CHAPTER X.
When Matilda was fully recovered from the pain of her accident, her goodfriends had the satisfaction to perceive that the most salutary effects hadarisen from the disposition with which she had borne it. She had becomesensible how much we must all be indebted to our fellow-creatures, in anyprivation of health and ease, and this had taught her to be humble andthankful to all who contributed to her comfort; and from necessarilysuppressing both her appetite and her temper, she had gained a command ofboth, which she had been a stranger to before. From being unable to joinin any play requiring personal activity, she had been obliged to find heramusement in reading; and as that most excellent and delightful work, "TheParent's Assistant," by Miss Edgeworth, had been presented to her justbefore, she made herself completely mistress of those admirable tales,and by conversing much upon them with Mr. and Mrs. Harewood, with whom sheusually sat, she became deeply imbued with all the important precepts theyare intended to convey, as well as the stories they so agreeably relate.
One evening, when the whole family were assembled, the disorder which hadafflicted Zebby became the subject of conversation; Miss Campbellobserving, "that the poor woman had undoubtedly been as nervous as any finelady, and therefore given another proof, in addition to the multitude whichmust affect every person of judgment and feeling, that there was indeed nodifference of constitution, feeling, or character, between white people andblack ones, when they were placed in similar circumstances."
"Certainly not," said Mr. Harewood, "and in a short time this doctrine willbe more fully proved by the emancipation of all the blacks, who will, Itrust, become diligent servants and happy householders, no longer theslaves of tyrants, but the servants of upright masters."
"But I am told, mamma," said Edmund, "that the proprietors of West Indiaproperty will all be ruined; people say, this will come upon them as aretribution for past sins; but as many of these sins were committed in daysthat are past, and the present inhabitants, in many instances, have behavedexceedingly well, I must own I wish sincerely this may not be the case. Canyou tell me any thing about it?"
"They all deserve to be ruined," interrupted Charles, "who have done suchbad things as the planters do. Oh, how I wish I could be there when allthe slaves are set at liberty! with what delight should I join in theiruniversal shout of joy and freedom, and in all their innocent festivals!"
Edmund shook his head--"I should like the slaves to be happy as well asyou; but I don't like for any body to be ruined, especially people who areso nerveless and inactive as those who have resided in warm islands; surelyit is not true?"
Edmund looked again inquiringly.
"I am sorry to say," answered Mrs. Harewood, "that in many cases muchsuffering may be apprehended; but our government will undoubtedly softenevery evil to the inhabitants, as far as they can do it consistent withtheir views: you know the emancipation of the slaves takes place gradually,and by that means enables people to collect their money, to divert thechannels of their merchandise, or to make themselves friends of those whohave hitherto been held by the arm of power only. The grand shout of amultitude restored to freedom is undoubtedly very attractive, and enoughto warm the heart of a benevolent enthusiast like Charles; but it is notadvisable to set food in great quantities before a starving man, lest heeat himself into a surfeit. Ignorance is always in danger of using powervery ill, since we see that even the enlightened are frequently prone tomisuse it."
"Then I hope, mamma, it will turn out better than people think; and therewill be very little individual suffering from it."
"I am sorry to say, my dear, that notwithstanding what I have said, I yetfear many persons will suffer; I know a widow myself, who is returning tothis country nearly destitute, after living many years in a state ofluxury; very happily she has only one child, and has not suffered her pastprosperity so to unnerve her mind, as to render her useless and despondingin the day of adversity. On the contrary, she has the magnanimity torejoice in the freedom of the slaves, although that freedom has destroyedher fortune."
At this moment, every eye was involuntarily bent on Matilda, who, feelingundoubtedly some degree of compunction and shame, when she either thoughton her own former conduct, or the state of her country, had kept aloof tillnow. At this moment she started, and, with a look of most anxious inquiry,she cried--"Oh, ma'am! surely you do not mean my poor mamma? And yet--yes,certainly you mean her--she has lived many years in prosperity--she has butone child, and she is possessed of a pious, good heart, and a kind,generous spirit, and would not wish the poor negroes to remain slaves--shewould rather work herself than injure any body. Dear Miss Campbell, praymake me clever and good like yourself, and then I will be a governess, andget money, and support dear mamma--_indeed_ I will."
The amazing rapidity with which these words were uttered, and theperturbation of spirits which accompanied them, prevented Matilda fromperceiving that Mrs. Harewood was anxious to interrupt her; and even whenthat good friend began to speak, she was too much affected and disturbed tolisten to her. She went on to say, with an agitated voice, but ingenuouscountenance--"I cannot help crying, to be sure; but indeed I am not sorrythat the poor slaves are to have their liberty, and I do not mind the moneywe have lost; I only want to see my dear mamma, and to comfort her, and totell her that I would not be the mistress of bought slaves for all theworld; for I _now_ know that in the sight of God they are my equals, and ifgood, my superiors. I _know_ that Jesus Christ died to save them as well asme, and that he will not forgive them who insult him, by daring to buy andsell those whom he has purchased with his own blood; and besides, I do notwish to possess them; for if I did, I should be proud and cruel andmiserable, as I used to be."
The anxious, troubled heart of Matilda now found refuge in abundant tears,and, throwing herself on the bosom of her maternal friend, she shed themfreely there; and as the storm of grief subsided, Mrs. Harewood obtainedher attention to these words--"My dear Matilda, your vivid imagination, andthe quickness of feeling, which even in a good cause is too apt to hurryyou away, have led you into unnecessary trouble; it is not _your_ mamma,but a Mrs. Weston, of Jamaica, of whom I spoke. I can, however, scarcelyregret the pain you have experienced, because it has caused you to expresssentiments which do you honour, and which must give great pleasure to yourmother."
"But my mamma is coming over soon?"
"She _is_, my dear, but under very different circumstances, her propertybeing all well disposed of, and settled in the English funds; and be ityour comfort to know, that although your father was a proprietor of WestIndia estates, yet his fortune was not accumulated by the infamous trafficto which we allude; although, like other people, he held slaves for thepurposes of agriculture and domestic labour, he had an estate in thiscountry, which enabled him to support an expensive establishment, withoutrecurring to those practices too common among the planters in yourcountry."
"And has the lady of whom you spoke no estate, no money, to supportherself and her little girl?"
"She has _not_, my dear; but I trust her friends in England will provideher with some situation, in which her talents will enable her both tosupport herself and benefit others; and by this means the cup of afflictionnow may hereafter prove one of blessedness: her little girl is only sixyears old, and will therefore be but a trifling expense to her for someyears to come."
Matilda now wiped her eyes, but was observed for a considerable timeinvolved in deep thought, and silent thanksgiving to God, and no one aroundthought it right to interrupt the silent aspirations of her heart; but assoon as her countenance resumed its usual expression, and she rose from herseat, the young ones surrounded her, and with cheerful looks congratulatedher on the change in her feelings, which they were aware a few moments musthave produced; for, as Edmund observed, though it was very right to beresigned to every change which it pleased God to send, yet it wasundoubtedly a great pleasure to know that a dear parent enjoyed not onlythe power of living in her usual style of comfort, but that she preservedthe pow
er of bestowing a part of her fortune to feed the poor, and tocommunicate knowledge, and sow the seeds of virtue in the minds of theyoung and uninformed.
Matilda listened to their congratulations with gratitude and pleasure, andlooked forward with exultation, chastened by a proper diffidence ofherself, to the time when, with her beloved mother, she should be employedin acts of beneficence and social enjoyment--"So passing through thingstemporal, as not to lose the things that are eternal."