The Adopted Daughter: A Tale for Young Persons

y said, "I am glad you answered her as you did, for to return anger for anger is neve

d me greatly, by telling me my father was a beggar; sure he wa

and that he was by no means an uneducated man; and his manners were very preposses

im?" asked Anna, "I thought she

I suppose, and she was handsome, and agreeable, and perhaps at that time he did feel attached to her; it was evident she was pleased with him, and he gained her regard by following her home and making proposals to her father, who did not altogether approve of it; so your uncle says, but he saw her attach

fforded you some comfort! But I am ungrateful to you, my dear mamma, in not saying

Mrs. Meridith, "I have had my sorr

ns, to ask by what circumstances; yet her looks strongly indicated her desire of hearing a more particular account of them; and Mrs. Meridith, reading her wishes in

ome flattery I have met with, and so much unaffected intelligence, that his company is agreeable to me: and your aunt's likewise, who is a sensible, well-informed woman, and our sentiments agree: she knows what the world is from theory, I from experience; and I scruple not to say, I find them both pleasant companions. But it is not likely farmer W

sented surrounded by snakes, for she is extending her malice to ever

one of the poets a very striking picture of Envy, describing her as eating her own bowels; if I am not mistaken, it is in Spenser's Fairy Queen, we will look this evenin

I but hope to do

your sphere of action will be so likewise. I thought that I shewed no distinction between the two farmers, except that I considered one as my friend; but I endeavoured to be impartial

ith knew best: but the change in her countenance was not unnoticed by her kind friend, who said, "it is better to stop the mouth of envy by acts of kindness, than by r

nity of asking farmer Ward, when he came to pay

gh the kindness of her manners had seemed to soften his), "I have not

and you have both made it more valuable by your care and cultivation; you ha

nance. "Certainly not, unless you are the purchaser," said Mrs. Meridith. This unexpected kindness

readily promise you shall have the first offer of it when I do; an

whose heart was now quite opened by her generosity: "but I must consult my wife and o

ur industry and honesty, as not to fear your paying me; and I shall have my estate bordered by two as flourishing farms as

u wrong; but I'll speak the truth: I beg your pardon, but I thought all your favors were reserved for my neighbour Campbel

inced now, I hope, that there was no reason for it; I have always looke

mer Campbell had mentioned his behaviour to her, but he read nothing in her countenance which indicated it; and indeed he had not thought it worth while to relate it, though he was hurt that her kindness to him, should produce an effect in one who had for many years been his friend and neighbour. "Another evil surmise,

ed she, "it is no more than your due, yo

y it or not; but I am ashamed to say it, but truth will come out, I did not inten

fairness to you as to him," and seeing the poor man quite confused with a sense of his error, she offered him her hand, and begged him to believe her

nother word, he gave her hand a hearty shake, and hurried out of the house to tell