caroline was trifling away her time in the garden with a little favorite spaniel, her constant companion, when she was sent for to her music-master. but the servant called her no less than three times, before she thought proper to go into the house. when the lesson was finished, and the master gone, she turned to her mother, and asked her, in a fretful and impatient tone of voice, how much longer she was to be plagued with teachers—for she had had them a very long time, and she really thought she now knew quite enough of every thing.
“that you have had them a very long while,” answered her mother, “i perfectly agree with you; but that you have profited so much by their instruction, as you seem to imagine, i am not so certain. i must, however, acquaint you, my dear caroline, that you will not be plagued with them much longer. your father says he has expended such large sums upon your education that he is quite vexed with himself for having[90] done so, because he finds it impossible to be at an equal expense for your two little sisters. i should therefore advise you, whilst he is so good as to allow you to continue your lessons, to make the most of your time, that it may not be said you have been learning so long to no purpose.”
caroline appeared quite astonished at her mother’s manner of speaking. the vain girl assured her that she knew every thing perfectly. she said, that if her father wished to save the expense of masters for her sisters, she would undertake to make them quite as accomplished as she herself was.
some time after this conversation, she accompanied her mamma on a visit to a particular friend, who resided in the country. as there were several gentlemen and ladies at the same time in the house, caroline was extremely happy in the opportunity she thought it would give her of surprising so large a party by her music and other accomplishments. it was not very long before she gave them so many samples of her vanity and self-conceit, as rendered her quite ridiculous in their eyes.
she was never in the least ashamed to contradict those who were older and better instructed than herself. she would sit down to the harp, with the utmost unconcern, and attempt to play a sonata which she had[91] never seen before, though at the same time she could not get through a little simple air, without blundering half a dozen times.
there lived, at about the distance of a mile from mrs. melvin’s house, a widow lady, with her daughter, a charming little girl, thirteen years of age. so very limited was the fortune of this lady, that she had never had it in her power to be at the smallest expense on account of her daughter’s education. indeed, her income was so narrow, that, without the strictest economy in every respect, she could not have made it suffice to procure them the necessaries of life. so she was obliged to content herself with the little instruction she could give to her child. she encouraged her, as much as possible, to exert herself, and to endeavor to supply, by attention and perseverance, the want of a more able instructor.
when caroline heard this talked of, she concluded immediately that laura must be a poor little ignorant thing, whom she would astonish by a display of her accomplishments. the vain young lady enjoyed in idea the wonder she would show, when she beheld her beautiful drawings, heard her touch the keys of the piano, and speak french and italian as well as her own language. this she wished to persuade herself was the case, though she knew no more of either of these[92] languages than she did of all the other things of which she was so vain and conceited.
she told mrs. melvin that she really pitied extremely the situation of the poor unfortunate laura, and wished, whilst she was so near, that she could have an opportunity of seeing her frequently, as she would give her some instruction, which would be of service to her. mrs. melvin was extremely disgusted with the vanity of her friend’s daughter. but, wishing to give her a severe mortification, which she thought would be of more use to her than any lesson she had ever received, she told her that she should pay laura a visit the next morning.
the morning was very fine, and the whole company set forward immediately after breakfast. they were soon in sight of a very neat but small house, which they were informed belonged to the mother of laura. a little white gate opened into a garden in the front of it. the grounds were so neat, and laid out with so much taste, that they all stopped to admire them, for the flowers and shrubs were tied up with the utmost nicety, and not a weed was to be seen in any part of the garden.
the folly of being vain (second plate)
“this is laura’s care,” said mrs. melvin; “her mother cannot afford to pay a gardener, but she hires a laborer now and then to turn up the ground, and, with[93] the help of their maid, laura keeps this little flower-garden in the order in which you see it. by inquiring of those who understand the subject, instead of fancying herself perfect in all things, she has gained so much information, that she is become a complete florist.”
they were shown into a very neat parlor, which was ornamented with a number of drawings. “here,” said mrs. melvin, “you may again see the fruits of laura’s industry and perseverance. she has had no instruction except the little her mother could give her, but she was determined to succeed, and has done so, as you may perceive. these drawings are executed with as much taste and judgment as could possibly be expected of so young a person, even if she had had the advantage of having a master to instruct her. the fringe on the window-curtains is entirely of her making. the pretty border and landscape on that fire-screen are of her cutting.”
caroline began to fear she should not shine quite so much as she had expected to do. when laura came into the room, and was desired to sit down at the piano, she was extremely mortified at hearing her play and sing two or three pretty little songs, so well and so sweetly, that every one present was delighted with her.
after they had amused themselves indoors, laura’s mother invited them out into the garden, where the extreme neatness and care exhibited by laura in its care was the theme of universal praise. one of the ladies of the party spoke in such extremely high terms of the beauty of the flowers, that laura’s mother, who was now getting rather old and feeble, and was obliged to walk with a cane, picked a pretty bouquet and begged her to accept it.
laura and her doings were so much the theme of praise from all, that caroline found there was little opportunity of making the display she had expected to, and in fact felt her real inferiority, notwithstanding the many masters she had had, to the humble laura, that she did not enjoy her visit near so much as she had anticipated to do. but her visit was of great service and benefit to her, for ever after she tried really to make good use of the instructions of her teachers; and it is therefore no wonder she became a better and wiser girl, casting aside her excessive vanity.
when my youthful readers attempt to show off, i think it will be of great use to them if they will remember this story of the vain little girl.
