Read Ebook: Julia and the Pet-Lamb; or Good Temper and Compassion Rewarded by Anonymous

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JULIA. I do not think so: Miss Beauchamp has no more pet-lambs to fall over the hedge.

JULIA. Do you think it will rain, mamma?

JULIA. Oh dear! If I am disappointed again, what shall I do, mamma?

JULIA. To Lady Beauchamp.

JULIA. She thanked me for carrying the lamb home: she asked me to go with her, to eat strawberries and milk.

JULIA. No, mamma. Might I have gone? I thought you would not approve of my going, without your knowing where I was.

JULIA. I am glad you have confidence in me: but, mamma, do you know, Lady Beauchamp said she would ask you to give me leave to spend an evening with her little girl. Shall you permit me to go, mamma?

JULIA. I hope it will be convenient and proper. I dare say I should be very happy, and spend the evening very agreeably. Do not you think so, mamma?

JULIA. Mamma, did you know strawberries were ripe?

JULIA. Yes, Lady Beauchamp said they grew in--in some house.

JULIA. Yes, yes, in a hot-house; that is what she said. What is meant by a hot-house, mamma?

JULIA. Thank you, mamma; I believe I understand you. But why is so much glass used? If it be necessary to keep a hot-house very warm, I think brick walls would answer better than glass: bricks are thicker than glass.

JULIA. How strange, mamma! They could grow as well in the dark, I think: they do not want light to show them how to grow. Why will they not grow in the dark?

JULIA. Good night, my dear mamma. I shall get up very early to-morrow morning. If it be fine, I may gather the flowers before breakfast, without waiting to ask you: may I not, mamma?

As soon as Julia awoke, the next morning, she recollected the bow-pot. She jumped up and washed and dressed herself. Though Julia was a little girl, not quite seven years old, she could dress herself. Her mother did not wish her to be helpless, and had therefore taught her to do many things for herself, that some children, of her age, are obliged to have done for them. The little gown she wore in the morning fastened in the front, therefore she could button it without assistance. She was glad her clothes were made in a way that enabled her to put them on without help. If she could not have dressed herself, she would have been forced to have staid in bed till the servant had been at leisure to attend to her. She made haste to get ready, said her prayers attentively and devoutly, and then ran off merrily. Her mother had taught her that it was right to pray to God repeatedly; and she was too good ever to forget this important duty. She never allowed her pleasure, or her business, to make her forget her prayers. Every night, before she lay down, she entreated God to forgive all her faults, and thanked him for the blessings she had enjoyed. Every morning, before she left her room, she returned him thanks for the refreshing sleep she had had, and prayed him to watch over her, and enable her to do what was pleasing in his sight.

When she reached the bank, she was sadly disappointed: all the finest flowers were gone: only a few faded ones were left, which were hardly worth the trouble of gathering.--"Oh dear, what a pity!" said poor Julia, "I wonder who has been here! I wish I had got up earlier. However, perhaps it was last night that they were plucked. I saw some boys and girls at a distance, as I went home: probably they came this way and took the primroses. I wish they had not touched them. I dare say they did not want them as much as I do: but I will pick some of these, and ask mamma if she thinks Mary will like them. I fear she will not, for they look half dead!"--The disconsolate Julia walked slowly back, with the faded nosegay in her hand. She met her mother, who was coming down to breakfast, in the passage.

JULIA. Oh, mamma! you were right in saying we could not be sure of the future. I have lost my bow-pot, notwithstanding it is a fine morning: all the good flowers are gone! See, mamma, only these shabby things were left. Did you think, last night, somebody would take them before I went to gather them?

Whilst at breakfast, Julia expressed her fears that Mary might arrive before she returned from her walk. "At what o'clock, mamma, will my aunt and Mary be here?" said she. "I cannot tell exactly," replied Mrs Vincent. "Not so early, however, as you seem to expect. London is more than twenty miles from this village. Your aunt will, I believe, set off soon after her breakfast; but we can walk to the church-lane, and back again, in a shorter time than she can travel twenty miles. I expect you will be able to do a great deal of business before they arrive. I think you will have time to ornament Mary's room, say your lessons, and work, all before they come. I do not suppose they will be here till nearly three o'clock." "Not till three o'clock!" exclaimed the little girl: "that is a long time."--"It will not appear long, if you employ yourself."

When breakfast was finished, Mrs. Vincent put on her hat and cloak, to walk with her little daughter. Julia fetched her clogs, and just as she was tying them on her mother's feet, she heard some one knock at the hall-door. "Oh, mamma, I do believe they are come! I am so glad!" She was so delighted at the thoughts of seeing her sister, that she did not, even at that moment, recollect the bow-pot. "May I open the door to let them in, mamma?" said Julia.

Julia opened the door, but instead of Mary, she saw Miss Beauchamp, holding a large bow-pot, and a servant, who was with her, carrying a beautiful rose-tree, in full bloom, in her arms. Julia exclaimed, in raptures, "What lovely flowers!"

MISS B. I am glad you admire them. They are yours. Mamma sends them to you, with her love. All these hot-house flowers mamma sends you; but these primroses, violets, cowslips, and blue-bells, I give you. Mamma gave me permission to get up very early this morning, to gather them for you. I did not know the gardener had been desired to bring in a nosegay, so I arose very, very early, and gathered all these. I do not mean I picked them every one myself: no, Charlotte, who went with me, helped me. Do you know, whilst I was at breakfast, this bow-pot was brought into the room. Mamma put it into my hands, and said, "Emily, you may carry these flowers, with my love, to your little friend, who kindly took care of Bello last night."

Julia was lost in admiration: she nearly forgot to thank Miss Beauchamp. She took the flowers to her mother, and asked if she had ever before seen any so extremely beautiful: "Pray smell them; they are very fragrant." Then she turned to Miss Beauchamp, and said, "I thank you, very much: pray tell your mamma, I am very much obliged to her. I am sure Mary will be surprised: she will never expect to see such beauties? Is the lamb well, to-day? How is its poor leg? Does it bleed still?

MISS B. No, it does not bleed now. Papa dressed it last night, and he thinks it will soon heal: it is getting well; but it is still sore. Poor Bello cannot skip about the lawn, as he used to do. I nurse him, and bring him fresh grass and flowers to eat, as he cannot go in search of them himself. I hope he will soon be strong again. Will you come and see him? Mamma told me she should be happy to see you, whenever it is convenient to Mrs. Vincent to spare you. Bello will soon know you, if you play with him. He will eat out of your hand. I dare say he will be fond of you:--he ought to be so, you were so kind to him last night.

JULIA. I shall like, very much, to feed him and play with him.

MISS B. Will you, ma'am, allow Miss Vincent to come and spend this evening with me, or to-morrow evening? Mamma said, any evening that was agreeable to you. I hope it will be convenient to you to permit her to come soon.

JULIA. Thank you, mamma; not this evening, I shall have so many, many things to tell Mary, and to hear from her.--If you will give me leave to go to-morrow, I shall be very happy.

MISS B. Good morning, ma'am. Mamma told me not to stay long, lest I should be troublesome. Good bye. Pray come early to-morrow evening: I have a great many pretty things to show you, that I think you will like very much.

On turning to go out she saw the rose-tree, and returning, added, "I had forgotten the rose-tree. I brought it to help ornament your sister's room. See, there are several buds on it, besides the full-blown roses. If you take care to water it, and give it fresh air, it will continue blowing a long time. It is my own tree, so I may give it to you."

Julia was delighted with her presents. She knew not how to express sufficiently her thanks. She repeated, "thank you, thank you," many times. She smelled the nosegay again and again.--She jumped and danced in ecstacy.--She exclaimed, "Mary will be quite astonished! I wonder what she will say! My dear Miss Beauchamp, I am greatly obliged to you. I will take care of the rose-tree, after all the roses are gone. I shall always love it, because you have given it to me. I never thought, last night, when I went to gather some primroses, that I should enjoy all this pleasure.--Pray do not forget to tell your mamma, I thank her very, very much indeed. How good she is!--Kiss the lamb for me, and give him my love: I hope he will be very well by to-morrow evening.--I dare say we shall be very happy."

As soon as Miss Beauchamp was gone, Julia begged she might put the flowers into water immediately, before they began to droop. Her mother was kind enough to lend her a large flower-pot and two small ones, and to offer her assistance in arranging her treasure, that the various colours might appear to the greatest advantage.--"Dear mamma, that water is still warm, I am sure!" exclaimed Julia, in amazement, on observing her fill the large flower-pot out of the urn which was standing on the table: "though it is a long time since the urn was brought up for breakfast, I do not think the water can be quite cold yet."

JULIA. You are not going to put the flowers into warm water, mamma! I always put mine in cold water. I never remember your putting any into warm water before!

JULIA. How shall we manage, mamma, to keep the water warm? I shall forget, perhaps, to add a little now and then; and what you have put in, will become cold soon. How shall we keep it warm?

Julia carefully untied the bass, which was wound round the stalks in order to hold them together. She displayed the whole of her treasure on the table, and consulted with her mother, to determine what flowers would go best together, and how to form the prettiest groups.--"Only smell this rose!--Look at this sprig of myrtle! See how delicate this lilac is! These lilies of the valley are quite lovely!--Did you ever see a brighter yellow, mamma, than this jonquil! Look at this hyacinth--and this--and this! I do not know which is the finest. Which do you admire most? the white, the pink, or the blue? I will place your favourite in the centre--here, just in front. That does very well. But, mamma, do not you think it will be better to have a little more green? Shall I put these geranium leaves here, at the back?--Oh, thank you! that does beautifully!--There, that flower-pot is full.--I wish I could draw. I dare say Mary will copy some of these beauties: I will ask Mary to teach me how to copy flowers.--Well, now we may begin to fill another flower-pot."

In this manner did little Julia chatter on, as busy as a bee, till this important affair was finished. Then she assisted in carrying the flower-pots and rose-tree into the small parlour, which was set apart for Mary's room. It was a pretty, cheerful room: the window opened into the garden. The prospect of the country beyond was rich and fertile. The inside was fitted up with shelves, on which Julia had ranged all her sister's books. There were likewise drawers for work, &c. and convenient places for writing and drawing implements, as well as maps of different kinds. It was in this room that Julia expected to spend many delightful hours. She could amuse herself quietly, without disturbing her sister when she was engaged; and therefore she was often allowed to remain the greatest part of the morning with her. She was very attentive, and desirous of learning; and therefore her sister willingly instructed her, and, when at leisure, was in the habit of reading and conversing a great deal with her; teaching her geography and other useful things, which afforded her much amusement. The two small flower-pots were placed on the chimney-piece, by Julia's direction: the large one stood on a high green basket. The rose-tree was placed on a small table, opposite the door, that Mary might see it the moment she entered the apartment.--Julia went out and came in again, that she might judge of the effect on first opening the door.--"Do, mamma, be so good as to come here. Will not Mary be delighted?--will she not be astonished?" she repeatedly asked.

JULIA. It is early yet, mamma. There is no hurry. I need not walk to the church lane now, you know, mamma.

JULIA. Past twelve!--I should think you are mistaken, mamma.

Mrs. Vincent showed her watch.

JULIA. So it is--five minutes past twelve!--I could not have believed I had been more than two hours with the flowers. Well, mamma, I will run and fetch my books: they shall be ready by the time you get back into the breakfast-room. You shall see I will be very good and attentive."

Julia was very attentive: she did all her lessons well; she wrote a copy; cast up two sums in addition, without a single error; read a little French, and did some grammar.--When the grammar was finished, she sat down to work. She asked her mother if she might talk to her while she was hemming her handkerchief. Her mother said she might.

JULIA. Pray, mamma, why do you not have a hot-house, as well as Lady Beauchamp? It would be very agreeable to have flowers and fruits at this season of the year, when there are none in the open air. Do not you think so, mamma?

JULIA. Then why do not you have one?

JULIA. Oh! now, mamma, you seem to be joking: you are not poor--not very poor.

JULIA. But still, mamma, I do not think you poor. I call Mrs. Jones, who lives in the cottage at the end of the lane, poor.

JULIA. I am sorry you are not very rich, mamma!

JULIA. It would be so pleasant to have money enough for every thing.

JULIA. Yes, mamma; yet, do not you think I should be a little happier if I had flowers all the year round? I am sure the flowers this morning, have made me very happy.

JULIA. I believe one reason that I am so gay and merry, is, because I expect Mary will be pleased and surprised.

JULIA. Oh, mamma! I guess what you mean--about the lamb.

JULIA. So we did, mamma; but I am glad I have this beautiful nosegay, as I did not get it by cruelty.

Little Julia thanked her mother for having talked so much to her, and said she hoped she should always be good, that God might love her. She had now finished her work, and her mother desired her to fetch her book to read. She did as she was bid to do, immediately, sat down, and read the following story.

THE RED-POLE.

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