Miss Nanny Spruce was just nine years old, and was the very reverse of Patty Lockit, in all things; for she had little limbs, little features, and such a compactness in her form, that she was often called the little fairy.She had the misfortune to be lame in one of her hips; but by good management, and a briskness and alacrity in carrying herself, it was a very small blemish to her, and looked more like an idle childish gait, than any real defect.
THE LIFE OF MISS NANNY SPRUCE.
'My delight,' said Miss Nanny Spruce, 'ever since I can remember, has been in dress and finery; for whenever I did as I was bid, I was promised fine coats, ribbons, and laced caps; and when I was stubborn and naughty, then my fine things were all to be locked up, and I was to wear only an old stuff coat; so that I thought the only reward I could have was to be dressed fine and the only punishment was to be plainly dressed.By this meansI delighted so much in fine clothes, that I never thought of anything but when I should have something new to adorn myself in; and I have sat whole days considering what should be my next new coat; for I had always my choice given me of the colour.
'We lived in a country parish, my papa being the only gentleman, so that all the little girls in the parish used to take it as a great honour to play with me.And I used to delight to show them my fine things, and to see that they could not come at any but very plain coats.However, as they did not pretend to have anything equal with me, I was kind enough to them.As to those girls whose parents were so very poor that they went in rags, I did not suffer them to come near me.
'Whilst I was at home, I spent my time very pleasantly, as no one pretended to be my equal; but as soon as I came to school, where other misses were as fine as myself, and some finer, I grew very miserable.Every new coat, every silver ribbon, that any of my schoolfellows wore, made me unhappy.Your scarlet damask, Miss Betty Ford, cost me a week's pain; and I lay awake, and sighed and wept all night, because I did not dare to spoil it.I had several plots in my head, to have dirtied it, or cut it, so as to have made it unfit to wear; by some accident my plots were prevented; and then I was so uneasy, I could not tell what to do with myself; and so afraid, lest any body should suspect me of such a thing, that I could not sleep in peace, for fear I should dream of it, and in my sleep discover it to my bedfellow.I would not go through the same dreads and terrors again for the world.But I am very happy now, in having no thoughts but what my companions may know; for since that quarrel, and Miss Jenny Peace was so good as to show me what I'm sure I never thought of before, that is, that the road to happiness is by conquering such foolish vanities, and the only way to be pleased is to endeavour to please others, I have never known what it was to be uneasy.'
As soon as Miss Nanny had finished speaking, Miss Betty Ford said, that she heartily forgave her all her former designs upon her scarlet coat; but, added she, Lady Fanny Delun put me no less in mind of my former life, than Lady Caroline did you of yours; and if Miss Jenny pleases, I willnow relate it.
THE DESCRIPTION OF MISS BETTY FORD.
Miss Betty Ford was of the same age with Miss Nanny Spruce, and much of the same height, and might be called the plainest girl in the school; for she had nothing pleasing either in her person or face, except an exceeding fair skin, and tolerable good black eyes; but her face was ill- shaped and broad, her hair very red, and all the summer she was generally very full of freckles; and she had also a small hesitation in her speech.But without preamble, she began her life as follows.
THE LIFE OF MISS BETTY FORD.
'My life,' said Miss Betty Ford, 'has hitherto passed very like that of Miss Nanny Spruce, only with this difference, that as all her thoughts were fixed on finery, my head ran on nothing but beauty.I had an elder sister, who was, I must own, a great deal handsomer than me; and yet, in my own mind, at that time, I did not think so, though I was always told it was not for me to pretend to the same things with pretty Miss Kitty (which was the name of my sister); and in all respects she was taken so much more notice of than I was, that I perfectly hated her, and could not help wishing that, by some accident, her beauty might be spoiled: whenever any visitors came to the house, their praises of her gave me the greatest vexation; and as I had made myself believe I was a very great beauty, I thought that it was prejudice and ill-nature in all around me, not to view me in that light.My sister Kitty was very good natured; and though she was thus cried up for her beauty, and indulged most on that account, yet she never insulted me, but did all in her power to oblige me.But I could not love her, and sometimes would raise lies against her, which did not signify, for she could always justify herself.I could not give any reason for hating her, but her beauty, for she was very good; but the better she was, I thought the worse I appeared.I could not bear her praises without teasing and vexing myself.At last, little Kitty died of a fever, to my great joy, though, as everybody cried for her, I cried too for company, and because I would notbe thought ill-natured.
'After Kitty's death, I lived tolerably easy, till I came to school.Then the same desire of beauty returned, and I hated all the misses who were handsomer than myself, as much as I had before hated my sister, and always took every opportunity of quarrelling with them, till I found my own peace was concerned, in getting the better of this disposition; and that, if I would have any content, I must not repine at my not being so handsome as others.'
When Miss Betty Ford ceased, Miss Jenny said, 'Indeed, my dear, it is well you had not at that time the power of the eagle in the fable; for your poor sister might then, like the peacock, have said in a soft voice, "You are, indeed, a great beauty; but it lies in your beak and your talons, which make it death to me to dispute it."'
Miss Betty Ford rejoiced, that her power did not extend to enable her to do mischief, before she had seen her folly.And now this little society, in good humour and cheerfulness, attended their kind governess's summons to supper; and then, after the evening prayers, they retired to their peaceful slumbers.
