Emily had now
attained
her sixteenth
year; and as Mrs.
year; and as Mrs.
Childrens - Roses and Emily
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? 160 ROSE AND'EMILY J or,
moderate. You might naturally feel re-
gret for the loss of your favourite, and
horror at the manner of its death: but
there are happily few circumstances in
our lives which can justify such unbound-
ed lamentations as. your's ? have been, and
this you will allow is not one of them.
Such extravagant effusions of grief as you
have yielded to, betray a. weakness of
mind, and a want of self-command,
which, in the course of your life, will
occasion you many hours of misery* To
restrain the excess of our feelings, is as
much a duty we owe to others as to our-
selves: do you think I could Witness your
emotions, or hear the expressions of your
agony; this: morning, without a degree
of agitation? I saw Isabel in tears, which
she endeavoured'to conceal; Emily sat
in silent sorrow, and 'Phoebe could not
eat her breakfast? "--Isabel and Emily
just then entered the room/ and Mrs.
Sydney explaining to them the subject of
her conversation with Rose<<, continued:
"I would most earnestly caution you all,
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 161
my dear girls, against the indulgence of
that morbid sensibility, which yields,
without resistance, to every sudden im-
pression. I do not know a more trou-
blesome or disagreeable companion than
a person who shrieks, faints, or sheds
tears at every trifling terror, (a terror
which some whim of the imagination
generally conjures up,) or some equally
insignificant cause of regret: so far from
exciting interest or sympathy in us, who
witness these symptoms of childish weak-
ness, we are more inclined to feel con-
tempt; and though we may offer relief
or assistance, we cannot bestow pity. By
indulging the excess of our emotions, the
mind loses that strength which should be
its support in times of real affliction; and
is unable to sustain with fortitude the
many trying calamities that m? y assail us
in our pilgrimage through this life. I
will relate a circumstance that occurred
some years ago when I was upon a visit
to a family who imagined that sensibility
possessed a powerful charm over the af- <<
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? 162
ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
fections, and was the only test of what
? they termed "soul;" that it revealed
itself on every trivial occasion, in tears,
screams, hysterics, faintings, and the
most frantic gestures; and their practice
certainly ccorded with this opinion.
"The lady had two daughters. One
morning as we were sitt. ng nt work in a
little parlour that fronted a field, in the
coi ner of which was a deep well, Anna,
the eldest daughter, gave a piercing
shriek; her sister echoed it, and the mo-
ther loudly exclaimed,' What is the mat-
ter V 'Oh! the well is open; she has
fallen in, and sh<< is dead,' they exclaim-
ed. Instantly all became confusion, and
nothing was heard but screams and la-
mentations. I imagined they had seen a
little girl, who was their visitor, fall into
the well, and in equal, though less noisy
agony, I witnessed this scene of affliction.
I sought to sooth the mother, and intreat-
ed the girls to see if any thing could be
done to restore the object of their grief.
* O no, she is dead, she is dead; I saw
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? SKETCI1KS OF YOUTH.
163
her carried in dead. ' 'Perhaps not,' I
said, ' I will go, but for ' pity's sake do
not let your mother see her at present;'
but they all at once rushed out of the
room, saying they must see Fanny; she
was such a nice creature, such a beauty,
such a darling, such a treasure! I fol-
lowed in the hope of being able to miti-
gate the first transports of their grief
when they beheld the child; but judge
of my surprise when, in this dear, inte-
resting, and nice creature, this darling,
this beauty, this treasure, I saw an old
goat, whom they called Fanny! I could
not refrain from laughing heartily. 1 I ,
congratulate you,' I said, ' that it is only
the old goat. ' * Why, what did you sup-
pose it to be? ' said the mother angrily.
'Fanny Seymour certainly. ' * O ho,
thank Cod it is not she. 'Then my
dear madam,' I said, ' dry up your tears
and compose yourself; for though you
may have lost a valuable animal, do not
grieve as if it had been achildor a friend. '
In vain I remonstrated, soothed, or ad-
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? HOSE AND EMILY J 'OK,
vised; the stream of sorrow flowed till
it had exhausted itself, and in the even-
ing they were all nervous from excessive
agitation, and all complained of their ex-
treme sensibility! This kind of silly feel-
ing is humourously described by a mo-
dern poet. A lady, who possessed it to the
most exquisite degree ofrefinement,boasts
of having inspired her husband with the
same, and says--
* To that pitch of perfection I brought the dear man.
That he'd weep o'er the withering leaf (C)f a rose>
And smile at the thorn, though it wounded his nose. *
From such pains and pleasures, may you,
my dearest girls, always be exempt. "
In consequence of her mother's re-
monstrances, Rose was convinced of the
folly of her excessive grief for her bird,
and the unreasonableness of her resent-
ment towards her cat; the subject was
not revived, and she endeavoured to di-
vert her thoughts from dwelling upon it,
by returning to her employments as usual.
Nearly six years had now elapsed since.
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. ]6?
Mrs. Sydney's return to the parsonage;
their progress had been smooth, but not
dull; unmarked by any strong incidents
of novelty, but replete with the tender
interests of affection. She cherished in
her heart the images of her husband and
son; but her grief, though deep, was
silent; though unsubdued, it was yet
softened; for she could not endure to
check the returning cheerfulness of Isa-
bel, or cloud the happiness of Hose and
Emily, by the outward Indulgence of re-
grets which, she knew, it was her duty,
both as a mother and a christian, as much
as possible, to conquer. The habit of
self-controul, which she thus constantly
practised, not only gave composure to
her manner, but at length fortified her
mind; and time, " as he rolled his cease-
less course," gently drew from her bo-
som the arrow of affliction.
Emily,inhercorrespondencewithherfa-
ther, expressed that warm affection which
neither absence nor circumstances can
ever diminish in the breast of an amiable
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? 166 HOSE AND EMILY J OK,
child for a parent. Her letters conveyed
the strongest proofs of her improvement;
her language was simple, yet energetic;
correct, yet unstudied; her gratitude
and attachment to Mrs. Sydney and her
daughters, were painted in the glowing
colours of truth and feeling; " and could
shebutseehim,"shewouldfrequent! yadd,
"she should not have a wish ungratified. "
It was Mrs. Sydney's care to instil
into the minds of her children, an early
sense of the duties of religion, and a
thorough knowledge of those great truths
which are revealed to us in the New
Testament, as the b*'sis of our faith, and
of our hopes in Heaven. She had her-
self known what comfort in affliction,
what blessings even in prosperity, result
from an early knowledge of our Creator
and his promises. Religion, like the dew
of Heaven to the drooping plants, re-
freshes the fainting tra\eller; and he
pursues his journey with strength and
cheerfulness. It is the guide of the
young, and the staff of the aged; atrea-
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 16. 7
sure in the bosom of poverty; and opens
to the wretched a bright prospect of hap-"
piness, when all in this world is involved
"in clouds and darkness/'
It was not from works of modern theo-'
logy, or disquisitional tracts, that she in-
structed them in the principles of their
faith, but she led them to the fountain
of truth itself, the Bible. Thus taught
to know, and to " remember their Creator
in the days of their youth," their belief
was pure and steady; their morality was
grafted on the tree of knowledge, whose
root was charity,andwhose branches were
benevolence; it embraced all human
kind, expanding its arms to protect the
injured, and shelter the afflicted.
Reading was not with them a mere re-
petition of words properly pronounced,
or as a transient amusement; they were
taught to reason, reflect, and comment
upon what they read. In history, which
unfolded to them the events of former
times, they compared past with present
periods; and learnt the vicissitudes and
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? 168 ROSE AND EMILY; OH,
uncertainty of all sublunary things. --
While Mrs. Sydney's was thus endeavour-
ing to lay in their hearts the foundation of
virtue, and to sow in their mind the seeds
of instruction, when the serious lessons of
the day were over, she indulged them in
the lighter works of genius or fancy.
Their secluded life rendered it necessary
to cultivate in themselves every innocent
resource that might yield them amuse-
ment; and while Isabel, in her pursuit
after natural beauties that afforded sub-
ject for her pencil, climbed the steepest
heights, and looked down precipices,
which the nymphs of the south would
tremble at even in description; while
Emily hung on the arm of Mrs. Sydney,
listening to the precepts of instruction,
and catching wisdom from those lips on
which was ever " the law of kindness,"
Rose, the enthusiast of nature, feeling,
and fancy, would either accompany her
sister in sketching, walk by the side of
her mother and Emily, or fly to her
flowers with Phoebe, who was always her
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? SKETOlifcS OF YOUTH. 169
*
companion, ready to assist in. Tier little
labours, and accelerate her wishes. The
arbour, which was now lately trained,
where the woodbine and clematis mingled
in rich luxuriance, was her favourite seat;
and here, while Phcebe listened, she
would read the Botanic Garden, the En-
chanted Plants, and Fables of Flora;
these held a distinguished place in her
favour, as they personified her vegetable
favourites, and gave them thought and
language; her ear quickly caught the
harmony of verse, and she began "to
number syllables, and play with rhime. "
Timidly, and immediately after retiring
to conceal her confusion, she put into
her mother's hand an
INVOCATION TO THIS VIOLET.
Blue. eyed daughter of the spring,
Herald sweet of brighter flowers,
Haste, and to these vallies brine
Warmer skies and fairer hours.
Now the wintry storms are past,
. . ? Spring begin* her golden reign 5
Tear no more the icy blast,
Mingle in fair Flora's train.
I
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? nO . ROSE AKD EMILY } OR,
On the wide-extended heath.
Or within the lowly vale.
Let me catch thy balmy breath.
Wafted by the passing gale.
Hid beneath thy leafy shade.
Shrinking from the careless eye.
Heaven thy safe abode has made,
There, sweet bud! to bloom and die.
Emblem of my Phoebe's mind.
In thee, modest flower, I see
Nature's blossom unrefin'd,
Type of pure simplicity.
Sweetest bud that drinks the dew,
Hasten to this happy plain;
Spring shall all thy charms renew,
Fading, but to bloom again.
When Mrs. Sydney had perused the
lines,she wrote on the back with a pencil;
"Perish the love that deadens young desire!
Pursue, poor imp, th' imaginary charm,
Indulge gay Hope, and Fancy's pleasing fire:
Fancy and Hope too soon shall of themselves expire. ''
Mrs. Sydney herself sometimes in-
dulged in the wanderings of the muse,
and would not check this early testimony
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? SJtEtCHES OF YOUTft. 1? 1
of a talent which to her had been a source
of amusement* occasionally had dissipated
the cloud of sorrow, beguiled time of
some of his weary moments, and even
stolen from disappointment the sting
that might have rankled in her bosom.
The encouragement given in the pen-
cilled lines, from one of her favourite
poets (Beattie) delighted and gratified
Rose; and she eagerly sought her mo-
ther to express her thanks. "You shall
not, my love," said Mrs. Sydney, " be
tried by the laws of poetry, but by those
of affection; therefore do not fear sub-
mitting your verse, * with all its imper-
fections on its head,' to those who will
kindly correct, and not rigidly condemn.
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? 172
ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
CHAP. XII.
Emily had now attained her sixteenth
year; and as Mrs. Sydney surveyed her
fine graceful figure, and her intelli-
gent countenance; as she marked the
maturing virtues of her mind, the excel-
lence of her understanding, and the con-
ciliating dignity of her manner, shethought
how the heart of the father would exult in
his child, and with what pride and delight
she should restore her to him ; but he still
mentioned the time of his return as un-
fixed, though he hoped not very distant.
In the same letter he expressed a wish
that Mrs. Sydney would consent to leave
her home for a few weeks, in order to
shew Emily some of the wonders and
beauties of Derbyshire, many of which
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? SKEfclItfS 0F tOtTH. '178
were only a few miles distant from their
residence; and first recommended Mat-
lock, both for scenery and vicinity.
To our sequestered family, this little
excursion was so novel, that it excited a
mixture of interest, pleasure, and appre-
hension. So many years had elapsed
since Mrs. Sydney had been there; so
many changes had happened since that
time, that even she had her terrors, from
the journey, short as it was; but more
from the mingled and crowded mass of
society which she must encounter at such.
a place; but it was the wish of Mr.
Blandford, and she held herself bound to
fulfil it. She was also in too responsible
a situation to yield to her own feelings;
and, by one of those efforts of reason and
self-command, which she had taught her-
self to acquire and practise, she appeared
to think of it as a plan of great pleasure,
and endeavoured to laugh away the fear-
ful anticipations of her daughters and
Emily, to whom the prospect of so public
a place seemed fraught with alarms ; yet
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? 114 ROSE AND EMIiiY; OR,
. novelty had its attraction, and the plan
? was determined upon. Isabel som etimes
timidly wished to remain athome; even the
wild-hearted Rose, much as her fancy had
long. dwelt on Matlock, and much as she
then thought she should laugh at the many
funny-looking people she should see there,
shrunk at the idea that she also would be
seen, and might also be laughed at.
Emily, though she was happy with Mrs.
Sydney, and in the retirement of the par-
sonage, was pleased at the idea of seeing
a new place $ while Phoebe thought only,
;that she should still be with the friends
most dear to her*
It would have created a smile in the
face of the gravest philosopher to see
the preparations of Rose (now fourteen)
for this important journey, this intro-
duction into society. Fox several days
she and Phoebe were almost entirely shut
up in a small apartment, which had been
originally, a play-room, and was now a
general receptacle for things not in use*
At length Mrs, Sydney requested to be
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 175
admitted into the room, to be informed
of the subject of their conferences, and
the cause of their concealment. "Don't
laugh mamma," said Rose with a blush,
"we are only trying to make a few things
to wear at Matlock, that we may not be
laughed at. " . Rose's request was un-
availing: Mrs. Sydney's astonishment
was quickly succeeded by a fit of laugh-
ter, which so disconcerted poor Rose,
that she hid her face in one of the very
tasty bonnets she and Phoebe had been
manufacturing. "How could you, my
dear girl," said her mother, "imagine
that such a thing as this could be worn?
Where did you get the pattern? " "O
mamma," replied Rose, "Sophy Vin-
cent lent Phoebe a book which hex
cousin in London had sent her; and
the newspapers, you know, often give
us an account of fashions, so that we
cannot be very much mistaken. " The
book was one which contained colour-
ed drawings of the most outr6 fashion-
able costume: and one of the bonnets
i4
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? \16 ROSE AKI> EMI3LY y OR,
there represented, Rose had very success-
fully imitated. "But where did you get
the materials? " "I found them mamma
amongst some old things you had formerly
given me, and so I thought I would
make them useful. " "Ah my dear Rose,"
said Mrs. Sydney, seriously, "it is not
usefulness, but ornament you aimed at;
but, were I to indulge you in these ri-
diculous preparations, in this vanity of
dress, instead of not being laughed at,
which you assign as a motive for your
ingenuity, I should see my child the
object of general derision. This bonnet
certainly resembles that which you have
selected as your model; but would you
wear velvet in July? " "I had no mus-
lin or sarsnet mamma, and I thought the
shape was the principal thing. " "You
see, my dear girl, how ridiculous those
persons render themselves, . who, from
vanity and ignorance, attempt to follow
fashions of which they can only judge by
description. --Put aside these fripperies
Rose," smiling and kissing her, "and
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 177
believe me, you will not be laughed at
in your simple white frock and straw bon-
net, though you may fail to excite notice. "
Rose, in the deepest confusion, lis-
tened to her mother: the smile and kiss
which concluded the remonstrance, as-
sured her of forgiveness, and partly
restored her to herself: the sweetness and
cheerfulness of her temper soon triumph-
ed over this little mortification of her
vanity; she quickly removed every ves-
tige offashion; desired Phoebe to return
the book, which had misled her into folly,
to Sophy Vincent, and in future read,
without wishing to copy, the elegant
newspaper details of fashion.
Previous to their departure from the
parsonage, was Mrs. Sydney's birth-day;
among the little testimonies of congratu-
lation which were offered, Rose presented
her with the following lines: addressed
<< TO MY MOTUER,. QN H? R fyJll&DAY:'
Muse of affection I aid my lay,
My thoughts direct, my verse inspire,
And on a mother's natal day, .
Attune to sweetest sounds my. lyre,
13;
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? ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
Dear parent stem from which I sprung,.
My shelter in life's earliest hour;
Upon whose arms I fondly hung;
O! foster still thy trembling flower. .
And may the dews of Heaven descend, .
In blessings on thy honour'd head;
No tempest rude thy. branches rend,
On earth's cold lap no leaf be shed.
See, hand in hand, a duteous train .
Advance, their filial rites to pay,
Own the mild influence of thy reign.
And bless thy kind, parental sway.
Hallow'd by love, a wreath they bring,
Pure offering at affection's shrine;
Each tender bud that woos the spring.
Shall round thy flexile. form entwine.
The spotless lily first appears.
Rejoicing in our vale to dwell;
And as it shines through April tears,
I see a type of Isabel.
A wild rose in the garden fair,
Budded on May's delightful morn:
O! that for thy dew sake it were
The blameless rose without a thorn I ?
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 179
A bright exotic next t view,
The cherish'd stranger of our bowers;
Whose glowing tints, and blushing hue ? >>
Proclaim, the Emily of flowers.
And shall our Phoebe be forgot,
The humble daisy of our plain 1' '. '. .
She, happy in her lowly lot,
For ever blooms in Flora's train. i
Like her great grandsire of the sun,
Whose eye pursues the orb of day;
So faithfully her course is run,
As friendship's smile directs her way.
Arid when this wreath entwin'd by love,
Shall fade beneath the solar blaze; >
Each bud shall bloom in realms above, .
An Amaranth that ne'er decays.
The day at length arrived for their
excursion to Matlock. Two post chaises
from the neighbouring market town, in
one of which Mrs. Sydney, Emily, and
Isabel were seated 5 ;and in:the otheri .
Rose and Phoebe, who had the care of
theiri packages, conveyed them to the
place of their destination, where apart- .
ments had previously been engaged. --
I6
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? 180 ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
Rose visited her flowers, looked at her
bird, and caressed her cat, before she
jumped into the chaise. After a few.
miles, which marked the boundary of her
walks, every thing was new to her; many
parts of the road possessed peculiar
beauty and interest; but when arrived
at Matlock, she felt as if transported into*
another region. ; the woods seemed to
have sprung up in a moment fronr the
barren moor which. surrounded them &
the hills raised; the rocks hewn, the river
flowing, a? ; if. by the magic wand of an .
enchanter, so suddenly, so unexpectedly
do they present themselves to the view.
Passing by a small cottage within a.
short distance. from . Matlock, their atten-
tion was excited by the singular appear-
ance of a. woman who was. repairing a^
wall, and placing the heavy stones upon.
each other with allthe apparent ease and.
strength of a man. . .
On arriving at the hotel, the rocks, the
woods, the river, in their boldest and most
striking point of view, burst upon their
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 181
astonished sight. Isabel surveyed all with
the eye, and the truest feelings of a pain-
ter, and thought with what pleasure she
should sketch its varied scenery. The
ash and oak, trees indigenous to the soil,
mingled their branches together; pro-
ducing, from the lightness of the one,
and the richness of the other, an effect
perfectly harmonious. Emily gazed with
surprise and delight, upon a scene at once
so grand, so new; while Rose thought with
extacy upon climbing the hills, running
among the woods, and gathering the fruits
and flowers which they spontaneously
produce.
The curiosity of the company was in-
stantly awakened by observing this party
Qf females, without one male attendant;
and various were the conjecture*formed,
as to who. they were, and whence they
came. Finding themselves the objects of
general. examination, and as it was near
the hour of dinner^ they retired to their
chambers to make some alterations in
their dress,
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? 182 ROSE AND EMILY J OR,
On entering the dining-room, they
found the principal table entirely filled,
and they were greatly relieved from the
embarrassment of mixing in such a mul-
titude, by being conducted to a side-table* .
where a small party were previously
seated. The noise and confusion of a
public dinner like this, so distracted their ?
attention, that, though Mrs. Sydney en-
deavoured to set them the example of.
eating, she almost entirely failed; and, . .
as soon as the cloth was removed, they ?
were glad to rise; and fled, like affrighted;
birds, from this scene of social disorder. .
"Now," said Rose, " we can hear our- .
selves speak, but in that Babel hum, I
could neither hear nor understand. "--
** Did you see any thing I" enquired:
Emily. "Yes, I saw many very odd looking
people, and some so funnily dressed! Did
you observe that young lady in a riding
habit who sat opposite me? What a flut-
ter of feathers she had in her beaver hat 1"
Mrs. Sydney smiled at this comment upon
dress, and glanced her eye on Rose, whose
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? 160 ROSE AND'EMILY J or,
moderate. You might naturally feel re-
gret for the loss of your favourite, and
horror at the manner of its death: but
there are happily few circumstances in
our lives which can justify such unbound-
ed lamentations as. your's ? have been, and
this you will allow is not one of them.
Such extravagant effusions of grief as you
have yielded to, betray a. weakness of
mind, and a want of self-command,
which, in the course of your life, will
occasion you many hours of misery* To
restrain the excess of our feelings, is as
much a duty we owe to others as to our-
selves: do you think I could Witness your
emotions, or hear the expressions of your
agony; this: morning, without a degree
of agitation? I saw Isabel in tears, which
she endeavoured'to conceal; Emily sat
in silent sorrow, and 'Phoebe could not
eat her breakfast? "--Isabel and Emily
just then entered the room/ and Mrs.
Sydney explaining to them the subject of
her conversation with Rose<<, continued:
"I would most earnestly caution you all,
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 161
my dear girls, against the indulgence of
that morbid sensibility, which yields,
without resistance, to every sudden im-
pression. I do not know a more trou-
blesome or disagreeable companion than
a person who shrieks, faints, or sheds
tears at every trifling terror, (a terror
which some whim of the imagination
generally conjures up,) or some equally
insignificant cause of regret: so far from
exciting interest or sympathy in us, who
witness these symptoms of childish weak-
ness, we are more inclined to feel con-
tempt; and though we may offer relief
or assistance, we cannot bestow pity. By
indulging the excess of our emotions, the
mind loses that strength which should be
its support in times of real affliction; and
is unable to sustain with fortitude the
many trying calamities that m? y assail us
in our pilgrimage through this life. I
will relate a circumstance that occurred
some years ago when I was upon a visit
to a family who imagined that sensibility
possessed a powerful charm over the af- <<
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? 162
ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
fections, and was the only test of what
? they termed "soul;" that it revealed
itself on every trivial occasion, in tears,
screams, hysterics, faintings, and the
most frantic gestures; and their practice
certainly ccorded with this opinion.
"The lady had two daughters. One
morning as we were sitt. ng nt work in a
little parlour that fronted a field, in the
coi ner of which was a deep well, Anna,
the eldest daughter, gave a piercing
shriek; her sister echoed it, and the mo-
ther loudly exclaimed,' What is the mat-
ter V 'Oh! the well is open; she has
fallen in, and sh<< is dead,' they exclaim-
ed. Instantly all became confusion, and
nothing was heard but screams and la-
mentations. I imagined they had seen a
little girl, who was their visitor, fall into
the well, and in equal, though less noisy
agony, I witnessed this scene of affliction.
I sought to sooth the mother, and intreat-
ed the girls to see if any thing could be
done to restore the object of their grief.
* O no, she is dead, she is dead; I saw
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? SKETCI1KS OF YOUTH.
163
her carried in dead. ' 'Perhaps not,' I
said, ' I will go, but for ' pity's sake do
not let your mother see her at present;'
but they all at once rushed out of the
room, saying they must see Fanny; she
was such a nice creature, such a beauty,
such a darling, such a treasure! I fol-
lowed in the hope of being able to miti-
gate the first transports of their grief
when they beheld the child; but judge
of my surprise when, in this dear, inte-
resting, and nice creature, this darling,
this beauty, this treasure, I saw an old
goat, whom they called Fanny! I could
not refrain from laughing heartily. 1 I ,
congratulate you,' I said, ' that it is only
the old goat. ' * Why, what did you sup-
pose it to be? ' said the mother angrily.
'Fanny Seymour certainly. ' * O ho,
thank Cod it is not she. 'Then my
dear madam,' I said, ' dry up your tears
and compose yourself; for though you
may have lost a valuable animal, do not
grieve as if it had been achildor a friend. '
In vain I remonstrated, soothed, or ad-
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? HOSE AND EMILY J 'OK,
vised; the stream of sorrow flowed till
it had exhausted itself, and in the even-
ing they were all nervous from excessive
agitation, and all complained of their ex-
treme sensibility! This kind of silly feel-
ing is humourously described by a mo-
dern poet. A lady, who possessed it to the
most exquisite degree ofrefinement,boasts
of having inspired her husband with the
same, and says--
* To that pitch of perfection I brought the dear man.
That he'd weep o'er the withering leaf (C)f a rose>
And smile at the thorn, though it wounded his nose. *
From such pains and pleasures, may you,
my dearest girls, always be exempt. "
In consequence of her mother's re-
monstrances, Rose was convinced of the
folly of her excessive grief for her bird,
and the unreasonableness of her resent-
ment towards her cat; the subject was
not revived, and she endeavoured to di-
vert her thoughts from dwelling upon it,
by returning to her employments as usual.
Nearly six years had now elapsed since.
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. ]6?
Mrs. Sydney's return to the parsonage;
their progress had been smooth, but not
dull; unmarked by any strong incidents
of novelty, but replete with the tender
interests of affection. She cherished in
her heart the images of her husband and
son; but her grief, though deep, was
silent; though unsubdued, it was yet
softened; for she could not endure to
check the returning cheerfulness of Isa-
bel, or cloud the happiness of Hose and
Emily, by the outward Indulgence of re-
grets which, she knew, it was her duty,
both as a mother and a christian, as much
as possible, to conquer. The habit of
self-controul, which she thus constantly
practised, not only gave composure to
her manner, but at length fortified her
mind; and time, " as he rolled his cease-
less course," gently drew from her bo-
som the arrow of affliction.
Emily,inhercorrespondencewithherfa-
ther, expressed that warm affection which
neither absence nor circumstances can
ever diminish in the breast of an amiable
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? 166 HOSE AND EMILY J OK,
child for a parent. Her letters conveyed
the strongest proofs of her improvement;
her language was simple, yet energetic;
correct, yet unstudied; her gratitude
and attachment to Mrs. Sydney and her
daughters, were painted in the glowing
colours of truth and feeling; " and could
shebutseehim,"shewouldfrequent! yadd,
"she should not have a wish ungratified. "
It was Mrs. Sydney's care to instil
into the minds of her children, an early
sense of the duties of religion, and a
thorough knowledge of those great truths
which are revealed to us in the New
Testament, as the b*'sis of our faith, and
of our hopes in Heaven. She had her-
self known what comfort in affliction,
what blessings even in prosperity, result
from an early knowledge of our Creator
and his promises. Religion, like the dew
of Heaven to the drooping plants, re-
freshes the fainting tra\eller; and he
pursues his journey with strength and
cheerfulness. It is the guide of the
young, and the staff of the aged; atrea-
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 16. 7
sure in the bosom of poverty; and opens
to the wretched a bright prospect of hap-"
piness, when all in this world is involved
"in clouds and darkness/'
It was not from works of modern theo-'
logy, or disquisitional tracts, that she in-
structed them in the principles of their
faith, but she led them to the fountain
of truth itself, the Bible. Thus taught
to know, and to " remember their Creator
in the days of their youth," their belief
was pure and steady; their morality was
grafted on the tree of knowledge, whose
root was charity,andwhose branches were
benevolence; it embraced all human
kind, expanding its arms to protect the
injured, and shelter the afflicted.
Reading was not with them a mere re-
petition of words properly pronounced,
or as a transient amusement; they were
taught to reason, reflect, and comment
upon what they read. In history, which
unfolded to them the events of former
times, they compared past with present
periods; and learnt the vicissitudes and
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? 168 ROSE AND EMILY; OH,
uncertainty of all sublunary things. --
While Mrs. Sydney's was thus endeavour-
ing to lay in their hearts the foundation of
virtue, and to sow in their mind the seeds
of instruction, when the serious lessons of
the day were over, she indulged them in
the lighter works of genius or fancy.
Their secluded life rendered it necessary
to cultivate in themselves every innocent
resource that might yield them amuse-
ment; and while Isabel, in her pursuit
after natural beauties that afforded sub-
ject for her pencil, climbed the steepest
heights, and looked down precipices,
which the nymphs of the south would
tremble at even in description; while
Emily hung on the arm of Mrs. Sydney,
listening to the precepts of instruction,
and catching wisdom from those lips on
which was ever " the law of kindness,"
Rose, the enthusiast of nature, feeling,
and fancy, would either accompany her
sister in sketching, walk by the side of
her mother and Emily, or fly to her
flowers with Phoebe, who was always her
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? SKETOlifcS OF YOUTH. 169
*
companion, ready to assist in. Tier little
labours, and accelerate her wishes. The
arbour, which was now lately trained,
where the woodbine and clematis mingled
in rich luxuriance, was her favourite seat;
and here, while Phcebe listened, she
would read the Botanic Garden, the En-
chanted Plants, and Fables of Flora;
these held a distinguished place in her
favour, as they personified her vegetable
favourites, and gave them thought and
language; her ear quickly caught the
harmony of verse, and she began "to
number syllables, and play with rhime. "
Timidly, and immediately after retiring
to conceal her confusion, she put into
her mother's hand an
INVOCATION TO THIS VIOLET.
Blue. eyed daughter of the spring,
Herald sweet of brighter flowers,
Haste, and to these vallies brine
Warmer skies and fairer hours.
Now the wintry storms are past,
. . ? Spring begin* her golden reign 5
Tear no more the icy blast,
Mingle in fair Flora's train.
I
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? nO . ROSE AKD EMILY } OR,
On the wide-extended heath.
Or within the lowly vale.
Let me catch thy balmy breath.
Wafted by the passing gale.
Hid beneath thy leafy shade.
Shrinking from the careless eye.
Heaven thy safe abode has made,
There, sweet bud! to bloom and die.
Emblem of my Phoebe's mind.
In thee, modest flower, I see
Nature's blossom unrefin'd,
Type of pure simplicity.
Sweetest bud that drinks the dew,
Hasten to this happy plain;
Spring shall all thy charms renew,
Fading, but to bloom again.
When Mrs. Sydney had perused the
lines,she wrote on the back with a pencil;
"Perish the love that deadens young desire!
Pursue, poor imp, th' imaginary charm,
Indulge gay Hope, and Fancy's pleasing fire:
Fancy and Hope too soon shall of themselves expire. ''
Mrs. Sydney herself sometimes in-
dulged in the wanderings of the muse,
and would not check this early testimony
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? SJtEtCHES OF YOUTft. 1? 1
of a talent which to her had been a source
of amusement* occasionally had dissipated
the cloud of sorrow, beguiled time of
some of his weary moments, and even
stolen from disappointment the sting
that might have rankled in her bosom.
The encouragement given in the pen-
cilled lines, from one of her favourite
poets (Beattie) delighted and gratified
Rose; and she eagerly sought her mo-
ther to express her thanks. "You shall
not, my love," said Mrs. Sydney, " be
tried by the laws of poetry, but by those
of affection; therefore do not fear sub-
mitting your verse, * with all its imper-
fections on its head,' to those who will
kindly correct, and not rigidly condemn.
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? 172
ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
CHAP. XII.
Emily had now attained her sixteenth
year; and as Mrs. Sydney surveyed her
fine graceful figure, and her intelli-
gent countenance; as she marked the
maturing virtues of her mind, the excel-
lence of her understanding, and the con-
ciliating dignity of her manner, shethought
how the heart of the father would exult in
his child, and with what pride and delight
she should restore her to him ; but he still
mentioned the time of his return as un-
fixed, though he hoped not very distant.
In the same letter he expressed a wish
that Mrs. Sydney would consent to leave
her home for a few weeks, in order to
shew Emily some of the wonders and
beauties of Derbyshire, many of which
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? SKEfclItfS 0F tOtTH. '178
were only a few miles distant from their
residence; and first recommended Mat-
lock, both for scenery and vicinity.
To our sequestered family, this little
excursion was so novel, that it excited a
mixture of interest, pleasure, and appre-
hension. So many years had elapsed
since Mrs. Sydney had been there; so
many changes had happened since that
time, that even she had her terrors, from
the journey, short as it was; but more
from the mingled and crowded mass of
society which she must encounter at such.
a place; but it was the wish of Mr.
Blandford, and she held herself bound to
fulfil it. She was also in too responsible
a situation to yield to her own feelings;
and, by one of those efforts of reason and
self-command, which she had taught her-
self to acquire and practise, she appeared
to think of it as a plan of great pleasure,
and endeavoured to laugh away the fear-
ful anticipations of her daughters and
Emily, to whom the prospect of so public
a place seemed fraught with alarms ; yet
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? 114 ROSE AND EMIiiY; OR,
. novelty had its attraction, and the plan
? was determined upon. Isabel som etimes
timidly wished to remain athome; even the
wild-hearted Rose, much as her fancy had
long. dwelt on Matlock, and much as she
then thought she should laugh at the many
funny-looking people she should see there,
shrunk at the idea that she also would be
seen, and might also be laughed at.
Emily, though she was happy with Mrs.
Sydney, and in the retirement of the par-
sonage, was pleased at the idea of seeing
a new place $ while Phoebe thought only,
;that she should still be with the friends
most dear to her*
It would have created a smile in the
face of the gravest philosopher to see
the preparations of Rose (now fourteen)
for this important journey, this intro-
duction into society. Fox several days
she and Phoebe were almost entirely shut
up in a small apartment, which had been
originally, a play-room, and was now a
general receptacle for things not in use*
At length Mrs, Sydney requested to be
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 175
admitted into the room, to be informed
of the subject of their conferences, and
the cause of their concealment. "Don't
laugh mamma," said Rose with a blush,
"we are only trying to make a few things
to wear at Matlock, that we may not be
laughed at. " . Rose's request was un-
availing: Mrs. Sydney's astonishment
was quickly succeeded by a fit of laugh-
ter, which so disconcerted poor Rose,
that she hid her face in one of the very
tasty bonnets she and Phoebe had been
manufacturing. "How could you, my
dear girl," said her mother, "imagine
that such a thing as this could be worn?
Where did you get the pattern? " "O
mamma," replied Rose, "Sophy Vin-
cent lent Phoebe a book which hex
cousin in London had sent her; and
the newspapers, you know, often give
us an account of fashions, so that we
cannot be very much mistaken. " The
book was one which contained colour-
ed drawings of the most outr6 fashion-
able costume: and one of the bonnets
i4
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? \16 ROSE AKI> EMI3LY y OR,
there represented, Rose had very success-
fully imitated. "But where did you get
the materials? " "I found them mamma
amongst some old things you had formerly
given me, and so I thought I would
make them useful. " "Ah my dear Rose,"
said Mrs. Sydney, seriously, "it is not
usefulness, but ornament you aimed at;
but, were I to indulge you in these ri-
diculous preparations, in this vanity of
dress, instead of not being laughed at,
which you assign as a motive for your
ingenuity, I should see my child the
object of general derision. This bonnet
certainly resembles that which you have
selected as your model; but would you
wear velvet in July? " "I had no mus-
lin or sarsnet mamma, and I thought the
shape was the principal thing. " "You
see, my dear girl, how ridiculous those
persons render themselves, . who, from
vanity and ignorance, attempt to follow
fashions of which they can only judge by
description. --Put aside these fripperies
Rose," smiling and kissing her, "and
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 177
believe me, you will not be laughed at
in your simple white frock and straw bon-
net, though you may fail to excite notice. "
Rose, in the deepest confusion, lis-
tened to her mother: the smile and kiss
which concluded the remonstrance, as-
sured her of forgiveness, and partly
restored her to herself: the sweetness and
cheerfulness of her temper soon triumph-
ed over this little mortification of her
vanity; she quickly removed every ves-
tige offashion; desired Phoebe to return
the book, which had misled her into folly,
to Sophy Vincent, and in future read,
without wishing to copy, the elegant
newspaper details of fashion.
Previous to their departure from the
parsonage, was Mrs. Sydney's birth-day;
among the little testimonies of congratu-
lation which were offered, Rose presented
her with the following lines: addressed
<< TO MY MOTUER,. QN H? R fyJll&DAY:'
Muse of affection I aid my lay,
My thoughts direct, my verse inspire,
And on a mother's natal day, .
Attune to sweetest sounds my. lyre,
13;
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? ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
Dear parent stem from which I sprung,.
My shelter in life's earliest hour;
Upon whose arms I fondly hung;
O! foster still thy trembling flower. .
And may the dews of Heaven descend, .
In blessings on thy honour'd head;
No tempest rude thy. branches rend,
On earth's cold lap no leaf be shed.
See, hand in hand, a duteous train .
Advance, their filial rites to pay,
Own the mild influence of thy reign.
And bless thy kind, parental sway.
Hallow'd by love, a wreath they bring,
Pure offering at affection's shrine;
Each tender bud that woos the spring.
Shall round thy flexile. form entwine.
The spotless lily first appears.
Rejoicing in our vale to dwell;
And as it shines through April tears,
I see a type of Isabel.
A wild rose in the garden fair,
Budded on May's delightful morn:
O! that for thy dew sake it were
The blameless rose without a thorn I ?
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 179
A bright exotic next t view,
The cherish'd stranger of our bowers;
Whose glowing tints, and blushing hue ? >>
Proclaim, the Emily of flowers.
And shall our Phoebe be forgot,
The humble daisy of our plain 1' '. '. .
She, happy in her lowly lot,
For ever blooms in Flora's train. i
Like her great grandsire of the sun,
Whose eye pursues the orb of day;
So faithfully her course is run,
As friendship's smile directs her way.
Arid when this wreath entwin'd by love,
Shall fade beneath the solar blaze; >
Each bud shall bloom in realms above, .
An Amaranth that ne'er decays.
The day at length arrived for their
excursion to Matlock. Two post chaises
from the neighbouring market town, in
one of which Mrs. Sydney, Emily, and
Isabel were seated 5 ;and in:the otheri .
Rose and Phoebe, who had the care of
theiri packages, conveyed them to the
place of their destination, where apart- .
ments had previously been engaged. --
I6
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? 180 ROSE AND EMILY; OR,
Rose visited her flowers, looked at her
bird, and caressed her cat, before she
jumped into the chaise. After a few.
miles, which marked the boundary of her
walks, every thing was new to her; many
parts of the road possessed peculiar
beauty and interest; but when arrived
at Matlock, she felt as if transported into*
another region. ; the woods seemed to
have sprung up in a moment fronr the
barren moor which. surrounded them &
the hills raised; the rocks hewn, the river
flowing, a? ; if. by the magic wand of an .
enchanter, so suddenly, so unexpectedly
do they present themselves to the view.
Passing by a small cottage within a.
short distance. from . Matlock, their atten-
tion was excited by the singular appear-
ance of a. woman who was. repairing a^
wall, and placing the heavy stones upon.
each other with allthe apparent ease and.
strength of a man. . .
On arriving at the hotel, the rocks, the
woods, the river, in their boldest and most
striking point of view, burst upon their
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? SKETCHES OF YOUTH. 181
astonished sight. Isabel surveyed all with
the eye, and the truest feelings of a pain-
ter, and thought with what pleasure she
should sketch its varied scenery. The
ash and oak, trees indigenous to the soil,
mingled their branches together; pro-
ducing, from the lightness of the one,
and the richness of the other, an effect
perfectly harmonious. Emily gazed with
surprise and delight, upon a scene at once
so grand, so new; while Rose thought with
extacy upon climbing the hills, running
among the woods, and gathering the fruits
and flowers which they spontaneously
produce.
The curiosity of the company was in-
stantly awakened by observing this party
Qf females, without one male attendant;
and various were the conjecture*formed,
as to who. they were, and whence they
came. Finding themselves the objects of
general. examination, and as it was near
the hour of dinner^ they retired to their
chambers to make some alterations in
their dress,
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? 182 ROSE AND EMILY J OR,
On entering the dining-room, they
found the principal table entirely filled,
and they were greatly relieved from the
embarrassment of mixing in such a mul-
titude, by being conducted to a side-table* .
where a small party were previously
seated. The noise and confusion of a
public dinner like this, so distracted their ?
attention, that, though Mrs. Sydney en-
deavoured to set them the example of.
eating, she almost entirely failed; and, . .
as soon as the cloth was removed, they ?
were glad to rise; and fled, like affrighted;
birds, from this scene of social disorder. .
"Now," said Rose, " we can hear our- .
selves speak, but in that Babel hum, I
could neither hear nor understand. "--
** Did you see any thing I" enquired:
Emily. "Yes, I saw many very odd looking
people, and some so funnily dressed! Did
you observe that young lady in a riding
habit who sat opposite me? What a flut-
ter of feathers she had in her beaver hat 1"
Mrs. Sydney smiled at this comment upon
dress, and glanced her eye on Rose, whose
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:36 GMT / http://hdl. handle.
