Lydia.
But to have every body know how naughty one is——
Mamma.
You seldom do wrong without being observed by somebody, and generally by more persons than you are aware of.—I speak after the common manner of speaking.—But to be more serious, there is a constant witness, Lydia—
Lydia.
I know, Mamma—God always sees me.
Mamma.
And is He not more to be feared than all the world put together? both because He is more able to punish you, and because, as He is the greatest of beings, it is more disgrace to appear dishonourable in His sight than in that of all the creatures He has made. But that is not all; you seem to dread that “Every body should know how naughty you are.”—Be careful then. There will come a day when all the men that ever were in the world, and all the angels that are in heaven, will be assembled together: and all those who have been wicked will have their sins proclaimed before this assembled multitude, and be disgraced before them all. Beware then, my child, of real offences, and watch now so continually over your behaviour, that, by correcting, while you are so young, all your little faults, you may be happily preserved from falling into such serious ones as will cover you with shame and confusion at that awful day.
Here they were interrupted by the arrival of all the company; but her mother’s words sunk deep into Miss Lydia’s mind, and from that time she was doubly careful of all her behaviour. During the whole fortnight that the company staid, she had no cause to regret the journal’s being produced. From that time, it was very seldom that any error of consequence was mentioned in it.
After having gotten the better of some bad habits she had contracted, she daily, by an attention to her Mamma’s advice, improved in every grace and accomplishment. The good-will with which she, applied to her different tasks, occasioned her making a great progress in them: and her constant good-humour and composedness of temper made her look always pretty and engaging. Her Mamma was so charmed with the sweetness of her behaviour, which was free from all noise, rudeness, or turbulence, that she studied every way in her power to indulge and gratify her; and if ever she was refused any thing, she knew it was because it was not fit for her; and, therefore, never asked nor wished about it again.