the northern confines of france boast of a small spot of ground, where virtue renders law unnecessary, and procures the inhabitants a state of peace as pure and unsullied as the air they breathe. in process of time, this territory fell into the hands of a widow, who merited a much more valuable patrimony.
madam clarisse, for that was the lady's name, joined benevolence of heart to a cultivated mind and an elevated genius. the place afforded neither physician nor apothecary; but madam clarisse supplied the want of them by her own knowledge of the medical qualities of different roots andplants. her conduct evidently proved how much good a generous heart is capable of doing, even where fortune has not been lavish of her smiles.
this lady had a servant maid, whose name was maria, and who had seen twelve revolving suns in her service. her attachment to her mistress, her disinterested behaviour, affability, and attention, procured her the just esteem of all who lived in the neighbourhood. it was a happiness for this girl, that she had all her life been brought up on this spot of innocence, and had not been exposed to the corrupting and pestiferous air of the metropolis.
madam clarisse had the highest opinion of the good qualities of maria, and had entertained a strong affection for her. maria, who in her turn tenderly loved her mistress, and was a little older than her, always wished that her good lady might be the longer survivor; but providence had ordered it otherwise. madam clarisse was attacked with a disorder, which, on its first appearance, was supposed to be of no consequence; but, by the improper treatment of her physicians, who mistook her disorder, it at last proved fatal.
the visible approach of death did not disturb the peace and tranquility of the mind of this virtuous lady: her bosom was fortified with religious consolations; her heart had never been the receptacle of evil; and, while every one around her was bewailing her approaching dissolution, she alone51 seemed peaceful and tranquil. the salutary regimen she exactly followed, protracted her death for a little while, and her courage gave her strength. she was not confined to her bed, but walked about, and had the village girls around her, whom she instructed in the principles of religion and virtue.
one delightful morning, in the blooming month of may, she rose very early, and took a walk in the fields, accompanied by maria, who never forsook her. she reached the summit of a verdant hill, from whence the eye wandered over the most delightful prospects. she sat down on the enamelled turf, and maria by her side.
"what a delightful view!" said she. "see, maria, that verdant meadow, over which we have so frequently walked! it is not long since, if you remember, that we there met the good old genevive, who bent beneath the load on her back, while she carried in her hand a basket full of apples: you insisted on taking the load from her, and, in spite of all her resistance, i seized her basket of apples. do you not remember what joy and pleasure every step afforded us, how grateful the good creature seemed, and what a hearty breakfast we ate in her cottage?
"look a little to the right, and there you see the willow-walk by the lake, in which, when we were young, we used so frequently to angle. how often have we there made ozier baskets, and then52 filled them with cowslips and violets! you recollect that cottage in front of us, the peaceful habitation of myrtilla, for whom you in two days made up the wedding clothes i gave her. to the left, see the entrance of the wood, where i used every holiday to keep my evening school in the summer, for the instruction of the peasants' children. how happily those moments glided away, while surrounded by my youthful neighbours! how many sweet and delightful tales has the lovely priscilla there told, and how many enchanting songs did the sweet miranda there warble forth, while the feathered songsters seemed to stop their own notes to listen to her divine warblings! methinks every thing around me brings back something pleasing to my reflection, and gives an inexpressible delight to my present sensations!
"you are sensible, maria, that there is a school in this village kept by a poor old woman. many who attend her school can pay for instruction without any inconvenience, while there are others, who, for want of money, are obliged to keep their children at home in ignorance. had i any hopes of living a few years longer, i should be much pleased with the idea, that i should by that time have saved a hundred crowns, which would have been sufficient to provide education for the children of those who cannot afford to pay for it; but, since it is the will of god that such shall not be the case, i submit without repining."
here maria turned her head aside, in order to conceal from her lady the tender tear that stole down her cheeks. madam clarisse perceiving the situation of her amiable servant, "my dear maria," said she, "why do you weep? we shall again meet each other to part no more, and for the present let my serenity console you. i have not a doubt but you will always have a sure asylum in my house long after i shall have left it. had it pleased god, i should have been happy to have it in my power to make some provision for you; but i cannot; and it is for me to submit."
lifting up her hands, she exclaimed, "accept, o gracious god! my most grateful acknowledgments for having placed me in a situation far from the temptations and vanities of this world. a stranger to headstrong passions and delusive pleasures, i have passed my tranquil life on this retired spot of innocence, secure from the tumultuous pursuits of pride and vanity, and a perfect stranger to the gnawing pangs of jealousy or envy. innocence and peace, and all the tender feelings of friendship and humanity, have been my constant companions. in that critical and awful moment, when the remembrance of past actions is not to be supported by the wicked, my mind enjoys inexpressible serenity and composure."
madam clarisse here stopped short, and her head sunk on the bosom of maria; who, looking54 on the face of her amiable mistress, found it turned pale, and her eyes closed-never more to be opened!—thus cracked the cordage of a virtuous heart;—good night, thou amiable woman; may choirs of angels sing you to your rest!
maria was undoubtedly much afflicted at the death of her lady, and her sorrow on that account, added to the fatigues she had undergone, threw her into a fever, from which her recovery was for a long time doubtful. nature, however, at last conquered her disorder, when she determined to quit that place, as soon as her strength would permit her. when she found herself capable of pursuing the journey, she packed up the little matter she had, and first repaired to the church-yard where her amiable lady lay buried. having there paid the tribute of a tear upon her grave, she instantly set out for charleville, her native place, sincerely regretted by the minister and people, who knew not what was become of her.
two years had elapsed, and no news was heard of maria, though every possible enquiry was made in the neighbourhood. about that time, however, the minister of the parish received a parcel containing some money, and the following letter with it:
"at last, my dear reverend sir, i am enabled to send you the hundred crowns which my worthy lady, in her expiring moments, so ardently wished to be possessed of, not for her own use, but for the emolument of others. her wishes shall now be fulfilled, and the pious work she projected shall be completed. had not this been the all i am possessed of in this world, i would have brought it myself. i am too poor to support myself among you; but i am happy in my poverty, and feel no anxieties but those occasioned by the loss of my dear lady. i beseech you to put this money out to interest, and inform the mistress of the school that it is for her use. this i hope will enable her to take under her care the children of such poor people, who cannot afford to pay for their education. if i have any favour to ask of heaven, it is only this, that i may, before i am called hence, be enabled to save a little money, in order to be in a condition to pay you a visit. should i live to see this school established on the plan my deceased lady wished for, i shall then be perfectly happy, and shall quit this world without envying those who roll in the gifts of fortune, but have not a heart properly to use them.—maria."
the curate, who was a man of generous feelings, read this letter with admiration, and the next day, in the church, communicated the contents of it to his congregation, who could not refrain from tears on the relation of so generous an action. according to maria's request, he placed the hundred crowns out to interest; and thus, from the56 produce of two year's incessant labour of this amiable woman, was a foundation laid for the education of the poor children of the parish.
the generous maria, having thus disposed of every thing she was possessed of, again sat down to work; but not with so much ardour as before, as she had now only to labour for her own maintenance. about this time, however, a relation died and left her ten pounds a year, which to her was a little fortune.
it soon came to the knowledge of maria, that the curate had read her letter to his congregation, which gave her no small degree of uneasiness, as she wished it to remain unknown. however, it soon became the conversation of every one, and at last reached the place where she lived.
people of the first character and fortune in charleville, at which place she then lived, were anxious to be acquainted with her; and some of them even went so far as to offer her apartments in their house. but she preferred her present situation to a life of ease and indolence.
the curate, having occasion soon after to visit paris, mentioned maria in all companies, and related the affecting story of her charity, which soon became the general subject of conversation in that metropolis, was publicly related in the paris gazette, and from thence copied into most of the public papers in europe.
a young prince, who lived with his parents, at paris, and who was hardly nine years of age, was so affected, young as he was, with this generous action of maria, that he talked of nothing else from morning till night. "i wish i were a man," said the little prince one morning in his father's hearing. "and if you were a man," replied the peer, "what then would you do?"
the young prince threw his arms round his father's neck, and having obtained a promise that he would grant him what he asked, "i would," said he, "give maria a pension." his father embraced him, applauded the generosity of his heart, and instantly settled fifty pounds a year on maria for life.
we may learn from hence, that virtue often meets with its recompence in the possession of the good things of this life, besides that inexpressible delight it receives from the inward feelings of the heart. maria received this donation with all becoming gratitude; but she used it as though she were only the steward of it: she fed the hungry, she clothed the naked, and diffused through the whole village a spirit of industry, prudence, and benevolence.
