The Fairchild Family

by Mrs. Sherwood

  Sad Story of a Disobedient Child

  Looking in the glass, with a candle in her hand]

  When Mr. Fairchild returned from his walk he found John ready with thecart, so, wishing Mrs. Goodriche a good-evening, and thanking her forher kindness, they returned home.

  The next morning Mr. Fairchild got up early, and went down to thevillage. Breakfast was ready, and Mrs. Fairchild and the childrenwaiting at the table, when he came back.

  "Get your breakfast, my dear," said he to Mrs. Fairchild; "don't waitfor me." So saying, he went into his study and shut the door.

  Mrs. Fairchild, supposing that he had some letters to write, got herbreakfast quietly; after which she sent Lucy to ask her father if hewould not choose any breakfast. When Mr. Fairchild heard Lucy's voiceat the study-door, he came out, and followed her into the parlour.

  When Mrs. Fairchild looked at her husband's face she saw that somethinghad grieved him very much. She was frightened, and said:

  "My dear, I am sure something is the matter; what is it? Tell me theworst at once; pray do!"

  "Indeed, my dear," said Mr. Fairchild, "I have heard something thismorning which has shocked me dreadfully. I was not willing to tell youbefore you had breakfasted. I know what you will feel when you hearit."

  "Do tell me," said Mrs. Fairchild, turning quite white.

  "Poor Augusta Noble!" said Mr. Fairchild.

  "What, papa?" said Lucy and Emily and Henry, in one voice.

  "She is dead!" exclaimed Mr. Fairchild.

  The children turned as pale as their mother; and poor Mrs. Fairchildnearly fainted.

  "Oh! poor Lady Noble! poor Lady Noble!" said she, as soon as she couldspeak. "Poor Lady Noble!"

  Whilst the children were crying over the sad news Mrs. Barker came intothe parlour. Mrs. Barker was a kind woman, and, as she lived byherself, was always at liberty to go amongst her neighbours in times oftrouble.

  "Ah, Mrs. Fairchild," she said, "I know what troubles you: we are allin grief through the whole village."

  "What was the cause of the poor child's death?" asked Mrs. Fairchild."I never heard that she was ill."

  "Ah! Mrs. Fairchild, the manner of her death is the worst part of thestory, and that which must grieve her parents more than all. You knowthat poor Miss Augusta was always the darling of her mother, whobrought her up in great pride; and she chose a foolish governess forher who had no good influence upon her."

  "I never thought much of Miss Beaumont," said Mrs. Fairchild.

  "As Miss Augusta was brought up without the fear of God," continuedMrs. Barker, "she had, of course, no notion of obedience to herparents, further than just trying to please them in their presence; shelived in the constant practice of disobeying them, and the governesscontinually concealed her disobedience from Lady Noble. And what isthe consequence? The poor child has lost her life, and Miss Beaumont isturned out of doors in disgrace."

  "But," said Mrs. Fairchild, "how did she lose her life throughdisobedience to her parents? Pray tell me, Mrs. Barker."

  "The story is so sad I hardly like to tell it you," answered Mrs.Barker; "but you must know it sooner or later. Miss Augusta had acustom of playing with fire, and carrying candles about, though LadyNoble had often warned her of the danger of this habit, and strictlycharged her governess to prevent it. But it seems that the governess,being afraid of offending, had suffered her very often to be guilty ofthis piece of disobedience, without telling Lady Noble. And the nightbefore last, when Lady Noble was playing at cards in the drawing-roomwith some visitors, Miss Augusta took a candle off the hall table, andcarried it upstairs to the governess's room. No one was there, and itis supposed that Miss Augusta was looking in the glass with a candle inher hand, when the flame caught her dress; but this is not known. LadyNoble's maid, who was in the next room, was alarmed by her dreadfulscreams, and, hastening to discover the cause, found poor Augusta in ablaze from head to foot. The unhappy young lady was so dreadfully burntthat she never spoke afterwards, but died in agonies last night."

  When Mrs. Fairchild and the children heard this dreadful story theywere very much grieved. Mrs. Barker stayed with them all day; and itwas, indeed, a day of mourning through all the house.