by Edith Howes
The way to render instruction most useful cannot always be adopted;knowledge should be gradually imparted, and flow more from example thanteaching: example directly addresses the senses, the first inlets to theheart; and the improvement of those instruments of the understanding isthe object education should have constantly in view, and over which wehave most power. But to wish that parents would, themselves, mould theductile passions, is a chimerical wish, for the present generation havetheir own passions to combat with, and fastidious pleasures to pursue,neglecting those pointed out by nature: we must therefore pour prematureknowledge into the succeeding one; and, teaching virtue, explain thenature of vice. Cruel necessity!
The Conversations are intended to assist the teacher as well as thepupil; and this will obviate an objection which some may start, that thesentiments are not quite on a level with the capacity of a child. Everychild requires a different mode of treatment; but a writer can onlychoose one, and that must be modified by those who are actually engagedwith young people in their studies.
The tendency of the reasoning obviously tends to fix principles of truthand humanity on a solid and simple foundation; and to make religion anactive, invigorating director of the affections, and not a mere attentionto forms. Systems of Theology may be complicated, but when the characterof the Supreme Being is displayed, and He is recognised as the UniversalFather, the Author and Centre of Good, a child may be led to comprehendthat dignity and happiness must arise from imitating Him; and thisconviction should be twisted into—and be the foundation of everyinculcated duty.
At any rate, the Tales, which were written to illustrate the moral, mayrecall it, when the mind has gained sufficient strength to discuss theargument from which it was deduced.
INTRODUCTION
Mary and Caroline, though the children of wealthy parents were, in theirinfancy, left entirely to the management of servants, or people equallyignorant. Their mother died suddenly, and their father, who found themvery troublesome at home, placed them under the tuition of a woman oftenderness and discernment, a near relation, who was induced to take onherself the important charge through motives of compassion.
They were shamefully ignorant, considering that Mary had been fourteen,and Caroline twelve years in the world. If they had been merelyignorant, the task would not have appeared so arduous; but they hadcaught every prejudice that the vulgar casually instill. In order toeradicate these prejudices, and substitute good habits instead of thosethey had carelessly contracted, Mrs. Mason never suffered them to be outof her sight. They were allowed to ask questions on all occasions, amethod she would not have adopted, had she educated them from the first,according to the suggestions of her own reason, to which experience hadgiven its sanction.
They had tolerable capacities; but Mary had a turn for ridicule, andCaroline was vain of her person. She was, indeed, very handsome, and theinconsiderate encomiums that had, in her presence, been lavished on herbeauty made her, even at that early age, affected.
CONTENTS
PAGE CHAPTER I_The Treatment of Animals.—The Ant.—The Bee.—Goodness.—The 1Lark’s Nest.—The Asses_ CHAPTER II_The Treatment of Animals.—The Difference between them and 6Man.—The Parental Affection of a Dog.—Brutality punished_ CHAPTER III_The Treatment of Animals.—The Story of crazy Robin.—The 10Man confined in the Bastille_ CHAPTER IV_Anger.—History of Jane Fretful_ 14 CHAPTER V_Lying.—Honour.—Truth.—Small Duties.—History of Lady Sly 18and Mrs. Trueman_ CHAPTER VI_Anger.—Folly produces Self-contempt_, _and the Neglect of 25others_ CHAPTER VII_Virtue the Soul of Beauty.—The Tulip and the Rose.—The 27Nightingale.—External Ornaments.—Characters_ CHAPTER VIII_Summer Evening’s Amusement.—The Arrival of a Family of 31Haymakers.—Ridicule of personal Defects censured.—AStorm.—The Fear of Death.—The Cottage of Honest Jack_,_the shipwrecked Sailor.—The History of Jack_, _and hisfaithful Dog Pompey_ CHAPTER IX_The Inconveniences of immoderate Indulgence_ 37 CHAPTER X_The Danger of Delay.—Description of a Mansion-house in 40Ruins.—History of Charles Townley_ CHAPTER XI_Dress.—A Character.—Remarks on Mrs. Trueman’s Manner of 47Dressing.—Trifling Omissions undermine Affection_ CHAPTER XII_Behaviour to Servants.—True Dignity of Character_ 50 CHAPTER XIII_Employment.—Idleness produces Misery.—The Cultivation of 53the Fancy raises us above the Vulgar_, _extends ourHappiness_, _and leads to Virtue_ CHAPTER XIV_Innocent Amusements.—Description of a Welch 55Castle.—History of a Welch Harper.—A tyrannicalLandlord.—Family Pride_ CHAPTER XV_Prayer.—A Moon-light Scene.—Resignation_ 60 CHAPTER XVI_The Benefits arising from Devotion.—The History of the 64Village School-mistress.—Fatal Effects of Inattention toExpense_, _in the History of Mr. Lofty_ CHAPTER XVII_The Benefits arising from Devotion.—The History of the 67Village School-mistress concluded_ CHAPTER XVIII_A Visit to the School-mistress.—True and False Pride_ 69 CHAPTER XIX_Charity.—The History of Peggy and her Family.—The 71Sailor’s Widow_ CHAPTER XX_Visit to Mrs. Trueman.—The Use of Accomplishments.—Virtue 74the Soul of all_ CHAPTER XXI_The Benefit of bodily Pain.—Fortitude the Basis of 77Virtue.—The Folly of Irresolution_ CHAPTER XXII_Journey to London_ 79 CHAPTER XXIII_Charity.—Shopping.—The distressed Stationer.—Mischievous 81Consequences of delaying Payment_ CHAPTER XXIV_Visit to a Poor Family in London.—Idleness the Parent of 84Vice.—Prodigality and Generosity incompatible.—ThePleasures of Benevolence.—True and false Motives forSaving_ CHAPTER XXV_Mrs. Mason’s farewell Advice to her Pupils.—Observations 86on Letter-writing_
MORAL CONVERSATIONS AND STORIES
CHAPTER I
The treatment of animals.—The ant.—The bee.—Goodness.—The lark’snest.—The asses.
One fine morning in spring, some time after Mary and Caroline weresettled in their new abode, Mrs. Mason proposed a walk before breakfast,a custom she wished to teach imperceptibly, by rendering it amusing.
The sun had scarcely dispelled the dew that hung on every blade of grass,and filled the half-shut flowers; every prospect smiled, and thefreshness of the air conveyed the most pleasing sensations to Mrs.Mason’s mind; but the children were regardless of the surroundingbeauties, and ran eagerly after some insects to destroy them. Mrs. Masonsilently observed their cruel sports, without appearing to do it; butstepping suddenly out of the foot-path into the long grass, her bucklewas caught in it, and striving to disentangle herself, she wet her feet;which the children knew she wished to avoid, as she had been lately sick.This circumstance roused their attention; and they forgot their amusementto enquire why she had left the path; and Mary could hardly restrain alaugh, when she was informed that it was to avoid treading on some snailsthat were creeping across the narrow footway. Surely, said Mary, you donot think there is any harm in killing a snail, or any of those nastycreatures that crawl on the ground? I hate them, and should scream ifone was to find its way from my clothes to my neck! With great gravity,Mrs. Mason asked how she dared to kill any thing, unless it were toprevent its hurting her? Then, resuming a smiling face,
she said, Youreducation has been neglected, my child; as we walk along attend to what Isay, and make the best answers you can; and do you, Caroline, join in theconversation.
You have already heard that God created the world, and every inhabitantof it. He is then called the Father of all creatures; and all are madeto be happy, whom a good and wise God has created. He made those snailsyou despise, and caterpillars, and spiders; and when He made them, didnot leave them to perish, but placed them where the food that is mostproper to nourish them is easily found. They do not live long, but Hewho is their Father, as well as your’s, directs them to deposit theireggs on the plants that are fit to support their young, when they are notable to get food for themselves.—And when such a great and wise Being hastaken care to provide every thing necessary for the meanest creature,would you dare to kill it, merely because it appears to you ugly? Marybegan to be attentive, and quickly followed Mrs. Mason’s example, whoallowed a caterpillar and a spider to creep on her hand. You find them,she rejoined, very harmless; but a great number would destroy ourvegetables and fruit; so birds are permitted to eat them, as we feed onanimals; and in spring there are always more than at any other season ofthe year, to furnish food for the young broods.—Half convinced, Marysaid, but worms are of little consequence in the world. Yet, repliedMrs. Mason, God cares for them, and gives them every thing that isnecessary to render their existence comfortable. You are oftentroublesome—I am stronger than you—yet I do not kill you.
Observe those ants; they have a little habitation in yonder hillock; theycarry food to it for their young, and sleep very snug in it during thecold weather. The bees also have comfortable towns, and lay up a storeof honey to support them when the flowers die, and snow covers theground: and this forecast is as much the gift of God, as any quality youpossess.
Do you know the meaning of the word Goodness? I see you are unwilling toanswer. I will tell you. It is, first, to avoid hurting any thing; andthen, to contrive to give as much pleasure as you can. If some insectsare to be destroyed, to preserve my garden from desolation, I have itdone in the quickest way. The domestic animals that I keep, I providethe best food for, and never suffer them to be tormented; and thiscaution arises from two motives:—I wish to make them happy; and, as Ilove my fellow-creatures still better than the brute creation, I wouldnot allow those that I have any influence over, to grow habituallythoughtless and cruel, till they were unable to relish the greatestpleasure life affords,—that of resembling God, by doing good.
A lark now began to sing, as it soared aloft. The children watched itsmotions, listening to the artless melody. They wondered what it wasthinking of—of its young family, they soon concluded; for it flew overthe hedge, and drawing near, they heard the young ones chirp. Very soonboth the old birds took their flight together, to look for food tosatisfy the craving of the almost fledged young. An idle boy, who hadborrowed a gun, fired at them—they fell; and before he could take up thewounded pair, he perceived Mrs. Mason; and expecting a very severereprimand, ran away. She and the little girls drew near, and found thatone was not much hurt; but that the other, the cock, had one leg broken,and both its wings shattered; and its little eyes seemed starting out oftheir sockets, it was in such exquisite pain. The children turned awaytheir eyes. Look at it, said Mrs. Mason; do you not see that it suffersas much, and more than you did when you had the small-pox, when you wereso tenderly nursed. Take up the hen; I will bind her wing together;perhaps it may heal. As to the cock, though I hate to kill any thing, Imust put him out of pain; to leave him in his present state would becruel; and avoiding an unpleasant sensation myself, I should allow thepoor bird to die by inches, and call this treatment tenderness, when itwould be selfishness or weakness. Saying so, she put her foot on thebird’s head, turning her own another way.
They walked on; when Caroline remarked, that the nestlings, deprived oftheir parents, would now perish; and the mother began to flutter in herhand as they drew near the hedge, though the poor creature could not fly,yet she tried to do it. The girls, with one voice, begged Mrs. Mason tolet them take the nest, and provide food in a cage, and see if the mothercould not contrive to hop about to feed them. The nest and the oldmother were instantly in Mary’s handkerchief. A little opening was leftto admit the air; and Caroline peeped into it every moment to see howthey looked. I give you leave, said Mrs. Mason, to take those birds,because an accident has rendered them helpless; if that had not been thecase, they should not have been confined.
They had scarcely reached the next field, when they met another boy witha nest in his hand, and on a tree near him saw the mother, who,forgetting her natural timidity, followed the spoiler; and herintelligible tones of anguish reached the ears of the children, whosehearts now first felt the emotions of humanity. Caroline called him, andtaking sixpence out of her little purse, offered to give it to him forthe nest, if he would shew her where he had taken it from. The boyconsented, and away ran Caroline to replace it,—crying all the way, howdelighted the old bird will be to find her brood again. The pleasurethat the parent-bird would feel was talked of till they came to a largecommon, and heard some young asses, at the door of an hovel, making amost dreadful noise. Mrs. Mason had ordered the old ones to be confined,lest the young should suck before the necessary quantity had been savedfor some sick people in her neighbourhood. But after they had given theusual quantity of milk, the thoughtless boy had left them still inconfinement, and the young in vain implored the food nature designed fortheir particular support. Open the hatch, said Mrs. Mason, the mothershave still enough left to satisfy their young. It was opened, and theysaw them suck.
Now, said she, we will return to breakfast; give me your hands, my littlegirls, you have done good this morning, you have acted like rationalcreatures. Look, what a fine morning it is. Insects, birds, andanimals, are all enjoying this sweet day. Thank God for permitting youto see it, and for giving you an understanding which teaches you that youought, by doing good, to imitate Him. Other creatures only think ofsupporting themselves; but man is allowed to ennoble his nature, bycultivating his mind and enlarging his heart. He feels disinterestedlove; every part of the creation affords an exercise for virtue, andvirtue is ever the truest source of pleasure.
CHAPTER II
The treatment of animals.—The difference between them and man.—Parentalaffection of a dog.—Brutality punished.
After breakfast, Mrs. Mason gave the children _Mrs. Trimmer’s FabulousHistories_; and the subject still turned on animals, and the wantoncruelty of those who treated them improperly. The little girls wereeager to express their detestation, and requested that in future theymight be allowed to feed the chickens. Mrs. Mason complied with theirrequest; only one condition was annexed to the permission, that they didit regularly. When you wait for your food, you learn patience, sheadded, and you can mention your wants; but those helpless creaturescannot complain. The country people frequently say,—How can you treat apoor dumb beast ill; and a stress is very properly laid on the worddumb;—for dumb they appear to those who do not observe their looks andgestures; but God, who takes care of every thing, understands theirlanguage; and so did Caroline this morning, when she ran with sucheagerness to re-place the nest which the thoughtless boy had stolen,heedless of the mother’s agonizing cries!
Mary interrupted her, to ask, if insects and animals were not inferior tomen; Certainly, answered Mrs. Mason; and men are inferior to angels; yetwe have reason to believe, that those exalted beings delight to do usgood. You have heard in a book, which I seldom permit you to read,because you are not of an age to understand it, that angels, when theysang glory to God on high, wished for peace on earth, as a proof of thegood will they felt towards men. And all the glad tidings that have beensent to men, angels have proclaimed: indeed, the word angel signifies amessenger. In order to please God, and our happiness depends uponpleasing him, we must do good. What we call virtue, may be thusexplained:—we exercise every benevolent affection to en
joy comfort here,and to fit ourselves to be angels hereafter. And when we have acquiredhuman virtues, we shall have a nobler employment in our Father’s kingdom.But between angels and men a much greater resemblance subsists, thanbetween men and the brute creation; because the two former seem capableof improvement.
The birds you saw to-day do not improve—or their improvement only tendsto self-preservation; the first nest they make and the last are exactlythe same; though in their flights they must see many others morebeautiful if not more convenient, and, had they reason, they wouldprobably shew something like individual taste in the form of theirdwellings; but this is not the case. You saw the hen tear the down fromher breast to make a nest for her eggs; you saw her beat the grain withher bill, and not swallow a bit, till the young were satisfied; andafterwards she covered them with her wings, and seemed perfectly happy,while she watched over her charge; if any one approached, she was readyto defend them, at the hazard of her life: yet, a fortnight hence, youwill see the same hen drive the fledged chickens from the corn, andforget the fondness that seemed to be stronger than the first impulse ofnature.
Animals have not the affections which arise from reason, nor can they dogood, or acquire virtue. Every affection, and impulse, which I haveobserved in them, are like our inferior emotions, which do not dependentirely on our will, but are involuntary; they seem to have beenimplanted to preserve the species, and make the individual grateful foractual kindness. If you caress and feed them, they will love you, aschildren do, without knowing why; but we neither see imagination norwisdom in them; and, what principally exalts man, friendship anddevotion, they seem incapable of forming the least idea of. Friendshipis founded on knowledge and virtue, and these are human acquirements; anddevotion is a preparation for eternity; because when we pray to God, weoffer an affront to him, if we do not strive to imitate the perfectionsHe displays every where for our imitation, that we may grow better andhappier.
