Darnley's wish that th*
young folks should rise early, and take
a long walk every morning before break-
sast ; but they were strictly ordered ne-
ver to go beyond their own grounds, un-
less their aunt or sather accompanied
them.
young folks should rise early, and take
a long walk every morning before break-
sast ; but they were strictly ordered ne-
ver to go beyond their own grounds, un-
less their aunt or sather accompanied
them.
Childrens - Tales of the Hermitage
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handle.
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org/access_use#pd-google
? THE AMIABLE BROTHERS. 141
resolved to keep his intention secret from
every creature except his banker, who,
true to the trust reposed in him, pro-
tested Ignorance of his Lordship's mo-
tions whenever he was applied to by his
anxious and still affectionate daughter.
This banker, upon Lord Macdonald's
return, informed him of the inquiries
which had been made, and also of Mrs.
Montgomery's present abode, and said
every thing in his power to promote a
reconciliation, though without effect.
As there was a great quantity of tim-
ber upon his Lordship's estate which he
wished to dispose of, it was necessary
for him personally to give directions; and
to prevent the possibility of his daugh-
ter's knowing he was in that part of the
world; he resolved to travel unattended
in a hired carriage, and quit Scotland as
soon as he had given the necessary or-
ders.
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? 142 THE AMIABLE BROTHERS.
ders. This resolution he put in prao
tice a few days before Mrs. Montgo-
mery removed to her savourite tower;
and as. the two boys had rambled a great
distance from it, and were climbing a
barren rock for the purpose of behold-
ing distant objects, they plainly disco-
vered, by the help of a telescope, (which
they always carried in their pocket) a
postchaisc lying broken in the high road,
from which they were about a mile dis-
tant.
Curiosity, or perhaps a better motive,
induced them immediately to descend,
and make the best of their way to the
spot where the accident had happened ;
but no person was remaining near it to
give them the information they were so
anxious to obtain. A quantity of blood
was lying in the road, and by that they
traced the unfortunate person who had
- . . , met
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? THE AMIABLE BROTHERS. 143
met with the accident, to a miserable.
hovel about two hundred yards distant.
As soon as they entered this wretched
hut, which was merely composed of
stones and dirt, they beheld a venerable
looking man, about sixty, supported in
the arms of a forlorn female, whilst
the blood was sast issuing from a wound
he had received in the temple.
" Ye be comed in gued time, my
bonny lods," cried the woman ; " for
my hart sceken at the scete of blude,
and Sandy be gune to feetch the doctor. "
So saying, she laid the apparently dying
man upon the~tarth floor, and walked
into the air to recover her sickness.
Malcolm took the handkerchief out of
his pocket and bound it tight round the
stranger's head, whilst Duncan snatched
up a wooden bowl, and drew some wa-
ter from a neighbouring . well, with
. i . . : x which
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? *44 THE AMIABLE BROTHERS.
which they plentifully sprinkled the poor
man's sace, who in a few moments
Opened his eyes, and in a tone of saint-
ness and astonishment, exclaimed,---
" Where am I! " What has been the
matter ? and why am I reduced to this
forlorn situation ? "--The two boys soon
explained every thing, and expressed a
desire that he could be removed to their
mamma's abode. ? . t . . i '. '
" Removed J " said the stranger! , Oh,
that I shall never be ! I ftelME feel,"
he continued, *<< that this will be my
death stroke ; but I deserve it, . . "Oh,
my child I could you know the situation
of your wretched father, you would
think him punished for all his severity ! "
" Child! " repeated Malcolm ; <<>. Oh,
Sir 1 do tell us where to sind any of your
connexions, and I'd run twenty miles
to bring them to you. "~. << We had bet-
. '. i. . . v ter
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? TriE AMIABLE BE. QTHERS. 145
ter run home and tell mamma," said.
Duncan ; " for you know she always
keeps medicines by her for the poor peo-
ple, and I dare say she can do the gentle-
man a great deal of good. "
" Do something, for Heaven's sake! "
replied the unfortunate man, " or \
shall die ; for I am incapable of moving
any part of my body, and believe every
bone in my skin is broken. "--Duncan.
did not require twice telling, but slew out
of the house directly, leaving his brother
to watch by the stranger's side. As his
senses returned his agony increased, and
his groans and complainings drew tears
of sympathy from his humane com'
panion.
In less than an hour Duncan returned,
followed by Mrs. Montgomery, and. a
female attendant laden with cordials,
medicines, and embrocations.
e ' ' The
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? fHE" AMIABLE BROTHERS.
The suffering stranger was still lying
upon'the floor, with his head raised by a
bundle of coarse rags, when Mrs. Mont-
gomery entered, and caught a glance of
his pallid countenance. " My sather! "
flic exclaimed, " my beloved sather!
and is it thus we meet /"
Roused by the sound of her well-
known voice, he faintly articulated,
" Oh, my child! "--At this interesting
moment the doctor appeared, whom
Jenny's husband had been to fetch, and'
examining his patient, said, the should
. derwas dislocated; and two libs broken;
but that when those were set^ he might
safely'be removed to Mirs. Montgomery's
dwelling ; a litter was accordingty'pre-
paired; and'his'Lordship placed carefully
Upon it, and in about three hours the'
cavalcade arrived1 at the Tower. The'
excess of agony was so great, that a vio-'
lent
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? THE AMIABLE BROTHERS. 147
lent fever was the consequence, and his
Lordship's life was absolutely despaired
of,
During that period his daughter
watched him with unwearied attention
and filial tenderness, and never left his
bedside for a moment but to . obtain
repose which wearied nature absolutely.
required.
Lord Macdonald, at length sensible of
his daughter's merits, and shocked at re-
flecting upon his own severity, sent. far
an attorney, and made every reparation
in . his power by leaving her heiress to his
immense property, imagining it impos-
sible he could ever recover. In that,
however, he was mistaken ; for his fe-
ver suddenly abated, the wound on his
temple healed, and the dissevered bones
persectly united.
As soon as his Lordship was able to
bear company, his grandsons were in*
o a traduced
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? I48 THE AMIABLE BROTHERS.
troduced into his presence ; and whilst.
he bestowed upon them the fondest ca-
resses, he could not help regretting his
inability to give them his name and ti-
tle.
At the moment when his feelings were
softened by disease, and his min^ sub-
dued by tenderness, intelligence arrived
of the death of that relation who must
have inherited the estate and title, and
he resolved to solicit his sovereign to
permit it to descend to his eldest grand-
son.
The boon was immediately granted,
and a patent rapidly made out for Mal-
colm Montgomery to take the name of
Macdonald.
. That amiable and deserving boy, in-
stead of being elated by this prospect of
future greatness, thought himself called
upon to set a pattern of virtue, and was
ten
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? THE AMIABLE BROTHERS. 149
ten times more circumspect in his con-
duct than when he thought himself a
mere private gentleman.
His attentions were equally divided
between his mother and grandsather,
who resided together at the samily feat.
Once a year they constantly revisited the
sower, and wandered over scenes. which
recollection made dear to them. The
neighbouring poor were cherished and
supported, and the gratification the boys
experienced in being enabled to extend
their charity, was of that heart-cheering
kind which is only to be conceived by
the truly benevolent.
(C) 3 TKX
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? ( '5? ) ,
THE
FRUITS of DISOBEDIENCE;
OR, THE
KIDNAPPED CHILD.
In a beautiful villa on the banks of
the Medway, resided a gentleman whose
name was Darnley, who had, during
the early part of life, filled a post of
some importance about the Court, and
even in its decline, preserved that ele-
gance of manner which so peculiarly
marks a finished gentleman. The loss
of a beloved wife had given a pensive
cast to his features, and a seriousness to
">>~ << his
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? THE FRUITS, SCC. l$l
his deportment, which many people ima-
gined proceeded from a haughtiness of
disposition ; yet nothing could be sarther
from Mr. Darnley's character ; for he
was asfable, gentle, benevolent, and hu-
mane.
His samily consisted cf an only sister,
. who, like himself, had lost the object of
her tenderest asfection ; but who, in di-
viding her attention between her brother
and his amiable children, endeavoured
to forget her own misfortunes. \
Mr. Darnley's fortune was susficiently
great to have enabled him to place his
daughters in the first school in London,
but he preferred having them under his
immediate instru6tion ; and as Mrs.
Collier offered to assist him in their edu-
cation, he resolved for some years not
to engage a governess, as Nurse Chap-
man was one of those worthy creatures
to
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? t52 THE FRUITS OF
to whose care he could securely trust
them. .
An old friend of Mr. Darnley's had'
recently bought a house at Rochester,
and that gentleman and his sister were
invited to pass a few days there ; and as
Emily grew rather too big for the nurse's
management, Mrs. Collier resolved to
make her of the party, leaving Sophia,
Amanda, and Eliza, under that good
. woman's protection.
It was Mrs.
Darnley's wish that th*
young folks should rise early, and take
a long walk every morning before break-
sast ; but they were strictly ordered ne-
ver to go beyond their own grounds, un-
less their aunt or sather accompanied
them. This order they had frequently
endeavoured to persuade Nurse Chap-
man to disregard. ; but faithful to the
trust
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? DISOBEDrENCE.
trust reposed in her, she always resisted
their urgent entreaties.
The morning after Mr. Darnley went
to Rochester, the poor woman found
herself thoroughly indisposed, and whol-
ly incapable of rising at the accustomed
hour. The children, however, were
dressed for walking, and the nurse-maid
charged not to go beyond the shrubbery,
and they all sallied out in high good hu-
mour.
" Now, Susan," said Sophia fas
soon as they entered the garden), " is
the only opportunity you may ever have
of obliging us ; do let us walk to the
village, and then you know you can
call and fee your sather and mother. "
" Law, Miss! " replied the girl,
" why you know 'tis as much as my
place is worth if Nurse Chapman should
find it out. "
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? 154 THE FRUITS OF
" Find it out, indeed! " said Amanda;
<< how do you think she is to find it out ?
Come do let us go, there's a dear, good
creature. "--" Yes, dear, dear Susan,
<<k> let us go," said J^za (skipping
on before them), " and I '11 show you
the way; for I walked there last sum-
mer with papa. "
Whether it was the wish of obliging
the young ladies, or the desire of feeing
her parents, I cannot pretend to say ;
but in a luckless hour Susan yielded,
and the party soon reached the village.
Susan's mother was delighted at seeing
her, and highly honoured by the young
ladies' presence. " Oh sweet, dear
creatures! " said the old woman, " I
must get something for them to eat after
their long walk, and my oven's quite
hot, and I can bake them a little cake
In a quarter of an hour, and I'll milk
Jenny
>
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? DISOBEDIENCE. ! $$
Jfchriy in ten minutes. "--The tempta-
tion of hot cake and new milk was not
tb be withstood ; and Susan began tak-
ing down some smart china cups, which
Were arranged ih form upon the mantle-
piece, and carefully'dusted them for the
young ladies' use".
Eliza followed the old woman into
the cow-house, and began asking a thou-
sand questions, When Her. 'attention was
suddenly attracted by the. appearance of
a tame larhb, who went bleating up td
its mistress, with a view of asking its ac-
customed breakfast.
<<* 'tf'du'must wait a little, l&Ily," said
the woman, '* and let your Hitter's be?
sarved before you--don't you see* that
we have got gtntltfilfo to breakfast with
us this rridrhibg ? " '
Eliza was so delighted with the beauty
of the little animal, that shtf wanted to
i kiss
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? THE FRUITS OF
kiss it, and attempted to restrain it for
that purpose, whilst Billy, ungrateful
for her intended kindness, gave a sudden
spring and frisked away. Eliza followed*
in hopes of. being able to catch him, but
he ran baaing along into the high road.
A woman, whose appearance was de-
scriptive of poverty, but whose smiling
countenance indicated good" nature, at
that moment happened to pass, and ac-
costing Eliza ia a ,tone of samiliarity*
said, " That's not half such a pretty
lamb, Miss, as I have got at home, and
not a quarter so tame ; for if you did
but say Bob, he'd follow you from one
end of . the town to the other ; and then.
he'll fetch and carry like a dog, stand up
on his hind legs, when my husband says
Up for the thing, and play more tricks
than a young kitten. "
4 Ob,
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? DISOBEDIENCE. l'$y
" Oh, the pretty creature I" replied
Eliza, " how I shouldlike to seeit! "-r-
" Well, come along with me, Miss,"
said the woman, " for I only lives just
across he next field ; but you must run
as hard as you can, because my husband
is going to work, and he generally takes
Bob with him. " . .
" Well, make haste then," said Eliza J
" for I must not stay half a minute. 1'--
<<* Give me your hand, Miss," replied
the woman; " for we can run saster to-
gether ; but there goes my husband, I
declare ; and there's Bob as usual skip-
ping on before. "
"Where? where? " exclaimed Eli-
za, stretching out her little neck as sar
as she possibly could, to see if she could
discern the lamb. " You are not tall
enough," said the artful creature ; " but
let me lift you up, Miss, and then I
f dare
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? ifi THE FRUITS OF
dare say you'll see them and instantly
catching her up, she cried out, ** Look
directly towards the steeple, Miss; but
I'll run with you in my arms, and I war-
rant we'll soon overtake them. " .
Eliza looked, but looked in vain ; and
perceiving the woman had soon carried
her out of sight of the cottage, begged'
she wouid set her down, as lhedare not
go any sarther.
The vile creature was absolutely inca*.
psbie of replying, for her breath was
nearly exhausted by the rapidity of the
motion, and Eliza continued entreating
her to stop, and struggled violently to
elude her grasp. At length, after a
quarter of an hour's exertion, the woman
found herself incapable of proceeding,
and: stopping suddenly, sat down on a'
b*mk, keeping. tight hold of Eliza's arm,
who'
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? DISOBEDIENCE. I59
who cried dreadfully, and besought her
to let her go.
*e Let you go! '* she replied; " what,
after all the plague I've had toknab you ?
3M>>, no, you don't catch me at that, I
premise you ; but be a good girl, and
. don't cry, and then you may see Bob by
and by, perhaps. "
" Oh, my sisters! my sisters ! let me
go to my sisters I" cried the child. ---
. >>' I'll find plenty of sisters for you, in
9. few days," said the vile creature;
" but they won't know you in them
there sine clothes, so let's pull them off
in a minute, and then we'll have another
race after Bob. "--So saying, she stripped
osf the white frock, hat, and tippet;
the rest os the things. shared the same
fate, and she was compelled to put on
some old rags which the inhuman crea-
ture took out of a bag she carried under
v % her
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? |6o THE FRUITS OF
"her petticoat; then taking a bottle of
liquid fropi the same place, she instantly
began washing poor Eliza's sace with it,
and notwithstandingall her remonstrances,
cut her beautiful hair close to her head.
Thus metamorphosed, it would have
been impossible even for Mr. Darnley to
have known his child, and they proceeded
onwards until her little leg$ would carry
. her no sarther.
At this period they were overtaken
by the Canterbury waggon, and for a
mere trifle the driver consented to let
them ride to London. Eliza's tears con-
tinued to flow, but she dare not utter a
complaint, as her inhuman companion
protested she would break every bone in
her skin if she ventured to make the
least noise.
When they arrived in town she was
dragged (for walk she was unable) to a
. . misc-
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? DISOBEDIENCE. l6l
miserable hole down several steps, where
they gave her some bread and butter to
eat, and then desired her to go to bed.
The bed, if such it might be called,
was little else but a bundle of rags
thrown into a corner of the room with a
dirty blanket spread across it, and there
she was left by her inhuman seducer to
mourn her misfortune, and lament hav-
ing disregarded her papa's injunctions.
'The next morning she was forced to
rife the moment it was light, and to
walk as sar as her little legs would carry
her before they stopped any where to take
refreshment. The . second night was
passed in a barn, and about sive o'clock
the third afternoon they knocked at the
door of a neat-looking cottage, where
nine or ten children were fitting in a
little room making lace.
" Why, Peggy," said the woman, as
p 3 lhe
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? l62 THE FRUITS QF
she opened the door, " I thought you
never would have corned again! how-
ever, I see you have got me a hand at
last, and God knows I'm enough in
wants of her ; for two of my brats have
thought proper to sall sick, and I've
more to do than ever I had in my life. "--
On the following day Eliza's filthy rags
were all taken ofF, and she was dressed in
a tidy brown stuff gown, a nice clean
round-eared cap, and a little coloured
bib and apron ; and Ihe was ordered, if
any person alked her name, to say it was
Biddyf Sullen, and that she was niece to
the woman who employed her. The
severity with which all this wretch's
commands were enforced, wholly pre-
vented any of the helpless victims who
were under her protection from daring
to disobey them ; and though most of
them were placed under her care by the
same
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? DISOBEDIENCE. 163
same vile agent who had decoyed Eliza,
yet they all were tutored to relate similar
untruths.
But I now think it is high time to
carry my little readers back to the cot-
tage scene, where Susan was arranging
things in order for breakfast, and So-
phia and her sister were anxiously watch-
ing the moment when the cake was pro-
nounced completely ready.
The old woman soon returned with
the milk>>-pail on her arm, and Susan ea-
gerly demanded, " Where's Miss Eli-
za ? ". --" Oh, the pretty creature," re-
plied her mother, " she'll be here in' a
minute, I warrant her; but she's gone
skipping after our Billy, and two sweet,
innocents they are together. ". --She then
went to the oven, produced the cake,
and began buttering it with all expedi-
tion, whilst Sophia joyously ran to the
door
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? 164 THE FRUITS OF
door of the cow-house, and began loudly
calling her sister Eliza. No answer being
returned, Susan began kto feel alarmed,
but the young ladies told her not to be
frightened, as they knew it was only
one of Eliza's pranks. But, alas ! too
soon were they convinced it was no joke,
and that some dreadful misfortune must
have happened.
" Miss Eliza! Miss Eliza! " was vo-
ciferated through the village, not only by
Susan and her mother, but hy all the
neighbours who had heard pf the cala-
mity, whilst her sisters ran about frantic
with grief, crying, " Eliza, my love!
ray darling! Oh! if you are hid, for
pity's fake speak ! "
Nurse Chapman got up about halt
past nine, and hearing the children were
not returned from their walk, sent the
housemaid directly alter them.
The
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? DISOBEDIENCE.
? THE AMIABLE BROTHERS. 141
resolved to keep his intention secret from
every creature except his banker, who,
true to the trust reposed in him, pro-
tested Ignorance of his Lordship's mo-
tions whenever he was applied to by his
anxious and still affectionate daughter.
This banker, upon Lord Macdonald's
return, informed him of the inquiries
which had been made, and also of Mrs.
Montgomery's present abode, and said
every thing in his power to promote a
reconciliation, though without effect.
As there was a great quantity of tim-
ber upon his Lordship's estate which he
wished to dispose of, it was necessary
for him personally to give directions; and
to prevent the possibility of his daugh-
ter's knowing he was in that part of the
world; he resolved to travel unattended
in a hired carriage, and quit Scotland as
soon as he had given the necessary or-
ders.
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? 142 THE AMIABLE BROTHERS.
ders. This resolution he put in prao
tice a few days before Mrs. Montgo-
mery removed to her savourite tower;
and as. the two boys had rambled a great
distance from it, and were climbing a
barren rock for the purpose of behold-
ing distant objects, they plainly disco-
vered, by the help of a telescope, (which
they always carried in their pocket) a
postchaisc lying broken in the high road,
from which they were about a mile dis-
tant.
Curiosity, or perhaps a better motive,
induced them immediately to descend,
and make the best of their way to the
spot where the accident had happened ;
but no person was remaining near it to
give them the information they were so
anxious to obtain. A quantity of blood
was lying in the road, and by that they
traced the unfortunate person who had
- . . , met
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? THE AMIABLE BROTHERS. 143
met with the accident, to a miserable.
hovel about two hundred yards distant.
As soon as they entered this wretched
hut, which was merely composed of
stones and dirt, they beheld a venerable
looking man, about sixty, supported in
the arms of a forlorn female, whilst
the blood was sast issuing from a wound
he had received in the temple.
" Ye be comed in gued time, my
bonny lods," cried the woman ; " for
my hart sceken at the scete of blude,
and Sandy be gune to feetch the doctor. "
So saying, she laid the apparently dying
man upon the~tarth floor, and walked
into the air to recover her sickness.
Malcolm took the handkerchief out of
his pocket and bound it tight round the
stranger's head, whilst Duncan snatched
up a wooden bowl, and drew some wa-
ter from a neighbouring . well, with
. i . . : x which
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? *44 THE AMIABLE BROTHERS.
which they plentifully sprinkled the poor
man's sace, who in a few moments
Opened his eyes, and in a tone of saint-
ness and astonishment, exclaimed,---
" Where am I! " What has been the
matter ? and why am I reduced to this
forlorn situation ? "--The two boys soon
explained every thing, and expressed a
desire that he could be removed to their
mamma's abode. ? . t . . i '. '
" Removed J " said the stranger! , Oh,
that I shall never be ! I ftelME feel,"
he continued, *<< that this will be my
death stroke ; but I deserve it, . . "Oh,
my child I could you know the situation
of your wretched father, you would
think him punished for all his severity ! "
" Child! " repeated Malcolm ; <<>. Oh,
Sir 1 do tell us where to sind any of your
connexions, and I'd run twenty miles
to bring them to you. "~. << We had bet-
. '. i. . . v ter
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? TriE AMIABLE BE. QTHERS. 145
ter run home and tell mamma," said.
Duncan ; " for you know she always
keeps medicines by her for the poor peo-
ple, and I dare say she can do the gentle-
man a great deal of good. "
" Do something, for Heaven's sake! "
replied the unfortunate man, " or \
shall die ; for I am incapable of moving
any part of my body, and believe every
bone in my skin is broken. "--Duncan.
did not require twice telling, but slew out
of the house directly, leaving his brother
to watch by the stranger's side. As his
senses returned his agony increased, and
his groans and complainings drew tears
of sympathy from his humane com'
panion.
In less than an hour Duncan returned,
followed by Mrs. Montgomery, and. a
female attendant laden with cordials,
medicines, and embrocations.
e ' ' The
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? fHE" AMIABLE BROTHERS.
The suffering stranger was still lying
upon'the floor, with his head raised by a
bundle of coarse rags, when Mrs. Mont-
gomery entered, and caught a glance of
his pallid countenance. " My sather! "
flic exclaimed, " my beloved sather!
and is it thus we meet /"
Roused by the sound of her well-
known voice, he faintly articulated,
" Oh, my child! "--At this interesting
moment the doctor appeared, whom
Jenny's husband had been to fetch, and'
examining his patient, said, the should
. derwas dislocated; and two libs broken;
but that when those were set^ he might
safely'be removed to Mirs. Montgomery's
dwelling ; a litter was accordingty'pre-
paired; and'his'Lordship placed carefully
Upon it, and in about three hours the'
cavalcade arrived1 at the Tower. The'
excess of agony was so great, that a vio-'
lent
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? THE AMIABLE BROTHERS. 147
lent fever was the consequence, and his
Lordship's life was absolutely despaired
of,
During that period his daughter
watched him with unwearied attention
and filial tenderness, and never left his
bedside for a moment but to . obtain
repose which wearied nature absolutely.
required.
Lord Macdonald, at length sensible of
his daughter's merits, and shocked at re-
flecting upon his own severity, sent. far
an attorney, and made every reparation
in . his power by leaving her heiress to his
immense property, imagining it impos-
sible he could ever recover. In that,
however, he was mistaken ; for his fe-
ver suddenly abated, the wound on his
temple healed, and the dissevered bones
persectly united.
As soon as his Lordship was able to
bear company, his grandsons were in*
o a traduced
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? I48 THE AMIABLE BROTHERS.
troduced into his presence ; and whilst.
he bestowed upon them the fondest ca-
resses, he could not help regretting his
inability to give them his name and ti-
tle.
At the moment when his feelings were
softened by disease, and his min^ sub-
dued by tenderness, intelligence arrived
of the death of that relation who must
have inherited the estate and title, and
he resolved to solicit his sovereign to
permit it to descend to his eldest grand-
son.
The boon was immediately granted,
and a patent rapidly made out for Mal-
colm Montgomery to take the name of
Macdonald.
. That amiable and deserving boy, in-
stead of being elated by this prospect of
future greatness, thought himself called
upon to set a pattern of virtue, and was
ten
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? THE AMIABLE BROTHERS. 149
ten times more circumspect in his con-
duct than when he thought himself a
mere private gentleman.
His attentions were equally divided
between his mother and grandsather,
who resided together at the samily feat.
Once a year they constantly revisited the
sower, and wandered over scenes. which
recollection made dear to them. The
neighbouring poor were cherished and
supported, and the gratification the boys
experienced in being enabled to extend
their charity, was of that heart-cheering
kind which is only to be conceived by
the truly benevolent.
(C) 3 TKX
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? ( '5? ) ,
THE
FRUITS of DISOBEDIENCE;
OR, THE
KIDNAPPED CHILD.
In a beautiful villa on the banks of
the Medway, resided a gentleman whose
name was Darnley, who had, during
the early part of life, filled a post of
some importance about the Court, and
even in its decline, preserved that ele-
gance of manner which so peculiarly
marks a finished gentleman. The loss
of a beloved wife had given a pensive
cast to his features, and a seriousness to
">>~ << his
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? THE FRUITS, SCC. l$l
his deportment, which many people ima-
gined proceeded from a haughtiness of
disposition ; yet nothing could be sarther
from Mr. Darnley's character ; for he
was asfable, gentle, benevolent, and hu-
mane.
His samily consisted cf an only sister,
. who, like himself, had lost the object of
her tenderest asfection ; but who, in di-
viding her attention between her brother
and his amiable children, endeavoured
to forget her own misfortunes. \
Mr. Darnley's fortune was susficiently
great to have enabled him to place his
daughters in the first school in London,
but he preferred having them under his
immediate instru6tion ; and as Mrs.
Collier offered to assist him in their edu-
cation, he resolved for some years not
to engage a governess, as Nurse Chap-
man was one of those worthy creatures
to
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? t52 THE FRUITS OF
to whose care he could securely trust
them. .
An old friend of Mr. Darnley's had'
recently bought a house at Rochester,
and that gentleman and his sister were
invited to pass a few days there ; and as
Emily grew rather too big for the nurse's
management, Mrs. Collier resolved to
make her of the party, leaving Sophia,
Amanda, and Eliza, under that good
. woman's protection.
It was Mrs.
Darnley's wish that th*
young folks should rise early, and take
a long walk every morning before break-
sast ; but they were strictly ordered ne-
ver to go beyond their own grounds, un-
less their aunt or sather accompanied
them. This order they had frequently
endeavoured to persuade Nurse Chap-
man to disregard. ; but faithful to the
trust
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? DISOBEDrENCE.
trust reposed in her, she always resisted
their urgent entreaties.
The morning after Mr. Darnley went
to Rochester, the poor woman found
herself thoroughly indisposed, and whol-
ly incapable of rising at the accustomed
hour. The children, however, were
dressed for walking, and the nurse-maid
charged not to go beyond the shrubbery,
and they all sallied out in high good hu-
mour.
" Now, Susan," said Sophia fas
soon as they entered the garden), " is
the only opportunity you may ever have
of obliging us ; do let us walk to the
village, and then you know you can
call and fee your sather and mother. "
" Law, Miss! " replied the girl,
" why you know 'tis as much as my
place is worth if Nurse Chapman should
find it out. "
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? 154 THE FRUITS OF
" Find it out, indeed! " said Amanda;
<< how do you think she is to find it out ?
Come do let us go, there's a dear, good
creature. "--" Yes, dear, dear Susan,
<<k> let us go," said J^za (skipping
on before them), " and I '11 show you
the way; for I walked there last sum-
mer with papa. "
Whether it was the wish of obliging
the young ladies, or the desire of feeing
her parents, I cannot pretend to say ;
but in a luckless hour Susan yielded,
and the party soon reached the village.
Susan's mother was delighted at seeing
her, and highly honoured by the young
ladies' presence. " Oh sweet, dear
creatures! " said the old woman, " I
must get something for them to eat after
their long walk, and my oven's quite
hot, and I can bake them a little cake
In a quarter of an hour, and I'll milk
Jenny
>
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? DISOBEDIENCE. ! $$
Jfchriy in ten minutes. "--The tempta-
tion of hot cake and new milk was not
tb be withstood ; and Susan began tak-
ing down some smart china cups, which
Were arranged ih form upon the mantle-
piece, and carefully'dusted them for the
young ladies' use".
Eliza followed the old woman into
the cow-house, and began asking a thou-
sand questions, When Her. 'attention was
suddenly attracted by the. appearance of
a tame larhb, who went bleating up td
its mistress, with a view of asking its ac-
customed breakfast.
<<* 'tf'du'must wait a little, l&Ily," said
the woman, '* and let your Hitter's be?
sarved before you--don't you see* that
we have got gtntltfilfo to breakfast with
us this rridrhibg ? " '
Eliza was so delighted with the beauty
of the little animal, that shtf wanted to
i kiss
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? THE FRUITS OF
kiss it, and attempted to restrain it for
that purpose, whilst Billy, ungrateful
for her intended kindness, gave a sudden
spring and frisked away. Eliza followed*
in hopes of. being able to catch him, but
he ran baaing along into the high road.
A woman, whose appearance was de-
scriptive of poverty, but whose smiling
countenance indicated good" nature, at
that moment happened to pass, and ac-
costing Eliza ia a ,tone of samiliarity*
said, " That's not half such a pretty
lamb, Miss, as I have got at home, and
not a quarter so tame ; for if you did
but say Bob, he'd follow you from one
end of . the town to the other ; and then.
he'll fetch and carry like a dog, stand up
on his hind legs, when my husband says
Up for the thing, and play more tricks
than a young kitten. "
4 Ob,
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? DISOBEDIENCE. l'$y
" Oh, the pretty creature I" replied
Eliza, " how I shouldlike to seeit! "-r-
" Well, come along with me, Miss,"
said the woman, " for I only lives just
across he next field ; but you must run
as hard as you can, because my husband
is going to work, and he generally takes
Bob with him. " . .
" Well, make haste then," said Eliza J
" for I must not stay half a minute. 1'--
<<* Give me your hand, Miss," replied
the woman; " for we can run saster to-
gether ; but there goes my husband, I
declare ; and there's Bob as usual skip-
ping on before. "
"Where? where? " exclaimed Eli-
za, stretching out her little neck as sar
as she possibly could, to see if she could
discern the lamb. " You are not tall
enough," said the artful creature ; " but
let me lift you up, Miss, and then I
f dare
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? ifi THE FRUITS OF
dare say you'll see them and instantly
catching her up, she cried out, ** Look
directly towards the steeple, Miss; but
I'll run with you in my arms, and I war-
rant we'll soon overtake them. " .
Eliza looked, but looked in vain ; and
perceiving the woman had soon carried
her out of sight of the cottage, begged'
she wouid set her down, as lhedare not
go any sarther.
The vile creature was absolutely inca*.
psbie of replying, for her breath was
nearly exhausted by the rapidity of the
motion, and Eliza continued entreating
her to stop, and struggled violently to
elude her grasp. At length, after a
quarter of an hour's exertion, the woman
found herself incapable of proceeding,
and: stopping suddenly, sat down on a'
b*mk, keeping. tight hold of Eliza's arm,
who'
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? DISOBEDIENCE. I59
who cried dreadfully, and besought her
to let her go.
*e Let you go! '* she replied; " what,
after all the plague I've had toknab you ?
3M>>, no, you don't catch me at that, I
premise you ; but be a good girl, and
. don't cry, and then you may see Bob by
and by, perhaps. "
" Oh, my sisters! my sisters ! let me
go to my sisters I" cried the child. ---
. >>' I'll find plenty of sisters for you, in
9. few days," said the vile creature;
" but they won't know you in them
there sine clothes, so let's pull them off
in a minute, and then we'll have another
race after Bob. "--So saying, she stripped
osf the white frock, hat, and tippet;
the rest os the things. shared the same
fate, and she was compelled to put on
some old rags which the inhuman crea-
ture took out of a bag she carried under
v % her
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? |6o THE FRUITS OF
"her petticoat; then taking a bottle of
liquid fropi the same place, she instantly
began washing poor Eliza's sace with it,
and notwithstandingall her remonstrances,
cut her beautiful hair close to her head.
Thus metamorphosed, it would have
been impossible even for Mr. Darnley to
have known his child, and they proceeded
onwards until her little leg$ would carry
. her no sarther.
At this period they were overtaken
by the Canterbury waggon, and for a
mere trifle the driver consented to let
them ride to London. Eliza's tears con-
tinued to flow, but she dare not utter a
complaint, as her inhuman companion
protested she would break every bone in
her skin if she ventured to make the
least noise.
When they arrived in town she was
dragged (for walk she was unable) to a
. . misc-
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? DISOBEDIENCE. l6l
miserable hole down several steps, where
they gave her some bread and butter to
eat, and then desired her to go to bed.
The bed, if such it might be called,
was little else but a bundle of rags
thrown into a corner of the room with a
dirty blanket spread across it, and there
she was left by her inhuman seducer to
mourn her misfortune, and lament hav-
ing disregarded her papa's injunctions.
'The next morning she was forced to
rife the moment it was light, and to
walk as sar as her little legs would carry
her before they stopped any where to take
refreshment. The . second night was
passed in a barn, and about sive o'clock
the third afternoon they knocked at the
door of a neat-looking cottage, where
nine or ten children were fitting in a
little room making lace.
" Why, Peggy," said the woman, as
p 3 lhe
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? l62 THE FRUITS QF
she opened the door, " I thought you
never would have corned again! how-
ever, I see you have got me a hand at
last, and God knows I'm enough in
wants of her ; for two of my brats have
thought proper to sall sick, and I've
more to do than ever I had in my life. "--
On the following day Eliza's filthy rags
were all taken ofF, and she was dressed in
a tidy brown stuff gown, a nice clean
round-eared cap, and a little coloured
bib and apron ; and Ihe was ordered, if
any person alked her name, to say it was
Biddyf Sullen, and that she was niece to
the woman who employed her. The
severity with which all this wretch's
commands were enforced, wholly pre-
vented any of the helpless victims who
were under her protection from daring
to disobey them ; and though most of
them were placed under her care by the
same
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? DISOBEDIENCE. 163
same vile agent who had decoyed Eliza,
yet they all were tutored to relate similar
untruths.
But I now think it is high time to
carry my little readers back to the cot-
tage scene, where Susan was arranging
things in order for breakfast, and So-
phia and her sister were anxiously watch-
ing the moment when the cake was pro-
nounced completely ready.
The old woman soon returned with
the milk>>-pail on her arm, and Susan ea-
gerly demanded, " Where's Miss Eli-
za ? ". --" Oh, the pretty creature," re-
plied her mother, " she'll be here in' a
minute, I warrant her; but she's gone
skipping after our Billy, and two sweet,
innocents they are together. ". --She then
went to the oven, produced the cake,
and began buttering it with all expedi-
tion, whilst Sophia joyously ran to the
door
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? 164 THE FRUITS OF
door of the cow-house, and began loudly
calling her sister Eliza. No answer being
returned, Susan began kto feel alarmed,
but the young ladies told her not to be
frightened, as they knew it was only
one of Eliza's pranks. But, alas ! too
soon were they convinced it was no joke,
and that some dreadful misfortune must
have happened.
" Miss Eliza! Miss Eliza! " was vo-
ciferated through the village, not only by
Susan and her mother, but hy all the
neighbours who had heard pf the cala-
mity, whilst her sisters ran about frantic
with grief, crying, " Eliza, my love!
ray darling! Oh! if you are hid, for
pity's fake speak ! "
Nurse Chapman got up about halt
past nine, and hearing the children were
not returned from their walk, sent the
housemaid directly alter them.
The
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? DISOBEDIENCE.
