mrs. clifford being particularly satisfied with the attention that her three children, alfred, robert, and helen, had for some time past paid to their lessons, and to the instructions of their masters, told them that she would treat them with a charming walk in the wood, on the opposite side of the river; and that if they would carry some bread or biscuit with them, she thought they would have no difficulty in finding a house where they might procure some milk. so instead of returning home to drink tea, she would spend the whole afternoon and evening in rambling about with them.
this was charming news for the young folks, who took care not to give her the trouble of waiting for them, for they were all three ready at least half an hour before the time she had appointed for their departure. the moment mrs. clifford joined them in the hall, away they all went, with joyful hearts and cheerful faces, through the field and down the long lane, which led to the ferry.
generosity rewarded (first plate)
“this is very pleasant, mother,” said alfred: “i think i should never be tired of walking in the fields and woods; yet, i must own, i do long for winter, that we may purchase the magic lantern we are to have. i think, with the money grandpapa has given each of us, and what we had before in our purses, we shall be able to have a very large one.”
“o dear!” exclaimed helen, “how delightful it will be to see it as often as we please, and to show it to our friends; and, mother, do you know that robert is to be the person to show it; for, he says, he can talk just like the man who came to our house last year?”
“so i can,” answered robert, “and i wish it were bought, that you might hear what a long story i shall tell you about the sun and the moon; and the king of prussia and his huzzars; and the cat and the cook! i would rather have a magic lantern, than any thing in the whole world!”
chatting in this manner, and amusing themselves by looking at different objects as they passed along, they found themselves at the ferry before they expected it. the boat being just ready to put off, they stepped into it, and seated themselves with several others, who were going over to the other side of the river.
their attention was very soon drawn to a poor woman, who, with an infant on her knee, and a little boy[56] and girl by her side, whom she frequently kissed and pressed to her bosom, wept as if her heart would break. as soon as they landed, mrs. clifford, stopping the woman, kindly inquired into the cause of her distress; and was informed by her, that she had lately lost her husband, who having been long in a state of ill health and unable to work, had left her incumbered with several debts, which she had not the means of paying; and that though she labored very hard, and had discharged some of the small debts, a hard-hearted man, to whom she owed six dollars, declaring he would not wait a day longer, had that morning seized upon her furniture, and all her little property. he was determined, he said, to have his money before six o’clock, or to turn her and her children out to sleep in the high road, or where they thought fit.
she had been, she told mrs. clifford, to an uncle of her husband who lived at the market town, begging him to take pity upon her and her innocent children; “but madam,” added she, “he was deaf to my entreaties, and turned me from his door; and i am now going home to see all my things taken from me; and what will become of us this night, god alone can tell!”
mrs. clifford was extremely affected by this melancholy tale, and walked with the poor woman to her[57] cottage, where they really found two ill-looking men taking down the bed, and packing up the furniture. the woman began to wring her hands and cry bitterly; and the children, though they did not understand what the men were going to do, clung to their mother and would not move from her side.
alfred, robert, and helen, were however old enough to understand perfectly well the distress of the poor woman, and the misery and wretchedness to which she and her helpless children were exposed; and fortunately for her, their tender and compassionate hearts immediately prompted them to endeavor to relieve her. the pleasure they had promised themselves in purchasing a magic lantern, and in being in possession of such an amusement for the long evenings of the approaching winter, appeared to them very trifling, in comparison to the delight of snatching this poor family out of the hands of the unfeeling people they had to deal with; and leading their mamma into the little garden, they earnestly entreated her to take the three dollars their grandpapa had given them, as well as the contents of their purses, and employ the whole to relieve the poor woman; and farther, they begged her, in the most pressing manner, to make up the deficiency.
mrs. clifford was delighted with the idea, expressing the greatest satisfaction at the resolution they had taken.[58] she assured them that she would make up the sum with the greatest pleasure, and that the proof they now gave of their feeling and humanity made them dearer to her than ever; adding, that she was certain twenty-four hours would not pass before they were rewarded for their goodness.
the men were immediately stopped, the debt was discharged, and the furniture replaced in proper order. the poor woman knew not how to express her joy and gratitude. she scarcely knew what she was doing, but, at length recollecting herself, she entreated mrs. clifford and her children to be seated, and accept of such refreshment as she had to offer them. her little table was soon covered with a cloth as white as snow; and fresh milk, eggs, butter, and a nice brown loaf were set before them, of which they partook with great satisfaction.
generosity rewarded (second plate)
they did not quit this little family till a late hour, and could talk of nothing on their way home but the pleasure they felt in the reflection of having left them so happy; of how they had been delighted, when they saw the two hard-hearted men walk out of the cottage, and how differently the poor woman and her children would pass the night, to what they might have expected. alfred said, the good action they had done that afternoon, would be the pleasantest thing they[59] could have to talk of in the winter evenings; and robert was of opinion, that a visit now and then to the cottage would afford prettier stories for him to repeat, than any thing he could tell of the king of prussia and his hussars. as for helen, she declared that her heart was so light, and she felt herself so happy and joyful, that she could almost jump over the moon.
they retired to rest in this pleasant disposition; and they told their mamma, the next morning, that they had never been so happy in their lives; that they went to bed, thinking on the good they had done, and, after thanking god, who had given them the means of doing it, they had immediately fallen into a sweet sleep; that the moment they awoke, they had found themselves in the same happy humor, pleased with themselves, and with every body they saw. they were very well convinced that the magic lantern could never have procured them one quarter of the pleasure which they now felt, and which would be renewed every time they visited the poor woman at the cottage, and whenever they recollected her story.
“i told you, my children,” said mrs clifford, “that four-and-twenty hours would not pass before you would be rewarded; and you must now, i am certain, be well convinced, that the heart-felt pleasure arising from the reflection upon such an act of kindness and benevolence[60] to a fellow-creature in distress, is the greatest and most solid reward that could possibly have been bestowed on you; far superior to, and more lasting than any satisfaction you could have procured by laying out your money in any other way.”
