The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-07-12

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there was difference. Mrs. Abigail
was very rich, though nobody knew
hoz0 rich; but not SO Mrs Dorothy, al
though she was her own sister; for
having 10 her youth in some way dis
pleased the old gentleman, her father
he left all his fortune TO his eldes
daughter; SO that Mrs. Dorothy de.
pended almost entirely upon the boun.
ty,er rather upon the justice of her sis
ttr. But this was not the greatest DIFF
! terence between them for Mrs. Abigail
was ill-natured, and Mrs. Dorothy wa:
good-natured and it is this kind oil
hing that makes the greatest real diff
! terence between persons, in the mind Of
all those with whom they have TO do
The consequence of this, in the present
Instance, was, that all the old servant:
loved Mrs. Dorothy better than their
mistress; and waited upon her. not on
y with more affection, but with more
respect And, as respect and affection
are things which can neither be con-
cealed where they are felt, nor success
fully initiated where they are not, Mrs.
Abigail saw as plainly hoU 1t Gas, as if
they had told her so in the most ex-
press terms. Now this aggravated her
temper beyond any thing; she thought
ii SO very strange, and hard, and un-
grateful, that she, 10 whom they were
indebted for all they had, who paid
them such handsome wages, and made
them such generous presents, should
be in less esteem thaa her poor sister
Dorothy, who had nothing of that sort
IN her power. No; but such as she
had she gave them !" and that happen
ed to be Of more sterling value than
heir mist ess' silver and gold. At first,
Mrs. Abigail was so impatient under the
grievance, that she turned away sever
al faithful servants for no other real
reason than this private one. But, fluid
ing tbat the new corners regularly fell
into the same fault, she was soon glad
10 recall her old dom. estes.
Mrs. Abigail's temper did not soften
as she grew older; she was vexed and
lormented that she could not purchase
with all her money that OF which every
human bosom feels the need; and eve
ny year increased both the cause and
effect of her disguietude. There was
not tradesman, nor a tenant, nor
neighbor, but would touch his hat with
more cordiality 10 Mrs. Dorothy than
TO Mrs. Abigail, for nobody could help
seeing the difference it was even per-
ceptible as they passed along in the old
coach for, while Mrs. Abigail used al
ways TO sit back in an erect posture,
looking neither TO the right nor left,
The round, good-natured face of Mrs
Dorothy might always be seen, some
times smiling at the children, and some
times nodding to the neighbors as she
passed their doors.
Mrs. Abigail used perpetually to COM
plain of her wrongs and grievances to
Mrs. Dorothy, who always heard her
very patiently; and said what she could
to soften aud console her. She very
rarely ventured TO hint at the reason or
the remedy; for that irritated her be-
yond any thing, and always brought forth
the whole list of her benefac,ions to
witness that the fault was not 10 her.
After a long succession of years, a
circumstance occurred in the family,
which made a greater alteration in as
pect, than if the China images in the
hest parlor mantel-piece, had been
transported 10 the sitting parlor mantel-
piece; which would, however, have
been considered a most memorable in
novalon. This was, Mrs. Abigail's TAX
ing into her head 10 adopt little or
phan girl, child scarcely FIVE years OF
age, the daughter of poor minister
lately deceased.
Little Mary was very pretty, art
less, engaging child. Full of spirits,
and unconscious of her misfortunes, she
entered the great house without any
adequate idea of its dignity, and felt her
self quite at home the moment she found
something TO play with. AT first the
old ladies could not exactly say wheth
er they were most amused or most pa
out by the noisy frolics of their new in.
mate. Mrs. Abigail, at least, felt con.
siderable uncertainty on the subject
but Mrs. Dorothy soon found that it add
ed materially to her happiness; for, al
though she was fdgetted al the unwont
ed sight of dolls clothes strewed upor
the carpet, and TO see the covers to the
crimson damask chair-bottoms uncere
moniously pulled up, and left in wrecks
and wrinkles; and, above all, that the
cats back was sometimes stroked the
wrong way-yet, the innocent smiles
the playful gambols, and engaging pratt
tie Of the child went TO her heart, ant
awoke sensations Of delight and tender
ness, which must needs languish, ever
lin benevolent minds. when il is lon!