No More Learning

Every person who passed the cottage
bowed familiarly to Pha? be, and her re-
marks upon their persons, manner, or
characters, proved her an accurate ob-
server of human nature. She complain-
ed of the dulness of Matlock when the
season was over, and how heavy she
found the winter evenings without any
society. "There are but two rational
beings," she said, " in the place, a Welch ,
clergyman and his wife; and I shall lose
them soon: I think I shall go away my-
self for the winter. " "Where will you\
go, and what will become of your mother
in your absence ? ** "I shall go upon
the ocean," she replied: "when I was
at Liverpool, I thought I should like to ?
take a voyage somewhere. " "But your
mother? " said Rose. "O as to ray mo-
ther, some neighbour will look after her;
she won't want much attention, for ? she
goes to bed as soon as it is darki" "A
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? SKETCHES. OF Y'JUTH. . . 21I
neighbour will not a'tend her as you
would, and she is too oid to be left whole
nights by herself. " Phoebe however
seemed to have no high sense of the duty
of a child to her parents; but treated, as
trifles, all the dangers and inconve-
niences that might result to her mother
from her absence, and dwelt only upon
her own gratification in a change of
scene, the interests of" the ocean," and
the novelty of a voyage. She had re-
ceived from Mr. Falkland, the preceding
evening, some pecuniary present, and
Mrs. Sydney now begged her acceptance
of a few shillings, which she took without
any hesitation, as the price of her eccen-
tricity, and the amusement, she imagined,
she had afforded.
"Well my children," said Mrs. Syd-
ney, as they left the cottage, ** has
Phoebe answered the expectations you
formed of her, and gratified your curio-
sity? " "Perfectly so," replied Rose,
generally the first to speak; ** but though
I might like to possess extraordinary ta<<
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? 212 ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
lents, and to be admired, and noticed
and talked of, I should not like to be paid,
as she is, for being a wonder. " "What
think you Emily? " "I think," answer-
ed Emily, "that it is unfortunate she
was not placed in a situation where her
peculiarities could have been corrected,
and her judgment guided; I should not
court such distinctions as her's; she
thinks, speaks, and acts so unlike others,
that she is more to be admired as a won-
der than liked as a woman. " "And you
my Isabel? " said Mrs. Sydney. "O
mamma, Phcebe is to me an absolute ob-
ject of compassion. In her class of
society, such habits and ideas, so little
assimilating with persons of her own
rank, must render her disagreeable to
them all; and only when she attracts
curiosity do they seem to contribute to
her own pleasure. Never have I seen
any one whom I think more to be pitied,
and less liked, than this woman. " "And
what is your opinion Phoebe? " "I,
madam, for once feel happy in my own
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? SKETCHES OF tOUTH. 21S
ignorance; and grateful that, though not
clever, I can be useful, and contented in
an humble situation. " "Now, my loves,
you have given your opinions, it is but
just you should have mine. I agree with
Emily and Isabel in thinking Phoebe
Bowne by no means to be envied for
that superiority which has raised her
above her equals; or for that singularity
which has rendered her conspicuous.
The opportunities she has had of acquir-
ing information must have beep so con-
fined, that instead of giving her liberal
ideas, they have inculcated a few fixed
and obstinate opinions; which, though
they may sometimes happen to be just,
if unfortnnately they are wrong, they will
not easily yield to reason. Conscious of
possessing greater powers'of understand-
ing than those about her, she disdains to
subscribe to the established rules of sex
or situation; but, like a comet, is eccen-
tric in her movements, and terrific in her
approximation. Superior talents are
only valuable as they contribute to our
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? 214 ROSE AND EMILY J OH,
own happiness, or promote the benefit of
society. Phoebe's seem to do neither}
and are to be estimated no more than an
animal discovered in a block of marble,
which has neither sense nor beauty, but
is only prized for the wonder of finding
it in such a situation. To her the lamp
of wisdom has been but a glimmering
light, leading her into bye-places and un-
frequented paths; it has served to shew
her the obscurity in which she is placed,
and to tempt her out of it; but has been
no guide to truth or happiness. The dif-
ference she discovers between herself
and those of her own class, has rendered
her vain; the notice she has excited has
fed that vanity, and made her confident;
but though she may occasionally be elated
by the flattering attentions she receives
from strangers, she will oftener accuse
fate of injustice in placing her in so
humble a situation, and thus find in
her superiority a source of discontent ?
and repining. A spirit of curiosity, a
wish for information, and probably arro-
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? SKETCHES. OP YOUTH. 215
gating to herself the proud distinction of
genius, might lead her to Liverpool; but
it was mortified vanity which made her
dissatisfied with her visit; for, contemptu-
ously as she speaks of the society she was
there thrown into? and of receiving from
it not one new idea, it must have been
greatly superior in intelligence, as well
as elegance, to any in which she had ever
mixed, and something new to her must
have arisen; but after the novelty of her
character had ceased to excite notice,
probably she was thought of no more, or
might disgust by her boldness, and offend
by her presumption. We may excuse,
in a woman, an unpolished manner, but
we cannot dispense with gentleness: it is'
a. quality which few situations, few cir-
cumstances can conceal or eradicate, ? if
it be inherent in the nature ; and is as es-
sensial to the female character as bravery
is to that of a man, and may be found as
frequently combined with dignity and
elevation as mercy is with true courage.
The money, at which, my Rose, your
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? 216 ROSE AND EMILY; Olt,
feelings of independence revolted, seem-
ed no way repugnant to her's; she re-
ceived it as a tribute to her talents, and
was probably vain of the offering; it was
a recompense for the amusement she had
afforded, and a tax on the curiosity of
her visitors, not the claim of poverty.
The cottage she and her mother live in,
with a few acres around it, are their own,
and must amply provide for all their ne-
cessities ; therefore, though discontented
with her situation, she does not possess
that noble spirit which, by aspiring above
it, would render pecuniary favours pain-
ful. She seems to have no aversion to
the toils of the field, and spoke with pride
of her veterinary knowledge; but when
the village is deserted by the summer -
company, and there is no one to "wonder
at her, she sinks to her own level, be-
comes dissatisfied, and desirous of change;
for filial duty appears to make no part of
her extraordinary character. "
Mrs. Sydney and her party were met
on the road by Mr. aiid Mrs. Falkland,
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? SKETCHES OE YOUTU.
and their niece, and they concluded the
evening together.
; A week had now elapsed since Mrs
Sydney and her family had left their peace*
ful abode; each succeeding day had In-
creased in interest and pleasure, and
strengthened the intimacy between them
and their neW friends. Isabel, Emily,
and'Rose, all found subjects for their
pencil, and were sometimes joined in this
amusement by Fanny Belmont j who,
though less of an artist than either^ dis-
played taste and feeling in all that she at-
tempted. In music she particularly ex-
celled, and possessed a fine voice, "which
had been carefuHy cultivated. Rose
would listen in silent extacy to the touch-
ing expression of her tones, sweet by na-
ture, and assisted by the graces of science;
but when accompanied by Mr. Falkland's
flute, the tear of rapture would steal
down her cheek, aiid she could only press
the hand she heldl Reading and walk-
ing engaged a part of every day; and
they would often climb some of the
heights around Matlock, to enjoy a favou-
L
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? 2 18 R0SK AND EMILY; OR,
rite author upon a favourite spot. Works
of the highest class had now begun to
engage the attention of Rose. The rich
and varied powers of Shakespeare, the
Sublime muse of Milton,the polished verse
of Pope, awakened all the energies and
enthusiasm of her mind. Among prose
writers also, there were those that deeply
interested and delighted her. --Mrs. Syd-
ney had endeavoured to establish in her
children, a taste for the purest and best
writers, not only to form their style, and
improve their principles, but as a shield
to guard them against others, who employ
the magic wand of fancy in order to lure
the imagination into the flowery paths of
error; and who degrade their genius by
corrupting innocence. The insidiousness
of sentiment she considered as more dan*
gcrous to a youthful mind than the wild-
est visions of romance; and works of this
description, which, by the sophistry of af-
fected feeling, soften the heart even to-
wards vice itself, were carefully avoided.
Mr. Falkland delighted in the conversa-
nt! of Rose } fromthe exuberance of her
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? SKETCHES OFYOUTH. 2 219
fancy, he endeavoured to extract those
ideas that were most consonant to true
taste, and to establish them upon her mind
as rules to direct her judgment; he taught
her to reason upon subjects, which she had
simply been content to feel; but some-
times, while he was advising, a wild and
visionary idea, impulsively imagined, and
instantaneously uttered, would baffle all
his arguments in a moment. ' *' '? . x>>*
Another week was to terminate their
visit at Matlock; and so powerful was'thc
interest excited by Mrs. Sydney and her
family in the hearts of Mr. ami Mrs. Falk-
land, that not a day was suffered to pass
without the greatest part of it being spent
together, and the time of separation,
was already anticipated with regret. Mr.
Sydney had not been entirely unknown
to Mr. Falkland, though with his fa-
mily, till now, he was personally un-
acquainted; this circumstance mutual! )
increased the interest in each other's v
society, and the name of stranger soon
became that of frierauV ? ^"? i"'- . '
L2
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? NtOS? AND EMILY fi OK,
1 j '* * 1. . * ? *!
- CHAP. XV. . .
Mrs Sy>>ney wished to shew Emily the
wonders of the Peak, and the two fami-
lies formed a party to Castleton, where
they explored the farthest extremity of
the tremendous cavern. --An account of
this place has been so often given, and
the impression it makes on strangers so
often described, that it would be repeat-
ing more than "a twice told tale," to
enter into all its minutia;. The entrance
inspired them with awe and admiration;
the groupe of men, women, and children,
thatwere there emyloyedinmanufacturing
packth read ,chaun ting,as they wen t on with
their work, an old ballad in the provincial
dialect, had a striking and singular effect}
and they stopped to observe them before
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 221
they ventured beyond the narrow cavity
in the rock which leads into the interior
of the cavern ; the preparations for which
produced a great deal of mirth amongst
the whole party. Their hats and bonnet3
were consigned to the care of som. e chil-
dren, who stood ready to receive them;
and a handkerchief put over the head,
and tied under the chin, to defend them
from the damps, gave a ludicrous and
gypsey-looking effect to every counte- i
nance, upon which the flambeau held in
the hand of each, threw a pale and ghastly
glare. Every part of this mysterious
place, this phenomenon of nature, in-
spired them with new wonder,not unmix-
ed with terror, as they surveyed, in som<<
piacesits awful height, in others the over-
hanging projections of rock, which seem-
ed threatening them with destruction.
The boat, in which only one could be ad-
mitted to cross the water, gave them
some alarms, and the point of precedency
was unanimously yielded to Mr. Falkland,
who waited on the opposite side to re-
LS
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? 322 RQse BSHLY; OB,
ceivc them; but when they passed the
next water on tl>eir guide's shoulders,
their terrors were converted into merri-
ment; and Rose, in her . laughter, forget-
ting the torch she held hi her hand, nearly
extinguished. it against the poor man's
face.
On an elevation of rock, which.
hears. some resemblance to an orchestra,.
a groupe of singers, who had taken a dif-
ferent route, unseen. by the company, sud-
denly started up with lights in their handsr
and chaunted the 104th psalm. A narrow
bank of sand, raised in the summer by
the side of the stream which flows through
the cavern, conveyed them to its end,
where they saw written' up the names of
many adventurers, proud of their vaiour-
ous exploit in having proceeded to the
extremity of this subterraneous passage.
"When they returned, an exclamation of
delight burst from eyery. lip, on first per-
ceiving, through. the opening by which
they entered, the beautiful effect of day-.
light, which appears like a silver star;
On leaving the cavern, they climbed
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? SKETCHES Or Y0UTH! 423
up the steep hill to the castle, of which
history records little more than that it
was a garisoned baronial residence in the
reign of King John; and tradition re-
ports that it was built by a natural son of
William the conqueror; but as neither
the curiosity nor admiration of the pat ty
was much awakened by. this ruin, they
soon descended the hill, repaired to the
inn to take some refreshments, and re-
turned to Matlock in the evening, leav*
ing unexplored, for that time, the Speed-
well mine, and other wonders of the
Peak.
The,next day, as soon as dinner was
removed, a poor woman, neatly dressed,
entered the room with a basket of fruit
for the desert, leading by the arm a
blind boy, who held in his hand an open
paper, on which were written. a copy of
verses for the perusal of the company.
Rose was leaning over the arm of Isabel,
whose soft eyes were streaming with
tears as she read them, when a sudden
conviction of the author darted across
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? her mind ;;and, directing a quick and
intelligent glance at' Mr. Falkland, shor
pointed to. the paper; he replied by a.
nod and. smilja which told her she was
right in her conjectures. The paper was
returned to . the boy, who was desired by
some of the. company to repeat the lines,
which he did in a distinct and even
touching voice; the subject was him*
self; the sorrow was his own; the peti-
tion, that of poverty.
THE ADDRESS OF THE RLIND BOY.
0 ye! who blest with powers of sight,
,. . . Enjoy the friendly ray,
Give to the poor Wind boy your mite,
And gild his dark of day. . . . . .
By hire no snn w*S ever seen, *? .
No moon with nrbjt pale; ? '. '? 1 ^ ? "<<". '. . u
Ij And cloud-capt hills, and verdure green, i-. . "? ? [
Seem but an idle talc 1? 1u\yt
1 ? ? . . ? ? <? '? . . 'r ? . '. T
He hears of all the starry host,
The firmament on high; '*'/'
To hint creation's works afeJ lost, 's'-
But not the Deity!
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? SltRTeHKS OF >QUTH. 225
For In this darkness so profound,
He feels the chast'ning rod;
And 'midst the thunder's awful sound,
lie hears the mighty God.
For" His sake listen to the prayer
Of one so dead to joy,
And give the little you can spare,
To feed the yoor blind boy.
Many a moistened eye bore testimony
to this affecting appeal to their huma-
nity -, and the benevolent promoter of it
had . reason . to bless the powers of his
muse,. that, for a time, cheered the heart
of the afflicted, and enriched. the hand
of poverty. ' .
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? 226 ROW. AVT7 It. W }K9K?
S'. . lv. w o v. ? ( . '? ' . . ? .
i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
?
CHAP, XVI.
A gentleman, who was at the hotel, had
particularly attracted the observation of
Rose by a manner, which she consider-
ed, as the. very summit of politeness--
"He bows and smiles," she said, " more
than any person I ever saw, and seems
to compliment every one. " "True, my
love," replied her mother; *' yet I
should not consider these bows, smiles,
and compliments, as the result of real po-
liteness, but rather its mockery. " "In
what then, my dear mamma, does po-
liteness consist? " "Not entirely in
these exterior marks; genuine polite-
ness, to be graceful and consistent, must
have its seat in the heart, and its man-
ner may be defined by the concise and
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 227
e
beautiful expression of St. Paid, ' in ho-
nour preferring one another. ' No sel-
fishness must ever appear; for a wish to
promote the ease and comfort of others,
independent of our own, is one of the
first principles of this virtue.
"There is also an artificial politeness,
which the claims of society oblige us all
to assume, if the genuine quality be not
inherent in our natures; but its value is
that of a Bristol stone compared with a
diamond; it must not, however, be de-
spised or rejected; the ordinary com-
merce of the world demands from us a
strict attention to its customs and civi-
lities; and these can never be violated
without offence or rudeness. Without
any of the graces or polish of politeness,
a person will not be deficient*? ! ) its prin-
ciples, if he never irftentionally sports
with the feelings of a fellow-creature, by
looks, words, and actions.
'Large bounties to bestow we wish in vain,
But all may shun the guilt of giving pain,'
has been expressively said by a moderij
l6
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? 228 ROSE AND KMILY; Ott,
female writer; and the remark does equal
honour both to her head and heart. How
frequently have I seen an amiable mind
hurt by ill-timed raillery, or a^blunt re-
mark upon some peculiarity of person or
manner. You remember your uncle and
aunt, Richards, who visited us last sum-
mer. Both are fat, and, as they travelled
in their gig, a gentleman laughably ob-
served, theyJilfed it well: another, more
remarkable for his satirical than hi? , good
humour, added, that they would fill a,post-
chaise well. Your aunt, to whom thi&
ridicule was addressed, replied, ' Nay my
good friend, say a coach at oncebut
though she parried it'with sprightliness,
I saw a passing flush upon her cheek; and
a momentary look of vexation ; her? good
sense, and good humour,' soon, ? however,
banished the uneasiness these jo/res occa-
sioned^! ; Oh mamma," said . Rose,
"was it not that sleek-looking Mr. Ham-
mond who laughed at my aunt? I often
thought he jested a great deal too m. uch
upon her being fat^. and I thought. too,.
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH.
that if he were as fat, he would not be so
very ill-natured. I am sure he looks like
the skeleton knight who carried offthe fair
Imogen, and I wish my aunt had told him
so. " "His remark upon her, my love,
would have warranted 'the retort; but
your aunt was too kind,'and had too much
tr? ue poiite? icsstomiike n reply which would
have been wounding to his vanity,or mor-
tifying. to his self. love. No one can en-
dure to have the shafts of ridicule pointed
against himself. though so many are always ?
ready to aim'them at others; and the
petty pride of saying, as it may be thought,'
a clever thing, is frequently indulged
at the expence, not only of politeness,
but even humanity. I know no talent
more easily acquired, or more offensive
to society, than that of ridicule; very
moderate abilities will suffice for its at-
tainment; but persons who are unfortu-
nate enough to possess it, in attempting
to be witty, frequently become malevo-
lent,. When its object is to humble pride,
to repress conceit and affectation, or to
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