For I fain would make thee blest, and thy sorrows all beguile.
Tho’ poor Daddy is no more, yet, Richard loves his Jane,
And all thy tears, my sister, can’t bring him back again.
Perhaps it may be thought an uncommon effort for little Dick to turn poet at so early an age, and with so few advantages from education. But there is no answering for the powers of natural genius, and many a one may regard the attempt as impossible, merely because they are too indolent to exert their faculties. Richard had been taught to read and write at the charity school of the parish where he lived: and as no application had been wanting on his part, the progress he made did equal credit to his own abilities, and the attention of his master, with whom his merit made him a great favourite.
Jenny was likewise put to a small school at a little distance, by the benevolence of the vicar’s wife, (with whom such instances were very frequent) and by her assiduity recommended herself to her mistress, who would often propose her example as a pattern to the rest of her scholars.
The next morning, when mother Trusty got up to her daily labour, she kissed her grand-children, and told then to go to school early, and not stay and play afterwards: but to return back again, for she would probably come home to dinner. This they promised to do; and after they had learned their lessons they affectionately hugged each other and diligently set forward with their books in their hands. But Jenny in a few minutes returned to fetch me, in order to exhibit her new present to her school-fellows. We soon arrived at a cottage, the apartments of which were neither large nor numerous; but the exquisite cleanness of it was truly admirable. The mistress, whose name was Markall, was dressed in a blue and white striped gown, which was rather of the coarsest materials; but was put on with the neatness of a Quaker, as was a plain-bordered mob, with a white cloth binder, and a coloured silk handkerchief; which, with the addition of a checked apron, and a black petticoat, will give a pretty good idea of her appearance. She commended Jenny for coming early, and having inquired after her grandmother and brother, heard her read, and repeat the lesson she had the day before given her to learn. Soon after which, Betsey Field, Nanny Hay, and the rest of the scholars arrived; among which number were likewise several boys. As the room door (which indeed was the door of the house too) was left open for the benefit of the air, and as one of the forms where the girls were at work was placed on that side, they were many of them better disposed to watch the passing of a cart, or a wheel-barrow; or to attend the flight of birds, and butterflies, than to mind their works: and Mrs. Markall punished several of them, with a few strokes of a little cane, which lay on her table for that purpose.
After she had heard them read, they stood round her in a circle to spell; and those who were so negligent as to mistake, lost their place in the set, and exchanged with their more attentive companions. A precedency in the ring was coveted with great ardour, and encouraged a spirit of emulation among them, as to stand first, (which was my mistress’s distinction) was regarded as an acknowledgement of superior excellence. When they had finished their business, and the wished-for hour of twelve struck, from the church clock, which was very near Mrs. Markall’s house, they all made their rustic courtesies and bows to the Dame, and poured, like a swarm of summer flies, into the lane. The whole body of them stood a for a few moments to interchange their mutual salutations: when some divided to the right hand, and the other party to the left, which led to the church porch; where they seated themselves to be sheltered from the intense heat of the sun; and Jenny, with a smile of conscious satisfaction, produced me to her companions. Though she was anxious to display what she was so well pleased with herself, yet she began to be apprehensive for my safety, when the girls, with unpolished rudeness, all scrambled for a sight of her present at the same time. At last the two whole names were above-mentioned, pursued Polly Chaunt who was in possession of me, and after scuffling on the grass, till Nanny Hay knocked her head with great violence against one of the tomb stones, and Betsey sprained her wrist in trying to wrench me from Polly, she ran home with the prize with so much swiftness, as to outstrip all her competitors. What became of poor Jenny I cannot tell, nor how she bore the loss of me; but I could not help reflecting how much better it would have been, had these girls been sufficiently polite, to have each satisfied their own curiosity, and then have resigned me to the inspection of others. Whereas, by all eagerly snatching me at once, they dirted my outside, and pulled me quite out of shape; together with making them all very angry and foolishly commencing a quarrel, of which the first consequences were the wounds I have mentioned. Polly Chaunt, whose property I so unjustly became, was the daughter of the parish clerk. He was by trade a shoemaker, and had three children, two girls and a boy. His wife was a notable little woman, who took care of some poultry, pigs, and asses, which were allowed to feed upon a green before the house.
