The Good Family
What a different picture the other house presents to our view! Theparents of the Good Family are always cheerful and happy; the childrenlove each other and agree together; the servants are content and eagerto oblige, and visitors delight to come to the house, because they passtheir time there with both pleasure and profit.
MANLY EDWARD, the eldest son, is a fine youth, who makes himself thefriend and protector of his younger brothers and sisters. Edward hastrue courage, for he will meet danger to help the helpless, to rescuethe oppressed, or in defence of the injured; yet he tries to avoid allquarrels, and is very often the peacemaker among those who are engagedin a dispute. His manners are gentle and graceful. He shuns the companyof the rude vulgar boys, yet insults no one by seeming to hold them incontempt. It is not fine clothes or money that he pays respect to, it isvirtue and good manners; and if the poorest boy in the school has themost of these good qualities, he gains the most of Manly Edward's loveand esteem.
STUDIOUS ARTHUR, the second son of the Good Family, does not learnquickly, but what he wants of that power he makes up by diligence. As hefinds he cannot get his task by heart as fast as some other boys, hetherefore fixes his whole thoughts on his book; and no calls to go toplay, nor any sort of thing, can draw him from his lesson till he haslearned it perfectly. Arthur is seldom seen without a book in his hand;and if he goes out to walk, he puts one in his pocket, to be ready if heshould chance to have a few minutes to himself. He never wastes anytime, and by that means he gains a great deal of knowledge. He is soattentive that he never forgets what he reads and learns. Arthur will,no doubt, become a very wise man, and already he often finds theknowledge he has gained of great use to him. His parents commend him,his friends admire him, and his schoolfellows respect him.
WELL-BRED CHARLES, the third son, is also a charming boy. He is greatlyremarked for his perfect good manners. He never forgets to behave withpoliteness wherever he is. In the company of his parents and theirfriends he is attentive to supply the wants of every one. He listens tothe discourse, and when he is spoken to he answers at once in a lively,ready, and pleasant manner, but is never forward and talkative. When hehas a party of playfellows, his mirth is not noisy and boisterous. Hedoes not think, as some rude children do, that all play consists inscreaming, shouting, tearing clothes, and knocking things to pieces, butfinds plenty of sport for his little visitors without doing any of thesethings, and makes them as merry as possible. When cakes or fruit aresent into the playroom, he helps his guests all round before he touchesany himself. He places them in the seats nearest the fire, or, in fineweather, where they can see the most pleasant prospect. As good mannersalways arise from a good temper and a kind heart which desires to makeothers happy, so they are sure to promote good-humour and happiness. Theplay-parties of Charles, therefore, are never spoilt by disputes andquarrels. His visitors come with delight, and leave him with regret.
WELL-BRED CHARLES is constantly attentive to the ease and comfort ofthose about him. He pays great respect and deference to people who areold. He never uses coarse words nor bad language, and always speakscivilly to servants. He does not enter the parlour with dirty hands andface, nor ever greases his clothes, for he knows that dirty habits areoffensive, disgusting things, and therefore he carefully avoids them.
Some children put on their good manners with their best clothes, andthink they need behave well only before company; but the politeness ofsuch children is stiff, awkward, and troublesome, and they always forgetthemselves, and return to some of their vulgar habits, before they leavethe company. It is the constant practice of good manners, at all timesand in all places, that renders them easy, becoming, sweet and natural,like those of Well-bred Charles.
The daughters of this good and happy family are no less worthy of praisethan the sons. The eldest girl, whom we may call PATIENT EMMA, has themisfortune to suffer from illness. Sometimes she has severe pain, yetshe bears it with patience and fortitude. She even tries to hide whatshe feels, that she may not afflict her kind parents; and the instantshe has a little ease she becomes as cheerful as any one. She submitswithout a murmur to take what medicines the doctors prescribe for thecure of her illness. She is not so foolish as to expect to find apleasant taste in physic, but she expects that it will be of service toher; and she would rather have a bitter taste in her mouth for a fewmoments, than endure days, weeks, and months of pain and sickness. Aspeevish, fretful tempers often bring disease on the body, so a patient,even temper not only lessens all suffering, but helps to cure thediseases of the body; Miss Emma, therefore, will perhaps in a short timeregain her health, and should such an event happen, what joy it willgive to all who know, pity, and admire this excellent little girl!
GENEROUS SUSAN thinks all day long how she can add to the happiness ofothers. It is her greatest pleasure to relieve distress, to do good, andto promote the comforts of all around her. She watches the looks of herparents, that she may fly to oblige them. If they are going out to ridein the coach, and there is not room enough for all the children, shewill give up her place, that one of her brothers or sisters may go. Shewill at all times leave play, or decline paying a visit, to attend onEmma, her sick sister. She sits whole hours by her bed-side to watch herwhile she sleeps, and is careful to stir neither hand or foot, lest sheshould disturb her slumbers. When awake, she reads to her, talks to her,or sings to her, if that seems most to amuse her. She would gladly bearthe pain herself, if it were possible so to relieve poor Emma.
When Susan has any money given to her, she does not treat herself withsweetmeats or toys, but buys something that will be useful to herbrothers or sisters. At other times she will buy a pair of shoes for apoor child that goes bare-footed, or purchase a book for some little boyor girl to learn to read in. Her mamma often gives her old frocks andgowns to bestow on some distressed family, and then Susan works with allher might for several days, to mend and make them up in the most usefulmanner: for she has been told that a poor woman who has two or threechildren to take care of, and goes out to daily labour, has not time towork with her needle, and perhaps does not know how to do it properly.When Susan has mended or made three or four little frocks, and sees thechildren neatly dressed in them, she feels more delight and pleasure thanif she had twenty dolls of her own, clothed in silks and satins. GenerousSusan has the blessing of the poor and the love of all her family.
MERRY AGNES, the youngest child of the whole, is a fine, healthy,lively, sprightly, laughing little girl, who feels no pain, and has nocause for sorrow. She is a kind of plaything for her elder brothers andsisters, who all delight in her good-humour. They never tease, torment,and try to put her out of temper, as some children do to those who areyounger than themselves, but they commend her goodness and strive toimprove her. When they tell her not to do anything, she obeys them atonce: for she sees that they are all gay, smiling, happy children,because they do what is right. If she wants to have what is not properfor her, she can bear to be denied, and skips away just as merry asbefore. This little girl will become very clever, for her brothers andsisters take pleasure in teaching her what they have been taught, andshe attends to their lessons, and improves by their advice. She knowsthat they are all good, and she wishes to be like them.
It is a fine sight to see this Good Family all together: for among themthere are no sour looks or rude words, no murmurs, no complaints, orquarrels. No: all is kindness, peace, and happiness.