edwin and his sister were natives of a town in glamorganshire, whose father had but little more to leave them at his death than the virtues he possessed in his lifetime. his character and assiduity procured him an employment of consequence, which, in a few years, enabled him to save a very decent fortune. honour, virtue, and integrity, however amiable in themselves, will not always protect us against the calamities of human life, though they may contribute to soften them.
in the midst of his career of business, he was attacked by a long and tedious disorder, which considerably impaired his constitution, and obliged him to relinquish all thoughts of business at a very early age. not long after he had given up all mercantile pursuits, the failure of his banker deprived him of two-thirds of his fortune. the remainder of his possessions, which consisted only of the house he then lived in, and a few cottages in the village, afforded him but a scanty pittance for the support of his wife and two children, edwin, then about ten years of age, and matilda, about nine.
their mother was tenderly fond of them, and consequently was less able to endure the afflicting prospect of seeing them reduced so low, and her philosophy failed her in this instance. the narrow scale of living to which she was now forced to submit, and the parting with many little comforts and conveniences in which she had taken pleasure to indulge her children, and which they were no more to expect;—the affliction of seeing her dear edwin and matilda become her servants, and that dumb sorrow she fancied she beheld in their countenances whenever she looked on them;—all these, and many other thoughts, crowding on her mind, so weakened and impaired her constitution, that she was no longer the same woman. every time she looked at her children, the tears stole down her cheeks; and her husband, who most tenderly loved her, would sometimes mingle his tears with hers, and at other times retire to conceal them.
as edwin was one day gathering apples in the orchard, he perceived his parents in close conversation with each other. a hedge of rosebushes only parted them, so that he heard every thing they said. his mother gave a sigh, and his father thus endeavoured to console her.
"i was far from blaming," said he, "the excess of your affliction in the infancy of our misfortunes, and i did not attempt to interrupt you; but now you ought to be wiser from experience, and patiently bear those evils which cannot be removed, but may be increased by our impatience under them. i have concealed my sorrows, fearing they might add to yours; but you, in return, put no restraint on yourself; and you are shortening my days, without being sensible of what you are doing. i love my children no less than you, and feel for their misfortune in losing what i hoped they would live to enjoy after we were no more. consider my infirmities, which will probably carry me to my long home before you. you must then act the part of father and mother; but how will you be able to do this, if you give way to such immoderate grief? you are sensible these misfortunes are not my own seeking; they are the works of the almighty, and it is impiety not to submit to them. it has pleased him to deprive me of my property and health, while you deprive me of the satisfaction of seeing you submissive to his decrees. i see sorrow191 must pursue me to the grave, and you will not help to protract that awful hour of my dissolution."
edwin treasured up in his youthful bosom every word that dropped from the lips of his father, but his mother answered only in sighs and half-finished words. "do not distress your mind," continued her husband, "on the hapless situation of our children, since they may still be happy though deprived of their fortune. edwin has noble and generous sentiments; and matilda has been brought up in the strictest principles of virtue. let us, therefore, set our children an example, by teaching them to submit to the will of providence, instead of teaching them to repine at his decrees."
as soon as the conversation was ended, edwin got away as softly as he could, and, going into the house, met his sister matilda, who, as she saw him look very serious, asked him what was the matter with him. they went together into the parlour, when edwin thus addressed his sister.
"ah! my dear sister, had you, like me, heard what has just passed between my father and mother, on our account, i am sure you would have been equally afflicted. i was very near the arbour in which they were conversing; but though i could hear every thing they said, they could not see me. my mother talks of nothing but192 about our being ruined; and my father says every thing he can to pacify and comfort her. you well know, that my father has never had a good state of health, and my mother's is going very fast; so that i fear we shall soon lose them both. what, my dear sister, will become of us, and what shall we do without them? i could wish to die with them."
"let us hope," replied matilda, "that things will not go so hard with us. do not let such melancholy thoughts enter your head, and be particularly careful not to cry in their presence, as that would affect them more than any thing else. let us endeavour to be cheerful, and when they see us so, it will possibly lessen their affliction. they love us tenderly, and we ought, in return, to do every thing in our power to make them cheerful and contented, if we cannot make them happy."
their father, coming to the door just as they began their conversation, stopped short, and heard every word that passed between the two young folks. his heart could not fail of being tenderly affected by their conversation, he rushed into the room, and caught them in his arms. "my dear children," said he, "how amiable is your conduct, and how worthy are you of a better fortune!"
he then took them by the hand, and led them to their mother, who was reading in another193 room. "lay down your book," said he, "and kiss your children; for neither of us need be any more afflicted on their account. they stand not in need of our pity, for they have resources of happiness within their own youthful bosoms. we have been deceiving each other, in thus afflicting ourselves on their account, when nothing has disturbed them. nothing can be wanting to the possessors of so much virtue."
he then related to their mother the conversation he had just overheard, and appealed to her tenderest feelings, whether she ought not to exert herself to the utmost to make herself happy, and endeavour to promote the felicity of two such children.
their mother again shed tears, but they were tears of joy. "i will from henceforth," said she, "endeavour to quiet the storm within my breast, that i may be the better able to take care of my dear children. it would be disgraceful in me, to let the world see that i have children from whom i have to learn lessons of philosophy."
edwin and matilda were so lost in the delightful sensations they received from the words and caresses of their parents, that they thought themselves the happiest of all little mortals. from this moment all their griefs and anxities seemed to subside, and the six following months glided away without even a desponding look from either of the parties.
edwin frequently walked abroad with his father, who constantly taught him to draw some moral reflection, or some useful knowledge in the commerce of life, from every thing they saw. it is too often the case with parents, when they take their children abroad, to amuse themselves with their gossiping tales, instead of teaching them to reflect upon the different interesting subjects that fall within their view. children are much sooner capable of reflecting than the generality of parents are aware of; and they would soon be convinced of the truth of this assertion, would they but make the trial, wait patiently for their answers, and endeavour to correct their youthful ideas when wrong.
six months had now slid away in peace and serenity; but the apparent tranquility of their mother was only in outward appearance. despair had taken deep root in her heart, and was secretly making great havoc with her constitution. a fever at last seized her, which soon put a period to her life.
the death of their mother was the source of inexpressible sorrow to her husband, who never recovered the shock it gave him. she expired in his arms, while poor edwin and matilda were drowned in tears by her side.
the house, for some time, afforded one continued scene of lamentation. her character was truly amiable; her children obeyed her through love, for fear had no share in their duty. she possessed the happy skill of penetrating into the infant heart, and making it sensible, by its own feelings, of the propriety of what she commanded to be done. thus she at once improved the heart and understanding, without ruffling the infant mind.
edwin and matilda severely felt the loss of their mother; but it was a still greater shock to their father, whose health, which was bad enough before, evidently grew worse from this fatal stroke. grief brought on a complication of disorders, which soon confined him to his bed; and in this sad situation he lived near a twelvemonth, when, his strength being totally exhausted, he expired in the arms of his son.
the situation of edwin and matilda was much to be pitied. they had no relation left to fly to, and friends are rarely to be found when distress seeks them. edwin was almost driven to despair; but matilda had more fortitude, and recalled her brother back to reason. it is certain, that the female mind, in scenes of distress, often shows more fortitude than we meet with in men.
the young orphans agreed to live together, and cultivate the little spot that was left them. the remembrance of the virtues of their parents animated their labour, and their moderation regulated their wants. they enjoyed the sweets of friendship, and lived happily, because they had learned how to be contented with little.
remember, my youthful readers, how fleeting and uncertain is the possession of riches. of these fortune may deprive you, but it cannot rob you of your virtue. virtue is an invaluable treasure, which even the revolutions of states and empires cannot take from you. like edwin and matilda, love and reverence your parents, cherish them in the evening of their days, and be a comfort to them in the time of trial, in the hour of sickness, and in the expiring moments of their lives. let every wise mother imitate the mother of edwin and matilda, who never suffered passion to get the upper hand of her reason, when she argued with her children on those little imperfections, which young people are apt to run into, and which are necessary to be corrected. it is better to be beloved than feared; but to indulge children in excesses, will neither create fear nor esteem. happy are those parents who have such children as edwin and matilda; and happy those children who know how properly to love, honour, and obey their parents.