her, continued for some minutes fixed
in her devout attitude : at length, upon
Mrs.
in her devout attitude : at length, upon
Mrs.
Childrens - Tales of the Hermitage
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? 3*
PRIDE SUpDUKD
Owen began to. feel a wish to return to
a spot which was so dear to her on many
accounts; and, convinced that her nieces'
had entirely conquered their love of
pleasure and dissipation, she began to
think it wrong to deprive them of those
innocent amusements it was so natural
for them to sigh for : she, therefore, de-
termined to make them acquainted with
"the real situation of her affairs, and ex-
plain her motive for having acted with
so much duplicity.
Scarcely had Mrs. Owen formed this
resolution, when both the young ladies
entered the room where she was sitting,
and, with countenances expressive of the
tendefest sympathy, informed her. that
poor Burford, in jumping from'his. boat
to the shore, had struck his foot against
a stone, and, in endeavouring to. save
himself from salling, had by some means
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? ? By ADVERSITY. ? 7
. or other twisted his leg, and displaced
his knee-pan :--" And now," said Eliza,
" those poor children must absolutely be
Jiarved ; for it is impossible their mother
^can earn enough to support them! "
" Oh! we must all contribute our
mite," said Mrs. Owen, " and prevent
sb dreadsul a calamity as you seem to ap-
prehend, my love;. but whilst I lament
poor Burford's misfortune, I congratu-
late myself at perceiving that your hearts
are susceptible both of tenderness and
humanity, and that apathy and indiffe-
rence are never to become inmates of
your breast ! To describe,'' continued
that amiable woman, " the gratification
I experience at beholding the pleasing
alteration that has taken place both in
your sentiments and manners is impossi-
ble ; and I think your angelic mother
(had she been in existence) coi)ld not
E have
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? 3" SUfcBlTE*
Tvr I. ! . ' ~
have felt more joy and pride in owning
you for her daughters, than I do in de-
claring, that, though I bear not the ma-
ternal name, my heart is alive to allots
feelings, and that I anticipate the live-
liest satissaction in the prospect of prer
seating you to the world as my adopted
children, and joust heiresses to eighty
thousand pounds ! " ' ?
. " Heiresses! " excla4med Eliza. --
" Eighty thousand pounds! " said Emma.
" What new change, my dear Aunt, has
fortune yet in store for us I"
" These is nothing new in this, my
dear girl," said Mrs. Cleveland ; (for I
shall no longer style her by the name of
Owen) for soon after I had the misfor-
tune cf losing your amiable mother, I
made my will> and, except a few trifling
legacies, left my whole fortune between
yourself and sister. "--She then explained
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? her reasons for having imposed upon
their credulity, and then, tenderly era-
frafiirig them; sold, " After having spent
a<year at Barmouth in solitude and se-
clusion, 1 have no reason to apprehend
you will complain of the dullness of
Cleveland Vale ; but had you been sta*
tioned there immediately alter your Ve-
moval from Grosvenor Square, I am
convinced that the difference of the scene
would have created disgust and dissatis-
faction, and, instead of having the grati-
fication of perceiving you were happy
in my ftcitiy, and contented with tnjr
mode of life, I should have been rendered
miserable by murmurs and complain-
ings.
" Your sentiments and ideas have
happily now taken a disferent turn ; you
have felt adversity, and know how to
pity it; you have acquired a habit of
E 1 amusing
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? jO . PKIDE SUBDUED
amusing yourselves without the aid of
variety, or the arts of dissipation ; and you
will return to the world in a temper of
mind calculated to mjoy its pleasures with.
Moderation, and to support its disappoint-
tnents with reason and resignation. . i ,. >>
Oh, my dearest Madam," . said.
Emma, " how can we ever deserve
year kindness, or merit your indulgence!
but for your fiiendflitp, how unpkasing
must have been our conduct, arid how.
despicable ouf characters! . You not
only instructed us to be amiabte, but by.
your own example invited sus tq be so
likewise; and if ever upon . . my return
to the gay world I feel a propensity to"
be vain, or an inclination to becorrje
proud, I wilt thirtk of Barfnouth;' and
agaiji grow humble<<" < ' . * *
^. <<. You are a dear giil," said Mrs.
Cleveland, " and I every day. have the,
' satis-
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? #Y ADVERSf. Tty,
satissaction pf finding something new lo
Jove sn4 admire in yqu. The impcf*
fedtions yon formerly discovered were
sojely she effects of fad example and ill
Suffers: yqpr'governess, qf whom you
had so high an opinion, attended only
to superficial aciompliJbm<<nts, whilst the
improvement of the heart was wholly
unattended to: but come, my dear girls,
let us go to the cottage and fee what we
can do for poor Burford. "
'I'hc unfqrruna. t. c rp^f) was in such
acute agflny that Mrs. Cleveland was
fearful the bone, was broken ; however,
the next morning stie had the satisfaction
of finding that the fomentation she had
ordered had abated the swelling. procured
cafe, and convinced Burford that the b'pne
Was whole. The poor fellow heard of
her intention of quitting Barmomh with
fhfjpost unfeigned sorrow, which not
' je 3 even
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? PRIDE SDSDtTEb
even the promise of an annual allow-
ance of ten pounds a year was able to
control. '
Lady Luton was apprised of her
friend's intended return,' about a month
after Her own house was completed ; and
the servants were almost wild with joy
at the prospect of again beholding a
mistress whom they both loved and vene-
rated.
Although Mrs. Cleveland had deputed
Lady Luton the almoner of her bounty
during her absence, yet there was some-
thing in her manner of bestowing it,
that made them sigh for the return of
her who augmented kindnesses by her
manner of conferring them. * ,
On the day that she was expected, the
village bells began ringing before it was
light, the charity children were dressed
in their Sunday clothes, and art univer-
sal holiday was proclaimed.
AU
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? BY ADVERSITY. 43
All the peasantry assembled on the
lawn before the house, anxiously wait-
ing the arrival of their benesactress, who
was so moved by this proof of affection
and attachment that she burst into tears,
whilst they, with the most respectful ex-
pressions of gladness, testified their love,
their joy, and their fidelity.
INNO-
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? <<i t r ' '
INNOCENCE JUSTIFJ&! ? ,
AND
fRT DEZECTEQ\
A STQR1T.
IN TWO PARTS, ,
J^LS Mrs. Cavendish and her danghte r.
Matjlda were one summer evening stray-
ing along the banks of tjje Thames \t\
the environs of Kingston, they perceived
a femaje in the Chjnefe dress, seated on
a tuft of grass by jts side, attentively
watching the fate of a wicker basket,
which appeared to pass slowly on, actu-
ated by the motipn of the ebbing tide.
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? "1NKOCENCE JUSTIFIED, &C 4. 5
Curiosity induced Mrs. Cavendish to
approach the margin of the stream, and
scrutinoufly examine the basket which
seemed so calculated to attract the stran-
ger's attention. A sudden gust of wind
drove it from the shore, and at once de-
feated her wishes, and disappointed her
expectation. ,
The curiosity which had been awa-
kened by the singularity of the circum-
stance, was increased by the improbabi-
lity of gratifying it; and whilst Mrs.
Cavendish was Reflecting on what she
had seen, the woman rushed by her, andi
with impatience and anxiety in her
countenance, followed the object that
had called forth her solicitude.
A fisherman at that moment passed,
and going directly to the water's side, be-
gan unfastening a little wherry which
- : '. . . . . was
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? 46 INNOCENCE JUSTIFIE>>,
was chained to a post that was fixed there
for the purpose of securing it.
" My good man," said Mrs Caven-
dish, " I am particularly anxious to fee
the contents of a little wicker basket,
which by rowing sast you will soon over?
take ; and is you will bring it Sie you
shall not go unrewarded for your trem-
ble. "
The man instantly jumped into the
boat, stripped off his jacket, and in less
than five minutes Mrs, Cleveland per-
ceived he had obtained the prize, and
was returning with it as fast as possible.
As soon as the Chinese had observed
this transaction, she quitted the bank of
the river, and moved slowly towards
London.
The waterman soon reached the spot
from which he had embarked, and, throw-
ing his chain round the post to secure the
boat.
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? AND ART DETECTED. 4f
boat, saluted Mrs. Cavendish with--
" I warrant ye, Madam, this pretty
babe belongs to that there baggage who
runn'd away as foon as she saw me row
up to it,"
" Babe ! " exclaimed Mrs. Caven-
dish, (at the seme time turning her eyes
upon the basket the man still held in his
hand) ** what supplicating innocence is
pourtrayed in its countenance! how
interesting is its smile ! my heart already
compaflionates its unfortunate situation!
but put down the child, my good friend,"
flic continued; " and if possible over-
take the abandoned wretch whose heart
has been capable of forming so inhu-
man a design as that of depriving a lovely
babe of existence. "
The man did as he Was directed, and
in less than a quarter of an hour return-
ed, dragging with him the object he had
Wen
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? 48 innocence justified,
been in pursuit of. The moment she be-
held the insant in Mrs. Cavendish's arms,
she dropped upon her knees^ and, regard-
less of the questions that were put to. .
her, continued for some minutes fixed
in her devout attitude : at length, upon
Mrs. Cavendish pulling her by the vest,
and asking if the child did not belong to
her;--she replied:
" Mine child ! mine child ! --yes, mini
poor baby. '"
" Then how," replied Mrs. Caven-
dish, " could you have cruelty and in-
humanity enough to commit so helpless
an innocent to the mercy of the waves ?
you must be a very wicked woman, and
deserve that punijhment which the law
will inflicl. " ". .
" Me no wicked--me love mine child;
but me have no. bread, no rice, no noting
alt all to give it; and me not, like to see
. " ? & it
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? AND ART DETECTED.
it itarve, so me do as dey do in China ;
me put it in de water, and some good
foul come and pick it up, and den my
poor child have all. dat it wants, and
Ousanque lie down and die, and den go
to good place, and never more cry after
cruel husband again ! "
Mrs. Cavendish was much asfected by
the artless relation' of the unhappy wo-
man, and immediately recollected that
it was the custom in China for parents
to QXpofe their female children to the
mercy of the waters, if their own in-
come was infuslicient to support them in
comfort. Her abhorrence of the act
was immediately converted into com-
passion for the unfortunate being who
had committed it i she began asking
her a variety of questions, and found
taat her beauty had attracted the asfec-
tion of one of the sailors who had accom -
F panied
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? 50 INNOCENCE JUSTIFIFD,
panied Loid Macartney in his embassy
to China, and who had acquired suffici-
ent knowledge of the language to be
enabled to plead his passion, which he
did with so much energy, as to induce
the credulous Ousenque to alter her
dress to that which was worn by the
other sex, and request the captain of the
ship to indulge her with a passage to Eng-
land. The request was easily obtained,
and the uhfortunate girl quitted her coun-
try, home, and friends, for an ungrateful
and abandoned seducer, who, soon after
the ship was paid off, entered on board
another bound for the East Indies, leav-
ing her in a strange country, without
money to support or friends to comfort
her. The landlady of the public house
at which she lodged at Portsmouth, com-
passionating her forlorn situation, gave
her sifteen shillings out of her own pock-
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? AND ART DETECTED', jl
et, (though she owed near five-and twenty
for the room) and a letter to Lord Ma-
cartney, describing her situation, and
entreating his assistance. With thUr
letter in her pocket, and the child sast-
ened to her back, the poor creature set
off for London: but just as she had
reached the skirts of Kingston, she was
knocked down, robbed of a little bun-
dle that contained her purse, wardrobe,
and letter, and, in all probability, would
then have ended both her misery and
her life, but for the humane interference
of a stage coachman, who, perceiving
something lying on the road, jumped
from his box, and observing the insensi-
ble state to which she was reduced, lift-
ed her into the coach which happened to
be empty, stopped at the first public
house he came to, and left her in the
care qs the mistress, promising to pay
. f 2 all
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? 52 INNOCENCE JUSTIFIED,
all expenses when he returned the next
day. This benevolent design was frus-
trated by the horses taking fright about
ten miles from Kingston, running away
with the carriage, and dashing it with
violence against a gate-post, by which
means the poor fellow was thrown from
his box and broke his leg.
The wretched Ousanque, thus reduced
to the most abject state of misery, wan-
dered round Kingston in a state of mind
little inferior to distraction, which was
heightened by the constant cries of the
insant far that nourishment which na-
ture denied it, and which the unfeeling
inhabitants refused to bestow. Then it
was that the idea os committing it' to tho
waves first occurred, and' the. conse-
quences attending it were no less savour-
able to Ousanque, than they were; to the
child.
Whilst
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? AND ART DETECTED.
53
1' hilst Mrs. Cavendish was attentive?
iy listening to the poor woman's relation,
Matilda was' amusing herself with ad-
mixing the beauty of the child j and.
when she heard. her Mamma declare it
was her intention to take both home
with her, the delight lie felt was visible
in all her features, and she protested she
would nurse it all day long^ and never
play with a doll again.
The singularity both of the mother's
and child's dress attracted her notice, and
called forth her astonishment j and when
the perceived that the popr little creature
was bound up so tight with a swathing
band that it could not use any of its
limbs, she was absolutely shocked at the
sight, and declared it was more cruel than
drowning it; " for then, Mamma,"
suid she, " it would have been out oj it$
F 3 . fain,
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? INNOCENCE JUSTIFIED,
pain, but now it has a whole life of mi-
serf. "
Mrs. Cavendish informed her it was a
custom with the Chinese to confine the
limbs of the children, from an idea that
they would grow crooked if they were
suffered to twist them about in any one
form that inclination dictated ; and their
feet in particular were subject to confined
ment, as the men of that Country were
more attracted by the beauty of a small
foot, than the charms of a pretty face.
Ousanque's joy and gratitude when
. Mrs. Cavendish promised to befriend
her, arid represent her forlorn situation
to Lord Macartney, was testified by a
thousand marks of respect and venera-
tion j she knelt at her feet, kissed the
hem of tier garment, and seemed to con-
sider her as an absolute deity.
Matilda entreated that the child might
>> be
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? AND ART DETECTED. . ' 5i5 '
be. pressed like an European, and that
she might have the satissaction of making
it clothes, a circumstance which -asto-
nished her Mamma, as she was by no
means fond of work, . -
Mrs. Cavendish fulfilled her promise'
of writing to Lord Macartney . in behalf
of the unfortunate Ousanque, and Was
in daily expectation of a reply, when
the poor creature was suddenly taken ex-
tremely . ill. . . An apothecary was imme-
diately sent for, who upon the first visit
thought the symptoms foreboded the
small-pox. The next day proved his
opinion to have been well founded^ and
i>>a short time the disease macfdMts ap-
pearance with every mark of virulence
and danger that colld attend it.
Every kindness that humanity could
dictate and feeling pay,' tfre utthappy
susferer received from her benevolent be,
nesactress,"
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? 56 INNOCENCE JUSTIFIED,
nefactress, and at those lucid intervals
which the fever sometimes permitted
her to experience, she expressed her gra-
titude in such terms of genuine feeling,
that Mrs. Cavendish was often obliged
so leave the apartment to disguise her
emotions, and drop a tear to her misfor-
tunes.
From the first appearance of the dis-
order, Mr. Longford the apothecary
was convinced it would be fatal;. he in-
formed Mrs. Cavendish that no art could
save her j and the event f ;on proved the
clearness of his judgment.
The little insant began to sicken on
the day its poor mother died ; and as Mrs>>
Cavendish then considered it an absolute
duty to protect and support it, she re-
solved if it lived to bestow upon it such
an education as would enable it to earn
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? ANsA A RT. DETECTED. ' JJ
its own subsistence in a manner that was
respectable, and not laborious.
The first step she took after the death
of the mother was to have it made a
Christian, and "to entreat that Mr. and
Mrs. Fowler, who were her particular
friends, would join with her in becom-
ing sponsors. Matilda wanted it to bq
called after herself; butMts. Cavendish-
pointed put the inconvenience that would;
Vttend it; and it was at length agreed
that Pekin should be the name, by way
$f reminding it of its unfortunate mo-
ther's country.
Although the little Pekin received the
infection from such a satal-and dreadful
kind, yet it had the complaint in a most
favourable manner, and in less than six
weeks not a single mark of the disorder
vas. visible upon her skin. . . .
. Matilda's afiectjon foruhe child daily
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? |8 INNOCENCE JUSTIFIED,
increased, and the little soul fooa testi-
fied that it was grateful for her kindness.
As soon as it could speak she undertook
to teach it the alphabet, and by the time
it was four years old it could read any
of Mrs. Trimmer's little stories as well
as its governess, who at that period had
entered her tenth year.
Mrs. Cavendish's youngest brother
had, to the great displeasure of all his
family, married the daughter ofacountty
shopkeeper, whose beauty had pleased
his eye, and whose art and duplicity ha*
imposed upon his understanding. He
Was then a young ensign in the forty-se-
cond regiment, and, though of good faT
mily, was possessed of a very small for-
tune, and therefore it was both an impo-
litic and irriprudent measure.
None of his relations except Mrs.
Gayendish would ever condescend to
have
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? AND ART DttECTfD.
haveany intercourse with him, or the ob-
ject of his affection; and though shc
was no less vexed at his marriage than
they were, she invited both himself and
bride to pass the summer with her at
Kingston. . .
The vulgarity of Mrs. Roper's man-
ners, the low cunning of her mind, and
the design and artifice which was visible
in all her actions, was so obvious to
Mrs. Cavendiih, that slie was astoniftied
that even a youth*>f nineteen could have
been duped by them. The young en-
sign, however, did not live long enough
to repeat the folly of his conduct ; for a
violent cold settled upon his lungs when
he had been about five months married,
which brought on a rapid decline, and
he died whilst on a visit to his asfectionate
sitter, recommending his wife and her
expected
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? 6o INNOCENCfe JUSTIF'jED,
expected little one to her tenderness and
protection.
Mrs. Cavendish was at that time in
deep mourning for an amiable husband,
and had her sisier-in-law been a disferent
kind of woman, her company and soci-
ety would have been a great acquisition,
as Matilda was then only nine months
old ; but the dissimilarity of their tem-
pers, dispositions, and manners was too
striking for such a plan to be adopted ;
and Mrs. Cavendish preferred allowing
her sister a hundred a year out of her
own income, to letting her remain an
inmate of the samily,- and hoped that she
would return to her own connsxions,
and spend it in what manner she thought
proper.
But Mrs. Roper knew her own inte-
rest too weil to quit the neighbourhood,
and, under pretence of violent asfection,
i declared
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? AND ART DETECTED. 6l
declared that all her happiness was cen-
tered in being able to trace her dear
Edward's features in the lovely counte-
nance of his amiable sister !
A small first'floor was accordingly
hired at Kingston, and under the pre-
tence of admiring one thing, and wiJJjing
for another, Mrs. Roper contrived al-
most to double her hundred a-year.
The little childy which proved to be
a girl, was extremely like its deceased
sather, and Mrs. Cavendish felt for it
almost a maternal tenderness : as there
was not more than twelvemonths disfer-
ence in the age of Charlotte (which was
the child's name) and tier cousin Ma-
tilda, they spent a great deal of ti me to-
gether, though the disference efthek
dispositions occasionedfrequent disputes
between tb? r>>>> 1 .
? 3*
PRIDE SUpDUKD
Owen began to. feel a wish to return to
a spot which was so dear to her on many
accounts; and, convinced that her nieces'
had entirely conquered their love of
pleasure and dissipation, she began to
think it wrong to deprive them of those
innocent amusements it was so natural
for them to sigh for : she, therefore, de-
termined to make them acquainted with
"the real situation of her affairs, and ex-
plain her motive for having acted with
so much duplicity.
Scarcely had Mrs. Owen formed this
resolution, when both the young ladies
entered the room where she was sitting,
and, with countenances expressive of the
tendefest sympathy, informed her. that
poor Burford, in jumping from'his. boat
to the shore, had struck his foot against
a stone, and, in endeavouring to. save
himself from salling, had by some means
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? ? By ADVERSITY. ? 7
. or other twisted his leg, and displaced
his knee-pan :--" And now," said Eliza,
" those poor children must absolutely be
Jiarved ; for it is impossible their mother
^can earn enough to support them! "
" Oh! we must all contribute our
mite," said Mrs. Owen, " and prevent
sb dreadsul a calamity as you seem to ap-
prehend, my love;. but whilst I lament
poor Burford's misfortune, I congratu-
late myself at perceiving that your hearts
are susceptible both of tenderness and
humanity, and that apathy and indiffe-
rence are never to become inmates of
your breast ! To describe,'' continued
that amiable woman, " the gratification
I experience at beholding the pleasing
alteration that has taken place both in
your sentiments and manners is impossi-
ble ; and I think your angelic mother
(had she been in existence) coi)ld not
E have
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? 3" SUfcBlTE*
Tvr I. ! . ' ~
have felt more joy and pride in owning
you for her daughters, than I do in de-
claring, that, though I bear not the ma-
ternal name, my heart is alive to allots
feelings, and that I anticipate the live-
liest satissaction in the prospect of prer
seating you to the world as my adopted
children, and joust heiresses to eighty
thousand pounds ! " ' ?
. " Heiresses! " excla4med Eliza. --
" Eighty thousand pounds! " said Emma.
" What new change, my dear Aunt, has
fortune yet in store for us I"
" These is nothing new in this, my
dear girl," said Mrs. Cleveland ; (for I
shall no longer style her by the name of
Owen) for soon after I had the misfor-
tune cf losing your amiable mother, I
made my will> and, except a few trifling
legacies, left my whole fortune between
yourself and sister. "--She then explained
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? her reasons for having imposed upon
their credulity, and then, tenderly era-
frafiirig them; sold, " After having spent
a<year at Barmouth in solitude and se-
clusion, 1 have no reason to apprehend
you will complain of the dullness of
Cleveland Vale ; but had you been sta*
tioned there immediately alter your Ve-
moval from Grosvenor Square, I am
convinced that the difference of the scene
would have created disgust and dissatis-
faction, and, instead of having the grati-
fication of perceiving you were happy
in my ftcitiy, and contented with tnjr
mode of life, I should have been rendered
miserable by murmurs and complain-
ings.
" Your sentiments and ideas have
happily now taken a disferent turn ; you
have felt adversity, and know how to
pity it; you have acquired a habit of
E 1 amusing
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? jO . PKIDE SUBDUED
amusing yourselves without the aid of
variety, or the arts of dissipation ; and you
will return to the world in a temper of
mind calculated to mjoy its pleasures with.
Moderation, and to support its disappoint-
tnents with reason and resignation. . i ,. >>
Oh, my dearest Madam," . said.
Emma, " how can we ever deserve
year kindness, or merit your indulgence!
but for your fiiendflitp, how unpkasing
must have been our conduct, arid how.
despicable ouf characters! . You not
only instructed us to be amiabte, but by.
your own example invited sus tq be so
likewise; and if ever upon . . my return
to the gay world I feel a propensity to"
be vain, or an inclination to becorrje
proud, I wilt thirtk of Barfnouth;' and
agaiji grow humble<<" < ' . * *
^. <<. You are a dear giil," said Mrs.
Cleveland, " and I every day. have the,
' satis-
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? #Y ADVERSf. Tty,
satissaction pf finding something new lo
Jove sn4 admire in yqu. The impcf*
fedtions yon formerly discovered were
sojely she effects of fad example and ill
Suffers: yqpr'governess, qf whom you
had so high an opinion, attended only
to superficial aciompliJbm<<nts, whilst the
improvement of the heart was wholly
unattended to: but come, my dear girls,
let us go to the cottage and fee what we
can do for poor Burford. "
'I'hc unfqrruna. t. c rp^f) was in such
acute agflny that Mrs. Cleveland was
fearful the bone, was broken ; however,
the next morning stie had the satisfaction
of finding that the fomentation she had
ordered had abated the swelling. procured
cafe, and convinced Burford that the b'pne
Was whole. The poor fellow heard of
her intention of quitting Barmomh with
fhfjpost unfeigned sorrow, which not
' je 3 even
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? PRIDE SDSDtTEb
even the promise of an annual allow-
ance of ten pounds a year was able to
control. '
Lady Luton was apprised of her
friend's intended return,' about a month
after Her own house was completed ; and
the servants were almost wild with joy
at the prospect of again beholding a
mistress whom they both loved and vene-
rated.
Although Mrs. Cleveland had deputed
Lady Luton the almoner of her bounty
during her absence, yet there was some-
thing in her manner of bestowing it,
that made them sigh for the return of
her who augmented kindnesses by her
manner of conferring them. * ,
On the day that she was expected, the
village bells began ringing before it was
light, the charity children were dressed
in their Sunday clothes, and art univer-
sal holiday was proclaimed.
AU
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? BY ADVERSITY. 43
All the peasantry assembled on the
lawn before the house, anxiously wait-
ing the arrival of their benesactress, who
was so moved by this proof of affection
and attachment that she burst into tears,
whilst they, with the most respectful ex-
pressions of gladness, testified their love,
their joy, and their fidelity.
INNO-
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? <<i t r ' '
INNOCENCE JUSTIFJ&! ? ,
AND
fRT DEZECTEQ\
A STQR1T.
IN TWO PARTS, ,
J^LS Mrs. Cavendish and her danghte r.
Matjlda were one summer evening stray-
ing along the banks of tjje Thames \t\
the environs of Kingston, they perceived
a femaje in the Chjnefe dress, seated on
a tuft of grass by jts side, attentively
watching the fate of a wicker basket,
which appeared to pass slowly on, actu-
ated by the motipn of the ebbing tide.
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? "1NKOCENCE JUSTIFIED, &C 4. 5
Curiosity induced Mrs. Cavendish to
approach the margin of the stream, and
scrutinoufly examine the basket which
seemed so calculated to attract the stran-
ger's attention. A sudden gust of wind
drove it from the shore, and at once de-
feated her wishes, and disappointed her
expectation. ,
The curiosity which had been awa-
kened by the singularity of the circum-
stance, was increased by the improbabi-
lity of gratifying it; and whilst Mrs.
Cavendish was Reflecting on what she
had seen, the woman rushed by her, andi
with impatience and anxiety in her
countenance, followed the object that
had called forth her solicitude.
A fisherman at that moment passed,
and going directly to the water's side, be-
gan unfastening a little wherry which
- : '. . . . . was
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? 46 INNOCENCE JUSTIFIE>>,
was chained to a post that was fixed there
for the purpose of securing it.
" My good man," said Mrs Caven-
dish, " I am particularly anxious to fee
the contents of a little wicker basket,
which by rowing sast you will soon over?
take ; and is you will bring it Sie you
shall not go unrewarded for your trem-
ble. "
The man instantly jumped into the
boat, stripped off his jacket, and in less
than five minutes Mrs, Cleveland per-
ceived he had obtained the prize, and
was returning with it as fast as possible.
As soon as the Chinese had observed
this transaction, she quitted the bank of
the river, and moved slowly towards
London.
The waterman soon reached the spot
from which he had embarked, and, throw-
ing his chain round the post to secure the
boat.
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? AND ART DETECTED. 4f
boat, saluted Mrs. Cavendish with--
" I warrant ye, Madam, this pretty
babe belongs to that there baggage who
runn'd away as foon as she saw me row
up to it,"
" Babe ! " exclaimed Mrs. Caven-
dish, (at the seme time turning her eyes
upon the basket the man still held in his
hand) ** what supplicating innocence is
pourtrayed in its countenance! how
interesting is its smile ! my heart already
compaflionates its unfortunate situation!
but put down the child, my good friend,"
flic continued; " and if possible over-
take the abandoned wretch whose heart
has been capable of forming so inhu-
man a design as that of depriving a lovely
babe of existence. "
The man did as he Was directed, and
in less than a quarter of an hour return-
ed, dragging with him the object he had
Wen
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? 48 innocence justified,
been in pursuit of. The moment she be-
held the insant in Mrs. Cavendish's arms,
she dropped upon her knees^ and, regard-
less of the questions that were put to. .
her, continued for some minutes fixed
in her devout attitude : at length, upon
Mrs. Cavendish pulling her by the vest,
and asking if the child did not belong to
her;--she replied:
" Mine child ! mine child ! --yes, mini
poor baby. '"
" Then how," replied Mrs. Caven-
dish, " could you have cruelty and in-
humanity enough to commit so helpless
an innocent to the mercy of the waves ?
you must be a very wicked woman, and
deserve that punijhment which the law
will inflicl. " ". .
" Me no wicked--me love mine child;
but me have no. bread, no rice, no noting
alt all to give it; and me not, like to see
. " ? & it
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? AND ART DETECTED.
it itarve, so me do as dey do in China ;
me put it in de water, and some good
foul come and pick it up, and den my
poor child have all. dat it wants, and
Ousanque lie down and die, and den go
to good place, and never more cry after
cruel husband again ! "
Mrs. Cavendish was much asfected by
the artless relation' of the unhappy wo-
man, and immediately recollected that
it was the custom in China for parents
to QXpofe their female children to the
mercy of the waters, if their own in-
come was infuslicient to support them in
comfort. Her abhorrence of the act
was immediately converted into com-
passion for the unfortunate being who
had committed it i she began asking
her a variety of questions, and found
taat her beauty had attracted the asfec-
tion of one of the sailors who had accom -
F panied
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? 50 INNOCENCE JUSTIFIFD,
panied Loid Macartney in his embassy
to China, and who had acquired suffici-
ent knowledge of the language to be
enabled to plead his passion, which he
did with so much energy, as to induce
the credulous Ousenque to alter her
dress to that which was worn by the
other sex, and request the captain of the
ship to indulge her with a passage to Eng-
land. The request was easily obtained,
and the uhfortunate girl quitted her coun-
try, home, and friends, for an ungrateful
and abandoned seducer, who, soon after
the ship was paid off, entered on board
another bound for the East Indies, leav-
ing her in a strange country, without
money to support or friends to comfort
her. The landlady of the public house
at which she lodged at Portsmouth, com-
passionating her forlorn situation, gave
her sifteen shillings out of her own pock-
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? AND ART DETECTED', jl
et, (though she owed near five-and twenty
for the room) and a letter to Lord Ma-
cartney, describing her situation, and
entreating his assistance. With thUr
letter in her pocket, and the child sast-
ened to her back, the poor creature set
off for London: but just as she had
reached the skirts of Kingston, she was
knocked down, robbed of a little bun-
dle that contained her purse, wardrobe,
and letter, and, in all probability, would
then have ended both her misery and
her life, but for the humane interference
of a stage coachman, who, perceiving
something lying on the road, jumped
from his box, and observing the insensi-
ble state to which she was reduced, lift-
ed her into the coach which happened to
be empty, stopped at the first public
house he came to, and left her in the
care qs the mistress, promising to pay
. f 2 all
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? 52 INNOCENCE JUSTIFIED,
all expenses when he returned the next
day. This benevolent design was frus-
trated by the horses taking fright about
ten miles from Kingston, running away
with the carriage, and dashing it with
violence against a gate-post, by which
means the poor fellow was thrown from
his box and broke his leg.
The wretched Ousanque, thus reduced
to the most abject state of misery, wan-
dered round Kingston in a state of mind
little inferior to distraction, which was
heightened by the constant cries of the
insant far that nourishment which na-
ture denied it, and which the unfeeling
inhabitants refused to bestow. Then it
was that the idea os committing it' to tho
waves first occurred, and' the. conse-
quences attending it were no less savour-
able to Ousanque, than they were; to the
child.
Whilst
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? AND ART DETECTED.
53
1' hilst Mrs. Cavendish was attentive?
iy listening to the poor woman's relation,
Matilda was' amusing herself with ad-
mixing the beauty of the child j and.
when she heard. her Mamma declare it
was her intention to take both home
with her, the delight lie felt was visible
in all her features, and she protested she
would nurse it all day long^ and never
play with a doll again.
The singularity both of the mother's
and child's dress attracted her notice, and
called forth her astonishment j and when
the perceived that the popr little creature
was bound up so tight with a swathing
band that it could not use any of its
limbs, she was absolutely shocked at the
sight, and declared it was more cruel than
drowning it; " for then, Mamma,"
suid she, " it would have been out oj it$
F 3 . fain,
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? INNOCENCE JUSTIFIED,
pain, but now it has a whole life of mi-
serf. "
Mrs. Cavendish informed her it was a
custom with the Chinese to confine the
limbs of the children, from an idea that
they would grow crooked if they were
suffered to twist them about in any one
form that inclination dictated ; and their
feet in particular were subject to confined
ment, as the men of that Country were
more attracted by the beauty of a small
foot, than the charms of a pretty face.
Ousanque's joy and gratitude when
. Mrs. Cavendish promised to befriend
her, arid represent her forlorn situation
to Lord Macartney, was testified by a
thousand marks of respect and venera-
tion j she knelt at her feet, kissed the
hem of tier garment, and seemed to con-
sider her as an absolute deity.
Matilda entreated that the child might
>> be
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? AND ART DETECTED. . ' 5i5 '
be. pressed like an European, and that
she might have the satissaction of making
it clothes, a circumstance which -asto-
nished her Mamma, as she was by no
means fond of work, . -
Mrs. Cavendish fulfilled her promise'
of writing to Lord Macartney . in behalf
of the unfortunate Ousanque, and Was
in daily expectation of a reply, when
the poor creature was suddenly taken ex-
tremely . ill. . . An apothecary was imme-
diately sent for, who upon the first visit
thought the symptoms foreboded the
small-pox. The next day proved his
opinion to have been well founded^ and
i>>a short time the disease macfdMts ap-
pearance with every mark of virulence
and danger that colld attend it.
Every kindness that humanity could
dictate and feeling pay,' tfre utthappy
susferer received from her benevolent be,
nesactress,"
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? 56 INNOCENCE JUSTIFIED,
nefactress, and at those lucid intervals
which the fever sometimes permitted
her to experience, she expressed her gra-
titude in such terms of genuine feeling,
that Mrs. Cavendish was often obliged
so leave the apartment to disguise her
emotions, and drop a tear to her misfor-
tunes.
From the first appearance of the dis-
order, Mr. Longford the apothecary
was convinced it would be fatal;. he in-
formed Mrs. Cavendish that no art could
save her j and the event f ;on proved the
clearness of his judgment.
The little insant began to sicken on
the day its poor mother died ; and as Mrs>>
Cavendish then considered it an absolute
duty to protect and support it, she re-
solved if it lived to bestow upon it such
an education as would enable it to earn
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? ANsA A RT. DETECTED. ' JJ
its own subsistence in a manner that was
respectable, and not laborious.
The first step she took after the death
of the mother was to have it made a
Christian, and "to entreat that Mr. and
Mrs. Fowler, who were her particular
friends, would join with her in becom-
ing sponsors. Matilda wanted it to bq
called after herself; butMts. Cavendish-
pointed put the inconvenience that would;
Vttend it; and it was at length agreed
that Pekin should be the name, by way
$f reminding it of its unfortunate mo-
ther's country.
Although the little Pekin received the
infection from such a satal-and dreadful
kind, yet it had the complaint in a most
favourable manner, and in less than six
weeks not a single mark of the disorder
vas. visible upon her skin. . . .
. Matilda's afiectjon foruhe child daily
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? |8 INNOCENCE JUSTIFIED,
increased, and the little soul fooa testi-
fied that it was grateful for her kindness.
As soon as it could speak she undertook
to teach it the alphabet, and by the time
it was four years old it could read any
of Mrs. Trimmer's little stories as well
as its governess, who at that period had
entered her tenth year.
Mrs. Cavendish's youngest brother
had, to the great displeasure of all his
family, married the daughter ofacountty
shopkeeper, whose beauty had pleased
his eye, and whose art and duplicity ha*
imposed upon his understanding. He
Was then a young ensign in the forty-se-
cond regiment, and, though of good faT
mily, was possessed of a very small for-
tune, and therefore it was both an impo-
litic and irriprudent measure.
None of his relations except Mrs.
Gayendish would ever condescend to
have
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? AND ART DttECTfD.
haveany intercourse with him, or the ob-
ject of his affection; and though shc
was no less vexed at his marriage than
they were, she invited both himself and
bride to pass the summer with her at
Kingston. . .
The vulgarity of Mrs. Roper's man-
ners, the low cunning of her mind, and
the design and artifice which was visible
in all her actions, was so obvious to
Mrs. Cavendiih, that slie was astoniftied
that even a youth*>f nineteen could have
been duped by them. The young en-
sign, however, did not live long enough
to repeat the folly of his conduct ; for a
violent cold settled upon his lungs when
he had been about five months married,
which brought on a rapid decline, and
he died whilst on a visit to his asfectionate
sitter, recommending his wife and her
expected
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? 6o INNOCENCfe JUSTIF'jED,
expected little one to her tenderness and
protection.
Mrs. Cavendish was at that time in
deep mourning for an amiable husband,
and had her sisier-in-law been a disferent
kind of woman, her company and soci-
ety would have been a great acquisition,
as Matilda was then only nine months
old ; but the dissimilarity of their tem-
pers, dispositions, and manners was too
striking for such a plan to be adopted ;
and Mrs. Cavendish preferred allowing
her sister a hundred a year out of her
own income, to letting her remain an
inmate of the samily,- and hoped that she
would return to her own connsxions,
and spend it in what manner she thought
proper.
But Mrs. Roper knew her own inte-
rest too weil to quit the neighbourhood,
and, under pretence of violent asfection,
i declared
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? AND ART DETECTED. 6l
declared that all her happiness was cen-
tered in being able to trace her dear
Edward's features in the lovely counte-
nance of his amiable sister !
A small first'floor was accordingly
hired at Kingston, and under the pre-
tence of admiring one thing, and wiJJjing
for another, Mrs. Roper contrived al-
most to double her hundred a-year.
The little childy which proved to be
a girl, was extremely like its deceased
sather, and Mrs. Cavendish felt for it
almost a maternal tenderness : as there
was not more than twelvemonths disfer-
ence in the age of Charlotte (which was
the child's name) and tier cousin Ma-
tilda, they spent a great deal of ti me to-
gether, though the disference efthek
dispositions occasionedfrequent disputes
between tb? r>>>> 1 .
