Original Stories from Real Life/Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
The Inconveniences of immoderate Indulgence.
THE children were allowed to help themſelves to fruit, when it made a part of their meal; and Caroline always took care to pick out the beſt, or ſwallow what ſhe took in a hurry, leſt ſhe ſhould not get as much as ſhe wiſhed for. Indeed ſhe generally eat more than her ſhare. She had ſeveral times eaten more than a perſon ought to eat at one time, without feeling any ill effects; but one afternoon ſhe complained of a pain in her ſtomach in conſequence of it, and her pale face and languid eyes plainly ſhewed her indiſpoſition. Mrs. Maſon gave her an emetic, and after the operation ſhe was obliged to go to bed, though ſhe had promiſed herſelf a pleaſant walk that evening. She was left alone, for Mary was not permitted to ſtay at home with her, as ſhe offered to do. Had her ſickneſs been accidental, we would both have tried to amuſe her, ſaid Mrs. Maſon; but her greedineſs now receiving its natural and juſt puniſhment, ſhe muſt endure it without the alleviation which pity affords; only tell her from me, that the pleaſure was but momentary, while the pain and confinement it produced, has already laſted ſome hours.
The next morning, though ſcarcely recovered, ſhe got up, as uſual, to have a walk before breakfaſt. During theſe walks, Mrs. Maſon told them ſtories, pointed out the wiſdom of God in the creation, and took them to viſit her poor tenants. Theſe viſits not only enabled her to form a judgment of their wants, but made them very induſtrious; for they were all anxious that ſhe might find their houſes and perſons clean. And returning through the farmyard, Mrs. Maſon ſtopped according to cuſtom, to ſee whether the poor animals were taken care of—this ſhe called earning her breakfaſt. The ſervant was juſt feeding the pigs, and though ſhe poured a great quantity into the trough, the greedy creatures tried to gobble it up from one another. Caroline bluſhed, ſhe ſaw this ſight was meant for her, and ſhe felt aſhamed of her gluttony. But Mrs. Maſon, willing to impreſs her ſtill more ſtrongly, thus addreſſed her.
Providence, my child, has given us paſſions and appetites for various purpoſes—two are generally obvious, I will point them out to you. First to render our preſent life more comfortable, and then to prepare us for another, by making us ſociable beings; as in ſociety virtue is acquired, and ſelf-denial practiſed. A moderate quantity of proper food recruits our exhauſted ſpirits, and invigorates the animal functions; but, if we exceed moderation, the mind will be oppreſſed, and ſoon become the ſlave of the body, or both grow liſtleſs and inactive. Employed various ways, families meet at meals, and there giving up to each other, learn in the moſt eaſy, pleaſant way to govern their appetites. Pigs, you ſee, devour what they can get; but men, if they have any affections, love their fellow-creatures, and wiſh for a return; nor will they, for the ſake of a brutiſh gratification, loſe the eſteem of thoſe they value. Beſides, no one can be reckoned virtuous who has not learned to bear poverty: yet thoſe who think much of gratifying their appetites, will at laſt act meanly in order to indulge them. But when any employment of the underſtanding, or ſtrong affection occupies the mind, eating is ſeldom thought a matter of greater importance than it ought to be. Let the idle think of their meals; but do you employ the intermediate time in a different manner, and only enjoy them when you join the ſocial circle. I like to ſee children, and even men, eat chearfully, and gratefully receive the bleſſings ſent by Heaven; yet I would not have them abuſe thoſe blessings, or ever let the care neceſſary to ſupport the body injure the immortal ſpirit: many think of the ſuſtenance the former craves, and entirely neglect the latter.
I remarked to you before, that in the moſt apparently trivial concerns, we are to do as we would be done by. This duty muſt be practiſed conſtantly; at meals there are frequent opportunities, and I hope, Caroline, I ſhall never again ſee you eager to ſecure dainties for yourſelf. If ſuch a diſpoſition were to grow up with you, you ought to live alone, for no one ſhould enjoy the advantages and pleaſures which ariſe from ſocial intercourſe, who is unwilling to give way to the inclinations of others, and allow each their ſhare of the good things of this life.
You experienced yeſterday, that pain follows immoderate indulgence; it is always the caſe, though ſometimes not felt ſo immediately; but the conſtitution is inſenſibly deſtroyed, and old age will come on, loaded with infirmities. You alſo loſt a very pleaſant walk, and ſome fine fruit. We viſited Mrs. Goodwin's garden, and as Mary had before convinced me that ſhe could regulate her appetites, I gave her leave to pluck as much fruit as ſhe wiſhed; and ſhe did not abuſe my indulgence. On the contrary, ſhe ſpent moſt part of the time in gathering ſome for me, and her attention made it taſte ſweeter.
Coming home I called her my friend, and ſhe deſerved the name, for ſhe was no longer a child; a reaſonable affection had conquered an appetite; her underſtanding took the lead, and ſhe had practiſed a virtue.
The ſubject was now dropped; but, Caroline determined to copy in future her ſiſter's temperance and ſelf-denial.