Sydney,
produced
its proper effect;
the fever.
the fever.
Childrens - Roses and Emily
71
Emily's warmth of temper, and vindic-
tive disposition, desired Ruth to bring
her to him. At first she refused to obey
the summons, but on hearing her name
peremptorily called by her father, she
came slowly towards him, pouting and
frowning. "I am sorry, Emily," said
Mr. Blandford, " to find you quitted
Mrs. Sydney yesterday evening, with-
out taking leave either of her or the
Miss Sydneys; this was a rudeness; but
I am more concerned that you refuse
to accept the concession which Rose has
offered for some trifle which your capri-
cious temper construed into an affront;
but till you promise to make an apology
for your conduct to Mrs. Sydney, I shall
not permit you again to visit her. " Rose
would have interrupted him with assu-
renoes that she alone was wrong, and the
sole cause of Emily's abrupt departure;
but Mr. Blandford demanded silence.
Emily's eyes were still cast on the
ground; but her inflamed cheek and
swelling bosom betrayed the uneasiness
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? 72 ROSE A2S<D E311LY J OR,
of her temper. "Have you any thing
to offer in your justification f' asked her
father. "I don't know I was to blame,"
muttered Emily. "Then you do not
consider Mrs. Sydney entitled to the
least. respect; not even the common form
of being wished good night; and because
Rose laughed at your ignorance and ab*
surdity, she is never to be forgiven; I
shall in future prohibit your visiting her,
for you are not a proper associate for this
amiable little girl. " ** I should not like
to be rwle' to Mrs. Sydney," said Emily,
in :a 'low voice, "I love her, and Would
ask her pardon. " '* But perhaps she will
not forgive. you," replied her father5;
'f perhaps she will turn from you'as. you
have done from Rose. . " Emily stood
thoughtful for some minutes; then, half
looking up, sftid, *' if Mrs. Sydney would
pardon me,11 Would pardon Rose'; for
? BTrs! Sydney looks at me kindly, and 1
love IVer; and whtni she kisses me, it is
riot as old Ruth does. " Rose, at this
quaint eiilogium on her mother, stretched
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 73
out her little hand to Emily, and Mr.
Blandford put his daughter's into it;
then throwing his arras round both, he
said, " Let this little quarrel be forgotten,
and love each other as sisters. "
Emily was naturally generous and
affectionate, but her amiable feelings had
been seldom excited, while every ill
propensity was rendered prominent by
the mistaken system which had been
pursued. The muternal tenderness of
Mrs, Sydney had touched her heart; be-
reft of the fond attentions of a mother,
her affections had never been cultivated,
and she loved and hated, merely as she
was indulged or punished.
Mr. Blandford, taking a hand of each
of the children, walked with them to
Mrs. Sydney's. The buoyant spirits of
Rose, which the reconciliation had rais-
ed beyond their customary height, gave
a rapid motion to her tongue, and she
prated all the way home. Not so Emily;
she had been mortified at being compel-
led to own herself in an error; she was
E
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? 74 ROSE AND EMILY; OK,
afflicted at the idea of having offended
Mrs. Sydney; and, half in sorrow, half
in anger, she preserved a gloomy silence,
which the gaiety of her companion could
not dissipate. On arriving at Mrs. Syd-
ney's she lingered at the threshold, till
Mrs. Sydney, holding out her hand, bade
her come in. "Are you not well, Emi-
ly she said, observing that she held
down her head; "speak, my love, and tell
me. " "I am very well ma'am," she
replied, in a low tone; "but papa says
I was rude last night in leaving you
as I did, and I think you are angry with
me. " "Angry with you, my dear girl!
indeed I am not; but even allowing
that you should have taken leave of me,
do not you think I love you well enough
to forgive you? You know we should ne-
ver bear resentment. " The last sen-
tence was a severe rebuke to Emily,
which even the pleasure she felt at hear-
ing Mrs. Sydney pronounce her pardon,
could scarcely mitigate; but, throwing her
arms round her neck, she sobbed aloud.
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? SKETCHES OP YOUTH. 73
Mr. Blandford beheld with astonishment
these tokens of affection and contrition;
when she shed tears, they were usually
from passion and disappointment; these
had evidently a tender source, and as
Mrs. Sydney pressed her to her bosom,
and again assured her of her forgiveness,
Emily, in a voice interrupted by sobs and
tears, said--" I wish I was Rose, and
then you would love me. "
This little disagreement being amica-
bly settled, and the kiss of reconciliation
reciprocally given, Emily and Rose were
daily associates, and the tenderest atten-
tions were paid by Mrs. Sydney and
Isabel to the poor neglected Emily.
/
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? ROSE AND EMILY } OK,
CHAP. VI.
One afternoon Mr. Blandford called up-
on Mrs. Sydney to apologise for the ab-
sence of Emily, who had been engaged
to visit Rose; she had a bad cold, and
was rather feverish; "I have ordered
Ruth," he added, "to put her early to
bed, and I trust that to-morrow she will
be quite well, and atone for her absence ofj
to-day. " Mrs. Sydney requested permis-
sion to see her, but Mr. Blandford re-
plied, that he considered her as so very
slightly indisposed, it was a kindness he
would not require; the paths being
dirty, and the evening damp. "Do not,"
said Mrs. Sydney, "imagine me so sel-
fish a being as to be deterred by such
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? SKETCHES OF TOUTII.
77
trifling inc6nveniences from performing
a common office of humanity; I shall be
humbled in my own estimation if I hesi-
tate any longer; besides do not you
know I am the village doctrcss? " "Ah
do,*' said Rose, "let mamma see Emily;
she will cure her I am sure, for she un-
derstands all complaints, and then she is
so kind. ' "Bring my bonnet and hand-
kerchief, my little prattler," said Mrs.
Sydney, "you love to speak in praise of
your mother. "
Mrs. Sydney and her daughters ac-
companied Mr. Blandford home, Rose
expressing all the way her alternate hopes
and fears. "Perhaps, mamma, we werfe
too long by the river side yesterday; 1
fear she caught cold, but I hope she will
soon be well; and I am sure if any body
can make her so, you can, mammah
Mrs. Sydney replied only by a smile, and
a tender pressure of her darling's hand.
As thev'entered Mr. Blandford's house
the screams of Emily, who was in a warm
contest with Ruth, struck a pang to Mrs.
? 3
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? 78
ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
Sydney's heart. "I won't go to bed,"
shrieked Emily, " I won't; get away you
good-for-nothing old woman. " "But
you shall go to bed," said Ruth, jn a tone
equally violent, "your papa desired me
to put you to bed, and I will; I don't
jH. ind your fighting, not I; I can fight
again, and I am stronger than you, sp
go to bed you shall. " Mrs. Sydney's
cheek turned pale, and she was advan-
cing to the staircase, when Mr. Bland-
#>rd, with an agitated look, hastily pass-
ed her, saying--** Stay here, madam, I
intreat you, whilst I go to my poor way-
ward child. " She uttered a more pier-
cing scream when she saw her father, and
complained of the harshness of Ruth,
who, equally loud, defended herself on
the ple. a of doing what she had been de-
sired to da Mr, Blandford bade her be
quiet, and endeavoured to sooth his
child ; but she still t ried passionately and
piercingly. Mrs. Sydney is here," he
said. "Oh let me go to her," exclaim-
ed Emily. Mrs, Sydney, who had heard
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 79
every word and sound as she waited in
the little parlour from which the stair-
case led, could no longer refrain from
hastening to the chamber; as she enter-
ed it, Emily lifted up her head from her
father's shoulder, and sobbing aloud,
stretched out her arms towards her; Mrs.
Sydney expanded her's by an involun-
tary emotion, and in a moment the poor
child's head was sheltered in her bosom.
"Bless you, madam," said Mr. Bland-
ford; and, overcome by his own sensa-
tions, hastily left the room. . Mrs. Syd-
ney begged Ruth to leave them for a little
time whilst she endeavoured to compose
her. "You will find plague enough be-
fore you can do that,'' muttered Ruth,
as she went down stairs; "I am sure I
can't manage her, I never saw such a
child in my life. "
Mrs. Sydney pressed her lips to poor
Emily's cheek, rocked her in her arms,
soothed her with the accents of affection,
till her cries subsided into sobs, and her
sobs sunk into sighs; but the heat of her
e4
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? 80
ROSE ANB EMILY; OR,
cheek and hand indicated increasing
fever,--and after quietly undressing her,
and laying her softly on her pillow, where
she soon began to doze, Mrs. Sydney re-
turned into the parlour, and earnestly re-
commended Mr. Blandford to send for
Mr. Prices When the good apothecary
. came, he pronounced her in some dan-
ger* Mr. Blandford heard the declara-
tion, though conveyed in the most cau-
tious and gentle manner, with an agony
. bordering upon delirium. "I shall lose
her," he exclaimed, "lose her as I did
her mother. " "I intreat you, my good
friend,'' said Mrs. Sydney, "to be calm,
I will attend her, I am experienced in
the disorders of children, and I will nurse
her as my own, I will not leave her. "
"Heaven bless you,'* said Mr. Bland-
ford; "save her, and I will adore you. ''
His frantic expressions of grief shocked
and alarmed Mrs. Sydney; and it was
determined that the apothecary should
remain there part of the night, as much
to alleviate the apprehensions of the fa-
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 81
ther. as to render benefit to the child.
While Mi s. Sydney watched by her bed-
side, Rose and Isabel were sent to Far.
mer Bloomfield's.
During Mrs. Sydney's short absence
from the chamber, Emily had been in an
unquiet sleep, and, on awakening, gave
every sign of delirium. She called for
Mrs. Sydney, in whose arms she was sup-
ported bade Iluth not touch her, and
asked for her papa, who was hanging
over her. The medicine Mr. Price had
given hery assisted by the attentions of
Mrs.
Sydney, produced its proper effect;
the fever. somewhat abated, though ;n the
morning the little patient discovered the
eruption of. the. measles, but she was
quiet and submissive; and the watch-
ful tenderness of Mrs. Sydney, which she
insisted on continuing, gave, even to the
father, hopes of his darling's recovery.
In this exercise of humanity, in this
discharge of her duty as a christian, in
once more feeling herself useful, and in
a partial return of her debt of gratitude
E5
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? EOSE AND EMILY J OR,
to Mr. Blandford, Mrs. Sydney expe-
rienced a temporary relief from her
own sorrows; and this awakened inte-
rest appeared to. renovate even the de-
clining powers of her constitution. She
watched. Emily three successive nights,
reposing only a few hours in the day,
yet her health in no degree suffered. In
the course of a week she had the satisfac-.
tjon. of seeing her little patient recover-
ing; a cough and weakness were the only
remaining symptoms of the disorder.
Rose, who had had it, intreated to see
her. "I fear, my love," said Mrs. Syd-
? ney, ** you may talk. too much, and dis-.
turb Emily. " Oonammado not say so? *
indeed I will only look. at her and wait;
upon her, and will not speak a word. I;
will walk. on tiptoe, and. . do as ? you bid
'me, if I may but see? her j but tell mea
mamma, may I not kiss. her and take her
hand gently, very gently? " When Rose's
wish was mentioned to Mr, Blandford,
with her promises. of being quiet, he
immediately sanctioned her visit, and
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. S3
Emily also expressed a desire to see
her.
The next day Rose accompanied her
mamma, who observed her very atten-
tive to a little basket of flowers, which
she seemed anxious to arrange in the most
picturesque manner. She placed them
in a corner of the room, as she entered,
and advanced on tiptoe towards Emily,
while the varying colour of her cheek be-
trayed the passing emotions of her little
heart; and, when Emily made an effort;
to meet her, unable any longer to sup-
press her tears, she threw herself on her
neck, and sobbed out her joy at seeing her
again. When this overflow. of affection
had subsided, Mrs. Sydney reminded
Rose of her promise not to agitate or
disturb; Emily, and desired her to have
more command over her feelings. Emily
had wept a little, but leaning her head
on Mrs. Sydney's. shoulder, was soon
tranquilizedi
When the tears. of the tender hearted
Rose had been wiped away; when she
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? 84. ROSE AND EMILY OR,
had spoken to her friend, looked at her,
kissed her, and held her hand, she
thought of her little basket; and. step-
ping lightly to the corner. of the room,
began to take out the flowers, holding
them up to Emily, as she selected one
from the other. "You may speak, my.
child," said Mrs. Sydney, (perceiving how
difficult was the restraint of silence to,
poor Rose,) "you may speak, but. not-
too loud. " Delighted. to have the pro-
hibition removed, she began in a low
voice--" Here is a heart's ease, Emily,.
that's for you; and here is one for. my-
self too" "Why is heart's ease foij
Emily and you? " said her mother smiling. ,
"Because," she replied, " we are both so
happy > she is happy to get well, and I am
happy to see her so*. Then she is. happy
to have such a good papa, and I am happy
in having such a dear mamma--so heart's
ease must belong to us," "What is next,
my little moralizer? " said Mrs. Sydney.
"The next ia a beautiful lily, so fair and
upright, that I think it is like Isabel. '*
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 85
*' And what have you ? for me V* asked
her mother. "Nothing mamma--I
could find nothing like yOu--I looked
every where; but there was nothing I
could fancy except this balm, and that is
not pretty enough; yet I heard Mr.
Price say you poured balm into every
body's bpsom. " Mrs. Sydney caught
the little prattler to her heart, and bade
her go on. "I have but one more that
has meaning in it," she said, " and that
is a rose, my ownself-->>. tb. e last that re-
mained upon the tree--the youngest you
know. Phcebe brought methemallto day;
but under the flowers is something else--
a*huneh of grapes for dear Emily. Phoebe
knew I liked grapes, so . she gave them to
me; but when I said poor Family was ill,.
and. I had rather she should h#ve them
than I, Phcebe told me. 1 might part with
them to her, if I chose, but she hoped I
would not forget she gave them to me;
and that I would love her for it. I said
I would, and so I do, better, ah! tea
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? 86 ROSE AND EMfLY } OR,
times better, than if she had insisted on
my eating them myself. "
When she had ended this rhapsody of
fancy and affection, to which Emily had
listened in placid silence, her mother,
smiling, told her she found she had not for-
gotten the fables of Flora; a beautiful cot-
lection by Dr. Langhorne, in which the
properties and feelings of persons are ap-
plied to flowers. She replied, " No
mamma; but it was the playyou read to us.
last night that made me think of this--
I thought how I should have liked to
have been Perdita, and presented the
flowers as she did. "
The judicious treatment of Mr Price,.
and the tender nursing of Mrs. Sydney,
soon restored Emily to health. Mr. .
Blandford considered her as the preser-
ver of his child, and was unbounded in
his expressions of gratitude; whilst
Emily, on her part, clung to her with the
fondest affection.
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH.
CHAP. VII.
The summer was now passed; and the
? uncertain state of Mrs. Sydney s health
had prevented her commencing the plan
she had proposed for the support of her-
self and children. She still lingered on
the spot so many years the seat of all her
happiness, and thought with anguish on
the moment when necessity would. oblige
her to quit it. She had no near relations
to whom she could apply for assistance -T
some distant ones had the power, and
probably might have the will to. serve
her; but she knew how reluctantly the
hand opens to the relief of such as solicit
its aid; how chilling are the good wishes
"that accompany a gift requested, and she
. shrunk'from. the mortification. of a bene-
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? 88 ROSE AND EMILY } OR,
fit that would at most but procrastinate,
not prevent, the hour of her departure.
The lengthened evenings of autumn,
unenlivened by social intercourse, were
tedious and unpleasant to Mr. Bland-
ford, and he secretly wished again
to change the scene. As his seclusion
from society was the effect of a trifling
disappointment, the sense of which time
had, in some degree, worn away; so
his desire to. return to it, originated in
the same caprice.
Alas, poor Emily! what will be thy
fete, with a parent so uncertain in his
own steps, so unfit to direct thine! Yet
Mr. Blandford's heart was the seat of
many noble virtues. In the exercise of
benevolence and charity he often dis-
played firmness and perseverance. The
eye of sorrow was never lifted up to hiin
in vain, nor did he turn away from the
voice of the mourner. These appeals
to him were so certain of exciting
his sympathy, that the semblance of
misery was often borrowed, the tale
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH.
of woe often fabricated, and he became
the dupe of the designing. A discovery
of such impositions never failed to pro-
duce those feelings of misanthropy which
led him for a time to shun society.
Mr. Blandford was an only son; every
gratification that money could purchase,
every indulgence that affection could
grant, was his from infancy to manhood.
Uncontrouled in all his wishes, it was pe-
culiarly fortunate that he possessed a
good disposition, or the most fatal conse-
quences might have ensued. ;
On the death of his parents, he visited
the continent, chiefly residing in Italy,
where he married an English lady of
great beauty and merit; but the same
hour which gave a daughter to his arms,
deprived him ef an amiable wife. To
sooth his affliction, he had again recourse
to travelling, and in change of place and
objects found a temporary alleviation of
his misery; but this plan, at first adopt-
ed as a relief to his mind, became at last
ne. cQss. ary from habit, .
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? 90 ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
This unsettled mode of life was ill
adapted to any system of education,
which Emily's age began to render ne-
cessary; he therefore hired a house in
London, with an intention of engaging a
well-informed woman to instruct her;
but unfortunately in the families with
whom he associated on his first arrival in
town, he met with daughters whose edu. -
cation had been shewy and superficial;.
who practised a little of every thing, and
understood nothing; whose manners were
elegant and polished, but when he at-
tempted by conversation to draw forth
the qualities of the mind, he found it
composed of childish trifles, with the
shreds and patches of fashion, and he
turned disgusted from accomplishments
that merely gave a varnish to the exte-
rior of woman.
A prejudice in some minds becomes a
principle of action; and when we are
guided by extremes, we generally lose
the object we aim at. Mr. Blandford
determined to avoid altogether, what he
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Emily's warmth of temper, and vindic-
tive disposition, desired Ruth to bring
her to him. At first she refused to obey
the summons, but on hearing her name
peremptorily called by her father, she
came slowly towards him, pouting and
frowning. "I am sorry, Emily," said
Mr. Blandford, " to find you quitted
Mrs. Sydney yesterday evening, with-
out taking leave either of her or the
Miss Sydneys; this was a rudeness; but
I am more concerned that you refuse
to accept the concession which Rose has
offered for some trifle which your capri-
cious temper construed into an affront;
but till you promise to make an apology
for your conduct to Mrs. Sydney, I shall
not permit you again to visit her. " Rose
would have interrupted him with assu-
renoes that she alone was wrong, and the
sole cause of Emily's abrupt departure;
but Mr. Blandford demanded silence.
Emily's eyes were still cast on the
ground; but her inflamed cheek and
swelling bosom betrayed the uneasiness
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? 72 ROSE A2S<D E311LY J OR,
of her temper. "Have you any thing
to offer in your justification f' asked her
father. "I don't know I was to blame,"
muttered Emily. "Then you do not
consider Mrs. Sydney entitled to the
least. respect; not even the common form
of being wished good night; and because
Rose laughed at your ignorance and ab*
surdity, she is never to be forgiven; I
shall in future prohibit your visiting her,
for you are not a proper associate for this
amiable little girl. " ** I should not like
to be rwle' to Mrs. Sydney," said Emily,
in :a 'low voice, "I love her, and Would
ask her pardon. " '* But perhaps she will
not forgive. you," replied her father5;
'f perhaps she will turn from you'as. you
have done from Rose. . " Emily stood
thoughtful for some minutes; then, half
looking up, sftid, *' if Mrs. Sydney would
pardon me,11 Would pardon Rose'; for
? BTrs! Sydney looks at me kindly, and 1
love IVer; and whtni she kisses me, it is
riot as old Ruth does. " Rose, at this
quaint eiilogium on her mother, stretched
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 73
out her little hand to Emily, and Mr.
Blandford put his daughter's into it;
then throwing his arras round both, he
said, " Let this little quarrel be forgotten,
and love each other as sisters. "
Emily was naturally generous and
affectionate, but her amiable feelings had
been seldom excited, while every ill
propensity was rendered prominent by
the mistaken system which had been
pursued. The muternal tenderness of
Mrs, Sydney had touched her heart; be-
reft of the fond attentions of a mother,
her affections had never been cultivated,
and she loved and hated, merely as she
was indulged or punished.
Mr. Blandford, taking a hand of each
of the children, walked with them to
Mrs. Sydney's. The buoyant spirits of
Rose, which the reconciliation had rais-
ed beyond their customary height, gave
a rapid motion to her tongue, and she
prated all the way home. Not so Emily;
she had been mortified at being compel-
led to own herself in an error; she was
E
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? 74 ROSE AND EMILY; OK,
afflicted at the idea of having offended
Mrs. Sydney; and, half in sorrow, half
in anger, she preserved a gloomy silence,
which the gaiety of her companion could
not dissipate. On arriving at Mrs. Syd-
ney's she lingered at the threshold, till
Mrs. Sydney, holding out her hand, bade
her come in. "Are you not well, Emi-
ly she said, observing that she held
down her head; "speak, my love, and tell
me. " "I am very well ma'am," she
replied, in a low tone; "but papa says
I was rude last night in leaving you
as I did, and I think you are angry with
me. " "Angry with you, my dear girl!
indeed I am not; but even allowing
that you should have taken leave of me,
do not you think I love you well enough
to forgive you? You know we should ne-
ver bear resentment. " The last sen-
tence was a severe rebuke to Emily,
which even the pleasure she felt at hear-
ing Mrs. Sydney pronounce her pardon,
could scarcely mitigate; but, throwing her
arms round her neck, she sobbed aloud.
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? SKETCHES OP YOUTH. 73
Mr. Blandford beheld with astonishment
these tokens of affection and contrition;
when she shed tears, they were usually
from passion and disappointment; these
had evidently a tender source, and as
Mrs. Sydney pressed her to her bosom,
and again assured her of her forgiveness,
Emily, in a voice interrupted by sobs and
tears, said--" I wish I was Rose, and
then you would love me. "
This little disagreement being amica-
bly settled, and the kiss of reconciliation
reciprocally given, Emily and Rose were
daily associates, and the tenderest atten-
tions were paid by Mrs. Sydney and
Isabel to the poor neglected Emily.
/
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? ROSE AND EMILY } OK,
CHAP. VI.
One afternoon Mr. Blandford called up-
on Mrs. Sydney to apologise for the ab-
sence of Emily, who had been engaged
to visit Rose; she had a bad cold, and
was rather feverish; "I have ordered
Ruth," he added, "to put her early to
bed, and I trust that to-morrow she will
be quite well, and atone for her absence ofj
to-day. " Mrs. Sydney requested permis-
sion to see her, but Mr. Blandford re-
plied, that he considered her as so very
slightly indisposed, it was a kindness he
would not require; the paths being
dirty, and the evening damp. "Do not,"
said Mrs. Sydney, "imagine me so sel-
fish a being as to be deterred by such
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? SKETCHES OF TOUTII.
77
trifling inc6nveniences from performing
a common office of humanity; I shall be
humbled in my own estimation if I hesi-
tate any longer; besides do not you
know I am the village doctrcss? " "Ah
do,*' said Rose, "let mamma see Emily;
she will cure her I am sure, for she un-
derstands all complaints, and then she is
so kind. ' "Bring my bonnet and hand-
kerchief, my little prattler," said Mrs.
Sydney, "you love to speak in praise of
your mother. "
Mrs. Sydney and her daughters ac-
companied Mr. Blandford home, Rose
expressing all the way her alternate hopes
and fears. "Perhaps, mamma, we werfe
too long by the river side yesterday; 1
fear she caught cold, but I hope she will
soon be well; and I am sure if any body
can make her so, you can, mammah
Mrs. Sydney replied only by a smile, and
a tender pressure of her darling's hand.
As thev'entered Mr. Blandford's house
the screams of Emily, who was in a warm
contest with Ruth, struck a pang to Mrs.
? 3
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? 78
ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
Sydney's heart. "I won't go to bed,"
shrieked Emily, " I won't; get away you
good-for-nothing old woman. " "But
you shall go to bed," said Ruth, jn a tone
equally violent, "your papa desired me
to put you to bed, and I will; I don't
jH. ind your fighting, not I; I can fight
again, and I am stronger than you, sp
go to bed you shall. " Mrs. Sydney's
cheek turned pale, and she was advan-
cing to the staircase, when Mr. Bland-
#>rd, with an agitated look, hastily pass-
ed her, saying--** Stay here, madam, I
intreat you, whilst I go to my poor way-
ward child. " She uttered a more pier-
cing scream when she saw her father, and
complained of the harshness of Ruth,
who, equally loud, defended herself on
the ple. a of doing what she had been de-
sired to da Mr, Blandford bade her be
quiet, and endeavoured to sooth his
child ; but she still t ried passionately and
piercingly. Mrs. Sydney is here," he
said. "Oh let me go to her," exclaim-
ed Emily. Mrs, Sydney, who had heard
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 79
every word and sound as she waited in
the little parlour from which the stair-
case led, could no longer refrain from
hastening to the chamber; as she enter-
ed it, Emily lifted up her head from her
father's shoulder, and sobbing aloud,
stretched out her arms towards her; Mrs.
Sydney expanded her's by an involun-
tary emotion, and in a moment the poor
child's head was sheltered in her bosom.
"Bless you, madam," said Mr. Bland-
ford; and, overcome by his own sensa-
tions, hastily left the room. . Mrs. Syd-
ney begged Ruth to leave them for a little
time whilst she endeavoured to compose
her. "You will find plague enough be-
fore you can do that,'' muttered Ruth,
as she went down stairs; "I am sure I
can't manage her, I never saw such a
child in my life. "
Mrs. Sydney pressed her lips to poor
Emily's cheek, rocked her in her arms,
soothed her with the accents of affection,
till her cries subsided into sobs, and her
sobs sunk into sighs; but the heat of her
e4
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? 80
ROSE ANB EMILY; OR,
cheek and hand indicated increasing
fever,--and after quietly undressing her,
and laying her softly on her pillow, where
she soon began to doze, Mrs. Sydney re-
turned into the parlour, and earnestly re-
commended Mr. Blandford to send for
Mr. Prices When the good apothecary
. came, he pronounced her in some dan-
ger* Mr. Blandford heard the declara-
tion, though conveyed in the most cau-
tious and gentle manner, with an agony
. bordering upon delirium. "I shall lose
her," he exclaimed, "lose her as I did
her mother. " "I intreat you, my good
friend,'' said Mrs. Sydney, "to be calm,
I will attend her, I am experienced in
the disorders of children, and I will nurse
her as my own, I will not leave her. "
"Heaven bless you,'* said Mr. Bland-
ford; "save her, and I will adore you. ''
His frantic expressions of grief shocked
and alarmed Mrs. Sydney; and it was
determined that the apothecary should
remain there part of the night, as much
to alleviate the apprehensions of the fa-
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 81
ther. as to render benefit to the child.
While Mi s. Sydney watched by her bed-
side, Rose and Isabel were sent to Far.
mer Bloomfield's.
During Mrs. Sydney's short absence
from the chamber, Emily had been in an
unquiet sleep, and, on awakening, gave
every sign of delirium. She called for
Mrs. Sydney, in whose arms she was sup-
ported bade Iluth not touch her, and
asked for her papa, who was hanging
over her. The medicine Mr. Price had
given hery assisted by the attentions of
Mrs.
Sydney, produced its proper effect;
the fever. somewhat abated, though ;n the
morning the little patient discovered the
eruption of. the. measles, but she was
quiet and submissive; and the watch-
ful tenderness of Mrs. Sydney, which she
insisted on continuing, gave, even to the
father, hopes of his darling's recovery.
In this exercise of humanity, in this
discharge of her duty as a christian, in
once more feeling herself useful, and in
a partial return of her debt of gratitude
E5
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? EOSE AND EMILY J OR,
to Mr. Blandford, Mrs. Sydney expe-
rienced a temporary relief from her
own sorrows; and this awakened inte-
rest appeared to. renovate even the de-
clining powers of her constitution. She
watched. Emily three successive nights,
reposing only a few hours in the day,
yet her health in no degree suffered. In
the course of a week she had the satisfac-.
tjon. of seeing her little patient recover-
ing; a cough and weakness were the only
remaining symptoms of the disorder.
Rose, who had had it, intreated to see
her. "I fear, my love," said Mrs. Syd-
? ney, ** you may talk. too much, and dis-.
turb Emily. " Oonammado not say so? *
indeed I will only look. at her and wait;
upon her, and will not speak a word. I;
will walk. on tiptoe, and. . do as ? you bid
'me, if I may but see? her j but tell mea
mamma, may I not kiss. her and take her
hand gently, very gently? " When Rose's
wish was mentioned to Mr, Blandford,
with her promises. of being quiet, he
immediately sanctioned her visit, and
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. S3
Emily also expressed a desire to see
her.
The next day Rose accompanied her
mamma, who observed her very atten-
tive to a little basket of flowers, which
she seemed anxious to arrange in the most
picturesque manner. She placed them
in a corner of the room, as she entered,
and advanced on tiptoe towards Emily,
while the varying colour of her cheek be-
trayed the passing emotions of her little
heart; and, when Emily made an effort;
to meet her, unable any longer to sup-
press her tears, she threw herself on her
neck, and sobbed out her joy at seeing her
again. When this overflow. of affection
had subsided, Mrs. Sydney reminded
Rose of her promise not to agitate or
disturb; Emily, and desired her to have
more command over her feelings. Emily
had wept a little, but leaning her head
on Mrs. Sydney's. shoulder, was soon
tranquilizedi
When the tears. of the tender hearted
Rose had been wiped away; when she
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? 84. ROSE AND EMILY OR,
had spoken to her friend, looked at her,
kissed her, and held her hand, she
thought of her little basket; and. step-
ping lightly to the corner. of the room,
began to take out the flowers, holding
them up to Emily, as she selected one
from the other. "You may speak, my.
child," said Mrs. Sydney, (perceiving how
difficult was the restraint of silence to,
poor Rose,) "you may speak, but. not-
too loud. " Delighted. to have the pro-
hibition removed, she began in a low
voice--" Here is a heart's ease, Emily,.
that's for you; and here is one for. my-
self too" "Why is heart's ease foij
Emily and you? " said her mother smiling. ,
"Because," she replied, " we are both so
happy > she is happy to get well, and I am
happy to see her so*. Then she is. happy
to have such a good papa, and I am happy
in having such a dear mamma--so heart's
ease must belong to us," "What is next,
my little moralizer? " said Mrs. Sydney.
"The next ia a beautiful lily, so fair and
upright, that I think it is like Isabel. '*
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 85
*' And what have you ? for me V* asked
her mother. "Nothing mamma--I
could find nothing like yOu--I looked
every where; but there was nothing I
could fancy except this balm, and that is
not pretty enough; yet I heard Mr.
Price say you poured balm into every
body's bpsom. " Mrs. Sydney caught
the little prattler to her heart, and bade
her go on. "I have but one more that
has meaning in it," she said, " and that
is a rose, my ownself-->>. tb. e last that re-
mained upon the tree--the youngest you
know. Phcebe brought methemallto day;
but under the flowers is something else--
a*huneh of grapes for dear Emily. Phoebe
knew I liked grapes, so . she gave them to
me; but when I said poor Family was ill,.
and. I had rather she should h#ve them
than I, Phcebe told me. 1 might part with
them to her, if I chose, but she hoped I
would not forget she gave them to me;
and that I would love her for it. I said
I would, and so I do, better, ah! tea
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? 86 ROSE AND EMfLY } OR,
times better, than if she had insisted on
my eating them myself. "
When she had ended this rhapsody of
fancy and affection, to which Emily had
listened in placid silence, her mother,
smiling, told her she found she had not for-
gotten the fables of Flora; a beautiful cot-
lection by Dr. Langhorne, in which the
properties and feelings of persons are ap-
plied to flowers. She replied, " No
mamma; but it was the playyou read to us.
last night that made me think of this--
I thought how I should have liked to
have been Perdita, and presented the
flowers as she did. "
The judicious treatment of Mr Price,.
and the tender nursing of Mrs. Sydney,
soon restored Emily to health. Mr. .
Blandford considered her as the preser-
ver of his child, and was unbounded in
his expressions of gratitude; whilst
Emily, on her part, clung to her with the
fondest affection.
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH.
CHAP. VII.
The summer was now passed; and the
? uncertain state of Mrs. Sydney s health
had prevented her commencing the plan
she had proposed for the support of her-
self and children. She still lingered on
the spot so many years the seat of all her
happiness, and thought with anguish on
the moment when necessity would. oblige
her to quit it. She had no near relations
to whom she could apply for assistance -T
some distant ones had the power, and
probably might have the will to. serve
her; but she knew how reluctantly the
hand opens to the relief of such as solicit
its aid; how chilling are the good wishes
"that accompany a gift requested, and she
. shrunk'from. the mortification. of a bene-
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? 88 ROSE AND EMILY } OR,
fit that would at most but procrastinate,
not prevent, the hour of her departure.
The lengthened evenings of autumn,
unenlivened by social intercourse, were
tedious and unpleasant to Mr. Bland-
ford, and he secretly wished again
to change the scene. As his seclusion
from society was the effect of a trifling
disappointment, the sense of which time
had, in some degree, worn away; so
his desire to. return to it, originated in
the same caprice.
Alas, poor Emily! what will be thy
fete, with a parent so uncertain in his
own steps, so unfit to direct thine! Yet
Mr. Blandford's heart was the seat of
many noble virtues. In the exercise of
benevolence and charity he often dis-
played firmness and perseverance. The
eye of sorrow was never lifted up to hiin
in vain, nor did he turn away from the
voice of the mourner. These appeals
to him were so certain of exciting
his sympathy, that the semblance of
misery was often borrowed, the tale
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH.
of woe often fabricated, and he became
the dupe of the designing. A discovery
of such impositions never failed to pro-
duce those feelings of misanthropy which
led him for a time to shun society.
Mr. Blandford was an only son; every
gratification that money could purchase,
every indulgence that affection could
grant, was his from infancy to manhood.
Uncontrouled in all his wishes, it was pe-
culiarly fortunate that he possessed a
good disposition, or the most fatal conse-
quences might have ensued. ;
On the death of his parents, he visited
the continent, chiefly residing in Italy,
where he married an English lady of
great beauty and merit; but the same
hour which gave a daughter to his arms,
deprived him ef an amiable wife. To
sooth his affliction, he had again recourse
to travelling, and in change of place and
objects found a temporary alleviation of
his misery; but this plan, at first adopt-
ed as a relief to his mind, became at last
ne. cQss. ary from habit, .
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? 90 ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
This unsettled mode of life was ill
adapted to any system of education,
which Emily's age began to render ne-
cessary; he therefore hired a house in
London, with an intention of engaging a
well-informed woman to instruct her;
but unfortunately in the families with
whom he associated on his first arrival in
town, he met with daughters whose edu. -
cation had been shewy and superficial;.
who practised a little of every thing, and
understood nothing; whose manners were
elegant and polished, but when he at-
tempted by conversation to draw forth
the qualities of the mind, he found it
composed of childish trifles, with the
shreds and patches of fashion, and he
turned disgusted from accomplishments
that merely gave a varnish to the exte-
rior of woman.
A prejudice in some minds becomes a
principle of action; and when we are
guided by extremes, we generally lose
the object we aim at. Mr. Blandford
determined to avoid altogether, what he
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:36 GMT / http://hdl.
