Let me now, however, proceed to inform my readers, that one fine day, when I had determined to make myself contented, and when from the quietness in which I had been for some days, I had reason to believe the family were absent, and had therefore little hope for release, on a sudden I felt the bookcase move, and heard the sound of men’s voices, who, after much pushing and hoisting, took away what had so long covered me from the eye of every beholder. In short, I found that Mrs. Stanley had taken another house, as her lease was expired; and in consequence of the removal of her furniture, I regained my liberty. One of the porters took me up, and blew off the flew with which so long a confinement had covered me, and taking me down stairs, presented me to a chair woman, who was hired to clean the house. “There, mother Trusty,” said he, “is a present for you, which, if you please, you may give to little Jenny: it will make her as fine as a lady.” “Thank you,” returned she, “I will keep it safe for my girl, and if you have a bit of paper, I will wrap it up, for my hands are wet and dirty, and when I take any thing out of my pocket I may spoil it, you know. But as to making her fine, Jacob, indeed I do not desire it; and were you to present any thing to wear, she could not have it; for I think finery is not suitable for us. She is a good child, Jacob, and that is better than being a lady.” “Well, mother Trusty, do as you please,” replied Jacob; “I do not know who the Pincushion belonged to, so if you like Jane should have it, why I am glad I found it.” So saying, he complained that the weather was very hot, and after wiping his face with a coarse apron, which was tied round him, he drank Mrs. Trusty’s health; and took a good draught of porter, which stood on the table. He then sat down to eat some bread and cheese, and calling a great dog which lay in one corner of the kitchen, made him sit up on his hind legs to beg for some victuals, and afterwards bring him his knot, which he very dexterously did, by taking the buckle of it in his mouth, and dragging it after him to his master. Another trick which this animal had been taught, was to shut the door at the word of command; and his last performance to the entertainment of my new Mistress and Mr. Jacob, was to pick up his master’s wig and bring it upon his head, which made indeed a very droll figure to the spectators. At the conclusion or his meal, Jacob bade adieu to mother Trusty, and they each separated to pursue their different employments. I was in the mean time laid on one of the shelves, curiously wrapped up in a bit of paper, which had fallen from the back of that very bookcase under which I had so long resided: it was torn in two by Jacob, who took one half to put up some bits of cheese rinds for his dog; and I found it was a fragment of poetry, which I suppose had been sent to Miss Saxby, as her name was Martha. I amused myself with the perusal of the lines, which were as follow:
FRAGMENT.
’Tis a folly, my friend, thus to envy the great,
Since content may be found in the lowest estate;
Tho’ Miss * * * exults that she’s splendidly drest,
Of true happiness, Martha, she ne’er was possess’d.
I have seen her, my friend, when no art could assuage,
Her anger, vexation, and petulant rage;