Barbadoes Girl: A Tale for Young People Page 8

  CHAPTER VIII.

  One day, when Edmund and Charles had been at home about a week, the latterran eagerly into the sitting-parlour, crying out--"Oh, mamma! there isBetty's sister down stairs, with the poor little twins in her arms, whichwere born just when Matilda came; they have short frocks now, but Iperceive they have no shoes: suppose we young ones subscribe, and buythem some, poor things! there is my eighteen-penny piece for shoes,mamma--shoes, and hats too, if we can raise money enough."

  Mrs. Harewood could not help smiling at Charles's eagerness, as sheremembered the useful mortification he had experienced the last time hischarity was called upon; and as she took up the money, she observed tohim--"I am glad to see this, Charles; it is a proof you are more providentthan you used to be; and, with your propensity to spending, it requires nolittle effort to save, in a large school, where there are always manytemptations. I think your proposal is a very good one; and whilst I amcollecting the money, pray step down stairs, and tell Betty to bring upthe little innocents--we shall all be glad to see them."

  Charles flew out of the room, and in less than a minute returned with themother, carrying a babe in each arm. She was a very decent woman, the widowof a soldier, who died before his poor children were born; she nowendeavoured to maintain herself and them by taking in washing, togetherwith the pay of the parish, which, although small, she received verythankfully, and managed very carefully.

  "Look, mamma! what pretty little feet they have," cried Ellen; "I am sureCharles was a good boy to think about shoes for them--was it not very kindof him, Matilda? because you know little boys seldom love little babies somuch as girls do."

  Matilda answered "yes," mechanically, for her mind was abstracted, andaffected by the remembrance this scene was calculated to inspire. Mrs.Harewood, feeling for her evident embarrassment, sent the poor woman downstairs to take some refreshment, and then laid a three-shilling piece, asher own share of the contribution, besides Charles's subscription on thetable.

  Edmund laid a shilling on the table, saying--"If more is wanted, I willgive you another with great pleasure: I hope, mamma, you _know_ that Iwill?"

  "Yes, Edmund, I _do_ know that you will do any thing in your power, for youare regular and prudent, as well as a kind-hearted boy, and therefore havealways got something to spare for the wants of others; I perceive, too,that you have the good sense to examine the nature of the claim made uponyou, and that you give accordingly; _you_ are aware, and I wish all theyoung ones to be so likewise, that this, although an act of charity, is notcalled for by any immediate distress; it is not one of those cases whichwring the heart and drain the purse, for the poor woman is neitherunprovided with lodgings nor food, and we ought always to keep somethingfor the sake of sufferers of that description: I wish you, children, to befree and liberal, for we are told in the scriptures that 'God loveth acheerful giver;' but, in order to render you also frequent givers, you mustbe prudent ones."

  "I have only one shilling in the world," said Ellen, laying it on thetable.

  "Then sixpence is as much as you ought to give," said Mrs. Harewood,giving her a sixpence in change, when, observing that she took it with anair of reluctance, she said--"My dear Ellen, be satisfied; you are a littlegirl, and have not half your brother's allowance, you know--it issufficient."

  While this was passing, Matilda had been fumbling in her pocket, andblushing excessively; her mind was full of painful recollections, yetfraught with gleams of satisfaction; but she wished very much to do twovery contrary things, and whilst she still hesitated, Miss Campbellsaid--"Here is another sixpence, ma'am, which I will take, and give you aneighteen-pence, as I wish to give you a shilling, with Edmund's proviso."

  "But," said Matilda, with a mixture of eagerness and hesitation, "thenthere will be no change for me, and I wish to give the same as Ellen; don'tI want change, ma'am? I--I believe I do."

  There was, in this confusion, and the blush which deepened in her cheek, asomething which showed Mrs. Harewood a great deal of what was passing inthe mind of this self-convicted, but compassionate and ingenuous girl. Mrs.Harewood took her shilling, and returned her sixpence, which she evidentlyreceived with pain, but an effort to smile, as Ellen had done, in returnfor the smile of her mamma.

  After a short pause, Mrs. Harewood said--"Well, Matilda, your delicacy isnow satisfied--you have not affected any display of humanity, orostentatious exhibition of wealth, in order to humble your young friends;but I perceive your heart is not satisfied; that heart is really interestedin these babes, and, conscious that it is in your power to do more, you aremortified at stopping short of your own wishes and their wants."

  "Oh dear, ma'am," replied Matilda, "you have read all the thoughts of myheart, (at least all but one,) and if you think it right, and Ellen willnot think me proud, I will indeed be very glad if you will accept a crownfor my subscription."

  "I shall receive it with pleasure; and I can venture to assure you, that mychildren will neither feel envy, anger, nor any other emotion, except joy,at seeing the little objects of their care benefited, and you happy; forthey have been taught only to value such actions, according to the motivein one party, and their usefulness to the other: but, Matilda, if it is nota very great secret, I should be glad to know what that _one_ other thoughtin your heart was, which I did not guess, upon this occasion?"

  Matilda did not find this question so easy of reply as Mrs. Harewood hadexpected it to be; she blushed and hung down her head; but, on perceivingthat Mrs. Harewood was going to release her from all necessity of reply,she struggled to conquer what she deemed a weakness in herself, andanswered thus--"Why, my dear madam, I was thinking what a little proud,stubborn, ill-behaved girl I was, at the time when these twins were born,and we first made a subscription for this poor woman; I remembered, too,how miserable I was, and altogether how much I had to lament, and I feltas if I could like to do something, to prove how thankful I am to God forbringing me into a family like yours, where every day of my life I maylearn something good, and where I have been a great deal more happy thanever I was before, even in the house with my own parents."

  Matilda stopped a moment, as if she thought her confession had perhapsinfringed on her duty; but recollecting that all her past sorrow had beenlaid to the proper account, which was her own bad temper and pride, sheagain proceeded in it.

  "When I thought on these things, I came close up to you; but my heart beatso quick, I could not speak, or else I had a guinea in my hand, the lastmy dear mamma gave me, and I wished very much to give you _that_; but thenthe memory of my foolish pride, the last time, came again into my mind--Ibecame ashamed, and determined in all things to be guided by Ellen, who isalmost a year older than I, and a great deal better."

  "No, no--not _better_," said Ellen, warmly; and even her brothers, wholoved her very dearly, struck with the same admiration of Matilda'sfrankness and generosity, exclaimed--"You are as good as Ellen _now_,Matilda--indeed you are!"

  Mrs. Harewood, tenderly kissing her, assured her of her approbation,saying--"All you have said, my dear, tends decidedly to prove that yourmind is indeed properly impressed with your duty both towards God and man,and that you have the most sincere desire to conquer those faults which youhave already greatly amended; therefore I am determined to permit you toexercise your benevolence, in the most extensive manner that your heartcould wish, knowing, as I do, that your fortune is fully equal to any actof charity, and that your good mamma will not fail to approve of it."

  "Thank you, thank you, dear Mrs. Harewood! oh, you are my English mother,and I love you much more than any other person in the world, except myBarbadoes mamma."

  The children eagerly crowded round their mother's chair, to hear what thegood news was, which promised to benefit Sally, and make Matilda happy.

  "I know," said Mrs. Harewood, "that the purchase of a mangle would set upthe poor woman in her profession as a washerwoman, and enable her to earnat least ten shillings a-week more. It was my intention to purchase one forher myself
at Christmas; but I could not do it before, as my charity-pursehas been very much run upon lately. When Mr. Harewood comes in, I will askfor the money, and to-morrow we will all go in the coach, and see Matildapurchase it: but, my dear girl, suppose you just step and inform the poorwoman of your intention, which I am certain you had rather do withoutwitnesses; it will not only increase her pleasure, but enable her toprepare her apartment for such a noble and useful piece of furniture."

  Matilda left the room, but returned almost immediately.

  "You have been very quick," said Ellen, in rather a murmuring voice; "Iwanted to know what she said and how she looked when you told her the goodnews."

  "I did not speak to her myself--I commissioned Zebby to do it, for I knewit would give her quite as much pleasure as the poor woman herself couldreceive; and surely she has a right to receive every good I can bestow, asa slight atonement for the pain I have so very frequently given her."

  Scarcely had Matilda given this proof of consideration and amiable feeling,when Sally and Zebby rushed into the room together, followed by Betty, whowas truly grateful for the kindness thus bestowed on her sister.

  Sally, with tears of joy, thanked her young benefactress; her words werefew, but they were those of respect and thankfulness, and showed she wasdeeply sensible of the benefit she experienced.

  Poor Zebby, delighted with the goodness of her young mistress, audiblyexpressed her pleasure, with all the characteristic warmth of her country,and not a little proud of those virtues which she fancied she had assistedto nurture.--"Oh," cried she, "dis be my own beautiful Missy own goodness;she makee joy in her mamma heart; she makee poor negro all happy--singeeand dancee every body; no more whip, massa Buckraman--every bodydelight--every body glad--every body good Christian, when Missy go back!"

  The spontaneous effusion of joy, uttered by this daughter of nature,affected all the party, and the joyful bustle had not subsided when Mr.Harewood entered. On being informed of the cause, he gave his full assent,and produced the money necessary for the purchase of the mangle.

  The following day was pleasantly employed in arranging the poor woman'snew acquisition; and when Matilda saw her grateful, happy countenance, andlearned the manner in which the machine would be worked, and its usefulnessin smoothing linen, she felt the value of a useful life, and a sense of herown importance, distinct from the idle consequence which is the result ofvanity and pride, but perfectly compatible with the self-distrust and truehumility which was now happily taking a deep root in her young mind.

  Mrs. Harewood was gratified in perceiving such results of her maternal carefor Matilda: still she did not relax in her vigilance; for she well knew,that along with corn will spring up tares in every young mind, and that thevirtue of one day does not exempt from the vice of another, during theyears of early life; and there were still many points in which the errorsof her Barbadoes education were but too visible, and which called for thepruning hand of a sensible and pious friend.