No More Learning

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? 0
ROSE AND EMILY;
OK,
SKETCHES OF YOUTH.
BY MRS. ROBERTS,
AUTHOR OF
MORAL VIEWS; OR, THE TELESCOPE
FOR CHILDREN.
I have been young, and now am old ; and yet saw I never
the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging tbeir bread--25tli
verse, Psalm xxxvii.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, & BROWN
PATERNOSTER. ROW; AND JOHN HARRIS,
ST. PAIL'S CHURCH-YARD.
1812.
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? ? MTMO COS tEQE UBf<<*>>
SIFT Of ,
twmo ptxavM. suiiuir
MVII, <? >>
K. HIackader, Printer, >
TooVs Court, Chancery. lane, London. J
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? ROSE AND' EMILY.
cha? . i%;
/ . t. 4 * ^
1 * # "*'
"WHITHER are you going in suck
"haste? " said Mr. Blandford to a pretty
little girl, whom he met rututing with a
swiftness which seemed urged by some
extraordinary occasion--" Whither are
you going? " "Mamma is very ill, Sir,
and I am going for the Doctor," replied
the child, throwing back the fine flaxen
ringlets that half concealed her face,
"What is your name ? *' "Rose Sydney,
Sir: but pray ask me no more questions.
for poor mamma is very ill. "
B
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? 2
ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
"Mamma ! " repeated Mr. Blandford,
as the girl flew from him--" what refine-
ment in this little rustic! "
Mr. Blandtbrd was what is termed, "Na
man of the world he had visited dif-
ferent countries, and observed, with no
superficial eye, their manners and cus-
toms. He had mixed in general society--
had marked the vices that too often dis-
grace it, without reflecting upon the vir-
tues that as frequently adorn it. He
viewed only the dark side of human na-
ture; and having been duped by some
men, he suspected all. He carried into
the world a heart replete with confidence,'
ajid every generous sentiment; he with-
drew from it with one contracted by dis-
: trust, and chilled by disappointment. In
a moment of discontent and displeasure,
he left the metropolis, and with his only
child Emily, (a girl often years of age,)
and. an elderly female servant, travelled
northward, undetermined where to re-
main, till, passing through a small village
in Derbyshire, whose humble habitations
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH'.
3
announced only the abodes of labourers
or mechanics, he stopped his carriage,
imagining that among them he should at
least find simplicity (a quality he con-
sidered as nearly allied to virtue,) and en-
gaged a lodging for the night at a small
public-house, which, however, was deno-
minated an inn. The pompous promises
of ** Good entertainment," &c. which it
hekl forth in golden letters to the passen-
ger, excited a sarcastic smile from Mr.
Blandford. Tlie low oheisance of the
landlord, and the many curtsies of the
good woman his wile, with their officious
zeal to procure him what he required, he
did not consider, as they really were, the
customary tokens of attention and grati-
tude, but as the servile and awkward imi-
tations of designing civility; and viewing
every thing with the jaundiced eye of sus-
picion, he began to doubt whether he had
met even with one object of his search, sim*
plicity, till, observing the " nicely sanded
floor," and white-washed walls of the little
parlour, he found it reigned in the dwell-
b2
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? 4 ROSE AND EMU Y OR,
ing, if not in the hearts of its inhabitants. ,
and secretly rejoicing they had not called
it an hotel, ordered dinner. . He then en-
quired of the landlord if there w as an un-
occupied house in the neighbourhood,
and was informed a very " genteel" one
was just vacant; "or there was the par-
sonage. " The next day he- looked over
the "genteel" tenement, which the tasty
landlord had recommended, and found it
accorded so well with his immediate
wishes, that he instantly engaged it.
It consisted of so few. rooms, that it was,
literally incapable of containing more
than the three beings who were to inhabit
it} but it was in neat repair, and the fur-
niture, though of the most common kind?
perfectly clean.
The surrounding country, which had
chiefly influenced Mr. Blandford's deter-
mination of stopping in this village, was
exquisitely beautiful. The Derwent
wound its wray through the fertile valley
in which it stood, and bold irregular hills
bounded ? he horizon. He was an enthu-
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? SKETCHES OF V0UTH. *5
siastic admirer of nature, and considered
the temporary inconvenience of an indif-
ferent house amply recomp6nsed by the
delight of contemplating the picturesque
scenery which on every side met his eye.
He had been a resident in the place but
a few days, when the beauty of our little
Rose attracted his attention, and her hur-
ried step prompted the enquiry of "Whi-
ther she was going? " He slowly pur-
sued his walk, and again the child passed
him weeping bitterly. "Why do you
cry? " said Mr. Blandford. "Oh Sir,
the Doctor is not at home, and he is not
expected till night--my poor mamma will
die. " "Let us hope not," replied Mr.
Blandford* "What is her complaint V*
"I cannot tell, Sir; but she never smiles
as she used to do, and Isabel says she is
very ill. " "And who is Isabel? " "My
sjster,Sir; she isverygoodtopoormamma,
and nurses her night and day. " "Shall I
go with you and see her? " said Mr.
Blandford. "Oh yes, Sir; pray, pray do,
if you are a Doctor. " ". Well, but if I
b3
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? 6
ROSE AND EMILY J. OH>>
am not a Doctor, I. may. be a friend;"
*' If you are a friendSir," said the child
eagerly > " come directly, for my mamma
told us yesterday she had. no. friend but
God, and he, you know, is in Heaven,
which is a long way off; my papa is
there top, and though mamma tells me he
is very happv, I cannot help wishing him
with us again; for when he was here, she
never cried, and now she cries very often. 5*
The little girl sighed as she concluded,
and Mr. Blandford affectionately took her
hand* "Ah," she said, "papa used to
take my hand. just so,. and. we had. such
nice. walks together! ''
A sudden impression that the innocent
prattle to which he had been irresistibly
yielding the kindest feelings of his heart,
was a trick of infancy, seized upon. his
imaginationand disengaging his hand
frQm her gentle grasp, he hastily said--<
"Go home, child, to your mother--. 1
cannot attend you. " *' Then," said Rose
timidly, "you are not mamma s friend*
as I thought. " "No, no--go your way. "
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. *1
The poor little girl, as she parted from
him, lifted up her blue eyes to his face
with an expression so soft and sorrowful*
that his heart upbraided him with injus-
tice and inhumanity; and hastily calling
her back, he again took her hand, saying
"I have changed my mind, and will go
with you to see your mother. " "Thank
you, Sir," said Rose. "Mamma will be
glad to see a friend"
A silence of some minutes ensued, till
they came within sight of a small thatch,
ed cottage, in appearance so very humble,
that Mr. Blandford's might indeed be
called a genteel mansion when compared
with this.
Rose suddenly exclaimed--
** Yonder are mamma and Isabel walking
in the garden and quitting hold of his
hand, bounded over the low stone wall
that surrounded the cottage. "Can
that be her mother," thought Mr. Bland-
ford, as he gazed on the graceful figure of
a woman leaning on the arm of an elegant
girl---*' Can they be the inhabitants of
such a place as this J" and he hesitated
B4
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? 8
ROSE AND EMILY } OR,
. whether to proceed or return--to pro-
ceed would require an apology, to return
would imply caprice; but whilst the foot
of freedom was arrested in its progress,
the eye of curiosity still dwelt on the
objects before him, and as he lingered on
the spot, he heard the anxious. enquiries
of the child, whilst fondly kissing the
hand held out to her. "Dear, de? . r
mamma, how are you now. ? I am so glad
to see you out. " "Do not speak so loud
and quick,my Rose,"said Isabel, "mamma
is better, but not well. " "I could not
find the Doctor," said Rose, lowering her
voice; "but I have brought a friend. "
Mrs. Sydney, turning her head, saw the
companion of her little girl, and ap<<
proaching him, apologised for her inatten-
tion, and invited him into the cottage to
impart his business. "I am ashamed to.
confess, madam, that I have none, and
concerned to find that I have obtruded
myself into a spot which sorrow and
sickness appear to have made sacred.
This little interesting girl attracted my
i
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? SKETCHES OF TOUTH.
9
attention, and irresistibly drew me hither;
she is at once the cause of my intrusion
and its apology. " Mrs. Sydney thanked
him for his praise*f her child, and assured
him as a mother she required nothing
more to be alleged in excuse for his visit*
"But I think it necessary," he added'
** to tell you my name--it is Blandford. I
am a mere idler--have been a resident of
this place only a few days, and am per-
fectly unacquainted with any of its inha-
bitants. The appellation of friend, which
accident has applied to me, I should be
most happy to confirm. May I enquire
if this be really your abode? ' ** For the
present it is. " "Pardon my curiosity,"
he continued, "perhaps, like myself, you
have chosen this spot for change? "
"Change indeed ! " sighed Mrs. Sydney.
"I perceive, Sir, you are a stranger here. "
Mr. Blandford s curiosity, though
strongly excited, was not of that selfish
nature which seeks its own gratification
at the expence of another's feelings, he7
? & 5 \ .
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? ]0 KOSE. ASfD EMILY; Oft,
therefore forbore any further . questions;
or observations. ; . anckfinding himself too
deeply interested to attempt general con-
versation, he only addej^thatas. he might.
probably reside in. the village a few.
months, he hoped she would permit him*
occasionally, as a neighbour, to enquire1
after her health. Mrs. Sydney thanked^
him,and Mr. BIandfprd, again apologising.
fcu\ his intrusion, departed. .
Iri. thelifc-thne of Mr. Sydney, his. house.
had often been the resort of. the stranger.
and iof the traveller. , who,. . accidentally.
attracted by the beauty of the situation,.
was observed,. . and. invited by its social .
owner to. share. the hospitality. of . his,
table; or, introduced to him through the.
medium of friends, became for . a time his
guest. . Mr. ' Blandford's visit,. therefore,
occasioned Mrs. . Sydney neither . embar- .
rassment nor surprise. . As. a stranger, it
was natural lie should explore every part.
of the village, and wish to become. ac-
quainted with its inhabitants; . as a .
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. :
11
stranger too, he was entitled to attention
and civility-"-. . ; 5 i ? ,. ';<<.
As he walked homewards, his mind
dwelt upon the accidental circumstance
of. his introduction to Mrs. Sydney and
her daughters. . In the mother he beheld
that graceful ease of manner frhicti. dis-
tinguishes the well educated woman j a
gentleness at once dignified and engaging,
which, whilst it invited friendship^ re-
pressed familiarity; and notwithstanding
the1 repeated deceptions he had met
with in human nature, he still considered
himself a skilful physiognomist, and he
traced in her countenance all the virtues
that elevate the female character in our
esteem, combined? with' those milder
charms that endear it to our affections.
The widow's sable habit told part of her;
tale of sorrow. Isabel was a fair girl o%
fifteen, ; but whilst the parent stem was
drooping, this blossom could . scatcely
raise her head.
e6
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? 12
ROSE AND EMILT; OR,
As his memory reflected back this in-
teresting groupe in theif humble cottage,
his opinion of the general depravity of'
human nature vanishelL He forgot
he had ever been duped by fafee appear-
ances, and he yielded for a moment to
the generous impulses of benevolence
and sympathy. He believed them
amiable--every thing pronounced them
unfortunate; but how often had he been
deceived! how many unworthy charac-
ters had appeared to him at first as esti-
mable as they did \ and as he thus pur-
sued the course of his reflections, dis-
trust gradually crept into his bosom,and he
began to hesitate whether or not he should
avail himself of the tacit permission he had
received from Mrs. Sydney to call again*
The next morning, after breakfast, he
went out, as usual, on a solitary ramble,
and passing through the church-yard,
paused to survey the grave stones. In
one corner, under the shade of a large
yew tree, which seemed to stand chief
mourner of the scene, he observed a
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. f ?
newly raised mound of earth, and on a
stone read these " rudely sculptured'*
lines.
"Sacred to the Memory of the
Rev. Henry Sidney^
Who died --.
Aged
After having been twenty years the pions
Pastor. of this garish.
This stone is erected by his sorrowful parishioners. *'
This " plain, unvarnished tale;" this
simple tribute to departed merit, touched
the heart of Mr. Blandfbrd, and he in-
stantly penetrated into the cause of Mrs.
Sydney's grief and situation. He felt
ashamed of the distrust that had induced
him for a moment to think she might be
unworthy, and determined to repair im-
mediately to her cottage; he found Rose
gathering some flowers. On seeing him,
she held out her little hand in welcome,
and began her artless chat. "This rose-
bud I have been watching a long time,
*nd thought it would never be a rose j
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? 14< ROSE AND EMILY }. OK,
but see, it is one. Ihavefounda piece'
of honeysuckle and jessamine, and mamma i
will be so pleased with them, for she*
Joves floweis. " "Is she at home ? " en-
quired Mr. Blandford. "Oh yes, mamma
never goes out, e . cept to see poor old
Martha, who is uyir. g. ' Can she, thought
Mr. Bhodfo. . d, who is so. ill herself, at-
tend to :he sutfe. ings of another ? " Tell
your mamma, my? sweet Rose, that I am
here, and ask if she will permit me to see
her. ' Away ran the. little girl, and re-
turning in a moment took his hand. to lead
Mm into the house. Isabel was working
by the side of her mother, who, to Mr. '
Blfindford's enquiries after her health,
replied she was better than the preceding
day; that her faintings had been . less
frequent, and she hoped he. r strength was
returning. After some general chat, he'
expressed, as delicately as he could, his
astonishment at finding a family such as
hers in so humble an habitation, and his
sincere sorrow for the event that must have
? ccasioned it--again hinting his hopes
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