Ellen, how far that incitement will prevail. When you have refused her +one request, she is naturally, by way of retaliation, induced to deny +you another; this increases your mutual dissatisfaction, and commences +new quarrels; by which means your anger is continued, so that neither is +inclined to oblige or condescend. But if she finds you continue to be +good-natured, she will catch the kind impression, as she used to imbibe +the ill-habits of malevolence and rage. In every case you should +consider, that the errors of another person are no excuse for the +indulgence of evil in yourself. + +[Illustration] + +The conversation was here concluded by the entrance of Mr. Wagstaff and +his son; and as they stayed the rest of the day, there was no farther +opportunity to resume it. While the young folk were all at play in the +evening in the summer house, Ellen ran away with Sam's hat, and he +pursued her for some time without overtaking her; but at last a scuffle +ensued, as she held it fast, and sometimes put it under one arm, +sometimes under the other; then knelt upon it; and afterwards sat down +upon it. In this last attitude, as Master Wagstaff was struggling, she +endeavoured to rise, but his foot being upon her frock, she tore a sad +rent in it; and one of his buttons having caught in her ribbon, did as +much damage to that likewise. + +This accident put an end to the contest, and her good-humour at the same +time. She got up immediately, tossed away the subject of contention, +with the illiberal epithet of--"Take your nasty hat! I wish I had never +touched it!"--And the more he endeavoured to sooth her, the more vexed +she appeared; calling him a careless, mischievous monkey, and asking, +how he thought the rent was to be mended? + +[Illustration] + +Jemima likewise tried every method in her power to moderate her +resentment; representing, that it was no fault of Master Wagstaff's, and +advising her to be more composed, and to join in their play again; but +all in vain, she would only fret, grumble, and interrupt their +entertainment. So Sam retired to a bench in the alcove, and sitting +down with the Master Placids, left her to her ill-humour, while he +wrote the following verses:-- + + Nay, Ellen dear! now do not cry, + And wet that pretty sparkling eye; + What though, by chance, I tore your lace, + Don't make that horrible grimace! + Do put that ugly frown away, + And join again in social play! + For, after all, what can you do? + Will pouting thus the rent renew? + Why, Ellen, what a brawl you keep! + I vow the chickens cannot sleep. + Do pray observe, that cackling hen + Is coming from her roost again. + The evening flies, that swarm before us, + For you have stopp'd their buzzing chorus; + The horses, that were grazing there, + Have left their food at you to stare. + Your noise disturbs all nature's peace, + The grasshoppers their chirping cease; + And from those plants a frog's leap'd out, + To know the cause of all this rout. + Then stop, I prithee, or you'll find + A worse disaster still behind.-- + A needle, with assiduous care, + May the torn frock again repair; + But petulance, and passion's strife, + Will rend the future bliss of life; + Tear the fine edge of joy away, + And leave the heart to grief a prey. + +This remonstrance enraged Miss Piner more than before; and she flounced +out of the garden, declaring she would no longer stay to be so insulted. + + * * * * * + +But, my dear Eliza, if I should continue a minute relation of the events +which occurred, during my stay in Mr. Placid's family, the perusal would +take up too much of your time, and I have already, in the incidents +which I have selected, run to a much greater length than I at first +designed.--The amiable Jemima is now sixteen; and for the sweetness of +her manners, and the even and unruffled serenity of her temper, is +justly admired by all who are so happy as to know her. If you would wish +to deserve equal esteem, the means are entirely in your own power, since +a determined resolution to please others, will make you happy in +yourself, and render the occurrences of life more supportable. The only +use of reading is, to acquire instruction; and if you seek not to +resemble the good, and avoid the bad examples with which you are +presented, your studies will tend to little purpose. If the characters +you meet with in any degree resemble your own, and if the foibles of +those characters disgust and offend you, instead of throwing the book +aside with resentment, you should endeavour to improve the failings of +which you are conscious, and then you will no longer meet your own +portrait, in that which the Author has described. Besides that, there is +another reason to incline you to this reformation, since if you so much +dislike those errors in an imaginary character, think how extremely +irksome such faults must be to your friends. If the representations of +Miss Piner's fretfulness are displeasing to contemplate, how much more +vexatious must it be, when your parents find the same disposition +prevail in their own child. In this period of your life, be persuaded to +form such habits as may be continued in a more advanced age; and, +believe me, the habit of good-humour will conduce most essentially to +your happiness. The accident which gave occasion to the account which I +now transmit to you, was in no degree remedied by the captious petulance +with which you bemoaned it; and the time which you wasted in +unprofitable lamentations, would have nearly repaired the damage. +Unavoidable disasters are beyond remedy, and are only aggravated by +complaints. By submitting with a good grace to the disappointments of +life, half its vexations may be escaped. I cannot, I think, better +conclude the subject and my epistle, than with a few lines which were +written by Miss Placid in answer to Miss Piner, who reproached her with +not showing a proper degree of concern, when they were disappointed +going with a party upon the water, by a violent shower of rain, which +they had, for a long time, been desirous of doing. + + Say, why should I fretful my fate so lament, + Since pleasure still waits on the smile of content? + Will the clouds soon disperse, if indignant I frown? + And the rain cease in torrents the village to drown? + Will the thunder's loud peal be then hush'd into peace? + And the storm, at my bidding, its violence cease? + Will the sun for my anger discover its ray, + And at once all the beauties of nature display? + Then Ellen, pray tell me, what joy should I find, + In the discord of passion, the storm of the mind? + Though the elements will not resign to my sway, + My temper, I trust, reason's voice shall obey; + Let me make to my fate my desires resign, + And the joys of contentment will ever be mine. + + +THE END. + + +Printed by T. C. Hansard, Peterborough-court, Fleet street, London. + + + + +_The following deservedly-popular BOOKS, for Children and Young Persons, +are printed for the Publishers of this Work._ + + +By Mrs. TRIMMER. + +_New and improved Editions of the following_:-- + +1. SCRIPTURE HISTORY, being a Description of a SET of PRINTS, contained +in easy Lessons. With the Prints, 2 vols. sewed, Price 2_s._ + +2. SCRIPTURE LESSONS, designed to accompany a SERIES of PRINTS from the +OLD TESTAMENT. With the Prints, 2 vols. sewed, 4_s._ + +3. SCRIPTURE LESSONS, designed to accompany a SERIES of PRINTS from the +NEW TESTAMENT. With the Prints, 2 vols. sewed, 4_s._ + +4. A Description of a SET of PRINTS of ENGLISH HISTORY, contained in +easy Lessons. With the Prints, 3 vols. sewed, 5_s._ 6_d._ + +5. The same of ANCIENT HISTORY, 2 vols. sewed, 4_s._ + +6. The same of ROMAN HISTORY, 2 vols. sewed, 4_s._ + +7. A HISTORY of FRANCE, upon a similar Plan, by a Daughter of Mrs. +Trimmer. 2 vols. + + * * * * * + +1. 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Half-bound, 2_s._ + +19. FOOTSTEP to TRIMMER's SACRED HISTORY. 2_s._ + +20. GOOD CHILD's DELIGHT; or, The ROAD to KNOWLEDGE; in short and +entertaining Lessons of one and two Syllables. By M. P. 1_s._ + +21. GOODY GOOSECAP; or, The ORPHAN. 1_s._ + +22. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS. 1_s._ + +23. HAPPY FAMILY; or, The MEMOIRS of Mr. and Mrs. NORTON. 1_s._ + +24. HISTORY of PRIMROSE PRETTYFACE. 1_s._ + +25. HISTORIES of more CHILDREN than ONE; or, GOODNESS better than +BEAUTY. 1_s._ + +26. HOLIDAY PRESENT. By M. P. 1_s._ + +27. IMPERIAL PRIMER. 6_d._ + +28. La BAGATELLE, intended to introduce Children of Three or Four Years +old to some Knowledge of the French Language. 2 vols. 3_s._ + +29. LITTLE STORIES for LITTLE FOLKS; or, EASY LESSONS in one, two, and +three Syllables. 1_s._ + +30. The HISTORY of a great many LITTLE BOYS and GIRLS, of Four and Five +Years of Age. By M. P. 1_s._ + +31. MEMOIRS of a PEG TOP. By S. S. 1_s._ + +32. Mr. NORTON'S STORY BOOK. 1_s._ + +33. 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TEACHWELL's (Mrs.) SPELLING-BOOK. 2_s._ + +46. TELEMACHUS. 1_s._ + +47. BELISARIUS. 1_s._ + +48. LOWNDES's New and Complete HISTORY of ENGLAND, from the Invasion of +Julius Caesar to the Peace of Paris in 1814, by Question and Answer. +6_s._ + +49. A DESCRIPTION of more than Three Hundred ANIMALS, embellished with +upwards of Three Hundred fine Wood Engravings of Quadrupeds, Birds, +Fishes, Serpents, and Insects, copied from Nature, and engraved with +Taste and Accuracy. 5_s._ 6_d._ + +50. An ABSTRACT of the HISTORY of the BIBLE, for the Use of Children and +Young Persons; with Questions for Examination, and a Sketch of Scripture +Geography, illustrated with Maps. By the Rev. William Turner. +Half-bound, 2_s._ 6_d._ + +51. SACRED HISTORIES; or, INSULATED BIBLE STORIES, extracted from the +Old and New Testament, in the Words of the Original. By William +Scholfield. In 2 vols, half-bd. 4_s._ + +52. CORTEZ; or, The CONQUEST of MEXICO; as related by a Father to his +Children, and designed for the Instruction of Youth. Translated from the +German of J. H. Campe, by Elizabeth Helme, with a Map. 5_s._ 6_d._ + +53. COLUMBUS; or, The DISCOVERY of AMERICA. By the same Author, with a +Map. 5_s._ 6_d._ + +54. PIZARRO; or, the CONQUEST of PERU. By the same Author, with a Map. +5_s._ 6_d._ + +55. A Familiar HISTORY of ENGLAND, by Question and Answer. Embellished +with Portraits of the Sovereigns, neatly engraved on Wood. 3_s._ 6_d._ + +56. The Young Lady's NEW GUIDE to ARITHMETIC; containing the common +Rules, and Questions on domestic Affairs, with the Applications of each +Rule, the Method of making Bills of Parcels, Receipts, Notes, &c. By Mr. +John Greig. 8th edition, 2_s._ + + + +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ + | | + | TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: | + | | + | | + | Words surrounded by _ are italicized. | + | | + | Obvious punctuation errors repaired. | + | | + | Due to the restriction of the ascii font, the ae ligature is | + | represented as the letters "ae" (Julius Caesar). | + | | + | On page 14, "attenive" corrected to be "attentive" | + | (as attentive as). | + | | + | Other variable spellings within the text retained, including: | + | - "awkward" and "aukward" | + | - "fire-place" and "fireplace" | + | - "half-bound," "half-bd," and "half bd" | + | - "scissors" and "scissars" | + | | + +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Jemima Placid, by Mary Ann Kilner + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JEMIMA PLACID *** + +***** This file should be named 37514.txt or 37514.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/5/1/37514/ + +Produced by Delphine Lettau, Judith Wirawan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +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. 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