The Barbadoes Girl

njurious to his only daughter, than in the unrestrained permission

and wholesome viands. Under these circumstances, Matilda made what she considered very poor dinners, and she endeavoured to supply her loss by procuring sweet things and trash, through the medium of Zebby, who, in this particular, was m

wood had a particular objection to, not only because it is bad for the health, and lays the foundation for innumerable evils in the constitution, but because it renders young people hateful in their appearance, since nothing can be more unladylike or disagreeable, than the circumstance of

else than to pamper the appetite; so that it was a long time before she could be brought to desist from so pernicious a practice. As, however, the mind of Matilda strengthened, and she began to employ herself diligently in those new branches of education now imparted to her, s

t more than ever, notwithstanding the change of climate; but, alas! the good sense, resolutio

soon learned to eat of the good roast and boiled she sat down to, and exchanged the simple beverage of water for porter and beer, in consequence of which she became much disordered in her health; and when Mrs. Harewood prescribed a little nece

in the last chapter took place, which so exhilarated her spirits, that she declared she woul

ss and affection render them capable of enduring extreme hardship and many privations, yet they are rarely v

lthough, had she used it freely some time before, it would have done her good, was now too much for her, and she came home compl

ary, who confirmed her fears, and prescribed for her; but as there was no getting her to swallow medicine, he was obliged

oupled with the name of that only, and now fondly-beloved parent, from whom she was so far separated, and her tears flowed freely when she visited the bedside of the poor African. But her sorrow increased exceedingly when she learned the danger in which poor Zebby stood, and found that her death was daily expected by all aroun

and his master, are alike brought to receive salvation as the free gift of God, through the mediation of our merciful Redeemer; and comforted her with the hope, that although poor Zebby's mind was but little enlightened, and her faith comparatively uninformed, yet as, to the best of her

rywoman, her friend, the partaker of that precious faith by which alone the most wise, wealthy, and great, can hope to inherit the kingdom of heaven; and she could not help praying for her restoration to health, with all the fervou

ice or thrice, where once would answer every purpose, provided I gave myself the trouble of considering what I really wanted, I not only waste my servant's time, which would supply my wants, and therefore injure myself in one sense, but I waste the strength which is her only means of subsistence, and I awaken that vexation of temper, which, although perhaps suppressed before me, will yet rankle in h

ords and actions which have inflicted on any of our fellow-creatures pains we have no right to bestow, or tempted them to sins they had no inclination to follow; the petty tyrannies of our whims, changes, an

yet felt much for Zebby's situation, and was seriously desirous of profiting by all she heard, said

ecution of all proper services. If she does not do this, she deserts her own station in society, defeats the intentions she was called to fulfil, and which made her the guide and guardian, not the companion and fellow-server, of her servants. In abandoning them to their own discretion, she lays upon them a burden which, either from ignorance or habit, they are probably unequal to endure, since it is certain that many truly respectable persons in this class have been only so while they were under the controlling eye or

r Zebby, whose disorder in a few days took a more favourable turn than could have been expected, although the delirium did not immediately subside, but rather affec

case where she was aware of deranged intellect and real affection, either of which ought to have led her to endure the wild sallies and troublesome pettishness of the suffering negro. I

k chamber; and whatever she did, was done with a rapidity and noisiness, more in unison with her own ardent desire of doing good, than the actual welfare of the person she sought to relieve; whereas Ellen never for a moment los

to give the patient a basin of broth-"Let me give it her," sai

she knows you; but her h

m the woman in such a way that the basin shook upon the plate; on which Ellen s

mediately, and bolting up to the patient, who was sitting, raised by pillows, she offered the

as it was not instantly removed, she unhappily pushed away the plate, and turned the scaldin

Matilda instantly cried out that she was mur

ed out in an agony-"Mamma, dear mamma, come here

her own power to bestow; she scraped some white lead[1] into a little thick cream, and applied it with a feather all over the scalded parts; and in a very short time the excruciating pain was relieved, and the fire s

ever taking into consideration her own share of it, nor recollecting that she acted both thoughtlessly and stubbornly in neglecting the advice of Ellen; and that although her principal motive was the endeavour to benefit Zebby, yet there was a deficiency in actual kindness, when she offered her b

so happened, that the hot liquid had, in falling, thrown many drops upon her face, which gave her so much pain at the moment, that she thought she was scalded much worse than she really was, as did those around her; but Ellen, as she watched her slumbe

f mental beauty, as would render the total destruction of her personal beauty a trifling loss,

andsome? I mean, if people happen to be handso

beauty in his works, and rejoice in the perfection every where visible in nature. The possessors of beauty may, however, so often spare it with advantage to themselves and th

ople may be both very

much more frequently to be pitied than envied; yet envy from the illiberal and malicious seldom fa

I thought people would love me if I were; but if t

would have their effect, you know, without beauty-nay, even in ugly persons, when we become thoroughly acquainted with them. Can you suppose, Ellen, that if you were a

ear mamma, but yet you would be

this I must add, that if, with extraordinary beauty, you possessed sufficient good sense to remain as simple in your manners, and as active in the pursuit of intellectual endo

son was very proud of Matilda-I

e of his daughter's beauty rendered him blind to her faults, or averse to correcting them; and from his indulgence, the effect of that very beauty for which he sacrificed every real excellence, was so completely impaired, that I am sure

st affection, and relapsing into tears, which had frequentl

woke, and looked at Ellen with a kind of recollective gaze, that recalle

llen? you are crying-h

ffectionate chil

prised that Ellen could love and pity so much a girl whose conduct was so little likely to ensure affection and respect; and although the pain became every moment more troublesome, she forbore most magnan

please

wed; but ere she had finished her tender operation, Matilda caught that kind hand, and, pressin

," said her kind friend, though sh

minded, I feared, indeed I am certain, that I behaved very ill, quit

irtues she had not exercised, but by calling upon her to show them in her future conduct; although she did so far

ted how far this went in palliation, and was aware that much of error

ecall her wandering senses by fixing them to one point; and as

e suppressed all complaint, and hurried forward to Zebby's room, followed by Mrs. Harewood and Ellen; the former of whom was extremely d

t her to her senses, and her invectives to the knowledge of her own share in the transaction. It was in vain that the nurse and the servants of Mrs. Harewood had endeavoured to reconcile her, by the

raided herself for having killed pretty Missy, and breaking the heart of her good mistress; and when she beheld the plastered face of Matilda, t

an accident, and ought to be chiefly attri

t of poor Missis-she comee over great seas; thinkee see you all good and pretty as Englis lady; and den you be shocking figure, all cover with

irst exclamation of Ellen, that-"Matilda was scalded to death," induced her to suppose that there was really danger in her case; and after repeatedly assuring Zebby of her e

llen to get her materials for writing, but soon found that the pain

te for you,

nd, to assure dear mamma that poor Zebb

d, "we can do that by and by

a'am-if I

situation, not forgetting to impress strongly the necessity which every Christian has of being ever ready to obey that awful summons, which may be expected at any hour, and from which there is no appe

r appearance; and when her fears on this head were likewise relieved, she became more composed in her spirits, and more anxious than ever to prove, by future good conduct, her sense of contrition for the past, and resolution for the future; and although she was most thankful for th

ll, the self-denial to which she perceived her young lady accustomed herself, in order to recover, induced her henceforward to become temperate in her use of food, and tractable as to the means necessary for preserv

prescription very efficaciou