Original Stories from Real Life/Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
Anger—Folly produces Self-contempt; and the Neglect of others.
MRS. Maſon had a number of viſitors one forenoon, who converſed in the usſual thoughtleſs manner, which people often fall into who do not conſider before they ſpeak: they talked of Caroline's beauty, and ſhe gave herſelf many affected airs to make it appear to the beſt advantage. But Mary, who had not a face to be proud of, was obſerving ſome peculiarities in the dreſs or manners of the gueſts; and one very reſpectable old lady, who had loſt her teeth, afforded her more diverſion than any of the reſt.
The children went to bed without being reproved, though Mrs. Maſon, when ſhe diſmiſſed them, ſaid gravely, I give you to-night a kiſs of peace, an affectionate one you have not deſerved. They therefore diſcovered by her behaviour that they had done wrong, and waited for an explanation to regain her favour.
She was never in a paſſion, but her quiet, ſteady diſpleaſure made them feel ſo little in their own eyes, they wiſhed her to ſmile that they might be ſomething; for all their conſequence ſeemed to ariſe from her approbation. I declare, ſaid Caroline, I do not know what I have done, and yet I am ſure I never knew Mrs. Maſon find fault without convincing me that I had done wrong. Did you, Mary, ever see her in a paſſion? No, ſaid Mary, I do believe that ſhe was never angry in her life; when John threw down all the china, and ſtood trembling, ſhe was the firſt to ſay that the carpet made him ſtumble. Yes, now I do remember, when we firſt came to her houſe, John forgot to bring the cow and her young calf into the cow-houſe; I heard her bid him do it directly, and the poor calf was almoſt frozen to death—ſhe ſpoke then in a hurry, and ſeemed angry. Now you mention it, I do recollect, replied Caroline, that ſhe was angry, when Betty did not carry the poor ſick woman the broth ſhe ordered her to take to her. But this is not like the paſſion I uſed to ſee nurſe in, when any thing vexed her. She would ſcold us, and beat the girl who waited on her. Poor little Jenny! many a time was ſhe beaten, when we vexed nurſe; I would tell her ſhe was to blame now if I ſaw her—and I would not teaſe her any more.
I declare I cannot go to ſleep, ſaid Mary, I am afraid of Mrs. Maſon's eyes—would you think, Caroline, that ſhe who looks ſo very good-natured ſometimes, could frighten one ſo? I wiſh I were as wiſe and as good as ſhe is. The poor woman with the ſix children, whom we met on the common, ſaid ſhe was an angel, and that ſhe had ſaved her's and her children's lives. My heart is in my mouth, indeed, replied Caroline, when I think of to-morrow morning, and yet I am much happier than I was when we were at home. I cried, I cannot now tell for what, all day; I never wiſhed to be good—nobody told me what it was to be good. I wiſh to be a woman, ſaid Mary, and to be like Mrs. Maſon, or Mrs. Trueman—we are to go to ſee her if we behave well.
Sleep ſoon overpowered them, and they forgot their apprehenſions. In the morning they awoke refreſhed, and took care to learn their leſſons, and feed their chickens, before Mrs. Maſon left her chamber.