Original Stories from Real Life/Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
The Benefits ariſing from Devotion.—The Hiſtory of the Village School-miſtreſs concluded.
AS ſoon as the cloth was removed, Mrs. Maſon concluded the narration; and the girls forgot their fruit whilſt they were liſtening to the ſequel.
Anna endured this treatment ſome years, and had an opportunity of acquiring a knowledge of the world and her own heart. She viſited her mother's father, and would have remained with him; but ſhe determined not to leſſen the ſmall pittance which he had anxiouſly ſaved out of a ſcanty income for two other grand-children. She thought continually of her ſituation, and found, on examining her underſtanding, that the faſhionable circle in which ſhe moved could not at any rate have afforded her much ſatisfaction, or even amuſement; though the neglect and contempt that ſhe met with rendered her very uncomfortable. She had her father's ſpirit of independence, and determined to ſhake off the galling yoke which ſhe had long ſtruggled with, and try to earn her own ſubſiſtence. Her acquaintance expoſtulated with her, and repreſented the miſeries of poverty, and the mortifications and difficulties that ſhe would have to encounter. Let it be ſo, ſhe replied, it is much preferable to ſwelling the train of the proud or vicious great, and deſpiſing myſelf for bearing their impertinence, for eating their bitter bread; better, indeed, is a dinner of herbs with contentment. My wants are few. When I am my own miſtreſs, the cruſt I earn will be ſweet, and the water that moiſtens it will not be mingled with tears of ſorrow or indignation.
To ſhorten my ſtory; ſhe came to me, after ſhe had attempted ſeveral plans, and requeſted my advice. She would not accept of any conſiderable favour, and declared that the greateſt would be, to put her in a way of ſupporting herſelf, without forfeiting her highly valued independence. I knew not what to adviſe; but whilſt I was debating the matter with myſelf, I happened to mention, that we were in want of a ſchool-miſtreſs. She eagerly adopted the plan, and perſevering in it theſe laſt ten years, I find her a moſt valuable acquiſition to our ſociety.
She was formed to ſhine in the moſt brilliant circle—yet ſhe relinquiſhed it, and patiently labours to improve the children conſigned to her management, and tranquillize her own mind. She ſucceeds in both.
She lives indeed alone, and has all day only the ſociety of children; yet ſhe enjoys many true pleaſures; dependence on God is her ſupport, and devotion her comfort. Her lively affections are therefore changed into a love of virtue and truth: and theſe exalted ſpeculations have given an uncommon dignity to her manners; for ſhe ſeems above the world, and its trifling commotions. At her meals, gratitude to Heaven ſupplies the place of ſociety. She has a tender, ſocial heart, and, as ſhe cannot ſweeten her ſolitary draught, by expreſſing her good wiſhes to her fellow-creatures, an ejaculation to Heaven for the welfare of her friends is the ſubſtitute. This circumſtance I heard her mention to her grandfather, who ſometimes viſits her.
I will now make ſome alteration in my dreſs, for when I viſit thoſe who have been reduced from their original place in ſociety by misfortunes, I always attend a little to ceremony; lest too much familiarity ſhould appear like diſrespect.