diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 7830-8.txt | 6307 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 7830-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 129134 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
5 files changed, 6323 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7830-8.txt b/7830-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7189583 --- /dev/null +++ b/7830-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6307 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Domestic pleasures, by F. B. Vaux + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Domestic pleasures + or, the happy fire-side + +Author: F. B. Vaux + +Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7830] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on May 20, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-Latin-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DOMESTIC PLEASURES *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin and the Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + +[Illustration: Frontispiece Eddystone Light House as erected +by Lord Bywater 1759.] + + * * * * * + +DOMESTIC PLEASURES; + +OR + +The happy Fire-side. + +ILLUSTRATED +_BY INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS_. + +BY F. B. VAUX. + +Domestic happiness, thou only bliss Of Paradise, that has surviv'd the +fall! Tho' few do taste thee unimpair'd and pure, Or tasting, long enjoy +thee! too infirm, Or too incautious to preserve thy sweets Unmix'd with +drops of bitter, which neglect Or temper sheds into thy crystal cup; +Thou art the nurse of virtue; in thine arms She smiles, appearing, as in +truth she is, Heaven-born, and destin'd to the skies again. + +COWPER. + +ADDRESS. + +* * * * * + +MY DEAR YOUNG READERS, + +When I was a child, if a new book were given to me, I recollect, my +first question invariably was:--"Is this true." If the answer were in +the affirmative, the volume immediately assumed, in my eyes, a new +value, and was perused with far greater interest than a story merely +fictitious. Now, as I am very desirous that you should take up this +little volume with a prepossession in its favour, I must inform you, +that the characters of the children here pourtrayed, are all _real_ +characters. The little work was undertaken for the improvement of a +family very dear to me, and was, during its progress, regarded by them +as a faithful mirror, reflecting both their virtues and defects. You +will find in it, among other subjects, a slight sketch of the early part +of the Roman history; but you must not suppose, that in offering it to +you, I mean my little book to supersede the more detailed accounts that +are usually put into the hands of children. I have often found, that +even when a volume has been read entirely through, very few of the facts +have made any deep impression on the youthful mind; and the improvement +to be derived from those facts, is still more completely overlooked. +This I discovered to be the case with my little friends: they had read +the Roman history, and I had hoped that they had read it attentively; +but upon questioning them afterwards, even upon some leading events, I +found them exceedingly deficient in information. This suggested to me +the idea of the following little volume. I recommended them to begin +again the perusal of the Roman history; to take notes as they proceeded, +and write, from them, an abridgment for themselves; promising that I +would do the same, and give my manuscript to the one who should most +deserve it. They were pleased with the plan, and regularly brought their +little productions, once a fortnight, for my inspection. I, at the same +time, read them mine. They soon discovered in it their own characters, +delineated under fictitious names, and took a still more lively interest +in their task. By the time I had completed the regal government of Rome, +I found my manuscript had attained a considerable size; I therefore had +it neatly bound, and as Emily and Louisa equally deserved the prize, +they drew lots, and it fell to the former. Several young persons who had +perused the little work, united in begging it might be printed, that +they also might have it in their libraries. This, my dear young readers, +is the origin of DOMESTIC PLEASURES. + +The conversations recorded in the following pages, are chiefly such as +have, at different times, taken place between my little friends and +myself. I sincerely wish you may derive, not only amusement, but +instruction, from the transcript; and that it may convince you, no +pleasures are so pure as _domestic pleasures_; no society so delightful, +as that experienced in the affectionate intercourse of parents and +children, by a _happy fire-side_. + +FRANCES BOWYER VAUX. + +* * * * * + +The Persons. + +MR. AND MRS. BERNARD. + +EMILY, aged _Fifteen_. + +CHARLES, _Fourteen_. + +EDWARD, _Twelve_. + +LOUISA, _Ten_. + +FERDINAND, _Seven_. + +SOPHY, _Five_. + + +DOMESTIC PLEASURES. + +* * * * * + +CONVERSATION I. + +The rain came down in torrents, and beat violently against the parlour +windows, whilst a keen autumnal blast made the children shiver, even by +the side of a good fire. Their little hearts glowed with gratitude, +when they reflected on their happy lot, sheltered from the bitter wind +and driving sleet; and contrasted it with that of many miserable little +beings, who were, no doubt, exposed, at that very moment, to the +pitiless raging of the storm. + +"Ah, mamma," said Ferdinand, a little boy of seven years old, "how I +feel for those poor children who have no home to shelter them, and no +fire to warm their cold hands. I often think of them, and it reminds me +of the hymn I learned some time ago. + +"Not more than others I deserve, Yet God hath given me more; For I have +food whilst others starve, Or beg from door to door." + +"I am glad to find that you can feel for others in distress, my boy," +said Mrs. Bernard; "and hope you will each, my dear children, cultivate +that benevolent affection called compassion, which enables us to enter +into the distresses of others, and feel for them, in worse measure, as +we do for ourselves. But we must not rest satisfied with only pitying +their sorrows; as far as lies in our power, it is our duty to relieve +them." + +"That would be delightful indeed, mamma," said Ferdinand; "but what can +such children as we are, do towards assisting our fellow creatures?--at +least, such a little boy a I am. I thought it was only men and women, +who could do good to others by their charity and benevolence." + +His mother endeavoured to explain to him, that, although he might not at +present be able to do any very extensive good to society, still the +attempt to be useful, as far as lay in his power, would improve his own +disposition; in which case his efforts would not be thrown away; and +that, although he was so young, he might, nevertheless, be serviceable, +in some degree, to his poorer neighbours. "And it would be very silly, +my boy," added she, "to abstain from making the trial, merely because +you could not do all the good you wished." + +Ferdinand quite agreed with his mother, and the rest of the children +cordially united in his wish to render themselves useful; but how to +effect their purpose was the next consideration. Mrs. Bernard had taught +her boys to net and knit, together with several other employments of the +same kind. These occupations, she found, had the excellent effect of +completely fixing their wandering attention, whilst she read to them, +which she was daily in the practice of doing. + +Ferdinand was the first to recollect that he could plat straw for a hat, +which, he had no doubt, Emily and Louisa would afterwards sew together +for him. + +_Louisa_. Oh, yes, that we will most willingly, Ferdinand. But let us +think what we can do, Emily: we might make a great many things, you +know, because we can do all sorts of work. + +_Emily_. Very true, Louisa: the chief difficulty will be to procure +materials for the exercise of our abilities. I have several things that +I shall not wear again; these, if mamma has no objection, might, I +think, be converted to very useful purposes. + +_Mrs. B._ You have my free permission, my dear girl, to exert all your +ingenuity upon them. + +Edward said, he had just thought of an employment for himself, which he +hoped would please Ferdinand. "A few days ago," added he, "when I was +drinking tea with my aunt, she was making gloves of fine white cotton, +with a little ivory instrument hooked at the end; now, if I use worsted +instead of cotton, I think I shall make some nice warm gloves, which +will do instead of fire, to keep the poor children's hands warm; and I +can knit stockings for them too, so that I do not think any one of us +need be idle." + +_Louisa._ And then our prize-money--that may be set apart to purchase +materials for more clothes, when the stock we have on hand is all used. +May it not, mamma? + +_Mrs. B._ It is an excellent scheme, my dear Louisa, and, as a reward +for suggesting it, you shall make the box to hold your treasure, +provided you will take pains, and endeavour to do it as neatly as you +can. + +_Ferdinand._ And make it strong too, Lousia, for I expect it will soon +be full. I shall be more anxious than ever to get a prize now. + +_Louisa._ I have been thinking what I shall put upon the box as a motto. +Ought it not to have one, mamma? + +_Mrs. B._ By all means, my dear; but it must be something appropriate. +What do you propose, Louisa? + +_Louisa._ I was thinking of painting a little wreath of flowers, and +writing very neatly in the middle, "Charity is kind." + +_Mr. B._ A very well-chosen motto, Louisa. I am delighted to witness +your benevolent dispositions, my beloved children. Make haste and sit +down to your respective employments. In the mean time, I will hasten and +finish my business in the counting-house, that I may enjoy your company +this evening. + +_All._ Thank you, dear papa. + +While Mr. Bernard was absent, the children were all busily employed, +preparing for their new occupations, and had just taken their seats +before a cheerful fire, when their father re-entered the room. + +_Mr. B._ Well, what all seated? + +_Louisa._ Yes, papa, we made great haste, that we might be ready for you +when you came in. Are we to read to-night, or will you be so kind as to +talk to us? + +_Mr. B._ Suppose you talk to me a little, Louisa. Tell me what you have +been reading with your mother to-day. + +_Louisa._ Emily would tell you best, papa; but if you wish to hear me, I +will give you as good an account as I can. + +_Mr. B._ To do your best, is all that can be expected of you, my dear. +Remember to speak very distinctly. + +_Louisa._ We began the Roman history, and read as far as the deaths of +Romulus. Nobody saw him die, and so-- + +_Mr. B._ Stop, stop--not so fast, recollect, you have not yet told me +who Romulus was. + +_Louisa._ Oh! I thought you knew that, papa; he was the first king of +Rome, and he built the city, and-- + +_Mr. B._ Begin again, my dear Louisa. Do not be in such a hurry; give me +a clear account of Romulus, from his birth to his death. + +_Louisa._ Oh dear, papa, I do not think I can do that. + +_Mrs. B._ Try, however, my dear, as your father wishes it. Emily will +help you out, if you find yourself at a loss. + +_Louisa, (laying aside her work and looking attentively at her father.)_ +I do not at all know where to begin, papa. I think you will not +understand me, if I do not first tell you something about Numitor and +Amulius. + +_Mr. B._ Then, by all means, begin with them. + +_Louisa._ Numitor and Amulius were brothers. They were sons to the king +of Lavinium. Numitor was, by his father's will, left heir to the throne, +and Amulius was to have all the treasures. This, however, did not +satisfy him; he wanted to be king too, and, by means of his riches, soon +gained his wish. He was a very bad man indeed, for he killed Numitor's +two sons, and would not let his daughter marry, for fear she should have +a little baby, which, when it grew up, might deprive him of the crown he +had so wickedly taken from his brother. Notwithstanding his precaution, +she did have two little boys, whom she named Romulus and Remus. Amulius, +their cruel uncle, found them out, and ordered them to be drowned: so +the poor little creatures were put into a cradle, and thrown in the the +river Tiber. But it happened, just at that time, it had overflowed its +banks, and at the place where they were thrown in, the water was too +shallow to drown them.--Do I get on pretty well, papa? + +_Mr. B._ Admirably, my dear Louisa. Edward, can you tell us where the +river Tiber flows? + +_Edward._ Yes, father, it rises in the Apenine mountains in Italy, and +empties itself into the Mediterranean Sea, ten miles from Rome. Its +present name is Tivere. + +_Mr. B._ Perfectly right, my boy. Now, Louisa, go on. I beg pardon for +interrupting you. + +_Louisa._ I think I left my little babies in a very dangerous situation +on the banks of the Tiber: they, however, escaped the death prepared for +them. The cradle floated some time, and on the waters' retiring, was +left on dry ground. And now, papa, do you know, I do not quite believe +what the book says, about a wolf's coming and suckling them: it seems so +unnatural. + +_Mr. B._ I am inclined to doubt the fact too, my dear; but not upon the +ground of its being unnatural, as I have heard of many circumstances +quite as extraordinary, which, nevertheless, I know to have been true. +But go on with your relation. + +_Louisa_. At last, Faustulus, the king's shepherd, found them, and took +them home to his wife, Laurentia, who brought them up as her own +children. They followed the employment of shepherds, but soon discovered +abilities above the meanness of their supposed birth. As they grew up, +they were not content with watching their flocks, but used often to +employ themselves in hunting wild beasts, and attacking a band of +robbers that infested the country. One day Remus was taken prisoner, +carried before the king, and accused of having robbed upon his lands. +The king sent him to Numitor, that he might punish him as he thought +proper. Numitor, however, did not punish him at all, for he, by +accident, discovered that he was his grandson. Amulius was soon +afterwards killed, and Numitor restored to the throne. Now, papa, may +Emily tell you the rest? + +_Mr. B._ Louisa has acquitted herself wonderfully well. Let me hear you, +my dear Emily, continue the account. + +_Emily_. The two brothers leaving the kingdom to Numitor, determined +upon building a city on the spot where they had been so cruelly exposed, +and so wonderfully preserved: but a fatal desire of reigning seized them +both, and created a difference between the noble youths, which ended in +the death of Remus. Romulus being now without a rival, laid the +foundation of a city, which, in compliment to its founder, was called +Rome. In order to people this new settlement, admission was given to all +malefactors and slaves, so that it was soon filled with inhabitants. The +next object was to establish some form of government. Romulus left them +at liberty to appoint their own king, and they, from motives of +gratitude, elected him. He was accordingly acknowledged as chief of +their religion, sovereign magistrate of Rome, and general of the army. +Besides a guard to attend his person, it was agreed that he should be +preceded, wherever he went, by twelve Lictors, each bearing an axe tied +up in a bundle of rods. These were to serve as executioners of the law, +and to impress his new subjects with an idea of his authority. + +_Mr. B._ Very well, Emily: now suppose Edward gives us an account of +the legislation of Rome. + +_Edward_. The senate consisted of an hundred of the principal citizens, +who were appointed as counsellors to the king. The first of these +senators was nominated by the sovereign, and always acted as his +representative, whenever war or other emergencies called him from the +Capitol. The plebians, too, had considerable weight in the +administration, as they assumed the power of confirming the laws passed +by the king and senate. Their religion was mixed with much +superstition. They had firm reliance on the credit of soothsayers, who +pretended, from observations on the flight of birds, and from the +entrails of beasts, to direct the present, and dive into futurity. + +_Mr. B._ Very well, Now can Ferdinand tell us any thing about Romulus. + +_Ferdinand_. Yes, papa, I can tell you how wickedly he deceived the +Sabines, to get wives for his Roman people. + +_Mr. B._ Who were the Sabines? + +_Ferdinand_. A neighbouring nation, and reckoned the most warlike +people in all Italy. + +_Mrs. B._ Well, now for your account of the treachery of Romulus. + +_Ferdinand_. Romulus proclaimed that he should give a feast in honour +of the god Neptune, and made very great preparations for it. The Sabines +came, with the rest of their neighbours, and brought their wives and +daughters with them: but the poor things had better have been at home, +papa, for in the middle of the entertainment, the young Romans rushed in +with drawn swords, seized the most beautiful women, and carried them +off. I think it was one of the most wicked actions I ever heard of. + +_Mr. B._ I am not surprised, my dear, at your warm expressions. If we +regard the deed merely as a breach of hospitality, we must pronounce it +both barbarous and unmanly; but to mediate such treachery, and veil it +under the cloak of religion, was indeed a sin of the deepest dye. Can +you, Edward, tell us what was the consequence of this treachery? + +_Edward._ A bloody war ensued. Tatius, the Sabine king, entered the +Roman territories at the head of twenty-five thousand men; a force +greatly exceeding that which the Romans could bring against them into +the field. + +_Mr. B._ Louisa, can you tell me how they gained possession of the +Capitoline hill? + +_Louisa_. Tarpeia, daughter of the commander, offered to betray one of +the gates to the Sabine army, if the soldiers would give her, as a +reward, what they wore on their left arms--meaning their bracelets: +they, however, willing to punish her for such treachery, pretended to +think she meant their shields, which they threw upon her as they +entered, and crushed her to death. I think, papa, she was justly +punished, for it is every one's duty to love and protect their country. +It is very base to betray it to its enemies. + +_Mr. B._ I am pleased with your remark, Louisa. Indeed, I have been +delighted to hear you all answer, so properly, the different questions +that have been proposed to you. But it is growing late, as it wants but +a quarter to nine o'clock; we must therefore defer the remainder of our +history till to-morrow. Farewell, my dear children. + +The young folks immediately arose, and having carefully put by their +work, took an affectionate leave of their parents, and retired for the +night. + + +CONVERSATION II + +After a day spent happily, because it was spent in the cheerful +performance of their several duties, the little family assembled round +the tea-table, and were rewarded by the approving smiles of their +affectionate parents. + +_Louisa._ Let us make haste and finish our tea, that we may sit down to +work, with papa and mamma, as comfortably as we did last night. + +_Mrs. B._ Rather let us endeavour, my dear Louisa, to prolong each +moment by employing it usefully. It is wrong to wish one instant of so +short a life to pass unimproved. Recollect, the wisest of men has said, +"To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under +heaven." + +_Ferdinand._ When you speak of the wisest of men, do you not mean +Solomon, mamma? + +_Mrs. B._ Yes, my dear. You have read that part of the sacred +Scriptures which contains the life of that great man, have you not? + +_Ferdinand_. I have, mamma. When God gave him his choice of many +blessings, he preferred the gift of wisdom, which was granted him; and +honours and riches were also added, as a reward for his prudent choice. + +_Louisa._ Is knowledge the same thing as wisdom, pray? [Footnote: The +conversation following, was held, _verbatim_, between the author and a +little boy seven years old.] + +_Ferdinand_. I think not, Louisa. Wisdom is a much better thing than +knowledge. Is it not, mamma: + +_Mrs. B._ I think so my dear; but you shall hear what my favourite +poet, Cowper, says upon this subject: + +"Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one, Have oft-times no connexion. +Knowledge dwells In heads, replete with thoughts of other men; Wisdom, +in minds attentive to their own. Knowledge, a rude, unprofitable mass, +The mere materials with which wisdom builds, Till smooth'd, and squar'd, +and fitted to its place, Does but encumber whom it seems t'enrich. +Knowledge is proud that he has learn'd so much; Wisdom is humble that he +knows no more." + +_Ferdinand_. I do not quite understand those lines: they say that +knowledge is a mere unprofitable mass. You have told me, mamma, that I +ought to take pains, and gain improvement by means of books, +conversation, and observation; but if these lines are true, what good +will it do me? + +_Mrs. B._ Read the next line, my dear boy. "The mere materials with +which wisdom builds." Now, if you provide no materials, you must be +aware that wisdom cannot build her temple in your mind. Do you +understand now the meaning of the lines? + +_Ferdinand, (after a pause for consideration,)_ Yes, mamma: and I think +I understand the true meaning of the word wisdom, too. It is such power +as God possesses:--a great deal of knowledge joined to a great deal of +goodness. + +_Mrs. B._ You are quite right, my dear Ferdinand. What is Emily +reflecting upon so seriously? + +_Emily_. I was thinking, my dear mother, how much at a loss the English +must have been, before the introduction of tea into Europe. I have +heard my father say, it was not known here till within the last two +hundred years. + +_Mr. B._ I did tell you so, my dear. Some Dutch adventurers [Footnote: +See Macartney's Embassy to China.], seeking, about that time, for such +objects as might produce a profit in China, and hearing of the general +use, there, of a beverage from a plant of the country, endeavoured to +introduce the use of the European herb, sage, amongst the Chinese, for a +similar purpose, accepting, in return, the Chinese tea, which they +brought to Europe. The European herb did not continue long in use in +China, but the consumption of tea has been gradually increasing in +Europe ever since. The annual public sales of this article, by the East +India Company, did not, however, in the beginning of 1700, much exceed +fifty thousand pounds weight: the annual sale now, approaches to upwards +of twenty millions of pounds. + +_Emily._ It is indeed an amazing increase; but I am not surprised that +is has been so universally adopted. I know of no beverage so refreshing +and pleasant. Although we take it twice a day, we never seem to grow +tired of its flavour. I suppose it is cultivated in China, as carefully +as corn is with us? + +_Mr. B._ It grows wild, like any other shrub, in the hilly parts of the +country; but where it is regularly cultivated, the seed is sown in rows, +at the distance of about four feet from each other, and the land kept +perfectly free from weeds. Vast tracts of hilly ground are planted with +it. It is not allowed to grow very tall, for the convenience of the more +readily collecting its leaves, which is done first in spring, and twice +afterwards in the course of the summer. Its long and tender branches +spring up almost from the root, without any intervening naked trunk. It +is bushy, like a rose tree, and the blossom bears some resemblance to +that flower. + +_Emily._ There is a very great difference in the flavour of tea. Does +that depend upon the manner of drying it? + +_Mr. B._ In some degree it does; but its quality is materially affected +by the soil in which it grows, and by the age of the leaves when plucked +from the tree. The largest and oldest leaves are least esteemed, and are +generally sold to the lowest of the people, with very little previous +preparation. The younger ones, on the contrary, undergo great care and +much attention, before they are delivered to the purchaser. Every leaf +passes through the fingers of a female, who rolls it up almost to the +form it assumed before it was expanded by growth. It is afterwards +placed upon very thin plates of earthen-ware, or iron, and exposed to +the heat of a charcoal fire, which draws all the moisture from the +leaves, and renders them dry and crisp. + +_Emily._ I have heard that green tea is dried on copper, which gives it +its peculiar taste and colour, and renders it less wholesome than black +tea. + +_Mr. B._ This is, I believe, a mistake: the chief use of copper, in +China, is for coinage. Scarcely any utensil is made of that metal, and +the Chinese themselves confidently deny the use of copper plates for +this purpose. The colour and flavour of green tea is thought to be +derived from the early period at which the leaves are plucked, and +which, like unripe fruit, are generally green and acrid. + +Emily thanked her father for the account he had given her, and all the +children gratefully felt the value of their kind parents, who were ever +willing to devote their time and attention to the improvement of their +beloved family. + +_Mr. B._ I hope you are all prepared to give me a further account of +Romulus, after tea. + +_All_. We hope so, papa. + +_Ferdinand_. May I first tell you a very curious account of a little +dwarf, which I read today? + +_Mr. B._ By all means, my boy. + +_Ferdinand_. It is now seventy-four years since he was born, at a +village in France. He was a very little creature indeed, as you will +suppose, when I tell you he only weighed a pound and a quarter. When he +was baptized, they handed him to the clergyman on a plate, and, for a +long time, he used to sleep in a slipper. He could not walk alone till +he was two years old, and then his shoes were only an inch and a half +long. At six years old he was fifteen inches high. Notwithstanding he +was so very small, he was well-made and extremely handsome, but he had +not much sense. The king of Poland sent for him to his court, called him +baby, and kept him in his palace. They tried to teach him dancing and +music, but he could not learn. He was never more than twenty-nine inches +tall. By the time he was sixteen he began to grow infirm, like an old +man. From being very beautiful, the poor little creature became quite +deformed. At twenty he was extremely feeble and decrepid, and two years +after, he died. + +_Mr. B._ Poor little creature: such objects are much to be pitied. There +are persons who take pleasure in seeing them; but I must confess, there +is something to me extremely unnatural, in such an exposure of our +unhappy fellow-creatures. + +_Edward_. Did not Peter the Great, on some occasion, assemble a vast +number together? + +_Mr. B._ He did; and I rather think Emily can give you an account of it. + +_Emily_. It was in the year 1710, that a marriage between two dwarfs was +celebrated at the Russian court. The preparations for this wedding were +very grand, and executed in a style of barbarous ridicule. Peter ordered +that all the dwarfs, both men and women, within two hundred miles, +should repair to the capital, and insisted that they should be present +at the ceremony. Some of them were unwilling to comply with this order, +knowing that the object was to turn them into ridicule; but he soon +obliged them to obey, and, as a punishment for their reluctance, made +them wait on the others. There were seventy assembled, besides the bride +and bridegroom, who were richly adorned in the extreme of fashion. +Everything was suitably provided for the little company; a low table, +small plates, little glasses; in short, all was dwindled down to their +own standard. Dancing followed the dinner, and the ball was opened with +a minuet by the bride and bridegroom, the latter of whom was exactly +three feet two inches high, and the day closed more cheerfully than it +had begun. + +_Edward._ I had always understood that Peter was a man of a very +barbarous disposition, and I think this circumstance is a strong proof +of it. How cruel! to make sport of the misfortunes and miseries of +others. + +_Mr. B._ The Czar Peter was a most extraordinary man. No monarch ever +did more towards the civilization of his subjects, or less towards the +subduing of his own barbarous nature. My dear Ferdinand, ring the bell; +I believe the tea-things may now be removed. + +_Louisa._ Oh! how pleasantly the time has passed. I have not once +thought of my work. I was afraid I should have been quite impatient to +begin the little frock which I cut out last night. + +_ Emily._ You have felt interested in the conversation, Louisa, and that +has made the time pass so pleasantly. Sometimes, when you are anxious +respecting any pursuit, you think so much of its approach, that you do +not attempt to employ the preceding minutes, which is the cause of their +appearing so long. + +_Mrs. B._ I was just going to make the same remark, Emily. It is very +unwise to lose the present time, in the anticipation of a moment we may +never see: + +"Improve the present hour, for all beside Is a mere feather on the +torrent's side." + +Whilst the servant was clearing away the tea-things, the children +employed themselves in preparing for their different occupations, and +were soon happily seated around their parents. + +_Mr B._ Well, now who will give us an account of the Sabine war? As the +eldest, I believe I must call upon you, Emily. + +_Emily._ The Sabines having become masters of the Capitoline hill, +through the treachery of Tarpeis, a general engagement soon took place, +which was renewed for several days, both armies obstinately refusing to +submit. The slaughter was prodigious, which seemed rather to increase +than diminish their rage. In a moment the attention of both armies was +attracted by a most interesting spectacle. The Sabine women, who had +been carried off by the Romans, rushed in between the combatants, their +hair dishevelled, their dress disordered, and the deepest anguish +pictured in their countenances; they seemed quite regardless of +consequences, and, with loud outcries, implored their husbands and +fathers to desist. Completely overcome by this distressing scene, the +combantants let fall their weapons by mutual impulse, and peace was soon +restored. It was determined that Tatius and Romulus should reign jointly +in Rome, with equal power, and that an hundred Sabines should be +admitted into the senate. + +_Mr. B_. Was this union permanent, Edward? + +_Edward_. Yes, father; though, as might have been expected, little +jealousies occasionally crept in among them. Tatius was, however, +murdered about five years afterwards, so that Romulus was once more sole +master of Rome. + +_Mr. B_. Come, Louisa, you have been silent to-night, let me hear you +finish the account. + +_Louisa_. Romulus soon began to grow very proud and haughty, now he had +no one to oppose him. The members of the senate were much disgusted by +his arrogance, and contrived to put him to death so privately, that his +body was never discovered: they then persuaded the people that he was +taken up into heaven, and he was long afterwards worshiped as a God, +under the name of Quirinus. + +_Ferdinand_. I am glad Romulus is dead, for I never liked him. Numa +Pompilius was a much better man. + +_Mr. B._ And pray who was he? + +_Ferdinand_. He was a Sabine, papa: the second king of Rome, and was +famous for being a just, moderate, and very good man; and that is the +best kind of fame, I think. + +_Mr. B._ I think so, too, Ferdinand. Was Numa Pompilius elected to the +sovereign authority immediately upon the death of Romulus? + +_Edward_. No, father: the senators undertook to supply the place of a +king, by assuming, each of them in turn, the government for five days; +but the plebeians not choosing to have so many masters, insisted upon +the nomination of a king, and the choice fell on Numa Pompilius. He was +received with universal approbation, and was himself the only person who +objected to the nomination. Happy at home, and contented in a private +station, he was not ambitious of higher honours, and accepted the +dignity with reluctance. + +_Ferdinand_. I should have thought just as + +Numa did, papa; for I do not think kings can ever be happy. + +_Mr. B._ They are certainly placed in a very responsible situation; but +those who conscientiously perform their respective duties, need not fear +being happy under any circumstances. + +_Ferdinand_. But a king has so many duties to fulfil, and they are so +important, that I am sure I had much rather be a subject. + +_Mr. B._. I am quite of your opinion, my dear boy, that there is much +more happiness to be found in the private walks of life; and I can with +truth declare, that I would not exchange my own fire-side, enlivened by +so many happy countenances, for the gilded palace of the greatest +monarch. + +"Nor would we change our dear father and mother," said the cheerful +little Louisa, "to be the gayest lords and ladies in the land." + +_Mr. B._. Well, my little lady, now let me hear how Numa goes on in his +new dignity. + +_Louisa_. He was so well calculated to be a king, by his goodness as +well as his knowledge, papa, that you may suppose he made his subjects +very happy. His whole time was spent in endeavouring to render them +pious and virtuous. He built a great many new temples for religious +worship; and, amongst others, one to Janus, which was always open in +time of war, and shut in time of peace. He did every thing in his power +to encourage agriculture, and, for this purpose, divided the lands which +Romulus had conquered in war, among the poor people. His subjects loved +him very much, and he lived till he was eighty years old, and then died +in peace, after having reigned forty-three years. The temple of Janus +was shut during his whole reign. + +_Mr. B._ You have given your account very correctly, Louisa; Numa was, +indeed, a wise and discreet prince. You have, however, omitted +mentionaing his distribution of the tradesmen of Rome into distinct +corporations, which Plutarch considered the master-piece of his policy. +The city had been long divided into two factions, occasioned by the +mixture of the Sabines with the first Romans. Hence arose jealousies, +which were an inexhaustible source of discord. Numa, to remedy this +evil, made all the artists and tradesmen of Rome, of whatever nation +they originally were, enter into separate companies, according to their +respective professions. The musicians, goldsmiths, carpenters, curriers, +dyers, tailors, &c. formed distinct communities. He ordained particular +statutes for each of them, and granted them peculiar privileges. Every +corporation was permitted to hold lands, to have a common treasury, and +to celebrate festivals and sacrifices proper to itself;--in short, to +become a sort of little republic. By this means the Sabines and Romans, +forgetting all their old partialities and party names, were brought to +an entire union. + +_Ferdinand._ That was a capital contrivance. What a clever man Numa was; +and how much good such a king can do to his people. + +_Edward._ You did not mention, Louisa, what pains Numa took to reform +the calendar. The year, before his time, consisted of but three hundred +and four days, which is neither agreeable to the solar nor the lunar +year. Numa endeavoured to make it agree with both: he added January and +February to the old year, which before consisted of only ten months. +Although he did not render the calendar so complete as it is at present, +he remedied the disorders as far as he was able, and put it into a +condition of more easily admitting of new corections. + +_Mr. B._ Louisa has alreay told us that the temple of Janus was not +opened during the whole reign of Numa: he was, indeed a most pacific and +amiable prince. He was beloved by his neighbours, and became the arbiter +of all the differences among them; and his virtues seemed to have +communicated themselves to all the nations around Rome. As to the Romans +themselves, it might be literally said, that their weapons of war were +changed into implements of husbandry. No seditions, no ambitious desires +of the throne, nor so much as any murmurs against the person or +administration of the king, appeared amongst his subjects. When he died, +they lamented him as severely as if every man had lost his own father; +and the concourse of strangers to Rome, to pay the last tribute of +respect to his remains, was exceedingly great. Numa had forbidden the +Romans to burn his body; they therefore put it into a stone coffin, and, +according to his own orders, buried the greatest part of the books he +had written, in the same sepulchre with himself. He had made a law, +forbidding that any dead body should be buried within the city, and had, +himself, chosen a burying-place beyond the Tiber. Thither he was +carried, on the shoulders of his senators, and followed by all the +people, who bewailed their loss with tears. + +_Mrs. B._ How superior to brass and marble, is such a monument of a +people's love. + +_Ferdinand._ I suppose Numa named one of his new months January, in +compliment to the god Janus, to whom he had erected the temple. + +_Mr. B._ Yes. Janus is always represented with two faces, one looking +backwards, the other forwards; and seems to be properly placed at the +beginning of the year, to point out to us the necessity of looking back +to the time that is past, that we may remedy our crimes in the year +ensuing. + + +_Louisa._ Well, really now, that is very ingenious. Are the names of the +other months all equally suitable, papa? + +_Mr. B._ February was so called from the expiations signified by the +word _Februs_, which were in this month performed. March had its name +from _Mars_, the supposed father of Romulus; and on that account had +been placed first, till the alteration made by Numa. April is said to +have derived its name from _Aphrodite_, which is another name for Venus, +because of the superstitious worship at that time paid to her. May, from +_Maia_, the mother of Mercury, to whom this month was made sacred. June, +from _Juno_; or, as some suppose, from _Juventus_, the Latin word for +youth, because the season is warm, or, as it were, juvenile. The rest +had their names from their order:--as, _Quintilis_, the fifth month; +_Sextilis_, the sixth; _September_, the seventh; _October_, the eighth; +_November_, the ninth; and _December_, the tenth:--all derived, as you +know, Ferdinand, from the Latin words signifying these numbers. +_Quintilis_ and _Sextilis_ were afterwards changed into July and August, +in compliment to Julius Caesar and the emperor Augustus, of whom you +will hear as you proceed with your history. Have you read any part of +the reign of Tullius Hostilius, who was the next king of Rome? + +_Louisa._ I just looked at a few pages, papa, but did not read much. +But, from the little I saw, I do not think I shall like him so well as +Numa. + +_Edward_. No, that you will not, Louisa; for he was very fond of war, +which you do not like at all. The temple of Janus was soon opened when +he mounted the throne. I think Hostilius was a good name for him, for he +was hostile to all his neighbours. + +_Mr. B._ You have read his reign, I suppose, Edward? We must not, +however, anticipate the history, by entering into any further detail at +present, or we shall deprive your sisters of the pleasure they would +otherwise have in the perusal of it. To-morrow, I shall expect an +account of the battle between the Hexatii and Curiatii, which was the +first remarkable event that occurred in his reign. It is now time to +retire, as I purpose taking you all on a little excursion to-morrow, if +it prove fine. You must, therefore, rise early, and prepare your lessons +before breakfast. + +The children all expressed their delight at this unexpected indulgence, +promised the strictest attention to their lessons, and, affectionately +embracing their parents, withdrew. + + + +CONVERSATION III. + +On the following morning the children rose according to their promise, +and, by strict attention to their lessons, merited the treat their +father had in store for them. It was a lovely morning! but our best- +laid schemes are subject to disappointment; and the little group felt +their pleasure greatly lessened, upon hearing that a violent headache, +to which their mother was subject, would prevent her joining the party. +I shall not enter into any detail respecting their visit, as my young +readers will hear it all from their own lips, in the conversation they +held with their mother, when they returned in the evening. They had the +pleasure of finding her much better, and able to enjoy their company, +and the account they gave of their excursion. + +Emily first entered the parlour, and, gently opening the door, +affectionately enquired after her mother's health. + +"My head is much better, I thank you, my dear," replied Mrs. Bernard: +"but why are you alone?--where are your brothers and sisters? All safe +and well, I hope?" + +_Emily_. Yes, quite well, and in high spirits, I assure you. They +requested to get out at the lodge-gate, that they might have a race +through the garden. Feeling rather tired, I preferred riding. + +At this moment Louisa came running in, quite out of breath. The others +soon followed her, laughing merrily. + +_Louisa_. Oh! mamma, how I wish you had been with us. We have had such +a happy day, and have seen so many curious things. + +_Ferdinand_. What a nice woman Mrs. Horton is, mamma. She has been so +kind to us. + +_Edward_. Dear me, Louisa and Ferdinand, how loud you talk. You forget +mamma's head. + +"Gently, my dears, gently," said Mrs. Bernard: "moderate your delight a +little. I am glad to hear that you have enjoyed year day, and shall +like to have a full account of all you have seen, when you can enter +upon it quietly. In the mean time, go and put by your hats and tippets, +my dear girls, and come to tea as quickly as you can." + +Louisa declared she did not want any tea, and requested that she might +go into the nursery to little Sophy, and take her some shells, which +Mrs. Horton had given her. + +Mrs. Bernard willingly granted her request and added:--"I am glad, my +dear Louisa, you do not, when in the midst of enjoyment yourself, forget +your little sister, who is too young to join your pleasures. You may go +and stay with her a quarter of an hour; but do not keep her up beyond +her usual time." + +_Ferdinand_. Pray take my shells too, Louisa, and tell her that little +fishes once lived in them at the bottom of the sea. + +Louisa, with a light step, and a heart still lighter, left the room, +saying, she had a great deal of information to give little Sophy. + +_Mrs. B._ Now, my dear Emily, ring the bell, and make haste down to tea: +I see your father coming up the garden. + +The children quickly returned. They were not, however, allowed to enter +into any detail of their past pleasures, till the tea-things were +removed, and Louisa had joined their part, which she did, very +punctually, at the expiration of the promised quarter of an hour. + +_Louisa_. Little Sophy is so delighted with her shells, mamma! She sends +her love to you, Ferdinand, and says she will give you a kiss tomorrow. +I do not think I shall do much work to-night, mamma, we have so many +things to tell you. + +The room was soon cleared, and liberty given to begin the account of +their excursion, provided only one spoke at a time. + +_Ferdinand_. Oh, Louisa, tell mamma about the dog! + +_Edward_. No: tell about the cat, that is the most curious. + +_Louisa_. Now, I do not think so, Edward. The story about the dog was so +very droll. + +_Mrs. B._ Stop--stop, my dear children, or I shall hear nothing after +all. Begin at the beginning, and all will go on regularly. Now, set out +from our own door. + +_Louisa_. Come, Emily, you will tell that part best, because I do think +you enjoyed the ride more than any of us. + +_Emily_. I did, indeed, enjoy it. The country looks so rich, from the +variety of foliage; the autumnal tints are in their highest beauty, and +you know, my dear mother, how delightful the scenery is, particularly +through the park which leads to Mrs. Horton's house. She received us +with the greatest politeness, and was very sorry you were prevented +accompanying us, especially when she heard that indisposition was the +cause of your absence. After we had taken some refreshment, she proposed +a walk in the park. As we passed through a small room, opening into the +garden, I was much struck with the appearance of an elegant bird in a +glass case. It was stuffed, but so remarkably well done, that you would +have thought it still alive. From the two long feathers in its tail, I +knew it to be the bird of Paradise, and begged Mrs. Horton would give me +leave to examine it more closely. She told me it was a native of the +Molucca Islands, and that there were eight different species of them. +The plumage is very beautiful. The head, throat, and neck, are of a pale +gold colour; the base of the bill, as well as the head, is covered with +fine black feathers, soft and glossy as velvet, and varying in colour +with the different shades of light that fall upon them. The back part of +the head is of a shining green, mixed with bright yellow; the body and +wings are covered with brown, purple, and gold-coloured feathers; the +upper part of the tail is a pale yellow, and the undermost feathers are +white, and longer than those above. But what chiefly excites curiosity, +are two long, naked feathers, which spring from the upper part of the +rump, above the tail, and are, in general, two feet in length. These +birds are supposed to migrate into other countries at the time of the +monsoons, but it is not certain that they do so. + +_Ferdinand_. Pray, what are the _monsoons_, Emily? + +_Emily_. They are periodical winds, to which those countries are subject +lying within a certain distance of the equator. They blow in one +direction for a time, and, at stated seasons, change, and blow for an +equal space of time from the opposite point of the compass. + +_Louisa_. Do not forget the little hummingbirds, Emily, which were in +the case next to the bird of Paradise. What beautiful little creatures +they were! And Mrs. Horton says that nature has provided them with +forked tongues, completely formed for entering flowers, and drawing out +the honey, which is their natural food. + +_Mrs. B_. Did Mrs. Horton tell you how curiously they construct their +nests? + +_Louisa_. Oh, yes; she showed us one: it was suspended on the very point +of a twig. She says, they adopt this plan to secure them from the +attacks of the monkey and the snake. They form them in the shape of a +hen's egg, cut in half. The eggs are not bigger than a pea, of a clear +white, with a few yellow specks here and there. I wish I had some of +these pretty little creatures; but Mrs. Horton says they will not live +in England, it is so much colder than the tropical climates. + +_Ferdinand_. What little feet the Chinese women have, mamma! We saw one +of their shoes, and I am sure it was not a bit bigger than little +Sophy's. + +_Emily_. But you know, Ferdinand, _that_ is not the natural size of the +Chinese ladies' feet: they are confined, while they are babies, with +very tight bandages, which prevent them from growing. + +_Louisa._ I am glad I am not a Chinese little girl. Such small feet +cannot be very useful to them when they grow up to be women, I think. + +_Mrs. B._ Indeed, they are not: The poor things are perfect cripples, +and are obliged to be carried wherever they go. + +_Ferdinand._ Oh, how I pity them! They can never run about and enjoy +themselves while they are little, as we do, Louisa. + +_Mrs. B._ Indeed, my dear Ferdinand, an English child has great cause +for thankfulness, on many accounts. I know of no country where the real +happiness and welfare of children is so carefully studied. + +_Emily._ In China, however, the boys are educated with considerable +care. In their early studies, geography is particularly attended to. At +six years of age, they are made acquainted with the names of the +principal parts of the world; at eight, they are instructed in the rules +of politeness; and at ten are sent to a public school, where they learn +reading, writing, and arithmetic. From thirteen to fifteen they are +taught music; they do not, however, sing merry songs, as we do, but +serious sentences, or moral precepts. They also practise the use of the +bow, and are taught to ride. In every city, town, and almost in every +village, I have been told that there are public school for teaching the +more abstruse sciences. + +_Mrs. B._ The mind of the poor girls, on the contrary, are most sadly +neglected. Needlework is almost the only accomplishment thought +necessary for them. There is no country in the world in which the woman +are in a greater state of humiliation, than in China. Those whose +husbands are of high rank, live under constant confinement; those of the +second class are little better than upper servants, deprived of all +liberty; whilst the poort share with their husbands the most laborious +occupations. + +_Louisa._ How exceedingly I should dislike it; and yet, I think, I would +rather be the wife of a poor Chinese, than of a rich one. + +_Emily_ I think so too; for the hardest labour would not be to me so +irksome as total inactivity. + +_Mrs. B._ I am quite of your opinion, Emily. The situation of these +wretched beings must be rendered doubly irksome by the uncultivated +state of their minds. This deprives them of those delightful resources, +from which the well-educated female of our happy country may constantly +derive the purest enjoyment. + +_Emily._ Had not your and my dear father early installed into us a love +of reading, how very much our present enjoyments would be lessened. + +_Mrs. B._ We have always, my dear considered it as an important point +in your education; since no amusement so delightfully occupies the +vacant hours of life, even where entertainment is the principal object. +It is one of those tastes that grows by indulgence: there is scarcely +any enjoyment so independent of the will of others: it engages and +employs the thoughts of the wretched, directs the enthusiasm of the +young, and relieves the weariness of old age. Well might the amiable +Fenelon say: "If the crowns of all the kingdoms of Europe were laid at +my feet, in exchange for my love of reading, I would spurn them all." + +_Louisa_. Now, Ferdinand, I know you long to tell mamma your droll +story about the dog. + +_Ferdinand_. Well, mamma, when we got into the garden, I was very much +amused with a nice little terrier, and Mrs. Horton said, she thought we +should be entertained with an anecdote or two she could tell us +respecting him. The dog belongs to her brother, who is an elderly +gentleman, and wears a wig. He used to keep one hung up on a peg in his +dressing-room, and, as it was grown very shabby, he one day gave it away +to a poor old man. The dog happened soon after to see him in the +street. He knew the wig again in a minute; and, looking full in the +man's face, made a sudden spring, leaped upon his shoulders, seized the +wig, and ran off with it as fast as he could; and, when he reached home, +endeavoured, by jumping, to hang it in its usual place. + +_Mrs. B._ I think your story very amusing, Ferdinand: it is a curious +instance of sagacity. + +_Emily_. The other circumstance which Mrs. Horton mentioned, of the +same animal, proves him equally sagacious. He was one day passing +through a field, where a washerwoman had hung out her linen to dry; he +stopped, and surveyed one particular shirt with attention, then seizing +it, he dragged it through the dirt to his master, whose shirt it proved +to be. [Footnote: See Bingley's Animal Biography.] + +_Edward_. Well, now, mamma, please to listen to my story about the cat. + +_Mrs. B._ By all means, my dear. + +_Edward_. As we were walking near the house, I was surprised to see a +fine cat, with a pretty little leveret gambolling and frolicking by her +side. Mrs. Horton told us, that, about a fortnight ago, the farmer's +boy brought this poor little creature into the house, having found it, +almost starved to death, in a hole, in consequence, I suppose, of some +accident having happened to its mother. Mrs. Horton gave directions +that it should be fed and kept warm. The servants grew very fond of it, +and were quite grieved, one day, suddenly to miss it. They concluded +that some cat or dog had killed it, and never expected to see their +little favourite again. However, yesterday, in the dusk of the evening, +they observed the cat in the garden, with something gambolling after +her, which, to their great delight, they discovered to be the leveret. +They then recollected that poor puss had been deprived of a litter of +kittens, on the very day that their favourite had so mysteriously +disappeared. The cat had adopted him in the place of her own little +ones, nourished him with her milk, and continues still to support him +with the greatest affection [Footnote: See Bingley's Animal Biography]. + +_Mrs. B._ It is a curious circumstance, but not so extraordinary, I +think, as the account Ferdinand read to me, some time ago, in "A Visit +for a Week," of a cat supporting a chicken in a similar manner. + +_Ferdinand_. Well, mamma, besides the accounts we have given you, Mrs. +Horton told us several other curious things respecting the instinct of +animals. She took us to an aviary in the garden, which is a large place +made on purpose to keep birds in. There were some beautiful gold and +penciled pheasants; but no bird, in my opinion, is so handsome as the +peacock. I asked Mrs. Horton if it were originally a native of this +country. She told me it was brought to us from the East, and that +numerous flocks of them are still to be seen wild in Java and Ceylon. + +_Mrs. B._ Where are those two islands situated, Louisa? + +_Louisa_. They are both in the Indian Ocean. Java is a little to the +east of Sumatra; and Ceylon, off the coast of Coromandel. All the +animals with which the woods abound, are not so agreeable as the +peacock, mamma; for I recollect reading, a little time ago, that there +are varieties of wild beasts live there: particularly in Java, there are +many large and fierce tigers. + +_Mrs. B._ Did Mrs. Horton tell you any thing more respecting the +peacock? + +_Emily_. Yes; she made us observe its train, which does not appear to +be the tail. The long feahers grow all up their backs. A range of +short, brown, stiff feathers, about six inches long, is the real tail, +and serves as a prop to the train when elevated. This certainly must be +the case, as, when the train is spread, nothing appears of the bird but +its head and neck; which could not be, were those long feathers fixed +only in the rump. She also told us, that, in the time of Francis the +first, king of France, it was the custom to serve up a peacock at the +tables of the great, not for food, but ornament. The skin was first +carefully stripped off, and the body being prepared with the hottest +spices, was again covered with it; in this state it was not at all +subject to decay, but preserved its beauty for several years. + +_Mrs. B._ In China, a peacock's feather hanging from the cap, is +considered as a mark of high distinction; and Sir George Staunton, in +his account of the Embassy to China, mentions a circumstance of a legate +of the emperor, who was degraded from his office, for disobeying the +orders of his imperial majesty, being reduced to wear an opaque white, +instead of a transparent blue button, and a crow's instead of a +peacock's tail-feather pendant from his cap. The splendour of this +bird's plumage certainly demands our highest admiration, but, +independent of its beauty, it has few excellencies to boast. Its voice +is extremely harsh and disagreeable, and its gluttony is a great +counterbalance to its personal charms. + +_Emily_. Mrs. Horton made a remark similar to yours, mamma. She said, +beauty was certainly very pleasing when adorned by the smiles of good- +humoured cheerfulness; but that the fairest face, without this charm, +would soon cease to please. She also repeated to us those sweet lines +from Cowper, in which he so prettily contrasts he retiring modesty of +the pheasant, with the proud display made by the peacock, of his gaudy +plumes. + +"Meridian sun-beams tempt him to unfold His radiant glories--azure, +green, and gold. He treads as if, some solemn music near, His measur'd +step were govern'd by his ear; And seems to say--'Ye meaner fowl give +place, I am all splendour, dignity, and grace! Not so the pheasant on +his charms presumes, Though he too has a glory in his plumes; He, +Christian-like, retreats, with modest mien, To the close copse, or far- +sequester'd green, And shines, without desiring to be seen." + +_Ferdinand_. We then walked some time in the park and gardens, mamma; +after which Mrs. Horton took us into the house, that we might rest +ourselves a little before dinner. When dinner was over we went into the +picture-gallery, and, amongst a number of very beautiful prints and +paintings, there was one representing the combat between the Horatii and +Curiatii, of which we had read in the morning. How much more pleasure +one has in looking at prints, when one knows a little about the subject +of them. + +_Mr. B._ A cultivated mind, my deal children, is a constant source of +pleasure. Youth is the seed-time of life, and you must be careful so to +plant now, as to ensure to yourselves hereafter, not only a plentiful, +but a valuable harvest. It is growing late--we must think of our +history, or we shall spend all the evening in chit-chat. Edward, suppose +you begin the account. + +_Edward_. I mentioned, yesterday, that Tullus Hostilius was of a +disposition very different from the peaceful Numa. He was entirely +devoted to war, and more fond of enterprise, than even the founder of +the empire himself had been. The Albans were the first people that gave +him an opportunity of indulging his favourite inclination. Upon the +death of Romulus, seeing their ancient kings extinct, they resumed their +independence, with a determination to shake off the Roman yoke, and to +appoint their own governors. Cluilius was at the head of this affair. He +is, by some historians, styled dictator; by others, king. Being very +jealous of the growing greatness of Rome, he, by a stratagem, contrived +to engage them in a war. Cluilius was, however, previous to the +commencement of the hostilities, found dead in his tent, surrounded by +his guards, without any external marks of violence. After his death, +both parties seemed to wish for an accommodation upon a amicable terms, +but neither liked to submit to be inferior to their rival. It was at +length proposed, that the superiority should be determined of each +other, and, when the people expected to see them begin fighting +furiously, they, instead of that, laid aside their arms, and flew to +embrace each other. + +_Mr. B._ What effect had this upon the spectators, Emily? + +_Emily_. They were much moved, and began to murmur at their king, who +had engaged such leader friends in a cruel rivalship for glory. But a +new scene quickly put an end to their pity, fixed their attention, and +employed all their hopes and fears:--the combat began, and the victory +long hung doubtful. At length the eldest of the Horatii received a +mortal wound, and fell: a second soon met the same fate, and expired +upon the body of his brother. The Alban army now gave a loud shout, +whilst consternation and despair spread themselves through the Roman +camp. + +_Ferdinand_. Oh, papa, how interested I felt, this morning, when we got +to this part. + +_Mr. B._ I do not wonder that you were, my dear: it is a circumstance +calculated strongly to interest the feelings. Edward, take up the +account where Emily quitted it. + +_Edward_. Do not suppose the Roman cause quite desperate. It is true, +they had but one champion remaining, but he was both unhurt and +undaunted, while all the Curiatii were wounded. He, however, did not +conceive himself able to attack the three brothers at once, and +therefore made use of a stratagem to separate them. He pretended fear, +and fled before them. The Curiatii pursued him at unequal distances. +Horatius turned short upon the foremost, and slew him. He then flew to +the next, who soon shared his brother's fate. The only remaining +Curiatii was so severely wounded, that he could scarcely support his +shield, and offered no resistance to the attack of the conquering +Horatius. Thus ended the famous combat, which gave Rome the superiority +over Alba. + +_Ferdinand_. The picture at Mrs. Horton's, represented Horatius at the +moment he turned upon the first Curiatii. And there was another, +representing him in the act of stabbing his sister, because she grieved +for the death of one of the Curiatii, to whom she was going to be +married. + +_Edward_. Ah! that tarnished all the glory of Horatius, in my opinion. +It was so natural she should weep for such a loss. + +_Mrs. B._ Flushed with conquest, Horatius lost his self-possession. +Often do we find heroes, who can subdue their enemies in the field, the +weakest of the weak, when the combat is against their own evil passions. +Self-knowledge, and self-possession, are most important acquirements. +They are excellencies I must earnestly desire for each of you, my dear +children. But we have not time for further conversation to-night: you +have all exerted yourselves extremely to-day, and must feel fatigued. + +_Louisa_. Oh no, papa, I am not all all tired. + +_Mrs. B._ Indeed, my Louisa, your heavy eyes tell a different tale. +Ferdinand, too, looks very sleepy. Good night, my dear children. + +They immediately arose, and, thanking their father for the great +indulgence he had afforded them, retired. + + +CONVERSATION IV. + +"Now, my dears, have you your work prepared for the evening?" said Mrs. +Bernard, rising from the tea-table. + +"Mine is quite ready, mamma," replied Emily. + +"And mine too, I believe," said Louisa, opening her work-bag. "Oh! +dear, no, I have used up all my thread. I quite forgot that. And where +can my thimble be? I am sure I thought I had put it into my bag. +Emily, have you seen my thimble? I dare say you have got it, you are so +apt to take my things." + +_Emily._ Oh! no, indeed, Louisa, you are mistaken, Sometimes, when I +find them left about, I put them by for you, that they may not be lost. + +"Well, that is the very thing that makes me think I have lost them," +said Louisa, rather petulantly. "It is very tiresome of you, Emily. I +do wish you never would touch any thing that belongs to me." + +"Gently, gently, my Louisa," interrupted Mrs. Bernard: "you ought to +feel much obliged to your sister for her kindness. If it were not for +her attention, your carelessness would make a sad hole in your pocket- +money. In this instance, however, Emily appears to be quite innocent of +your loss: she does not seem to know any thing about the stray thimble. +She has not, therefore, been the cause of your misfortune to-day." + +Louisa rose from her seat, and leaving the room, exclaimed: "I dare say +I shall find it in a minute or two." + +She was, however, absent more than a quarter of an hour, and at length +returned, without having found her thimble. + +"Well, mamma, it is a most extraordinary thing," said she: "I cannot +think what is become of it. It is very tiresome that things should get +lost so." + +_Mrs. B._ It is rather singular that Emily seldom meets with these +misfortunes, from which you so frequently suffer, Louisa. + +_Louisa_. Indeed, Emily is very fortunate, mamma. She never has +occasion to lose her time in looking for things, and, I do believe, that +is one reason why she gets on so much faster with her work than I do. + +_Mrs. B._ It is a very probably conjecture, my dear; but you must not +attribute the cause merely to good-fortune: Emily is attentive to the +excellent maxim: "A place for every thing, and every thing in its +place," and if you would endeavour, in this respect, to follow her +example, you would find the same comfortable effects resulting from it. + +_Louisa_. Well, mamma, and so I have a place for my things. My work- +bag is exactly like Emily's. + +"But you do not make exactly the same use of it," said Mrs. Bernard. + +Here Ferdinand interposed, with a proposition, that they should all go +and have a good hunt for the thimble, as it would hurt Louisa's finger +sadly, to work all the evening without one. + +Louisa expressed her thanks to Ferdinand for his kindness, adding, "I am +quite sorry my carelessness has given every body so much trouble. If I +find my thimble this once, I will endeavour, in future, to copy Emily's +example, and be more careful." + +Mrs. Bernard highly approved this determination, and added, "I hope you +will be able to keep your resolution, my dear. You will find the +comfort resulting from the adoption of method, an ample recompence for +any little trouble it may at first occasion you. Now, make haste; I wish +you success in your search." _They go out._ + +After some time, Louisa returned with a disappointed countenance, which +convinced Mrs. Bernard that her search had been in vain. The gloom was, +however, soon banished by the entrance of Ferdinand, who, smiling with +exultation, held out the stray thimble, and exclaimed, "I have found it, +Louisa! Here it is! When you went to wash your hands, you left it in the +closet." + +"Oh, thank you, Ferdinand! thank you!" cried Louisa. "How glad I am to +see it again! Pray, Emily, excuse my having been so cross to you just +now." + +"That I do, most willingly," said Emily. "Indeed, I had already +forgotten your little momentary fit of anger." + +"Come, let us now sit down to work, without further loss of time," said +their mother. "It gives me most sincere pleasure, my dear children, to +see in you a disposition to assist each other in any little case of +difficulty. Nothing tends so much to cement brotherly love, as +politeness and attention. In many families this is a thing much +neglected; and I have seen more disagreements arise, from a rude, +contradictory disposition, than from any other cause whatever. I know +you like to have our instructions illustrated by a story, particularly +if it be founded on fact. Your father will, therefore, I am sure, give +you an account of a friend of his, who experienced the most beneficial +effects, from adopting kind, conciliatory manners, in opposition to +rudeness and incivility." + +"I shall relate the circumstance with much pleasure," replied Mr. +Bernard, "because I am convinced, a most excellent lesson may be learnt +from it; and, as I know the parties, I can assure you it is perfectly +true. An elderly gentleman, with a very large fortune, but no family, +adopted a nephew and niece, the orphan children of two of his sisters. +His object was, when they were of a proper age, to unite them to each +other by marriage, intending that the whole of his immense possesions +should centre in them; but he was much disappointed to find, instead of +the affection which he expected to witness, an extreme dislike +subsisting between the young people, which strengthened as they advanced +in years. Their uncle's presence imposed upon them some restraint, but, +when alone, they gave full scope to their dislike, teasing and +tormenting each other by every means in their power. When the young man +attained his twenty-second, and the young lady her nineteenth year, they +lost their uncle, who had been to them as a parent. The only sentiment +in which they united, was a tender regard to this common friend; and +deeply did they lament his death. The idea that they should now be freed +from the irksome incumbrance of each other's company, however, afforded +them some consolation. Under these impressions, you may judge of the +dismay they both experienced, upon opening their uncle's will, to find +that his fortune was left equally between them, provided they +accomplished his wish, by uniting their destinies; but, whichever +refused fulfilling these conditions, was to forfeit all claim to the +money and estates. Thunder-struck at this appalling sentence, the young +man retired to his chamber, and spent some hours in solitude, +considering what line of conduct it would be best for him to pursue. +Always accustomed to affluence, the horrors of poverty presented +themselves before him in dreadful array; yes, a union with his cousin, +seemed an alternative still more formidable:--he knew not how to +determine. She, in the mean time, suffered no less anxiety. The same +fears agitated her mind. She was well aware of her cousin's dislike to +her, and hoped it would prevent his making those proposals which she +dreaded to hear. At length, he joined her in the garden, and addressed +her as follows:--'You have heard the contents of our uncle's will, Emma. +It places us both in a most painful situation. It were vain to profess +for you an affection, I neither can, or do I believe I ever shall feel; +but, yielding to the necessity of my circumstances, I offer you my +hand.' 'The same sentiment induces me to accept your offer,' said the +dejected Emma, with a heavy sigh; but surely, by such a union, we both +bid adieu to happiness for ever.'--'Our prospect certainly does not +promise us much felicity,' rejoined the young man, 'yet I cannot help +thinking, a moderate share of happiness may still be within our power. +Hitherto, our chief andeavour has been to thwart and irritate each +other; let us, henceforth, employ the same pains to conciliate and +oblige. Great affection, on either side, we will not expect: but let us +resolve to maintain, on all occasions, a spirit of politeness and of +good-will towards each other.' To this the young lady readily assented, +and, under those circumstances, they were married. They persevered in +their wise resolution. I have known them many years, and never did I see +a couple more affectonately attached to each other." + +_Edward_. It is a very interesting account, indeed, papa. + +_Mr. B._ It is a story from which much solid instruction may be +derived, my dear. People in general, are by no means aware what a +powerful influence those attentions, which they deem trifling, leave +upon the happiness of life. They think, on _important_ occasions, they +should be willing to make great sacrifices for those they love; but do +not reflect how rarely such occasions present themselves; whereas, +opportunities are daily, nay, hourly occurring, for the discharge of +mutual kind offices, which powerfully tend to cement the affectionate +ties of friendship. Edward, did you not commit to memory the passage +upon politeness, we read in Xenophon's Cyropaedia the other day? + +_Edward._ I did, papa. + +Mr. B. Repeat it to us, my dear. + +_Edward._ Politeness is an evenness of soul, which excludes, at the same +time, both insensibility and too much earnestness. It supposes a quick +discernment, to perceive, immediately, the different characters of men; +and, by a sweet condescension, adapts itself to each man's taste, not to +flatter, but to calm his passions. In a word, it is a forgetting of +ourselves, in order to seek what may be agreeable to others, but, in so +delicate a manner, as to let them scarce perceive that we are so +employed. It knows how to contradict with respect, and to please without +adulation; and is equally remote from an insipid complaisance, and a low +familiarity. + +_Louisa._ Pray, papa, who was the gentleman you were speaking of, a +little time ago? + +_Mr. B._ That cannot concern you at all, Louisa. His name is of no +consequence to the moral of my tale. + +_Edward._ Louisa is always so curious; we often laugh at her for it. + +_Mrs. B._ It is a foolish and dangerous propensity, when it is carried +into the minor concerns of life. A laudable curiosity, whose object is +the improvement of the mind, should at all times be encouraged; and you +will never, on such occasions, find either your father or myself, +backward in satisfying it to the best of our abilities. + +_Louisa._ I have been often told that it is wrong, mamma, and will +really try to amend. + +_Mr. B._ I most earnestly wish you success in your endeavour, Louisa. +Curiosity was the fault of our first parents, you know. How much misery +did this fatal propensity in Eve, entail upon the human race! + +_Ferdinand._ Oh, mamma, may I tell Louisa that droll story, which I read +to you the other day, about the poor wood-cutter's wife? + +_Mrs. B._ I have no objection, provided Louisa would like to hear it. + +_Louisa._ Yes, I should, mamma; for I do not mind being told of my +faults, because I wish to amend them. + +"That is perfectly right, my love," said Mrs. Bernard: "I admire your +candour, and have no doubt that, with such a desire, your efforts will +prove successful. She then requested Ferdinand to begin his story, which +he did, as follows: + +"A gentleman riding one morning through a wood, saw a poor man very +busily employed in cutting down trees, whilst his wife was collecting +the branches into bundles. She sighed heavily, from heat and fatigue, +and complained sadly of their hard fate, laying all the blame upon Adam +and Eve, whose fatal curiosity was the cause of man's being obliged to +earn his bread by such hard labour. The gentleman got off his horse, and +going up to these poor people, he began to talk to the woman, and +enquired, whether, if she had been in Eve's place, she would not have +been very likely to have done the same thing. 'No,' said the woman: 'if +I had every thing necessary for me, without working, I should certainly +be quite contented." 'Well,' said the gentleman, 'in order to silence +your complaints, I will take you and your husband to my own house, where +you shall have apartments to yourselves, servants to wait upon you, a +carriage to attend you, and my park and gardens to amuse yourselves in. +The continuance of these enjoyments shall depend entirely upon +yourselves. You shall have a table spread with dishes; but the middle +dish shall always remain covered, and if ever you uncover it, to examine +its contents, you shall immediately return to your present situation.' +The poor man and woman were delighted with the gentleman's proposal. The +very next day, they removed to their new abode. The novelty of every +object with which they were surrounded, filled them with delight. For +some time they enjoyed themselves extremely, and never once thought of +the covered dish; but, by degrees, all these delights lost the charm of +novelty. Their walks were always the same, and, although they had plenty +of nice things to eat, their appetites were not so good as when they +worked hard for their living. One day the woman said: 'I wonder what +there is under that cover?' After this, their wonder increased every +day, till at last they determined, by taking a little peep, to satisfy +their curiosity. They accordingly lifted up the cover, when, instantly, +out jumped a little mouse, and away it ran. They now saw their folly, +and were sadly vexed with themselves: but it was too late to complain. +They returned to their daily labour, and from their own experience +learned a useful lesson, and never blamed Adam and Eve any more." + +"I think, mamma, we may all learn a useful lesson from this story," said +Edward, as Ferdinand concluded his account: "for I am sure I often feel +curious to discover things, that are not of the least consequence to +me." + +_Louisa_. Is it a true story, mamma? + +_Mrs. B._ I do not know, my dear; but the picture it draws of human +nature is true, and, on that account, the instruction it conveys is +valuable. + +_Mr. B._ Let us now turn our attention to history again. We concluded, +last night, with the rash murder of his sister, committed by Horatius. +Did he undergo any punishment for this crime? + +_Edward_. Yes, father: it was thought of dangerous consequence to +slacken the rigour of the laws, in favour of any person, merely on +account of his bravery and success in battle. The king was puzzled how +to act. He was divided between a regard for the laws, and a desire to +save the young warrior, who had rendered him such important service. + +_Mr. B._ How did Tullus extricate himself from this difficulty, Emily? + +_Emily_. He turned it into a state crime, and appointed two +commissioners to try him as a traitor. As the fact was so publicly +known, and Horatius did not deny it, he was found guilty, and condemned +to be executed; but, by the king's advice, he appealed to an assembly of +the people, whose authority was superior to that of the monarch himself; +and they, from admiration of his courage, rather than the justice of his +cause, revoked the sentence that had been passed against him. However, +that he might not go wholly unpunished, they condemned him to pass under +the yoke, a disgrace to which prisoners of war were subject. + +_Mr. B_. What was the yoke, Ferdinand? + +_Ferdinand_. It was a kind of gallows, papa, in the shape of a door- +case. + +_Mr. B._ Did Horatius, then, receive no honour for his victory, Louisa? + +_Louisa_. Yes, papa: a square column was erected in the middle of the +Forum, and the spoils of the Curiatii were hung upon it. + +_Mr. B._ Did the Romans continue at peace, after the victory of +Horatius? + +_Edward_. No, father: they went to war, successively, with the +Fidenates, Latins, and Sabines; in all of which the Romans were +successful. + +_Mr. B._ How was the life of Tullus Hostilius terminated, Emily? + +_Emily_. Historians differ in their accounts. Some suppose he was struck +by lightning, whilst others imagine he fell by the hand of Ancus +Martius, his successor. + +_Mr. B._ Ferdinand, can you give us a short sketch of the character of +Tullus Hostilius, from what you have heard of him. + +_Ferdinand_. He was very much inclined to fighting, papa. Generosity and +personal courage were his chief merit. He rekindled in the Romans the +love of war, which Numa had endeavoured to suppress. He acquired to the +Roman state a great name, but did not add to the real happiness of his +people. + +_Mr. B._ As he was so much engaged in war, I suppose he did not exert +himself much to improve the legislation of his country. + +_Louisa._ We only read of one law that he established, and that was, +that, whenever three little boys should be born at one birth, they +should, in memory of the Horatii, be brought up at the public expence. + +_Mr. B._ Emily, what have you to tell us of Ancus Martius, successor to +Tullus? + +_Emily_. He was grandson to Numa Pompilius, and, after a short +interregnum, was unanimously chosen, both by the senate and people, to +the succession. He wished to imitate his grandfather, by reviving +husbandry and religious worship; but soon found that this pacific +disposition drew upon him the contempt of the neighbouring nations. The +Latins were the first who endeavoured to throw off their allegiance to +Rome. This provoked Ancus to declare war against them. He vanquished +them in many battles, and took several of their towns. He strengthened +Rome by new fortifications; built the port and city of Astin, at the +mouth of the Tiber; and was successful over the Fidenates, Sabines, +Veientes, and Volsci. Historians give different accounts of his death. +Some say he was destroyed by violence, whilst others speak of his +decease as altogether natural. + +_Mr. B._ How long did he reign, Louisa? + +_Louisa_. Twenty-three years, papa. We have not read any more yet. I +hope we shall not forget this part, as we advance further. Pray papa, +what do you think is the best means of remembering what we read? + +_Mr. B._ The plan we adopt, in making it the subject of conversation, is +a very likely method to effect this desirable object; and, if you keep a +book, and take notes of the history as you proceed, you will still more +deeply impress it upon your memory. But we will talk upon this subject +some other day: it is now quite time for you to go to bed. + +CONVERSATION V. + + +MR. AND MRS BERNARD, EMILY, EDWARD, LOUISA, AND FERDINAND. + +(_A servent coming in with a parcel_.) + +_Louisa_. + +Ah! there is a parcel: I dare say it is from Charles. Do, pray give it +me, Mary:--I am sure I shall have a letter. He promised to write to me +the next opportunity. May I open it, mamma? + +_Mrs. B_. You may, Louisa. + +_Louisa_. Emily, be so good as to lend me your scissors; the string has +got into a hard knot:--I shall not have untied it this hour. I will just +give it a little snip and it will be off in a minute. + +_Mr. B_. How, Louisa! Have you so soon forgotten the applicaiton of the +story with which you were so much pleased a week ago? + +_Louisa_. Oh! I recollect: "Waste not--want not." But then, papa, it is +so tantalizing to know there is a letter for one, and not to be able to +get at it for such a long time; particularly when it comes from Charles, +for he does not write to me very often. Do pray let me cut it this once. +On any other occasion, I should have patience to untie the knot, I am +sure. + +_Mr. B_. We are all apt, Louisa, to think it more difficult to act with +propriety under the very circumstances in which we happen to be placed, +than we should do under others; but, if we would learn wisdom, and +acquire the esteem of the good, we must _always_ endeavour to do the +very best that circumstances will allow. By making this principle the +rule of our conduct on trifling occasions, we shall acquire, as it were, +the habit of correctness and propriety of conduct, which will be very +valuable to us in the more important actions of our lives. + +_Louisa_. Well, papa, I have been trying, all the time you have been +talking, to untie this string, and it really was not in so hard a knot +as I expected, for it is undone: and now I will endeavour to remember +you kind advice, and be more patient in the future. Oh! here is my +letter. What a long one it seems to be! And here is a short one for you, +mamma, with a little parcel for Sophy. + +_Mrs. B_. Well, my dear Louisa, I am almost as anxious as you are, to +hear the contents of the letter: but do not be in a hurry. Read it +slowly, and very distinctly. + +Louia promised to do her best, and began as follows: + +"MY DEAR LOUISA, + +"It is a long time since I wrote to you last, but I must not have you, +on that account, suppose I have forgotten you; for I really think more +of you now I am away, than I used to do when we were all at home +together. I am very happy in my new situation. Instead of finding a +severe master, as I sometimes feared might be the case, I seem to have +gained a second father in Mr. Lewis; and Mrs. Lewis is almost as +affectionate to me as my own dear mother. It shall be my constant +endeavour, by strict attention to my business, to prove myself grateful +for their kindness. I have my evenings completely to myself, which I +endeavour to employ profitably, according to my dear father's advice. I +am studying natural history, and, if it would afford you any amusement, +I should like to make my progress in that study, the subject of my +future letters. I shall not, however, begin that plan till I hear from +you, to know if it will be agreeable to you. + +"A few evenings ago, I paid a very pleasant visit to an old friend of +Mr. Lewis's, which will afford me ample materials for this letter. He is +what Mr. Lewis calls a _virtuoso_, which signifies, a person fond of +antique and natural curiosities. You will, therefore, suppose I was not +at a loss for amusement. In one cabinet was a number of stuffed birds +and beasts; amongst others, a little animal somewhat resembling a rat, +but rather smaller. It legs are short and slender; the fore-legs longer +than the hind ones. Its head is of a pointed form; the colour of its +body tawny, and variegated with large black spots, irregularly arranged; +and the belly is white, tinged with yellow. There appeared to me so +little that was uncommon in this animal, that I could not help asking +Dr. Sinclair, on what account he had given it a place among so many +curiosities. 'I value that little animal,' said he, 'as much as any in +my collection. It is the Leming, or Lapland Marmot, and is distinguished +from other quadrupeds, by habits peculiar to itself. It is only found in +the northern part of our continent, where immense numbers of these +little animals sometimes overspread large tracts of country, especially +in Lapland, Sweden, and Norway. Their appearance happens at uncertain +periods; but fortunately for the inhabitants of these countries, not +oftener than once or twice in twenty years. As the source whence they +originate in such astonishing numbers, is as yet unexplored by the +naturalist, it is no wonder that the ignorant Laplander should seriously +believe that they are rained from the clouds. Myriads of these animals +pour down from the mountains, and form an overwhelming troop, which +nothing can resist. The disposition of their march is generally in +lines, about three feet asunder, and exactly parallel. In this order +they advance with as much regularity as a well-disciplined army; and, it +is remarked, that their course is from the north-west or south-east. +They frequently cover the extent of a square mile, travelling in the +night. They always halt in the day, and in the evening resume their +march. No opposition can stop them; and, whatever way their course is +directed, neither fire not water can turn them out of their road. If a +lake or river intercept their progress, they will swim across, or perish +in the attempt; if a fire interrupt their course, they instantly plunge +into the flames; if a well, they dart down into it; if a hay-rick, they +eat through it; and, if a house stand in their way, they either attempt +to climb over it, or eat through it; but, if both be impracticable, they +will rather die with famine before it, than turn out of the way. If +thousands perish, thousands still supply their place, until the whole +column be destroyed. Wherever they pass, they annihilate every trace of +vegetation, and, when subsistence fails, are said to divide into two +different armies, which engage with the most deadly hostility, and +continue fighting and devouring each other, till they are all entirely +destroyed. Numbers of them are devoured by foxes, weasels, &c. which +follow them in their march, so that none are ever known to return from +their migrations." + +"I thanked Dr. Sinclair for his curious and entertraining account, with +which, I hope, my dear Louisa, you also have been amused. A very +beautiful, large, white cat, took possession of Dr. Sinclair's kneee, +the moment he seated himself in his elbow chair by the fire-side. It +licked his hand in a caressing manner, and seemed, by every means in its +power, to testify the greatest affection towards him. From the old +gentleman's kindness, in giving me so amusing an account of the Leming, +I was encouraged to enter into conversation with him upon the merits of +his cat. 'Some naturalists,' said I, 'have represented that animal as +insensible of kindness, and incapable of attachment; but I cannot help +thinking this is a great mistake. We have a cat, at houme, that is very +fond of me; and yours, Sir, seems much attached to you.' 'The cat is, on +many accounts, unjustly aspersed,' said he: 'excepting the dog, I know +of no animal that appears capable of stronger attachment. It is also +reproached with treachery and cruelty; but are not the artifices it +uses, the particular instincts which the all-wise Creator has given it, +conformable to the purposes for which it is designed? Being destined to +prey upon the mouse, a lively, active animal, possessing many means of +escape, artifice is absolutely necessary for the accomplishment of its +end. I can, however, say nothing in extenuation of its cruelty, in +sporting with the unfortunate victim that falls into its power, in +prolonging its tortures, and putting it to a lingering death. This, it +must be confessed, is not a very favourable trait in its character. +Notwithstanding all this, it certainly renders very essential services +to man, and merits, in return, his kindness and protection.' I admired +the beauty of Tom, for so Dr. Sinclair calls his favourite. 'His beauty +is not his most remarkable property,' said the Doctor: 'this cat was +once the cause of detecting a murderer.' I was astonished, as I doubt +not, you, Louisa, will be also, and requested he would relate to me the +particulars of so extraordinary a fact. This he kindly did, as follows: + +"Some time ago, when I was pursuing the duties of my profession, as a +physician, I was requested to enquire into the particulars of a murder, +that had been committed upon a woman in the city where I lived. In +consequence of this request, I went to the habitation of the deceased, +where I found her extended lifeless on the floor, and weltering in her +blood. This cat was mounted on the cornice of a cupboard, at the +further end of the apartment, where he seemed to have taken refuge. He +sat motionless, with his eyes fixed on the corpse, and his attitude and +looks expressing horror and affright. The following morning, he was +found precisely in the same position; and, when the room was filled with +officers of justice, neither the clattering of the soldier's arms, nor +the loud conversations of the company, could, in the least degree, +divert his attention. As soon, however, as the suspected persons were +brought in, his eyes glared with increased fury, his hair bristled, he +darted into the middle of the apartment, where he stopped for a moment +to gaze at them, and then retreated precipitately under the bed. The +countenances of the assassins were disconcerted, and they were, for the +first time during the whole course of the horrid business, abandoned by +their usual audacity. I felt much interested for poor puss, and, as no +other person laid claim to him, I secured him for myself; and Tom and I +have been the best friends imaginable, ever since.' + +"I felt my respect for Tom greatly increased by this story, the detail +of which has so completely filled my letter, that I have not space to +tell you of half the curiosities contained in Dr. Sinclair's cabinet. +One thing, however, I must find room to describe; this is, a piece of +cloth, which, judging merely from its outward appearance, I considered +still more unworthy than the little Leming, of a place among so many +rarities, and again ventured to express my surprise. 'Never allow +yourself to form such hasty conclusions, my dear boy,' said Dr. +Sinclair, taking my hand in the kindest manner: 'a rough exterior often +conceals real merit. This you will find to be the case in your future +commerce with the world, as well as in examining the cabinet of a +_virtuoso_. That piece of cloth, and this bit of paper,' said he, +opening one of the drawers and showing it to me, 'are made from a stone +called asbestos.' 'A stone!' said I, with astonishment: 'is that +possible, Sir?' 'It is very true, my dear,' replied he: 'this kind of +linen cloth was greatly esteemed by the ancients. It was considered as +precious as the richest pearls. The most remarkable property belonging +to it, is, its being incombustible; that is, it cannot be consumed by +fire. Among the Romans, napkins were made of it, which when soiled, +were thrown into the fire, and by this means much more completely +cleaned, than they could have been by washing. Its principal use was +for making shrouds, to wrap up the dead bodies of their kings, so that +their ashes might be preserved distinct from those of the wood composing +the funeral pile.' + +"I enquired where this very curious stone was found. He told me that +there were ten species of it, and that it was discovered in many of the +European mountains, particularly in those of Lapland, Sweden, and +Germany; as well as in Candia, an island of the Mediterranean; and in +China. + +"I enquired, whether it was used for any other purpose than the +manufacture of cloth and paper. To which Dr. Sinclair replied, that he +understood, the Chinese employed it as an ingredient in the formation of +their finest porcelain. + +"You may easily imagine, my dear Louisa, how much I enjoyed the +conversation of this kind and sensible man. I hope Mr. Lewis will allow +me to accompany him, the next time he pays him a visit. And now I must +beg of you to give my love to little Sophy, and tell her I have sent her +a work-bag and pin-cushion, and hope I shall hear she grows very notable +and industrious. Give my duty to my dear father and mother; and love to +Emily, Edward, and Ferdinand; and believe me, my dear Louisa, your +affectionate brother, + +"CHARLES BERNARD." + +_Mrs. B._ Very well, Louisa, you have done your brother's letter +justice, by the manner in which you have read it; and great amusement it +has afforded me, I assure you. + +_Emily_. I have been both amused and instructed by it. I never heard +of the Leming before; it is a most curious little animal. I am glad +Clarles is studying natural history, as, no doubt, he will meet with +many pretty anecdotes to relate to us. Is it not a pleasing science, +mamma? + +_Mrs. B._. It is, indeed, my dear. No study tends so greatly to +enlarge the mind. You already know something of botany, and have +admired the wisdom manifested in the formation of the minutest flower; +for + + "Not a tree, + A plant, a leaf, a blossom, but contains + A folio volume. + We may read, and read, + And read again, and still find something new; + Something to please, and something to instruct, + E'en in the nuisanceweed." + +A deeper research into the beauties of nature, will excite in you still +greater attentions and astonishment, and will, I am sure, fill you with +reverence towards the Divine Author of so many wonders. I hope Charles +will not merely relate to us the amusing anecdotes he meets with, but +enter scientifically upon the subject; as it is impossible to gain clear +ideas, without great method and regularity. + +_Louisa_. I hope, mamma, we shall not, in natural history, have long +lists of classes and orders to learn by heart, as we had when we began +botany; for I cannot say I think all those hard names at all +entertaining. + +_Mrs. B._ Perhaps not, my dear; but nothing that is valuable, can be +attained without difficulty. I would wish to smooth the path for you as +much as I can, but learning is "labour, call it what you will;" and +without strict attention, and industrious perseverance, you will never +attain perfection in any thing. The classes and orders in that division +of natural history, called the animal kingdom, are, however, by no means +difficult. There are, in botany, as you no doubt recollect, twenty-four +classes; in natural history, there are but six. + +"Will you be so kind as to repeat them to us, mamma?" said Louisa. + +_Mrs. B._ Willingly, my dear. The first is called Mammalia, and +consists of Quadrupeds and Whales; the second, Birds; third, Amphibia; +fourth, Fishes; fifth, Insects; and sixth, Worms. + +_Louisa_. That seems very easy. I think I could soon learn those six +classes. Are there many orders, mamma? + +_Mrs. B._ In the class Mammalia there are seven. But we must not talk +of them just at present, or our Roman history will be forgotten. + +_Edward_. Before we change the subject, will you be so good as to tell +me, mamma, what you meant by saying, that division of natural history +called the animal kingdom. Are there, then, many divisions? + +_Mrs. B._ There are three, my dear. The first consisting of Minerals; +the second, of Vegetables; and the third, of Animals. + +_Mr. B._ Well, my dears, now do not forget what you have been already +told, and another day we will talk further on this subject: for the +present, let us attend to our history. We concluded with the death of +Ancus Martius. Who succeeded to the crown, Emily? + +_Emily._ Lucius Tarquinius Priscus. He was the son of a merchant of +Corinth, which is a large city of Greece. This man had acquired a +considerable fortune by trade, which was inherited by his son Lucumo, +who took the name of Tarquinius, from Tarquinia, a city of Hetruria, +where his wife Tanaquil lived, previous to her marriage. His birth being +considered contemptible by the nobles of this place, he, by his wife's +persuasions, settled in Rome, where merit alone gave distinction. + +_Mr. B._ What remarkable circumstance is said to have occurred to him +on his way thither, Ferdinand? + +_Ferdinand._ As he approached the city gate, historians say, that an +eagle, stooping from above, took off his hat, and, after flying round +his chariot for some time, with a great noise, put it on again. From +this circumstance, his wife, Tanaquil, foretold that he would one day +wear the crown. + +_Mr. B._ By what means, Edward, did he obtain this object of his +ambition? + +_Edward._ The two sons of Ancus were left under his guardianship. He +was a skillful politician, and found out the secret of making himself a +great favourite with the people. He used every artifice to set aside +these children, and to get himself elected in their stead. For this +purpose, he contrived to have them sent out of the city, and made a long +speech, mentioning his friendship for the people, the fortune he had +spent among them, together with his knowledge of their government, and +concluded by offering himself for their king. The people, with one +consent, elected him as their sovereign. + +_Mr. B._ Pray, Louisa, can you tell me how he has governed the city he +had so unjustly obtained? + +_Louisa._ Much more properly, papa, than might have been expected. The +first thing he did, was to add a hundred members to the senate: so that +it now consisted of three hundred. He was disposed to live in peace, but +the Latins and Sabines rose up against him: however, after a severe +conflict, he subdued them both. Peace being restored, he employed his +subjects in many useful works for the improvement of the city, that they +might not grow corrupted through indolence. + +_Mr. B._ This conduct in Tarquinius, shows great wisdom; for it is very +true, that "idleness is the root of all evil." In states it foments +discord, and in private life occasions misery and ruin. Well, +Ferdinand, what have you to tell us? + +_Ferdinand_. There is a curious account of Attius Nævius, a famous +augur, (this signifies a kind of prophet, who could foretel future +events.) The Romans used to place great confidence in these people, and +Tarquinius, wishing to try this man's skill, sent for him; and, when he +was come into the midst of the Forum, said to him: "diviner, canst thou +discover, by thy art, whether what I am thinking of can be done or not? +Go and consult thy birds." The augur did as he was ordered, and +returning quickly, answered: "Yes, Tarquin, my art tells me, that what +thou art thinking of may be done." Upon which Tarquin pulled a razor +from under his robe, took a flint in his hand, and replied, +contemptuously, "I was thinking, whether it were possible to cut this +flint with this razor. I have taken thee in thy own craft. The +introducing of the gods into thy decisions, is all cheat and imposture. +If thou canst do what is impossible, do." At these words the people +burst out a laughing, but the augur did not appear at all moved. He, on +the contrary, addressed himself to the king, with a bold air, and said, +"Put the razor to the flint and try. I readily submit to any +punishment, if what you thought of be not done." Upon trial, the razor +passed through with the greatest ease. The people then gave a loud +shout, and the king's contempt for the augur was turned into admiration. +This is a very extraordinary account: but do you think it is true, papa. + +_Mr. B._ I do not, my dear. I think it is a mere fabulous invention; +and this was the opinion of the great orator, Tully, who was himself an +augur. Writing to his brother, he says, "Look with contempt on the +razor and flint of the famous Attius. When we reason as philosophers, +we ought to lay no stress upon fables." How did Tarquin close his long +life, Emily? + +_Emily_. In the eightieth year of his age, and thirty-seventh of his +reign, he was murdered by the artifices of the sons of Ancus Martius. +They hired two young men, who dressed themselves like peasants, with +hatchets on their shoulders, as if they had been wood-cutters. They +approached the kings palace, pretending to have a quarrel about some +goats, and made so much disturbance, that they were carried before the +king. At first they began to rail at each other, until a lictor +interfered, and ordered them to speak by turns. Then one of them began +to tell his story, and, whilst the king was listening to it very +attentively, the other, lifting up his hatchet, gave him a deep wound on +his head, and instantly ran out of doors with his companion. Whilst some +of the company hastened to assist the king, others pursued the ruffians +and seized them. On being put to the torture, they confessed by whom +they had been employed. + +_Ferdinand_. Pray, papa, what is the meaning of being put to the +torture? + +_Mr. B._ It is a most barbarous punishment, my dear. The unhappy +victim is extended upon a wheel, which stretches his limbs till they are +all dislocated; and it has frequently happened, that many poor wretches, +unable to endure such severe torments, have made confessions of crimes +they never committed, in order to free themselves from the severity of +their sufferings. How did queen Tansquil set upon the death of her +husband? + +_Edward_. She did not lose her presence of mind, but cleared the +palace of the crowd, shutting herself up in the apartment of the +expiring king, with only Servius Tullius, who was her son-in-law, his +wife, and Octivia his mother. She pressed him to ascend the throne, +that Tarquin's two grandsons might be safe under his protection: then, +opening the window which looked into the street, she bade the people be +under no concern, since the wound was not deep, and the king, having +only been stunned by the sudden blow, was come to himself. She concluded +by expressing her hopes, that they would see him again very shortly; +declaring that it was their sovereign's orders, that, till that time, +they should obey Servius Tullius. This stratagem succeeded. The report +that the king would soon be well again, so terrified the sons of Ancus, +that they went, of their own accord, into banishment. + +_Mr. B._ How did Servius proceed, Louisa? + +_Louisa_. The second day after the murder of Tarquin, he took his seat +on the throne, in the royal robes, and heard causes; some of which he +decided himself, and, in difficult cases, pretended he would consult the +king. He continued this management some time, and by his prudent +conduct gained the love of the people. At last, when he thought his +authority well established, the death of Tarquin was announced, as a +thing which had just happened, and Servius continued in power, without +being positively chosen as king. That is all we have read at present, +papa. I hope we shall hear something more about Servius, as I do not +think I clearly understand who he was, except that he was son-in-law to +Tarquinius. _Mr. B._ Oh, no doubt, all those matters will be cleared up +to your satisfaction to-morrow, Louisa. For the present we must +separate, my dears, as our conversation has been already prolonged +beyond your usual hour. Good night, my dear children. + + +CONVERSATION VI. + + +MR. AND MRS. BERNARD, EMILY, EDWARD LOUISA, FERDINAND, AND SOPHY, +_standing by her mother._ + +_Sophy_. Mamma, may I stay with you a little time to-night. I am not +sleepy at all. + +_Mrs. B._ You may stay till seven o'clock, my dear, but not later, as we +must not break through good rules. When you are as old as Ferdinand, you +shall sit with us as long as he does; but, whilst you are such a little +girl, after tea, bed is quite the best place for you. + +"Early to bed, and early to rise, Is the way to grow healthy, wealthy, +and wise." + +_Sophy_. Well, mamma, I want very much to grow a clever girl, like +Emily; but how can going to bed early make me wise? If I might sit up +with you and papa, you would teach me a great many things, as you do +Fedinand; but when I am in bed, I go to sleep and learn nothing. + +_Mrs. B._ But your sleep does you a vast deal of good, my little dear. +It makes you rosy and healthy, and will strengthen your memory too; so +that when you are older, you will learn your lessons much better, and +quicker, than those little unfortunate children who have been spoiled by +the silly indulgence of their nurses. + +These arguments, together with an assurance that cheerful obedience +would make her dear father and mother very happy, soon convinced little +Sophy that going to bed early was very proper, though she could not +think it very agreeable; and promising to comply, the moment Mary made +her appearance, she added: "has papa ever heard grandpapa's verses, +which you taught me to-day? If he has not, I will repeat them to him; +for it is not seven o'clock yet. Is it, mamma?" + +_Mrs. B._ No my dear; there will be quite time enough for you to repeat +them to your papa. But first tell him on what occasion they were +written. + +_Sophy._ A good while ago, grand-papa had two nice little pigs, and they +one day found some paint in a pot, and thinking it something nice, they +ate it. There is something in paint that is poison, papa: pray, what is +it? + +Mr. Bernard told Sophy that it was white-lead. + +_Sophy._ Oh, well then, the white-lead that was in the paint, poisoned +these poor little pigs; and grand-papa had them buried in the orchard, +and wrote the verses, which mamma taught me, over their grave. Now do +you understand, papa? May I begin? + +Mr. Bernard assured Sophy he understood her explanation perfectly well, +and was all attention, waiting for her recital. + +Upon which she immediately repeated as follows: + +"Ye passing pigs, I pray draw nigh, And hear a dreadful tragedy, Of two +fine pigs, as e'er were seen Grazing or grunting on the green: Till on a +time, and near this spot, We chanc'd to spy a painter's pot, White-lead +and oil it did contain, By which we pretty pigs were slain; Therefore a +warning let us be To future pigs, who this may see, With life prolong'd, +and free from pains, To be content with wash and grains." + +_Mr. B._ Very well, Sophy. Here is a lesson for little boys and girls, +as well as pigs. Tell me what you have learnt from those lines. + + +_Sophy._ I do not know, papa: I learnt the verses, and that is all. + +_Mr. B._ But that should not be all. There is a very useful lesson +hidden in that story. Try and find it out. + +_Ferdinand._ I think I know it. + +_Louisa._ And so do I. + +_Mr. B._ And so will Sophy, when she has considered a little. + +_Sophy._ Aye: yes. I think I have found it out, papa. You mean, that +the tale should teach little boys and girls never to taste things they +do not understand, for fear they should be killed, like the poor little +pigs. + +_Mr. B._ That is exactly what I meant, Sophy; and, I assure you, I have +heard of children who have been actually poisoned, by incautiously +eating berries, and other things, which they had met with in their +country walks. You, my dear, have a sad habit of putting leaves and +flowers into your mouth. I hope you will endeavour to break yourself of +it, as, I assure you, it is very dangerous. + +_Sophy._ I am going to try to leave it off, papa; for I made my tongue +very sore yesterday, by biting the stalk of a flower, that Ferdinand and +Louisa called lords and ladies. + +_Mr. B._ That is an _arum_, the juice of which is, I believe, extremely +poisonous; so pray never put it in your mouth again. + +_Sophy._ No, papa, I do not intend it, for it hurt me very much, I +assure you. Oh! here comes Mary. Good night, dear papa and mamma. Good +night all. + +Little Sophy, after receiving many affectionate caresses, retired in +high good-humour, and soon forgot her sorrow for the little pigs, in a +gentle slumber. + +_Louisa._ Mamma, I remember the names of the six classes in natural +history, which you were so kind as to teach me yesterday. Mammalia, +Birds, Amphibia, Fishes, Insects, and Worms; and now pray tell me the +seven orders, for I do like to know a little of every thing. + +_Mr. B._ But that, Louisa, is exactly what I do not wish you to do. I +would greatly prefer that your information should be rather +circumscribed, provided it were correct, than that you should have a +slight smattering of many things, and a thorough knowledge of none. You +may impose upon the illiterate by this superficial information; but the +really wise will soon discover your ignorance, and despise you for +affecting a degree of knowledge you do not possess. Besides which, a +mere smattering of learning is very apt to fill the mind with self- +conceit and vanity, faults from which the really well-informed are +always free. My favourite poet, Pope, says:-- + + "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing; + Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. + Here shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, + But drinking largely sobers us again." + +Therefore, my dear, unless you intend to enter decidedly upon the study, +I shall certainly beg your mother not to say any thing further on the +subject. + +_Louisa_. Oh, then, I assure you, papa, I will enter decidedly upon it; +as it seems to me as if it would be extremely entertaining. + +_Mr. B_. I think, my dear, you have formed your opinion somewhat +prematurely, as you certainly, at present, know very little of the +matter. This, however, with the young and ignorant, is no uncommon +error. I hope your good opinion of the study, will continue when you are +better acquainted with it. There are seven orders belonging to the first +class, as your mother has already informed you; the names of which are, +Primates, Bruta, Ferae, Glires, Picora, Beluae, and Cete. + +_Louisa_. Those words are harder than the classics. I doubt I shall find +them more difficult to remember: however, I must write them down, and +try my best. Please not to tell me any more at present, papa. I believe +I shall succeed best, if I do not puzzle myself by attempting too much +at a time. + +"I am quite of your opinion there," replied her father. + +_Louisa_. Natural history shall be one of my pleasures. I will not call +it a lesson; but will study it when I am most in the fit for it. And +will you be so kind as to help me, papa? + +"Willingly, my dear, provided your fit comes on when I am at liberty," +replied Mr. Bernard. + +Louisa thanked her father, adding, "and now I must tell you, that I am +quite satisfied with the account I have read of Servius Tullius. I +perfectly understand now, who he is." + +_Ferdinand_. Louisa, before we begin our history, I wish to ask papa a +question about those verses which he repeated a few minutes ago. There +is one line, which I do not think I understand. Please to say them over +once more, papa. + +_Mr. B._ + + "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing; + Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. + Here shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, + But drinking largely sobers us again." + +_Ferdinand_. The first line is plain enough; but I do not at all know +the meaning of Pierian, which is in the second. + +_Mr. B_. It is an epithet applied to the Muses and poetical +compositions, and takes its name from Pieria, a small tract of country +in Thessaly, in Macedonia, where stands a mountain called Pierius, on +which the nine Muses are said to have been born. + +_Ferdinand_. Are not all those places in Greece? + +_Mr. B._ Yes, my dear. + +_Louisa_. Who were the Muses, pray, papa? + +_Mr. B._ They were supposed to be goddesses, presiding over poetry, +music, dancing, and all the liberal arts, and were said to be daughters +of Jupiter. + +_Emily_. Those stores of the heathen gods and goddesses are all +fabulous, I suppose, papa! + +_Mr. B._ Yes, my dear, completely so. Do you understand the second +line now, Ferdinand? + +_Ferdinand_. Yes. Pierian spring is another term for learning or +knowledge. That makes the sense of all the lines perfectly clear, I +think. + +_Mr. B_ Louisa may then give us an account of Servius Tullius, who, you +will recollect, was the sixth king of Rome. + +_Louisa_. He was the son of Ocrisia, a very beautiful and virtuous +lady, who was taken prisoner by the Romans when they sacked Corniculum. + +_Mr. B._ Can you tell us, Edward, where Corniculum is situated? + +_Edward_. Yes, papa, it is a town of Latium, a country of Italy, near +the river Tiber. This territory has now changed its name, and is called +Campagna di Roma. + +_Ferdinand_. May we look in the map for it, papa? + +_Mr. B._ By all means, my dear. I believe no plan of learning +geography is so effectual as that of finding, on the map, the different +towns that you meet with in the course of your reading. The names of +many places have been so completely changed latterly, that you will find +it useful to compare together the ancient and modern maps. By this +means, both names will become familiar to you. But now for the place in +question. + +_Ferdinand_. I have found it, papa. It is bounded on the north by the +patrimony of St. Peter, on the east by Abruzzo, on the south by Terra di +Lavora, and on the west by the Mediterranean. + +_Mr. B_ I see you are looking on the ancient map, Emily. How is it +bounded there? + +_Emily_. On the north by Etruria, on the east by Salbina, on the south +by Samnium, and on the west by the Mediterranean Sea. + +_Mr. B._ Very well, Now, Louisa, you may go on with your account of +Servius. + +_Louisa_. I told you that his mother's name was Ocrisia, papa; but who +his father was, seems uncertain. Tarquin made a present of his fair +captive, to queen Tanaquil, who grew extremely attached to her, and +restored her to freedom. But as her son was born whilst she was in a +state of servitude, he took the name of Servius. + +_Mr. B._ Is anything extraordinary related respecting the infancy of +this child, Ferdinand? + +_Ferdinand._ Yes, papa; it is declared that a sudden flame, in the form +of a crown, surrounded his head one day whilst he was asleep, which was +supposed to foretel his future greatness. + +_Mr. B._ Who had the charge of his education, Emily? + +_Emily._ The king and queen, who loved him as tenderly as if he had been +their son. It was, however, chiefly to his own wise, noble, and amiable +conduct, that he owed his elevation to the throne. He distinguished +himself by his military achievements, even before he attained the age of +manhood; and his reputation increasing as he advanced in years, and +being joined to pleasing manners, manly eloquence, and uncommon +abilities in council, gained him the esteem and affection of the people. +He was twice married: first to a lady of illustrious birth, and, after +her death, to Tarquinia, daughter of the king and queen. Upon this +alliance, the king placed in him the most unbounded confidence, +entrusting him with the management, both of his public and private +affairs; of all which he acquitted himself so well, that the people were +perfectly indifferent whether they were governed by him or Tarquin. This +accounts for his having so easily gained possession of the throne, on +the death of his father-in-law. + +_Mr. B._ In what manner did Servius conduct himself, after his accession +to the throne, Edward? + +_Edward._ He determined, as much as possible, to make the peaceful Numa +his pattern, and directed his attention to the improvement of the civil +government of Rome. Although his accession to the throne had been +unattended by tumult, the beginning of his reign was disturbed by the +dissatisfaction of the nobles. They were not pleased at his ascending +the throne without being duly elected to it, and determined, if +possible, to oblige him to lay aside his royalty. In this emergency, +Servius endeavoured to gain over the people to his cause, that he might +employ their power against the patricians. For this purpose, he +assembled them together, and, with a grandson of Tarquin in each hand, +addressed them in a very moving speech, declared himself the protector +of the poor children, and the guardian of their helpless infancy, and +implored the assistance of the people in this arduous undertaking; at +the same time, promising them freedom from slavery. + +_Mr. B_ Provided Servius performed this promise, this plan was +calculated to interest the people greatly in his behalf. "Well, papa," +said Louisa, "he did keep his promise: for, a few days afterwards, he +commanded all those people who were too poor to pay their debts, to send +him an account of them; and then, causing counting-houses to be opened +in the Roman Forum, he there paid all with his own money. Besides which, +he made a much more equal distribution of the lands, and, by every means +in his power, endeavoured to gain the affection of the lower orders of +the people. Now, Edward, will you please to give papa some account of +the war in which Servius was obliged to engage against the Veientes; for +I like to speak about peaceable times best." + +_Edward._ So do I, indeed, Louisa. I do not like war at all, I assure +you, nor did Servius Tullius. His inclination led him much more to works +of peace and civil government, than to military exploits; yet he found +himself obliged to embark in a war. It proved a very long one too, but +brought much glory, both to the Roman people and to their king. The +Veientes, whom Tarquin had often subdued, refused now to recognize the +sovereignty of Rome, and treated with scorn some ambassadors sent from +thence, to claim their submission. "We entered," said they, "into no +treaty with the _son of a slave_, nor will we ever submit to Servius's +dominion. Tarquin is dead, and our obligations to be subject to the +Romans, are dead with him." + +_Mr. B._ Pray where did these haughty people reside, Edward? + +_Edward._ At Veii, papa, a powerful city of Etruria, about twelve miles +distant from Rome. + +_Mr. B._ Perfectly right. I imagine, the confidence of the Veientes +proceeded partly from the hopes they entertained of profiting by the +dissensions between the king and senate of Rome. Nothing weakens a state +so much as internal discord. The moral of the old man's bundle of +sticks, might be as properly applied to the larger communities of men, +as to his own little family. You all know the story to which I allude: +do you not? + +_Ferdinand._ I do. You know, I read it to you the other day, papa. + +_Emily._ But we do not; so, perhaps, papa, you will be so kind as to +tell is us. + +_Mr. B._ We will not interrupt our Roman history now; when you have +finished your account, Ferdinand shall relate the story to you. Now, +Edward, proceed. + +_Edward._ The Veientes prepared for war, and drew two other neighbouring +states, those of Caere and Tarquinia, into their party. But Servius, by +his courage and conduct, subdued the confederates, deprived them of +their lands, and transferred them to the new citizens of Rome, who had +no lands of their own. The success of Servius attached the people still +more to his interest, and he resolved to take advantage of their favour, +in order to render his title to the throne still more secure. He, +therefore, a second time assembled the citizens, and in a moving speech, +which drew tears from their eyes, complained of a design formed by the +patricians to take away his life, and bring back the sons of Ancus. In +the conclusion of his speech, he left the kingdom absolutely at their +disposal, and begged them to determine between him and his pupils on one +side, and their competitors on the other. Having finished his harangue, +he stepped down from the tribunal, and prepared to leave the assembly; +but they called to him to stay, and entreated him to be their king. +Accordingly, a day was appointed, and he was duly elected to the +sovereign power. The senate were not, however, reconciled to him, and +formed so dangerous a faction, that Servius was almost inclined to +renounce the dignity conferred upon him by the people; but imparting his +perplexities to Tanaquil, she disapproved of his intention, and +prevailed upon him to bind himself by an oath, never to resign the +kingdom. + +_Mr. B._ Tanaquil was, in many respects, a great woman. She rendered +herself illustrious by her virtues, as well as by her political +abilities. Private life is the sphere most calculated for the display of +female perfection, and here her excellence conspicuously shone. The +king, to immortalize her memory, hung up her distaff in the Temple of +Hercules. I hope my dear girls will endeavour to imitate the domestic +virtues of this excellent woman, rather than her ambitious temper. I do +not wish to see them heroines. + +_Emily._ I do not feel ambitious of any thing but my dear parents' +approbation. + +_Mr. B._This, affection and obedience, my Emily, will never fail to +obtain. But let us now hear what further befell Servius. If Edward is to +be the recorder of his warlike achievements, I believe we must again +call upon him. + +_Edward._ The Etrurians furnished him with an opportunity to increase +his glory. His victories over them obtained for him the honours of a +second triumph, and restored peace to his kingdom. Now, Emily, I again +resign the office of narrator to you. + +_Emily._ Servius employed this interval of rest, in enlarging and +adorning the city. He divided the Roman territory into tribes, the +citizens into six different classes, and these classes into centuries. A +tax was levied on each century, according to the class to which it +belonged; by which means, each individual contributed towards the +exigencies of the state, in exact proportion to the amount of his +property. He also increased the number of the citizens, by giving +liberty to the unfortunate captives taken in war; permitting them either +to return to their own countries, or continue at Rome, with the +enjoyment of all the privileges of free citizens. The senate were at +first offended at this regard shown to a people they considered so mean; +but the king addressed to them a very persuasive speech, which entirely +appeased their anger, and they passed his institution into a law, that +subsisted ever after. + +_Mr. B._ Another important regulation was, taking an estimate of the +population of the kingdom. It was performed every fifth year, +accompanied with sacrifices, and other religious rites, which were +called lustrations. This led to the computation of time amongst the +Romans, by _lustra_, or periods of five years. + +_Louisa._ The most unfortunate thing Servius did, was marrying his +daughters so unsuitably. His two wards, Lutius Tarquinius and Aruns, +were now old enough to be capable of disturbing his government. To +secure their fidelity, therefore, he determined to marry them to his two +daughters; and, without consulting their dispositions, gave his eldest +daughter, who was mild and gentle, to the eldest of his wards, who was +fierce and haughty; and married his youngest girl, who was of a most +ungovernable disposition, to Aruns, who was extremely amiable and +virtuous. It was not likely that either of these marriages would prove +happy ones. Tarquin's wife endeavoured, by every winning way of +sweetness and insinuation, to soften the haughty fierceness of her +husband's temper; whilst her sister was always urging the quiet, good- +natured Aruns, to the most wicked attempts, in order to reach the +throne. She loudly lamented her fate, in being tied to such an indolent, +stupid husband; and being very much like Tarquin she soon began to love +him a great deal better than her own husband, and, at last, proposed to +him that he should murder her father and sister, together with the +gentle Aruns, that they might ascend the throne together. What a +dreadfully wicked woman she must have been, papa. + +_Mr. B._ Dreadfully wicked, indeed, my dear. History presents us with +many very painful instances of the depravity of human nature. It is a +useful, but humiliating lesson. Proceed with your account, Louisa. + +_Louisa._ A very little time afterwards, this wicked woman contrived to +poison her amiable husband, whilst Tarquin got rid of his virtuous and +gentle wife by the same means; and they were then so insolent as to ask +the consent of the king and queen to their marriage. Servius and +Tarquinia, though they did not give it, were silent. This disgraceful +marriage was celebrated shortly after, and was followed by intrigues +against the king. Tarquin and Tullia had not patience to wait till the +death of the good old monarch, which would have put them into quiet +possession of the crown, but endeavoured, by threats, to make him give +up his authority. When Tarquin found this plan was not likely to +succeed, he acted a new part. By the most affectionate behaviour, he +entirely regained the king's favour, and tranquillity seemed re- +established in the royal family. But it was not long before the cruel +Tullia put an end to it. She reproached her husband with cowardice, +insensibility, and stupidity. He was moved by these reproaches; gained a +number of young patricians over to his party; and contrived a stratagem, +which succeeded from the bold manner in which it was executed. I think +Ferdinand can explain it to you, papa. + +_Mr. B._ Well, my boy, let us hear what it was. + +_Ferdinand._ He clothed himself in the royal robes, sent some of +servants before, and, followed by a great number of his party, who had +swords under their robes, he crossed the Forum, and came to the gate of +the temple, where the senators used to assemble. He then sent messengers +to them all, commanding them, in king Tarquin's name, to attend +immediately, and seated himself on the throne. All the senators +assembled in haste; many concluded Servius was dead, and were afraid to +disobey the orders of the new king. When they were all collected +together, Tarquin began to rail against his father-in-law. In the midst +of his speech, Servius appeared; and, being enraged by the insolence of +Tarquin, rashly endeavoured to pull him from the throne. This raised a +loud shout, and occasioned great confusion, but nobody attempted to part +them. Tarquin, who was the strongest, seized the poor old man by the +waist, and harrying him through the temple, threw him down from the top +of the steps into the Forum. The old king, grievously hurt, and covered +with blood, raised himself up with much difficulty: but all his friends +had deserted him: scarcely a creature was found to lead him to his +palace, which he was not allowed to reach. Tullia advised her husband to +complete the bloody work he had begun; upon which he dispatched some of +his servants to overtake the venerable monarch, and deprive him of his +small remains of life. On her return home, the body of her murdered +father, still panting, lay in the street she had to pass. This inhuman +woman was not at all shocked at the horrid sight, but commanded the +charioteer to drive over it. The man, who had more feeling than the +cruel daughter, obeyed with reluctance; and, it is said, that not only +the chariot wheels, but even the clothes of the wicked Tullia, were +stained with her parent's blood. + +_Edward._ Such horror was excited by these atrocities, and especially by +the barbarity of Tullia, that the street in which the transaction took +place, the day on which it was perpetrated, and the very name of the +parricide, were branded with perpetual infamy. + +_Louisa._ I am glad that shocking account is finished: it really makes +one feel very uncomfortable. Servius was so good a man, too, I quite +pity him. + +_Mr. B._ His wicked daughter is an object of still greater pity. The +sufferings of the good old king, we may hope, ended with this life; +whilst, we have every reason to believe, that the punishment of the +unnatural Tullia, would extend to the countless ages of eternity. +Servius was, indeed, an excellent prince: he subdued the enemies of +Rome, and was always desirous to avoid making new ones. He did not +conquer merely for the sake of glory, but for the public good. He made +Rome more formidable by twenty years' peace, than his predecessors had +done by many victories. He introduced order into the militia and public +revenues, extended the power of the senate, and yet kept its authority +within proper bounds. He was beloved by the people, and even his ancient +enemies, the patricians, esteemed his virtues; so that, if he could have +preserved the affection of his own family, he might have been said not +to have had a single enemy. He was, at the time of his death, seventy- +four years of age; of which he had reigned forty-four years. Tarquin +refused him the honours of a funeral, lest it might occasion a commotion +among the people. Tarquinia conveyed the body of her husband, privately, +by night, to his tomb, and she herself died on the following evening; +but whether from grief, or the wickedness of Tullia, is uncertain. + +_Mrs. B._ This is, indeed, my dear children, a mournful account; but it +contains a very important lesson to all who are subject to the same +criminal enormities. At the commencement of her dreadful career, Tullia +would, perhaps, have recoiled with horror, from the hideous picture of +her own crimes. She might have remonstrated, as did Hazael to the +prophet: "What! is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great +thing?" The example of Tullia, forcibly teaches the progressive nature +and dreadful consequences of sin. It points out to us the danger of +entering upon a course of criminal indulgence, by showing the sad +extremes into which those are likely to be hurried, who resign +themselves slaves to ambition and to vice. Listen not, my children, to +the syren song of worldly pleasure; pursue not the gilded pageants of +time. Instead of amusing yourselces with these phantoms of a moment, +build up your happiness on the durable foundations of innocence and +virtue. Let us now turn from the dismal picture we have been +contemplating, though without forgetting the important lesson it +inculcates. Ferdinand, my dear, tell us your promised story of the old +mand and his bundle of sticks. + +_Ferdinand_. An old man had several sons, who used very often to +quarrel with each other. Their father exerted his authority, and tried +every means in his power, in order to reconcile them, but all to no +purpose. At length he assembled his family together, and ordered a +short bundle of sticks be brought, which he commanded them, one by one, +to endeavour to break. They each tried, with all their might, but in +vain. The sticks were firmly bound together, and no force they could +employ, could break them. After this, the old man untied the bundle, +and gave a single stick to each of his sons, bidding them try to break +_that_, which they did with the greatest ease. The father then said: +"Behold, my dear children, the power of unity. If you would keep +yourselves strictly joined together by the bond of friendship, it would +not be in the power of any one to hurt you; but when once the ties of +brotherly love are dissolved, you are liable to be injured by the attack +of every enemy." + +_Mr. B_. It is an excellent fable, and I hope, my beloved children, you +will all attend to the lesson it conveys. To see you united by the +tender hands of affection, is one of the first wishes of our hearts for +you. + +"What a very pleasing manner of conveying instruction, is a fable," said +Edward. + +"It is, my love," replied his father: "the ancients were aware of this, +and made great use of fables in their instruction of the young: +'Whatever is conceived by the mind, must enter by the senses; and moral +truth is never so easily understood, as when it is exemplified by +reference to some parallel case in nature.' The various instincts of +brute creatures, are particularly useful for this purpose. Moral good +and evil are, through their means, represented in a way which even +children can understand." + +"Can you tell me, papa, what was the first origin of fables?" enquired +Ferdinand. + +"It is not very clear, my dear," replied Mr. Bernard, "but it is +probable they are nearly as ancient as the history of mankind; or, at +least, that there never was a time, of which we have any knowledge, when +they were no familiar. We first read of them as being used in Palestine +and Egypt, from whence they were even borrowed by the Greeks and Romans. +The earliest specimen of fables with which I am acquainted, occurs in +the book of Judges, where Jotham signifies to the people, the temper and +fate of a usurper, under the similitude of the trees going forth to +choose them a king." [Footnote: See Jones, on the Origin and Use of +Fables.] + +_Ferdinand._ It is in the ninth chapter of Judges. I read it this +morning, but did not quite understand the intention of it. + +_ Mr. B._ I will endeavour to explain it to you then, my love. You will +recollect, that the fruitful trees, when applied to, all declined taking +upon them the sovereign authority; but the bramble offers his services, +and gets into power. The moral of which, as applicable to the person of +Abimelech, was this:--that the desire of reigning does not prevail in +wise and good men, who should feed the people, and protect them under +the shadow of their authority; but chiefly in men of rough minds and +bloody intentions, who harass the people, and are, at last, consumed +with them, in the unjust exercise of their power. + +"The parables made use of by our Saviour, are, I think, very much in the +form of fables," said Emily. + +_Mrs. B._ They are, my love. They were delivered in this manner, for +the sake of some moral, which would either be obscure without an +illustration, or offensive to the bearers, if it were delivered in plain +terms. + +_Louisa._ Nathan's reproof to king David, when he took away the wife of +Uriah the Hittite, is very beautiful. I read it a little time ago, in +the twelfth chapter of the second book of Samuel. He made use of a fable +to gain his attention. + +_Mrs. B._ He did, my love. By putting a case in which David seemed to +have no immediate concern, he interested his affections; and when his +indignation was raised against a fictitious person, the prophet turned +it upon himself, with that striking application: "Thou art the man." +Then there was no retracting: he had already condemned himself, in the +judgement he had passed upon the cruel offender in the parable. + +Mrs. Bernard now took out her watch, and expressed her surprise upon +finding it near ten o'clock. + +Their father immediately requested them to prepare to retire, adding: +"To-morrow will be Sunday: I hope you will be in my study by seven +o'clock, that we may begin early the important duties of that sacred +day." + +_Ferdinand._ I have been often surprised to find, that many people lie +longer in bed on Sundays, then on the other mornings of the week. This +must be wrong. They can rise six days a week to work, and not one to +worship. [Footnote: This was an observation, _verbatim_, of the same +little boy before mentioned.] + +_Mr. B._ Your remark is a just one, my dear boy; let us, in our own +family, endeavour to set a different example. Good night, my children. + + +CONVERSATION VII. + + +The little party assembled this evening, as usual; but, being Sunday, +the conversation was less general, though not less cheerful than at +other times. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard possessed the happy art of presenting +religious instruction to their children, under the most pleasing form; +consequently, they did not dread the approach of the sabbath, as a day +when all pleasure must be excluded. On the contrary, it was hailed with +gladness: the business of the week was entirely laid aside, and their +minds were naturally turned, in thankfulness, towards the Divine Being +to whom they owed so much. The gracious God was always presented to +their view, surrounded by his benign attributes. They were instructed to +regard him, not only as the author of their existence, but as the source +whence every comfort flowed. They were taught to consider him, not a +severe judge, delighting in punishment, but a merciful father, who +withheld not even his only Son, but freely gave him up to die for +sinners, that they might be pardoned through his blood. They were +instructed, fully to appreciate that mercy, which delighteth not in the +death of a sinner, but would rather that he should be converted and +live. The beautiful prayers in the Liturgy, were explained to them in a +manner suitable to their different capacities; consequently, they were +not repeated by rote, as is too frequently the case, where the same +attention is not paid. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard took unremitted pains with +their children, and felt themselves amply rewarded by their conduct; for +though, like other human beings, they were fallible, and, consequently, +often did wrong, yet religious principle being the ground-work of their +characters, conviction instantly followed the commission of a fault, and +sorrow and repentance succeeded. + +I hope, my dear young readers, you feel some degree of interest in my +little family, and some of you, perhaps, may wish to be as good and as +happy as they were: let me then most earnestly and affectionately +entreat you, to "remember your Creator in the days of your youth: while +the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when you shall say, I +have no pleasure in them." + +After Ferdinand had repeated the text, and Emily, Edward, and Louisa, +had given an abstract of the sermon they had heard in the morning, +Louisa added: "I should have liked the sermon much better, mamma, if the +preacher had not been such a disagreeable-looking man." + +"I should not have expected to have heard my little Louisa make so +foolish and improper a remark," replied Mrs. Bernard: "it reminds me of +an anecdote which I read a short time ago. I will relate it to you, as +I think I cannot give you a more suitable reproof. A person once +excusing his non-attendance at public worship, by pleading the +disagreeable appearance and manner of the minister, 'Let us look,' said +the good Bishop of Alet, to whom this man was addressing himself, 'more +at our Saviour, and less at the instrument. Elijah was as well +nourished, when the bread from heaven was brought to him by a raven, as +Ishmael, when the spring of water was revealed to him by an angel.'" + +"Thank you, my dear mamma," said Louisa: "it is a beautiful anecdote, +and I shall endeavour not to merit another reproof upon that subject." + +Mrs. Bernard then produced a letter, which she had received from a +friend the day before, and desired Emily to read it aloud, as it +contained an account which she thought would both interest and instruct +the children. "Read it slowly, my dear girl," continued she, "endeavour +to avoid hesitation, and lay your emphasis properly. This is a very +material point. Lindley Murray, in his excellent Introduction to the +English Reader, says: 'It is one of the most decisive trials of a true +and just taste, and must arise from feeling delicately ourselves, and +from judging accurately of what is fittest to strike the feelings of +other.'" + +Emily promised to attend to her mother's instructions, and taking the +letter, read the following extract. + +"In the autumn of the year 1808, eight passengers, consisting of seven +gentlemen and one lady, embarked on board an American vessel, bound from +the port of Cronstadt to America, purposing to touch at England, in +company with a brig and another vessel. They had scarcely proceeded +fifty leagues, when a violent storm arose. The night was unusually +dark, and the ship ungovernable. In this extremity, the brig suddenly +dashed against them with such force, that every plank seemed rent +asunder, and an instant after, they found themselves transfixed upon a +rock. It was now near five o'clock in the morning. They repeatedly +fired guns of distress, hung out signals, and at daybreak beheld, with +grateful delight, a large boat, rowed by two stout females, approaching +their ship. The captain insisted that his eight passengers should go on +board the boat, whilst he and the seamen hastened to attempt the +preservation of their luggage and stores. He entreated the women to +land their charge in safety, and then return, as expeditiously as +possible, for himself and his six sailors; as the ship leaked very fast, +and though the storm was abated, they were surrounded by such a cluster +of rocks, as to deprive them of all hope of getting off in safety. The +two heroines steered their charge to the island of Stameo, a barren +rock, which they reached in about an hour. They conducted them to the +best hut on the island. It was built of mud, and was the habitation of +two sisters, and several other females, who resided under the same roof. +They produced milk, dried fish, and rye bread, for the refreshment of +their wearied and exhausted guests. They prepared a room, with beds, +for the gentlemen; and one of the boat-women gave up her own to the +lady, sleeping herself upon the oven. Hospitality, affectionate +civility, and tender solicitude for their comfort, accompanied every +action, and occupied every thought. + +"In vain they sought to gain the ship a second time: the swell was so +great, and the surf so strong, that no boat could venture--no vessel +dared approach. Meanwhile, the generous crew were agitated by a +thousand fears. In vain they waited for the wished-for boat: no answer +was returned to their signals of distress--no pity shown for their +perilous state. + +"Distracted by this delay, the captain ordered them to man the jolly- +boat, and arming himself and sailors with swords and pistols: 'My lads,' +said he, 'we will instantly seek our friends, and if the merciless +barbarians have robbed and murdered them, their lives shall pay the just +forfeit of their treachery.' + +"The sailors instantly prepared to obey their commander. They struggled +successfully against the roaring billows, and, benumbed with horror and +despair, at length reached the shore. Here they wandered from one +wretched hovel to another, but no human voice broke upon their ear. At +length they espied a solitary cow, and, mute with apprehension, sword in +hand, they hastened to the cot near which she was trying to graze. With +a trembling hand and beating heart, the captain lifted up the latch, +and, on opening the door, imagine his joy on beholding his happy +shipmates safe. His tongue denied him utterance--tears gushed +spontaneously to his eyes: with eager grasp he pressed his lost +companions to his heart, and in the rapture of that moment, all his +former sufferings were forgotten. The hospitable board was filled +again, and every guest received a cordial welcome. + +"Eleven days elapsed before the ship was again fit to put to sea. When +the hour of departure arrived, a mutual interest animated their breasts, +and gratitude broke forth in thanks, from every tongue. They begged +their kind hostesses to name the sum that would pay, as far as money +could, their offices of Christian charity. Fourteen persons, for eleven +days, to board, wash, and lodge, had nearly exhausted all their winter +store. After a short consultation, the elder sister returned, with a +large Bible, translated into the Fins language, and given to the +islanders by Gustavus Adolphus, and said: 'We are not aware that we have +acted beyond what every Christian is in duty bound to do.' Then, +opening the Bible, 'in this,' continued she, 'we learn that duty which +all our Christian brethren practise. Distress, which claims, must +always find relief while it can be obtained; if, however, it will make +you more happy, that we should take some reward, provided two rubles +(four shillings and eight-pence) be not thought too much, that sum will +amply repay us.' Then, taking the lady's hand, 'we regret,' continued +she, 'that we can never be assured of what would rejoice our hearts, and +reconcile us most to your departure, which is, that you all reach your +native land in safety, and find your parents and relations well. Then +wishing them prosperous gales, they bid farewell, and parted, probably +for ever. + +"Stameo is situated in the Gulph of Finland. It is one of the small +islands nearly opposite Fredericstadt, and distant about twenty verstes +[Footnote: A Verste is about 3½ English miles.]. It is a barren rock of +granite, with scarcely any herbage, and only a few fir-trees here and +there. It is about three miles in extent, and has ten or twelve mud +huts, containing, men, women, and children, fifty souls. They were +formerly under the dominion of Sweden; but at the defeat of Charles the +Twelfth, by Peter the Great, became subject to the Russian government. +They are of the Lutheran church, though there is no place of public +worship on the island. Both men and women are expert at fishing, on +which they chiefly depend for subsistence; and keep up a sort of traffic +with Fredericstadt, exchanging fish, both dried, fresh, and pickled, for +rye, flax, wood, and vegetables. Their labour exceeds belief: they rise +at four o'clock, and instantly begin the labour of the day. The hut is +first cleaned and put in order: they then commence spinning, in which +they particularly excel, and continue working till eight at night. Their +breakfast is dispensed by the hostess of the hut, to all the family, who +eat it standing. It consists of black bread, fish dried or pickled, and +goat milk, when it is to be had: when that cannot be procured, they are +satisfied with pure water. Sixteen persons out of the fifty lived in +this hut, and were in possession of more comforts than might have been +expected. + +"They are very net in their houses, persons, and dress. The bedding is +excellent: the blankets and linen are fine, warm, and white; the pillow- +cases and sheets have fine, open-worked, deep borders. Their dress is +becoming and modest, uniting warmth with convenience. The married women +hide their hair under a close, embroidered, silk cap, with a plain lace +border over their cheeks. The single women exhibit their beautiful +flaxen tresses, which they plat round their heads, or let it hang at +full length, with a knot of ribbon at the end, to confine the braid. + +"Their government is truly patriarchal. The mistress of the house is +called mamma, and when advice is wanted, they assemble five or seven of +the elders, who confer on the subject, and decide, in a few minutes, on +the best means of acting. Such was the case when they determined on the +sum to be paid by the strangers. + +"As soon as their youth attain the age of fourteen years, they go every +Sunday in boats to Fredericstadt, to learn their creed and catechism, +and to hear the word of God: they are also taught to read and write. In +winter, the clergyman crosses twice to them, to administer the sacrament +to the sick and aged. + +"One Christian charity unites their minds. They are faithful to their +promises, honest, temperate, sober, and benevolent. They fear God, and +honour their king. In a word, they are virtuous, innocent, and happy; +and when told of vices, they seem to consider it as we do fairy tales:-- +stories to listen to, but not believe. + +"Two cows supply them all with milk; a few pigs with animal food: when +these fail, fish and water are the substitutes." + +_Edward_. It is a very interesting account, my dear mother; but I did +not think that any people in the world were so innocent--so free from +vice. The Scriptures tell us, that the heart of man is deceitful above +all things, and desperately wicked; but this happy little community +seems quite an exception to the general rule. + +"No doubt, their hearts, like those of the rest of mankind, are prone to +evil," replied Mrs. Bernard, "but being, from their insulated situation, +in a great measure removed from the commerce of men, and, consequently, +from many temptations by which the inhabitants of large societies are +beset, and making the sacred Scriptures the guide of their conduct, they +appear happily preserved from the commission of those crimes, to which +many individuals, more exposed to the temptations of the world, so +fatally fall victims. Nothing is so destructive to the morals of the +young, as indiscriminate intercourse with the world. In the bosom of +your own family, you are most likely to be secured from a temptation to +false pleasures; and there do I earnestly hope, my dear children, you +will ever find your chief enjoyment; since no felicity is so pure and +innocent, as that which results from an affectionate attachment to your +domestic circle." + +_Emily_. We should be ungrateful, indeed, were we not happy at home; as +I am sure it is the constant endeavour of both you and our dear father, +to make us so. + +"We are amply repaid for all our efforts," said her tender mother, "when +the smile of good-humour enlivens your countenances, and beams delight +around our little circle. + +"Now, Edward, read us the extract you have made from Sir Matthew Hale's +Contemplation upon Contentment," said Mr. Bernard. + +"Indeed, my dear father," replied he, "I am sorry to say I have not +finished it. I put it off on Monday and Tuesday, when I had, certainly, +plenty of time, thinking I should readily accomplish it before the end +of the week; but in consequence of this delay, and several unexpected +circumstances intervening, to employ my time, it is wtill unfinished. I +hope you will excuse this neglect, and by next Sunday I will endeavour +to be prepared." + +_Mr. B_. I am sorry to see in you a sad habit of procrastination, and +want of punctuality. I assure you, my dear boy, that, to a man of +business, such a habit is more ruinous; and if not subdued in youth, +will surely grow the more confirmed by age, and blight his fairest +prospects. + +Edward felt the justice of his father's reproof, and, bending his eyes +upon the ground, remained silent, forming a resolution to amend, and +hoping that he might never again incur his father's displeasure for a +similar fault. + +Mr. Bernard perceived, by his countenance, what was passing in his mind, +and affectionately taking his hand, confirmed his good resolve by a +smile of approbation. Then, taking up Cecil's Remains, that lay upon the +table, he opened it, and read aloud the following passage: + +"Method, as Mrs. More says, is the very hinge of business, and there is +no method without punctuality. Punctuality is important, because it +subserves the peace and good-temper of a family. The want of it not only +infringes on necessary duty, but sometimes excludes this duty. +Punctuality is important, as it gains time: it is like packing things in +a box; a good packer will get in as much again as a bad one. The +calmness of mind which it produces, is another advantage of punctuality. +A disorderly man is always in a hurry: he has no time to speak with you, +because he is going elsewhere; and, when he gets there, he is too late +for his business, or he must hurry away to another before he can finish +it. It was a wise maxim of the Duke of Newcastle:--'I do one thing at a +time.' Punctuality gives weight to character. Such a man has made an +appointment;--then I know he will keep it. And this generates +punctuality in you; for, like other virtues, it propagates itself. +Servants and children must be punctual, where their leader is so. +Appointments, indeed, become debts.--I owe you punctuality, if I have +made an appointment with you; and have no right to throw away your time, +if I do my own." + +When Mr. Bernard had finished reading, Edward thanked his father, and +promised to endeavour to correct his bad habit. His parents united in +encouraging him to make a steady effort, assuring him that they felt +convinced that it would be attended with success, and recommending him +to commit to memory the preceding admirable paragraph. His father then +changed the subject, by enquiring whether Louisa had any thing new to +repeat to them before they separated. She answered in the affirmative, +and immediately recited the following lines from Miss Carter's Poems. + +"Grant me, great God, a heart to thee inclin'd, Increase my faith, and +rectify my mind; Teach me by times to tread thy sacred ways, And to thy +service consecrate my days. Still, as through life's perplexing maze I +stray, Be thou the guiding star to mark my way; Conduct the steps of my +unguarded youth, And point their motions to the paths of truth. Protect +me by thy providential care, And warm my soul to shun the tempter's +snare. Through all the shifting scenes of varied life, In calms of ease, +or ruffling storms of grief; Through each event of this inconstant +state, Preserve my temper equal and sedate. Give me a mind that nobly +can despise The low designs, and little arts of vice, Be my religion +such, as taught by thee, Alike from pride and superstition free. Inform +my judgment, regulate my will, My reason strengthen, and my passions +still. To gain thy favour, be my first great end, And to that scope may +every action tend. Amidst the pleasures of a prosperous state, Whose +fluttering chains the untutor'd heart elate, May I reflect to whom those +gifts I owe, And bless the bounteous hand from whence they flow. Or, if +as adverse fortune be my share, Let not its terrors tempt me to despair; +But, fix'd on thee, a steady faith maintain, And own all good, which thy +decrees ordain; On thy unfailing providence depend, The best protector, +and the surest friend. Thus on life's stage may I my part sustain, And +at my exit, thy applauses gain. When the pale herald summons me away, +Support me in that dread catastrophe; In that last conflict guard me +from alarms, And take my soul, aspiring, to thy arms." + +_Mrs. B._ The lines are excellent, Louisa, and you have repeated them +as if you understood their meaning. What is the "pale herald," alluded +to in the last verse? + +_Louisa_. Is it not Death, mamma? + +_Mrs. B._ It is, my dear. The concluding lines contain a supplication +for fortitude and serenity at that awful hour, which every individual +must one day meet. + +_Emily_. There is something very solemn in the contemplation of death, +my dear mother. It is an idea that often casts a gloom over my gayest +hours. + +_Mrs. B._ A firm reliance on the power and mercy of God, with an humble +confidence in the redeeming love of Christ, will banish that fearful +dread which might otherwise obscure the closing scene. Even in that +extremity, the true Christian has nothing to fear; he may say, with the +Psalmist, "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I +will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they +comfort me." + +At this moment the clock struck eight, at which hour the servants always +joined the family, that they might have the advantage of hearing their +excellent master read such portions of the sacred Scriptures as were +best adapted to their capacities and circumstances; after which, the +solemn duties of the day were closed with prayer and thanksgiving, and +the children retired to their pillows, serene and happy. + + +CONVERSATION VIII + + +A very fine autumnal morning induced Mrs. Bernard to excuse the children +some of their lessons, that they might avail themselves of the +opportunity it afforded of enjoying a country walk, at this delightful +season of the year. She considered every object in nature, as a book +from which, with a careful guide, much useful instruction might be +derived; and she never neglected any opportunity of enlarging their +minds, and elevating their thoughts, by directing their attention from +the various beauties of creation, to the kind and omnipotent Father, who +has graciously prepared for his dependent children, so many unmerited +blessings. + +"Pray, mamma, what has become of all the swallows we saw flying about a +few weeks ago?" enquired Ferdinand: "I cannot see one now. I was very +much amused, when we last walked this way, in watching their rapid +motions: other birds are here as usual, but I do not observe a single +swallow." + +Mrs. Bernard took him by the hand, saying, "You have, my dear boy, +put a question to me, which I shall not be able to answer to your +satisfaction. It is a subject that has puzzled naturalists more than +many others, and opinions upon it are still very various. Some suppose +that they migrate into milder climates, whilst others conclude, they +conceal themselves in some warm spot, and lie dormant, as is the case +with many animals during the severity of the winter months. In +confirmation of this latter opinion, some few have been discovered in +sandbanks, apparently dead, but, upon being laid before the fire, have +recovered their former vigour. If, however, the vast multitudes that +visit us, universally adopted this mode of concealment, they would be, +no doubt, frequently discovered in their winter retreats, which is not +the case. Mr. White, of Selborne, a man of great observation, +particularly directed his attention to this point, but was not able to +decide it to his own satisfaction. I think he seems of opinion, that the +majority of them migrate, and that some few of late broods, which have +not attained sufficient strength to join the travellers, conceal +themselves as before mentioned, reviving upon the return of spring." + +_Ferdinand_. They seem to be curious birds: will you be so kind, mamma, +as to tell us some particulars respecting them? Pray, are not martins +very similar in their habits to swallows? + +_Mrs. B._ They belong to the same order, called _hirundines_. There are +four kinds of British _hirundines_:--the house-martin, the swallow, the +swift, and the bank-martin, which have each habits peculiar to +themselves. The swallow is the first that makes its appearance in +spring; generally about the middle of April. It frequently builds in +chimneys, five or six feet from the top, and prefers those stacks where +there is a constant fire; no doubt, for the sake of the warmth. It does +not select the immediate shaft where there is a fire, but prefers one +adjoining the kitchen, and disregards the smoke by which it is almost +continually enveloped. The nest of the swallow, like that of the house- +martin, consists of a shell, composed of dirt or mud, mixed with short +pieces of straw to strengthen it. The shape is, however, somewhat +different: it is lined with fine grass and feathers, which are collected +by the little architects as they float in the air. Having constructed +their dwelling, the hen lays from four to six white eggs, dotted with +red specks, and brings out her first brood about the last week in June. +I have been frequently amused in watching the progressive method by +which the young ones are introduced into life: they first emerge from +their place of concealment with difficulty, and frequently I have found +a young one in the parlour, which had fallen down the chimney in its +first attempt to leave the next. For a day or two, the old ones feed +them on the chimney-top, after which, they conduct them to the dead +bough of some tree near at hand, where they continue attending them with +the greatest assiduity. In a few days after this, the young brood is +enabled to fly, but it is some time longer before the little creatures +can take their own food; until which time, they are fed by the parent +birds, with the most affectionate solicitude. As soon as they are +disengaged from their necessary attendance on their first brood, they +betake themselves to the business of rearing a second, which they bring +out towards the end of August. This little bird is an instructive +pattern of unwearied industry and affection; for, from morning till +night, whilst their young ones require support, they spend the whole day +in their service. Their food consists of flies, gnats, and a small +species of beetle, and they drink as they fly along, sipping the surface +of the water. They settle, occasionally, on the ground, to pick up +gravel, which is necessary to grind and digest the food of all birds. +[Footnote: for the preceding and following account, see White's Natural +History of Selberne.] + +_Ferdinand_. Pray mamma, how can we distinguish a swallow from the other +species of _hirundines_? I think that is the name by which you call +them. + +"By the length and forkedness of their tails," returned Mrs. Bernard: +"they are much more nimble, too, than the other species." + +_Louisa_. Do they always build in chimneys, pray, mamma? + +_Mrs. B._ Although the shaft of a chimney is the place of which they +usually make choice for this purpose, they sometimes vary their plan. +In Sir Ashton Lever's Museum, was the nest of a swallow built on the +wings and body of an owl, which happened, by accident, to hang dead and +dry from the rafter of a barn; and another in a large shell, which was, +the following year, suspended in the same place. You have, no doubt, my +dear children, all observed vast flocks of swallows assemble together on +the roofs of houses; they chirp, and chatter, and seem very busy, +preparing for their ensuing migration, and consulting, as it were, upon +the plan most proper to be adopted on this occasion. I have often +wished, at such times, that I could understand their language. There is +seldom one of these birds to be seen after the middle of October; but to +what regions they fly, we do not exactly know; though I read, in Dr. +Russel's account of Aleppo, that numbers of these birds visit that +country towards the end of February, when they build as in Europe, and, +having hatched their young, disappear about the end of July. They are +also said to be by no means uncommon North America. Sir Charles Wager +and Captain Wright, saw vast flocks of them at sea, when on their +passage from one country another. White, in a pretty little poem, which +he calls "The Naturalist's Summer Evening Walk," addresses them as +follows: + +"Amusive birds! say where your hid retreat, When the frost rages, and +the tempests beat; Whence your return, by such nice instinct led, When +spring, soft season, lifts her bloomy head? Such baffled searches mock +man's prying pride, The God of nature is your secret guide." + +Professor Kahn, in his travels into America, relates an interesting +anecdote, of a pair of swallows which built their nest in a stable +belonging to a lady of his acquaintance. The female laid her eggs, and +was about to brood them: some days elapsed, and the people saw the +female still sitting on the eggs, but the male, flying about the nest, +and sometimes settling on a nail, was herd to utter a very plaintive +note, which betrayed his uneasiness. On a nearer examination the female +was found dead on the nest, and, on her being removed, the male took his +seat upon the eggs; but after remaining upon them about two hours, he +went out, and returned in the afternoon, bringing with him another +female, which sat upon the nest, and afterwards fed the young ones till +they were able to provide for themselves, with as much assiduity and +kindness as their natural parent could have done. + +The children were all much interested in the account which their mother +had given them, and united in requesting some information respecting the +other species of _hirundines_. This, Mrs. Bernard most willingly gave +them, as follows: + +"The house-martin, my dears, usually appears a few days later than the +swallow. For some time after their arrival, they play and sport about, +without any preparation for constructing their nests, which they do not +attempt to build till about the middle of May. At this season, if the +weather be fine, they begin seriously to think of providing a mansion +for their little family. This bird usually builds against a +perpendicular wall, without any projection to support the fabric; it is, +therefore, very necessary that the first foundation should be firmly +fixed. For this purpose, the prudent little architect is careful not to +advance in her work too rapidly. By building only in the morning, and +dedicating the remainder of the day to food and amusement, she gives it +sufficient time to dry and harden, seldom building more than half an +inch in a day." + +_Ferdinand_. Mamma, I have seen workmen, when they build mud walls, +raise but a little at a time, and then leave off: very likely it was +their observation of the martin's plan, which first taught them this +prudent caution. + +_Mrs. B._ Very probably, my dear. We might learn many a useful lesson +from the sagacity and careful economy of animals, were we not above +attending to such humble instructors. + +_Ferdinand_. Yes, mamma; the shepherd, in one of Gay's Fables, which I +learned the other day, gained almost all his wisdom from his observation +of animals. You know, he says to the philosopher:---- + +"The cheerful labours of the bee, Awake my soul to industry, Who can +observe the careful ant, And not provide for future want? My dog, (the +trustiest of his kind,) With gratitude inflames my mind; I mark his +true, his faithful way, And in my service, copy Tray--In constancy and +nuptial love, I learn my duty from the dove. The hen, who from the +chilly air, With pious wing protects her care, And every fowl that flies +at large, instruct me in a parent's charge. + + Thus every object in creation; + Can furnish hints to contemplation; + And from the most minute and mean, + A virtuous mind can morals glean." + +_Mrs. B._ Very true, my dear: and I am pleased to find you have +materials at hand to support your opinion. + +_Ferdinand_. But I have interrupted you, mamma, in your account. Pray +go on, for I am very much interested in it, and want to know in how many +days the careful little laborers complete their house. + +_Mrs. B._ In about ten or twelve days the mansion is finished; strong, +compact, warm, and perfectly fitted for all the purposes for which it +was intended; but very often, after this industrious little bird has +finished the shell of its nest, the house-sparrow seizes it as its own, +turning out the rightful master, and lining it after its own manner. + +_Ferdinand_. Poor little bird! how I should pity him, to be deprived +of his house after having constructed it with so much labour. I should +think, such strong nests would last more than one season, mamma? + +_Mrs. B._ And so they do, my dear. Martins will continue to breed for +several years together in the same nest, when it happens to be well +sheltered, and secure from the injuries of the weather. The hen lays +from four to six white eggs; and, like the swallow, as soon as the young +are able to shift for themselves, the old ones turn their thoughts to +the business of rearing a second brood. About the beginning of October, +they retire in vast flocks together. + +_Louisa_. How are house-martins distinguished from the others, pray, +mamma?? + +_Mrs. B._ By having their legs covered with feathers quite down to their +toes. They are no songsters, but twitter in their nests, in a pretty, +inward, soft manner. + +_Louisa_. Now, pray mamma, give us some account of the swift. + +_Mrs. B._ Most willingly, my dear Louisa. This is the largest of the +British _hirundines_, and makes its appearance much later in the season +than the others I have mentioned; being seldom seen before the last week +in April, or the first week in May. It is by no means so skilful an +architect as the two species I have already noticed. Making no crust or +shell to its nest, it forms it of dry grass and features, very rudely +put together, and constructing it in some dark corner of a castle, +tower, or steeple; this species cannot, therefore, be so narrowly +watched as the others, which build more openly. They are almost +constantly on the wing, never settling, either on the ground, on the +roofs of houses, or in trees, as is the case with the other species. The +female lays only two eggs, which are milk-white, long, and peaked at the +small end. It is a very lively bird, rising early and retiring to rest +late, and is observed, in the height of summer, to be on the wing +sixteen hours a day. Like the martin, they are no songsters, having only +one harsh, screaming note, which, however, I cannot consider +disagreeable. It is never heard but in the most lovely summer weather, +and, consequently, the sound occasions in my mind a pleasing association +of ideas, which I like to indulge. If by any accident they settle upon +the ground, they find great difficulty in rising, on account of the +shortness of their legs and the length of their wings: neither can they +walk conveniently, they only crawl along. + +_Louisa_. They seem, in many respects different in their habits from the +other species you have mentioned, mamma: how may we distinguish them by +their outward appearance? + +_Mrs. B_. The peculiar formation of the foot plainly discriminates them, +for it is so disposed, as to carry all its four toes forward; which +clearly accounts for the difficulty it finds in walking. As they arrive +later, so they retire sooner than the others, being seldom seen after +the middle of August. Are you not tired, my children, with my long +account of these birds? + +"Oh no, dear mamma: pray tell us something about sand-martins too," +exclaimed each of the children; "we shall then be able to distinguish +each of the four species of British _hirundines_." + +Mrs. Bernard assured them, she would willingly comply with their +request, as far as she was able to do it: "but," added she, "it is +difficult to gain full and exact information respecting the lives and +habits of these little birds, which are extremely wild by nature, +disclaiming all domestic attachments, and haunting heaths and commons, +far from the resorts of man. They are very fond of water, and are never +known to abound but near vast pools or rivers. They form their nests in +a manner totally different from the varieties I have mentioned; boring a +round hole in the sand, in a serpenting direction, and about two feet +deep. At the further end of this burrow, they form their rude nest; +consisting of fine grass and feathers, laid together with very little +art. It is wonderful to observe what arduous undertakings perseverance +will accomplish. One would suppose it almost impossible that this +feeble bird, with its soft bill and tender claws, should be able to bore +a stubborn sand-bank, without injury. Sand-martins are much smaller +than any other species of _hirundines_, and also differ from them in +colour, being what is termed mouse-colour, instead of black. They fly +also in a peculiar manner, by jerks, somewhat resembling a butterfly. +They are by no means so common as the other species; for there are few +towns or large villages that do not abound with house-martins; few +churches, towers, or steeples, but what are haunted by swifts; scarcely +a cottage chimney that has not its swallow; whilst the bank-martins, +scattered here and there, live a sequestered life, in sand-hills and in +the banks of rivers." + +_Ferdinand_. Do they sing, mamma? + +_Mrs. B._ No, my dear; they are particularly mute, only making a little +harsh noise when any person approaches their nest. They lay from four +to six white eggs, and breed twice in the season. + +_Louisa_. Have you any thing more to tell us on this amusing subject, +my dear mother? + +_Mrs. B._ No, my dear: I believe I have now told you most of the +important particulars respecting these curious little birds. But I have +an account in my pocket-book, which I extracted from a book I was +reading last week--"Bingley's Animal Biography:" I will read that to +you, if you please. It is respecting a foreign species of _hirundines_, +called the esculent martin. + +The children all united in begging to hear this account; upon which Mrs. +Bernard took it from her pocket, and read the following extract: + +"The esculent martin is said to less in size than the wren. The bill is +thick; the upper parts of the body brown, and the under parts white. The +tail is forked, and each feather is tipped with white. The legs are +brown. + +"The nest of this bird is excessively curious, and composed of such +materials, that it is not only eatable, but is considered one of the +greatest dainties that the Asiatic epicures possess. It generally weighs +about half an ounce, and is, in shape, like half a lemon; or, as some +say, like a saucer with one side flatted, which adheres to the rock. The +texture is somewhat like isinglass, or rather more like fine gum-dragon; +and the several layers of the matter it is composed of, are very +apparent; being fabricated from repeated parcels of a soft slimy +substance, in the same manner as the common martins form theirs of mud. +Authors differ much as to the materials of which it is composed: some +suppose it to consist of sea-worms, of the mollusca kind; others, of a +kind of cuttle-fish, or a glutinous sea-plast called agal-agal. It has +also been supposed, that the swallows rob other birds of their eggs, +and, after breaking the shells, apply the white of them to that purpose. + +"The best sorts of nests, which are perfectly free from dirt, are +dissolved in broths, in order to thicken them, and are said to give them +an exquisite flavour. They are soaked in water to soften, then pulled to +pices, and, after being mixed with ginseng, are put into the body of a +fowl. The whole is then stewed in a pot, with a sufficient quantity of +water, and left on the coals all night. The following morning it is +ready to be eaten." + +"Pray, mamma, what is _ginseng?_ I never heard of it before," said +Louisa. + +_Mrs. B._ It is the root of a small plant, growing in China, Tartary, +and likewise in some parts of North America, particularly Canada and +Pennsylvania, from whence considerable quantities have lately been +brought over here. Amongst the Chinese, it is esteemed a medicine of +extraordinary value. + +"A medicine! mamma," exclaimed Louisa; "I thought you said they put it +into the stuffing of their fowl!" + +"And so they do, my dear," returned Mrs. Bernard, "it is by no means of +an unpleasant taste, as it has a mucilaginous sweetness, approaching to +that of liquorice, accompanied with an agreeable bitterness, and a +slight aromatic warmth, with little or no smell." + +_Louisa._ Thank you mamma. Now will you go on with your account? + +_Mrs. B._ "The nests of which I was speaking, are found in vast numbers +in many islands of the Eastern Archipelago. The best kind sell in China, +from one thousand to fifteen hundred dollars the picle, a weight of +about twenty-five pounds. The black and dirty ones only sell for twenty +dollars. + +"Sir George Staunton, in his Embassy to China, says: 'These nests are a +considerable object of traffic among the Javanese, and many are employed +in it from their infancy. The birds having spent near two months in +preparing their nests, usually lay two eggs, which are hatched in about +fifteen days. When the young birds become fledged, it is thought time to +seize upon their nests, which is done regularly three times a year, and +is effected by means of ladders of bamboo and reeds, by which the people +descend into the caverns; but when these are very deep, rope-ladders are +preferred. This operation is attended with much danger, and several lose +their lives in the attempt. The inhabitants of the mountains generally +employed in it, begin always by sacrificing a buffalo; a custom which is +constantly observed by the Javanese, on the eve of every extraordinary +undertaking. They also pronounce some prayers, anoint themselves with +sweet-scented oils, and smoke the entrance of the cavern with gum- +benjamin. Near some of these caverns, a tutular goddess is worshipped, +whose priest burns incense, and lays his protecting hand on every person +intending to descend. A flambeau is carefully prepared at the same time, +with a gum which exudes from a tree growing in the vicinity, and is not +easily extinguished by fixed air, or subterraneous vapours.'" + +The children were delighted with this account, and thanked their mother +for the amusement and instructions she had kindly afforded them. They +each determined, before the following spring, to provide themselves with +a book, for the purpose of keeping a diary, and noticing the different +objects that might engage their attention. They had been so much +interested by their mother's conversation, that the beauties of the +surrounding scenery had almost passed unnoticed. She now directed their +attention to the fine open country that lay behind them. A beautiful +little copse they were just entering, quite charmed Emily, who was a +great admirer of rural scenery. "The autumnal tints add to the riches of +the foliage, and improve our present prospect, my dear mother," said +she, "but make us fear that a very few weeks will deprive us of our +pleasure." + +"That is very true, Emily," added Louisa, "but we shall have new +pleasures in the place of those we love. Think of the delightful winter +evenings which we always so much enjoy. I really scarcely know what +season to prefer. Spring is very charming; in summer too we have many +pleasures; and, at this moment, I feel as if a morning walk in autumn +were the best of all." + +Mrs. Bernard smiled at the cheerful vivacity of Louisa, and recommended +to each of the children the cultivation of a contented disposition, +which knows how to derive comfort from circumstances in themselves +unpromising. + +At this moment they turned into a little glen, and were delighted with +the rural appearance of a cottage, shaded by lofty trees. They +approached its humble door, which stood open, and beheld a young +cottager, who was singing at her spinning-wheel, and too much engaged by +her occupation to notice their approach. Mrs. Bernard drew back a few +paces, and whispered to Emily the following lines, which this sweet +scene recalled to her mind: + +"E'en from the straw-roof'd cot, the note of joy Flows full and +frequent, as the village fair, Whose little wants the busy hour employ, +Chaunting some rural ditty, soothes her care. + +"Verse softens toil, however rude the sound; She feels no biting pang +the while she sings, Nor, as she turns the giddy wheel around, Revolves +the sad vicissitude of things." + +Then, again approaching the cottage, she accosted the young girl, who, +with a modest blush, arose from her wheel, and hastily pushing it on one +side, invited her unexpected visitors to take a seat, and rest +themselves after their walk. + +Pleased with their reception, Mrs. Bernard accepted her invitation; and, +upon entering into conversation with the young cottager, became more and +more interested in her favour. There was that modest reserve in her +manner, which is particularly pleasing in youth. + +In answer to Mrs. Bernard's questions, she informed her, that she was, +in very early life, left an orphan; having lost both her parents before +she had attained her third year. Since which time, she had been indebted +to an aged grandmother for protection and support. + +"We have both worked hard for our livelihood," said Mary, (for that was +the young cottager's name,) "and, thank Heaven, we have never wanted the +_necessaries_ of life; _more_ we have never wished for. My grandmother +weeds in the squire's garden hard by, and I earn a trifle at my wheel." + +Just as Mary had said these words, they perceived an old woman +approaching. She was leaning on the arm of a fine, healthy-looking +youth. A deeper blush, which at this moment dyed the cheeks of the +pretty young cottager, told a tale she would wittingly have concealed. + +"Is that your grandmother, Mary?" enquired Mrs. Bernard. + +_Mary_. Yes, Madam. + +_Mrs. B._ And the young man is your brother, I suppose? + +"No, Ma'am," said Mary, blushing still more deeply: "I have no brother. +That is Henry, our neighbour Farmer Wilson's son; and he is always very +kind to my grandmother." + +By this time, the old woman had reached the cottage door, and was +introduced by Mary to her new guests. The young man made a rustic bow +and retired. + +Mrs. Bernard soon entered into conversation with the old woman, and was +not less pleased with her, than she had before been with her grand- +daughter. There was an air of cheerful content in her countenance, which +bespoke that all was peace within, and prepossessed you more completely +in her favour than any words could have done. + +After some conversation, the old woman, turning to her grand-daughter, +said: "The ladies will perhaps eat an apple, Mary." + +Mary instantly left the cottage to gather some; and her grandmother took +that opportunity of passing upon the good girl, a well-merited eulogium. +"She is my greatest comfort, Madam," said she; "and I may truly say. +from the day she was born, she never willingly gave me a single moment's +uneasiness. To be sure, I do feel very anxious about her at times; +particularly since she and Henry have taken such a fancy to each other. +Times are so hard, Ma'am, and money so scarce, that I dare not consent +to their marrying. And yet it grieves me to the heart to keep them +asunder; for he is as good as she herself, and almost as dear to me." + +Mrs. Bernard enquired what means Henry had of supporting a wife, and +found he was the younger son of a small farmer in the neighbourhood, who +had a large family to establish in the world, and very little to +accomplish it with. + +Mary's return at this moment, with a basket of fresh-gathered apples, +interrupted the conversation; and the children, after regaling +themselves with her little offering, took their leave, and, accompanied +by their mother, bent their steps towards home. + +Ferdinand, who was a child of great observation, seldom proceeded far +without discovering some object to interest his attention. He had +remained a considerable distance behind his mother, exploring the hedges +for some new flower or insect that he had not before examined, when his +attention was attracted by a wasp, which, having seized a fly almost as +large as himself, was endeavouring to carry the prize to his nest; but +the wind blowing in a contrary direction, acted so forcibly upon the +extended wings of the fly, that the poor wasp, with all his efforts, +could make no progress. Ferdinand was anxious to see how he would act in +this difficulty, and called his mother and sisters, to smile with them +at the insect's perplexity. In a few minutes, the wasp alighted upon the +ground, and, with the most persevering industry, sawed off, with his +teeth, the two wings of the fly, and then flew away with the body, in +triump, to his young ones. + +"Well done, wasp," cried Ferdinand; "you do deserve that meal, however. +But is it not a wonderful instance of sagacity, mamma? Who would expect +it in an insect! Do you suppose it knew this by instinct?" + +"We are led to believe, my love," repied Mrs. Bernard, "that man alone +acts by the higher principle of reason; but I have met with many +instances of sagacity in the brute creation, which almost puzzle me, +when I ascribe their actions merely to instinct: + + Remembrance and reflection -- how allied! + What thin partitions sense from thought divide!" + +"It is astonishing how completely some animals will accommodate +themselves to circumstances. I will relate to you an anecdote which a +friend of mine told me a few weeks ago." + +"Pray do, dear mamma," said Ferdinand; "I quite enjoy an anecdote. I +suppose it is true?" + +"Yes, my dear, it is quite true," returned Mrs. Bernard: "the gentleman +of whom I spoke, has a little monkey, which frequently affords him much +amusement, by his sagacious, imitative tricks. As he was one day +sitting near the pen in which the monkey was confined, he observed him +making many ineffectual efforts to regain a nut which had rolled beyond +his reach. After several vain attempts, he took up a stick, and with +this he endeavoured to draw it towards him, but still without success. +Baffled, but not discouraged, he proceeded to select a second stick, +from a bundle that lay beside him, measuring it against the one he had +before found useless. With this longer twing he set himself again to +his task. This proving aslo insufficient, he adopted the same plan in +the selection of a third, and so on; always discarding the shortest, til +he found one that was long enough to touch the nut. But this increased +his difficulty, by rolling it to a still greater distance. Upon this he +sat himself in a contemplative posture for a few minutes, as if +considering what was best to be done in this emergency; when, hastily +turning over the whole bundle of sticks he made choice of one of +considerable length, and hooked at the end, by means of which he, with +much apparent delight, accrued his prize." + +"Well, that was a most capital contrivance," said Ferdinand; "and it +puts me in mind of a clever plan which I saw our own dog, Brush, adopt +yesterday. A bone that was thrown him, fell, like the monkey's nut, +beyond the reach of his chain, and, finding he could not obtain it by +means of his fore paws, he turned round, and throwing out his hinder +legs, readily reached it, and drew it to his kennel." + +Just as Ferdinand had concluded his story of Brush, his attention was +caught by a beautiful dragon-fly, which flitted above his head. He +hastily threw up his handkerchief, and took the insect prisoner. + +"It is rather late in the season, is it not, mamma, to see these insects +abroad?" said he, carefully unfolding his handkerchief, and discovering +his prize. "Do look what a beautiful crature. Do they sting, pray?" + +"No, my dear, but they bit sometimes, rather fiercely. Their bite, +however, is perfectly harmless, therefore you need not look so much +alarmed, Ferdinand. Examine its eyes. You perceive they are very large +and prominent, covering almost the whole head. As it seeks its food +flying in the air, this seems a very necessary provision. By means of +these eyes, it can see in almost every direction at the same instant. +Dragon-flies are extremely voracious, and are the greatest tyrants of +the insect tribe. When we think them idly and innocently flitting about +in the cheerful sunshine, they are, in fact, only hovering up and down +to seize their prey." + +"Which are the insects upon which they particularly feed, mamma?" +enquired Ferdinand. + +_Mrs. B There is none, how large soever, that they will not attack and +devour. The blue fly, the bee, the wasp, and the hornet, are their +constant prey; and even your favourite butterfly is often caught, and +treated without mercy. Their appetite seems to know no bounds; and they +have been seen to devour three times their own size, in the space of a +single hour. + +"Oh, the greedy creatures; I cannot forgive them for destroying the +pretty butterflies," said Ferdinand: "to wasps and hornets they are +perfectly welcome. Are they produced from eggs, like other insects, +pray, mamma?" + +"Yes, my dear: the female deposits her eggs in the water, where they +remain some time, apparently without life or motion. The form they first +assume, is that of a worm with six legs, much resembling the dragon-fly +in its winged state, the wings being as yet concealed within a sheath +peculiar to this animal." + +"What do they feed upon in this state, pray, mamma?" enquired Louisa. + +"Upon the soft mud and glutinous earthy substances that are found at the +bottom," replied her mother. + +"Pray, mamma, how long do they continue in their reptile state?" said +Emily. + +"For a whole year, my dear," returned her mother. "When they parepare to +change to their flying state, they move out of the water to a dry place; +such as into grass, to pieces of wood, stone, or any thing else they may +meet with. There they firmly fix their sharp claws, and, for a short +time, continue quite immovable. It has been observed, that the skin +first opens on the head and back, and out of this aperture they exhibit +their real head and eyes, and at length their six legs; whilst the +hollow and empty skin remains firmly fixed in its place. After this the +creature creeps forward by degrees; drawing, first its wings, and then +its body, out of the skin; it then sits at rest for some time. The +wings, which were moist and folded together, now begin to expand. The +body is likewise insensibly extended, until all the limbs have attained +their proper size. The insect cannot at first make use of its new wings, +and is, therefore, obliged to remain stationary until its limbs are +dried by the air. It soon, however, begins to enter upon a more noble +life than it had before led at the bottom of the brook; and from +creeping slowly, and living accidentally, it now wings the air, adorning +the fields with beauty, and expanding the most lively colours to the +sun." + +"Well, my pretty fly," said Ferdinand, "you have afforded me much +amusement, and now I will release you from your captivity." So saying, +he opened his handkerchief, and gave his prisoner liberty. + +In a few minutes they reached home, highly pleased with their morning's +ramble. + + +CONVERSATON IX. + + +Mr. Bernard having dined from home, the children had not, till they met +round the tea-table in the evening, an opportunity of telling him how +pleasantly they had spent their morning, and how much information their +mother had given them respecting the habits of the swallow tribes. "But +even now," added Edward, "I do not feel quite satisfied with regard to +their migration. Pray, papa, what is your opinion upon that subject?" + +_Mr. B._ I am decidedly of opinion that they do migrate, my dear. The +internal structure of such animals as continue during winter in a torpid +state, is peculiar: both the formation of the stomach, and the organs of +respiration, differ from such as are constantly in a state of activity +and vigour. Mr. John Hunter, one of our most celebrated English +anatomists, dissected several of these birds, but did not find them in +any respect different from the other tribes; from which he concludes the +accounts of their turpitude to be erroneous. Now, although I feel no +doubt myself, that such instances have occurred, yet I by no means +believe them to be frequent. Indeed, a particular friend of mine, a +skilful navigator, tells me he has not infrequently seen, when many +hundreds of miles distant from shore, large flights of these birds; and +that his ship has often afforded the poor little travellers a most +seasonable resting-place, in their toilsome journeys. + +"Oh, well papa," said Edward, "if a friend of yours has really seen +them, I can believe they do migrate; but I do not like to give up an +enquiry, till my mind is satisfied upon a subject." + +_Mr. B_. Within certain restrictions, your resolution is good, Edward; +but if you can believe nothing but what I, or some friend of mine, can +attest from our own observation, your incredulity will deprive you of +much valuable information. The great advantage of reading is, that it +enables us to gain instruction from the observation of others, on +subjects beyond the reach of our own experience. + +_Edward._ Very true, papa: but do you not think that many authors make +mistakes, and put things in books that are not facts? + +_Mr. B._ I do, my dear boy; and I always endeavor, when I meet with a +difficulty, to consult a variety of authors upon the same subject, and, +by this means, generally find I can discover the truth. + +"In future I will endeavour to do so too, papa," said Edward, "and will +not allow my doubts to prevent my improvement; for I am sure I am at +present very ignorant. Every day, and almost every hour, I meet with +something that I do not understand--something that surprises me. Papa, +you have read, and thought, and seen so much, I should think you would +never meet with any thing new." + +_Mr. B._ Indeed, my dear boy, you are much mistaken; I seldom read any +book without gaining from it some new idea, or some additional +information upon a subject with which I was before but imperfectly +acquainted. This very morning, for instance, in the book you saw me +reading at breakfast-time, I gained information that was entirely new to +me. + +_Louisa._ Oh, pray papa, was it upon a subject we could understand, if +you were to be so kind as to tell us? + +_Mr. B._ Yes, my dear girl, I think you might understand it, if you were +to pay attention to it; although it was a treatise upon comparative +anatomy I was reading. + +_Louisa._ Oh, then, papa, I am sure I could not understand any thing +about it. I never heard of such a subject before. + +_Mr. B._ Is that any proof that you will not understand it when you do +hear of it, Louisa? Do not allow yourself to be frightened by a hard +name, my dear; it is a proof of great weakness of mind. Edward, +endeavour to explain to your sister the meaning of the word anatomy. + +_Edward._ I believe, papa, it is the study of animal bodies; more +particularly, their internal organization. + +_Mr. B._ Yes and it also implies the dissecting, or cutting them to +pieces, to ascertain the structure and uses of their several parts. +Well, Louisa, what do you now think of anatomy? You have been much +pleased with your mother's description of the external structure and +habits of the swallow, this morning; now pay the same attention to my +account of the internal organization of the ostrich and cassowary, to- +night, and I think you will find it quite within the limits of your +comprehension. + +_Louisa._ I will, indeed, attend, papa; and I hope I shall understand +you. + +_Mr. B._ The more minutely, my dear children, you investigate the hidden +wonders of nature, the more firmly will you be convinced of the +unlimited power, as well as infinite mercy, of its Supreme Author. The +superintending providence of God, is as plainly manifested in the +provision made for the meanest reptile, as it is in the wonderful +formation of man. Each bird, beast, fish, and insect, is endowed with +powers best suited to its wants, and most calculated to promote its +enjoyment. In the cassowary of Java, a region of great fertility, the +colon is no more than one foot long; whilst in the ostrich, doomed to +seek its food in the wide and sandy deserts of the African continent, it +is _forty-five_ feet in length. + +"Pray, papa, what is the _colon?_? enquired Louisa. + +"It is one intestine," replied Mr. Bernard, which converts the food into +nourishment. You will now instantly perceive the wisdom of this +arrangement. In the cassowary, the food passes very quickly through +this short channel, by which means, but a very small portion of its +nutritive particles is taken into the system, and the bird is thereby +preserved from many diseases, to which it would be liable, if the whole +of the food it devoured were converted into fat and nourishment. The +ostrich, on the contrary, who can gain but a slender supply of food in +the desolate regions which it inhabits, is provided with a colon so +long, that every particle of nourishment is extracted, before it has +passed this channel; hence, the latter derives as much actual support +from her slender supply of food, as the former does from her abundance. + +_Louisa_. Thank you, papa. I understand what you have told us, quite +well, and think it a very curious and a very wise contrivance. + +_Mr. B._ Now then, tell me, in your turn, Louisa, how history has gone +on since we last met. + +_Louisa_. But, papa, we have not yet concluded the account of our walk. +Had we not better finish one subject first? + +Mr. Bernard agreed to the propriety of Louisa's remark, and she entered +with great animation upon the description of the beautiful little +cottage, the pretty, innocent cottager, the nice, neat old woman, and +the bashful-looking youth, and concluded by expressing her sorrow, that +Mary and Henry could not be married; because she was such a pretty +creature, she had no doubt they would make the happiest couple in the +world. + +Mr. Bernard endeavour to explain to Louisa, that beauty was by no means +the only requisite in a companion, where happiness was the object. + +"Oh, no! I know that, papa," returned Louisa; "I recollect that Mrs. +Horton told us, that the peacock, beautiful as it is, has but few really +amiable qualities; but I cannot help admiring pretty people, and if you +saw Mary, I am sure you would admire her too; for she looks so good- +humoured and so modest, so cheerful, so industrious, and so very pretty, +papa, that you could not help loving her. Don't you think so, mamma? + +_Mrs. B._ I think there certainly is something very interesting in her +appearance, and, I assure you, Louisa, I am quite disposed to think +favourably of her; but we shall have an opportunity of seeing more of +her, probably, and then we can form a more decided opinion of her +character. There is always danger in giving way to a sudden +prepossession in favour of a stranger. + +_Edward._ But, mamma, do you think it possible not to feel a +prepossession in favour of such a sweet-looking girl as Mary? + +_Mrs. B._ I do not think any one could avoid thinking favourably of +Mary; nor do I wish to check a generous sentiment in favour of a +stranger, at any time, my dear children. Caution is necessary, but +suspicion is hateful; and I would rather you should be often deceived, +than never feel a confidence. When I was young, I was once imposed upon +by a person quite as pleasing in manners and appearance as the young +cottager. I was warned that there was danger in trusting to appearances, +but disdained the caution of those who were older and wiser than myself. +I suffered for my folly, and would have you learn prudence from my +experience. + +_Louisa_. Do, mamma, tell us the story. I dare say it is an +interesting one. + +_Mrs. B._ Not at present, my dear; your father wishes to hear what +history you have read since Saturday. Besides, an account of the +depravity of a fellow-creature, can never be a very interesting topic of +conversation. + +_Louisa._. No mamma, certainly it is not: but how did she impose upon +you? You are so careful, you know--so prudent. + +_Mrs. B_ But at that time I was credulous and imprudent, as I have +already told you, my dear, and was deceived by a pleasing address, and a +mournful tale. + +_Louisa_. Oh, do tell me, dear mamma. I do love a mournful tale. + +_Mrs. B._ But this was, in all probability, a fabricated story, to +impose on the incautious: at least, I have every reason to consider it +so. I found out so many untruths, that I was inclined to think the +whole a complete falsehood. But we will not dwell longer upon this +subject at present: at some future time, if we have nothing upon which +we can more profitably employ our attention, I may perhaps give you a +full account of the affair; but I have mentioned it to your father +before, and will not, therefore, trouble him to listen to a repetition, +as nothing is more tedious than a twice-told tale. + +_Ferdinand_. I want to ask you a question, papa, before we begin our +history. It is quite different from any thing we have been hitherto +talking of, to be sure; but I was reading a book to-day, in which, +speaking of some crime, it mentioned that it was punished by death, +without benefit of clergy. Now I do not know what benefit of clergy +means, and I thought you would be so good as to explain it to me. + +_Mr. B._ That I shall most willingly, my dear boy. In order to encourage +the art of reading in England, which formerly made but slow progress, +the capital punishment for murder was remitted if the criminal could +read; and this, in law-language, is termed benefit of clergy. + +_Edward._ I should think the art must have made very rapid progress, +when so highly favoured. + +_Mr. B._ It does not appear that this was the case; for so small an +edition of the Bible as six hundred copies, translated into English, in +the reign of Henry the Eighth, was not completely sold in three years. + +_Emily._ How different, my dear father, are the happy days in which we +live. No family, however indigent, need now be without a Bible. + +_Edward._ And almost every poor child has an opportunity, in some of the +numerous charity-schools that are every where established, of learning +to read it too, which is better still. + +_Mr. B._ We do, indeed, my beloved children, live in very glorious +times. The scriptural prophecy seems to be fast accomplishing, which +declares, that "the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the +waters cover the sea." May we prize our high privilege, and may our more +virtuous conduct bespeak our gratitude for the superior blessings we +enjoy. + +_Louisa._ In the days of the cruel Tarquin, papa, of whom we have been +reading in our Roman history, the religion of Jesus Christ was not +known. The wicked Tullia could not, I think, have acted so basely, had +she been a Christian. + +_Mr. B._ Those who act up to the _precepts_ taught by Christianity, my +dear girl, must act virtuously; but the _name_ of Christian will be +found by no means sufficient for any of us. + +_Louisa._ Papa, it is very uninteresting to read about wicked people. I +do not feel the least inclination to give you any account of Tarquin and +Tullia. On the contrary, I quite enjoyed talking of the good Numa +Pompilius, and Servius Tullius. + +_Mr. B._ Much is to be learned from history, my dear. It unmasks the +human character. You there read man as he is, and trace the fatal +effects of vice upon society, as well as the pleasing consequences of +virtue. But let me now hear how Tarquin behaved, on mounting the throne +so basely acquired. _Emily._ The whole series of his reign was suitable +to the manner of his accession to the throne. Scarcely had he seated +himself there, when, from his capricious humour and arrogant behaviour, +he acquired the surname of the Proud. He refused to consult, either +with the senate or people; but having secured a sufficient number of +soldiers to guard his person and execute his will, arbitrary power +actuated all his proceedings. Informers were dispersed throughout the +city, the king was sole judge of the accused, and wealth and merit were +considered unpardonable crimes. + +_Edward_. The cruel murder of the venerable Marcus Janius, was a proof +of what Emily has just mentioned. He was descended from a noble family, +and possessed great riches, on which account, Tarquinius Priscus had +allowed him to marry his youngest daughter. The wicked Tarquin, in +order to get possession of his estate, caused both him and his son to be +assassinated. His youngest son escaped the same fate, by pretending to +be an idiot, from whom he supposed he had nothing to fear. + +_Ferdinand_. He was mistaken, however; was he not, Emily? + +_Edward_. Stop, stop, Ferdinand; you must not forestal our history. +Let Louisa give some account of Tarquin's government first. + +_Louisa_. Emily has already told you it was very tyrannical. To avoid +the effects of his cruelty and avarice, the most worthy men in the +senate went into voluntary banishment. The people at first rejoiced to +see the great thus humbled; but they were soon treated quite as ill as +the patricians, and all the laws which had been made in their favour, +were unmade again. + +_Mr. B._ You have not expressed yourself well, my dear Louisa. When a +law is unmade again, as you call it, we say it is annulled. + +_Louisa_. Thank you, papa. Well then, all the laws made in favour of +the people, which had pleased them so much, were annulled. The poor +were obliged to pay the same taxes as the rich. Nor would they allow +any meetings, even for amusement, either in the town or country. + +_Mrs. B._ It is astonishing that the people bore such oppressions +without revolt. + +_Edward._ Indeed, mamma, Tarquin was justly afraid they would not; on +which account, he gave his daughter in marriage to a man of considerable +interest among the Latins, in hopes he should strengthen himself by this +foreign alliance. He also employed the people in finishing the common +sewers, and the great Circus which his grandfather had begun; knowing +that constant employment was the best means to prevent their brooding +over their oppressions, and planning schemes of revenge. + +_Mr. B._ His conduct was well judged, and likely to be attended with +success, as far as the common people were concerned; but he could not +employ the patricians in these labours. How were they kept in +subjection? for their wrongs appear to have been quite as flagrant as +those of the plebeians. + +_Edward._ Indeed, papa, they were not kept in subjection at all. A +great number of them fled from Rome, and took refuge in Gabii, a city of +Latium, about a hundred furlongs distant. + +_Mr. B._ Can Ferdinand tell us how many miles that is? + +_Ferdinand._ If I consider a minute, I think I can, papa. There are +eight furlongs in a mile, so I must divide a hundred by eight, which +will go twelve times and four over; therefore, it was exactly twelve +miles and a half from Rome. + +_Mr. B._ You are quite right, my boy. You may now go on, Edward. + +_Edward_. The inhabitants of Gabii were touched with compassion, to see +so many considerable persons thus cruelly persecuted, and resolved to +espouse their cause, by beginning a war with the king of Rome. This war +lasted seven years; sometimes one having the advantage, sometimes the +other. The inroads and devastations made on both sides, prevented the +regular sowing and reaping of the corn, which at length produced a great +scarcity in Rome. This increased the discontents of the people, who were +suffering so cruelly on account of the hatred borne by their neighbours, +not against them, but against their king; and they urgently demanded +either peace or provisions. + +_Mr. B._ Affairs seem now coming to the extremities with Tarquin, I +think. + +_Ferdinand._ They are, indeed, papa, and you cannot think what a +treacherous plan he contrived to extricate himself from his +difficulties. + +_Louisa_. No indeed, Ferdinand, it was not Tarquin who contrived the +plot; it was his shocking son, Sextus Tarquinius, who was, I really +think, a more wicked man than his father. + +_Ferdinand._ So it was, Louisa: pray let me tell about it. He pretended +to quarrel with his father, papa, declaring he was a great tyrant, who +had no compassion, even for his own children. Upon this, the king +ordered him to be publicly beaten in the Forum. All this was repeated at +Gabii, by persons who were in the secret, and whom they thought they +could trust. The Gabini believed it all, and were very anxious to get +Sextus amongst them. After many secret invitations, he agreed to their +request, provided they first gave him their solemn promise, never, on +any pretence, to deliver him up to his father. When he reached Gabii, he +talked constantly of the tyranny of the king of Rome, and acted, in +every respect, as the declared enemy of his country. He frequently made +inroads on the Roman lands, and came back loaded with spoil; his father +always contriving to send against him such weak parties, that he easily +conquered them. By these means, Sextus gained very great credit among +the Gabini. They at last chose him general of their army, and he was as +much master there, as Tarquin was in Rome. + +_Louisa._ Ah! now comes the treachery. Oh, papa, what a very base thing +it is to betray those who place confidence in us. I cannot bear Sextus. + +_Ferdinand._ Well, Louisa, now pray do not interrupt me just in this +very interesting part. Finding his authority so firmly established, he +sent a slave to his father, to enquire what he should do. The king dare +not treat the slave with his answer, even in writing; so he took him +into the garden, and there struck off the heads of all the tallest +poppies. Having done this, he sent back the messenger. Sextus, who +understood the meaning of this action, assembled the Gabini, and +pretended to have discovered a plot to deliver him up to his father. The +people, who were very fond of him, fell into a great rage, and begged +him to declare the names of the conspirators. He mentioned Antistius +Petro, who was, from his merit, the most considerable person in the +country. He, knowing his innocence, despised the accusation; but Sextus +had bribed his servants to convey amongst his papers some pretended +letters from the king of Rome, which being produced and read, the +populace, without further examination, immediately stoned him to death. +The Gabini then committed to Sextus the care of discovering his +accomplices, and appointing their punishment. He instantly ordered the +city gates to be shut, and sent officers into every quarter, to cut off +the heads of all the most eminent citizens, without any mercy; and in +the midst of the confusion occasioned by this dreadful massacre, he +opened the gates to his father, who had previously had notice of his +design, and who entered the city with all the pride of a conquerer. + +Just as Ferdinand had finished this account, and before he had time to +make any comment upon it, Mr. Dormer was announced, a gentleman who +lived at no great distance from Mr. Bernard's, and who frequently, in an +evening, made one at his social fire-side. His kind, conciliatory +manners, had endeared him to the children, and he was, in his turn, much +pleased with their amiable frankness, and tender attachment to each +other. + +Being a man of general information, and possessing an enlarged and +cultivated mind, his conversation was both amusing and instructive, and +he was always a welcome guest at Broomfield. + +"I hope I have not interrupted any agreeable topic of conversation," +said he, drawing Ferdinand between his knees. + +Mr. Bernard assured him he could never be considered an interruption, +and proceeded to tell him how they had been engaged previously to his +entrance. + +Mr. Dormer highly approved the plan of impressing instruction upon the +minds of young people by conversation, and regretted that it should be +generally so much neglected. "I dare say the little folks look forward +with great delight to the approach of evening," said he. + +"Oh yes, Sir, that we do," replied Louisa: "we see so little of our dear +father in the day-time, that it is really quite a treat to sit down +altogether at night, and tell him what we have said, and thought, and +done, in the day; for I like that papa and mamma should know all my +thoughts, as well as my actions." + +_Ferdinand_. And so do I too; but mine are often very silly thoughts, +not worth any one's knowing. I wish I could keep them in better order. +Those lines written by Cowper, which I learnt the other day, are very +true, mamma:-- + +"We may keep the body bound, but know not what a range the spirit +takes." [Footnote: This was an actual remark of the little boy that has +been before mentioned.] + +Mr. and Mrs. Bernard looked at each other, and smiled with delight, to +find their dear boy entered so completely into the spirit of his +lessons, and was able to apply, in so proper a manner, the knowledge he +had acquired. + +"Your fire-side circle seems so complete," said Mr. Dormer, "and you +appear so thoroughly to enjoy each other's society, that I fear a +proposition, which I have called this evening with the purpose of +making, will not be received so favourably as I could wish. What do you +say to my running away with one of your party?" + +"Not papa or mamma," said all the children at once: "we cannot spare +them, indeed, Sir." + +Mr. Dormer assured them he had no intention of depriving them of either +of their valuable parents, even for a single day. "But," added he, +"unexpected business calls me to Plymouth. I shall be absent about a +fortnight or three weeks, and shall be very dull without a companion. +Ned, my boy, what say you to accompanying me?" + +Edward was delighted with the proposal, and anxiously looked at his +parents for their permission to accept Mr. Dormer's invitation. It was +willingly granted, and Edward received the affectionate congratulations +of his brother and sisters upon the occasion; who, far from envying him +the pleasure that awaited him, sincerely rejoiced in his good fortune, +and only requested to be made partakers of his pleasure, by letter. + +"I shall set off the day after to-morrow," said Mr. Dormer, "so you have +no time to lose, Edward." + +_Edward._ Oh sir, I shall be ready; you need not fear my +procrastination, on this occasion. + +"Nor on any other occasion, I hope, my dear boy," said Mr. Dormer, "for +it is a most ruinous habit for a youth to indulge in." + +Edward looked a little conscious of his deficiency in this particular, +but again promised strict punctuality. + +The clock at this moment struck nine, a signal for the children to +retire. They instantly arose, and, taking an affectionate leave of the +party, withdrew. + + +CONVERSATION X. + + +This being the last evening before Edward's departure, the family could +not be assembled so regularly as usual. Mrs. Bernard was engaged with +Edward up stairs, arranging his clothes, and other matters that were +necessary, preparatory to his journey. Mr. Bernard, in the mean time, +devoted himself exclusively to the other children below. Little Sophy +was allowed to make one of the party, and amused them with her cheerful +vivacity, till Jane came with the unwelcome news that it was bed-time. +After she had taken her leave, Louisa sat down to complete a baby's cap, +which she had begun the preceding evening; and Ferdinand was going to +attempt to copy a house, that Edward had, in the morning, sketched for +him, when Mr. Bernard, who generally took an opportunity, when not +alone, of speaking to the children upon any little impropriety of +conduct, called Ferdinand to him, and, with the most endearing +gentleness, told him, that he had remarked in him that day, as well as +on several former occasions, an unwillingness to acquiesce in the +commands of his mother, unless he were informed what were her reasons +for urging them. "Every child, my dear boy," continued he, "who wishes +to learn, must bring with him that teachable disposition, which is +willing to receive rules implicitly, and rust to the future for a +knowledge of the reasons on which they are grounded. A child who is +resolved to take the judgment of no one but himself, concerning the +impropriety of what is proposed to him, will absolutely prevent the +possibility of improvement; at least, he will lose a great deal of time, +and, what is still worse, will contract bad habits in the beginning, +and, in all probability, find himself unfit to be taught, when he would +gladly learn. One of the first duties of children, is obedience: indeed, +instruction can, in no instance, be built on any other foundation. If +examples in proof of this were wanting, I could give you many. The +recruit learns his exercise on the authority of his officer, because he +is himself ignorant of the art of war. The reasons for the different +manoeuvres, he will discover when he comes into action. General Wolfe +told his soldiers, that if the French should land in Kent, as they were +at that time expected to do, actual service in that enclosed country, +would show them the reason of several evolutions, which they had never +hitherto been able to comprehend." + +Ferdinand confessed the truth of all his father had said, but, at the +same time, thought it far better to know the motive of actions and +commands, when it was possible. + +"But it is so often impossible, my dear boy," continued Mr. Bernard, +"that it is far better to make implicit obedience the groundwork of your +conduct, particularly when the commands are from your excellent mother; +to whom you all owe so much, and whose wishes are ever dictated by +reason, though it may not be always either necessary or proper to +disclose those reasons to you. The Lacedeaeonians carried the doctrine +of submission so far, that they obliged their Ephori to submit to the +ridiculous ceremony of being shaved, when they entered upon their +office; signifying, by this act, that they knew how to practise +submission to the laws of their country. In short, my dear boy, it is a +universal rule, that he who will gain any thing, must give up something; +he that wishes to improve his understanding, his manners, or his health, +must contradict his will. This may not be an easy task; but you will +find it much harder to suffer that contempt, which is always the portion +of those who neglect the acquirement of wisdom and of virtue. The wisest +of men are often obliged to adopt the principle I have been recommending +to you. I will tell you an anecdote, in confirmation of this assertion: +'A gentleman appointed to a government abroad, consulted an eminent +person, who was at that time the oracle of the law, as to the rule of +his future conduct in his office, and begged his instructions. 'I take +you,' said he, 'for a man of integrity, and therefore the advice I must +give you in general is--to act in all cases according to the best of +your judgment. However, I have this rule to recommend: never give your +reasons. You will gain no ground that way, and may, perhaps, bring +yourself into great difficulties by attempting it. Let your motives be +those of an honest man, and such as your conscience will support you in; +but never expose them to your inferiors, who will be sure to have their +reasons against yours; and while these matters are discussed, authority +is lost, and the public interest suffers.' Thus, my dear Ferdinand, you +see, that when children submit to the direction of their parents and +teachers, who are bound, by affection and interest, to promote their +happiness, and who will certainly take pleasure in explaining to them, +at proper times, the motives by which they are actuated, they do but +follow the example of all communities of men in the world: who are +passive for their own good; who are governed by laws, which not one in +five hundred of them understand; and who submit to actions, of which +they cannot see either the propriety or justice. Now, if children are +only required to submit to the same necessary restraints that are +imposed upon men, no indignity is offered to them, nor can they have any +just cause of complaint. Your own sense, my love, if you consult it, +will convince you, that society could not subsist, nor could any +instruction go forward, without obedience. Consider the wisdom and +happiness which are found amongst a swarm of bees. They are a pattern to +all human societies. There is perfect obedience, perfect subordination: +no time is lost in disputing or questioning, but business goes forward +with cheerfulness at every opportunity, and the great object is the +common interest. All are armed for defence, and ready for work. +Recollect, too, what is the fruit of their wise economy:--they have a +store of honey to feed upon, when the summer is past. Follow their +example, my dear boy; and such, I hope, will be the fruit of your +studies." + +Having said these words, Mr. Bernard kissed Ferdinand with the fondest +affection. He owned himself convinced, most fully, by his father's +arguments, of the impropriety of his past conduct, and promised, in +future, to yield implicit obedience to the wishes of both his dear +parents. + +"And now, my dear girl," continued Mr. Bernard, turning to Louisa, "I +have also something to say to you, respecting your noisy, boisterous +manner of entering a room. It is extremely unbecoming in any well- +educated person, but in a little girl, from whom we expect the greatest +delicacy and gentleness, such rough, unpolished manners, are +particularly disagreeable. A very intimate friend of mine, the other +day, was speaking of your conduct in terms of general approbation, but +she ended by regretting extremely, that awkwardness of manner which +prevents your appearing in so agreeable a light as other children, who +are not possessed of half so many real excellencies. I should be very +sorry to have you neglect the _jewel_, in order to polish the _casket_; +but having secured the _one_, can see no objection to your attending, in +some degree, to the improvement of the _other_. A diamond is, when first +dug from the mine, a valuable acquisition, but its beauties are not +discovered till the hand of the polisher has brought to light its hidden +lustre. A pleasing, gentle deportment, places female virtue in the +fairest point of view; and I hope, my dear love, you will not neglect +its assistance, in the formation of your character." + +Louisa thanked her father for his advice, and promised, in future, to +pay greater attention to her manners, in which respect she had certainly +been hitherto very deficient. Having completed her cap, she enquired +whether there would be time for her to have a lesson in natural history: +adding, I have, by means of "Bingley's Animal Biography," taught myself +a good deal, without your assistance, papa. I have learnt that the +animals in the first class, Mammalia, have warm and red blood, that they +breathe by means of lungs, that they are viviparous, which means +bringing forth their young alive, and that they suckle them with their +milk. The jaws are placed one over the other, and are covered with lips. +The seven orders into which this class is divided, are, as mamma taught +me last week, Primates, Bruta, Ferae, Glires, Pecora, Belluae, and Cete. +All this, you see, papa, I have remembered pretty well. Will you now be +so kind as to tell me what animals belong to the first order, Primates, +and how they may be distinguished? + +_Mr. B._ The principal animals of this order are, man, the ape, the +various tribes of monkeys, and the bat. They have, in each jaw, four +front, or cutting teeth; except in some species of bats, which have, +occasionally, only two, and at others none. They have one canine tooth +on each side, in both jaws. Mr. Bernard then desired Louisa and +Ferdinand to open their mouths, and he would show them which were the +canine teeth; and, pointing to the sharp, single tooth, situated next to +the double ones, he told them that all animals preying upon flesh, were +provided with those sharp instruments, for the purpose of tearing their +food to pieces. + +_Louisa_. The more I study nature, my dear papa, the more clearly do I +see the goodness and mercy of God, who has so wisely provided for the +various wants of his creatures. + +_Ferdinand_. I am not surprised that men and monkeys should be ranged +in the same class, because they are, in many respects, very similar in +their appearance; but bats, papa, seem so extremely different. They are +a great deal more like birds than man. They have wings, you know, and +flit about exactly like birds. + +_Mr. B._ If you regard their wings alone, they might be classed as you +propose, Ferdinand; but if you attend to their formation, with the eye +of a naturalist, you will find that they have all the characteristics +which determine the class Mammalia. They are viviparous, and they +suckle their young. + +_Ferdinand_. And so do cows, horses, pigs, and many other animals: do +they, then, belong to the same class? + +_Mr. B._ Yes, my dear: cows belong to the class Mammalia, but to the +fifth order, Pecora, which is known by their having several blunt, +wedge-like front teeth in the lower jaw, and none in the upper. Their +feet are defended by cloven hoofs. They live entirely upon vegetable +food, and all ruminate, or chew the cud. + +_Ferdinand_. Pray, what does that mean, papa? + +_Mr. B._ All the genera in this order, my dear, are provided with four +stomachs. They swallow their food without chewing, which is received +into the first stomach; here it remains some time to macerate, and +afterwards, when the animal is at rest, by a peculiar action of the +muscles, it is returned to the mouth in small quantities, then chewed, +and swallowed a second time for digestion. + +_Ferdinand_. Do horses and pigs belong to the order Pecora, likewise? + +_Mr. B._ No: they are both ranked in the order Bellua. They have +obtuse front teeth. Their feet are armed with hoofs; in many whole, in +others divided. + +_Louisa_. I take notice, papa, you always mention the teeth: I suppose +they are of consequence, in determining the order. + +_Mr. B._ Yes, my dear, they are one of the most striking +characteristics. + +_Ferdinand_. You were surprised, Louisa, to find that bats were +considered of the class Mammalia; but I think it is much more +extraordinary that whales should be ranked under the same head with men. +I always thought they were great, large fishes. + +_Mr. B._ They differ from fishes as much as bats differ from birds. +Like them, they bring forth their young alive, and suckle them with +their milk. They breathe by means of lungs, like land animals, being +totally destitute of gills. But here come your mother and Edward: let us +move our table, and make room for them by the fire. They will find it +very comfortable, after their employment in the cold. + +Louisa jumped up, and, in her usual bustling manner, was preparing to +obey her father, but suddenly recollecting the advice which he had just +given her, she corrected herself, and, with the greatest gentleness, +removed every obstacle; set two chairs for her mother and brother, in +the place she thought most comfortable; and, to her great surprise, +found the business effected as soon, or sooner, than it would have been +with the greatest noise and bustle. + +Her father perceived her caution, and gave her a smile of approbation, +which filled her with delight. + +Whilst Mrs. Bernard and Edward warmed themselves, the children continued +their conversation. + +"Pray, papa," said Ferdinand, "to what order do mice belong?" + +_Mr. B._ To the fourth, Glires: but, unless you know the peculiar +characteristics by which each order is distinguished, you will never be +able to recollect the answers I have given to your desultory questions +this evening. I have, in my pocket-book, a short account of each order, +which I yesterday wrote out for Louisa, and which I should wish you to +copy neatly, into a book devoted to the purpose of observation on +natural history. Mr. Bernard then gave to Louisa a paper, containing +the following account: + +The _Primates_, which is the first order of the class MAMMALIA, have +four parallel front, or cutting teeth, in each jaw; except in some +species of bats, which have either two only, or none. They have one +canine tooth on each side, in both jaws. The females have two pectoral +mammae, or breasts. The two fore feet resemble hands, having fingers, +generally furnished with flattened, oval nails. Their food is both +animal and vegetable. The principal animals in this order are, man, +the ape and lemur tribes, and the bats. + +2nd. The _Bruta_ have no front teeth in either jaw: their feet are armed +with strong, blunt, and hoof-like nails. Their form is, to appearance, +clumsy, and their pace usually slow. Their food is principally +vegetable. None of the animals of this order are found in Europe: they +consist of the sloths, the ant-eaters, the rhinoceros, elephant, and +manati. + +3rd. The _Ferae_ have generally six front teeth, of a somewhat conical +shape, both in the upper and under jaw: next to these, are strong and +sharp canine teeth; and the grinders are formed into conical, or pointed +processes. Their feet are divided into toes, which are armed with +sharp, hooked claws. This tribe is predacious, living almost entirely +upon animal food; and consists of the seal, dog, cat, weasel, otter, +bear, opossum, kangaroo, mole, shrew, and hedgehog genera. + +4th. _Glires_ are furnished with two remarkably large and long front +teeth, both above and below, and are destitute of canine teeth. Their +feet have claws, and are formed both for bounding and running. They +feed on vegetables. The genera are, the porcupine, cavy, beaver, bat, +marmot, squirrel, dormouse, jerboa, and hare. + +5th. The _Pecora_ have several blunt, wedge-like front teeth, in the +lower jaw, and none in the upper. Their feet are armed with cloven +hoofs. They live on vegetable food, and all ruminate, or chew the cud. +The genera are, the camel, musk, deer, giraffe, antelope, goat, sheep, +and cow. + +6th. _Belluae_ have obtuse front teeth. The feet are armed with hoofs; +in some whole or rounded, in others obscurely lobed or sub-divided. They +live on vegetable food. The genera are, the horse, hippopotamus, tapir, +and hog. + +7th. The _Cete_, or Whales, although they resemble fishes in external +appearance, are ranged very properly amongst the Mammalia, having warm +blood, similar lungs, teats, &c. Instead of feet, they are provided +with pectoral fins, and a horizontally flattened tail, fitted for +swimming. They have no hair. The teeth are in some species +cartilaginous, and in others bony. Instead of nostrils, they have a +tubular opening on the top of the head, through which they occasionally +spout water. They live entirely in the sea; feeding on the soft marine +animals and vegetables. + +The children carefully read over this paper, exclaiming: "It is almost +exactly what you have told us before, papa, only here we have it all at +one view." + +_Mr. B._ Do you understand the signification of all the words, my +dears? + +The children looked over it again. + +_Louisa. Predacious_ papa; I do not know the meaning of that word. + +_Ferdinand_. Oh, Louisa! I can tell you that. A predacious animal is +one that preys upon others. + +_Louisa_. Thank you, Ferdinand. _Conical_? Does not that mean, in the +form of a sugar-loaf? + +"It does, my dear," replied her father: "do you understand the meaning +of _pectoral fins_?" + +"No, I do not," answered Louisa. + +_Mr. B._ They are fins growing by the breasts, and serve them to clasp +their young, as well as for the purposes of feet. + +"I am not certain that I understand the meaning of the word +_cartilaginous_, but believe it signifies, that the teeth of the whale +are sometimes formed of gristle, instead of bone," said Ferdinand. + +_Mr. B._ You are quite right, my love; and now, if you fully comprehend +the meaning of all the words, we will attend to our Roman history a +little. Let me hear what more you have read respecting Tarquin and his +infamous son. + +_Edward_. We have finished the account of the regal government. +Tarquin and his son behaved so basely, that the people could no longer +bear their tyranny and oppression, but boldly threw off the yoke. We +must, however, first tell you, papa, what became of the poor inhabitants +of Gabii, who had fallen victims to their credulity, and to the +confidence they placed in the perfidious Sextus. When they saw +themselves thus totally at the mercy of the tyrant, they fell into the +deepest despair, expecting to suffer the most cruel treatment. Their +misfortunes were not, however, so great as their fears. Tarquin thought +it most for his own interest, to act with some degree of humanity +towards this betrayed people, and none of the citizens were put to death +by his order. He granted them their lives and liberties, making Sextus +their king. Tarquin, after this, continued for some time to enjoy +profound peace at home. The Romans became accustomed to the yoke of +their imperious master, and groaned in silence under his oppressions. + +"Let me give the account of that curious woman, who came with her great +books, if you please, Edward," said Ferdinand. + +"With all my heart," returned Edward. + +_Ferdinand_. Just at this time, when Tarquin was enjoying profound +peace, an unknown woman came to court, loaded with nine large volumes, +which she offered to sell for a great sum of money. On Tarquin's +refusing to give it, she went away and burnt three of the books. Some +time after this she returned to court, and offered the remaining six for +the same sum. The people then thought her a mad woman, and drove her +away with contempt. She again withdrew, and burnt four more, still +returning with the remainder, and demanding the same price as she had +done for the whole nine volumes. Tarquin now grew quite curious to know +the cause of this strange proceeding, and put the books into the hands +of his augurs, to have them examined. They found them to be the oracles +of the Sybil of Cumae, and declared them an invaluable treasure. +Tarquin, therefore, ordered the woman to be paid the sum she demanded. +She exhorted the Romans to preserve her books with great care, and +afterwards disappeared. + +_Mrs. B._ What became of these mysterious books? Can you tell us, +Louisa? + +_Louisa_. They soon became very much respected at Rome, and were +consulted on all cases of emergency, as they were supposed to foretel +future events. Two persons of high rank were appointed by Tarquin, to +be guardians of these invaluable treasures. They were locked up in a +vault of the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, and when, some time after, +this temple was burnt, they also were destroyed with it. + +_Emily_. The tranquillity of Tarquin's reign was disturbed by a +dreadful plague, which suddenly broke out in Rome, and raged with great +violence. It made such an impression upon his mind, that he resolved to +send his sons, Titus and Arun, to consult the oracle of Delphi upon the +cause of this contagion, and how they might effect its cure. The +princes prepared magnificent presents for Apollo. Junius Brutus, the +pretended idiot, was to accompany them for their amusement. He was the +youngest son of the venerable Marcus Junius, whom I mentioned last +night, as being assassinated by order of Tarquin; and Brutus would also +have fallen a sacrifice to his cruel policy, had he not counterfeited +idiotism. When the princes were preparing their presents, he resolved +to carry his offering also. The whole court was diverted at the choice +he made, of a suitable present for the occasion, which was an elder +stick. He knew that the gods of those times, or their ministers, were +much delighted with valuable offerings; he therefore contrived to +conceal a rod of gold in this stick, without the knowledge of any one. + +_Mr. B._ This was a true emblem of his own mind, which, under a +contemptible outside, concealed the richest gifts of nature. Did they +gain any intelligence from the oracle. + +_Louisa_. I believe it told them, there would soon be a new reign at +Rome. Upon this, the young princes enquired which of them should +succeed Tarquin. The answer returned was: "He who shall first give a +kiss to his mother." The two brothers then declared that they would both +kiss her at the same moment, that they might reign jointly. Brutus, +however, thought the oracle had another meaning, and, pretending to fall +down, he kissed the earth, the common mother of all living. + +_Emily_. The regal power lasted but a very little time longer in Rome. +A brutal insult, offered by Sextus to Lucretia, the virtuous wife of +Collatinus, roused the dormant spirit of the people. Brutus threw off +the mark of idiotism, by which he had been hitherto concealed, and +seizing the dagger, which Lucretia, unable to survive the insult she had +received, had plunged into her breast, he held it up to the assembly, +stained as it was with the blood of that unhappy woman, and, in a very +animated speech, called upon his fellow-citizens to avenge her cause. +They were all astonished at the sudden change in Brutus, who then told +them his former folly had been affected, as the only means of securing +him from the murderous designs of Tarquin. The nobility all submitted +to the will of Brutus. He caused the still bleeding body of Lucretia to +be carried to the place where the senators usually assembled, and, +placing the corpse where it might be seen by every body, ordered the +people to be called together, and addressed them in a very spirited +speech, which was often interrupted by the acclamations of the people. +Some wept at the remembrance of past sufferings, other rejoiced in the +idea that their sorrows were about to end, and all called for arms. The +senate passed a decree, depriving Tarquin of every right belonging to +the regal authority, and condemning him and all his posterity to +perpetual banishment. + +"Can you tell me, Edward, how Tarquin acted upon this change of +fortune," said Mr. Bernard. + +_Edward_. He was not in Rome at the time it occurred, but, upon hearing +that Brutus was endeavouring to excite a tumult against him, he hastened +to the city, attended by his friends and his three sons; but finding the +gates shut, and the people in arms upon the walls, he returned with all +speed, to the camp. During his absence, however, short as it was, he +found that the conspirators had gained over the army to their party. +Thus, driven from his capitol and rejected by his troops, he was forced, +at the age of seventy-six, to fly for refuge, with his wife and sons, to +Gabii, in hopes the Latines would come forward and espouse his cause; +but being disappointed in this expectation, he retired into Etruria, the +country of his mother's family, where he hoped to find more friends, and +still entertained expectations of recovering his throne. Having wandered +from city to city, he at length fixed his residence in Tarquinia, and so +far raised the compassion of the inhabitants, as to induce them to send +an embassy to Rome, with a modest, submissive letter from himself, +directed to the Roman people. + +_ Mr. B_. Pray Emily, what was passing in Rome all this time. + +_Emily_. Brutus assembled the people in the field of Mars, and in long +speeches exhorted them to concord; and the consuls, standing before the +altars, took an oath, in the name of themselves, their children, and +posterity, that they would never recall king Tarquin nor his family from +banishment, nor create any other king of Rome; and they made the people +take the same oath. Under these circumstances, you may suppose that the +ambassadors from the banished king did not meet with a very favourable +reception. From their earnest supplications to the senate, however, that +they would hear their monarch before he was condemned, the consuls at +first inclined to bring them before the people, and to leave the +decision of the affair to them; but Valerius, a man of great weight in +the council, strongly opposed this measure, and, by his influence in the +senate, defeated this first attempt of the artful Tarquin. His next step +seemed likely to be more successful. A second embassy was dispatched to +Rome, under pretence of demanding the estates of the exiles, but with +private instructions to stir up a faction, if possible, against the +consuls. The ambassadors were admitted, and urged the most modest +demands in behalf of the banished king. They requested only his paternal +estate, and on that condition promised never to attempt the recovery of +his kingdom by force of arms. + +_Mr. B_. Well, Louisa, what reception did this proposition meet? + +_Louisa_. The consul Collatinus would have complied with the request, +but Brutus opposed it. It was then left to the decision of the people, +who generously determined that the Tarquins should be put in possession +of the estates of their family. + +"It was a generosity which those wicked Tarquins did not deserve, I am +sure," said Ferdinand; "for whilst the people were employed in loading +carriages with their effects, and in selling what could not be carried +off, the ambassadors were trying to draw some of the nearest relations +of the consuls into a plot against them. Among the conspirators were +Titus and Tiberius, the two sons of Brutus. Notwithstanding the secrecy +with which they carried on their designs, their plot was discovered by +one of their slaves, who disclosed the affair to Valerius. Upon this +information, the conspirators were taken prisoners, and their papers, +with several letters which they had written to the banished king, +seized." + +"The trial of these unhappy men was very affecting," said Emily: "early +on the following morning, the people being summoned to the hall of +justice, the prisoners were brought forth. + +"Brutus began with the examination of his two sons. The slave who had +discovered their designs, appeared against them, and the letters they +had written to the Tarquins were read. The proofs being clear, the +prisoners stood quite silent, and pleaded only by their tears. Three +times their father called upon them to plead their cause, but tears were +still their only answer. Many of the senators were touched with +compassion, and implored for their banishment rather than their deaths. +All the people stood trembling, in expectation of the sentence. Their +stern father at length arose, and with a steady voice, uninterrupted by +a single sigh, said: "Lictors, I deliver them over to you; the rest is +your part." At these words, the whole assembly groaned aloud; distress +showed itself in every face, and the mournful looks of the people +pleaded for pity: but neither their intercessions, nor the bitter +lamentations of the young men, who called upon their father by the most +endearing names, could soften the inflexible judge. The heads of the +young men were struck off by the lictors, Brutus all the while gazing on +the cruel spectacle, with a steady look and composed countenance." + +"Oh! my dear father," exclaimed Ferdinand, "surely Brutus must have been +a cruel, hard-hearted man." + +"In his feelings as a patriot," returned Mr. Bernard, "those of the +father appear to have been absorbed. What became of the other prisoners, +Edward?" + +_Edward_. Excepting the ambassadors, they all shared the fate of the +sons of Brutus. His severity towards his children, greatly increased his +authority in Rome; and when he was, some time after, slain in battle by +Aruns, the son of Tarquin, the citizens were inconsolable for his loss. +They considered him as a hero, who had restored liberty to his country, +who had cemented that liberty by the blood of his own children, and who +had died in defending it against the tyrant. The first funeral honours +were paid him in the camp; but, the next day, the corpse was brought +into the Forum, in a magnificent litter. On this occasion, Valerius gave +Rome the first example of those funeral orations, which were ever after +made in praise of great men. The ladies distinguished themselves on this +occasion: they mourned for him a whole year, as if they had lost a +common father. + +"The death of such a man was, indeed, a serious misfortune to the +state," said Mr. Bernard: "can you tell me what became of the banished +Tarquin?" + +_Emily_. After an exile of fourteen years, during which time he made +many ineffectual struggles to recover the throne, he died at the +advanced age of ninety. + +"This, papa, is all we have read at present," said Edward; "I hope my +brother and sisters will not go on with the history till my return, for +this is a very good place to leave off." + +_Louisa_ I am sure, Edward, we should have no pleasure in going on +without you, and am certain mamma would not wish it. + +It was unanimously agreed, that the Roman history should be laid aside +till Edward's return. + +"You have now seen," said Mr. Bernard, "the freedeom which the Romans +recovered by the expulsion of Tarquin the Proud, secured to them by his +death; a freedom that was undoubtedly the source of all their future +grandeur. I must again repeat, my dear children, that I have been much +pleased with the manner in which you have given this little sketch of +the regal government of Rome. One very important point you have, +however, overlooked." + +"Pray, papa, what is that?" enquired the children, with one voice. + +"The dates of the different events which you have mentioned," replied +their father. "Geography and chronology, are desevedly called _the two +eyes of history_. Without geography, which is a knowledge of the +situation and extent of the different countries of the earth, no reader +of history can have clear and distinct ideas of what he reads, as being +transacted in them; and without chronology, which is a knowledge of the +time when the various events took place, the historical facts he +acquires by reading, will only be an incumbrance upon his memory. He +will have a number of confused ideas, but no regular or useful +information. Now, which of you can tell me in what year Rome was built?" + +"Oh, we all know that," said Louisa; "it was seven hundred and fifty- +three years before the birth of our Saviour." + +"And the regal power was abolished four hundred and sixty-seven years +before that event," continued Edward; "so that _that_ administration +lasted two hundred and eighty-six years." + +"But I do think, papa," said Ferdinand, "that it is very difficult to +remember dates. I wish you could tell us some easy way, by which we +might impress them upon our memories." + +"The system of Mnemonics, lately introduced by Fineagle and Coglan, you +will find a great assistance. The substitution of letters for figures, +is an excellent plan, as it enables you to form the date into words, +which you may associate with the event itself, and, by this means, +impress it much more indelibly upon your memory." + +"I do not quite understand you, papa," said Louisa. + +"I will purchase one of Mr. Coglans's books, the next time I go to +town," said her father, "that will explain the plan to you very clearly, +and I think you will find it extremely useful. Come, my dear Edward," +added he, turning to his son, "as you have so long a journey in prospect +to-morrow, it is quite time for you to retire." + +The rest of the children soon followed his example, and taking an +affectionate leave of their parents, withdrew for the night. + + +CONVERSATION XI + + +Mr. Dormer called early the following morning, and breakfasted with the +Bernard family before his departure. The little folks endeavoured to +welcome him with smiles; but it was very evident that their hearts were +heavy, in spite of their efforts to appear cheerful. They had never +before been separated from each other, and they felt that Edward's +absence would make a sad blank in their little circle. Edward himself, +though delighted with the prospect of his journey, could not repress a +starting tear, as his mother folded him, with maternal tenderness, to +her bosom. He renewed his promise of writing them a long letter in the +course of a week, giving a full account of all he should hear and learn; +then, kissing his brother and sister, he hastened into the chaise, +followed by Mr. Dormer, and soon lost the sadness which had crept over +his spirits, in admiration of the luxuriant country through which they +passed. + +But with the little group at home, it was quite otherwise: they had no +variety of scene to banish their sorrow for his departure; on the +contrary, every object they saw reminded them of their beloved Edward. +They felt, without being aware of it, the force of Scott's beautiful +lines: + +"When musing on companions gone, We doubly feel ourselves alone." + +Their customary tasks passed off heavily, and every object, +notwithstanding the cheerfulness of the day, assumed an appearance of +unusual gloom. + +Mrs. Bernard affectionately sympathised in their sorrow, and thinking a +walk might in some measure divert their attention, proposed a visit to +the old woman's cottage. Mr. Bernard had lost one of his under clerks, +and intended taking Henry to supply his place, should he find him +qualified for the situation. No proposition could have been more +agreeable to the children, and with great alacrity they prepared to +accompany their mother. It was, however, some time before they could +recover their spirits, so as to enjoy their walk as usual. + +"Ah, mamma," said Ferdinand, "how very different things appear when we +are happy, and when we are unhappy; this walk was so delightful last +Monday! How much we did enjoy ourselves! Do you not remember it? You +gave us that interesting account of the British _hirundines_. Edward +enjoyed it with us, and we thought it so pleasant; and now I really do +not think it a particularly cheerful walk, and, to tell you the truth, +mamma, it appears to me very dull to-day, and yet I see no alteration in +the prospect." + +_Mrs. B._ The alteration is in your own mind, my boy. Your present +feelings must convince you, how important is the acquisition of that +firmness of mind, which your father has so constantly endeavoured to +inculcate, and which can alone enable you to bear, with fortitude, the +_real_ evils you will have to encounter in after life. + +"_Real_ evils, mamma!" reiterated Ferdinand; "you do not then think this +a real evil?" + +"Indeed, my dear, I do not," replied Mrs. Bernard; "on the contrary, I +hope, to Edward it will prove a real good; and I am sure you are none of +you so selfish as to wish to deprive him of any advantage, merely for +the sake of your own gratification." + +"Selfish! Oh, no, mamma, indeed we are not selfish," cried all the +children at once: "we will convince you we are not, for we will, this +minute, leave off grieving for Edward's departure, and teach ourselves +to rejoice, and wish him very happy." + +_Mrs. B._ You will do quite right, my dears; and now let us change the +subject, for that is the best way to banish your regret. + +_Ferdinand_. I was very much amused yesterday, mamma, with reading the +new book you gave me for a prize a little time ago. + +_Mrs. B._ Miss Edgworth's "Early Lessons," do you mean, my dear +Ferdinand? + +"Yes, mamma: I was reading that part of Harry and Lucy, in which their +father so clearly explains to them the expansibility of air, and the +power of steam; and I thought this might, perhaps, account for a thing +that has always puzzled me extremely, and that is, earthquakes. +[Footnote: Another remark of the child before mentioned.] I was reading +a description of one a few days ago, and feel very anxious to know what +can occasion such dreadful convulsions in the bowels of the earth. Will +you be so kind, mamma, as to tell me what is supposed to be the cause?" + +_Mrs. B._ On this, as well as on most other philosophical subjects, the +opinions of the learned vary. Mr. *****, who was a great naturalist, +imagines some to be produced by fire, in the manner of volcanoes; +others, by the struggles of confined air, expanded by heat, and +endeavouring to get free. But there does not appear any sufficient +reason for this distinction. The union of fire and air seems necessary +to effect the explosion; since the former is an agent of no power, +without the aid of the latter. + +_Ferdinand_. But pray, mamma, how does heat get into the inside of the +earth? + +_Mrs. B._ There are hidden in the bowels of the earth, immense +quantities of inflammable matter: pyrites, bitumens, and other +substances of a similar nature, which only require moisture to put their +fires in motion. Water readily finds its way into the greatest depths +of earth: or even from subterraneous springs, this dreadful mixture may +occur, when immediately new appearances ensue; those substances which +have lain dormant for ages, and which, had they not met with this new +element, would have remained so for ages longer, appear suddenly to have +changed their nature: they grow hot, produce new air, and require room +for expansion. The struggles this air then makes to get free, throw all +above into convulsions, and produce those dreadful catastrophes which we +so properly denominate earthquakes. This appears the most rational +means of accounting for this phenomenon; I have not, therefore, thought +it needful to enter into the theoretical speculations of philosophers +upon the subject. + +_Ferdinand._ Well, mamma, directly I read, in Henry and Lucy, an +account of those experiments, I felt almost sure, the expansion of the +air in the earth, was the cause of earthquakes; though I did not exactly +understand how it could be. I am much obliged to you for your +explanation. + +_Mrs. B._ You are very welcome, my dear. You lately read an account of +one of these dreadful convulsions of nature. Where did it happen? + +_Ferdinand._ In Jamaica, mamma, in the year 1692: it is a most dreadful +account. In two minutes' time, the town of Port Royal was destroyed, +and the houses sunk in a gulph forty fathoms deep. In every fathom, +there are six feet, you know, mamma; so, if we multiply forty by six, we +shall find that these poor creatures were instantly buried, with their +houses, to the depth of two hundred and forty feet under ground. In +other parts of the island, the sand rose like the waves of the sea, +lifting up all who stood upon it, and then dashing them into pits. The +water was thrown out of the wells with the greatest violence; the +openings of the earth were in some places so broad, that the streets +appeared twice as wide as they were before: in others, the ground yawned +and closed again continually, swallowing, at each yawn, two or three +hundred of the wretched inhabitants: sometimes the chasms suddenly +closing, caught them by the middle, and crushed them instantly to death. +From openings still more dreadful than these, spouted up cataracts of +water, drowning such as the earthquake had spared. Every thing was +destroyed: houses, people, and trees, shared one universal ruin. Great +pools of water afterwards appeared, which, when dried by the sun, left +only a plain of barren sand, without a single trace of its former +inhabitants. + +_Mrs. B._ I recollect to have read the account, as well as that of a +very similar one that occurred some years ago at Lisbon, which is, you +know, the capital of Portugal. I have, at home, a very interesting +narrative of an earthquake that happened at Calabria, in the southern +part of Italy. It is related by Father Kircher, who was considered as a +prodigy of learning, and was also a very excellent man. When we return +home, I will look for the paper, and let you read it. + +Just as Mrs. Bernard had finished speaking, a little girl, about six +years old, came running towards them, crying most bitterly, and +exclaiming: "Oh! dear lady, do pray come to my poor mammy, for she is +very bad indeed: I do think she is going to die, as my daddy did last +week; and then poor baby, and Tommy, and I shall die too, for there will +be nobody to take care of us when mammy is gone." + +"Where does your mammy live, my poor little girl?" enquired Mrs. +Bernard. + +"By the hill-side, Ma'am, at yonder cottage," said the child, pointing +to a low-roofed shed at no great distance. + +Mrs. Bernard, accompanied by Emily, Louisa, and Ferdinand, proceeded +towards the spot pointed out by the little girl, and on entering the +cot, beheld a sight which wrung their gentle hearts with pity. On a +bundle of straw in one corner of the hovel, (for it deserved no better +name,) lay a young woman, apparently fast sinking into the arms of +death; at the foot of this wretched bed, sat a poor little half naked +boy, crying for that food his wretched mother could not supply; an +infant at her breast, was vainly endeavouring to procure the nourishment +which nature usually provides, but which want and misery had now nearly +exhausted. + +Mrs. Bernard approached the poor sufferer, and took her hand. It was +cold and clammy: her lips moved, but no sound met the ears of the +attentive listeners Mrs. Bernard then enquired of the child, what food +her mother had lately taken. + +"Oh! none, Ma'am, since the day before yesterday. When my poor daddy +was carried away, we had but one loaf left, and that she _giv'd_ all to +Tommy and me." + +This account, though it shocked Mrs. Bernard extremely, still gave her +hopes that disease was not the sole cause of the poor woman's deplorable +situation, and induced her to believe, that proper nourishment, with +other attentions, might be the means of preserving a life so valuable to +her infant family. + +Emily proposed hastening home for medical assistance, and also for that +nourishment which seemed not less necessary. + +Mrs. Bernard requested she would take charge of her brother and sister, +as it was her intention to remain at the cottage till the poor woman +should revive a little. She also begged her to send Jane as quickly as +possible, who was an excellent nurse, and would cheerfully afford the +assistance of which the poor sufferer stood so much in need. + +Emily immediately set off, accompanied by Louisa and Ferdinand. Before +they had proceeded far, they met a rosy milk-maid, singing with her pail +upon her head. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Louisa, "I do think some milk would be good for the poor +woman and the children, till we can get them something better. Do let me +ask the young woman to take some to the hut." + +Emily quite approved her sister's plan, and pointing out to the girl the +path that led to the hovel, they received her promise to call with the +milk, and proceeded on their way, their hearts already lightened of a +load of anxiety. + +Mrs. Bernard was delighted at the sight of the milk-girl, and much +pleased with the consideration of the children in sending her. She +purchased a sufficient quantity, to supply, for the half starved +children, a plentiful meal. + +"Have you no bread in the house, my dear," said she to Susan, for that +was the little girl's name. + +"Yes, Ma'am, a little," returned she; "because I did not eat my last +bit, for fear we should not get any more; and then, if poor little Tommy +was ever so hungry, he would have nothing to eat, for mammy is too ill +to work for us now." + +"But are you not hungry yourself?" enquired Mrs. Bernard. + +"Oh yes, Ma'am," replied Susan, "that I am; but I don't mind it: I am +the biggest and the strongest, so it won't hurt me to be hungry a bit." + +Mrs. Bernard looked the surprise and admiration at this truly good +child. "Well, my poor little Susan, you shall have a good meal now, as +soon as we can boil the milk. But the fire is almost out." + +"Oh, Ma'am, I'll make a cheerful blaze in a minute," said Susan, whose +usual alacrity was increased by the hopes of a plentiful meal: and +instantly running into the lane, she, in a few minutes, collected a +large bundle of sticks, which she placed with much judgment upon the +expiring embers, and exciting them with her breath, a blazing fire soon +lighted the cold walls of the hut, and cast a ray of cheerfulness around +the gloomy scene. The heat from the fire, together with reflection from +its flame, gave to the child's before pallid countenance, a momentary +flush of health; and Mrs. Bernard thought, as she gazed upon her, she +had never seen a more interesting little creature. She supplied the +fire with a fresh bundle of faggots, which maintained the genial warmth; +and producing a saucepan, which for brightness might have vied with any +in Mrs. Bernard's kitchen, she put on the milk to boil. + +Whilst this operation was performing, Susan swept up the hearth, reached +out of a cupboard two black porringers, and crumbled into them her +little store of bread. + +Tommy, in the mean time, had crept from the bed, and was warming his +half-frozen limbs at the cheerful fire, eyeing with delight the meal +that was preparing for him. + +As soon as the milk boiled, Mrs. Bernard poured it upon the bread, and +persuaded the poor woman to take a few spoonfuls. It appeared to revive +her much; and a violent flood of tears, which at this moment came to her +relief, proved still more salutary. Mrs. Bernard did not wish to stop +their flow: she took the little infant in her arms, and gave it a good +meal of bread and milk; after which it dropped into a sweet sleep, and +was again laid on the humble bed of its mother. + +Susan and her brother ate their portion with the eagerness of real +hunger, and with hearts glowing with gratitude; though in a style of +infantine simplicity, they tanked their generous benefactress for her +kindness. + +In about an hour Jane arrived, accompanied by Mr. Simmons, the medical +friend of the family. He was a man possessed of a liberal fortune, but +of a still more liberal mind. His skill in his profession was great, and +he was always ready to exert it to the utmost, for the relief of the +needy sufferer. He warmly entered into Mrs. Bernard's benevolent plan on +this occasion, and confirming her suspicion, that the poor woman +required nourshing diet and care, rather than medicine, it was +determined that Jane should remain at the cottage as nurse, and that the +children should be removed to a more comfortable abode, till their +mother was sufficiently recovered to attened properly to them. No +persuasions, however, could prevail upon poor little Susan to leave her +mother; she was, therefore, permitted to remain as Jane's assistant, +whilst her brother and the baby were conveyed to the hospitable mansion +of Mr. Bernard. + +Under the kind care of Jane, and with the necessary assistance from her +benevolent mistress, the cottage soon assumed a new appearance. The +wretched pallet of straw was removed, and gave place to a comfortable +bed. A table and chairs were provided, and a degree of comparative +comfort reigned around. + +The poor woman endeavoured to express her gratitude for so many +unexpected blessings, but was prevented by the positive commands of Mrs. +Bernard, who insisted upon her keeping herself, for this day at least, +perfectly tranquil. + +The children at home had not been less busily, or less benevolently +employed, than their mother at the cottage. The moment little Tommy and +the baby entered the house, the charity-box, so recently stored by the +hand of industry, was recollected with delight. Some warm undergarments, +with a neat frock and petticoat, were soon found, that exactly fitted +little Tommy, and the baby was still more easily provided for. + +"See, see, the effects of industry!" cried Ferdinand, jumping with +delight around his sisters, as Louisa tied the last string of Tommy's +frock, and Emily put on the baby's cap, which she declared made it look +quite beautiful: "Oh! how delightful to be able to be so useful. Now I +wish mamma would come home: how pleased she would be. What a pity that +poor little Susan is not here, to have some new clothes too; but we must +take her some, Emily. Let us go to the box, and look for some that will +fit her." + +"We have none large enough, Ferdinand," said Emily. + +"Oh yes, I do think this pink frock will be big enough," exclaimed +Ferdinand, drawing one out from underneath the others: "here is a great +tuck in it, let us pull it out; that will make it a great piece longer." +Saying these words, he was going to immediately to proceed to business, +when Louisa loudly exclaimed: + +"Oh, stop, Ferdinand, stop; that is not a real tuck; there is a great +join under it, because my stuff was not long enough to make it all in +one piece." + +"What a pity! How shall we manage then?" said Ferdinand, putting on a +look of great consideration. + +"We must have patience till we can make one of proper size, I believe," +added Emily: "but here comes mamma." + +Ferdinand and Louisa instantly seized each a hand of little Tommy, and +led him forward, whilst Emily followed with the baby. + +[lacuna] + +_protegeis_, and thanked her children for the assistance they had +rendered her. + +The idea of having afforded their mother assistance, as well as having +extended their benevolence towards a poor stranger in distress, +gladdened their affectionate little hearts, and never was there a +happier group. + +"Ah, mamma, I am now convinced of the truth of what you said," continued +Ferdinand, "that the departure of Edward is not a real evil. Do you not +think it is very useful to see real sorrow sometimes?" + +_Mrs. B._ Indeed, my dear boy, I do. It teaches us the true value of the +blessings we enjoy, and, I should hope, would fill our minds with +gratitude towards the Dispenser of so many favours. + +In attention to their new charge, the children spent a most happy day, +and in the evening, Emily and Louisa, according to the promise they had +given Ferdinand, began to make the clothes for little Susan; whilst he +read aloud to them the following account of the earthquake in Calabria, +which had been the subject of their conversation during the morning +walk. + +"Having hired a boat, in company with four more, two friars of the order +of St. Francis, and two seculars, we launched, on the twenty-fourth + +[lacuna] + +promontory of Pelorus. Our destination was for the city of Euphemia in +Calabria, where we had some business to transact, and where we designed +to tarry for some time. However, Providence seemed willing to cross our +designs; for we were obliged to continue three days at Pelorus, on +account of the weather; and though we often put out to sea, yet we were +as often driven back. At length, however, wearied with delay, we +resolved to prosecute our voyage; and although the sea seemed more than +usually agitated, yet we ventured forwards. The gulph of Carybdis, +which we approached, seemed whirled round in such a manner, as to form a +vast hollow, verging to a point in the centre. Proceeding onwards, and +turning my eyes to Etna, I saw it cast forth large volumes of smoke, of +mountainous sizes, which entirely covered the whole island, and blotted +out the very shores from my view. This, together with the dreadful +noise, and the sulphureous stench which was strongly perceptible, filled +me with apprehensions that some most dreadful calamity was impending. +The sea itself seemed to wear a very unusual appearance: those who have +seen a lake in a violent shower of rain, covered all over with bubbles, +will conceive some idea of its agitations. My surprise was still +increased by the calmness and serenity of the weather: not a breeze, not +a cloud, which might be supposed to put all nature thus into motion. I +therefore warned my companions that an earthquake was approaching; and, +after some time, making for the shore with all possible diligence, we +landed at Tropoea, happy and thankful for having escaped the threatening +dangers of the sea. + +"But our triumphs at land were of short duration; for we had scarcely +arrived at the Jesuit's College in that city, when our ears were stunned +with a horrid sound, resembling that of an infinite number of chariots +driven fiercely forward, the wheels rattling and the thongs cracking. +Soon after this, a most dreadful earthquake ensued; so that the whole +track upon which we stood seemed to vibrate, as if we were in the scale +of a balance that continued wavering. This motion, however, soon grew +more violent, and being no longer able to keep my legs, I was thrown +prostrate upon the ground. In the mean time, the universal ruin around +me redoubled my amazement. The crash of falling houses, the tottering +of towers, and the groans of the dying, all contributed to raise my +terror and despair. On every side of me, I saw nothing but a scene of +ruin, and danger threatening wherever I should fly. I commended myself +to God, as my last great refuge. At that hour, Oh, how vain was every +sublunary happiness! Wealth, honour, empire, wisdom, all were useless +sounds, and as empty as the bubbles in the deep. Just standing on the +threshold of eternity, nothing but God was my pleasure, and the nearer I +approached, I only loved him the more. After some time, however, finding +that I remained unhurt amidst the general confusion, I resolved to +venture for safety, and running as fast as I could, reached the shore, +but almost terrified out of my reason. I soon found the boat in which I +had landed, and my companions also, whose terrors were even greater than +mine. Our meeting was not of that kind where every one is desirous of +telling his own happy escape; it was all silence, and a gloomy dread of +impending terrors. + +"Leaving this seat of desolation, we prosecuted our voyage along the +coast, and the next day came to Rosetta, where we landed, although the +earth still continued in violent agitation. But we were scarcely arrived +at our inn, when we were once more obliged to return to the boat, and in +about half an hour, we saw the greatest part of the town, and the inn at +which we had set up, dashed to the ground, and burying all its +inhabitants beneath its ruins. + +"In this manner proceeding onwards in our little vessel, finding no +safety on land, and yet, from the smallness of our boat, having but a +very dangerous continuance at sea, we at length landed at Lopizium, a +castle midway between Tropoea and Euphemia, the city to which, as I said +before, we were bound. Here, wherever I turned my eyes, nothing but +scenes of ruin and horror appeared; towns and castles levelled to the +ground: Strombolo, though at sixty miles distance, belching forth flames +in an unusual manner, and with a noise which I could distinctly hear. +But my attention was quickly turned from more remote, to contiguous +danger. The rumbling sound of an approaching earthquake, which we by +this time were grown acquainted with, alarmed us for the consequences. +It every moment seemed to grow louder, and to approach more near. The +place on which we stood, now began to shake most dreadfully; so that +being unable to stand, my companions and I caught hold of whatever shrub +grew next us, and supported ourselves in that manner. + +"After some time, this very violent paroxysm ceasing, we again stood up, +in order to prosecute our voyage to Euphemia, that lay within sight. In +the mean time, while we were preparing for this purpose, I turned my +eyes towards the city, but could see only a frightful dark cloud, that +seemed to rest upon the place. This the more surprised us, as the +weather was so very serene. We waited, therefore, till the cloud was +past away, then turning to look for the city, it was totally sunk. +Wonderful to tell! nothing but a dismal and putrid lake was seen where +it stood. We looked about to find some one that could tell us of its sad +catastrophe, but could see none: all was become a melancholy solitude--a +scene of hideous desolations. Thus proceeding pensively along, in quest +of some human being that could give us some little information, we at +length saw a boy sitting by the shore, and appearing stupified with +terror. Of him, therefore, we enquired concerning the fate of the city; +but he could not be prevailed upon to give us an answer. We entreated +him, with every expression of tenderness and pity, to tell us; but his +senses were quite wrapped up in the contemplation of the danger he had +escaped. We offered him some victuals, but he seemed to loath the sight. +We still persisted in our offices of kindness, but he only pointed to +the place of the city, like one out of his senses; and then running up +into the woods, was never heard of after. Such was the fate of the city +of Euphemia; and as we continued our melancholy course along the shore, +the whole coast, for the space of two hundred miles, presented nothing +but the remains of cities, and men scattered, without a habitation, over +the fields. Proceeding thus along, we at length ended our distressful +voyage by arriving at Naples, after having escaped a thousand dangers, +both at sea and land." + +"The children were all highly interested by this extract, but a secret +awe crept over their minds, as they listened to the account of this +dreadful visitation, and they felt thankful that a gracious Providence +had placed him in this happy isle, where such tremendous convulsions are +but seldom felt. + +"I learnt a passage from Cowper's 'Task,' the other day, mamma," said +Emily, "in which he deplores a similar catastrophe, that occurred in +Sicily some time ago: may I repeat it to my brother and sister?" + +"Certainly, my dear," replied Mrs. Bernard. + +Emily having received the approbation of her mother, immediately recited +the following striking passage: + + "Alas, for Sicily! rude fragments now + Lie scatter'd, where the shapely column stood. + Her palaces are dust. In all her streets, + The voice of singing and the sprightly chord + Are silent. Revelry, and dance, and show, + Suffer a syncope and solemn passe, + While God performs upon the trembling stage + Of his own works, his dreadful part alone, + How does the earth receive him? With what signs + Of gratulation and delight, her king. + Pours she not all her choicest fruits abroad, + Her sweetest flowers, her aromatic gums, + Disclosing Paradise where'er he treads? + She quakes at his approach: her hollow womb + Conceiving thunders, through a thousand deeps + And fiery caverns, roars beneath his foot. + "The hills move lightly, and the mouontains smoke, + For he hath touch'd them. From the extremest point + Of elevation, down into the abyss. + His wrath is busy, and his arm is felt. + The rocks fall headlong, and the valleys rise: + The rivers die into offensive pools, + And, charg'd with putrid verdure, breathe a gross + And mortal nuisance into all the air. + What solid was, by transformation strange, + Grows fluid; and the fix'd and rooted earth, + Tormented into billows, heaves and swells, + Or with vortiginous and hideous whirl, + Sucks down its prey insatiable. Immense + The tumult and the overthrow; the pangs + And agonies of human and of brute + Multitudes, fugitive on every side, + And fugitive in vain. The sylvan scene + Migrates uplifted, and with all its soil + Alighting in far distant fields, finds out + A new possessor, and survives the change. + Ocean has caught the phrenzy; and upwrought + To an enormous and o'erbearing height, + Not by a mighty wind, but by that voice + Which winds and waves obey, invades the shore + Resistless. Never such a sudden flood. + Upridg'd so high, and sent on such a charge, + Possess'd an inland scene. Where sow the throng + That press'd the beach, and hasty to depart, + Look'd to the sea for safety? They are gone! + Gone with the refluent wave into the deep, + A prince with half his people! Ancient towers, + And roofs embattled high, the gloomy scenes, + Where beauty oft, and *etter'd worth, consume + Life in the unproductive shades of death, + Fall prone. The pale inhabitants come forth, + And happy in their unforseen release + From all the rigours of restraint, enjoy + The terrors of the day that sets them free." + +Whilst Mr. and Mrs. Bernard were conversing in this instructive and +interesting manner, with their little family, they were interrupted by +the arrival of Jane. She brough a good account of the poor woman, who +was already considerably better, and felt her appetite in some measure +returning. + +"I think, Ma'am," continued Jane, "that a little sago or tapioca, or +something of that kind, would be very nice and nourishing for her to +take, before she settles for the night." + +Mrs. Bernard quite approved this proposition: she desired Emily to bring +a small jar of tapioca from the closet in the store-room, and giving +Jane a sufficient quantity for the poor woman's supper, dismissed her +again to her charge. + +The children all rejoiced to hear so good an accouont, and begged their +mother would allow them to walk to the cottage the following morning. +She readily promised a compliance with their request, provided the +weather should prove favourable. + + +Louisa, who had been for some minutes examining the tapioca, exclaimed: +"Pray, mamma, what is this; I cannot make it out: it does not look like +a seed, I think." + +_Mrs. B_. It is, my dear, the produce of a plant, but not its seed. The +plant is called cassada, and it grows in the Cape Verd Islands, as well +as in Rio de Janeiro, and many other parts of South America. The root +is a wholesome vegetable, but the expressed juice from it is a rank +poison. + +"How extraordinary!" said Ferdinand: "I should think they could not eat +the root, without taking the juice also." + +"You will be still more surprised," said his mother, "to hear that this +very juice, after standing some time, deposits a sediment, which, when +dried, is not only wholesome, but extremely nutritious: and, in fact, +forms the tapioca which Louisa now holds in her hand." + +"And sago, mamma," said Ferdinand, "is that the produce of a plant too?" + +_Mrs. B_. Yes, my dear; it is obtained from a plant which grows in the +East Indies: the medullary, or pithy part of which, is beaten with +water, and made into cakes. These the Indians use as bread. This, when +reduced into granules and dried, forms the sago we find so nourishing to +persons of weakly and delicate constitutions. But it is now, my dear +children, quite time to retire. + +The children instantly arose, and putting away their work, took leave of +their parents; and having peeped at their little charge, who were both +in a sweet sleep, they retired to their pillows, and enjoyed that +tranquil repose which generally visits the young and innocent. + + +CONVERSATION XII. + + +Contrary to the hopes of the children, the following morning was +extremely wet, so that it was impossible they could walk to the cottage. +They had, however, the pleasure of hearing that the poor woman had had a +comfortable night's rest, and that she was so much refreshed, as to be +able to sit up whilst Jane made her bed. + +Several days elapsed without affording them their wished-for pleasure. +This put their patience to a severe trial, as they were very anxious to +hear the poor woman's story, and to make the dutiful and affectionate +little Susan, the present their industry had prepared for her. Still, +being fully convinced that impatience would not hasten the +accomplishment of their wishes, they bore their disappointment with the +greatest good-humour; and turning their attention to other objects, +spent the time, which would otherwise have passed heavily away, in +cheerful and improving occupations. + +They began now each day to watch anxiously for the arrival of the +postman, and on the sixth morning after Edward's departure, Emily +received from him the following letter: + +_Plymouth, Sept. 30, 1814._ + +"MY DEAR SISTER, + +"If I had not bound myself by a promise to write to you, I am sure you +would have received, by this post, a letter from me. Now I am at a +distance from home, it is the only means of communication afforded me. +I long for you every moment, to enjoy with me the many pleasures Mr. +Dormer's kindness provides for me, and which would all be doubled, could +you each share them with me. + +"I have just thought of a riddle:--'What is that, which, the more you +divide it, the greater it grows?' You will guess in a minute that I +mean _pleasure_; for indeed, my dear Emily, at this distance from you +all, when each delight is unshared by those I so dearly love, I seem to +enjoy myself only by halves. + +"I shall not detain you with a long account of my journey: we have read +together a description of the delightful scenes in the south and west of +England, I should therefore tell you nothing new, were I to describe +them even in the most minute manner. It is enough to say, that, although +my expectations were highly missed, I was not disappointed with the +scenery. + +"Mr. Dormer, last Saturday, promised me, that if the wind should prove +favourable, he would take me on Monday to see the Eddystone Lighthouse. +I was, as you may suppose, extremely delighted with the idea, and the +moment I was out of bed in the morning, ran to the window, and very +anxiously looked at the weather-cock, as my fate depended upon the point +from which the wind should blow. To my great joy, I found it full north- +west, which is the most favourable point of the compass for such an +expedition. + +"Whilst we were at breakfast, Mr. Dormer gave me some account of this +wonderful building. It is constructed upon the Eddystone Rock. Before +the construction of this lighthouse, many valuable vessels were wrecked +upon this spot. + +"The first lighthouse was built by a gentleman of the name of +Winstanley. He was a very singular man, and had a peculiar turn for +mechanics, which he frequently introduced into his furniture, in such a +manner as to surprise, and often even to terrify, his visitors. He lived +at Littlebury in Essex. In one of his rooms there was an old slipper, +lying, as it were, carelessly upon the floor; if you gave it a kick with +your foot, up started a ghastly-looking figure before you. If you sat +down in one particular chair, although there was nothing in its +appearance to distinguish it from others, a couple of arms would +immediately clasp you, so as to render it impossible to disentangle +yourself, till some one, who understood the trick, chose to set you at +liberty. In his garden was an arbour, by the side of a canal, in which, +if you unguardedly took a seat, forthwith you were sent afloat into the +middle of the water, before you were at all aware; from whence it was +impossible to escape, till the manager restored you to your former +situation on dry ground. + +"Mr. Dormer showed me a print of the lighthouse, which Mr. Winstanley +erected upon the rock. It must have been a whimsical-looking thing; more +like a fanciful Chinese temple, in my opinion, than an edifice that +would have to encounter the boisterous waves of the angry ocean. He +began the building in 1696, and it was four years before it was +completed. In 1703 it was much damaged, and stood in need of great +repair. Mr. Winstanley went himself to Plymouth, to superintend the +work. Some gentleman mentioning it to him, that they thought it was not +built upon a plan long to withstand the dreadful storms to which, from +its exposed situation, it would be subject, this presumptuous man +replied, that he was so well assured of the strength of his building, he +should only wish to be there during the most dreadful storm that ever +blew under the face of heaven, that he might see what effect it would +have upon his structure. He was, alas! too fatally gratified in this +presumptuous wish; for while he was there, with his workmen and light- +keeper, on the 26th of November, one of the most tremendous storms +began, which was ever known in great Britain. On the 27th, when the +violence was somewhat abated, many went to look anxiously for the +lighthouse; but not a remnant of it was remaining, nor were any of the +unfortunate people, nor ever any of the materials, ever afterward found. + +"The ravages occasioned by this tremendous tempest, were by no means +confined to the Eddystone. In London, the loss sustained by it was +calculated at one million sterling, and upwards of eight thousand +persons were supposed to be drowned in the several inundations it +occasioned. On one level, fifteen thousand sheep were lost; and a +person counted seventeen thousand trees blown up by the roots, in Kent +alone. What a happy thing is it for us, my dear sister, that these +dreadful convulsions of nature are not more frequent in our favoured +island. "Three years after the destruction of Mr. Winstanley's work, a +similar one was undertaken by a Mr. Rudyerd. It was built of wood and +upon a plan very different from the former, without any unnecessary +ornament, and well calculated to resist the fury of the waves. + +"Mr. Dormer related to me an anecdote of Louis the Fourteenth, king of +France, which, as I think his conduct on the occasion much to his +credit, I shall send to you. He was at war with the English at the time +this building was begun; during its progress, a French privateer took +the men at work on the rock prisoners, together with their tools, and +carried them to France. The captain, no doubt, expected a handsome +reward for his achievement. Whilst the captives lay in prison, the +transaction reached the ears of Louis: he immediately ordered the +prisoners to be released, and the men who had captured them to be put in +their place, declaring, that although he was at war with England, he was +not at war with all mankind. He therefore directed the men to be sent +back to their work with presents; observing, that the Eddystone +Lighthouse was so situated, as to be of equal service to all nations who +had occasion to navigate the channel which divides England from France. + +"I do not know, my dear Emily, whether you will feel as much interested +as myself, in the fate of this lighthouse; but I scarcely ever recollect +to have been more delighted, than with this ornament, and well +calculated to resist the fury of the waves. "Mr. Dormer related to me an +anecdote of Louis the Fourteenth, king of France, which, as I think his +conduct on the occasion much to his credit, I shall send to you. He was +at war with the English at the time this building was begun; during its +progress, a French privateer took the men at work on the rock prisoners, +together with their tools, and carried them to France. The captain, no +doubt, expected a handsome reward for his achievement. Whilst the +captives lay in prison, the transaction reached the ears of Louis: he +immediately ordered the prisoners to be released, and the men who had +captured them to be put in their place, declaring, that although he was +at ware with England, he was not at war with all mankind. He therefore +directed the men to be sent back to their work with presents; observing, +that the Eddystone Lighthouse was so situated, as to be of equal service +to all nations who had occasion to navigate the channel which divides +England from France. + +"I do not know, my dear Emily, whether you will feel as much interested +as myself, in the fate of this lighthouse but I scarcely ever recollect +to have been more delighted, than with this expedition, notwithstanding +my having been in considerable danger, as I shall tell you in its proper +place. The dread of that is, however, now over, and the information I +have gained, upon subject of which I was before totally ignorant, will, +I think, be a constant source of pleasure to me. I shall venture to give +you another anecdote or two respecting the lighthouse; for as our tastes +are, on many subjects, very similar, I am inclined to hope my account +will not weary your patience, though I sometimes fear, the lively little +Louisa may think I might have chosen a more interesting topic. + +"But to proceed with my relation. For many years after the establishment +of the second lighthouse, it was attended by two men only; and, indeed, +the duty required no more. This duty consisted in watching, alternately, +four hours, to snuff and renew the candles. But it happened that one of +the men was taken ill and died, and notwithstanding the Eddystone flag +was hoisted as a signal of distress, yet the weather was so boisterous +for some time, as to prevent any boat from getting near enough to speak +to them. In this dilemma, the living man found himself in a very awkward +situation, being apprehensive, that if he committed the dead body to the +deep, (the only way in which he could dispose of it,) he might be +charged with his murder. This induced him, for some time, to let the +corpse remain, in hopes that the boat might be able to land, and relieve +him from his distress. In the mean time, the body became, as it might +naturally be supposed that it would do, extremely offensive, and the +poor man's sufferings were, as you may imagine, very great. He, however, +bore it till some sailors effected their landing, when, with their +assistance, it was committed to the waves. This unpleasant circumstance +induced the proprietors afterwards to employ a third man; so that in +case of any future accident of the same nature, there might be +constantly one to supply his place. I should not much like a life of +such confinement, where the troubled waves must be almost one's only +companion. The tastes of mankind are, however, various, and it is very +well they are so:--'Many men, many minds,' as our copy says. Ferdinand +wanted an explanation of its meaning the other day. I can tell him a +little anecdote, very much to my present subject, and to that point +also. + +"A skipper was once carrying out a shoe-maker in his boat, to be a +light-keeper at the Eddystone. 'How happens it, friend,' said he, 'that +you should choose to go out to be a light-keeper, when you can, on +shore, as I am told, earn half-a-crown or three shillings a day, by +making leathern pipes; whereas, the light-keeper's salary is but twenty- +five pounds a year, which is scarcely ten shillings a week.' To this the +shoemaker replied: 'I am going, bcause I don't like confinement:' Thus +you see, my dear Ferdinand, what different ideas different people attach +to the same word. + +"I am now coming to a very melancholy part of my narrative, which is, +the fatal catastrophe that occasioned the destruction of this celebrated +building. + +"About two o'clock in the morning, on the second of December, 1755, when +one of the light-keepers went into the lantern to snuff the candles, as +usual, he found the whole in a smoke, and upon opening the door of the +lantern into the balcony, a flame instantly burst from the inside of the +cupola. He immediately endeavoured to alarm his companions; but they +being in bed and asleep, were some time before they came to his +assistance. + +"There were always some leathern buckets kept on the spot, and a tub of +water in the lantern. He therefore attempted to extinguish the flames in +the cupola, by throwing water from the balcony, upon the outside cover +of lead. As soon as his companions came to his assistance, he encouraged +them to fetch up water in the leathern buckets from the sea; which, you +may suppose, they could not do very quickly, as the fire was at so great +a height. You may judge of their horror, in perceiving that the flames +gained strength every moment, in spite of all their efforts to +extinguish them. The poor men were obliged to throw the water full four +yards higher than their heads, to render it of the least service. A most +remarkable accident put an end to the exertions of the unfortunate man +who first discovered the calamity. As he was looking very attentively, +with his mouth a little way open, a quantity of lead, melted by the heat +of the flames, suddenly rushed like a torrent from the roof, and fell, +not only upon his head, face, and shoulders, but even down his throat, +and into his stomach. This increased the terror and dismay of these +wretched men, who now saw no means of escaping. They found it impossible +to subdue the raging element, and, in dreadful alarm, retreated from the +immediate scene of horror, into one of the rooms below; and continued +descending, from room to room, as the fire, with constantly increasing +fury, advanced over their head. Early in the morning, the conflagration +was perceived by some fishermen in Plymouth Sound, who soon spread the +alarm: boats were instantly sent out to the relief of the unhappy +sufferers at the Eddystone. They were almost stupified with terror, and +were discovered sitting in a hole under the rock. All three were +conveyed in safety to the shore; but the poor man who had swallowed the +melted lead, continued to grow worse and worse, and in ten or eleven +days, he expired in great agonies. Although he had always himself been +positive that he had actually swallowed the melted metal, his physician +could scarcely believe it possible. After his death, his body was +opened, in order to ascertain the fact, and a large lump of lead, +weighing seven ounces and five drams, was actually found in his stomach. +It is a most extraordinary circumstance, but Mr. Dormer says it is so +well attested, as to be beyond all possibility of doubt. + +"The present lighthouse, the sight of which has afforded me so much +pleasure, was begun in 1756, by Mr. Smeaton, and completed in little +more than three years. It is built of stone, and is reckoned quite a +master-piece of architecture. Hitherto it has resisted the utmost +violence, both of the winds and waves, and seems likely to stand so long +as the rock itself endures. + +"I am amused myself on Saturday evening, with taking a small drawing of +this wonderful tower, from a large print belonging to our landlord. I +shall enclose it in this letter, as I think you will like to see a +representation of it. + +"But it is time, my dear Emily, to give you some account of our little +voyage. And now I fancy I see you all attention. My curious sister, +Louisa, has laid aside her work to listen the more profoundly; and the +ears and eyes of the philosophic little Ferdinand, are opened even wider +than usual, that he may not lose a single word of my narrative. + +"The day could not have been more delightful, nor the wind more +favourable; and if I shone in poetical description, here would be a fine +field for its display. I could tell you how brilliantly the sun-beams +danced upon the waters, and with how delightful a motion the vessel +glided lightly over its surface, as our sails swelled with the wind; but +all this I shall leave for your own fancies to picture. It is sufficient +for me to say, I completely enjoyed my short voyage. + +"A singular circumstance occurred soon after we left land. [Footnote: +This circumstance actually occurred to the passengers on board the +Argyle steam-boat, in the autumn of the year 1814.]--A poor little lark +was pursued, at no great distance from our vessel, by a merciless hawk; +the little creature continued, for some time, with surprising dexterity, +to elude the grasp of its intended destroyer. At length, quite exhausted +by its efforts, it alighted on our boat. I incautiously ran to catch it, +purposing to shield it from the threatened danger. Not, however, +comprehending my design, the terrified bird again took flight, and was +again pursued by its pitiless foe. Half a dozen crows from a +neighbouring wood, generously enlisted themselves on the weaker side, +and at length succeeded in driving completely away the formidable +antagonist; whilst the poor little lark again sought shelter on our +deck, and escaped the threatened danger. This was the only adventure +that befell us on our way to the rock. The landing was very hazardous; +at least, it appeared so to me, who am unaccustomed to such expeditions. + + +"I have already told you so many particulars of the Eddystone, that +little remains for me to add upon the subject. I was extremely pleased +with the opportunity of viewing this wonderful structure, in company +with so well-informed a friend as Mr. Dormer, who took the greatest +pains to explain to me the uses of its several parts. I thought of the +poor sufferers whom I have already mentioned, as exposed to the raging +of the flames; and trembled for my own safety, as the angry billows +dashed against the rocks, whilst their hollow roar seemed to me, who am +not accustomed to the tremendous sound, to threaten instant destruction. +The light-keepers told us, that, on the morning after a storm, the waves +dashed above a hundred feet over the top of the building, completely +concealing it by the spray. + +"After having spent some time in admiring this wonderful monument of +human ingenuity, we returned to our boat in high spirits, and little +anticipating the dangers that awaited us. + +"About half an hour after we left the rock, the gathering clouds +threatened an approaching tempest; and what is termed a land-swell, +dashed about our little bark, and terrified me most sadly. Mr. Dormer +was himself alarmed, but he acted on this occasion with his usual +fortitude and presence of mind. Some of the gentlemen on board, who had +been more accustomed than I to the boisterous element, laughed at my +fears, and called me a fresh-water sailor. The storm increased, and with +it my terrors. I thought of my dear parents; of you, my beloved Emily; +of Louisa, Ferdinand, and our dear little Sophy. I felt scarcely a hope +that I should ever see you more. My love for you would, I thought, be +soon buried with myself in the stormy deep. I do not like to think of +those moments of horror. Heaven, in mercy, preserved us through the +danger, and guided us in safety to the shore. Do you not remember the +description of a storm, in the "Odyssey," which we were reading last +week. I thought it, at the time, a striking passage, but having now +experienced myself, the horrors of such a scene, I can discover in it +additional beauties: + +"Meanwhile the god, whose hand the thunder forms, Drives clouds on +clouds, and blackens heaven with storms! Wide o'er the waste the rage of +Boreas sweeps, And night rush'd headlong on the shaded deeps." + +"What a long letter have I written to you, Emily. Pray give my duty to +my dear father and mother, kiss little Sophy for me, and give my kind +love to Louisa and Ferdinand. I long to see you again. Farewell, dear +Emily. + +"Your affectionate + +"EDWARD." + +"Oh, what a delightful letter!" cried Louisa, as Emily concluded it: +"but only think of his being exposed to such a dreadful storm. Dear, +dear Edward, how thankful I am that you escaped in safety." + +The moistened eye of his tender parent, directed with pious gratitude to +heaven, silently spoke her feelings. + +"Edward is quite mistaken in thinking that I should not feel interest in +his account of the lighthouse," continued Louisa; "for I think every +thing he has mentioned extremely entertaining, and even feel +disappointed that he has not given a more particular account of the +present building." + +"I believe, my dear," said her mother, "I can supply you with all the +information you wish, as I have frequently heard your father speak upon +the subject." + +_Louisa_. Thank you, mamma. Then, first of all, I want to know who Mr. +Smeaton was, who built it. + +_Mrs. B._ He was, originally, a philosophical instrument maker; and in +consequence of his having made many inventions and improvements in +mechanics, he was chosen a Fellow of the Royal Society, in 1753. Not +finding the business in which he first embarked likely to afford him +much emolument, he turned his attention to architecture, and was +recommended to Lord Macclesfield as a very suitable person to attempt +the re-building of the Eddystone Lighthouse. His lordship bore a strong +testimony to his ability, in declaring he had never known him to +undertake anything, which he did not complete to the perfect +satisfaction of those who employed him. + +_Louisa_. This was speaking highly in his favour, indeed. I should think +it would make the proprietors very anxious to have him undertake the +work. + +_Mrs. B._ It did, my dear. He was at that time engaged in business in +Scotland, where a friend wrote to him, merely informing him, in a few +words, that he was made choice of, as a proper person to rebuild the +Eddystone Lighthouse. Mr. Smeaton not understanding that the former +building had been totally consumed, imagined he was only required to +repair or rebuild the upper part of it; or, perhaps, that he was merely +requested to give in his proposals, with other candidates. The +information of his friend, therefore, occasioned him no great joy; nor +was he much inclined to have any thing to do in the business, not +thinking it prudent to leave the affairs, which at that time engaged his +attention, upon an uncertainty. + +_Louisa_. How much disappointed the proprietors must have been, if he +sent them this answer. + +_Mrs. B._ He first prudently wrote a letter to his friend, enquiring +what was the extent of the mischief the former lighthouse had sustained, +and whether he was actually appointed to make the repairs. To this he +received an answer still more laconic than the first letter had been: +"It is a total demolition; and, as Nathan said unto David, thou art the +man." + +_Louisa_. What an odd man that friend must have been. I suppose this +second letter pleased him highly, and that he was willing to undertake +the business. + +_Mrs. B._ Yes, my dear; he regarded it as a high honour to be considered +competent to so great a work, and having finished the business in which +he was engaged in the north, he set off for London, where he arrived on +the 23d of February, 1756. Mr. Smeaton had an interview with the +proprietors, when it was determined that he should go to Plymouth; and, +after seeing the rock, and examining the plans upon which the two former +buildings had been erected, should communicate his ideas to the +proprietors. They seemed to wish to have it again constructed with wood; +Mr. Smeaton himself, on the contrary, greatly preferred stone. + +_Louisa_. I should think stone would be much best: it could not then be +burnt down again; but I suppose it would be a great deal dearer than +wood. + +_Mrs. B._ Exactly so, Louisa. However, the gentlemen concerned in the +business, were too generous to let this influence their determination; +therefore, when convinced that it would not only be stronger constructed +of stone, but also more speedily erected, they did not hesitate a +moment, but determined that it should be rebuilt in the very best +manner; and such was their confidence in Mr. Smeaton's honour and +integrity, that they left the accomplishment of the plan entirely to +him. + +_Louisa_. In what month did he begin his work, mamma? + +_Mrs. B._ On the 23d of July, 1756, he set sail for the rock; but there +was a great deal to be done before the erection of the building could be +begun. First, marking out and preparing the rock, and contriving such +cements as would not be affected by water. + +_Ferdinand._ I was wondering how that would be managed. + +_Mrs. B._ Mr. Smeaton was indefatigable in his experiments upon that +subject, and at length succeeded, in a manner equal to his most sanguine +expectations. + +_Louisa_. I long to hear when he began the building. + +_Mrs. B._ Have a little patience, my love, and you shall hear. Towards +the end of May, 1757, every thing was in readiness for the commencement +of the work. The comfort and accommodation of the light-keepers was, in +this building, most kindly considered. In the one constructed by Mr. +Rudyerd, the bed-rooms had been in the lower part, and the kitchen at +top; but the beds were, in that case, very apt to be damp. In the +present instance, the chambers are contrived above the kitchen; the +funnel for the smoke from which, passes through them, and by this means +they are kept constantly warm and comfortable. I cannot give you an +account of the whole admirable arrangement of this building, nor do I +think it would be at all interesting to you if I could; you will be +satisfied to know, that on the 9th of October, 1759, it was completed, +without loss of life or limb to any person concerned in it. Not a +single accident occurred during the whole time, by which the work could +be said to have been retarded. The time that elapsed, between the first +stroke upon the rock, and leaving the lighthouse completed, was three +years, nine weeks, and three days. + +_Louisa_. Thank you, dear mamma. Now I think I know all about it; and +I feel quite as well pleased, as if I had actually been at the +Eddystone, and heard the billows roar, and seen the waves dash over it, +in the tremendous manner Edward says they sometimes do. + +"I am much better pleased than I should be under those circumstances," +said Emily, whose gentle nature preferred the calm of domestic life, to +any other scene. But Ferdinand thought it would certainly be more +interesting to see and hear for himself, under all circumstances, than +to receive the most eloquent description from the lips of another. + +"And now, pray, mamma," added he, "what does Edward mean by calling me a +philosopher. I believe he only intended to laugh at me, and that I do +not much like. Little boys cannot be philosophers, can they?" + +"I shall answer your question by another," returned his mother: "Can +little boys love to acquire wisdom?" + +"O yes, mamma, certainly," said Edward, "for I love nothing so well as +hearing new things, and improving myself." + +"The word philosophy," my dear, "is formed from two Greek terms, which +signify a lover of wisdom. You have heard your father speak of +Pythagoras?" + +_Ferdinand._ Yes, I have, mamma. I heard him once say, that he was the +first who discovered the solar system. + +_Mrs. B._ Do you understand the meaning of the term you have just used, +my dear? + +_Ferdinand_. It means, the revolution of the earth and other planets +round the sun, I believe, mamma. + +_Mrs. B._ True. This was discovered, as your father has informed you, +by Pythagoras, several hundred years before the birth of our Saviour. +This great man was as humble as he was wise; and when the appellation of +_sophist_ was given him, which signifies a wise man, he requested rather +to be called a _philosopher_, or _lover_ of wisdom. + +_Ferdinand_. I like Pythagoras very much, mamma; I wish you would be so +kind as to tell me some more about him. + +_Mrs. B._ That I will do most willingly, my dear. I see the sun is +breaking out, and I believe we may venture to take a little walk. Go +and put on your cloaks and bonnets, Emily and Louisa, and we will talk +about Pythagoras as we go along. + +The children were soon equipped, and joined their mother in the garden. +The plantations were extensive, and as the clouds still looked dark and +lowering, they did not venture to extend their ramble beyond them. + +Mrs. Bernard aroused them for some time, with relating the most +interesting particulars of the life of Pythagoras. + +Louisa thought his forbidding his pupils to speak in his presence, till +they had listened five years to his instructions, was not a good plan; +declaring, that she should learn very little, were she not allowed to +ask the meaning of such things as she did not understand, and to mention +her own notions upon various subjects. + +"The plan adopted by Pythagoras," said Mrs. Bernard, "was calculated to +teach his pupils those amiable virtues--diffidence, humility, and +forbearance. These charms give a brilliant lustre to every other +acquirement; indeed, they are so necessary, that knowledge without them, +far from improving a character, is apt to produce conceit and arrogance, +which are great failings in all, but particularly disgusting in youth." + +Louisa fully agreed to the truth of her mother's remark, and was going +on with the conversation upon the character of the philosopher, when her +attention was attracted by her favourite tortoise. He was creeping +slowly out of his hole, to enjoy the sun-beams, which at this instant, +with splendour, shone through the dark cloud, that a moment before had +obscured his rays. + +"Mamma, does not the tortoise live a great many years?" enquired Louisa. + +"It does, my dear," returned Mrs. Bernard: "I was reading an account in +the 'Monthly Magazine,' this morning, of one which lives in the garden +of the Bishop of Peterborough, and is known to have been two hundred and +sixteen years in the country." + +"Two hundred and sixteen years!" exclaimed Louisa, with astonishment: +"why that is almost as long as the patriarchs lived of old." + +"Oh no, indeed, you are mistaken there, Louisa," said Ferdinand; "for I +read in the Bible, this morning, that Methuselah, who was the oldest man +ever known, lived nine hundred and sixty-nine years." + +Mr. Bernard at this instant joined them, and in conversation equally +instructive and entertaining, the time passed pleasantly away, till the +dinner-bell summoned them to the house. + +"Several days elapsed without any remarkable occurrence; frequent +showers prevented their visiting the poor cottager, whose health +gradually recovered, under the kind care of her excellent nurse Jane, +and the tender attentions of her little Susan. On the day fixed for +Edward's return, the two children were again taken to their humble home, +and rejoiced their mother by their improved appearance. + +Each hour was anxiously counted, as the time fixed for his arrival +approached. Ferdinand, Louisa, and little Sophy, stationed themselves +at the window. Anxiously they watched every carriage that drove past +the gate; at length, a cry of joy announced his arrival. In an instant +he was folded in the arms of his tender parents, and alternately +embraced, with the greatest affection, by his brother and sisters. Every +individual rejoiced at his return. And thus restored to the bosom of +DOMESTIC PLEASURE, we leave him, for the present, tranquil and happy. + + +THE END. + +* * * * * HISTORICAL QUESTIONS. + + +Who were Numitor and Amullus? Who was Romulus? To what danger were +Romulus and Remus exposed in their infancy? How were they preserved? +Where does the river Tiber rise, and where does it discharge itself? +What is its present name? What was the employment of Romulus and Remus +during their youth? What circumstance was the principal cause of the +change in their situations? What occasioned the death of Remus? Who +founded Rome? What was its first form of government? Did any thing +extraordinary attend the first peopling of Rome? What was the cause of +the Sabine war? How did the Sabines gain possession of the Capitoline +hill? How was Tarpeia punished for her treachery? What was the +consequence of the Sabines becoming masters of the Capitoline hill? How +were the two nations reconciled? What change did this reconciliation +occasion in the government of Rome? Did Tatius long survive this +arrangement? What occasioned the death of Romulus? Who was Numa +Pompilius, and what was his character? Was he elected to the sovereign +authority immediately after the death of Romulus? How was he received by +the Roman people? How did he fulfill the important duties of a king? +What was the name of the temple he built, which was only opened during +war? What regulations did he make, to allay the animosities subsisting +between the Sabines and Romans? How many years did he reign, and what +was his age at his death? Where was he buried? Can you tell me why Numa +called the first month January, and whence the others derived their +names? Who was the third king of Rome? What was his character? Who were +the first people who gave Tallus an opportunity of indulging his warlike +disposition? How was this war terminated? Who were the Horatii and +Curiatii? What cruel action tarnished the honour which Horatius gained +by his victory? Did he undergo no punishment for his crime? What was the +yoke, used as a punishment by the Romans? Did Horatius receive no honour +for his victory? Did the Romans continue at peace after the termination +of the Alban war? How was the life of Tullus Hostilius terminated? Give +me a sketch of his character. What new law did he establish? Who +succeeded him? Who was Ancus Martius? What was his character? Give me a +short sketch of his reign. How long did he govern Rome? Who succeeded +him? Who was Lucius Tarquinius Priscus? How did he obtain the crown? How +did he govern the city so unjustly acquired? Give me an account of +Altius Naevius, and tell me the meaning of the word augur. What was +Tully's opinion of the pretended miracle? How did Tarquinius close his +long life? Were his murderers taken? Did they confess their guilt? What +is the punishment of the torture? How did queen Tanaquil act upon the +death of her husband? What became of the sons of Ancus Martius? How did +Servius act? Who were his parents? Where is Corniculum situated, and +what is its present name? Is any thing extraordinary related respecting +his infancy? Who had the charge of his education? How can you account +for his having so easily obtained the throne on the death of his father- +in-law? In what manner did he conduct himself after his accession? How +was he received by the nobles? How did Servius act in this emergency? +How did he ingratiate himself with the people? Give me some account of +the war with the Vicentes. Where is Veii? What was the result of this +war? How did Servius still further work upon the feelings of the people? +Did the nobles raise any other cabals against him? What resolution was +he inclined to make in consequence of this? Who prevented his fulfilling +this resolution? What was the character of Tanaquil? Was Servius engaged +in any new war? How did he employ the interval of rest after the +termination of this war? What important regulations did he introduce +into the government? What was his most impolitic measure? What was the +consequence of the ill-judged marriage of his daughters? What stratagem +did Tarquin make use of to gain possession of the throne? In what manner +did he behave to her aged father? How did Tullia act upon seeing the +bleeding body of her father in the street? Give me a sketch of the +character of the venerable Servius. At what age did he die, and how long +had he reigned? Was he allowed the honours of a funeral? What became of +his wife Tarquinia? What do you learn from this disgraceful catastrophe? +How did Tarquin act upon the death of the aged Servius? Give me a proof +of his injustice How did Brutus escape the same sad fate as the rest of +his family? How did the nobles escape the tyranny of Tarquin? How did he +act towards the people? How did he employ them, to prevent their +brooding over their misfortunes? How were the patricians kept in +submission? How afar distant was Gabii from Rome? What circumstance +occurred to increase the discontents of the Roman people? What plan did +Sextus devise, to extricate his father from his difficulties? How did he +execute it? What were the consequences? What happened to Tarquin and his +infamous son, after their treachery? What became of the unfortunate +inhabitants of Gabii? Give me an account of the manner in which the +Sybilline books were brought to Rome. What occurred to interrupt the +tranquillity of Tarquin's reign? What means did he take to enquire into +the cause of this calamity? Who accompanied the princes to the Oracle? +What present did Brutus take to the god? What answer was returned to +their enquiries of who should succeed Tarquin on the throne? How did +Brutus act when he heard the reply? What occasioned the overthrow of the +regal power in Rome? How did Brutus act on this occasion? What effect +had his speech upon the people? How did Tarquin act? What was his object +in going to Gabii? Did he succeed to his wishes? Whither did he next +flee? What was passing in the meantime in Rome? Who did Tarquin persuade +to undertake an embassy to Rome? What was the object of it? How were the +ambassadors received? Being disappointed in this scheme, what was +Tarquin's next attempt? Was this second embassy successful? What were +his demands? Were they granted? What was the consequence? Who were the +most remarkable among the conspirators? By whom was their plot +discovered? Who sat in judgment on the sons of Brutus? What was his +decree? What became of the other conspirators? How did Brutus meet his +death? What funeral honours were decreed him? What became of Tarquin? +When was Rome built? In what year was the regal power abolished? How +long had it existed? + +* * * * * + +MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS. + + +Who was the wisest of men? What was his choice, when many blessings were +offered him? Do you consider knowledge and wisdom to be the same thing? +Repeat to me Cowper's lines upon this subject. Where does tea come from? +What was the cause of its first introduction into Europe? How many years +is it since this circumstance? How many pounds weight were sold by the +East India Company in the year 1700? What is the present annual +consumption? Can you give me any account of the manner in which it is +cultivated? On what does the difference of flavour depend? How is it +prepared for sale? What occasions the difference between green and black +tea? Give me some account of the dwarf named Baby. On what account did +Peter the Great assemble a vast number of dwarfs together? Can you tell +me where birds of Paradise come from, and how many species there are of +them? Give me 1 description of this bird. Do they migrate? What is the +meaning of the word monsoon? What is the food of the humming-bird, and +how does it procure it? How do they construct their nests? Will these +birds live in England? What is the peculiarity of the feet of the +Chinese women? Give me a description of the mode of educating the boys +in China. Are the girls of that country equally well educated? What is +the native country of the peacock? Where are the islands of Java and +Ceylon situated? Give me some further particulars of the peacock. Repeat +these lines of Cowper's, in which he so prettily contrasts the retiring +modesty of the pheasant, with the proud display made by the peacock, of +his gaudy plumes. Repeat to me the passage on politeness, quoted from +Xenophon's Cyropaedia. Give me some particulars of that curious little +animal, the Lapland Marmot. What is asbestos? Where is it found? Of what +use is the cloth manufactured from it, and what are its peculiar +properties? How many classes are there in botany? How many are there in +that division of natural history called the animal kingdom? What are +their names? How many divisions are there in natural history? How many +orders belong to the first class, Mammalia? What are their names? Repeat +to me Mr. Pope's lines upon Superficial Information? What is the meaning +of the word Pierian? Who were the nine Muses? Relate the story of the +old man and his bundle of sticks. Can you tell me the origin of fables? +What is the first specimen of them of which we read? Explain to me the +application of the fable of the bramble. What was the parable spoken by +Nathan to King David? Give me an account of the Americana vessel +stranded on the island of Stameo. Where is this island situated, and are +its inhabitants numerous? What are their manners and government? Repeat +to me Cecil's remarks on Punctuality. What becomes of swallows in the +winter? What is Mr. White's opinion on that subject? How many kinds of +British hirundines are there, and what are their names? Which species +first makes its appearance? How does the swallow construct its nest? How +many broods do they rear each season? On what do they feed? How are +swallows distinguished from the other species of hirundines? In what +month do they usually disappear? Repeat to me Mr. White's lines upon +these birds. How does the house-martin construct her nest? In what month +do they usually leave us? How are they distinguished? Give me some +account of the swift. Where do they build their nests, and how many eggs +does the female usually lay? How may they be distinguished from the +other species? Do they continue with us as late a the former ones? Can +you give me some account of the sand-martin? How are they distinguished? +Are they songsters? Give me some account of the nest of the esculent +martin. What is ginseng, and where is it found? Where are the nests of +the esculemt-martin found, and what is their value? How do the +inhabitants procure them? What particular ceremony do the Javanese use, +previously to this undertaking? Give me some account of the dragon-fly. +What are the insects upon which they particularly feed? Where does the +female deposit her eggs? What is the first appearance this insect +assumes? Upon what do they feed in this state? How long do they continue +reptiles? Give me some account of their transformation. What is the +opinion of Hunter, the celebrated anatomist, respecting the migration of +the swallow tribes, and upon what clues he found his opinion? What is +the meaning of the word anatomy? What difference is there between the +internal structure of the cassowary and the ostrich? What is the meaning +of the term, benefit of clergy? How is the first class in natural +history, called Mamamalia, distinguished? What animals belong to the +first order, Primates, and how may they be distinguished? Which are the +canine teeth? What animals belong to the second order, Bruta, and how +may they be known? What are the characteristics of the third order, +Fera, and what animals does it comprehend? Give me an account of the +fourth order, Glires, with the animals belonging to it. What animals +belong to the fifth order, Pecora, and how may they be known? What are +the characteristics of the sixth order, Fellux, and what animals are +included under it? How is the seventh order, Cete, distinguished? What +is the meaning of the word _predacious_? What are the pectoral fins, and +what is their use? What is the meaning of the term _cartilaginous_? What +is geography? What is chronology? What are the causes of earthquakes? +Give me an account of the one which happened in Jamaica in 1692. Give me +some account of the one in Calabria. Repeat Cowper's lines upon this +subject. What is tapioca? What is sago? Of what use is the Eddystone +Lighthouse? By when was the first constructed? What was this gentleman's +character? What occasioned the destruction of this edifice? Give me some +account of the dreadful storm that occurred in the year 1703. By whom +was the second lighthouse built, and what were the materials of which is +was composed? How did Louis XIV behave to some workmen captured on the +rock by a French Privateer? What circumstance occasioned there being +three men stationed on this spot, instead of two, as formerly? What +destroyed the second building? What particular circumstance occurred +during this sad catastrophe? In what year was the present building +erected, and who was the architect? With what materials is the present +edifice constructed? Give me some account of the circumstances that led +to the appointment of Mr. Smeaton to this undertaking? How long were +they in building the present lighthouse? From what is the word +philosophy derived? What is the solar system? By whom was it first +discovered? Does the tortoise live many years? What is the age of the + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Domestic pleasures, by F. B. Vaux + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DOMESTIC PLEASURES *** + +This file should be named 7830-8.txt or 7830-8.zip + +Produced by Ted Garvin and the Distributed Proofreading Team + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +https://gutenberg.org or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +https://www.gutenberg.org/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/7830-8.zip b/7830-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d61bb4c --- /dev/null +++ b/7830-8.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d8c4281 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #7830 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7830) |