I imagined they had seen a
little girl, who was their visitor, fall into
the well, and in equal, though less noisy
agony, I witnessed this scene of affliction.
little girl, who was their visitor, fall into
the well, and in equal, though less noisy
agony, I witnessed this scene of affliction.
Childrens - Roses and Emily
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 151
the inhabitants of the parsonage might
produce a transient emotion of curiosity;
but in, a scene where all is strange and
new, we seldom pause to make personal
comments or observations.
. Faithfully attached to each other, hap.
py in their own little society, Mrs. Sydney
and her daughters, Emily and thaeue
found that union of heart which renders
every relative or social tie firm and en-
dearing. Mr. Blandford had left England,
and in his tour frequently wrote to his
daughter and Mrs. Sydney, conjuring the
latter to be the 'guardian of his Emily
till . his return, however distant might
be that period. ? ? ':
The understanding of Emily was more
solid than shewy: she did not receive in-
struction quickly, but she retained all
that was imparted; she reflected and ex-
amined, and even doubted before she de-
termined. Distant, unless noticed; silent,
unless addressed; chitting, unless warmed
by kindness, her affections, like her ideas,
H4
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? 152 ROSE AND. EMILY; OR,
were slow in forming; but when formed,
they were fixed. Rose^on the contrary, the
child of whim, the votary of fancy, instant-
ly received and comprehended whatever
was imparted:. but her thoughts, rapid as
theraysof light,quickly chased each other
away, which rendered her memory less
retentive. than Emily's; and frequently
when her explanations have assisted her
friend in making the mysterious clear,
Emily has been ef equal use to Rose, in
recalling to her mind some events of
history, or rules of science which she had
forgotten. The heart of Rose expanded
in kindness to every human being; in
tenderness to the dumb creation; and for
the vegetable^ she felt an enthusiastic
admiration. Her unaffected gaiety, and
artless playfulness Would frequently in-
spire mirth and ease in the manner of the
naturdly reserved Emily, and draw her
into? the circle of innocent pleasures. --
"You sometimes make me laugh against
my will," she w. ould say,/' yet Hove you
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 153
Rose, even for making me laugh. " "I
laugh" Rose would reply, "because I
have nothing to make me sad: dear mam-
ma is well, and smiles upon us as she used
to do; Isabel is happy, and you are hap-
py, and so is our poor Phoebe; but if she
only . were sad, I could not laugh. How
beautiful is our garden Emily! I do not
wonder that Adam and Eve were so un-
happy when they left the garden of Eden;
I am sure I should be very sorry to leave
mine, for the more I am in it the more
I love it. " Emily blushed at the mention
of Adam. and Eve, but after a moment's
reflection, she said, smiling, "Do you
remember Rose, our quarrel about Adam
and Eve? " "My dear Emily I" exclaimed
Rose, "I remember it. now, but. indeed
I had quite forgotten it: pray forgive me
for recalling it to your memory. " "Yes
Rose, I :forgive you now with all my
heart: I am wiser. and better than I was
then, for am I not the child and pupil of
Mrs. Sydney! " Praise, however indirect,
h5
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? 164' ROSE AND EMILY; ORy
'to her mother, always brought a flush of
joy to the cheeks of Rose; she gave
Emily a kiss of gratitude, and then turned
to her flowers. ? < See Emily, I am raising
a plant to place on mamma's flower-stand,
on ber birth-day: I have chosen a balm
ofGilead; it is her emblem, for she is
balm to us. Isabel has a variegated ge-
ranium; she says it is like her life, a
mixture of light and shade; and what
will you have? " "A rose, I think," re-
plied Emily, smiling? and catching a
spark of her friend's fanciful appropria-
tions, "your emblem, arose,hut-not xvith-
out a thorn. " "Not without a thorn!
Emily; do I ever wound you? I would not
for the world, if I knew it. " I. am sure
you would not if you thought of it: but
do you not sometimes speak before you
think? " "I am afraid I do; but tell me
of my thorns or my faults, Emily, for that
will be kind: I love you as my sister, I
lqve you next to Isabel, and would not
4p or say any thing intentionally to hurt*
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 155
or vex either of you. " "Then I wish,
my dear Rose, you would not do or say
any thing to hurt or vex poor Phoebe; did
you not see hel>> cry yesterday when you
laughed at her. " *'I did not think she
would cry, Emily, or I would not have
laughed; yet who could forbear laughing
a little, when she told me she would give
my mamma a pot of honesty? " "I did not
laugh even a little, or feel inclined to
laugh . " "No* you did not laugh Emily,
but you must have thought it ridiculous. "
** I thought more of what was unkind/*
**0Emily," said Rose, bursting into tears,
"*if you blame me, I am sure I was wrong:
itis almost wicked to be unkind to Phoebe,
poor. Phoebe ! ? who has no mother as I
have. '' At that moment Phoebe appeared,
and Rose ran and kissed her affectionate-
ly: the delighted girl was all smiles afc
this tender greeting, and said, "I have
thought of something for your mamma's
birth-day, Rose, which. 1 hope you will
like: it is thishoneysuckle, and it seems
H6
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? 156 ROSE ANI>. EMILY; OR,
a little to resemble me, for so should I
fall to the ground," added she, sighing:,
unless your good mamma supported me/'
This simple fancy, whiah feeling and
gratitude inspired* was so in unison with.
her own, that Rose. instantly com-
mended her choice, and poor Phoebe
was happy.
Mrs. Bloomfield had brought up her
daughter. to be useful and industrious^,
Mrs. Sydney continued to *do the same y
for however;sheloved and compassionated
the child, she considered that as. she was
born in an humble rank. of life, and pro-
bably destined to . fill . such a ,one, it might
render her discontented to raise her ideasy
or alter her habits, by any artificial; re-
finements, or mistaken indulgences: the
superintendance of their little dairy, the
care of the poultry, and many other do-
mestic employments, were assigned her,.
to which she paid a. scrupulous and un-.
remitting attention. Phoebe's mind and
wishes accorded with her situation: she
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 157
was. taught to read and write, and some-
thing of accounts: more than these she
never aspired to know, and always took
her lower seat, either at work or at table,
cheerful, grateful, and contented; never
soliciting a favour, or presuming upon a
kindness.
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? 158 ROSE AND EMILY J OR,
CHAP. XI.
A second and a third winter succeeded,
and a little robin was frequently seen at
the window petitioning for food, which;
was liberally dispensed: when Rose was
in the garden, it came immediately to
her call; hopped after her from branch
to branch; answered her chirp, and
picked the crumbs from her hand. One
morning she missed her unfortunate fa-
vourite at the accustomed place, and too
soon discovered it in the mouth of her
cat; in vain she attempted its rescue; her
exertions only prolonged. its sufferings.
Puss was hungry, and her prey was too
closely seized to be saved. Rose was
inconsolable; inveighed against the bar-
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 159
barity of the cat, which she would not
allow to enter the parlour; refused her
breakfast, and yielded to an agony of
tears, and an extravagance of grief, that
she had never shewn before. Her mother
expostulated with her upon the impro-
priety of such an excess of sorrow for a
bird, and the unreasonableness* of such
resentment against a cat; reminded her
that birds were, as much as mice, the
natural prey of cats; and thnt in taking
them, they only followed the. impulse
ordained by Providence; but no ar-
guments could assuage her grief for the
bird, or abate her displeasure towards
the cat, which she declared she should
never like again. Exhausted at length,
by the indulgence ot her fetelings, she sat
down at the feet of her mother, and lay-
ing her head on her lap, coirrplained of a.
headache. "I am not surprised at it my
child," said Mrs. Sydney, "and I have
been concerned to observe such un-
restrained expressions of grief, which a
little reflection would have taught you to
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? 160 ROSE AND'EMILY J or,
moderate. You might naturally feel re-
gret for the loss of your favourite, and
horror at the manner of its death: but
there are happily few circumstances in
our lives which can justify such unbound-
ed lamentations as. your's ? have been, and
this you will allow is not one of them.
Such extravagant effusions of grief as you
have yielded to, betray a. weakness of
mind, and a want of self-command,
which, in the course of your life, will
occasion you many hours of misery* To
restrain the excess of our feelings, is as
much a duty we owe to others as to our-
selves: do you think I could Witness your
emotions, or hear the expressions of your
agony; this: morning, without a degree
of agitation? I saw Isabel in tears, which
she endeavoured'to conceal; Emily sat
in silent sorrow, and 'Phoebe could not
eat her breakfast? "--Isabel and Emily
just then entered the room/ and Mrs.
Sydney explaining to them the subject of
her conversation with Rose<<, continued:
"I would most earnestly caution you all,
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 161
my dear girls, against the indulgence of
that morbid sensibility, which yields,
without resistance, to every sudden im-
pression. I do not know a more trou-
blesome or disagreeable companion than
a person who shrieks, faints, or sheds
tears at every trifling terror, (a terror
which some whim of the imagination
generally conjures up,) or some equally
insignificant cause of regret: so far from
exciting interest or sympathy in us, who
witness these symptoms of childish weak-
ness, we are more inclined to feel con-
tempt; and though we may offer relief
or assistance, we cannot bestow pity. By
indulging the excess of our emotions, the
mind loses that strength which should be
its support in times of real affliction; and
is unable to sustain with fortitude the
many trying calamities that m? y assail us
in our pilgrimage through this life. I
will relate a circumstance that occurred
some years ago when I was upon a visit
to a family who imagined that sensibility
possessed a powerful charm over the af- <<
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? 162
ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
fections, and was the only test of what
? they termed "soul;" that it revealed
itself on every trivial occasion, in tears,
screams, hysterics, faintings, and the
most frantic gestures; and their practice
certainly ccorded with this opinion.
"The lady had two daughters. One
morning as we were sitt. ng nt work in a
little parlour that fronted a field, in the
coi ner of which was a deep well, Anna,
the eldest daughter, gave a piercing
shriek; her sister echoed it, and the mo-
ther loudly exclaimed,' What is the mat-
ter V 'Oh! the well is open; she has
fallen in, and sh<< is dead,' they exclaim-
ed. Instantly all became confusion, and
nothing was heard but screams and la-
mentations.
I imagined they had seen a
little girl, who was their visitor, fall into
the well, and in equal, though less noisy
agony, I witnessed this scene of affliction.
I sought to sooth the mother, and intreat-
ed the girls to see if any thing could be
done to restore the object of their grief.
* O no, she is dead, she is dead; I saw
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? SKETCI1KS OF YOUTH.
163
her carried in dead. ' 'Perhaps not,' I
said, ' I will go, but for ' pity's sake do
not let your mother see her at present;'
but they all at once rushed out of the
room, saying they must see Fanny; she
was such a nice creature, such a beauty,
such a darling, such a treasure! I fol-
lowed in the hope of being able to miti-
gate the first transports of their grief
when they beheld the child; but judge
of my surprise when, in this dear, inte-
resting, and nice creature, this darling,
this beauty, this treasure, I saw an old
goat, whom they called Fanny! I could
not refrain from laughing heartily. 1 I ,
congratulate you,' I said, ' that it is only
the old goat. ' * Why, what did you sup-
pose it to be? ' said the mother angrily.
'Fanny Seymour certainly. ' * O ho,
thank Cod it is not she. 'Then my
dear madam,' I said, ' dry up your tears
and compose yourself; for though you
may have lost a valuable animal, do not
grieve as if it had been achildor a friend. '
In vain I remonstrated, soothed, or ad-
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? HOSE AND EMILY J 'OK,
vised; the stream of sorrow flowed till
it had exhausted itself, and in the even-
ing they were all nervous from excessive
agitation, and all complained of their ex-
treme sensibility! This kind of silly feel-
ing is humourously described by a mo-
dern poet. A lady, who possessed it to the
most exquisite degree ofrefinement,boasts
of having inspired her husband with the
same, and says--
* To that pitch of perfection I brought the dear man.
That he'd weep o'er the withering leaf (C)f a rose>
And smile at the thorn, though it wounded his nose. *
From such pains and pleasures, may you,
my dearest girls, always be exempt. "
In consequence of her mother's re-
monstrances, Rose was convinced of the
folly of her excessive grief for her bird,
and the unreasonableness of her resent-
ment towards her cat; the subject was
not revived, and she endeavoured to di-
vert her thoughts from dwelling upon it,
by returning to her employments as usual.
Nearly six years had now elapsed since.
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. ]6?
Mrs. Sydney's return to the parsonage;
their progress had been smooth, but not
dull; unmarked by any strong incidents
of novelty, but replete with the tender
interests of affection. She cherished in
her heart the images of her husband and
son; but her grief, though deep, was
silent; though unsubdued, it was yet
softened; for she could not endure to
check the returning cheerfulness of Isa-
bel, or cloud the happiness of Hose and
Emily, by the outward Indulgence of re-
grets which, she knew, it was her duty,
both as a mother and a christian, as much
as possible, to conquer. The habit of
self-controul, which she thus constantly
practised, not only gave composure to
her manner, but at length fortified her
mind; and time, " as he rolled his cease-
less course," gently drew from her bo-
som the arrow of affliction.
Emily,inhercorrespondencewithherfa-
ther, expressed that warm affection which
neither absence nor circumstances can
ever diminish in the breast of an amiable
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? 166 HOSE AND EMILY J OK,
child for a parent. Her letters conveyed
the strongest proofs of her improvement;
her language was simple, yet energetic;
correct, yet unstudied; her gratitude
and attachment to Mrs. Sydney and her
daughters, were painted in the glowing
colours of truth and feeling; " and could
shebutseehim,"shewouldfrequent! yadd,
"she should not have a wish ungratified. "
It was Mrs. Sydney's care to instil
into the minds of her children, an early
sense of the duties of religion, and a
thorough knowledge of those great truths
which are revealed to us in the New
Testament, as the b*'sis of our faith, and
of our hopes in Heaven. She had her-
self known what comfort in affliction,
what blessings even in prosperity, result
from an early knowledge of our Creator
and his promises. Religion, like the dew
of Heaven to the drooping plants, re-
freshes the fainting tra\eller; and he
pursues his journey with strength and
cheerfulness. It is the guide of the
young, and the staff of the aged; atrea-
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 16. 7
sure in the bosom of poverty; and opens
to the wretched a bright prospect of hap-"
piness, when all in this world is involved
"in clouds and darkness/'
It was not from works of modern theo-'
logy, or disquisitional tracts, that she in-
structed them in the principles of their
faith, but she led them to the fountain
of truth itself, the Bible. Thus taught
to know, and to " remember their Creator
in the days of their youth," their belief
was pure and steady; their morality was
grafted on the tree of knowledge, whose
root was charity,andwhose branches were
benevolence; it embraced all human
kind, expanding its arms to protect the
injured, and shelter the afflicted.
Reading was not with them a mere re-
petition of words properly pronounced,
or as a transient amusement; they were
taught to reason, reflect, and comment
upon what they read. In history, which
unfolded to them the events of former
times, they compared past with present
periods; and learnt the vicissitudes and
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? 168 ROSE AND EMILY; OH,
uncertainty of all sublunary things. --
While Mrs. Sydney's was thus endeavour-
ing to lay in their hearts the foundation of
virtue, and to sow in their mind the seeds
of instruction, when the serious lessons of
the day were over, she indulged them in
the lighter works of genius or fancy.
Their secluded life rendered it necessary
to cultivate in themselves every innocent
resource that might yield them amuse-
ment; and while Isabel, in her pursuit
after natural beauties that afforded sub-
ject for her pencil, climbed the steepest
heights, and looked down precipices,
which the nymphs of the south would
tremble at even in description; while
Emily hung on the arm of Mrs. Sydney,
listening to the precepts of instruction,
and catching wisdom from those lips on
which was ever " the law of kindness,"
Rose, the enthusiast of nature, feeling,
and fancy, would either accompany her
sister in sketching, walk by the side of
her mother and Emily, or fly to her
flowers with Phoebe, who was always her
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? SKETOlifcS OF YOUTH. 169
*
companion, ready to assist in. Tier little
labours, and accelerate her wishes. The
arbour, which was now lately trained,
where the woodbine and clematis mingled
in rich luxuriance, was her favourite seat;
and here, while Phcebe listened, she
would read the Botanic Garden, the En-
chanted Plants, and Fables of Flora;
these held a distinguished place in her
favour, as they personified her vegetable
favourites, and gave them thought and
language; her ear quickly caught the
harmony of verse, and she began "to
number syllables, and play with rhime. "
Timidly, and immediately after retiring
to conceal her confusion, she put into
her mother's hand an
INVOCATION TO THIS VIOLET.
Blue. eyed daughter of the spring,
Herald sweet of brighter flowers,
Haste, and to these vallies brine
Warmer skies and fairer hours.
Now the wintry storms are past,
. . ? Spring begin* her golden reign 5
Tear no more the icy blast,
Mingle in fair Flora's train.
I
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? nO . ROSE AKD EMILY } OR,
On the wide-extended heath.
Or within the lowly vale.
Let me catch thy balmy breath.
Wafted by the passing gale.
Hid beneath thy leafy shade.
Shrinking from the careless eye.
Heaven thy safe abode has made,
There, sweet bud! to bloom and die.
Emblem of my Phoebe's mind.
In thee, modest flower, I see
Nature's blossom unrefin'd,
Type of pure simplicity.
Sweetest bud that drinks the dew,
Hasten to this happy plain;
Spring shall all thy charms renew,
Fading, but to bloom again.
When Mrs. Sydney had perused the
lines,she wrote on the back with a pencil;
"Perish the love that deadens young desire!
Pursue, poor imp, th' imaginary charm,
Indulge gay Hope, and Fancy's pleasing fire:
Fancy and Hope too soon shall of themselves expire. ''
Mrs. Sydney herself sometimes in-
dulged in the wanderings of the muse,
and would not check this early testimony
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? SJtEtCHES OF YOUTft. 1? 1
of a talent which to her had been a source
of amusement* occasionally had dissipated
the cloud of sorrow, beguiled time of
some of his weary moments, and even
stolen from disappointment the sting
that might have rankled in her bosom.
The encouragement given in the pen-
cilled lines, from one of her favourite
poets (Beattie) delighted and gratified
Rose; and she eagerly sought her mo-
ther to express her thanks. "You shall
not, my love," said Mrs. Sydney, " be
tried by the laws of poetry, but by those
of affection; therefore do not fear sub-
mitting your verse, * with all its imper-
fections on its head,' to those who will
kindly correct, and not rigidly condemn.
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? 172
ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
CHAP. XII.
Emily had now attained her sixteenth
year; and as Mrs. Sydney surveyed her
fine graceful figure, and her intelli-
gent countenance; as she marked the
maturing virtues of her mind, the excel-
lence of her understanding, and the con-
ciliating dignity of her manner, shethought
how the heart of the father would exult in
his child, and with what pride and delight
she should restore her to him ; but he still
mentioned the time of his return as un-
fixed, though he hoped not very distant.
In the same letter he expressed a wish
that Mrs. Sydney would consent to leave
her home for a few weeks, in order to
shew Emily some of the wonders and
beauties of Derbyshire, many of which
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? SKEfclItfS 0F tOtTH. '178
were only a few miles distant from their
residence; and first recommended Mat-
lock, both for scenery and vicinity.
To our sequestered family, this little
excursion was so novel, that it excited a
mixture of interest, pleasure, and appre-
hension. So many years had elapsed
since Mrs. Sydney had been there; so
many changes had happened since that
time, that even she had her terrors, from
the journey, short as it was; but more
from the mingled and crowded mass of
society which she must encounter at such.
a place; but it was the wish of Mr.
Blandford, and she held herself bound to
fulfil it. She was also in too responsible
a situation to yield to her own feelings;
and, by one of those efforts of reason and
self-command, which she had taught her-
self to acquire and practise, she appeared
to think of it as a plan of great pleasure,
and endeavoured to laugh away the fear-
ful anticipations of her daughters and
Emily, to whom the prospect of so public
a place seemed fraught with alarms ; yet
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? 114 ROSE AND EMIiiY; OR,
. novelty had its attraction, and the plan
? was determined upon. Isabel som etimes
timidly wished to remain athome; even the
wild-hearted Rose, much as her fancy had
long. dwelt on Matlock, and much as she
then thought she should laugh at the many
funny-looking people she should see there,
shrunk at the idea that she also would be
seen, and might also be laughed at.
Emily, though she was happy with Mrs.
Sydney, and in the retirement of the par-
sonage, was pleased at the idea of seeing
a new place $ while Phoebe thought only,
;that she should still be with the friends
most dear to her*
It would have created a smile in the
face of the gravest philosopher to see
the preparations of Rose (now fourteen)
for this important journey, this intro-
duction into society. Fox several days
she and Phoebe were almost entirely shut
up in a small apartment, which had been
originally, a play-room, and was now a
general receptacle for things not in use*
At length Mrs, Sydney requested to be
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 175
admitted into the room, to be informed
of the subject of their conferences, and
the cause of their concealment.
? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 151
the inhabitants of the parsonage might
produce a transient emotion of curiosity;
but in, a scene where all is strange and
new, we seldom pause to make personal
comments or observations.
. Faithfully attached to each other, hap.
py in their own little society, Mrs. Sydney
and her daughters, Emily and thaeue
found that union of heart which renders
every relative or social tie firm and en-
dearing. Mr. Blandford had left England,
and in his tour frequently wrote to his
daughter and Mrs. Sydney, conjuring the
latter to be the 'guardian of his Emily
till . his return, however distant might
be that period. ? ? ':
The understanding of Emily was more
solid than shewy: she did not receive in-
struction quickly, but she retained all
that was imparted; she reflected and ex-
amined, and even doubted before she de-
termined. Distant, unless noticed; silent,
unless addressed; chitting, unless warmed
by kindness, her affections, like her ideas,
H4
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? 152 ROSE AND. EMILY; OR,
were slow in forming; but when formed,
they were fixed. Rose^on the contrary, the
child of whim, the votary of fancy, instant-
ly received and comprehended whatever
was imparted:. but her thoughts, rapid as
theraysof light,quickly chased each other
away, which rendered her memory less
retentive. than Emily's; and frequently
when her explanations have assisted her
friend in making the mysterious clear,
Emily has been ef equal use to Rose, in
recalling to her mind some events of
history, or rules of science which she had
forgotten. The heart of Rose expanded
in kindness to every human being; in
tenderness to the dumb creation; and for
the vegetable^ she felt an enthusiastic
admiration. Her unaffected gaiety, and
artless playfulness Would frequently in-
spire mirth and ease in the manner of the
naturdly reserved Emily, and draw her
into? the circle of innocent pleasures. --
"You sometimes make me laugh against
my will," she w. ould say,/' yet Hove you
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 153
Rose, even for making me laugh. " "I
laugh" Rose would reply, "because I
have nothing to make me sad: dear mam-
ma is well, and smiles upon us as she used
to do; Isabel is happy, and you are hap-
py, and so is our poor Phoebe; but if she
only . were sad, I could not laugh. How
beautiful is our garden Emily! I do not
wonder that Adam and Eve were so un-
happy when they left the garden of Eden;
I am sure I should be very sorry to leave
mine, for the more I am in it the more
I love it. " Emily blushed at the mention
of Adam. and Eve, but after a moment's
reflection, she said, smiling, "Do you
remember Rose, our quarrel about Adam
and Eve? " "My dear Emily I" exclaimed
Rose, "I remember it. now, but. indeed
I had quite forgotten it: pray forgive me
for recalling it to your memory. " "Yes
Rose, I :forgive you now with all my
heart: I am wiser. and better than I was
then, for am I not the child and pupil of
Mrs. Sydney! " Praise, however indirect,
h5
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? 164' ROSE AND EMILY; ORy
'to her mother, always brought a flush of
joy to the cheeks of Rose; she gave
Emily a kiss of gratitude, and then turned
to her flowers. ? < See Emily, I am raising
a plant to place on mamma's flower-stand,
on ber birth-day: I have chosen a balm
ofGilead; it is her emblem, for she is
balm to us. Isabel has a variegated ge-
ranium; she says it is like her life, a
mixture of light and shade; and what
will you have? " "A rose, I think," re-
plied Emily, smiling? and catching a
spark of her friend's fanciful appropria-
tions, "your emblem, arose,hut-not xvith-
out a thorn. " "Not without a thorn!
Emily; do I ever wound you? I would not
for the world, if I knew it. " I. am sure
you would not if you thought of it: but
do you not sometimes speak before you
think? " "I am afraid I do; but tell me
of my thorns or my faults, Emily, for that
will be kind: I love you as my sister, I
lqve you next to Isabel, and would not
4p or say any thing intentionally to hurt*
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 155
or vex either of you. " "Then I wish,
my dear Rose, you would not do or say
any thing to hurt or vex poor Phoebe; did
you not see hel>> cry yesterday when you
laughed at her. " *'I did not think she
would cry, Emily, or I would not have
laughed; yet who could forbear laughing
a little, when she told me she would give
my mamma a pot of honesty? " "I did not
laugh even a little, or feel inclined to
laugh . " "No* you did not laugh Emily,
but you must have thought it ridiculous. "
** I thought more of what was unkind/*
**0Emily," said Rose, bursting into tears,
"*if you blame me, I am sure I was wrong:
itis almost wicked to be unkind to Phoebe,
poor. Phoebe ! ? who has no mother as I
have. '' At that moment Phoebe appeared,
and Rose ran and kissed her affectionate-
ly: the delighted girl was all smiles afc
this tender greeting, and said, "I have
thought of something for your mamma's
birth-day, Rose, which. 1 hope you will
like: it is thishoneysuckle, and it seems
H6
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? 156 ROSE ANI>. EMILY; OR,
a little to resemble me, for so should I
fall to the ground," added she, sighing:,
unless your good mamma supported me/'
This simple fancy, whiah feeling and
gratitude inspired* was so in unison with.
her own, that Rose. instantly com-
mended her choice, and poor Phoebe
was happy.
Mrs. Bloomfield had brought up her
daughter. to be useful and industrious^,
Mrs. Sydney continued to *do the same y
for however;sheloved and compassionated
the child, she considered that as. she was
born in an humble rank. of life, and pro-
bably destined to . fill . such a ,one, it might
render her discontented to raise her ideasy
or alter her habits, by any artificial; re-
finements, or mistaken indulgences: the
superintendance of their little dairy, the
care of the poultry, and many other do-
mestic employments, were assigned her,.
to which she paid a. scrupulous and un-.
remitting attention. Phoebe's mind and
wishes accorded with her situation: she
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 157
was. taught to read and write, and some-
thing of accounts: more than these she
never aspired to know, and always took
her lower seat, either at work or at table,
cheerful, grateful, and contented; never
soliciting a favour, or presuming upon a
kindness.
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? 158 ROSE AND EMILY J OR,
CHAP. XI.
A second and a third winter succeeded,
and a little robin was frequently seen at
the window petitioning for food, which;
was liberally dispensed: when Rose was
in the garden, it came immediately to
her call; hopped after her from branch
to branch; answered her chirp, and
picked the crumbs from her hand. One
morning she missed her unfortunate fa-
vourite at the accustomed place, and too
soon discovered it in the mouth of her
cat; in vain she attempted its rescue; her
exertions only prolonged. its sufferings.
Puss was hungry, and her prey was too
closely seized to be saved. Rose was
inconsolable; inveighed against the bar-
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 159
barity of the cat, which she would not
allow to enter the parlour; refused her
breakfast, and yielded to an agony of
tears, and an extravagance of grief, that
she had never shewn before. Her mother
expostulated with her upon the impro-
priety of such an excess of sorrow for a
bird, and the unreasonableness* of such
resentment against a cat; reminded her
that birds were, as much as mice, the
natural prey of cats; and thnt in taking
them, they only followed the. impulse
ordained by Providence; but no ar-
guments could assuage her grief for the
bird, or abate her displeasure towards
the cat, which she declared she should
never like again. Exhausted at length,
by the indulgence ot her fetelings, she sat
down at the feet of her mother, and lay-
ing her head on her lap, coirrplained of a.
headache. "I am not surprised at it my
child," said Mrs. Sydney, "and I have
been concerned to observe such un-
restrained expressions of grief, which a
little reflection would have taught you to
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? 160 ROSE AND'EMILY J or,
moderate. You might naturally feel re-
gret for the loss of your favourite, and
horror at the manner of its death: but
there are happily few circumstances in
our lives which can justify such unbound-
ed lamentations as. your's ? have been, and
this you will allow is not one of them.
Such extravagant effusions of grief as you
have yielded to, betray a. weakness of
mind, and a want of self-command,
which, in the course of your life, will
occasion you many hours of misery* To
restrain the excess of our feelings, is as
much a duty we owe to others as to our-
selves: do you think I could Witness your
emotions, or hear the expressions of your
agony; this: morning, without a degree
of agitation? I saw Isabel in tears, which
she endeavoured'to conceal; Emily sat
in silent sorrow, and 'Phoebe could not
eat her breakfast? "--Isabel and Emily
just then entered the room/ and Mrs.
Sydney explaining to them the subject of
her conversation with Rose<<, continued:
"I would most earnestly caution you all,
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 161
my dear girls, against the indulgence of
that morbid sensibility, which yields,
without resistance, to every sudden im-
pression. I do not know a more trou-
blesome or disagreeable companion than
a person who shrieks, faints, or sheds
tears at every trifling terror, (a terror
which some whim of the imagination
generally conjures up,) or some equally
insignificant cause of regret: so far from
exciting interest or sympathy in us, who
witness these symptoms of childish weak-
ness, we are more inclined to feel con-
tempt; and though we may offer relief
or assistance, we cannot bestow pity. By
indulging the excess of our emotions, the
mind loses that strength which should be
its support in times of real affliction; and
is unable to sustain with fortitude the
many trying calamities that m? y assail us
in our pilgrimage through this life. I
will relate a circumstance that occurred
some years ago when I was upon a visit
to a family who imagined that sensibility
possessed a powerful charm over the af- <<
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? 162
ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
fections, and was the only test of what
? they termed "soul;" that it revealed
itself on every trivial occasion, in tears,
screams, hysterics, faintings, and the
most frantic gestures; and their practice
certainly ccorded with this opinion.
"The lady had two daughters. One
morning as we were sitt. ng nt work in a
little parlour that fronted a field, in the
coi ner of which was a deep well, Anna,
the eldest daughter, gave a piercing
shriek; her sister echoed it, and the mo-
ther loudly exclaimed,' What is the mat-
ter V 'Oh! the well is open; she has
fallen in, and sh<< is dead,' they exclaim-
ed. Instantly all became confusion, and
nothing was heard but screams and la-
mentations.
I imagined they had seen a
little girl, who was their visitor, fall into
the well, and in equal, though less noisy
agony, I witnessed this scene of affliction.
I sought to sooth the mother, and intreat-
ed the girls to see if any thing could be
done to restore the object of their grief.
* O no, she is dead, she is dead; I saw
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? SKETCI1KS OF YOUTH.
163
her carried in dead. ' 'Perhaps not,' I
said, ' I will go, but for ' pity's sake do
not let your mother see her at present;'
but they all at once rushed out of the
room, saying they must see Fanny; she
was such a nice creature, such a beauty,
such a darling, such a treasure! I fol-
lowed in the hope of being able to miti-
gate the first transports of their grief
when they beheld the child; but judge
of my surprise when, in this dear, inte-
resting, and nice creature, this darling,
this beauty, this treasure, I saw an old
goat, whom they called Fanny! I could
not refrain from laughing heartily. 1 I ,
congratulate you,' I said, ' that it is only
the old goat. ' * Why, what did you sup-
pose it to be? ' said the mother angrily.
'Fanny Seymour certainly. ' * O ho,
thank Cod it is not she. 'Then my
dear madam,' I said, ' dry up your tears
and compose yourself; for though you
may have lost a valuable animal, do not
grieve as if it had been achildor a friend. '
In vain I remonstrated, soothed, or ad-
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? HOSE AND EMILY J 'OK,
vised; the stream of sorrow flowed till
it had exhausted itself, and in the even-
ing they were all nervous from excessive
agitation, and all complained of their ex-
treme sensibility! This kind of silly feel-
ing is humourously described by a mo-
dern poet. A lady, who possessed it to the
most exquisite degree ofrefinement,boasts
of having inspired her husband with the
same, and says--
* To that pitch of perfection I brought the dear man.
That he'd weep o'er the withering leaf (C)f a rose>
And smile at the thorn, though it wounded his nose. *
From such pains and pleasures, may you,
my dearest girls, always be exempt. "
In consequence of her mother's re-
monstrances, Rose was convinced of the
folly of her excessive grief for her bird,
and the unreasonableness of her resent-
ment towards her cat; the subject was
not revived, and she endeavoured to di-
vert her thoughts from dwelling upon it,
by returning to her employments as usual.
Nearly six years had now elapsed since.
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. ]6?
Mrs. Sydney's return to the parsonage;
their progress had been smooth, but not
dull; unmarked by any strong incidents
of novelty, but replete with the tender
interests of affection. She cherished in
her heart the images of her husband and
son; but her grief, though deep, was
silent; though unsubdued, it was yet
softened; for she could not endure to
check the returning cheerfulness of Isa-
bel, or cloud the happiness of Hose and
Emily, by the outward Indulgence of re-
grets which, she knew, it was her duty,
both as a mother and a christian, as much
as possible, to conquer. The habit of
self-controul, which she thus constantly
practised, not only gave composure to
her manner, but at length fortified her
mind; and time, " as he rolled his cease-
less course," gently drew from her bo-
som the arrow of affliction.
Emily,inhercorrespondencewithherfa-
ther, expressed that warm affection which
neither absence nor circumstances can
ever diminish in the breast of an amiable
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? 166 HOSE AND EMILY J OK,
child for a parent. Her letters conveyed
the strongest proofs of her improvement;
her language was simple, yet energetic;
correct, yet unstudied; her gratitude
and attachment to Mrs. Sydney and her
daughters, were painted in the glowing
colours of truth and feeling; " and could
shebutseehim,"shewouldfrequent! yadd,
"she should not have a wish ungratified. "
It was Mrs. Sydney's care to instil
into the minds of her children, an early
sense of the duties of religion, and a
thorough knowledge of those great truths
which are revealed to us in the New
Testament, as the b*'sis of our faith, and
of our hopes in Heaven. She had her-
self known what comfort in affliction,
what blessings even in prosperity, result
from an early knowledge of our Creator
and his promises. Religion, like the dew
of Heaven to the drooping plants, re-
freshes the fainting tra\eller; and he
pursues his journey with strength and
cheerfulness. It is the guide of the
young, and the staff of the aged; atrea-
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 16. 7
sure in the bosom of poverty; and opens
to the wretched a bright prospect of hap-"
piness, when all in this world is involved
"in clouds and darkness/'
It was not from works of modern theo-'
logy, or disquisitional tracts, that she in-
structed them in the principles of their
faith, but she led them to the fountain
of truth itself, the Bible. Thus taught
to know, and to " remember their Creator
in the days of their youth," their belief
was pure and steady; their morality was
grafted on the tree of knowledge, whose
root was charity,andwhose branches were
benevolence; it embraced all human
kind, expanding its arms to protect the
injured, and shelter the afflicted.
Reading was not with them a mere re-
petition of words properly pronounced,
or as a transient amusement; they were
taught to reason, reflect, and comment
upon what they read. In history, which
unfolded to them the events of former
times, they compared past with present
periods; and learnt the vicissitudes and
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? 168 ROSE AND EMILY; OH,
uncertainty of all sublunary things. --
While Mrs. Sydney's was thus endeavour-
ing to lay in their hearts the foundation of
virtue, and to sow in their mind the seeds
of instruction, when the serious lessons of
the day were over, she indulged them in
the lighter works of genius or fancy.
Their secluded life rendered it necessary
to cultivate in themselves every innocent
resource that might yield them amuse-
ment; and while Isabel, in her pursuit
after natural beauties that afforded sub-
ject for her pencil, climbed the steepest
heights, and looked down precipices,
which the nymphs of the south would
tremble at even in description; while
Emily hung on the arm of Mrs. Sydney,
listening to the precepts of instruction,
and catching wisdom from those lips on
which was ever " the law of kindness,"
Rose, the enthusiast of nature, feeling,
and fancy, would either accompany her
sister in sketching, walk by the side of
her mother and Emily, or fly to her
flowers with Phoebe, who was always her
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? SKETOlifcS OF YOUTH. 169
*
companion, ready to assist in. Tier little
labours, and accelerate her wishes. The
arbour, which was now lately trained,
where the woodbine and clematis mingled
in rich luxuriance, was her favourite seat;
and here, while Phcebe listened, she
would read the Botanic Garden, the En-
chanted Plants, and Fables of Flora;
these held a distinguished place in her
favour, as they personified her vegetable
favourites, and gave them thought and
language; her ear quickly caught the
harmony of verse, and she began "to
number syllables, and play with rhime. "
Timidly, and immediately after retiring
to conceal her confusion, she put into
her mother's hand an
INVOCATION TO THIS VIOLET.
Blue. eyed daughter of the spring,
Herald sweet of brighter flowers,
Haste, and to these vallies brine
Warmer skies and fairer hours.
Now the wintry storms are past,
. . ? Spring begin* her golden reign 5
Tear no more the icy blast,
Mingle in fair Flora's train.
I
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? nO . ROSE AKD EMILY } OR,
On the wide-extended heath.
Or within the lowly vale.
Let me catch thy balmy breath.
Wafted by the passing gale.
Hid beneath thy leafy shade.
Shrinking from the careless eye.
Heaven thy safe abode has made,
There, sweet bud! to bloom and die.
Emblem of my Phoebe's mind.
In thee, modest flower, I see
Nature's blossom unrefin'd,
Type of pure simplicity.
Sweetest bud that drinks the dew,
Hasten to this happy plain;
Spring shall all thy charms renew,
Fading, but to bloom again.
When Mrs. Sydney had perused the
lines,she wrote on the back with a pencil;
"Perish the love that deadens young desire!
Pursue, poor imp, th' imaginary charm,
Indulge gay Hope, and Fancy's pleasing fire:
Fancy and Hope too soon shall of themselves expire. ''
Mrs. Sydney herself sometimes in-
dulged in the wanderings of the muse,
and would not check this early testimony
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? SJtEtCHES OF YOUTft. 1? 1
of a talent which to her had been a source
of amusement* occasionally had dissipated
the cloud of sorrow, beguiled time of
some of his weary moments, and even
stolen from disappointment the sting
that might have rankled in her bosom.
The encouragement given in the pen-
cilled lines, from one of her favourite
poets (Beattie) delighted and gratified
Rose; and she eagerly sought her mo-
ther to express her thanks. "You shall
not, my love," said Mrs. Sydney, " be
tried by the laws of poetry, but by those
of affection; therefore do not fear sub-
mitting your verse, * with all its imper-
fections on its head,' to those who will
kindly correct, and not rigidly condemn.
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? 172
ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
CHAP. XII.
Emily had now attained her sixteenth
year; and as Mrs. Sydney surveyed her
fine graceful figure, and her intelli-
gent countenance; as she marked the
maturing virtues of her mind, the excel-
lence of her understanding, and the con-
ciliating dignity of her manner, shethought
how the heart of the father would exult in
his child, and with what pride and delight
she should restore her to him ; but he still
mentioned the time of his return as un-
fixed, though he hoped not very distant.
In the same letter he expressed a wish
that Mrs. Sydney would consent to leave
her home for a few weeks, in order to
shew Emily some of the wonders and
beauties of Derbyshire, many of which
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? SKEfclItfS 0F tOtTH. '178
were only a few miles distant from their
residence; and first recommended Mat-
lock, both for scenery and vicinity.
To our sequestered family, this little
excursion was so novel, that it excited a
mixture of interest, pleasure, and appre-
hension. So many years had elapsed
since Mrs. Sydney had been there; so
many changes had happened since that
time, that even she had her terrors, from
the journey, short as it was; but more
from the mingled and crowded mass of
society which she must encounter at such.
a place; but it was the wish of Mr.
Blandford, and she held herself bound to
fulfil it. She was also in too responsible
a situation to yield to her own feelings;
and, by one of those efforts of reason and
self-command, which she had taught her-
self to acquire and practise, she appeared
to think of it as a plan of great pleasure,
and endeavoured to laugh away the fear-
ful anticipations of her daughters and
Emily, to whom the prospect of so public
a place seemed fraught with alarms ; yet
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:36 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn2hfl Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 114 ROSE AND EMIiiY; OR,
. novelty had its attraction, and the plan
? was determined upon. Isabel som etimes
timidly wished to remain athome; even the
wild-hearted Rose, much as her fancy had
long. dwelt on Matlock, and much as she
then thought she should laugh at the many
funny-looking people she should see there,
shrunk at the idea that she also would be
seen, and might also be laughed at.
Emily, though she was happy with Mrs.
Sydney, and in the retirement of the par-
sonage, was pleased at the idea of seeing
a new place $ while Phoebe thought only,
;that she should still be with the friends
most dear to her*
It would have created a smile in the
face of the gravest philosopher to see
the preparations of Rose (now fourteen)
for this important journey, this intro-
duction into society. Fox several days
she and Phoebe were almost entirely shut
up in a small apartment, which had been
originally, a play-room, and was now a
general receptacle for things not in use*
At length Mrs, Sydney requested to be
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:36 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn2hfl Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 175
admitted into the room, to be informed
of the subject of their conferences, and
the cause of their concealment.
