PARENTAL RESENTMENT EXEMPLIFIED; OR A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. IT has frequently afforded matter for discus- 1 flew to the spot, and beheld a being whose ap sion, whether the parental or filial duties acted pearance was calculated to excite sympathy in more forcibly upon the human mind; and the the most insensible mind; for she possessed all page of history has been searched to produce in- her sex's softness, blended with a dignity that stances in support of arguments on either side. might have proclaimed her a queen. Her dress Aneas rescuing his aged father from the devour- was plain and simple, a small spaniel was lying ing flame, and the Grecian Daughter sustaining by her side; I intreated her to inform me in the existence of a beloved parent with that nutri- what manner I could be useful, as she appeared to be in the greatest pain. had given way, and the joints twisted under her with the sudden pain she felt. Pointing to a small cottage surrounded with a little piece of garden ground, she entreated me to do her the favour of requesting the owner of it to come to her relief: "for that (said she) is my humble residence, and I ought to bless Heaven that I am so near my home." ment which nature bestowed at that critical moment, are circumstances which equally prove the In the most polished terins she expressed her force of those tender ties; and it would be dif- acknowledgments, at the same time informing ficult to say which operates with the greatest || me that she feared her ancle bone was broken, as tenderness, the love of a child to a parent, or the || she had inadvertently trod upon a stone which affection of a parent to a child. Nature evidently leans to the side of the parent, yet how many instances of want of parental tenderness might be produced, where mortified pride and ambitious projects have rendered callous all the fine feelings of the heart, and where an amiable child has been totally discarded for not being able to conquer an attachment which the parents disapproved; and as a circumstance of this nature occurred to the object of my affection, I shall relate it for the amusement of those who peruse this work. Though partial to society, I derive a secret satisfaction from a solitary ramble, where I can undisturbedly indulge a rational train of thoughts, and having dined with a friend in Portman-square, who is a member of parliament, I refused to accompany him to the House; preferring a walk in those beautiful fields which lead to Hampstead to hearing a Senatorial de bate. I instantly obeyed the mandate, and found the honest man occupied in adorning a little parterre. "The lady who lodges with you, my good friend, has met with an accident, and requests your assistance in the adjoining field." Scarcely had I communicated this unwelcome intelligence when, throwing down his spade, and calling to a young woman to follow him, he bounded over the hedge, and in an instant was out of sight. The young woman seemed little less concerned than her husband. "This accident (said she) will almost break the poor dear lady's heart; for the only pleasure she has is in walking out merning and evening with her sweet little girl." Though my curiosity was raised, I did not think myself authorized to ask any questions; we soon reached the disabled fair; and my com. panion no sooner witnessed the evident pain she suffered, than she burst into a flood of tears. My mind was completely absorbed by a train of reflections which the beauty of the evening had inspired, that I scarcely thought myself a terrestrial being, for on the wings of imagination I mounted to the skies! I was roused, however, from these transporting ideas by the plaintive voice of a child, who with tears besought me to come to the relief of her mamma. Gainsbo-"Do not alarm yourself, my dear Sally (said the rough's picture of an angel, was never half so beautiful as was the countenance of this lovely child; her auburn hair seemed to have been divided in ringlets, for the purpose of displaying her sapphire cyes, and every limb was formed with such perfect symmetry, that it was impossible to behold her without a mixture of delight and surprise. "Where is your mamma, my little angel?" said I, tenderly taking the hand of the child. "There, there," she replied, pointing to a female, whom I beheld seated upon a bank. enchanting creature, endeavouring to force an angelic smile), but you know I was never able to bear pain without complaint." "You bear every thing like an angel, I am sure (replied Sally), and to think there's to be no end to your sufferings is enough to break one's heart." A mild shake of the head, and a finger erected, was a sufficient hint to Sally not to say more; when the stranger proposed to attempt reaching her humble dwelling by leaning upon the gardener and his wife's arm. Against this plan I warmly remonstrated, and at length persuaded her to allow the gardener and myself to convey her in a chair; to which proposal, after much difficulty, she consented, as she found it impossible to put her ancle upon the ground. Honest Thomas proposed immediately running for a doctor, but this office I insisted on taking upon myself, and as an old friend of mine lived within a short distance, I made the utmost haste to his house; and upon his examining the ancle, I had the satisfaction of hearing it was badly sprained, but not broken Upon taking leave of Mrs. Mortimer (for by to grace society, being compelled to work for her 185 the sympathizing fellow, "for my Sally would To restrain my curiosity I now found im The promise of secrecy having once been inmunicative companion would have given every advertently broken, I was persuaded my comformed him, that as in honour he was bound to intelligence I could have required; but I inmaintain silence; I would only ask one question which I intreated him to resolve, and inform me whether Mrs. Mortimer was a widow or a wife. "A wife! No, Sir, worse luck for the poor dear creature; do you think she would be forced to yearn her own living if the worthy Captain was alive? Why, Lord bless your honour, he would scarce let the wind blow upon her, he loved the very ground that she walked upon, as a body may say-but he is dead and gone; God rest his soul in heaven, for a worthier gentleman never drew breath." The image of this accomplished woman perfectly haunted my imagination, it not only occupied my evening reflections, but presented itself in my nightly dreams; and that I might have the happiness of finding her affections were at liberty was the first wish of my heart. Frequently had I ridiculed the folly of sudden attachments, yet I was convinced the anxiety I experienced was too strong a symptom of the tender passion to leave the slightest doubt; and as my sleep was short and interrupted, I arose at an early hour, and by an involuntary impulse, my steps were directed towards the New-Road. My heart beat with a new and lively emotion, as my eye caught a glimpse of the humble abode of a being who was formed to adorn a palace, and who would have graced the splendour of an East-ing, declaring he had no idea the day was so ern throne. Just as I reached the little wicket, honest Thomas was in the act of opening it, to "Your Honour is an early go to his daily work. riser;" said he, respectfully taking off his hat. I replied in the affirmative, falsely asserting, that I generally rambled in those beauteous fields; and endeavouring to conceal the interest I felt in the fate of his lodger, enquired if he could inform me whether she had passed a good night. The clock at this moment announced the roused by the sound, wished me a good mornhour of seven, when honest Thomas, suddenly ho took out a dollar, and intreated the worthy felfar advanced. Putting my hand in my pocket I your low to drink mine and his lodger's health; "but pray, Sir, by what name am I to drink nour's?" said he, respectfully removing his hat. This enquiry was exactly what I wanted, as I was anxious that Mrs. Mortimer should know my name, therefore taking a ticket from my I have frequently been astonished at observing pocket, I put it into my companion's hand. "She has not slept one minute, Sir," replied the sudden effects of a title upon the uneducated BB 2 part of mankind; yet I never behold so striking a transition in the countenance of an individual as in that of honest Thomas at perusing my caid. "My Lord, I beg your Lordship ten thousand pardons for speaking so familiarly,” said he, bowing to the ground, "I knew, to be sure, as how your honour was a gentleman, but it never once comed into my head that you was a lord." "Put your hat on, my good fellow,” 1 replied, amused by his simplicity," and believe that you paid me a much greater compliment in thinking me a gentleman, than you could have done in discovering that I was a lord; for I am sorry to say, there are many who bear that title, whose manners would put a gentleman to the blush." Upon taking leave of honest Thomas, I extended my morning ramble, until I found myself at the bottom of Highgate Hill, and as I was in a frame of mind to have ascended the Alps without finding it an exertion, I resolved to mount it, and breakfast at the first decent inn. Eating, however, was out of the question. I felt, like the cameleon, capable of living upon air; or, in other words, I existed upon the delightful intelligence which I had so recently heard. Matilda was free! there was exstacy in the reflection that I might restore her to that rank in society which she was so peculiarly formed to grace. And so romantically did I feel the force of the tender passion, that I could scarcely avoid engraving her name upon every shrub and tree. An open book proved to me that the allaccomplished Mrs. Mortimer bore the same name as her child, and 1 fancied every bird chaunted forth a note like that of Matilda, and that it was waited upon my ears by every zephyrus breeze. I protracted my walk until near eleven, and thin ventured to enquire after the charming woman's health; the lovely little Hebe ran out to proclaim my welcome, but alarmed me by saying the doctor had ordered her mamma not to get out of bed, and the sympathizing Sally informed me the amiable sufferer had not even closed her eyes; and though I had not courage enough to be particular in my inquiries, I would have forfeited half my income to have dared presenting her with fifty pounds. In what way to render assistance to the amiable sufferer I knew not; at length the idea struck me that a female could act with less reserve, and I instantly called upon my sister, and in confidence imparted all I knew. After rallying me with severity upon this sudden attachment, and the truly romantic appearance which it bore, she kindly promised to introduce herself to the fair unknown. As my impatience was too great to admit of formality, I would not leave her until she had assured me she would frame some plausible excuse for calling upon Mrs. Mortimer in the course of the afternoon. To this amiable sister I am not only attached by the ties of nature, but still more so, from observing a thousand instances of the goodness of her heart; and though what may sometimes appear levity of conduct absolutely springs from innocence of mind. She is lovely in her person, though far inferior to Mrs. Mortimer. With the admiration naturally paid to a beautiful woman, she evidently is gratified, and her person receives all those adventitious aids of ornament by which she fancies her charms are improved. Though she had promised to drive.immediately to Matilda's humble dwelling, and though upon han ing her into the carriage, she assured me she would not make a single call, yet a dress which was to be finished by the following Thursday struck her of too much importance to be neglected an hour; and instead of driving to Hampstead, the coachman was ordered first to go to Mrs. Tillany's, in Bond-street. At the moment my sister descended from the carriage, a young woman entered the shop, and spreading some elegant work upon the counter, said, she was sorry to inform her the lady who had undertaken to complete it was confined to her bed, from an unfortunate accident which had happened the preceding afternoon. “And can she not work as well in bed as up?" enquired the unfeeling monster; "I am happy, however," she continued, addressing herself to my sister," that your Ladyship is here; for should I not be able to get your Lady ship's dress completed, you will know that the fault is not mine; for I assure you, Ma'am, I would not have given it to the woman, if she had not sacredly promised to finish it by your Ladyship's time; but I don't know who would have to do with such creatures, if they could but find people to employ at home." "Creatures!" exclaimed the young woman who had brought the unfinished drapery, “I would have you learn to speak of your betters with a little more respect.-Oh Lord! that ever I should have lived to see the day that my young Lady should be forced to work for such an unfeeling wretch!" "Out of my shop this instant, you vile hussey!" exclaimed Mrs. Tiffany.Sally was obeying the mandate (for it was her self,) when n.y sister caught her by the arm, and intreated her to get into the carriage, as she was resolved to call upon the Lady to whom the accident had occurred. That Mrs. Mortimer had supported herself and lovely offspring by her own industry I had informed my sister, and the moment an accident was mentioned, she was convinced the person alluded to was the being who had made so strong an impression upon my heart. This channel of communication was fortunately opened between them, which prevented me from appearing a party concerned. To the attached Sally my sister easily apologized for her intended visit, by saying she was resolved to wait until the Lady was sufficiently recovered to finish her gown, and as indisposition naturally increased expence, she begged the worthy creature to accept a ten pound note, for the purpose of supplying her Jodger with those little indulgences her Fituation might demand. "Oh, Madam!" said the affectionate creature, "was I to accept this mark of your generosity it would break my poor young Lady's heart; for kind as you are, too well do 1 know her to dare to offer her a stranger's gift." "You are a good creature," replied Charlotté, "and you must do me the favour of accepting this trille for yourself; and the only return I beg is that you will introduce me to Mrs. Mortimer, as the lady for whom she had undertaken to work a dress." Fair as I had represented the form, and elegant as I had painted the manners of the being who had won my affection in so singular a way, yet my sister acknowledged I had scarcely done justice to the most lovely creature her eyes had ever beheld. My name was never mentioned at their first interview. The accident was alluded to by the fair sufferer, as a misfortune which could not have been foreseen; yet I could not help feeling sensibly mortified at finding that she seemed totally to have forgotten the attentions she had received. To cherish resentment, however, I found impracticable; I called upon Mrs. Mortimer on the evening of the following day, and upon hearing she was down stairs, I sent in my compliments, and intreated permission to enquire after her health. "I could not" said the angelic creature, "deny myself the satisfaction of expressing my acknowledgements to your Lordship for your polite attention the other night, as I am fearful the pain I then suffered must have made me appear both ungrateful and ill-bred; yet I must candidly tell you that I do not receive visits, even from my own sex; for retirement is not only congenial to my disposition, but actually necessary in my present state." At that moment the little Matilda came jumping into the apartment, exclaiming, "Oh Mamina, that sweet lady is coming who was here yesterday! and she has brought a doll with her, almost as big as Sally's little babe." Vexation and embarrassment overspreal the fiue countenance of Mrs. Mortimer, but recovering herself in a moment, she said, "My Lord I must 4 intreat you to retire; compassion induced the amiable Lady C-to call upon me, and it might injure me in her opinion to find a person of your Lordship's rank here. Unprotected females cannot act with too much precaution, and there are reasons why I should be peculiarly circumspect." The precaution, notwithstanding, proved unavailing, for Charlotte at that moment entered the room, and after congratulating Mrs. Mortimer upon being able to quit her chamber, exclaimed, "Why, my dear brother, who would have thought of finding you here?" The angelic creature's countenance was suf fused with the finest vermilion, as she alternately observed us both; my unceremonious sister, regardless of the confusion she had occasioned, desired me to make one of my best bows, as she had something very particular to communicate to Mrs. Mortimer, which she did not chuse I should hear. I obeyed the order with evident reluctance, impatient to know the secret she wished to impart; but unfortunately I had made an engagement which prevented me from seeing her again until the following day. Charlotte had contrived, during her first ride to Mrs. Mortimer's lowly residence, to obtain from the attached Sally the principal events of her life, and being personally known to Sr Christopher, she resolved to make him acquainted with the forlorn situatioa of his only child. This unfeeling father had rejected every overture which had been made him in the behalf of the amiable creature to whom he had given birth, and refused even making her the slightest allowance, though he knew that she even wanted the common necessaries of life. The crime she had been guilty of was marrying a man without fortune, whom he had not only introduced into his house, but actually treated with as much affection as if he had been his son, but who, upon discovering his attachment to his daughter, he had inhospitably turned out of doors. The attachment between the young people, however, was too strong to be easily broken, and Gretna Green presented itself as the only means of making their fate one, for Captain Mortimer was scarcely one-and-twenty, and the blooming Matilda only seventeen. Compensated for the loss of fortune, by the increasing affection of her husband, two happy years glided rapidly over; when called upon by the duty he owed his country, a painful separation took place, and fate decreed that this gallant young man never more should behold the face of a beloved wife. The small pension allowed officer's widows was all the support Matilda had to rely upon for the subsistence of herself and child; and recollecting that two servants who had resided in her father's family had a small cottage near London, she re solved to take up her future residence there; and finding her income not sufficient for her moderate expences, she increased it by receiving work from different shops, and two years had pa-sed in this retirement, when our accidental interview took place. to support herself and a lovely child. Yet this is not all, for she is exposed to the degrading insults of every paltry shopkeeper by whom she is employed. I witnessed the treatment she is compelled to put up with-every feeling of humanity revolted at what I beheld; and I resolved to make you acquainted with it, convinced that it is to your ignorance of her situation that she is exposed to such distress; for though resentment might for a time stifle the voice of nature, yet Sir Christopher C. I am persuaded, will avenge the insults his daughter has received." Here any sister paused, though during this speech she had fixed her eyes steadfastly upon his countenance, which alternately varied from red to pale; and for several moments he paced the apartments too much agitated to be able to So impatiently did I long to know the nature of Charlotte's secret, that I was in Harley street two hours before she arose, and the transports I felt at hearing she had effected a reconciliation between Sir Christopher and his daughter may be imagined, but not easily described; it was by mere accident that the unnatural being was in London, as he had a rooted aversion to the place; in short, dogs and horses constituted all his happiness, and he was fond of the country, from being able to enjoy field sports. Sir Christopher had been remarkably struck with a fa-speak. At length turning short, he caught the vourite spaniel of my sister's, which he had seen at Brighton the preceding year, and which he had wished to purchase for the sake of its breed. This animal she therefore resolved should become an excuse for her visit, and ordering her to be put into the carriage, she drove to Ibbetson's || hotel, and no sooner did the jolly sportsman cast his eye upon Miss Sylvia, than a cordial smile of welcome ornamented his ruddy face. "I understand, Sir Christopher," said Charlotte, " you are desperately in love with a young || lady of my acquaintance, who is endowed with many personal charms." Your Ladyship is pleased to be merry at the expence of an old fellow," rejoined the testy Baronet, evidently discomposed by the remark. "I never was more serious, upon my honour," replied Charlotte," and I actually came for the sole purpose of placing her under your care; but on condition that you will grant a request I intend to make." So saying, she took her favourite by the cellar, and presented her to the delighted Sir C-. That Charlotte should even know that he had a daughter in existence, was not probable, as they had merely accidentally met at the sea-side, and though the cruelty of his conduct to that daughter had interested her friends and relations, yet before her marriage he was persuaded Mrs. Mortimer had not even known my sister by name; therefore he had not the slightest idea that the request could have any connection with his child. After expressing his warmest thanks for the gift, he intreated my sister to give him an opportunity of convincing her how much her boon was prized, and only to name in what manner he could oblige her, as he was impatient to grant her request. "You have a daughter, Sir Christopher, one of the most amiable and accomplished of women; who is reduced to the necessity of taking in work || hands of his companion, and with a voice almost suffocated with emotion, said, "Where is the wretch, madam, who has dared to insult my poor child? for though I have cast her from me, I will protect her from degradation as long as I have life," The sensibility of my dear Charlotte's disposition soon displayed itself; she burst into a flood of tears, assuring him that the only way in which he could shield his daughter from insult was by receiving her under his roof. "But depend upon it, my dear Sir," said she, "you will not long enjoy the blessing of her society, for my brother, I am persuaded, will take the citadel by storm; he has seen and actually adores your Matilda ; and merely waits your permission to make her an offer of his heart." Whether nature asserted her powers over the feelings of this too long inveterate father, or whether shame produced that which duty could not overcome, is a circumstance which it would be difficult to find out. But my sister had the happiness of hearing him declare his readiness to receive his daughter under his roof, as soon as he had finished the business which had brought him to town. This was the intelligence my amiable sister was so anxious to communicate; and to add to my happiness, she had insisted upon the fair Matilda's quitting her humble abode and remaining in Harley-street, until Sir Christopher's bu siness was arranged. As the dénouement of my narration may probably be anticipated, I shall merely say, I am now the happiest of mankind, though near two years elapsed before I could persuade the amiable Matilda to enter a second time into the marriage state. Singular as it may seem, we frequently converse hours together upon the amiable qualities of the man who first made an impression upon her youthful heart. And so far |