Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-22

z she engaged the best masters for
me, and governess, who was recon-
mended to her from very fashionable
family: when she had done that, she had
performed her duty, as she thought, in
the most exemplary manner, for it never
occurred to her that the most tender So
lcitude could exact any thing more.
"At that period Madame do p was
thirty years Of age, but looked much
younger, and was extremely handsome.
She treated me kindly; I soon became
attached to her, and as my temper was
naturally open and affectionatc, she took
a liking to me, and, with more irankness
than prudence, made me the contidante
Of what snc called her mislortuncs.
"No rational being could listen to
her complaints with IL serious counte-
nance; for, IN reality, hor troubles con-
sisted only in her imaglnation: yet they
served to destroy her happiness. Her
husband, who was about ten years her
senior, was Il man Of an easy temper;
no enemy to pleasure, but careful not to
spend more than his income; and as that
was not very considerable, my poor aunt
was not able to vie either in elegance or
expense, with the greatest part of her
fashionable acquaintance. This was
what she called the heaviest Of her mis-
fortunes; but she had great many mi
nor ones, each of which, in its turn, made
her, to speak in her own phraseology,
the most wretched Of beings. Her hus-
bands refusal upon one occasion to suf-
fer her to give ball, laid her up week.
| have seen her in agonies at being dis
appointed by her hair-dresser, or her
mantuamaker; and though she was not
naturally ill-tempered, | am pretty sure
her tradespeople made a little addition
to their bills for the seedlings which she
was continually giving them.
Childish as | was, could not con-
ceiyc the importance which my still
more childish aunt was continually Civ
ing to the most triting things. She was
indeed complete spoiled child, neither
vicious nor virluous; neither doing ci-
thcr good or harm, weeping bitterly if
her husband refused her new d'ess,
and regarding him as monster if he
denied her Il box at the opera.
GO Will you never learn to be reason
able" said my uncle. 'Will you never
learn to be complaisant:' said my aunt.
As he was naturally good-tempered, he
generally tried to turn the matter oil'with
| a laugh, or else endeavourcd to sooth
her into good humour; but he always re-
mained firm in his refusal. My aunt
would either fly out of the room in
transport Of rage, or else burs, into an
agony of tears, and turning to me, ex-
claim, 'Ah! Fanny, you see how ulfor-
tunate am! Never, oh, never marry, if
you wish to be happyn
"l pitied her, because | loved her,
and because she wept; but, as / grew
older, the nature and the extent Of her
troubles made me reflect. Nothing cor
rects more than example, when it does
not seduce: | saw clearly that my aunt
might be happy if she would. She had
an easy fortune, an amiable husband,
who had married for love, and who was
also the man of her choice. She was
handsome, well received every where,
and enjoyed excellent health. The tr,-
lles that she ma ynified into misfortunes
ought not to have ruliled the mind Of
any reasonable being. What was 1t
that made her feel them so keenIy? 1t
could be nothing but Eer excessive indo-
ence, both of mind and body-an indO-
lence which, as an accountable being,
she carried even to a criminal eXcess.-
She never opened book, nor touched
an instrument; needle work she had no
taste for, and drawing was a task. The
management of her house she left to the
care of her house-keeper. Thus she
had no pursuit, no pleasure, but the gra-
tliicatlon of her vanity; and the time
which was not employed in adorning her
person, or displaying herself in compa-
ny, was spent i'll frivolous conversation,
or wasted in queralous repnings
"Thus | saw hcf, with all her ajyan-
tages, pEeyto lasa.tudc and cnnu: and
the fear ofresemb!mg her, aud Of suffer
ing as she did, was, really believe, the
cause of my giving good deal of my
time to studies of more serious nature
than young girls generally pursue. Time
strengthened an inclination which reason
improved as it expanded. My aunt
laughed at my tastes; but she did not
control them. My uncle, who was a
sensible and intelligent man, approved
of them, but he took care to make me
blend my studies with the employments
suited to my sex ! sought in the one a
relaxation from the other; my time pass
I 1,l eli.