When Miss Arden came into possession of her fortune, she remained as aparlour boarder with Mrs. Adair, but the principal part of her time wasspent with Mrs. Bruce. A lingering disease, however, came on, and shecould not be happy separated from her friend: she therefore removed toher house. After experiencing the most affectionate attention from Mr.and Mrs. Bruce, she at length resigned her life, with hopes full ofimmortality. Mrs. Adair and her friend were with her in her lastmoments. She expressed her gratitude to them with all the energy ofhealth; and then, clasping a hand of each, died serenely, hoping to meetthem hereafter. To the father of her friend she left a very handsomeannuity for life. "I know," she had stated in her will, "that I cannotoblige my friend in any other shape but by contributing to her father'scomfort, and oh, may he see the error of his ways, before it is toolate."
Most of her school companions she had remembered; but particularly ayoung lady, whose parents had been unfortunate. After leaving tokens ofregard to every one to whom she had considered herself the leastindebted, she left the remainder of her fortune, to be equally dividedbetween Mrs. Adair, her daughter, and Miss Bruce. And here let me remindyoung ladies of fortune, that they are too apt to neglect theinstructress under whose care they have spent the early part of life.Surely, when young people have been years under one roof, gainingknowledge, and daily indebted for care and kindness, they should notdiscard from their thoughts one of their best friends; but how often isthis the case! The moment a young lady steps into a carriage, and drivesoff for the last time from the dwelling of her instructress, she seemsto forget that there had ever been such a person in existence. Perhaps,when her nuptial favours are preparing, and her hopes are bright, shemay exclaim in a careless tone, "O, we must not forget--" here shementions the lady to whom, next to her parents she is most indebted; andhere finishes her remembrance of school, and the friend of her youth: inbridal favours, or flimsy letters, all her gratitude is shewn.
In giving a sketch of the young ladies, I must not forget Elizabeth, whois now the happy wife of Colonel Vincent's brother. It had been her lotto be doubtful of his regard several years. Her spirits had been elatedor depressed, as she had judged Mr. Vincent's feelings interestedtowards herself. Had not that language which poets describe betrayed hissentiments, she might justly have concluded that, of all personsliving, she would be the one to whom his affections would neverseriously incline; but no sooner did fortune second his wishes, and aliving was presented unto him, but his heart and hand were offered tothe object of his earliest regard under the happiest auspices; thereforeElizabeth exchanged the useful employment of a teacher, for themeritorious duties of a wife.
When Mrs. Adair received the fortune due to her from her pupil's will,her friends concluded that she would resign the school. To theintreaties of her daughter on the subject she gave this reply:
"Why should I give up an employment which is a relief to my mind? In myearliest and brightest days, I never particularly relished the gaietiesof the world; with my friends, my chief happiness centred; theassociates of my youth are, to my fancy, as friends departed. The laterobjects of my care are likewise withdrawn from me; but though I havelost one dear to my heart by death, and another by marriage, still Ihave affections warm and tender towards youth.
"There must be something to attach us to life, something to occupy time,and interest our regard. As worldly beings, with worldly thoughts, wemust have resources independent of those in a religious point of view. Itrust I have chosen the wiser part, in preferring an active to an idlelife. At home, in the midst of my children (for so they are in myesteem), I shall always have something to excite interest; and ifwatchful care, tenderness, and exertion, can reclaim the stubborn, oradd to the happiness of my pupils, I shall think that I have not livedin vain. When my course is finished upon earth, may you, my dearElizabeth, be enabled to say with truth to your daughters, 'Never was aninstructress more happy with her pupils, or pupils happier with aninstructress.'"
FINIS.
LONDON: PRINTED BY COX AND BAYLIS, GREAT QUEEN STREET.
Transcriber's Note:
Archaic spelling of pourtrayed, viranda, Magna Charta, stupified, shewn and Auld have been retained as they appear in the original publication. Changes to the original have been made as follows:
Page 5 froward inclinations forward inclinations
Page 18 a look: but I assure a look; but I assure
Page 20 I have so few "I have so few
Page 34 for our diverson for our diversion
Page 44 prefer 'the Spy detected.' prefer 'the Spy detected.'"
Page 54 I see few countenances "I see few countenances
Page 63 and I hope I am "and I hope I am
Page 71 inqured if Miss Damer inquired if Miss Damer
Page 87 in particular cases." in particular cases.
Page 93 I must think of my "I must think of my
Page 101 into the play-ground.' into the play-ground."
Page 102 her: "Now, my dear "e" in her inverted
Page 109 who had been been ordered by who had been ordered by
Page 105 her pupils.: but at her pupils; but at
Page 139 Miss Bruce. It is in Miss Bruce. "It is in
Page 166 into his preesnce into his presence
Page 176 stangers to the future strangers to the future
Page 176 to sayby what means they to say by what means they
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