Charles has played Emilia and me a fine trick this morning, dear mother. Dr. Bartlett generally rises with the sun to take a walk before breakfast; Charles, who was this morning just awake, heard him. He rose softly out of bed, hurried on his clothes, and ran down to ask him, in both our names, if we might go with him; to which he consented. It was hardly light. Charles knocked at his sister’s chamber door, Emilia, Emilia! are you still asleep, you little think it is almost ten o’clock. Oh! cried Emilia, what shall I do? I am afraid my mama will be angry with me. Come dress yourself quickly, said Charles, I will speak a good word for you. Emilia was quickly dressed; she was ashamed of being so lazy.
In the mean while he came to me, and told me the same story. Eleven o’clock—is it possible? But why did you not call me when you got up? And how comes it to be so dark? Does it rain? That signifies nothing, he replied, it will soon clear up. Come, make haste, I want to go to Dr. Bartlett. Well, you would have laughed to have seen our astonishment, when Emilia and I found it was but five o’clock. And we were very glad we had a pleasant walk, and the following conversation.
CHARLES.
See there, our John and his son, already busy at their work.
DR. BARTLETT.
They rise with the sun, and begin their daily labour.
CHARLES.
Those people are certainly very laborious, and labour for little profit. I pity them, their situation is hard.
DR. BARTLETT.
Why, that little profit is sufficient to purchase content, if they are not vicious.