Chapter IV: Introduction

Mary and Caroline, though the children of wealthy parents were, in their infancy, left entirely to the management of servants, or people equally ignorant. Their mother died suddenly, and their father, who found them very troublesome at home, placed them under the tuition of a woman of tenderness and discernment, a near relation, who was induced to take on herself the important charge through motives of compassion.

They were shamefully ignorant, considering that Mary had been fourteen, and Caroline twelve years in the world. If they had been merely ignorant, the task would not have appeared so arduous; but they had caught every prejudice that the vulgar casually instill. In order to eradicate these prejudices, and substitute good habits instead of those they had carelessly contracted, Mrs. Mason never suffered them to be out of her sight. They were allowed to ask questions on all occasions, a method she would not have adopted, had she educated them from the first, according to the suggestions of her own reason, to which experience had given its sanction.

They had tolerable capacities; but Mary had a turn for ridicule, and Caroline was vain of her person. She was, indeed, very handsome, and the inconsiderate encomiums that had, in her presence, been lavished on her beauty made her, even at that early age, affected.

CONTENTS

PAGE CHAPTER I _The Treatment of Animals.—The Ant.—The Bee.—Goodness.—The 1 Lark’s Nest.—The Asses_ CHAPTER II _The Treatment of Animals.—The Difference between them and 6 Man.—The Parental Affection of a Dog.—Brutality punished_ CHAPTER III _The Treatment of Animals.—The Story of crazy Robin.—The 10 Man confined in the Bastille_ CHAPTER IV _Anger.—History of Jane Fretful_ 14 CHAPTER V _Lying.—Honour.—Truth.—Small Duties.—History of Lady Sly 18 and Mrs. Trueman_ CHAPTER VI _Anger.—Folly produces Self-contempt_, _and the Neglect of 25 others_ CHAPTER VII _Virtue the Soul of Beauty.—The Tulip and the Rose.—The 27 Nightingale.—External Ornaments.—Characters_ CHAPTER VIII _Summer Evening’s Amusement.—The Arrival of a Family of 31 Haymakers.—Ridicule of personal Defects censured.—A Storm.—The Fear of Death.—The Cottage of Honest Jack_, _the shipwrecked Sailor.—The History of Jack_, _and his faithful Dog Pompey_ CHAPTER IX _The Inconveniences of immoderate Indulgence_ 37 CHAPTER X _The Danger of Delay.—Description of a Mansion-house in 40 Ruins.—History of Charles Townley_ CHAPTER XI _Dress.—A Character.—Remarks on Mrs. Trueman’s Manner of 47 Dressing.—Trifling Omissions undermine Affection_ CHAPTER XII _Behaviour to Servants.—True Dignity of Character_ 50 CHAPTER XIII _Employment.—Idleness produces Misery.—The Cultivation of 53 the Fancy raises us above the Vulgar_, _extends our Happiness_, _and leads to Virtue_ CHAPTER XIV _Innocent Amusements.—Description of a Welch 55 Castle.—History of a Welch Harper.—A tyrannical Landlord.—Family Pride_ CHAPTER XV _Prayer.—A Moon-light Scene.—Resignation_ 60 CHAPTER XVI _The Benefits arising from Devotion.—The History of the 64 Village School-mistress.—Fatal Effects of Inattention to Expense_, _in the History of Mr. Lofty_ CHAPTER XVII _The Benefits arising from Devotion.—The History of the 67 Village School-mistress concluded_ CHAPTER XVIII _A Visit to the School-mistress.—True and False Pride_ 69 CHAPTER XIX _Charity.—The History of Peggy and her Family.—The 71 Sailor’s Widow_ CHAPTER XX _Visit to Mrs. Trueman.—The Use of Accomplishments.—Virtue 74 the Soul of all_ CHAPTER XXI _The Benefit of bodily Pain.—Fortitude the Basis of 77 Virtue.—The Folly of Irresolution_ CHAPTER XXII _Journey to London_ 79 CHAPTER XXIII _Charity.—Shopping.—The distressed Stationer.—Mischievous 81 Consequences of delaying Payment_ CHAPTER XXIV _Visit to a Poor Family in London.—Idleness the Parent of 84 Vice.—Prodigality and Generosity incompatible.—The Pleasures of Benevolence.—True and false Motives for Saving_ CHAPTER XXV _Mrs. Mason’s farewell Advice to her Pupils.—Observations 86 on Letter-writing_

MORAL CONVERSATIONS AND STORIES