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Provkrhs. ^0r^*'*^»^*^*** DEAN AND M U N U A Y , TURBAUNKKULK-HTRKBT. ^■■*r! d ^ if ^ -^ - *.f « ^4'^'- ROWLAM) M ASSINGH AM Rowland Massinoham was a fine, well-grown youth of fourteen; the son of wealthy parents in the city, who had expended a considerable sum of money in giving their eldest son the education of a gentleman. Rowland possessed excellent abili- ties, and his talents were of that superior kind ^vhieh made his fond and anxious parents anticipate that he would, one day, make* a very t^lever man. But he possessed, likewise, a perverse and obstinate dis| edition, and would only learn it 4 K()WIw\NI) M\S.Sf\(;ilAM. j\ist what he pleased; and wlu*ii his tutor, Mr. Mill, remonstrated with him on the im])r()[jriety of this con- duet, he always made one uniform answer: " You cannot make me learn what I do not like, sir; and I am determined, in what so nearly concerns myself, to be my ow^n master." " When you arrive at years of discretion, and are a competent judge of the propriety or imi)ro- priety of your actions, Rowland,'* said Mr. Hill, " I will allow^ you the reins of self-government. At pre- sent, y^our conduct is presuisptuous and improper, in the highest degree; and your mind will be very poorly regulated, if superintended by no better master than yourself. Do *Wf/^x ROWLAND MASSINGHAVI. vlicii his :e(l with his con- luiiform lake mo •; iuhI I D nearly ny own years of mpetent ' iiiij)ro- :)\vland,'* you the At pre- mptiious : degree ; y poorlf 1 by no If. Do you reineinher the Greek fable you translated to nie the other day?" " Perfeetly well, sir. I likewise antieipate the refereu'-'e you are about to make to it. But, after all, it is but a fable; and I am deter- mined never to wear a (;ap of ano- ther person's fitting." *' Then I will thank you, Row- land, to reaeh down the volume, and read it again, to day, as it made so little impression on you, y.^ster- day." '' I know it by heart," said Row- land; *' and do not mean to bother my brains with it any more.. It would be a sad waste of time to learn a lesson twice over, which I already know." '^ I am TU) advocate for misspent B 3 i^ I 6 ROWLAND MASSlNtJHAM. time," returned Mr. Hill; '' I know liovv precious every moment is, and that we shall have to i>:ive an ac- count for every minute we waste in idle and useless employments. I perceive, by the obstinate expres- sion of your countenance, that you only choose to obey your own head- strong will, in preference to my command. For once, I will indulge you; and as you do not choose to read the fable, reach me the book, and I will only impose on you the task of listening." Rowland reached the volume from the book-case, with a very sullen air, and sat down in the window- seat. He felt very much inclined to stop his ears, but that he dared not do: besides, he loved his tutor, M. KUWLAND MASSINGHAM. •' I know t is, and 3 fin ac- waste in ents. I expres- tliat you vn head- .' to my I indulge hoose to le book, you the me from y sullen ^vindow- inelined le dared is tutor, though, at times, he was exceedingly rude and impertinent to him. So he sat, in no very amiable mood, twisting the pen with which he had been w riting his Greek exercise, and scattering the fragments of feather all over the carpet. There was little wisdom in this conduct, but it was the young gentleman's pleasure. He endeavoured not to listen to Mr. Hill; but, as he had not lids to his ears, to let up and down at his pleasui e, and he possessed the sense of hearing ""o an acute degree, he could not fail, in spite of his inat- tention, to catch a part of what his tutor was reading. He tried to think of something else; but his imagination, which was generally roving on some wild-ffoose chase. ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. . just thou could not supply him ^vitli a single idea. He had no other resource but to listen, and he did this involuntary act with a very ill grace; while Mr. Hill read aloud the well-known fable of Phceton and the horses of the sun. As he laid down the book, he fixed his eyes on Rowland. The young gentleman coloured deeply, and was very angry with himself for so doing. " What a fool I am to blush," he thought, " as Mr. Hill will certainly think I apply the fable to myself.'* Finding that Rowland would give no opinion of the tale, without it was demanded of him, Mr. Hill asked him what he thought of Pho- ton's conduct?" him with no other d he did a very ill id aloud Phseton 3ook, he d. The deeply, . himself )ol I am Mr. Hill the fable >uld give thout it ^r. Hill of Ph^- KOWLAND MASSINT.HAM. 9 " Oh! sir, I admire him very much. He is a fine, spirited fellow, and always was a great favourite of mine." '' Then, I suppose, you made him the model of your conduct: really I pity the perverseness of your taste." • *' I think he was perfectly right," returned Rowland, '' to try his skill in horsemanship; and though he did get a sad tumble, and had his head split with a thunderbolt, it was worth making the experiment. Had he succeeded, he would have been pronounced a god. I dare say I should have done the same." " I do not doubt it," said Mr. Hill; " and am very sorry to see such a resemblance in vour conduct. 10 KOWLAM) MASSINCJIIAM. But beware, my youiii^ friend, lest you draw upon yourself the punish- ment of disobedience." After Rowland had finished his tasks, and w^as left to enjoy the rest of the day in whatever manner best pleased himself, a whim suddenly popped into his head, that he should like to drive his ftither's carriage, which was going as far as Ryegate, to fetch his little sister, on her re- turn from a visit to Mrs. Newman their aunt. " As Mr. Hill so illiberally com- pared me to Phpeton, I have just a mind to show him that I can drive much better than the son of Apollo. I will ask papa to let me go down in the carriage to fetch Anne. I w ill make the coachman give me the •^li/mr -^au" X», ■ -mfmi^f^^mmiil^-H '-^M>r^-' I AM. Yieud, lest he puiiish- riished his oy the rest ariner best I suddenly t he should 5 carriage, 3 Ryegate, on her re- Newman rally com- ive just a can drive of Apollo. ' go down Anne. I KOWLAM) iMASSfNGHAM. I I reins, when we are once off the stones/* Away walked Master Rowland, highly delighted with this scheme. He could hardly eat any dinner, for thinking of it; and after the cloth was removed, he made several in- affectual attempts to broach the subject to his father; but Mr. Mas- singham was engaged in conversa- tion with two gentlemen, on busi- ness of importance; and all the answer Rowland received to his repeated applications was, a positive command to ''hold his tongue." He was not one to wait any body's leisure but his own. " Papa is busy," he said, '' with those two disagreeable old men, and the car- tgc guiJ^ iur riune m nair an iiour. 12 ROW LAN D M A SSI N G H A M . There is no time to be lost. So I shall please myself, and ^o witlunit askiiii^ leave: I tliink I am old enough to be my own master." " Are yon going down to Rye- gate, sir, to fetch Miss Amie?" said Jacob, the coachman, letting down the steps of the carriage. *' To be sure, Jacob; she would think it very unkind of me, after an absence of two whole months, to miss such a nice opportunity of being the first to welcome her home. But, coachee, you may just put up the steps of the carriage, again. I mean to ride by you, on the box." " No, master Rowland, I am very sure you will not. The footman ui"^i?;«g<,aL*i-«',i I A.M. ROWLAND MASSINGilAM. 13 lost. So 1 ^o without I am old aster." ^n to Rye- Lime?" said tting down • she would P me. after le months, ►ortunity of Icome her >u may just e carriage, by you, on , I am very le footman sits by me, and it looks very much for rain." " The footman may stand behind: That is his proper place," said Row- land, eagerly ascending the coach- box; " I mean to ride with you, to see the face of the country, as papa says. And as to the rain, here, Betty!" he continued, calling to the housemaid, who stood at the door, " fetch me mamma s best silk um- brella: that is large enough to cover us both." " Indeed, master Rowland, I shall receive your mamma's orders, first," returned Betty, in r taunting tone: " a likely thing, indeed, that I am going to fetch my mistress's best silk umbrella with the ivory 9 nnnnlp tVif^^ nocf tixrrk trnnifanc /^'ulir 14 K()\VL\M) MASSIN(;HAM. last week, to please you. The clu one is quite good enough. And here it is," she added, holding it up to him. Rowland deliberately took the umbrella, and flung it into the ken- nel. •' Now you may go and fetch the other, mistress Betty; and, for the future, mind what I say to you." " Nay, for the matter of that," said Betty, scornfully, " you are not my master; and I will never live in any place to be ordered about by a young jackanapes, like you. I declare I will give my mistress warnhig, to-morrow." '* I wish you may hold in the same mind," returned Rowland; " we can have plenty better than VVJ'U., t^Li J VILIJ ^ Clx^Vl, t.\Ji. XXXV iJ(Al l^y J. AM. R( >WLAND MASSINGHAM. 15 . The oiu gli. And Iding it up took the ^0 the ken- ) and fetch ; «ind, for ay to you." of that," " you are will never lered about ike you. I y mistress Did in the Rowland ; )etter than Hi, V pr«At <^, 1. am quite tired with your inattention and ill-humours." " I almost wish," said Betty, in her first burst of passion, " that Jacob might overturn the coach, and break your worthless neck, — I do." '^ The prayers of the wicked never prevail?" returned the young gentleman, as the coach drove off. " I wonder mamma can keep that shrew in the house ; I hate the sight of her." The coachman and footman hear- tily laughed at what they termed their young master's humour, in- stead of pointing out to him the folly of such conduct: but Rowland had, among other bad habits, used liinicfilf t(» ]>«» cf\ fqiuiliqi' ■w/itli tlip 1() ROWLAND MASSIX(;iIAM. r servants, and to order them about on all his petty errands, that they had ceased to treat him with the respect tliey always she^ved to his younger brothers and sisters. The coachman and footman very much disliked Betty; and they were highly diverted at her anger, and told master Rowland they thought he had served her just right. '^ I think so, myself," said Row- land; " I was determined to let her know that I would be my own master." They had scarcely cleared the streets of London, before Rowland was anxious to put his intended scheme into practice; but he hardly knew^ how, conveniently, to ask the question. ,M. HUWLAM) MASSIN(JHA.\f. 17 ein about that they with the ed to his !rs. man very they were iger, and y thought It. aid Row- to let lier my own ared the Rowland intended he hardly ask the a I '' Coachee/' he said, ^^This very fine rojid." "Yes, sir; a beautiful road to travel on." '' Is it such a hard matter to learn to drive, Jacob?" " Not when your hand is strong to hold the horses," said the coach- man; "it requires a great deal of skill to drive a carriage through London, where the stoppages ()(»cur so frequently, and a man seldom becomes a good driver without a a great deal of practice; but in the country a babe might almost hold the reins." Jacob spoke figuratively; but Rowland eagerly interpreted his words to suit his own purpose. " I should like just to try if I could r r^ 18 KOWI.AM) MASSlNdllAM. drive for a little way," he said, in a coaxinj? tone?. ** I would not trust the reins in your hands, Master l^owland, for a hat full of silver!" ''Why not, Coaehee?" " You would be sure to overturn the (carriage, and break all our necks. 1 thought you were up to something when you wanted to ride by me; no, no, Master Rowland, I have too much value for our lives to trust such spirited cattle to your rash guidance." Rowland was very angry, and very much disappointed at the ill-success of his adventure. He was not one to be abashed by trifles, and he determined to persevere in his application: adopting, therefore, a ) ROWLAND MASSIN(JIIAM. 19 aid, ill a reins in 1(1, tor a :)vertnrn all our up to 1 to ride ^vland, I r lives to onr rash and very l-suceess not one and he in his refore, a I haupjhtier tone, and driving himself an : 'r of eons'^jtience he said, " Don t you know that / am your master, Jaeob; and, conse()ueutly, you have a right to obey my com- mands." " Thank you for the information, Mr. Rowland," returned the coach- man, touching his hat with mock gravity; "I assure you it is quite news to me. You have long been your own master; but I can let you into a bit of a secret — you are no master of mine." This answer put llov land into such a passion that he dt glared he would kick with his feet against the footboard, and shout till he fright- ened the horses. " Nay," said Jacob dril^ , as he 20 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. saw his petulant companion in the very act of putting his threat into execution;" if you persist in this sort of behaviour I shall be forced to dismount and bind a handkerchief over your mouth, tie your hands behind you, and put you into the carriage, with the footman to guard you; and I shall tell all the passen- gers I meet I am carrying a mad young gentleman to St. Luke's.'* In spite of Rowland's late indig- nation he could not help laughing at this speech, and he sat ruminating in his own mind some plan to bring the coachman over to his wishes, till they w ere within a mile of Ryegate. The coachman happened to be a jolly soul who dearly loved a draught of i^ood ale; he suddenly drew up 1. ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 21 11 ill the reat into ; in this forced to Ikerchief r hands into the to guard ? passen- ^ a mad ke's." be indig- laughing minating to bring shes, till Ryegate. t)ea jolly aught of Irew up /' before a public-house by the road side, and asked the footman to lend him sixpence to procure a pot of his favourite beverage, as he had no money about him. " I emptied my purse last night," returned John; "and have not a farthing to bestow upon myself." Rowland drew his purse carelessly from his pocket. It was a heavy one. The coachman eyed it, but said nothing. '^ I am rather thirsty myself," he said; "the sun is very hot : I think we shall have a thunder- storm ; landlord, bring me a glass of negus. While the master of the house hastened to obey his orders, turning towards the coachman he said' "You are very warm, Jacob?" 22 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. " Yes, sir, driving is hard work in dusty weather like this," replied Jacob, taking oif his hat and wiping his brow; '^a draught of good beer would be worth a guinea." " You may have one for less money than that if you please," said Row- land; '' if you will let me only drive to the next mile-stone, I will give you half-a-crown." Jacob looked perplexed: the mile stone w^as in sight: the road, just at that moment, quite clear of carriages; no harm could happen and he on the box. Deliberation on a point of duty is dangerous : when we know we are about to act foolishly all the arguing in the world will never make our conduct appear right, when we know it to be wrons:. Jacob was rIAM. ROWI.AND NfASSINliHAM. 2;^ ard work in s," replied and wiping f good beer »« • less money said Row- g only drive I will give d: the mile oad, just at jf carriages; id he on the a point of 3n we know ishly all the never make t, when we Jacob was still biting the bead of his whip, and revolving in his own mind that knotty question. " Shall I — or shall I not?" w^hen the landlord handed his young master the glass of negus : it looked so cool^, and Jacob was so hot, that the very sight of it in- stantly decided the question. Row- land was to drive to the next mile- stone; and Jacob never quitted the door of the public-house till he had expended the whole half-crown in liquor. With his head none of the lightest, he entrusted the reins to the impatient Rowland, w ho rejoiced to find himself, in this instance, his own master. All went on swimmingly for a few minutes, and Rowland began to imaraie himself a most skilful ,,,.,. -fc' M-«'«#«B*fMi«5SftB!^^(^'lil 24 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. charioteer, when two opposition stage-coaches, advancing at a rapid pace, threw the young coachman into such a flutter that, not knowing which side to take, he pulled the wrong rein with such a sudden jerk that the horses plunged on one side, and before Jacob could snatch the reins from his inexperienced hand, the wheel came in contact with one of the coaches, and the carriage was instantly upset and literally broken to pieces. Fortunately for Rowland, he fell into a soft pile of dirt that had been scraped up by the road-side, and escaped without any personal da- mage, though his clothes were soiled all over. The footman, too, A nrk iniiirv • but JflCob. bciuff •ece ■ttTCt. i T Vi '"J SGHAM. KOWr.AXn MASSIN(;HAM, 25 o opposition iiig at a rapid rig coachman , not knowing he pulknl the a sudden jerk d on one side, dd snatch the u'ienced hand, itact with one e carriage was terally broken >wland, he fell : that had been 'oad-side, and ' personal da- clothes were footman, too, ntJncob. beine intoxicated, fell so heavily to the ground that he fractured his arm. Rowland was \n a fine fright when he discovered the mischief he had so successfully plotted. '' This is worse than Plueton," said he nunitally; " he only hurt himself; but I have broken my father's carriage to l)ieces, damaged materially two fine horses, and perhaps lamed the coachman for life. Well," he con- tinued, after a long pause, " the I miscliief is done, and it can't now be helped ; I must make the best of the matter at home. I do not so much mind papa and mannna scolding, as that cannot last for ever: but Mr. I Hill wdl quiz me abominably for the time to come; and, perhaps, treat 1 me with reading: that detestable 1 D 26 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. fable again— wliich, by the bye, has proved no fable, but a sad reality, in my case." Leaving the footman to take charge of Jacob and the broken carriage, he proceeded on foot to his aunt's. " Why, Rowland, how dirty you are? you surely have had a fall? Did you come walking?" said Mrs. Newman; '' 1 thought my sister meant to send the carriage for Anne?" " I came in the carriage," returned Rowland; "but an accident has liappened by the way. Anne must return with me by the stage- coach." " What is the nature of the acci- dent?" said Mrs. Newman, rather GUAM. ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. •27 ^ the bye, has a sad reality, Qaii to take I the broken d on foot to lowland, how rely have had valking?" said thought my . the earriage a2:e,*' returned accident has . Anne must y' the stage- *e of the acci- iwman, rather alarmed at the constrained expres- sion of lier nephew's countenance. "The carriage was overturned,'' i repHed Rowland, regaining liis usual composure; " and the coachman has broken his arm." " You seem to consider it an affair of little importance," returned his aunt, {lr()p})ing her work. " It is well the accident is no worse; but vou nnist be aware, Rowland, that you were in imminent danger of losing your lives. That coachman is a sad (\ireless fellow — I wonder my sister keeps him; besides, I hear he is - given to drink. Pray how did the accident happen?" Rowland, with all his faults, was I not given to utter falsehoods ; and he possessed too much independ- 28 KnWLAM) MASSFNtJUAM. In ' etice, nay, it rniG^ht almost be deemed effrontery, to deny any action, liowever mercenary or imi)rudent, which he had eonnnitted. Mis aunt had always sadly spoiled liim, and trusting to her usual indulgence, and hoping also that she would break the matter to his father, he told her that he wished very much to try and drive for a little way; that he had bribed the coachman to consent to his wishes, and that he had succeeded hi overturning the carriage. His aunt listened to him with surprise and vexation. " Rowland," she said, " vour conduct deserves a severe reprimand; and I hope the ill success of this adventure will warn you, for the future, to be ■ .•gaw y ^ mm, .'GUAM. ROWLAND i\fASSI\GHA\f. 21) :)st be deemed any action, r imprudent, ?d. His aunt led liim^ and I indul2;enoe, t she would lis tVither, he m1 very much a little way; ;ie coachman les, and that erturning the to liim with " Rowland," ct deserves a I I hope the venture will iture, to be guided })y others, instead of al- ways relying uj)()n yourself. Your conceit deserves a punishment, and II trust Mr. Hill ami your father will lecture you well upon the sub- ject. I shall write a note to the latter, and state the particulars, without depriving you of the only merit you possess. I shall cer- tainly say, you had the grace to acknowledge yourself the author of the catastrophe." Rowland was more hurt by his .aunt's gentle manner than he would have been had she scolded him. He had expected a sharp rebuke, and had prepared his answers accord- |ingly; he was, therefore, almost dis- appointed at her mildness. She talked to him a I .,g time on the I) n 30 IKnVLANH MASSlN(iHA.\l. iinproi)riety of bis nuisterly con- duct, and he wus nearly convinced of his folly, ^^hen a lovely little i,nrl iibont two years yount^^er than Rowland, entered the room ready equipped for a joiu'iiey. '*Ah! Rowland!" she cried, tiing- inc: her arms round his neck; " how^ glad I am to see you — How is dear papa, and mamma, and all the little darlini':;'' at home? How kind it was of you to come and fetch me, I suppose papa sent the carriage to take my luggage?" "Yes, my dear," replied her aunt, ''he did— but your brother, wishing to try what sc^rt of a Jehu he should make, has overturned tlie carriage, broken it to pieces, da- HAM. ROW LAM) MASSINCih VN HI isterly coii- ly (M)iivin(HHl cly little girl (linger tliaii room ready 3 cried, Hing- [ his neck ; e you — How mnia, and all home? How to come and ia])a sent the r^gage?" maged two iaie horses, tiired the coachman's arm II tVnc- Anne who was one of the meek- t'st creatures in the world, stood aghast at her brother's rash cou- du(;t, iixing her blue eyes in utter astonishment, first on him, and then on Mrs. Newman,— ''The poor coachman," she said, '' how sorry 1 am for him! oh dear, what will lire papa say ? You nuiy as w ell prep yourself, Rowland, for a dreadful scolding; I shall be ([uite afraid to ] sro uome '' And so shall I," thought Row- land; ''I wish my aunt would invite me to stay with her a day or two till papa s anger has a little subsided. Dear aunt,'' he continued aloud, (( I wish you w o uld sen( I .<^*i<^^:JeiMlk iAt^ ■ KOWI.AND \IASSlN(iHAM. that note by your footboy, and let me remain with yon this week?" " No, indeed, Rowlnnd, I should be very mueh your enemy, if I j^ranted your recjuest. I will send the boy to order a ehaise from the nearest inn to take ycmhome; your father must know this accident sooner or later: and I advise you, honestly to confess your fault, ask his forj^iveness, and promise never to act so for the future." " So I would, my dear aunt, but Mr. Hill will laugh at me." " Laugh at you! — I should think ^Ir. Hill a very unfit preceptor for youth, if he could laugh at such conduct as your's, Rowland." Her nephew was thinking; of the fable of Plucton; but, as he did Hn\M-\M> \t \.s>lN(,ll AM X\ , and U't r I should my, if I will send ^isr from on home; s accident [Ivise you, fault, ask riise never aunt, but oidd think ceptor for 1 at such nd/' inii; of the as he did not choose to inform his aunt of the ;,h. dote. sIm' could not possibly divine the uicaning of his words. His heart died within him, when ,1, ])()stiirKHrs rap at the door an- nounced that all was ready; he thoujA'ht his sister's parcels were >()oner arranii:ed than youni^ ladies' ])ackages p^enerally arc; and the tears act\ially sprung to his eyes when he bid his good aunt fare- nvell. He was so very cross all the way home, and answered Annes (pies- tions as to the domestic welfare of the family so tartly, that he even ^exhausted her abundant stock o^ ipatience. " Really, Rowland, you are so very testy to-night, 1 wish papa I 24 no WL AN D MA SSING HAM. bad not sent you to fetch me, for more reasons than one." " My father did not send me," returned Rowland, pettishly, " I came of my own accord." " Why, you surely did not leave home without your parents' leave?" '^ And pray, Miss Anne, what occasion was there to ask any body's leave? I think I am old enough to please myself." " I am afraid you will find your- self greatly mistaken, my dear," re- turned Anne: "this makes your breaking the carriage just ten times worse than it was before — I dare not think how angry papa will be." '' You are one of Job's comfort- ers. Anne; as I have heard mamma's rl ''TJ^y^M'^ M. 1 me, for end ine," bly, - 1 not leave s' leave?'' [le, wliat iiy body's 'iioupch to nd yoiir- lear," re- kes your just ten before — I 2:ry papa eomfort- mamma's ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 35 maid say — I am sure I wish, with all my heart, I had never left home." '*We shall soon be there now," said Anne, looking wistfully through the window of the chaise; " I see we turned into Threadneedk*-street." '' Indeed!" cried Rowland, grow- ing very pale — " then my trials will soon commence." Mr. Massingham lived in the centre of the city, and kept a large wholesale stationers' shop, in which he had amassed a fine fortune ; and when the chaise stopped at the door, Rowland was so agitated that the driver had twdce to desire him to alight before he found sufficient courage to obciy the summons. He held his aunt's note, tightly 1.1 .J0 3G KOWLAND MASSING II \M grasped in his hand, ^vhich he con- sidered in the hglit of a petition, on whieh he might huikl hopes of })ardon. lie begi^ed Anne to ahi^ht lirst; a request she readily obeyed, as she had not seen hvv kind pa- rents for many weeks, and hiid a tliousand things to tell them about her pleasant visit, and a grefit many pretty toys to show them that Mrs. Newman had taught her how to make. She had worked a rich lace pelerhie for her mamma, which had been admired by all her friends at Ryegate; and she was very anxious to present it with her own hands to her parent. Her uncle had bought her a nice writing desk, and her aunt an elegant work box, and various other treasures, which sattssmm .,mmmm'> iiich he cou- a petition, Id hopes of me to ahii:ht lily obeyed, ?r kind pa- and had a them about great many m that Mrs. lier liow to I a rich lace una, which her friends was very ith her own Her uncle ritinii^ desk, : work box, ures, which i ROWLAND MASSIN(;HAM. 3; Anne was eager to display to her brothers and sisters; so that the little lady was as happy as Rowland was miserable; and to add to his mortifications, Betty came to the door, light in hand, to welcome her young mistress home. Poor Rowland! — The sight of her ugly crabbed face heightened his ill-h\miour, which had already gained a degree of petnlancy that was almost intolerable to himself. " So she has come to exult in my misfortune?" he thought. " I could almost imagine, by the spiteful way she eyes the driver, that she is per- fectly acquainted with the whole aifair:" Nor was Rowland mistaken. The footman had returned home, and informed Mr. Massingham of £ f 38 RC)\VLAND MA8SINGHAM. the whole catastrophe; and though he had, very benevolently, shielded Rowland as much as possible from his father's indignation, Mr. Mas- singham was extremely displeased with his son, particularly as he went down to Ryegate without his permission. The damage to his property could not be less than £100, and he, as a man of business, knew that such a sum was no trifle, and could not be easily obtained. It was fortunate for Rowland, that he did not arrive on the first burst of his father's displeasure; or, for the first time since he entered his teens, he might have met with severe per- sonal chastisement, which he, cer- tainly, richly deserved. m. -^"^^^BaWsu^i AM. nd though ^ shielded sible from Mr. Mas- displeased rly as he ithout his property nOO, and ss, knew rifle, and lined. It 1, that he t burst of r, for the his teens, vere per- he, cer- ROWLANU MASSINGHAM ;iO Betty, who had learned from John the whole particulars, felt, I am sorry to say, a malicious pleasure in Rowland's discomfiture, and she came to the door on purpose to show him that she could return, with interest the insolence with which he had treated her. She helped Anne from the chaise, and welcomed her home with the most extravagant expressions of pleasure; then, turning to Row- land, said in a sarcastic tone: — "You seem in no great hurry to alight. Master Rowland, this even- ing, though you mounted the coach- box so expeditiously this afternoon: I thought, by the airs and graces you played off, that all was not Yifrht. Well. Vniir nnnn jc ;,. « II H) ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. desperate passion, and will teach you, for once, who is master, and who is not." Rowland was so excessively an- noyed by this speech, that he so far forgot himself as to sneer in Betty's face. " You disagreeable creature," he said; ''if I disliked you before, I hate you now." " Who cares for your likes and dislikes? not I, I trow," returned Betty, tossing up her head; "you will catch that which will learn you how to behave yourself for the future." Papa has a right to find fault with me, but you have not," cried Rowland, springing from the car- riage; and, his head being full of the heathen mytliology he was HIAM. ROWLAND MASSINfJUAM. il will teach laster, and ^ssivcly aii- that he so ;o sneer in lisagreeable ^ I disliked ow." r likes and ," returned lead; "you 11 learn you elf for the I find fault not," cried I in the car- eing full of ;'y he was studying, he could not forbear tell- ing her, as he passed, that she was a second Medusa. ''You are a wicked young gen- tleman to call me such bad names; I am no seducer," returned Betty, whim))ering; '* I declare I'll tell your Pfj. to-morrow ; you will meet with your deserts to-night." With a face flushed with the deepest crimson, Rowland entered the parlour. Anne was already in her mother's arms, and had received the salutations of her father and Mr. Hill. On the entrance of the culprit, whom Mrs. Massingham had always blindly indulged, she rose, and taking her daughter's hand, quitted the room, leaving Rowland alone e3 42 KOWLANI) MASSINCaiAM. with his offended parent and ^Fr. Hill. When his mother disappearcnl, all Rowland's couraj^e forsook him ; unal)le to advance or recede a single step, he stood, with the half shut door in his hand, trembling from head to foot. For some minutes, Mr. Massinp^- ham did not speak, but fixed his yyes on the countenance of his son, with such a stern and searching dance, that Rowland felt more em- barrassed by his scrutiny than if he had addressed him in an angry tone. He shrank from his observation; and was on the point of retiring, when Mr. Massingham bade him advance, and shut the door. K '''a^kx^U^i^'if^v.uy .^Ai £. M. ROWLAND \!ASS1N(JHAM. 13 and Mr. ►eared, all K)k him ; le a single half" shut lin*]; from Massiiip;- fixed his )f his son, searching more em- than if he ngry tone. servation ; f retiring, bade him 3r. Rowland shut the door, but moved not a step nearer. A- " I see, s'>%" said his father, " you know your place best; when you turned eoaehman, you forgot the situation you held in this room, as the son of a gentleman: but stand \ here you are; Mr. Hill and myself are not used to be on terms of familiarity with servants. Pray who gave you leave to visit Ryegate this afternoon?'' " You were busy, papa, w ith the two strange gentlemen v/ho dined here to-day; i ant to ask you to give me you permission to fetch home my sister, but every time I opened my mouth you bade me hold my tongue." " In vcur usual inconsiderate and '».. 44 ROWLAND MASSINGU \M thoughtless rnainier, you chose, very impertinently, to address me while engaged in affairs of consequence. Your duty should have taught you to wait my leisur* ; but you thought fit to be your own master, to pave your own way, and to consider the consent of your parents of no mo- ment, while following the bent of your own headstrong wishes. You were not contented with committing such a flagrant breach of your duty, but you must bribe my servants to forget theirs. The art you adopted to attain your object, has wounded my mind far more than the mere loss of my property. I blush for my son; and, if it was not for your age, should certainly inflict on you hose, very me while isequeiice. aught you »u thought r, to pave insider the 3f no mo- le bent of ihes. You lommitting your duty, servants to ou adopted s wounded L the mere blush for ot for your ict on you KUWLAM) MASSINGHAM. 45 the personal chastisement you so richly deserve.'' " Indeed, Rowland," said Mr. Hill, addressing him in his turn, "you have every reason to be thankful to (iod for having spared your life. Had you died in the commission of suc^h an act of dis- obedience, 1 am afraid you would have met with an awful punishment. After what passed between us in the morning, I did not so soon expect you to verify the fable." Rowland, all this time, stood in I the same posture, without onc^e ven- I turing to raise his eyes, twisting his Aunt Newman's note into every possible shape that half a sheet of paper could assume. He quite for- o;ot what it was, or how it came ^^ t 46 ROWLAND MASSINC.HAM it came into his possession, till sud- denly tvvirlini^ it round, he per- ceived the direction, find thinking the perusal of it would, for a few minutes, divert his father's atten- tion, lie carefully smoothed it be- tween his hands, and placed it timidly on the table before him. After Mr. Massingham had pe- rused the note, he handed it over to Mr. Hill. " you see," he said, Rachel perfectly agrees with us; however, I am glad he did not deny his fault." Then turning to the disappointed Rowland, who thought, at least, that his aunt had written to implore his pardon, he asked him who, he supposed, was to pay for the damage he had done? '* I do not know," returned Row- LM. ROVVI.ANf) .M\SSFN(;HAM 47 , till siid- he per- thinking or a few 's atteii- 'd it be- )laced it e him. had pe- d it over he said, with us; not deny ^ to the ) thought, i written he asked was to I done? tied Row- land; hut he thought at the same time that his father must. '' Well, then, I will inform you," replied Mr. Massingham: "the per- son who occasioned it.'* " I— I—," said Rowland, the golden vision of the hundred guineas his rich god-father had given him on his birth-day, darted into his mind. " Surely you do not mean to take from me my god-father's present?" " You have forfeited i' " returned Mr. Massingham: nay, it will not replace the carriage, much less pay Jacob's doctors bill: I shall, in ad- dition, have to stop your weekly allowance for a year to come to make good this day\s frolic. It would be an act of injustice to my J. • ■>-..*i^^<« *¥ fi 48 ROWLAND MASSIN(iHAM. Other children for me to pay for your misdemeanors." Of all the punishments his father could have devised, this touched Rowland most to the cpiick. His god-father was a very rich banker, who had no children of his own, and was very fond of Rowland. He had presented him with a hundred pounds on his last birth-day, which his father had promised to buy into the funds for him, and permit him to spend the interest in purchasing books, or any useful articles of which he wished to to become the possessor. Never did a miser exult more over his treasure than Rowland did over this acquisition of wealth. If he had been proud and uiuoicnv ^^viv/.-., ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 49 pay for is fatlier touched ck. His I banker, his own, xnd. He hundred ly, which buy into grmit him urchasing rticles of come the more over I did over h. If he this present had rendered his com- pany intok'rable to his brothers and sisters. He was always boasting of his hundred pounds, and laying them out, to their mortification, in a thousand different ways; till he gained among his playfellows, the nick-name of the " hundred pounds boy." His youngest sister, Susan, lisped; and, though only three years old, did not wish to be backward in bestowing on her wealthy brother the title his folly had gained him; but, unable to pronounce such a long word, the little thing, in the drollest manner in the world, called him the howdrum powdrum boy. — The rest of the children eagerly adopted the blunder, and ])0()r Rowland was known to every boy I 50 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. II in the street by this comical deno- mination. Yet, in spite of all these mortifi- cations, Rowland thoug:ht it a very comfortable thing to be rich; and the possession of the money repayed him for the sneers of his comrades. "When I grow older," he w^ould say, "I will buy a horse, and a saddle, and a whip, and take de- lightful rides into the country.— Those who^augh at me, would be very glad to be as rich as I am; and it is only their envy which makes them affect to despise a good they do not possess." Perhaps Rowland was right: those who make a boast of their worldly goods, generally draw upon them the envy kX- ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 51 il deno- mortifi- t a very ch; and repayed )mrades. 3 would , and a take de- untry. — vould be ,s I am; y which e a good Perhaps >se who ly goods, the envy M or contempt of their neighbours ; — he had succeeded in doing both. The idea, therefore, of losing this long-prized present, was deeply mortifying to him, after all tiie boast he had made of it; it would diminish his power among the household; it would reduce him to the same level with his less-fortu- nate brethren; and then, which was the most bitter thought of all, he would still be called the how- drum powdrum boy, without having the satisfaction of shaking his heavy purse in the face of his tor- mentors. All these things occurred instan- taneously, as it were, to his mind; and so overcame him, that, in spite ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. of his boasted age and courage, he burst into a hearty fit of crying. " I have done with you, sir," said his father; "you have heard your sentence, and may now walk off to bed." It was not in Rowland's nature to part so quietly with his treasure, without making one appeal for the mitigation of his punishment; sum- moning courage, therefore, he said, '' You surely do not mean to enforce this punishment, papa, and make me pay for the mischief I have doner" " Your own sense of justice, Row- land, should have made you the proposer of that which I am obliged to demand. You ought to be very » ROWLAND MASSING HAM. 53 rage, he ying. 5ir," said ird your Ik oif to lature to treasure, I for the It; sum- he said, ) enforce id make I have ce, Row- you the I obliged be very glad that you have it in your power to make restitution." " Yes, but this was an accident." How, sir? — Do you call your go- ing to Ryegate, without my leave, an accident? — Or making my coach- man tipsy, an accident? — Or driv- ing my carriage, an accident? These things were all premeditated, and you took great pains to carry them into execution; you must, therefore make good the damage occasioned by your own folly and wicked- ness. You have laid out your hun- dred pounds to great advantage, in losing both principal and in- terest. »» Rowland bit his lips and hung down his head; but, as he found hH remonstrances would be to no F S 54 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. purpose, he slowly withdrew and retired weepings; to bed. The loss of his money now put him into such «in ill-humour, that he could not sleep. He did not feel so penitent for the past as he ought to have felt, and he lay, re- volving, in his own mind, every possible means by which he might reclaim his property. — '^ Papa will never put his threat into execu- tion," he thought — " He dare not take my money, without my leave." But Rowland found, for the first time, that he w^as not exactly his < n master; and that his father was invested w ith a power which it was in vain to resist. He was, as I have before stated, a boy of quick jiarts, and he determined to write .' 1l ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 55 iw and )\v put r, that id not t as he ly, re- every might )a will execu- re not leave." le first tly his father hich it vas, as f quick I write a petition to his father, and to get all the children to sign it; intend- ing to present it to him on the morrow. He now lay awake, hour after hour, trying to compose one to his mind, hut not a single idea occurred to please him. He sat up in the bed, and rubbed his eyes, and looked out of the window; but it was a dark night, and, conse- quently, there was no moon: no; nor even a single star to inspn'e him with a bright thought — and not being able to indito a petition in rhyme, he rose early and wrote the following in prose: — Th^ Petition of Rowland Massing- ham, to his principal creditor, and much honoured Father: Sheweth, — That his humble peti- i II Mi ( 1/ 66 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. tioiier hath often heard him avow that it is a sad thine: for any per- son to be broue;ht into a state of bankruptcy; which his petitioner's dictionary inform him is, when a man's creditors become the lawful possessors of his property. As he, the petitioner's honoured father, is his sole and principal creditor, he prays him to mitigate the severity of his sentence, and not bring him, at his tender years, into a state of insolvency. If he, his humble petitioner's honoured father, will grant his request, his petitioner will, for the time to come, strive to ameixd his conduct, and ever pray." Rowland was vastly satisfied with this performance ; and he proceeded to the nursery, petition in hand, fi avow ly per- tate of tioner's vhen a lawful As he, ■her, is tor, he everity ig him, state of humble ir, will titioner trive to ' pray." ed with jceeded 1- 1 i iiaiiil, ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. a7 to prevail on the rest of the ehil- (Iren to sign it. The children greeted in a breath with — '' Well, Rowland! — so you have lost your hundred pounds." "It is not gone yet/' said Row- land: — "and I should be much obliged to you all, if you will sign this paper." " What is it for?" asked the lit- tle folks eagerly. " It is a petition to my father, to re([uest him to restore my money," returned Rowland. " Then I am sure I shall not sign it," said Robert, " you have always made such a fuss about your money, that I am heartily glad it is gone." " You should not say so, Robert,*' cried Anne, ti' ' ' ■■f ■ ! lug paper f I' i ■I 58 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. Stepping to the table and writing her name beneath it with a pencil — " It is very naughty to bear malice. I dare say, if Rowland rec^overs his money, he will never brag over us as he used to do— Here, take my pencil, and write your name/' " Not I," returned Robert, try- ing to twitch the paper out of his sister's hands. " Mr. Hundred Pounds is Mr. No Pounds now — ha! ha! ha!— Let me see, Rowland, how your poverty becomes you?" he continued, walking up to his brother, and looking roguishly in his face—" Umph! I think I shall set up being my own master now." *' That you never shall, while I exercise the rights of eldership over you,' cried Rowland, seizing him ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 50 by the collar, and drawee:! iie; him to the table — " You shall sign your name, or I will soon make you con- fess who is your superior." But finding Rol^ert, who was only a year his junior, was nearly as strong as himself, and that he could not compel him to do the thing he required, he said, in a milder tone, "just put your name to it, Bob, and I will give you a shilling." " It is poor bribery which comes out of an empty purse," returned Robert drily. "You have not a sin- gle farthing you can now call your own; you will never be able to come in with such an air of conse- quence, and tell us you have just received your dividend from the hnnV lio! Im ' lio ' X^i*^ liiinrlr<:irl I i :-mmj^ 60 ROWLAND MASSlN(;ilAM pounds boy is bccornc even like one of us, and is ^lud to petition my father's charity. Let nie advise you, llowhmd, to go round tlie pa- rish; perhaps you may collect a few shillings that \vay, ha! ha! ha!"—*' Ha! ha! ha!" reiterated all the children. Ro\vland was in a fever of pas- sion; he looked indignantly from one to the other. The contagion was general; even little Susan was holding her sides, and trying to lisp out, "the poor Humdrum Powdrum boy." '' I see nothing to laugh at," said Rowland, fiercely. " Because you cannot see your- self," returned Robert ; " however, ROWLAND MAS^1N(JH\M. f)! 1 will have compassion on you;" hand nu- the i)aper." '* You will tear it to pieces," cried Rowland, holding it in both hands for better security. " No, indeed, 1 will not, nor burn it either." Rowland considered it a most excell'nt pv'rformance, far superior to ai.y ^>^* b^ speecbes which be was geiijfaily obliged to read aloud from the Parliamentary debates to his father of an evening, and vvitb great reluctance be trusted tbe precious paper out of bis own bands. Robert ^vbo, in bis way, was quite a bumc urist, received it at arms' lengtb witb mock gravity, G i|! j>M / 62 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. '■r • on the table, and bee:au to deliver it aloudj not only to the diversion of the children, but for the benefit of all in the street — the windows, on ac- count of the warmth of the weather, being open. " Humble," he said, " is it possible that you could get any pen to write the w^ord humble?" Rowland's passion had now risen to such a pitch of fury, that he sprang forward with the intention of knocking his brother down; but Robert jumped lightly off the table, and, eluding the intended blow, flung the petition out of the window. " Oh dear," said Anne, " what have you done, Robert? Mr. Basset's shop-boy has just picked it up, and if wTill l^ti rkiiKlio ill n fipw niinntpii ■ an( wa 1 to ] his i ( bei the by wi tw tio SOI his hib tri ho J let ROWLAND MASSINCiHAM. 63 Rowland's pride took the alarm, and he postponed the beating he was in the very act of administering to the laughing Robert, to rescue his petition from the hands of the group of boys beneath. "Run, Rowland, run!" cried Ro- bert, following him lo the head of the stairs. " It's all over the town by this time ; and, before night, you will have half a dozen letters by the two-penny post, with private dona- tions. Ha! ha! ha!" In the hall, somebody grasped Rowland's arm; his headlong career was stayed by his father. Without looking up, Rowland tried to extricate himself from his hold. *' I can't stay a moment; pray i-v\ rf-k r^^^ L iiiC .V/. I i tft i*ocr»n^ Tvwr Tipfl rn ft vj t m f '? » T- IS! J i 'i%- 64 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. IS jr* **•' tioii from the hands of those insulting boys." ''Rowland!" said his father in a stern voice. Rowland's eyes were immediately opened, he recognised his father, and was in a moment tongue tied. *' Pray whither are you going so fast?" '' Only just across the street." " What business have you there?" " Oh, sir," returned Rowland, co- vering his face with his hands, to conceal his confusion, " I wrote this morning a petition to you to mitigate my punishment, and restore ray pro- perty; and Robert has very ill- naturedly thrown it out of the window; Basset's shop-boy is read- 5 ii- aiuULi lii till' Mlt't^l, RiKl i \'U R(»WLAND MASSINGHAM. 65 might as well employ the town cryer. Do pray allow me to step to him and make him restore it?'* " And by so doing render your folly more conspicuous,'* returned Mr. Massingham, hardly able to for- bear from laughter. *' The boy will, doubtless, consider it a good joke, and will gratify your pride, Rowland, by making you a public character some years before you expected.'* " But, dear papa, consider the ridicule and mortification this dis- agreeable circumstance will expose me to. I shall never be able to leave the house without a train of idle boys following me for the future, and offering to subscribe to my petition." '' Your name truly is likely to have i f^ m ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. but an ill savour," returned Mr. Massingliam ; ''I hope this adven- ture will cure your hiordinate love of popularity." '' Indeed, papa," cried Rowland, wringing his hands, " 1 would rather have broken my neck yesterday than had this humiliating circumstance happen to me to day." " That w^ould have been no laugh- ing matter, Rowland; while this is. Your brothers and sisters laugh at you; the whole street will laugh at you; and if any person who has felt your insolence should take it into his or her head to put it into the public papers, the world will laugh at you." Rowland's vexation was complete; he burst into tears. 'n^Him*^ no \V L A N D M A S S I N (i H A M . (>: i Mr. idven- ^ love viand, rather y than stance augh- liis is. igh at gh at 3 has ke it i into : will plete ; *' You see, Rowland," continued Mr. Massingharn, *' that guilt always carries with it its own chastisement, and a few hours badly spent bring with them the punishment of years.*' Rowland made no answer, for Ro- bert popping his curly head into the hall said, in a facetious voice ^ " Rowland, if you want to regain your petition, a man has just pasted it 01^ the opposite wall, and a crowd of people are collected round to read it. There was something so exqui- sitely ridiculous in the w^hole scene, that Mr. Massingham, with diffi- culty, kept his risibility; yet turning to Ro'oert, he sharply reprehended him for appearing to enjoy so highly ^'t Wh 68 ROWLAND MASSING HAAl. a circumstance, which was so an- noying to his brother. "I cannot hel|> 1 lughiiig, papa," returned Robert, giving way to a fresh peal of nierriment. ''It would make my sister's cat Tib laugli, if she could comprehend what was going forward. I do not mean to vex Rowhind; !}5it I think he ought to ask my pardon, for he has put me in great jeopardy of my Ufe." " But, Robert, if you had any commiseration for his present unea- siness, you should restrain your feelings. His folly does not excuse your want of humanity," returned Mr. Massingham. "Tell my porter to bring in the paper, and follow me into the study." By the time the children were all ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. ()1> assembled, the porter arrived with the petitioi., and with a broad grin deUvered it to his master. Mr. Massingham read it, and then turning to Rowhuid, askexl him if he fully meant to adhere to the last clause. Rowland replied in the most ear- nest manner in the affirmative. " And yoUj Anne; your signature I find stands at the head of the list. Do you wish me to forgive your brother?" " Certainly, papa; or I should not have put down my name." " And you, Robert?" " Oh, that was an act of compul- sion," said the laughter-loving boy ; " I am proof against bribery and corruption, and will not own to the 70 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. name written uiider such circum- stances; but if Mr. Hill will give me a pen, I v;ill freely give my vote." He went to the table to sign his name; and Rowland almost for- gave him for the vexaticm he had caused him by his thoughtless levity. Robert returned the paper; ''Very well, sir, you have I think made the amende honourable. But stay; here is a cross." '' Dat my mark," lisped forth little Susan. " Then you wish me to forgive Rowland, my little maid?" said her father, lifting her up at the same time in his arms and kissing her. "Oh yeth: give poor Roly his iiowiirum powiirurn again." ^^L i. « ROWLAND iMASSINGHAM. 71 "No," said Rowland, "I will never be called by that odious name for the future; dear papa, if you are indeed so good as to forgive me for my past conduct, keep the money if that can atone for the mischief I have done, or divide it equally among my brothers and sisters ; I never wish to touch a farthing of it again.'* Mr. Massingham granted this last request, and if Rowland could have forgotten the ridicule which had been attached to him in the morning, he would have been as happy as ever. But every time Robert laughed, or the children exchanged merry glances with each other, he fancied they were making game of him, or 7-2 IIOWLAM) MAS.SIN(illAM. 11 B tluit he was the objoi t of their mirth. yiowever, he determined for the iutm'e to try and forget his old maxim of " I will be my own mas- ter;'' and for a week sneeeeded. Mr. Hill very kindly never alluded to his late adventur(\ and was rejoiced to perceive such a change for the better in his pupil's conduct. Bui bad habits, that have been a lon,i< time indulged, require constant and unrenutting [)er>.cverance en- tirely to overcome; and Row la; I soon grew tired of submitting to th^ control of otln rs. The old leav n would at tiuics, appear ; and though earef Lilly coLcealed from his parents, was often exercised on the domes- tics and his brothers and sisters. KOWI \l) MASSINf;HAM. 73 One morning, Ilobrrtaiul Rowland were studying their lessons, prepa- ratory to Mr. T nil's appearance in the study, when Robert said tint gentleman had left him to choose the fable he was to translate that morning from the Greek. ^'And which have you chosen?" said Row- land, carelessly. "One i think I shall like very much; Phaeton setting the world on fire." "You chose that on purpose to vex and mortify me," cried Rowland, springing from his seat, and trying ) wrench the book out of his bro- -ier's hand. " You shall not read it." " Rov land," returm Robert calmly, '-' I xhought you had been i' %*»■ 71 HOWf.ANi) MASSINCiHAM. punished enough for exercising authority over those wlio are not bound to obey you; 1 shall (lertaiidy read tlie fable witliout consulting you. Had you expnssc d your dis- like to it in a mild voice, and re- quested me civilly not to read it, I wouhl have complied with your wishes." " I shall certainly never stay to examine my words when speaking to a younger brother," returned Rowland; "put down the book di- rectly/' Robert held the volume firmly at one end, and Rowland pulled it with all his strength at the other. The consequence of this fray was, ^s might be expected; the young gentlemen succeeded in tear- ing botii the covers off. ROWLAND MASSINCJHAM 75 They looked very foolishly, it must be confessed, ^vhen Mr. Hill entered the room, and enquired the cause of the noisy altercation he had just heard. Robert pointed to the tat- tered leaves of the book that strewed the floor, and related the plain facts; expressing, at the same time, his ignorance of his brother's dislike at what he con? idered a very fine fjible. Mr. Hill knew Rowland's reasons for objecting to it, though Robert did not; and turning to him, he said, " Had you paid a proper atten- tion to that fable, Rovvland, it would have spared you a great deal of uneasiness. But I am surprised you should censure your brother for wishing to profit by a moral that was so entirely lost upon you." " I do think," replied Rovvland, 76 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. putting his hands invohmtarily to his ears; " I should go mad if I were to listen to it a third time. If I had never heard it, I should never have thought of attempting to drive the carriage; I should have stayed at home, and the accident could not have occurred." " Why, surely, Rowland, you did not wish to rival the w^orst cha- rioteer in the whole heathen mytho- logy ?" said Robert, with a sly grin ; for his love of the ludicrous always overcame his prudence. " I had better not read it, for fear of being bitten by the same mania ; but I am not so vain as to imagine that either my brains or yours, Rowland, vsill ever set the Thames on fire." ** Sir vnn nrp vprv iinnprtineiit.*' '""} J"' ' 'J I. ~ '~> cried Rowland, " and I w ill not put lOWLAND MASSINGHAM. 77 »» up with your insolence; so you had best hold your tongue." '' Row land, this is somewhat in your old strain," said Mr. Hill, parting the angry brothers; " I am sorry to perceive that you have so soon abandoned your good resolu- tions. How^ can you expect Robert to attend to your passionate and overbearing manners, when you cannot even take a playful joke from him?" " He has no right to indulge them at my expence." " You have put yourself in his power, Rowland, and I am sorry to find that he can abuse it, though in a different manner, as well as your- self But, as we are on the subject of Piuetoii, own to nie caiididlv that H 3 !L . I 78 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. you undertook that expedition to Ryegate on purpose to vex me, and out of pure contradiction to my advice." Rowland was no utterer of false- hoods; he coloured like scarlet, and after a few minutes of painful and embarrassing silence, frankly con- fessed the truth, and asked Mr. Hill to forgive him. *' How can you expect me, Row- land, to forgive you, when you can bear malice against your brother, for such a trifle. I wish you would oftener call to mind that golden rule, *' Do unto others as you would be done unto yourself." You are very fond of exercising an authority which does not belong to you; but 1 find you are very chary of yielding obti- ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 79 (lience to those who have a right to demand it." *' Sir," said Rowland, '* you seem to think me very criminal in merely endeavouring to establish my inde- pendence. Is not every man his own master?" *' Certainly not. No man who is placed under the authority of ano- ther, can justly be termed his own master. His actions, too, are regu- lated by the laws of his country; and though he certainly could go on the high-way and put a pistol to the head of a fellow creature, or b; eak open his neighbour's house and mur- der him in bed, he must forfeit his life for exercising his free w^ill in so unprincipled a manner. Even the king liimaelf cauiiQt do as he pleases «.'^.— ■«*4»"'i!«i' 80 IIOWLANI) MASSINGHAM. I >*- without first consulting his respon- sible ministers. And can you, a boy of fourteen, who are placed under the control of your parents and masters, imagine that you are more independent than the monarch whose subject you are? There are relative duties^ Rowland, that one human being owes to another, which he cannot transgress without violating those laws which unite society toge- ther. And though you certainly have the power of committing crimes, you are not sufficiently your own masterto avertthe punishmentwhich follows the perpetration of them." "And who gave the king the power of exercising any authority over his fellow-men?" said Rowland, Suppose he differs very little '' for « i ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 81 from oth( »» > 111 personal appearance, and is subject to the same bodily infirmities?" '' Divested of his regal state, he is no more than one of his poorest subjects. But it has pleased God to invest him with that digiuty, and his authority has received the sanction of his countrymen, and is, fortu- nately for us, regulated by wise and just laws; so that he cannot abuse his power, or oppress and maltreat us. A good king will always con- sider the welfare of his subjects as nearly as he would his own; but you, Rowland, of your own accord, endeavour to exercise a lawless and despotic government over your bro- thers and sisters. Let me ask of 82 ROU'LAND MASSINGHAM. I s ii I # you, ill my turn, from whence you received this authority?" Rowhiud was silent, but he was still unconvinced; and determined in his own mind to persevere in havini^ his own way. '* Till you arrive at the age of one and twenty, you are called upon to yield implicit obedience to the com- mands of your parents. Your father can demand your services, as freely and absolutely as he does those of his hired servants; and it is your duty to obey him. Has he given you permission to enjoy the same privileges in his house w'hich he exercises himself, and make you lord over your brothers and sisters." '' No, sir/ u V-^ You ^r>lr ^^ I /^ i^* ♦•/■»/ 1 [f- ! a HOWf.AM) MASS!N(;HAM. 83 then? no wonder that you should find so few to attend to your com- mands. You are acting in open rebellion to the wishes of your parents, and are as criminal in that respect as the man that was hung the other day for treason.'* " I cannot see how you can pos- sibly compare me to a wicked traitor," said Rowland, indignantly. "You are hourly guilty of the same offence, Rowland, for which that man died. He wished to be his own master: he thought that he could make better laws, and govern with more equity and wisdom than his sovereign. He was less fortu- nate than you were in making the experiment, and bp sequel proved .1 '^r 84 ROWLAND MASSING HAM. Rowland now began diligently to study his Greek lexicon, to avoid any continuation of an argument which was likely to go against himself. Shortly after this conversation, Mr. Hill was appointed chaplain on board a man-of-war; and Rowland, for a few weeks, was left to super- intend his own studies. This time he thought fit to employ in a very idle and unprofitable manner, and soon forgot the good advice of his kind and excellent tutor. His manners became as haughty and offensive as usual, and his old motto of " I w ill be my own master," was heard on every occa- sion. i. Ill V^lIiiVAl V ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 85 sence of Mr. Hill, and shrunk with aversion from the hasty commands of their tyrannical brother. Robert, who possessed almost as much self- conceit as i vjwland, constantly dis- puted his authority, which kept the house in a perpetual state of war- fare. Mr. Massingham was advised by a friend to send Rowland to school to finish his education; where it w^as presumed he might meet with young men who would not put up with his insolence, and who might teach him the respect due to his superiors. Rowland's education had always been superintended by a tutor; and the gentleman who had instructed him for five years prior to Mr. Hill, r\ ■$ > g\ 4"» -^ m* r\ ri 4- \\ t t) :^'%m" 86 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. had allowed his young pupil to p^a'm a complete ascendancy over him. He had contented himself with making him a good scholar; and had wholly neglected his morals. Rowland thought he could dispute Mr. Hill's authority as easily jis he had done that of his first in- structor. He found himself mis- taken; and was just beginnini; to reap the bCiiefit of that gentle- man's advice, when he was again thrown upon his ow^n hands; as his father's business precluded him from attending to his children till the affairs of the day were settled. Rowland did not object to going to school; indeed, it had always been his ardent w ish. He possessed cl glLtit flcai Ul tlliiliiLlUil ; ililU UK: ROWLAND MASSINGH\M. 87 thouj?lit it must be a dt4i^htful tKmu; to stand at the head of a elas^ and to have the opi unity of '^omiueini^n^ over th( ' whom nature had not endowed with so gt)od ; capacity as he imagined him- self to possess. Rowland was dehghted at the prospect of seeing lese hopes realized; and when M lasshigham expected the greatest opposition on bis son*s part, he was agreeably surprised to find him anticipating his wishes. Rowland was accord- ingly sent to a large public school. For a few days, the novelty of the situation pleased him. The pro- gress he had made in his studies ])rocured him the commendations of ¥\y^ *v\ocfovc lilt ir drew upon him .. -fl m MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART iANSI and ISO TEST CHART No, 2 1.0 I.I 1.25 1,^ 2.8 2.5 I" 1" 2.2 : ^ 1^ 2.0 1-1- 1. 1.8 1.4 1.6 ^ ^?^'EO IM^GE Inc 1653 East Moin Street Rochester, New York 14609 (716) 482 - 0300 - Phone (716) 288- 5989 -Fax USA 88 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. the envy of the scholars before whom he was placed. They treated him in the same un- courteous manner with which school- boys generally greet a stranger; and Rowland, who had been so long used to command at home, thought it would be as easy a thing to con- trol others abroad. But it happened there were many young gentlemen at that school who were much older, and even greater tyrants than himself; and they w^ould not permit him to in- fringe on their rights, or exercise the same lawless privileges; conse- quently, Rowland was always en- gaged in some fray with the elders in his class; and before a quarter of a year had expired, he had ' I KOWLAND MASSING HAM. 89 learned to become an excellent boxer. So great indeed was the prowess of his arm, that many boys older and stronger than himself, shrnnk from a combat with Rowland Mas- singham. In order to increase his power, he took under his protection those boys who dared to resist the tyranny of their elders, and had the satisfaction of becoming the leader of a party, and of dividing the class to which he belonged into two regular factions. A young en- tleman of the name of Morley headed the first party, and was, by his adherents, denominated the King; while Rowland's followers bestowed on him tlie title of the Protector. Rowland's prime minister and 1 'A f 90 ROWLAND MASSINGHA.Vf. bosom friend was a sprightly, intelli- gent youth, of the name of IHetcher, but so eccentric in his manners and pursuits, that he was the general butt of the whole school. Rowland admired his abilities, which were very fine, and invited him so pres- singly to join bis party, that Fletcher, who was constantly tormented by Morley, for being a book-worm, was glad to escape from his persecutors and accept the projection that Row- land so liberally offered. Fletcher was generally called, out of mockery, the Professor^ because all his leisure hours were employed in the study of abstruse '-^^'ences. His father was a surge«.»a of some celebrity, and Fletcher almost adored the pro- fession. He would expatiate to ROWLAND MASSINOHAM. 91 Rowland on the glorious science t)f chemistry, the noble study of ana- tomy, and the usefulness of surgery, till Rowland caught a portion of his enthusiasm, and he thought it would be a very delightful thing to know more of these studies, which his friend admired so much. A few days after this very great intimacy had commenced, Frank Fletcher told Rowland that, if he would accompany him into his apart- ment, he would show him a treasure which he pi ized beyond the fine ease of books, of which his learned uncle Lad made him the happy possessor. Knowing his friend's great love of learning, Rowland was rather puz- zled, and very curious to behold what this treasure could be; what 4 ., / 92 R(>^^LAND MASSING 1 1 AM. was his surprise, therefore, — nay horror— on seeing Frank carefully unlock his trunk, and produce out of a black velvet bag a human skull! " There, Rowland!" he said, hold- ing it up with an air of triumph. ''There's a fine specimen for you! Only see how beautifully all the organs are developed. What a clever fellow this must have been!" " What do you mean, Fletcher?" cried Rowland, shriidiief; I can- not comprehend you?" '' WHiy, Phrenology?" " I never remember hearing the name before. Is it any way connec- ted with anatomy, that you have to study skulls? There, put it away, Fletcher; the very sight of the horrid thing makes me feel sick." " That is because you know no- thing about it. I did not till lately. I had heard my father discussing it, but fool like, thought it a ridiculous science and paid no attention to it. But the last time I went home, a 94 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. I W^ fc celebrated German professor was on a visit at my fatLjr's; I listened to his lectures, Rowland, and the whole truth burst at once on my mind. I procured a skull, marked out with all the different orj^ans, and studied Spurzheim ni,i>:ht and day, and have happily arrived at some pro- ficiency in this most beautiful science. You shrink with horror from this relic of mortality; look at it again. Why, Row- land, you are not so weak as to be afraid of the emblem of your own head? Are not you aware that this discoloured piece of bone, that you view w ith such aversion, is the tem- ple of the soul?" Fletcher paused, quite out of breathy and Rowland laughed out- right. '* That may be, Frank ; but ROWLAND MASSENfiHAM. 95 what kiiowle(l£!;e will the stiulyiiiG; and turning; over that dismal looking thing impart? How can you bear to handle it?" " A great deal," returned Fletcher, " before I studied Phrenology, I was always in hot water with my school- fellows; I often wondered why we should differ so much hi opinion, and had no idea at that time that it arose from the different construction of our heads. I can now discern whe- ther they have the intellectual, or the animal organs; and being of a very peaceable disposition, I always shun those boys in whom I perceive the organ of combativeness very strongly marked." "And do they calmly submit to such an insnection?" rl ?i %\ 1)6 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. i *■- Ij " They know nothing about it," returned Fleteher quickly; "I have kept it a s(^oret from tlieni, for they wouhl quiz me terribly about it, and, perhaps, it would call all their bad organs into action, for few people like to hear the truth. But I take an op- portunity of making my observations w^hen they are not aware of my scrutiny." '' Well, Fleteher, it seems a strange thing to know the character of any one by these projections in the head. And as you choose your friends by the lumps and bumps in their pericraniums, for what good or bad organs did you take a fancy to me?" This was a question Fletcher ex- pected, for he knew Rowland's vanity iV i KOW LAND M A S - ! N (J 1 1 A M . 07 «i would instantly ho on the alert, and that he would imagine he liad a finer and eleverer head than any boy in the school. Hut for the credit of the science, Fletcher (lis(hiined to tell an untruth. "It must be owned, Rowland;' he said, " that you have the organ of com- bativeness very strongly marked, and that of firmness also, till it becomes downright obstinacy; but, on the whole, you have a good head, though I never thought of examining it till this moment." " I am sure," said Rowland, pet- tishly, " I have no bad organs in my head ; or, if I have, I dare say you know nothing about it." '' Thnt idea originates in the very K m f I m / 08 HOW I.AM) MASSINCiHAM. If i II continued the yonuii; pliilosoplier, not in the least disconeerted, and pertinaciously continuing his obser- vations on Rowland's head. '* Number ten! and yvay what may that folly be?" " Why it must be confessed it is not a very wise organ," returned Fletcher, " and I am sorry you pos- sess it so hirgely. It is self-esteem; or, to speak in plainer language, in your case downright vanity." " Your's is a levelling argument," cried Rowland, starting forward and knocking poor Fletcher down, w hose skull received a painful contusion by coming in contact with the empty tenement, on which he had lavished so many encomiums. "All l^nwlnnrl' this onlv demon- pis? ROWLAND MASSINCiHAM. 99 and bser- vvhat 1 it is iirucd I pos- tcein ; re, in lent/' d and ivhose ion by gmpty wished Rinon- st rates the truth of tlie seience," returned Fletcher; slowly rising, and puttin,^ his hand to his head, as if to hill the pain the violent blow had occasioned. " This is the effect of your or^ran of comhativeness, which hris bestowed a hump where nature never gave one. Dear me! how my head aches." Rowlaiul was very much vexed with himself for having struck Fletcher so rudely; and, the iuore so, when he saw that his friend did not even reproach him for his vio- lence. He offered him his hand, and asked his forgiveness in so ear- nest a manner, that the past w as soon forgotten; and they were ere long on terms of greater intimacy than ever. fe 100 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. II In spite of Rowland's affected contem})t of Plirenology, he found a strange fascination in the study, till it became quite a mania; and all his leisure moments were employed in contemplating the heads of his school-fellows ; even the sacred pericranium of his master did not escape his scrutiny. All the young gentlemen he disliked, he boldly avowed had vile heads. Fletcher begged him to be more cautious in his remarks; but Row- land, ever his own master, cared not at whose expence he indulged his humour. One rainy afternoon, when the young gentlemen could not saunter about the play-ground, but were confined to the school room, Morley offered to sell Rowland a pen-knife ROWLAND iVlASSlNGHAM. 101 f^ for half a crown; and after he had agreed as to the price, he declared he had asked three shillings for it, and he would not take a farthing less. Rowland wanted the knife, just then, very much, as he had lost his own the morning before, and he could not send any of the day scho- lars to purchase one; but yet he was not w illing to pay more for the knife than it \>as w^orth, and he flung it back rather : ^ornfully on the table. " There, take back your knife,'' he said; "I should be ashamed to be such a Jew as to make two prices on the article; but, to be sure, you can- not help it," he continued, casting as he ceased speaking, a significant K 3 H- 1 102 ROWLAND MASSINGIIAM. " And pray, sir, what do you mean by your iusinuatiousr" cried the other, reddeniug with passion, " I wouhl thank you not to stare so impertinently at me." " I was only looking at your head," returned Rowland sarcastically. "It certainly is a part of you, and the principal part of you, for it is thick enough. I should be sorry if it belonged to me." '' What fault have you to find with my head?" exclaimed Morley, start- ing fiercely forward, and clenching his fist in Rowland's face. ''I demand an explanation of your words, or, perhaps, you may find my fist yet harder than my head." *'I was surprised, Mr. Morley, '%. ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. I 03 ■I that you, as a gentleman, shonld rl enipt to cheat me out of such a pill try sum as six-pence. I looked at your head, and it ceased to be a matter of wonder; your organ of acquisitiveness so largely marked, and your want of conscientiousness, lead you to the commission of dis- honorable actions." A dreadful battle was the result of this rash and unjust speech. The other boys gathered in silence round the combatants; but Rowland re- ceived such a complete overthrow, that he was not able to leave his bed for a w^eek afterwards ; and the boys jestingly said " that the King had beaten the Protector." It might naturally be concluded thnj- tliis nclveiiture cured Rowland ij .-.f.f t: 104 ROWLAND MASSIKflHAM of making observations on his school- fellows' heads, and drawing his own inferences from thence, relying upon his supposed knowledge of a science, with which he was merely acquainted by name. But he was one whom bitter experience could alone con- vince that he was in fault, and he rose from a sick bed, infatuated by the name of Phrenology. Not contented with examining heads, he and Fletcher thought they should like to make casts of them; and, by so doing, follow the example of the more learned professors of the science. It was with difficulty they pre- vailed on their school- fellows, at least those of tlieir party, to submit to underf^'o the operation;, which is ROWLAND MASSINCHAM. 105 ;h()ol- 5 own upon ieiice, diited kvhom con- id he ed by liiiing t they them ; ample )rs of ^ pre- iibmit lich is rather disagreeable, and to some even painful. But a few pieces of silver judiciously disposed bought more heads than would have been imagined, and the younger part of the community considered these ghastly likenesses in the way of playthings. Headed by Rowland and Fletcher, the whole school be- came phrenologists; they ceased to confine their speculations to their own heads, but violently seized on all the youthful passengers who were so unfortunate as to have occasion to pass the bounds of the play ground. Two or three strong lads held the little prisoner, while one of the learned expatiated on his head. The ushers tried to a stop to these proceedings, but their authoritv vyas K^i '£ 105 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. SO Stoutly resisted, that they ^^'ere obliged to let this new whim die away as it had originated. One fine afternoon, a very hand- some Jew boy, or rather lad, of sixteen, entered the bounds to offer trinkets for sale. He certainly did possess a very noble looking head, which was adorned with a profusion of chestnut curling hair. While one of the young gentle- men was choosing a watch-key, Fletcher, who had been carefully eyeing the youth's head, whispered to Rowland, " Massingham, what a fine cast he would make! I never saw such a beautiful forehead in my life. He would be quite an orna- ment to our collection." u \y.a ,t o will ]\i\\o him. too. ROWLAND M\SSIN(ai\M. 107 retunu'd Rowland. '' It will be no difficvdt matter tobribe a Jew." Then tm-ninii; to Josiah Spires, for so the lad was cidled, he asked him if he would allow them to take a cast of his head. Josiah had too much regard for his own personal safety to trust himself in any such hands. He well knew there was no law to be ob- tained when once he had entered the bounds of the school; and he (civilly declined the honor intended him. But Rowland was determined to take no denial, and finding he could not prevail on Josiah Spires with words, he pulled his purse out of his pocket, and offered him half-a-crown for a cast. a i' ism. / f ■ ■^ 108 KOWLAND MASSINGHAM. " I would not have it done for a guinea," said Josiah; carefully ar- ranging the trinkets in his box, and moving to depart. Thinking the bribe too small, Rowland intercepted his path, and held up a five-shilling piece. " No, no, master; money cannot prevad on me to s\d)mit to anything so repugnant to my feelings. I see I am likely to have no more pur- chasers among the young gentlemen this afternoon. Pray let me pass." "You shall not go hence with your head on your shoulders," said Rowland, half in jest and half in earnest, " without you comply w ith my request. I have heard that a Jew would sell his soul for six- pence; but you will not dispose of \ ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. H)9 the mask of your head for five sliillini^s. " Why, you fool, we will not hurt you." " I do not choose to trust raysel^ in your hands,'' said the youth, proudly and firmly; " and you have no right to detain me here." He looked round the deepening ring of scholars that enclosed him, and tears started into his fine dark eyes: "Gentlemen, I appeal to your generosity to let me pass." " Let him alone, Rowland," said Fletcher. " He certainly has a right to please himself; we cannot com- pel him to submit to the opera- tion." "But he shall!" cried Rowland, calling all his old passions and domineering propensities into ac- -53 1 I !() K()VVLAM) M VSSINGIIAM ll m 1 ^^ ft tion. *' It is my })l('asure; and I will Ikvvo it so. Down witli him, boys, and fetch here the plaistcr." Many of the youni^ gentlemen greatly enjoyed the froTn^; and while others, afraid of venturing in the affair, withdrew to observe the sport at a distance, some of Row- land's companions rushed suddeidy on Josiah, and Hinging him to the ground, bound his hands behind him, and his feet together. The youth made a most desperate re- sistance, but he cried and struggled in vain. " I think he has the organ of murder," says one. " And the organ of number," cried another. UnWF.ANI) MASSrVfJII AM. (11 and i 1 him, ;t(*r. tl('in(!U I while ill the e the ■ llovv- ddeiily to the behind Tlie ite re- uggled ^an of " cried Could he be a Jew witliout that?" xclaiins a lliird. '• 1 low can we tell any thinic about what he has, or has not," said Kovvland, " with this mass of hair upon his head? Fetch the scissors, ^mith." Youn,i< Spires was very proud of liis hair, which was one of liis greatest personal ornaments, and he gave a heavy groan as Rowland ronnaenced divesting his head of some of its rich clustering ringlets. '' I think you had better desist, Ivowland," said Frank Fletcher, hastily ]mlling him by the sleeve: ' I am afraid what you are doing is not altogether right." *' Let me alone, Frank. Now I have got him down, I will proceed. "-91 II"J ROWLAND MASSING HAM N*>.'^; Ill this instance, I must be my own iiuister." Exhausted by the violent strug- gles he had made to res^aiu his in)erty, the youth was now quite passi\i , and lay perfectly still. " I thought we could ])ring him to," said Rowland: " I dare say hf^ imagines himself as badly off as Joseph was among the Egyptians. The five shillings will work miracles, by and by.'' The Jew made no resistance: perhaps he thought resistance a- mong such a lawless train was only fatigueing himself to no purpose; so in about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, Row land had succeeded in taking a very fine cast. But when he removed the mould from ■C^' K(»\VL\NF) M\ssr\r,ii\M. 113 own Josi.'ih's face, lie was .-.urprised at tlic riiridity o'' liis feature , • iid the ill itionless a|)pearjni(M' of liis whole liii^ure, vvliich la\ ^velehed in utter >uj)iueness at liis feet. " Coiue, my tiiu feUow," he rricd. unfastening his hands and arms, " 1 have (U)ne witli you now. Here is tlu' five shillings, and I doubt not my friends will subseribe something for you as well." He spoke, but reeeived no answer. A eold ehill erej)t over him. and his liuibs smote one against the other. He looked down on the faee of the youth with an eagerness almor.t approaehing to agony; — there wa^ no colour on his cheek, no breath, a})parently, on his lip; his face ex- L 3 r// ¥■' 114 KUWLANU MASSINGHAM. liibited the same deathlike appear- Jo ance as tlie east. cr " Your patient seems in no hurry- a " to rise,'' said Smith; "shall I give SU him a rousing shake." th " He is sulky," cried one. or " He is dead!" exclaimed ano- • ther, in a more impressive voice. ]M Something like this dread had J Hashed upon Rowland's mind; these wi words confirmed his suspicions, and pi uttering a wild cry, he svmk down by the side of the lifeless boy, and to buried his face in the dust. th *' What is to be done?" cried all hi the scholars in a breath, exchang- ar ing glances of surprise and anxiety. m " I thought how' all this nonsense ht woukl end," said Morley. of " Do not inform the masters, al ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 115 )pear' hurry [ give ano- ee. I had these 5, and down , and gd all hang- xiety. isense isters, John," cried the young students, crowding eagerly round him; — " Fletcher has gone for tiie young surgeon J his friend, who lives in the next street. Perhaps, he is only in a swoon." " I am no tell-tale," returned Morley, slowly striding away; — " Rowland has often insulted me with his pretended knowledge; I pity him now." Insensible as Rowland appeared to all that was passing round him, these w ords, from one he considered his enemy, did not escape him; and he could not help, in his own mind, feeling the superiority of heart displayed by Morley, in spite of the contempt with which he had always regarded his head. m '■V.l 116 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. ■»« But at that moment the science he had al^used appeared a bubble. It liad, perhaps, occasioned the cU*ath of a feHow- creature. Meteher, who Avas all along fear- ful of the termination of his col- league's rashness, had ran as fast as possible to fetch a young surgeon, who had l)een apprenticed to his father, and who had just entered upon business for himself. He had not many paces to go, and Mr. Adams instantly obeyed tlic sum- mons. On approaching the scene of action, the boys fell back to let him pass. Mr, Adauis examined the youth, and found he was only in a deep swoon, which so nearly re- sembled death, that, to their inex- cieiice iibble. d the ^ fear- s col- fast as rgeoii, :o his [itered [e had lI Mr. sum- lie of ^t him d the y ill a ly re- inex- ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 117 perienced eyes, it might well be mistaken for it. Wishing, hoAvever, to cure Flet- cher and Rowland of their folly, and afford them a useful lesson for the future, he shook his head in a por- tentous manner, and confirmed tlieir fears, by ordering the body to be removed to his surgery. Then turning to the young gentlemen present, he represented to them the dreadful crime they had been guilty of; and bade them prepare to give an account of their late conduct, as the life of a fellow creature would shortly be demanded at their hands. This information spread a universal panic through the whole school; and those who had stood aloof in 118 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. the whole affair, deemed tliemselves the wise and fortunate. Rowland, the miserable Rowland, would have i^iven worlds to have been situated like them. He beirired Fletcher to throw away his skull before it did any furth(*r mischief; and to forsake a science altogether, which had occasioned such a frii>ht- ful accident. Frank was very un- ha])])y; but he was too much of a philosopher to blame the science instead of himself. "We are in fault," he said;— ''Phrenology had nothing to do with the tyrannical manner in which you insisted on taking the lad's head, whether he wished it or no, but arises from your use and abuse of power— from constantly acting liOW LAND MASSINGIIAM. 1 11) n selves >vland, ) have ^ skull schief; Cctlier, rriii;lit- ry uii- 1 of a cieu(?e lid; — to do wliicli lad's >r no, abuse ictiii<2^ up to your tavourite maxim, ' I will !)(' uiy own master.' Dear Rowljuid, foriret that disagree.able sentence for the future." Rowland promised he wouJd, and we])t himself to sleep. In the mean time, Mr. Adams succeeded in restoring the Jew-boy to animation; and the poor lad was very thankful for his kindness, and not a little relieved at finding him- self freed from his tormentors. IVIr. Adams told him he would frighten them well for their late frolic; and dismissed Josiah in perfect health, and renewed spirits, from his surgery. Though the young Jew was will- ing to forget and forgive the ill- usage he had received, his Either 'V 120 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. was not. When his son returned home, he eagerly demanded his box of trinkets, and the proceeds of those he had disposed of. Josiah had left his box in the school -bounds, and the whole truth unavoidably became known. Mr. Spires was determined not to let such conduct go unpunished; and he wen*, the next morning, and demanded his property, and in- formed the master of the school of the whole affair. It was some relief tO Rowland to find Josiah still in the land of the living; but he and Fletcher, who w^ere considered the ringleaders in the affair, though Fletcher had no more to do with it than his being the in.troducer of the science into m ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 121 :unied is box ids of ill the truth Mr. to let [; and , and id in- ool of and to of the , who ers in ad no being e into the school, had not only to make good the value of the box that had been lost in the scuffle, but were both expelled from the school. This was a severe mortification to both young gentlemen, who were very proud of the rank they held there, ])ut Rowland, in secret, congratu- lated himself that matters were no worse, and returned home more experienced in the ways of the world, but not much improved in character. His father was excessively dis- pleased with his late conduct. It was his wish to bring Rowland up to the church, but the young gen- tleman, in spite of all his recent mortifications, obstinately persisted M w V 122 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. in claiming the privilege of pleas- ing himself. " I will never be a whining par- son," he cried, after his father had expressed to him his wishes. — '' I think I see myself holding forth from a pulpit, and arraycnl in a gown and bands; papa will never catch me pre;.ching sermons. I am not over fond of hearing them, and to have to write them would be an intolerable bore. Robert may be a clergyman. I mean to please my- self, and study surgery." His father would have prefered bringing him uj) to the church. His brother was a rich man, and had many valuable livings in his gift, and had ])romised to bestow one on Rowland, if he received a ROWLAND M A S S I N G 1 1 A \\ 123 clerical education. But Rowland obstinately persisted in declaring, if he was not allowed to study sur- gery with his friend Fletcher, he would not settle to any thing else; and his father knowing of old his liasty and positive disposition, re- luctantly consented to apprentice liiui to an eminent surgeon, in great practice, to whom his friend Frank had been previously bound. Rowland had never been in a surgery in his life. He had only received account of it from Fletcher ; and the disgusting scenes it some- times displayed, being peculiarly adapted to his ideas of the sublime, he considered it in the lidit of a little paradise, which aifo»'ded him abundant opportunities of pursu- ll Ti tl^ J- 1 124 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. , i m. iiig tlie noble study of anatomy. When Rowland entered it for the first time, a man was having a leg amputated; Rowland shrank baek with horror, while Fletcher eagerly insj)ected the whole o])eration. " I hope we shall not often wit- ness such scenes as this?" cried Rowland, rendered quite nervous by the cries and groans of the patient. *' You w ill witness many finer operations than this, Rowland;" returned Fletcher. '' How expe- ditiously Mr. Lewis took up the veins and arteries; did not you think it a beautiful sight?" "I shall never be a surgeon," said Rowland shuddering, ** really, Frank, I shall consider you a per- atomy, for the gak i back eagerly [1. m wit- cried lervous 3f the i finer rlaiid;" expe- up the )t you •geon," really, a per- ROWLAND MASSI\f;riA\I. . .) t'cct monster, if you take pleasure in assisthig Mr. Lewis in such eases." '' I am sorry for the sufferei-s who require our assistance," re- turned Fletcher, 'M)ut I glory in the science which will render me sc useful in alleviating the suffer- ings of my fellow creatures; and so will you, Rowland, when vou have been here a few days. But we must not stay here any longer. Our services are required in the luedieal department, we have some pills to make up." " Some pills to make up!" reiterated Rowland, " I am sure I am not a going to waste my time, and soil my hands, by making uj) l)ills. Whv dops; u(\f \Tr f ot. Jg. M 3 (^ 126 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. send them to be done up at the chemist's." " Because he unites the business of an apothecary ^^ith the profes- sion of surgery; come, Rowland, you must not be so nice. We must do it, and it is better to go through the jol), disagreeable as it is, with a good grace." *' There is no must in the case — I will not do it!" " You will be obliged to give up your old motto here, Rowland. Mr. Lewis is our master, and he will be obeyed." Rowlo ^ followed Fletcher very sulkily into an inner room, fitted up with drawers and shelves, con- taining every sort of drug which is required in compounding medicines. I ROWLAND MASSlNCiHAM. 127 Rowland had a very nice nose, and he stopped at the (U)or, and de- clared the smell of the room was so intolerable, he was determined not to enter it. '' Nonsense, Rowland! 1 am ashamed of your weakness, surely what I can bear you may.'' '' You may not be troubled w ith such a sensitive nose as I am," re- turned Rowland tartly, " you surely do not pretend to smell for me." *' You will get used to it in a mi- nute," said Fletcher, " it is an evil of your own seeking, remember that. But come, Rowland, here are two old women waiting for the medicine, and you must overcome these scruples. I*,* 128 KOWLAND MASSINGIIAM. If you will not stay to assist mo, return to the surc:ery, and wash Mr. Lewis's instruments, and clear away the blood from the floor." " I will wait in a butcher's shop first," cried Rowland, seizing the mortar and beginning, very reluc- tantly, to beat up some drugs w^hich Fletcher had just weighed out. The perfume arising from them so af- fected his olfa(!tory nerves, that he quickly flung the pestle in a rage to the other end of the room, and contented himself with sitting on the counter, and reading the nam(\s of the different medicines, back- wards or forwards, as the whim pleased his fancy. Fletcher was vexed; he picked tin tlw» lu^ciln !!i|»^1 /»nrofnlliT -iiii^fitrv ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 129 the dust from it, finished, with indefatigable patience, the task Rowland had so frowardly re- jected. Rowland was humming a tune, and kicking with his feet against the counter, as he watched Frank cutting out the pills, with the spa- tula, preparatory to rolling them into their circular form, when Mr. Lewis hastily entered, and de- manded if they were done. "No, sir," said Fletcher, ''I shall have finished them presently." " You must have strangely idled your time away, gentlemen, that you have been an hour preparing a few pills; why, Mr. Massingham, do not you assist your friend?" i;^() \i( >WLANl) MASSINGHAM, " I never mean to make pills, sir," was Rowlancrs laconic reply. ''Then what induced you to come here, Mr. Rowland, if such was your determination?" '' It was my pleasure," returned Rowland, '' I wished to learn sur- ii^ery, and never suspected that I sho I be condemned to the dirty drudgery of making pills, and mix- ing potions, scraping lint, and pre- paring plaisters." '' But you find that such will often be your employment. You should have thought of all these disagreeable occupations before you insisted on your Either binding you to me. I think it was your own voluntary act." " Yes, sir, 1 imagined I should KDWLAND MASSINGHAM. 131 s, SUV ) come 1 was Aimed n siir- tliat I dirty 1 inix- d ])re- i will You these e yon g you own hould like the professii ii, while the know- ledge of it disG^usts me." " You are completely ignorant of what affect to despise, Rowland ; you have seen one operation per- formed, and been set to make up a few j)ills, and you have the pre- sumption to call this a knowledge of a science, which will require the attention and study of years. 1 hardly know which appears in the most conspicuous light, your folly or your ignorance. Opposition is useless; I am your master. You must either conform to the rules established here, and obey my commands, or forfeit your inden- tures." rn This last sentence frightened fei ",■) 77 132 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. sum that had been expended on his education, and tliat his father had paid down a heavy premium with him to Mr. Lewis. He therefore slowly dismounted from the counter, and affecting to hold liis nose with one hand, and connnenced rolling out the pills with the other. '' You will soon be tired of prac- tising these airs," said Mr. Lewis, with a smile. '' I hope, in a few days, to see you conduct yourself in a more gentlemanly manner; I pity Mr. Fletcher, the trial you are giving his patience." After Mr. Lewis left the room, Rowland made up the pills, out of pure contradiction, as badly as ever he could ; they looked more in the shape ♦- 1\ 1 n 1 of triangies, Liuiii any LUin^ ROWLAND MASSINGUAM. 133 311 his r bad with refore unter, i with •oUiiig prac- Lewis, a few 3urself iier ; I ou are room, out of as ever in the else; and as he chose to persevere in this conduct, there was a gene- ral conii)laint made by half the old women in the parish, on the infa- mous and slovenly manner in which Mr. Lewis's young gentlemen made up their pills. They coukl only say, they wished the manufacturers bad to swallow them. Rowland, who had made them thus merely to vex, as he imagined, Mr. Lewis, was diverted with these complaints, and pursued, out of mischief, what he had first com- menced in spite. Custom reconciles us to almost any thing, however disagreeable, and Rowland's dislike to the pro- fession he had chosen, began daily to diminish. The pleasure with N ^1 131 KOWLAM) .M\SSL\(iHA,M whicli Frank pursued it, Hecnicd to reproach ITun for his own wilful nedii2:ence, and he no lonp^er viewed a surgical operation with the hor- ror with which it had, at first, in- spired him; but an unhicky acci- dent revived his dislike in a tenfokl degree, and made him abandon it altoo-c^ther. He ^vas one day in the s\u'gery, watching one of the elder studcuits dissecting an infant's arm, which was in a very putrid state. The gentleman, seeing him take up the knife he had just been using, to examine the form of it, bade him be careful, as the instrument was sharp; and the least puncture of the skin would be attended with great danger, or might even produce death. 'I K( )\VLANI) MASSINGMAM. 135 ncd to wilful k'iewed e lior- st, iii- j acci- teiifold dou it in the e elder 's arm, I state. :ake up using, , bade rument ancture tteuded It even Rowland heard the caution, but, as usual, thouc^ht fit to please him- self; and he kept turning the knife, from side to side, and trifling with it out of bravado, when Fletcher suddenly entering the room, caused liim to start; in turning round, the instrument slipped in his hand, and slightly wounded his thumb. Every assistance was instantly ren- dered him, but inflammation rapidly commenced; and, for many weeks, Rowland was confined to his bed, and, during part of the time, was delirious with the anguish he en- dured. Though the wound, in the end, was healed, it left such a weakness on him, that a decline was apprehended, and Mr. Massing- hinn granted his earnest request. 136 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. ])y permitting him to rernKiiiish the profession, and go down to a pretty seat in the eountry, which he had hitely purchased, for the recovery of his health. Fortunately for Mr. Massingham, Robert was very willing to fill Rowland's place; and as he did not possess such a volatile and capri- cious disposition as his brother, Mr. Lewis consented to the exchange, and Rtnvland retired to his father's estate in Berkshire; glad to escape from a line of life he had himself insisted on pursuing, to enjoy the pure air of the country. He found his mother and sisters comfortably settled in this charm- ing retreat, and, as he was almost tired of having his own way, he con- rti IWLAND MASSINflll.VM. la; '^1 i sh the pretty le had 3overy gham, DO fill id not capri- ?r, Mr. haiige, [ither^s escape lunself oy the sisters ^harm • almost le con- descended to consult their wishes, and to make his company as ai:;ree- i nk' to them as possible. He had never ])efore visited the country for any length of time, and he was enchanted by the surround- inii; scenery, and experienced a great (k'al of pleasure in accompanying his sisters in their walks, or driving his mamma out in a pretty pony (;haise; or even helping the girls to work in the garden, of an evening, Mrs. Massingham was so well satis- tied with his conduct, that she wrote a long letter to her husband on the subject; exp^'^'ssing her plea- sure, in perceiving such a manifest improvement hi his son's character. The summer passed away U)o (|uickly for Rowland, who had en- N 3 ill 138 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. joyed all tlie bustle of harvest, raid had felt a keen delight in being able to shake the (blustering apples from the pendant boughs, instead of buying them ready gathered in Covent-garden market. He was quite in love with a cuntry life, and always expressed great dis- satisfaction at the idea of again becoming an inhabitant of the me- tropolis. " Instead of these beautiful trees, in front of the windows, that add, with their rich verdure, so greatly to the prospect, I shall only behold a dull row of red houses; and shall scarcely be able to discern even the face of the heavens, beyond their tall formal chimneys. *' The moon does not shine with being apples [istead *ed in ) was y life, dis- again le me- trees, t add, reatly )eliold I shall m the their i with ROWLAND MASSINGIIAM. I'M half the lustre there, that it does here, sheddini»: its soft rays throuich th(» airy foliage of these graceful trees. The sun scorches us with the fervency of his beams, but he does not form the beautiful con- trast of light and shade, which is l)ro(luced by their being reflected on grove and river, on sloping lawns, and distant hills, Dviir mamma, I hojx', for the future; I shall always live in the country." "You might have your wish, Rowland, if you were to conquer your aversion to become a minister of the Church. You would then live in a much prettier part of Eng- land than this, and occupy a sweet picturesque old-fashioned, but very comfortable parsonage, at I , in i in K(>\\ (. \Si> \l \s>|S(,ii A \l W ncvonshiro,' returned Mr M;i sini^b.'irn. " No, iiiJiir^inji, I have firmly re solved never to be a ]).'irs()n; and nothintj; iii this workl shall iii(hiee me to ehange my mind." '* Make no rash promises, llow- hind," said she; "you know not what unforeseen events mav take |)hiee to brim^ about an alteration in your sentiments. You, certainly, vvcmld be very Avrong to enter upon suck a holy otbce against your own inelinations ; and a very great change must be wrougbt in your character, and you must learn to entertain an hmnbler o})inion of yourself, before you could possibly fill so sa(*red a function. You have vexed me, How land, from \ our early childhood. Rl )\V L A N I) M A SS I N ( i 1 1 A M . 1 il Iv re- and 1(1 ucc llow- V not take ration ainly, upon r own lian^e acter, lin an before ned a I me, lliood. by yonr froward and perverse dispo- sition. 1 hope your late illness iuis convineed vou of the weakness of vour nature, and how nuieh you are oblii::ed to depend upon the kind ottiees and assistanee of your fellow creatures. When you were stretched on a siek bed at the point of death, you found it of little use deelarinij: vou would be 'your own master!' You refused at first to take the me- dicines which were prescribed for you; pain became 'your master,' and you were glad to entreat for any remedy, however naus lus, that you imagined would mitigate your torments. Ti 11 me truly, Rowland, when ^ Hi lay in that deplorable state uul not you caM to mind the positive manner in which vou had f I 142 lU ) \\ LA N D \I ASSrXGHAM. ir insisted on 1)ein^ a surgeon in oppo- sition, I am sorry to say, to the wishes of your fatlier?" '^ IncUxHl, dear mother, once or twice I did think I had hn)ni>:lit tliose severe sufferings upon myself by my own headstrong folly; but afterwards, when I was in sucli acute pain I could think of nothing beyond my bodily affiictions. Once, when I expected I should die, I felt very miserable, andprayedheartily to God to forgive me; and I promised, if ever I got well, I would submit myself to the guidance of my parents for the future. But when health returned, 1 forgot all my good reso- lutions; I have often wondered that the impression was so soon removed f i HOW L\Sl) MASSINGH \\J. I ) :$ from my mind, for while 1 was ill I heartily wished to improve." ''You trusted to your own strength, Rowland, and forgot to pray to God night and morning to strengthen and renew those resolutions and to soften your perverse and obstinate disposition. You imagined you could command your heart and thoughts to obey you; but you cannot even master your own evil passions and inclinations without the aid of God. ilow, therefore, do you expect to control the actions and enforce the obedience of others?" Rowland returned his kind mother no answer. He sat, for a long time, pondering over her words. '' I can- not always command my thoughts," he said to himself; " they often re- .'3:1 144 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. II \ 5- proach ine for my past conduct^ and I would fain banish them, for the recollection of my folly pains me; but they will present themselves to my mind. I suppose this is con- science, which I have read much about in ancient history; and the greater sin a man is guilty of, the more tormenting these reflections must be. After Nero had killed his mother, he imagined himself con- tinually haunted by a fury; and he who was master of the world could not command his own feelings, or get rid of the ghastly vision that tor- mented him. Yet I love to have my own way, and feel as it were com- pelled to resist the control of others." Mrs. Massingliam «eeing her son it, and 3r the s me; [ves to 5 con- much id the )f, the actions led his f con- and he I could , or get it tor- ave my B com- rol of I or son ROWLAND iMASSINGHAxM. 145 look very grave, partly guessed his thoughts. " Rowland," she said, ^^ the next time you feel very much inclined to have your own way, will you promise me, for once, to renounce your old maxim, and sub- mit yourself to the advice and guidance of others?" '' Dear mamma, I am so obstinate, and feel so certain in such cases that I am in the right, that I much fear I should break my word, if I were even to promise what you require." " You can but make the experi- ment." " I will try," said Rowland; " but I know 1 shall not succeed." " If you were as resolute in per- lOLiiiw L\J viO > v/vii viVJLvy lie: }\Jx.t ttiVTUyo o I4() ROWLAND MASSlNGHA\i. are in violating it, my son, you would be equally successful ; all reasonable people would imagine it was a plea- santer thing to gain the love and esteem of your friends and parents, than to incur tlieir censure. You have, up to this moment, obstinately persisti^d in obeying the dictates of your own heart; as firmly resolve, for the future, to obey your father and me, and you w ill soon prove we are better and kinder masters than yourself/' Rowland said he woukl try, and meet his mother's wishes: he now^ left the room to fetch his hat, to accompany her and his sisters in a walk. It was a fine afternoon, in the '^^li ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 147 would on able I plea- re and arents, Yon inately ates of c^solve, father ove we *s than •y, and le now liat, to rs in a ni the » ^ V' I T ? » » - ) 1 ceeded down a green lane, which t(M'minated in a long range of marshy meadows, through which flowed a clear winding stream. They had scarcely entered the meadows, before they overtook farmer Jones, their nearest neighbour, to whom the marshes belonged, who had been with his little girl and boy to inspect some weanling calves, that were feeding hi the pastures. Mary was walking with her father, but his son Joseph, a lad often years of age, was standing at some distance in a very dogged attitude, pouting out his lips, shaking his shoulders, and kicking with all his strength agains a large (^halk stone that hap- pened to be in his path; and his whole aj^pearance denoted him to '/ r,#'f ii-»9>l ^fe iMl t ^yr«'»^ 148 K(JWLAND MASSINGHAM. be labouring under the effects of his own ill-humour. " How nuK'h that boy reminds me of Rowland when he was his age," said Mrs. Massingham; "I have seen him assume that attitude while obstinately persisting in having his own way." '^ I am sure I never did or could h)ok like that boy," cried Rowland, indignantly surveying his likeness; " I never saw such a sulky, disa- greeable monkey in my life!" " You must not condemn him, my son. I am sure he is one of those self-willed young gentlemen who adopt heart and soul your motto, * I will ■ my own master.* A few moments will convince you of the II ROWLAND MASSINCiilAM. 149 i of his :'miiuls as bis n; "I ttitude having • could wlaiid, ceness; , disa- im, my P those n who motto, A few of the truth of my assertion," she added, turninii; to his father. '* Wliat is the matter with your little boy, Mr. James: he does not look in the best humour in the world.'* " Pray do not speak to him, madam; let him alone; He is a very wicked and unworthy boy. I requested him not to go too near the banks of the rivulet, but he de- termined to have his own way, pertinaciously persisting in refusing to obey my conmiands ; and you may perceive the consequence of his dis- obedience. He has slipped up to his knees into the water. I ordered liim to return home and change his wet clothes, and there he stands as obstinate as x mule, and will rather. o 3 1 ^ i i^f 150 ROWLAND MASSFNYiFIAM. ,1 mtM.. TT run tlie risk of taking cold, than listen to the advice of his father." "Come, Joseph, be a good boy, and obey your father," said Mrs. Massingham, turning to the delin- quent. '' I tell you, I won't," was the reply of the unamiable youth: ''I shan't go home till I j)lease. So there's for you at once." Mrs. Massingham felt grieved at the depravity of heart evinced by this speech. '' Are you aware, Joseph, that you are behaving in a very wicked and undutiful manner; and that God will punish you for such conduct as this?" " I don't care. It is no concern of yours, ma'am. You are not my mother," Then turning on his heel. ROWLAND MASSINfillAM. 151 I, than lier." id boy, i Mrs. delin- ks the? th: '^I e. So 5ved at 3ed by aware, g in a anner ; ou for oncern not my is heel. he said — " So here's good day to you and your advice;" a:id off the froward urchin ran as fast as he could, in an opposite direction. Mrs. Massingham turned her eyes towards her son. Rowland's cheeks were glowing with crimson. *' I hope," she said, "this sight will prove a warning to you, though so many years older, and convince you of your errors." '' Mr. Jones," she continued, again addressing the farmer; "I am afraid )our son will prove a great trouble to you, as he growls older; if he dares at his tender years so absolutely to resist your authority." '' My dear lady," returned the iiii i.iiv.1 , i tijii 3KJI i V -.1; ~d,\ lixs will Hi i4^ i 52 ROWLAND -MASSINGHAM. he his oirn master: he is quite he- yoiid my maiia.ii:einent: my wife does not like me to bestow on him j)ersonal chastisement; and he does not pay the least attention to what I say to him. He is following in the steps of his eldest brother James; who proved a great trial and sor- row to me, till it plea^ ed God to remove him hence. " James would always have his own way. He never studied the w ishes, nor minded the advice of his ])a- rents; and considered his best friends in the light of enemies. I did not wish him to go to sea; lie had been brought up in the agricul- tural line; and was perfactly unac- quainted with nautical alfairs. ** He iiad been a erreat exn^nsp \rt ROWLAND MASSIN(;HA.\f. 153 ite be- y wife m him le does > what ing in Fames; d sor- xod to lis own wishes, is pa- best es. I ?a; he ^rieul- uiiac- me; ami when I represented the imprudence of his conduct to him, he Laughed in my face, and informed me, with the greatest insolence, that he meant to please Inmself. — Two days after, he ran away, and left US; and did not so much as write a line to his poor mother, to bid her farewell. " Mewenttosea; and was drowned the first voyage. His mother made a great affliction of his death; but he had ever proved himself such an undutiful son, that I felt thankful to God that he had not (jome to a worse end. For I have always found that a disobedient child never makes a good man or woman; nor ever prospers long in this w^orld; whilst I UV ll ; liilllfc sTll ill VV i.h y r; vi V ivv %jll\: III k J5i KOWLAND MASSINfillANf. j p m with the same disrespect whieh tliey, ill their youth, showed to their pjirents. '' I set my father's authority at (U'fianee, and caused him, for many years, great uneasiness: and 1 some- times think the bad and unthitiful conduct of my chihh'en is sent as a punishment, to remind me of my own dis()])edience." While the farmer was talking over his domestic grievances to Mrs. Massingham, Rowland's heart smote him as he called to mind the anxiety which, from Ins first recollection, conscience told him he had occa- sioned to his parents. He had not only set their authority at defiance, but had been a great expense to them; and he made a secret vow KOWLAND MASSrNf;fr,A\f | ", ».» which rved to rity at ►r many 1 sonie- nhitiful 'lit as a of my :ig over • Mrs. t smote iiixiety ection, L oeca- acl not stiauce, nse to t vow for the future, U^ submit himself entirely to their direction and con- trol. As they walked home, Mrs. Mas- sin,ii:ham asked her son what he thoui^ht of young Jones's conduct? " Do not mention it, my dear mother," returned Rowland; '^ the very idea of my having acted like that boy ])ains ^ne: I cainiot bear to think of hi rondoct. Why, my sisters must ha^ . ha'ed me, if I had treated them witn the rudeness and insolence with which young Jones answered you." '' We did not hate you. Row land," said Anne; "but we could not love you very much, when you vexed and thwarted us on every occasion; and we felt heartily glad of your 4i\ H. 31 magssmmv 156 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. IP II absence when you went to school. But now that you are growing into a young man, I should hope reason would teach you the impropriety of such conduct." This conversation with his mother and sister, made such an impression on Rowland, that, for a long time, he steadily persisted in asking their advice in any little matter that par- ticularly concerned himself; and, fearing lest he should lose his time while recovering his health in the country, he studied indefatigably; and soon felt the benefit arising from a steady perseverance in the path of duty. His mother viewed the improving looks and mental acquirements with pi ivic aiivi picaouiej aiiu liia SIslvtis school. iig into ; reason iriety of niotlier jression ig time, ig their lat par- ■; and, lis time in the :igably; arising in the Moving ts with SiiStCTS i; ,iU ROVVLANU MASSINGHAM. 15 loved him with the most sincere affection: and both ])arties began to congratulate themselves in his per- fect reformation, when a very un- fortunate accident enth'ely over- turned their high-raised expecta- tions; though it, ulthnately, suc- ceeded in reclaiming the being in whose welfare they were so deeply interested. Mrs. Massingham had a great dread of fire-arms; and she had requested Rowland, as the shooting season commenced, never to touch a gun. Rowland had a very earnest de- sire to learn to shoot; and he thought his mother's request both tyrannical and unreasonable. " 1 am nearly sixteen years of age," he I *' 158 ROWLAND iMASSINGHAM. said, 'S'lnd yet not ixTmitted to carry a gun. I really think my mother's o])jections are very ridi- culous. What harm should happen to me more than to young Saverley, who is my own age?" Day after day he constantly rea- soned thus, till he felt every hour a greater inclination to resist his mother's authority, and a stronger wish to please himself. He was, one day, in this frame of mind, when young Saverley came up to the garden gate, with his dog and gun. ''Rowland," he cried, 'Svill you go with me, shooting, this beautiful morning?" '' I should like very much to ac- company you, but 1 cannot shoot," -^^k- ' ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 159 tted to ink my ^y ridi- liai)peM iverley, ly rea- 'V hour ^ist his wronger ame of ' came lis dog 11 you autiful to ac- hoot," returned Rowland; **and I should not feel much pleasure in being a mere looker on. I cannot bear to see another person in action, and myself standing still." " That shall not prevent you, Mr. Massingham; I have another fowl- ing-piece at home, and if you will accept the loan of that, I shall feel a great deal of pleasure in teaching you to shoot. It is the easiest thing imaginable; it only requires a good eye and a steady hand.'* " I have often fired off a gun,'' returned Rowland; but my mother lias a foolish prejudice against boys, as she calls young men of our age, carrying fire-arms ; and I promised to yield to her wishes, and relinquish • « 160 ROWLAND MASSINGIIAM. my ardent desire to learn to be a good shot." " I am sure you are very foolish, Massingham, to forfeit your inde- pendence in that manner. I am certain my mother and sisters never should control my wishes in any respect. I thought you had possess- ed too much spirit to be under petticoat government." Rowland coloured slightly: "per- haps," said he, " if you asked my mother to let me accompany you this morning, she would grant your request." ''With all my heart, Rowland; leave me to persuade the old lady;" returned Saverley, putting his gun within the paling, and following Rowland into the parlour. ROWLAND MASSING H A M . l()l 1 be a 'oolisli, ' inde- I am J never in any ossess- under "per- ed my ly you it your vvland ; lady;" is gun lowing Mrs. Massingham received him in a very polite and friendly manner; l)ut when he made known the pur- |)ort of his visit, she candidly told him she was sorry she could not grant his request. " All men," she said, ought to learn the use of fire-arms: but I have a very great objection to a lad of my son's age, carrying a gun." ^' I should think, madam, a young man, like Mr. Rowland, might be trusted. I cannot see any reasona- ble objection you can urge to deprive him of a very manly and useful diversion ?" " Mr. Saverley, you consider yourself already a man," she re- turned; ''but experience alone brings ^Aisuom. •^%■'^ T 1 inforiii i 1 if V :3 9£M 102 ROWLAND MASSING HAM. you of my reasons for objecting to my son learning the use of fire- arms, lor some years to come, I am sure you will agree with me." Both Rowland and hir^ trieiid looked very sceptical, as Vfws. Mas- singham continued: "I was born and brought up in the couiitry; my father being the owner of a fine estate in Norfolk, that abounded with game. I had two brothers, the oidy son^ of my father, to whom i wuh fttrongly attached; they were lioth older than myself, and always treated me in the kindest, and most affectionate manner. My father was not very indulgent to them; and it was a long time before he would grant my eldest brother I ! ;ting to of fire- ome, I me." fiieiid 'A. Mas- s born ry; my a fine funded others, whom y were always I most father them; >re he rother ROWLAND iVIASSINGHAM. 163 Frederic s earnest request to learn to slioot. '' At length he gratified his wishes, and presented him with a gun, an excellent pohiter, and a license. Frederic, who had always imagined himself hardly done by, was but too happy in these acquisi- tions; and before the season was over, had gained some proficiency in the field, and was accounted a tolerable sportsman. '' My brother Miles was two years younger than Frederic, and was finishing his education at a large public school at Norwich. Frederic was very fond of Miles ; and indeed he was such a gentle, sweet-tem- pered lad, we all loved him dearly. My poor mother doated on him; he i I i Kli Il(3WLAND MASSINCiHAM. .1 ■ was so dutiful and obliging in his manners; and there \Yas seklom a dry eye in the house on his departure to school. My father was absent in London, on business of great importance, during the following September; and Frederic entreated my mother, who was but too indulgent, to let him send for Miles, to enjoy with him a week's shooting. For a long time, my mother resisted his earnest application ; at length she was won over to grant his request. '' Miles returned from school, and the two brothers, for several days, enjoyed themselves higljy, in tra- versing the woods and fields with their guns. My mother never saw^ tiiem leave the house without much ROWLAND MASSINGIIAM. 105 ill his dom .1 )arture :)ndon, 'tance, imber; lother, to let y with lI long arnest s won 1, and days, 1 tra- with r saw much mental anxiety. " Their father would be extremely angry," she said, " if he knew that I suffered Miles to return from school; and if any harm should hap})en to either of them, I should have reason to dread his displeasure." The morning she made this re- mark, they were out later than usual; and she continued to pace the room with a countenance that evinced considerable alarm. I felt so remarkably low-spirited, and so anxious for the return of my brothers, that I put on my hat and crossed the lawn, in order to meet them. My mother's uneasiness, perhaps, made me apprehensive ; for I never, till that moment, felt so uncomfortable at their absence; 11 Ij I h 160 ROWLAND MASSINfiilAM. 1 crossed the lawn and the adjoining meadow, and mtered a little copse that skirted the high road. " As I descended a deep dell of pine trees. I thought I heard voices ii'f^ conversation. It was not the tone of altercation in which they were uttered, but low, hurried, indistinct so' ' , .;hieh possessed more of fear than anger. T did not stop to listen, but sprang breath- lessly forward; and never shall I forget the sight that first met my eyes. '' My brother Miles, stretched on a hurdle, with his head shattered al- most to pieces, was carried between the game-keeper and his assistant; whilst my brother Frederic, the s Ijoiiiin e cupse dell of i voices vas not which urried, vsessed lid not wreath- hall I let my 'dona ed al- twecii stant; the HOWLAND MASSINflffAM J (J7 most pitiable being of the two, walked slowly bchii 1. "One glance on the bleeding, niaiigied form of Miles, conviiKT^i me that he was dead. I never could gain sufficient fortitude to look at him again. '' Frederic appeared a living corpse. It is true, he breathed and moved; but he neither glanced from the right to the left; his eyes were fixed on the blei aiug corpse of his brotlier, as if he had no power to withdraw them thence. I took his hand, and spoke to him : he did not answer me, but appeared totally unconscious of my presence. The exp -ssion of his countenance friglit- eneu m^~u wore the rigidity of death. My own mental anguish m ^i^^ ^^ si ft 1 Miij 1G8 ROWLAND MASSINGIIAM. ■ \i was forgotten, while eontem))l{itiiig liis. I felt, indeed, the pressure of calamity, but it was too deep for tears. At length, the idea of my mother rushed across my mind, — *Alas!' I said, * this sad sight will kill iiy mother/ "These words seemed to reral Frederic, for a moment, to a state of feeling; he turned his hollow eyes on me, and i)utting his hand to his head, said ; in tones I shall never forget, and they were the last he ever uttered, ' Oh ! my poor mother!' " I learned from the game-keeper, that the brothers had pursued their diversion for some time without any success; at length the dog roused a covey of birds in a neigh- 1 >. HOWLAM) MASSIN(;HAM. ir>9 nplatiiig ssure of eep for I of my iniiul, — L^ht will reoul > a state hollow is hand s I shall ere the h ! my -keeper, ed their without he dog 1 neigh- honring field, and Frederir was so anxious to follow them, that in try- ing to force his way through the hedge, one of the branches caught the trigger of the gun, which went off, and the mouth being in the exact direction of his ])r()ther's liead, who liad just succeeded in clearing the gap; it caused imme- diate death. Frederic fell instantly forward into the ditch, and received so severe a contusi')n on the head, that it was a long time before the two men who saw the accident take place from an adjoining field, could succeed in restoring him to ani- mation. Thougli the blon my brother had received, must ulti- mately have caused his death, and given him great pain, he seemed *4 ^ , f ^ m 1/0 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. totally unconscious of his own suf- fering's, so completely was every feeling absorbed in contemplating the dreadful accident that had taken place. My mother was in a very weak state of health; and 1 dreaded the efieet this shocking sight would have upon her nerves; and directed the men to carry the body of Miles to the gardener's cottage, while I broke the fatal intelligence to her, by degrees. This plan, how^ever, was rendered abortive, for at the gate of the lit- tle copse, the sad procession was met by my mother herself. I can- not dwell on her agonies; the remembrance of them, even at this day, overwhelms me with grief. ^' Before mv father retu.rned from I Kami '^: KOWLAND MA8SiNGHAM. 171 kvn siif- ev(Ty plating it had IS in a and I i()(3kinj^ nerves; rry the dener's V fatal egrees. ndered :he lit- )n was I can- >; the at this ief. d from London, she had lost both her sons; and was herself tottering on the brink of the grave. Poor dear, she did not long survive this fatal stroke, and some of the last words she ever uttered, w ere addressed to me to this effect: *" Lydia, if you should ever be the mother of sons, take warning l)y the sad example of your bro- thers; and never suffer them to touch fire arms, till they are men/ I hope, Rowland, after what I have now related, you will not wound my feelings, by attempting to shoot this morning?" " I should almost deserve to meet with the fate of my poor uncles/' returned Rowland, — '' but :W'«fei. Wm^-: 1/2 ROWLAND iVIASSINGHAM. dear mother, you will not object to iny being a looker on?" '' I think it equally dangerous," said Mrs. iMassingham; "without you liave some old and experienced person with you. But indeed, Row- land, if you consult my wishes, you will remain at home." Rowland had a great desire to go; and he used to many ar^^-u- ments to prevail with his mother to yield to his wishes, that on his faithfully promising not to fire him- self, she reluctantly consented. After the two young gentlemen had left the room, she felt vexed with herself for having so far granted Rowland's suit,— " I am afraid, Anne," she said, " he does not mean to obey me: I saw him ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 1/3 object »» erous, without 'ienced , Rovv- ?s, you >ire to argu- aotlier an his B him- 1. lemeii vexed far 1 am does V him and his friend exchange glances, several times, while I was relating that domestic tragedy. If Rowland should deceive me in this instance, I shall never be able to place any confidence in him again." Anne thought his promises were not sincere, but she would not say so, for fear of distressing her mo- ther. Half an hour after Row- land's dei)arture, his father arrived from London, and Mrs. Massing- ham and Anne forgot in the joy which his presence occasioned, the anxiety they had entertained about Rowland. He brought too a letter from Robert, who was delighted with his profession; and likely to be very clever in it; Mr. Lewis gd\ c iiiiii ti vriy iu^ii cuaiacLci J aiiu Q3 i 174 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. I this information raised Mrs. Mas- singham^s spirits, and she forgot, in the well-doing of one son, the perverseness of the other. After the first congratulations were over, Mr. Massinghain en- quired for Rowland. " I have heard so much of his improvement, Lydia, I should like to see him ; in short if he does not chuse to be a clergyman, he must not be idling his time away here. I must take him back with me to London. I think I shall bring him ' up either to my own business, or the law, and make a parson of lit- tle George." '' He has gone out this morning, with a young friend, shooting;'' returned Mrs. Mussingham. " I did % f ROWLAND MASSINGIIAM. 1/5 bim " »» did not like to grant hi: \\ he and 1 so earnest in his promised not to request itreatie touch { but s. uu himself, that I was prevailed on to give him my permission; and I am surprised, as it is near dinner time, that he is not yet returned." Mr. Massingham had not the objection that his wife had to field sport.^; he saw nothing particular in a youth of Rowland's age car- rying a gun—'' the boy is old (Plough," he said, " to take care of himself." The day passed away, and the deep shadows of an autumnal even- ing darkened the room; the shut- ters were closed, the curtains drawn, and a cheerful fire gave an air of cfirnfort tn flwj «...^..*......,-i. mi 176 ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. little Susan was on her father's knee; and every face, excepting Mrs. Massingham's, wore a smile. "■ I wish Roly was home." said the little girl. "^ Do not fidget mamma, dear, with yom' wishes," returned Anne, kissing her cheek:—" He will be here presently, perhnps he has gone home with Henry Saverley to tea." " Perhaps he ha<, Anne," replied Mr. Massingham. "You had bet- ter pour out the tea." Anne was scarcely installed in the seat of office, when the servant announced Mr. Jones. " He is not a usual visitor," said Mrs. Massingham, as the farmer was making a hundred apologies at tlie door, to the tbotman, tor en- imrj»L^j^Js^*T?^^rmmmit^s£ii^'. ROWLAND MASSINGHAM. 177 ither's opting lile. said dear, Anne, ill be 5 gone ) tea." •eplied i bet- led in ervant »♦ jaid Farmer ^ies at or en- tering the ball with dirty feet. '' I hope Rowland and his friend have not committed any trespass on his grounds.'* " It is not at all unlikely," re- turned her husband, '' young peo- ple, of their age, are often very lawless. — Mr. Jones," he continued; rising and shaking hands with the farmer; "to what circumstance are we indebted for the pleasure of your company this evening? Pray take a seat by the fire; my daugh- ter shall give us a cup of tea directly." The farmer stood bowing and scrapiog for some minutes, without accepti>ig Mr. Massingham's offer j at lengil; ♦^urning to Mrs. Massing- ham. he said, " Madam^, I don't 178 ROWLAND MASSINGH AM. ■ wish to disturb you, I have taken tea; but I caOed this evening to satisfy your fears respecting your son." " Mr. Jones, this indeed a neigh- bourly act of you; I have been ex- tremely anxious respecting him, and am glad to hear he is safe." *' Why, madam," returned the farmer, '' I should like you to step over to my house, and speak to the poor lad. He is as well as can be expected, after meeting with such a shocking accident." *' Accident!" — exclaimed Mrs. Massingham, turning very pale, and catchhig hold of the farmer's arm; ''what accident? you ter- rify me. Pray explain your words direct I v?'" x^ti ''*m ROWLAND MASSINT.FIAM 171) '' Why surely, madam, you have heard of it before?" '^No, indeed!" said Mrs. Massing- ham, bursting into tears; ''what hat, happened to my dear boyr Is he dead?" she eried; " do not keep me longer in suspense." '' Dead, oh! no madam, nor likely to die; he went out this morning with young Saverley shoot- ing, and they came to me and asked my permission to walk over my grounds. I had no objection to give them a day's sporting, but observing your son had a very rusty old fowling-piece in his hand, I took it from him and examined it; and told him that the lock was defective, and he must be careful how^ iic uSrCi it, as if linrl mn'eyed a pang of sorrow to every bosom present. Mrs. Massingham fainted in the arms of her hus- band, and both his sisters wept bitterly. '^ My poor boy," said Mr. Mas- singham: '' he has indeed pur- chased experience at a heavy rate. But this accident, which appears such a calamity to us, ma\ be R fe MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART 'ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 2) 1.0 I.I 1.25 1.4 i^ 2.8 2.5 8 5 6 3.2 2.2 i: 1,^'- 14 2.0 1 1.8 1.6 _J ^PLIED irvMGE Inc '65J East Main Street Rochester, New York U609 uSA (716) 482 - 0300 - Phone (716) 288 - 5989 -Fox 182 FlOWLANl) MASSINGHAM. turned by God into a great bless- ing. When Mrs. Massingham reco- vered from ber swoon, she accom- panied her husband and Mr. Jones to visit the patient. They found him composed, and resigned to his situation. The first words he uttered were addressed to his mother, requesting her forgive- ness for the past. This was readily granted; and l)oth his parents forbore to make any comment on his conduct. "Do not weep, dearest mother," said Rowland; ''perhaps my loss may be a gain, I cannot feel suffi- ciently grateful to God for having spared my life," ihis accuieni eneeieii a inuiuu^u I RUW L AN D M ASSIN G H A M . I8:i ])less- reco- Lccom- Jones d, and le first 5sed to orgivc- i; and > make t. other," (ly loss baving ioroii^ii cliange in Rowland Massingham's charac^ter. He was one of those on whom advice had been tlirown away, and whom experience could alone make wise; aiid it was not till he was deprived of one of the most useful members of his body, that he could be convinced of the error of constantly acting in direct opposi- tion to the wishes of his parents. Should any of my young readers feel inclined to act like Rowland Massingham, and insist on be^'^g their own masters, I hope they \n dl receive a warning from his fate, and early renounce such a foolish and presumptuous line of conduct. Let them always consider that their parents are their best friends; their .. >-^ri »•/.. f oiwl /^l<»o I'rict l^^M»t!^^f"^ who ^mS 184 R( J W LA S D M A SSING H A M . *' mk never Vv'ould advise them to do any thing ^vhich was not ultimately for their good; often what appears harsh and stern to a child, is abso- lutely necessary for his future wel- fare, and is adopted by his parents to save his body and soul from hell. Does not our blessed Lord himself tell us, " That if ye love not your parents whom ye have seen, liow can you love God whom ye have not seen?" Rowland's accident was followed by a long and severe illness; and during his confinement to the house, he derived the gre^^test comfort and consolation from . j perusal of the sacred Scriptures, m fact, they be- came his constant study, and he so well amended ids life by the holy KOWI.AND MASS!N(.iJA.\J. IS.3 lo any 3ly for )pears abso- e wel- arents a hdl. imself t your , iK)W '■ have precu'pts they contained, that he as earnestly wished to become a cler- gyman, and by his future life and conduct, be the means of bestow- ine: oii his fellow creatures the bene- fit of the experience he had received, as he was b(^fore anxious to avoid entering upon that sacred olhce. I lowed ;; and house, rt and 3f the ey be- lie so ' holy FINIS. IiK.VV ANH MI.'VDaY, PKINTRRS, THRKADNKEDLK-STREKT. ml I w \ 11 i I'ldllsHKI) »Y DKAN^ MIX DAY, T II U K A I) N K K D 1. I s I K K !• T. ^^^^rf*-»**f*f* r / ^ # ^ /■ /■ TMR niRLE (iARDEN- or, a familiar dosc-M*'!"" "f "" '.''*" Trfos, Shrubs, Plants, and llorhs, niontioniv. the H<>iv Scmji turos, with tlic'ir Botanical and En^'lisli iianu's, their pi-cuhar pro pcrtics, the countries in which they nourished, and the particular chapters in wliich thev are mentioned: by J(»skph Tayi.uh, autlior of Remarkable Providences,— Nature the best Physicuiii, ^•(..__Knibel]islicd with thirty. one enpravimrs <.n steel; er,ntaininK- upwards of ciphty Illustrations of the Subjects described in the Work, from original designs, by W. II. Bkookk, F. S. A.- In cm- bossed cloth, 4s. 6d. HISTORIT':S FROM SCRH'TrUF-:, Jor Children, exemplitied by Ai)propriate Domestic Tales, by Mi-,s Emzadktu Jank (ii« ham, authvtr of A Companion to the Lord's Supper, the Snow- Drop, &.c. Containing, The Three Sisters, or History of Adam and Kve,— The Two Brothers, or History of Cain and Abel;— 'I he Happy Familv, or Historv of Noah in the Ark;— An Only Son, or History of Abraham;— The Father^ Death, or History ot Isaac ;-~Tlie Discontented Brothers, or History of Jacob ami Esau ;— The Jealous Brothers, or History of Joseph,— The Morning Walk, or Account of (iod's bringing the Israelites out of Egyiit .— The Boy who would do as he liked, or Account of Phj.roah and his Host ; - A Bad Temper C(ui(|Uered, or the Character of Moses,- A Visit to a Poor Old Man, or the History of Halak and Balaam;— and, The Little Soldier, or History of Jo-liua.— With eighteen line en- gravings, by S. Williams, in eml)M .-cd cloth, .is. 6d. MORAL ! KSSONS AND STORIKS, FROM THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON'; or, the most striking passages in that instructive poitiou of Scripture, illustrated by interesting Moral Tales; Consisting of- the Idler Corrected,— Blind Arthur and his Sister Jane,— l he Fruits of Early Industry,— Active Benevo- Ijjiifc,— Conseciiu'uccs of Extravagance,— Foolish Resolution,— Christian Humility,— Yountr Creole's Petition,— Young Heires.-, and her Indigent Oinpanion,— Twin Sisters,— Mischievous Boy,— Evil CommunicAtion c.irrupts (Jood Manners.— By Mis^ Jank Stricklan.!'. author of The Noble and the Slave, Ellen Clevelarnl. or the Young Samaritan, James Ellis, ^c.ivc— With twelve fine engravings from original designs, by S. Williams. In embossed clotli, 3s. tjd. •41 k . f! IMl A COMI'A ION AT TFfK I.()R|)'« SIPI'KK; ai . .i ,lirir tn tlic ( li'irdi 111 Kii;rl»iiil : (•(Hiiniuinn; J^ bhort accnutit ol Hit.' Unly Oidituince, ami ii brn'f cxliKitiUi'iii t(j its innrc irei|iH'nt (ihsorvaiicc umofm- Clifstiaiis -\',y Mis., E. s.(iii\ri\.M. Hiitlior oi lliistnri»s from Scriptur*', tin- Simw-droj), tScc— W itli iKiiutilul lioutispiccc niid ;:iU i'(l,t,'i's; Is. (■) 1 ill clDtli. TIIK SXOW-DROP: or, FraUriial Offer iii," hciiij; Pnetirtil Pic(H'^<, ulci tfd from osttcnicd autljors, and orimnal I'^'Ic <'f a ])ioiis tt'iidrncy. \\y Mis^ Km/arktii KrsAvvAii (ikmiam, auUmr of Histories liom .Scri|)tiii».', K'c— In cnibossed clotli; with tine frontisjiii-cr and tcilt tily:cs, Is. (id. THK IIAIll' OF ZIOX, or .^acrod and Moral JNntry, oriirina' and select.' ' IJy the l{i;v. Hash, Wooon. — With tine fronti.spiccet in eniliossed etotli, with tril' edtrt s, Is. (id. THE ClUUSTIAX's DAILY IHIKAI); or, Tfxt-15ook of Serip- tiiral Texts and I'mmise.s for every day in tlir y ar, with an ap. piojiriate vorse to caeli. JJy the Rkv. If. (). Ma iv. Witli line frontispiece, frilt edu'e.s, bonnd in embossed cloth, Is.Uil. i)K. (;;ii<:(:()i;^ "s advick 'lo nis iiArciiTEUS. and f.adv PKN.MNtilON'^ ADVK K TO IIKR AliSKNT DAlCill fKKS ; a new ami neat i-ditinri, wiiU tine piatc, gilt cdtres, and bound in embossed eloth. Is. (id. If LIFE AN'D MEMOIRS OF MRS. HANN MI MORF. Being a faitiitnl acconnt of lur mode ol education ami c imnu'iicenu-nt of lite ;'.s ;ea<'liir in lier sifter's school; her efforts, in comicctioii with Mr. Will/iriorco and tiu' Rev. J. Newton, to aboU-h tlic slave trade: the formation of sc-IkmjIs for the poor in vllla).?es, ami of Sunday- schools, l)y lierself and si>ter-, the opixisition she had to contend with, and vexation- persecutions slie met w;th; her sac ccss, and the nuT d iilc rntution produced !)y lier zealous exertions; licr eea-ele-- tifuts toi;of,ood; lier reiiicment from active life, and ]iublieation of many interesting: re!i,-,i)tis works; deatiis of all htr sist(Ts, ami otiier severe domestic aflliction-j with her l)atient demeanour, and peacelul end, at tlie advanced ai;;- of ei;;ht v-nine. By Miss Julia Corner. Price 2s. (id., wi'h an ;ici-u- rale likeness. KI.FKX ( LIA KFAXl); or, I he "\ < imp Samaritan : a tale of the Pestilence. I5y Mi-s .Iank Sr;! k !it,.\\i), author of Moral Lessons and Stories from the Proverbs of .Solomon, I've. — llandsouiely bouml, with t'ie^ant frontispiece, lis. (id. IMPROVlDFXt E.— AX1\ A M\,.1.1AGE LIKE MANY. Ex- liibitinu-, in a pleasnif? and interesting narrative, the -erions and olten tatal conseciuenees which arise from a love of display and extravas^ance ; and the inevitable misery con:ei,tient upon niar- riaf::es contracleil in opposition, or foiuidi'd o-i interested motives: and evmcmu: tiie opposite and liappy resuiis wiiere duty and reli- gion inthience the heart and rei^iiiate the condnct. By Miss C'oRNhii. — In laney binding', with elegant frontispiece, -Js, tiU. Pocliriil ■|i!e ■ <-f a .M.aiuhor with Jinc IIIK f inUsriAN CONVKKT. nr. I'llK NOHI.KM AN AND TllK Sl.AVK; an hi-.turifal tulf, H> Mi-,s J ask Snin ki.avw, author j Solomon, \;r. hiiiuUonu'ly hound, with ilctraiit truntisiiiccc, -Js. (id. IXMKS KI.I.IS or. A I'lithtr's NVanuiiir Nt>>rl«Htod a tale f.mi.di'.l'oa tact>. H> Mi^- J wk Stumklam.. author ot Mural I c'ssons and Stori.'s Ironi ttii- Frovfrt)s of Solomon, the Nolih- and the Slave, KUen ( hveiand. .Ve.--Klet,'ant Ironti-^pieee, l>.t)d. TllK Fl.ANIKR'- DAlCillTKH AND IIKK SLAVK, by the author of Kllen Cleveland. With tine Irontispicce, -is. 'HI!' SOI niKK'- ORrilAN; or History of Maria West. Hy a Clerirvniiinot theCliunhot Kntjhind, and intoiutedas a fompanion to the lliMory of su>un (irey.-Ncutly bound, with elegant frontisiJieee, '2^- Od. I'KOl'FSSlON AND PRlNCilM-E; or. the Viear's Tales. Hy Miss SiUwAU Sr 1! i< K 1. A M., author of llMM;h l.atiiner, 1 he Little Prisoner. Rowland MassuiK'ham, \e.-js. Od. Imiubomcly bound, witli eleirant fiontispieee. TAT rs or Till" M MirVRS; orSketeliesfroniC huiih History. Contaiii'in^'. a Tale of the early Christians- Hritain's tiiM Martyr; Seenes from Knt^'Ush History; The Martyr's Widow 1 he Hiur- e- iiot Familv; Henri Arnand . A SUeteli tti.m the History nl the Vaudois; The Missionary, and, Martyrdom in the Mneteentli Century.' 3s. e.xtia bouiui. CRFVT IMPORTAXCK OF A RICLHilOlS LIFE considered and enforced. By W. MKi..Morii.— Neat i.late, hcwcU. Is. IIFE OF THE REV. ROWLAND hILL, A.M. Miiiistcr of Surrey Chauel, lUaekfriars, mid of Wootton-under-Kdk'e, (ilou- ee-ter'shli-e- with a iktail of his sueeessful ministry and peaeetul death, liy'w. Limmino.— With accurate likcnchs, Gd. sewed. ANECDOTES AND S.WINCiS OF THE REV. ROWLAND Jill I ,\ M t'ollected from aiitlicntieated sources, and iiei son- aliv'il'lu'-tVative of this emineul Divine. — With a tine view ot his Il,;,ivo ;uid Chapel, at Wootton-under-Kdge, bd. sewed. THF LIFE AND MEMOIRS OF THE REV. J. NEWION, fiometime a .slave in Alrica, aftirwards Reefir of Olney. lUieks., and St. Mary Woolnoth, London.— With tmu portrait, Od. .sowed. THE DEATH OF CAIN; after the manner of, ~ >d as a sciiuel to, the "Death of Abel;" in five books; lid. -e\ ed. TllK HFWFNLV i'AllENr, exlubitinj,' to yoiin^' pi-rsons, tlie a(lVanta>resoV depending on Divine I'rvteetmn.^when tht^ po out into tlie woild. l>y •J- Lin>' "!•■•, Mii'i"''vr '•: vtSC • ^ •--:-•! •; Wick.— Fine frontispiece, fid. sewed. M TII()r(;irTrr[, HDI'IIS. .Lnot.-.l to t»iv interests of Vonth ttcint,' (iU'Hiii(if,'.s from the Fu'ld of Hivirip Truth, or Sorlou. Medi- tations connected tlierewitli.-l'ine plate, kewed, (id. ORPHAN R.\riiEI>; or, Fruits of Perseverance. By the author ; of Kilen Cleveland, \c. witli sfven coloured eneraviniTH. neatly I sewed, M. c ^ . / | THF<: (iOF.DKN (iROVK; a rlioice Manual: in two iiarts— I A ' '»' t'» I'fvotion —11. A (iuiiie for the Penitent: With Pravers HiHl llyniiis for Daily use. By Jkhkmv T.vvi.oa, 1). U.— Neat plate, Is. 6d. sewed. Tin: Hr:i.IF:VER's POCKKTCOMP.VNION: containing a num- iu;r of passa(,-es, clncfly iironiisc^, selected from sacred Writ' with ol).strvath)ns in prose an\itn neat plate, is. .sewed. ,V-:»*rf^-W* of Y«Jlltll ; lou* Meilj- the author >,'H, iR'iitly arts -I. A th I'ravers 1).— Neat np a niim- Tiil Writ; lid. sewi'd. Iirist, and Is. l)i)ards. ILDUEN, t; a shf)rt '. T. WiL I hich is to L'in is dis anecroiis — Einbel- i faithful Witli u )iscourse, Christ.— tlic Mar) II of the to Come, ROWLAND MASSlNdllAM, or, I will he my own Master : a inorini tall'. My Miss Sr-tAVVA Sniit ki.wu. — 38. imI, ruatl>', hound, with ck'jrant frontispieee. A Fi:w WKKKS AT ( LAIKMONT t ASTI.K , eontainine The White Lie, The IVdiirree the Sprinir linn, and The Futritive} hy Miss Pkahson.— Witli elegant frontispiece, 2h. CONVERSATIONS ll?:TVVEEN HENRIE'lTA AND HER MAMMA; or, Moral Tales. Uy Mas. Kkntisu.— With an clepint frontispiece, 2s. EMILY AND HER COISINS; or, the Force of Exami>le — a t-.le of real life. iJy Mas. HAKKa.— With beautiful frontisi)ie"e, HUGH LATIMER: or. the School-RoyK* Friendship —an inte. restiner tale for youth. By Mihs Susanva Stiiicki-anu.— With fine frontispiece, '_>k. NATIONAL PREJCDICE; or. the French Prisoner of War- By Mis« Jank Stuicki.anii, aiithor of Ellen Cleveland, — Vine frontispiece, Is. fid. THE LITTLE PRISONER; or, Passion and Patience. By the author of IL, Latimer, Rowland Massinpham, \c,— With an frontispiece, j . od. THE TELL-TALE, AND THE WEFK OF IDLENESS; de- ri^^ned to convey severRl u!?tr""-tivt' le-seons, p,y Mi"^- LssMSi — With four beautiful plates, Is. fid. ii \II,I,A(;K STOini'.S, (•(nituiniim. ( liarlntfi' Htnl J»>»Hy. tliv I. It'll- I'.a-^kt't MakiTs, (irunflpaim, and t o M<><». R>rHt's. Hy Ml** « III! \ . u— With si'Vf'ii firif plurr"- i- i'n\. i.iKI.S ]S TIIKIH TKKSS, or, TrIcm f.ir Y<>iiii(,' T.aiHe'*, cnn tmiiiiitr TIk' Honrdiiiir Sclinol, luid, AIwuvh T ( (til m;h.- With (or.r iKTHitiful cmrniviii-cs. is. fid. NrilSKKY UHYMKS. about I.ittlr Ho-iiccp- Mnstor Jfirk Hor- ,HT— 'I'hi' l.ittU- (nek Sjiitrrnw— Knliin uiid Kichnrd— Little Boy IJhu'- Orniiu'l-i and Liinoiis— Soiitr ot Sixpfiirr -Thf I.inly llird-- The ViK Wfiit to Marki t— and many others, l^ M. m-atly bound. PRETTY I.IT'II.K sroUIKS, nlumt The Kitten— The Ii tl -The Mvrtle— The l.aiiit>— Tlu' l5oat--MiMliievou> Habits— The IK»(r— risbiiur- A Visit to the Farm -anti, the Little Wtiter-CrcsH Hoy. Hy J. Hisliop. is. P lily — Motioy isii — (iaritoii I- r,-icaiH> (if patiy »)ound. •sons in dif. ' sc'liools, or winjr accu- (U- easy, hy >lia(luwini7 ; and youn)? .cliooU. My JIIOOLS: a uiiiliar style, li numerous SCHOOLS: nt AgH'. By ^inf. ^ ;1VE WORKS. FOJ P'P',1 -Htli BV L. > v yi)A.. : :;.EAi):sET.iI '■^ io<>— ll S illr,;.. rip's' ". •riat. .'« <\r :;r' .'ion of ^\^e 1 it I ,tr n •^itir.v'.f' u the Ii apt .-O- ) ralnra: V I juc'le ^s, by jliss orali •* ^ . _ tap''* '"s join'.ii: ^ y vl«', Jaue Strij h >': V !• 1- nnp ^ ' oravli, », ■ EJlf : < elau'V ,^it,Ycr^tf»r»am''r"'an / ^ Ml^a Jane .-.mvsJw- ' l'"v3r]»UfA ■ • ' -^ae O- '-»*«»' I- nConv , onti-.e.K > k 5i»'i. »„ M«s« s«' *nupl. f rtKidiiba; tin wn Life n d Mvrt>a:rs of U 8. HAnho3h,.>'.*m V U^^^ ?l Mlsft Julia Corner: Vvh^^' at^^J*V'^^ »w j ^^eft»J by a CWt- vaiwi'drtiir f viir«?hof.^ . I , ' and : Cftia fro .t >fil||^ ^ imprftvirienci', felid»"*:M r-<^s^" ^^' '• ' 4isr .fi.!ia€^per: ae ,'l)^l. .H.•^i■■| -'■"'er,4*r. tlje KM«^>^*»-Hn- s ^' ' ' W . ' ' r by Mi-- .trifji ►s.e&^ak' -; -.or.fH/lif^t'I^lrol ^jtni ) wncr. '"" ..*ory cf s FicW Sfcui^; al•;^^ -It fr 'Utwpie--'* . ,