"What a mortification! What a vexation! Nobody, surely, in the whole world is so plagued as I am!"—"My dear sister, my dear Bell, what has happened?"—"My white satin shoes are not come,—it is six o'clock, and I must begin presently to dress for the ball." Annie could not resist smiling at the smallness of the mighty calamity; but, never happy when her sister was otherwise, she hastened to soften matters. "You only suffer neighbours' fare, Bell; for I am also disappointed of my dashing shoes."—"Oh! but you don't care for these things."—"I don't care to make myself miserable for such trifles, certainly."—"Trifles! No trifles, I think—one can't dance without shoes."—"But you have others, sister,—your black satin."—"One can't be always wearing black satin shoes."—"Then those lovely grey slippers, which mamma gave you."—"Quite out of fashion, child—obsolete—old as my grandmother."—"Ha! ha! Then grandmamma is a very young old woman; for, if I recollect rightly, those slippers were given you three weeks ago."—"You are a most accurate person, Annie."—"Nay, I cannot fail to remember the day; it was your birthday, dearest Isabel."—"And a miserable day it was."—"Oh! sister!" exclaimed Annie. "Yes, miserable! the dance went off very badly; and the supper was a shame to be seen."—"And poor mamma took such trouble about it! I thought nothing could be better."—"You! Oh! you are contented with any thing."—"And is not that wise, Isabel?"—"Yes; but persons of feeling, of sensibility, are more alive to what is disagreeable."—"The greater feeling must make one also more alive to what is agreeable."
The sight of the shoes stopped the conversation: but there was only one pair. "Not mine, I am sure; I am never so lucky!" said Bell. But they were hers; and Annie pronounced them the sweetest pair that ever were seen.—"Yours are not come, Miss," said the maid.—"Never mind, never mind," cried Annie; "my black shoes will do very well."
The sisters went to the ball: Annie all mirth and good humour; Isabel with the stately dignity of a young lady who expects to be considered the best dressed damsel at the ball: but there were a hundred others thought the same, and had as good a right to think so. Isabel was not exclusive, was not immensely distinguished, and she pronounced the ball detestable. "I do believe these nasty shoes spoilt my dancing. New shoes are always so uncomfortable; and my partners were always admiring your shoes, Annie; always teazing me to be introduced to the charming girl in black shoes."
GIFTS.
Caleb received the present of a handsome gun from his wealthy godfather. "How happy rich people are!" said his young friend Edward. "Many and many a time, dear Caleb, have I wished to give you a gun, knowing how much you longed for one. But, poor dog as I am, I had not the means."—"And was your wishing to do it, and the motive of your wish, worth nothing?" said Caleb, kindly: "Why, my dear fellow, you are a poor accountant, if you cannot discover, that the love which urges to a gift, is, at least, worth the gift itself."—"But it is pleasant to have the power of evincing our affection."—"Very pleasant; and I should think your case hard indeed, if rich gifts were the only mode by which love could be shewn," replied Caleb. "Name some other mode," said Edward. "That will I, and easily," answered Caleb: "can you give me any present more valuable than your time, your advice, your assistance? When I was ill, how many days and nights did you not bestow on my sick chamber! When I was in disgrace with my father, how much did not your counsel and aid promote my restoration to favour! Dear Ned, do not fall into the too common error, that money constitutes the sole wealth of mortals."
Gifts; or the New & Old Guns.
Pubd. May 1, 1831, by J. Harris, St. Pauls Church Yd.
The friends went out with their dogs and their guns.—The new piece was to be proved.—It looked in excellent order.—Caleb waited for a capital shot, to try its merits.—The game was scarce; and the dogs were long in raising it. Over stubble, and through wood, and brook, and brier, the party passed. Edward, something in advance, had the first chance of a shot. He fired his old double-barrelled gun, and brought down a couple of fine young birds.