Part 3

_Lydia_ received her Mamma’s tenderest caresses, and commendations, for her sentiment and generosity; you judge with great propriety and delicacy, my dear, as to not taking the work-bag; and Mrs. _Grant_, who must know the history of poor _Fanny_’s, will easily guess your reason for leaving yours at home, and will honour you for it; and _Fanny_, when she knows how kind and considerate you are, must love you dearly. The coach was soon after at the door, and Miss _Lydia_, her Mamma, one of her sisters, and _Fanny_ got in.

Poor _Fanny_ was that day an instance how one giddy or thoughtless thing may entirely destroy a person’s pleasure. She had been expecting the day they were to go to Mrs. _Grant_’s with great impatience and delight; but her unfortunate carelessness had so altered her feelings, that she dreaded the thought of going, and would very gladly have been left behind. She was very grave all the way, though _Lydia_ tried all she could to amuse her, by pointing out to her the flowers in the hedges, the birds in the trees, and the carriages as they passed, Mrs. _Grant_ was very happy to see them all, and especially the two young ones. She observed them, however, a little, to see if they had brought their work-bags.

The young ladies, as they were seating themselves, observed upon a table, at the farther end of the room, two very little cradles with dolls in them; they thought it probable they were intended as a present for them; and this thought increased poor Miss _Fanny_’s distress and confusion: to receive another present when she had been so careless of the former, hurt every generous principle within her; after some little time, Mrs. _Grant_ asked Miss _Lydia_ if she had done her tucker? _Lydia_ answered very modestly and prettily, Yes, Madam.

And why did you not then bring it to show me? I dare say it is very nicely done; and I had pleased myself much with the thoughts of seeing both your works: is yours finished too, Miss _Fanny_? Poor _Fanny_ could hold out no longer, but burst into tears. Her aunt was so good as to explain to Mrs. _Grant_ the cause of her grief, and tell how very sorry she had been: she likewise informed her of _Lydia_’s delicacy in not chusing to make a parade of her work-bag, which was, however, very safe at home.

You are a sweet girl, said Mrs. _Grant_, and will, I dare say, make an excellent nurse; she then fetched the two cradles; they are both of white sattin, the one had fine worked muslin curtains tied with blue, and a muslin dimity quilt fringe; and in it lay a little doll dressed like a little boy in a muslin robe, with a laced rose to his cap, and a blue sash. The other cradle had pink Persian curtains tied with white ribbon, and a white sattin quilt bound with pink ribbon; this contained a little girl in a muslin robe likewise, with a pink ribbon round her cap, and a pink sash round her waist. The goodness of your behaviour, said Mrs. _Grant_, I think entitles you to the privilege of chusing first; take which you like: Miss _Fanny_ will accept the other; and I dare say she will not let the puppy come into her nursery.

Miss _Lydia_ begged leave to let Miss _Fanny_ chuse first, and pressed her much to say which she liked best; but she constantly refused; till after this friendly contest had lasted some little time, Miss _Lydia_’s Mamma told her, it would be better for her to make a choice, as Miss _Fanny_ could not be persuaded to determine.

The dear girl had pitied _Fanny_, and wished that she should be pleased about the doll; and as she knew that she very much preferred the little boy herself, she naturally thought that _Fanny_ would do so too, and, therefore, left it for her, and took the little girl. _Fanny_ then took the boy, and promised to guard it from puppies, and all other mischances.

I thought, said the elder Miss _Lively_, you were wishing but the other day for a little boy doll. I expected you would have chosen that?

_Lydia_ said nothing. But Mrs. _Grant_, who guessed her reason, asked _Fanny_ which she really thought the prettiest? _Fanny_ thus called upon, said, they were both pretty; but she thought the little girl the prettiest. Then pray take it, said _Lydia_; for Indeed I left the boy because I thought you would like it best. And I, said _Fanny_, did not like to say any thing, because I thought my cousin liked the little girl best.

You are both charming girls, said Mrs. _Grant_, but I suppose, if you change, each will have exactly what she wishes. The exchange was made, and afterward the young ladies spent their time till dinner in nursing their children, and putting them into and taking them out of the cradle.

Miss _Lydia_ had now quite left off whining and frowning, and was grown a very agreeable play-fellow and companion; and as she and _Fanny_ amused themselves, without any noise or bustle, it was a pleasure to see them in the room. During the whole time they staid, they behaved in the most pleasing manner; and Mrs. _Grant_ did every thing in her power to make the visit agreeable to them. After passing a very cheerful day, they returned home, and Miss _Lydia_ had the pleasure of seeing her little friend in much better spirits than when she set out.

CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH.

_THE BASKET OVERTURNED._

One day, as Miss _Lydia_ was walking in the fields with her Mamma, her sisters, and _Fanny_, she saw a little girl standing near the hedge, and crying very sadly. The voice of distress was never heard without attention by Miss _Lydia_; she ran up to the girl, followed by _Fanny_, and asked her what was the matter?

GIRL.

Oh! dear, what shall I do! my eggs are almost all broken! and my mother will be so angry, I am afraid to go home!

LYDIA.

Do not cry, I dare say your mother will not be very angry: my Mamma would not, I am sure.

GIRL (_still sobbing_.)

Yes, Miss; but my mother will, and beat me severely too. I was to have sold them for a shilling, and carried back some butter and a loaf.

LYDIA.

I dare say you did not break them on purpose: how did it happen?

GIRL.

My mother put two dozen of eggs into this little basket, and wrapped them nicely up in straw, and bade me go directly to town with them, and not stop at all. She told me I must sell them for a shilling, and bring back a loaf and some butter. I walked straight on till I came to this field, and then the blackberries looked so nice in the hedge, that I longed to get some; and I thought there could be no harm in stepping to the hedge and gathering a few. I set my basket down because I wanted to reach a very fine bough that grew in the back part of the hedge; but while I was plucking the fruit, a great over-grown dog came and ran his nose into my basket, overturned all the eggs, and broke a dozen of them; and now I cannot buy the bread and the butter. My mother wants them for her tea, and I do not know what she will do to me.

Mrs. _Lively_ and _Lydia_’s elder sisters had now walked up to them, and Mrs. _Lively_ having overheard the girl’s discourse, said, I am sorry to see you in such trouble; but you now find the consequence of not minding your mother. Little girls are apt to think they know as well as their parents; but they generally find themselves mistaken, and sometimes get into a great deal of distress by fancying so; as you have done. Your mother bade you go directly to town and stop nowhere, because she knew if you got to play, or gave your attention to any thing but your eggs, a great many accidents might happen to break them; and if you had done as she bade you, it is probable your eggs would have been safe. Your mother, therefore, will have great reason to be angry, when she knows how the accident happened.

GIRL.

Yes, Madam, that is what will make her so angry; she would have forgiven me a great deal sooner if it had happened any other way. A boy, who came by just now, advised me to say, as I was getting over a stile the bar gave way, and I tumbled down, and that so my eggs got broken; but I never did tell her a lie in my life, and I should be very unwilling to begin now.

LADY.

Your mother has at least been very kind to you in instilling such good principles into you.

GIRL.

Yes, Madam, she always taught me to be honest, and never tell a lie upon any account whatever; and if she were to find out that I deceived her, she would punish me ten times more than she will now.

LADY.

Be assured you can never escape trouble and sorrow by being wicked; you have already done one fault, and you feel how unhappy it has made you; but, if you were to tell a lie, you would become a great deal more naughty, and consequently be a great deal more unhappy. And though you were not found out, I dare say your mother has taught you that God always sees you; and if you try to save yourself by wicked means, you put yourself quite out of the way of his blessing and protection. Now, you are so good a girl, I dare say you will find your mother kinder to you than you expect. Dry up your tears, and take this shilling; give me the eggs that remain, go and buy your butter and bread, and then your mother will not be disappointed; and as you are so good a girl, whenever your mother has any eggs or chickens, you may bring them to me, and I will give you your price for them; only remember to call at the first white house as you come into town.

The poor girl received the shilling with equal joy and gratitude; and when she was gone, Miss _Lydia_’s Mamma observed to her, that persons often find a present reward in doing their duty: If this little girl, said she, had taken the boy’s advice, and determined to tell her mother a falsity, she would probably have turned back directly, and been in another field when we came here, so that we should have known nothing of her distress, and her story would, perhaps, not have been so well told as to escape detection. I hope now the amends I have made for her loss will abate the severity of her mother’s anger; and when the whole of her conduct is known, she must, I think, receive her praises.

Just as she had done speaking, a beautiful insect flew by Miss _Lydia_. Look, Mamma, said she, that fly is just like the picture in my book; is it not? We will look, my dear, said her Mamma: and taking out of her pocket the _Rational Dame_, she found the little creature under the title of Dragon Fly; and little _Lydia_ read the description of it, and had afterwards a full opportunity of admiring it, as it rested upon a leaf.

I am sure, said _Lydia_, I am much obliged to Mrs. _Teachwell_ for writing so useful a book; it has taught me a great many things. And me likewise, said her Mamma; we will never walk out without it; for the best use we can make of our walks, is to acquaint ourselves with the works of God; which in the fields and lanes are continually before us. And I wish Mrs. _Teachwell_ would give us some little system of plants, with their nature and uses, fit for such young folk as you; for I again say, you cannot be too well acquainted with the works of God, who made you, and made the little insects, and the slender flower which your eye almost overlooks. God, my child, has spread before you two volumes, which are each his work, and demand and deserve your most attentive consideration, and most curious study; the _Book of Revelation_—I mean the _Bible_, wherein you learn the way to eternal life; and the _Book of Nature_, which is every where spread open before you, and which instructs you every where in the wisdom and goodness of God. Let no opportunity slip then of acquainting yourself with those wonders; and the more you learn of “What great things God has done for you;” may your heart feel more grateful to Him, and more ready to obey Him, and to do every thing He commands.

CHAPTER THE TWELFTH.

_THE BIRTH-DAY._

Miss _Lydia_ had several brothers as well as sisters, a good deal older than herself; among the rest was _Gilbert_, a boy, who from the goodness of his disposition, seemed formed to make his parents happy. Obliging to all, he was particularly indulgent and kind to little _Lydia_. One day, in the autumn, he joined a family party in the garden, and seeing some fine alpine strawberries in a little garden which the elder ones had given to _Lydia_, he asked her if he might gather some? No, pray brother, do not gather them now, said _Lydia_; for I keep them to treat you all with to-morrow upon my birth-day. Is to-morrow your birth-day, little girl? replied he; then, as to-day is a half-holiday, I will go a fishing, and try if I cannot get you a dish of fish for your dinner. I shall set off directly: and pray, Mamma, do not mind whether I return to dinner, for I do not care about that. Go then, said Mamma; and I will contribute some tarts and a cake, as my share of the entertainment.

_Gilbert_ took his rod and his implements, and away he went. At dinner he was not much expected; but in the evening his Mamma began to grow uneasy, and was going to send a servant after him. However, just as she was speaking to the servant, _Gilbert_ came in much tired, but without any fish.

I am sorry, _Lydia_, said he, not to have any fish to offer you; but I think when you know how it happened, you will not be displeased with me. I had, said he, no success at all till evening; the fish then began to bite, and I caught two very fine trout. I was coming home mightily delighted with my prize; but before I had walked a quarter of a mile, I heard the sound of somebody crying on the other side of the hedge, and heard a voice say, Now your brothers and sisters must go to-bed without their suppers; and poor things, I left them only a halfpenny roll in the morning; and we had nothing, you know, but a few turnips yesterday.

The hedge was so thick I could not see who was speaking, till we came to a stile, and then I saw the poor boy (who comes to the door sometimes with fish) and his mother get over into the lane. I asked her, what was the matter? and she told me, she had been about five miles to buy fish; that she had almost starved herself and her children to save up two shillings for the purpose, in hope of getting a little profit by it; she had staid all day, and could not get any; and she and her son were returning home. She had a hole in her pocket, and, therefore, had given the shillings to the boy; and as they were going through a close lane, she unguardedly said to her son, _Bob_, are your two shillings safe? Just at that moment a great, big man jumped over the hedge, and catching hold of the boy, said, Are you quite sure they are safe? let me take care of them for you; and then ran his hand into his pocket, and took away the two shillings: and now, said she, I have nothing to give to the children! I intended to have bought a six-penny loaf, when I got home, for this boy and I have tasted nothing to-day; and I should have tried to get some fish to-morrow with the remaining eighteen-pence. She cried so, added _Gilbert_, that I was ready to cry too. I had no money to give her. I had nothing but my fish; and I asked her, how much she could sell them for? O! dear Sir! said she, they are very fine fish! I dare say they would fetch a shilling or eighteen-pence a piece. And do you think you could sell them to-night if you had them? said I. She said, she did not doubt that she could sell them; but should not think of taking my fish: however, I begged her to take them; and if it had not been so late, I would have gone back and tried to get you some more, _Lydia_; but I will get up very early in the morning and go. Indeed, brother, said _Lydia_, I beg you will not think of it; for if there are such bad men about they may rob you too.

_Gilbert_, I believe, said Mamma, does not read _Horace_ yet, or he might tell you that,

“Blythe sings the traveller with empty purse, And in the robber’s sight pursues his course.”

But though it is certain that, if he has nothing he cannot be robbed, he may be uncivilly used, and, therefore, I would advise him not to go; we can, I dare say, procure fish without giving him any further trouble; but I thought you had a shilling this morning, _Gilbert_; what have you done with it?

GILBERT.

Pray, Mamma, do not ask me; it is a secret at present.

MAMMA.

Then I never desire to know secrets; and you, I am persuaded, will do nothing wrong; and as I have no anxiety upon that account, I should be ashamed, if mere curiosity made me desirous to know what you wish to conceal. Nothing, I think, is so contemptible as that sort of curiosity, which makes people want to know what every one says and does, and which grows more impatient in proportion as we think the person wishes us not to know.

GILBERT.

Nay, Mamma, I have no real secrets from you, only I wish nobody to know just now—

MAMMA.

I am quite satisfied, my dear boy.

LYDIA.

I have a little secret, Mamma; my sister told me you would not be angry, and nobody knows but her:—do not tell yet, _Kitty_.

MAMMA.

I dare say she will not, my love; and if she were going I would not let her. You heard me say, I never desire to know secrets. I think no wise person would; but I should be very sorry any body belonging to me should not be able to keep a secret, if they were intrusted with one. But I will tell you something that is no secret; which is, that your long walk has tired you; and that you look very sleepy; therefore, I advise you to go to-bed.

_Gilbert_ waked soon in the morning; and as the sun shone very bright, and it was a delightful morning, he longed to take his fishing-rod once more; but his Mamma having desired him not, he did not attempt it; but before he went to school he went with his violin to _Lydia_’s door, and waked her with a very cheerful tune, wished her many happy birth-days, and then went away. _Lydia_ arose as soon as the maid came into her room, and went to receive a kiss from her Mamma; she then walked down stairs, and the first thing she saw at the hall door was her little lamb, with a new blue ribbon round his neck, and shaking some little round bells that were fastened to it. Away she flew first to her Mamma, then to her sisters, to ask who had made her lamb so fine? but they could not give her any information; every body in the house was asked to no purpose. After a little while, I think, said Mamma—I guess! I guess too, cried out little _Lydia_, it must be _Gilbert_; you know he said he had a secret; that is it depend upon it: how kind it was of him! how dearly I do love _Gilbert_! Every body must love him dearly, said his Mamma. I wish, said _Lydia_, I knew how to make him some return. I wish I could do any thing to please him.—Your wish is natural and amiable; but be satisfied, that _Gilbert_ finds in the performance of such acts of good-nature and kindness, a higher reward than any we could give him; believe me there is a delight in being kind, and affectionate, and generous, that is beyond any pleasure that relates merely to a person’s own self; and if the most ill-tempered and selfish person in the world would but determine for one month to say nothing but what was kind; and to be always doing obliging and liberal things, he would find himself so much more comfortable, so much better, not only in mind but in health; and so much more easy and satisfied with himself, that mere self-love would make him continue such a conduct.

LYDIA.

I am delighted even with seeing my little lamb happy, when I feed and caress him. I think it is a great pleasure to have the power of making any thing happy.

MAMMA.

Cherish, my dearest child, this disposition, and these feelings; and if you should ever meet with unkindness from others, do not let that incline you to be less kind and good. Bear always in your mind the text I once taught you, “Be not overcome of evil; but overcome evil with good.” And if you see persons by their ill-temper offend God, and vex every body they are connected with, instead of making their bad behaviour an excuse for your own, think what a sad thing it would be if you, seeing the disagreeableness of their behaviour, were to become like them; and on the contrary, think what an honour it will be to you, if, by your example, by seeing you always patient, and kind, and disinterested, others leave off disputes and selfishness, and grow good.

LYDIA.

Here comes the dear _Gilbert_.

MAMMA.

Here he comes; and I am sure you both feel far more joy than the mere spending of a shilling could have given you; and the older you grow the more I trust you will know and understand of that kind of joy.

CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH.

_THE SECRET EXPLAINED._

While Miss _Lydia_ was at work with her Mamma, a servant came in, and said, a little girl and boy at the gate asked for Miss _Lydia_. _Lydia_ coloured; and upon her Mamma’s asking who they were? said, with great eagerness, It is little _Sally_ and her brother, Madam: may I go down to them? Pray let me go by myself? You shall see the little girl before she goes home.

Mamma’s consent was soon obtained, and _Lydia_, having first stepped into her room, and hastily taken a little bundle out of the drawer, flew down stairs.

When she got to the gate, she saw _Sally_ holding a pretty little basket made of rushes, with little tufts of silk at the four corners, and covered at top with green leaves.

As soon as _Sally_ saw Miss _Lydia_, she presented the basket to her, and told her, that the maid, who had bidden her to come to the house this morning, told her it was Miss _Lydia_’s birth-day; and she had made that basket, and taken the liberty to bring it to her.

It is a very pretty basket, indeed, said Miss _Lydia_; and lifting up the leaves on the top, she saw the basket was almost full of little cakes and lozenges, and on them Sally had put some bunches of services.

LYDIA.

Where did you get all these things, _Sally_? I will not take them from you.

SALLY.

Yes, pray do Miss, I brought them on purpose for you. My mother makes the cakes and the lozenges herself, and sells them; and my brother and I were out all yesterday afternoon to look for services on the hedges; and then I made the basket and put them into it; and I shall be very sorry if you will not accept of it.

LYDIA.

You made that pretty basket, _Sally_! I wish you would teach me to make such nice baskets.

SALLY.

That I will with great pleasure, Miss, if your Mamma likes it.

LYDIA.

I am much obliged to you for your nice present. I have something for you, _Sally_; and that is the reason why I sent for you to come to-day. So saying, _Lydia_ opened the band-box, and took out a new straw hat, with a nice green ribbon round the crown, and one small neat bow behind, and green strings to tie it. _Lydia_ desired the little girl to pull off her own hat, and then sit down and let her put this on: nor had _Sally_ more delight in being thus dressed, than _Lydia_ had in dressing her.

_Lydia_ then went again to her box, and took out a very pretty cotton frock, which she put on the little boy, with more pleasure than she had ever dressed a doll; though the little fellow was not quite so quiet as a doll, but was moving and twisting about to see as much as possible of the flowers upon his frock.

When their things were adjusted, Miss _Lydia_ led them to the door, and desired her Mamma to step down.

Mamma, said she, I told you I had a secret; this is it. I read in the _Children’s Friend_, that people should do some good-action on their birth-day. Do you like _Sally_’s hat, Mamma?

MAMMA.

Yes, my dear, it is very neat indeed: but where did you get these things? you could not buy them yourself.

LYDIA.