The Barbadoes Girl | Page 2

who has lost a
fond father, and is parted from a tender mother.
Edmund.--But, papa, as Miss Hanson is coming to England for
education, and is yet very young, surely Charles must be wrong in
supposing that she is wiser, or, I ought to say, better informed, than we
are, since it is utterly improbable that she should have had the benefit
of such instructions as we have enjoyed.
Father.--True, my dear; but yet she will, of course, be acquainted with
many things to which you are necessarily entire strangers, although I
must remark that Charles's expression, "she has seen much of the
world," is not proper; for it is only applied to people who have mixed
much with society--not to those whose travels have shown them only
land and water. However, coming from a distant country, a society very
different from ours, and people to whom you are strangers, she cannot
fail to possess many ideas and much knowledge which are unknown to
you; I therefore hope her residence with us for a time will prove
mutually advantageous; but if the advantage should prove to be on your
side, I trust you will never abuse it by laughing, or in any way insulting
and teazing your visitant; such conduct would ensure most serious

displeasure.
Mother.--It would prove them not only very ignorant, and deficient in
the education which even savages give their children, but prove that
they were devoid of that spirit of courtesy which is recommended in the
Scriptures, and which every Christian child will nourish in his heart and
display in his manners: the same holy apostle, who inculcated the
highest doctrines of his Divine Master, says also--"Be affable, be
courteous, bearing one with another."
The children for a few moments looked very serious, and each
appeared to be inwardly making some kind of promise or resolution to
themselves respecting the expected stranger: at length, Ellen, looking
up, said to her mamma, with great earnestness--"Indeed, mamma, I will
love Miss Hanson as much as if she were my sister, if she will permit
me to do it."
"You had better say, Ellen, that you will be as kind to her as if she were
your sister; for until we know more of her, it is not possible for us to
promise so much; nor is it advisable to give our hearts at first sight,
even to those who have yet stronger claims upon our good will and
friendly services."
Mr. Harewood added his approbation of this sentiment, for he knew it
was one that could not be repeated too often to young people, who are
ever apt to take up either partialities or prejudices too strongly, and
whose judgment has ever occasion for the attempering lessons of
experience.
CHAPTER II.
At length the long-wished-for day arrived, and the young foreigner
made her appearance in the family of Mr. Harewood. She was a fine,
handsome-looking girl, and though younger in fact, was taller and
older-looking than Ellen, but was not nearly so well shaped, as
indolence, and the habit of being carried about instead of walking, had
occasioned her to stoop, and to move as if her limbs were too weak to
support her.

The kindness and politeness with which she was received in the family
of Mr. Harewood, did not appear to affect the Barbadoes girl in any
other way than to increase that self-importance which was evidently her
characteristic; and even the mild, affectionate Ellen, who had
predisposed her heart to love her very dearly, shrunk from the proud
and haughty expression which frequently animated her features, and
was surprised to hear her name her mamma with as much indifference
as if she were a common acquaintance; for Ellen did not know that the
indulgence of bad passions hardens the heart, and renders it insensible
to those sweet and tender ties which are felt by the good and amiable,
and which constitute their highest happiness.
In a very short time, it became apparent that passion and peevishness
were also the traits of this unfortunate child, who had been indulged in
the free exercise of a railing tongue, and even of a clawing hand,
towards the numerous negro dependants that swarmed in her father's
mansion, over whom she had exercised all the despotic sovereignty of a
queen, with the capriciousness of a petted child, and thereby obtained a
habit of tyranny over all whom she deemed her inferiors, as appeared
from the style in which she now conducted herself constantly towards
the menials of Mr. Harewood's family, and not unfrequently towards
the superiors.
For a few days Mr. Harewood bore with this conduct, and only opposed
it with gentleness and persuasion; but as it became evident that this
gentleness emboldened the mistaken child to proceed to greater
rudeness, he