The Governess [The Little Female Academy]
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Sarah Fielding >> The Governess [The Little Female Academy]
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Fidus, Amata, and the little Mignon, hesitated not one moment to
declare their choice of staying with the generous Benefico.
The nuptials of the faithful Fidus, and his loved Amata, were
solemnized in the presence of all their friends.
Benefico passed the remainder of his days in pleasing reflections
on his well-spent life.
The treasures of the dead tyrant were turned into blessings by the
use they were now made of: little Mignon was loved and cherished
by all his companions. Peace, harmony and love reigned in every
bosom; dissension, discord, and hatred were banished from this
friendly dwelling; and that happiness, which is the natural
consequence of goodness, appeared in every cheerful countenance
throughout the castle of the good Benefico; and as heretofore
affright and terror spread itself from the monster's hateful cave,
so now from this peaceful castle was diffused tranquility and joy
through all the happy country round.
Thus ended the story of the two giants: and Miss Jenny being
tired with reading, they left the arbour for that night, and
agreed to meet there again the next day.
As soon as they had supped, Mrs. Teachum sent for Miss Jenny Peace
into her closet, and desired an exact account from her of this
their first day's amusement, that she might judge from thence how
far they might be trusted with the liberty she had given them.
Miss Jenny showed her governess the story she had read;and said,
'I hope, madam, you will not think it an improper one; for it was
given me by my mamma; and she told me, that she thought it
contained a very excellent moral.'
Mrs. Teachum, having looked it over, thus spoke: 'I have no
objection, Miss Jenny, to your reading any stories to amuse you,
provided you read them with the proper disposition of mind not to
be hurt by them. A very good moral may indeed be drawn from the
whole, and likewise from almost every part of it; and as you had
this story from your mamma, I doubt not but you are very well
qualified to make the proper remarks yourself upon the moral of it
to your companions. But here let me observe to you (which I would
have you communicate to your little friends) that giants, magic,
fairies, and all sorts of supernatural assistances in a story, are
only introduced to amuse and divert: for a giant is called so
only to express a man of great power; and the magic fillet round
the statue was intended only to show you, that by patience you
will overcome all difficulties. Therefore, by no means let the
notion of giants or magic dwell upon your minds. And you may
farther observe, that there is a different style adapted to every
sort of writing; and the various sounding epithets given to
Barbarico are proper to express the raging cruelty of his wicked
mind. But neither this high-sounding language, nor the
supernatural contrivances in this story, do I so thoroughly
approve, as to recommend them much to your reading; except, as I
said before, great care is taken to prevent your being carried
away, by these high-flown things, from that simplicity of taste
and manners which it is my chief study to inculcate.'
Here Miss Jenny looked a little confounded; and, by her down-cast
eye, showed a fear that she had incurred the disapprobation, if
not the displeasure, of her governess: upon which Mrs. Teachum
thus proceeded:
'I do not intend by this, my dear, to blame you for what you have
done; but only to instruct you how to make the best use of even
the most trifling things: and if you have any more stories of
this kind, with an equal good moral, when you are not better
employed, I shall not be against your reading them; always
remembering the cautions I have this evening been giving you.'
Miss Jenny thanked her governess for her instructions, and kind
indulgence to her, and promised to give her an exact account of
their daily amusements; and, taking leave, retired to her rest.
TUESDAY.
THE SECOND DAY.
That Miss Jenny's meeting with her companions in the morning,
after school, she asked them how they liked the history of the
giants? They all declared they thought it a very pretty diverting
story. Miss Jenny replied, though she was glad they were pleased,
yet she would have them look farther than the present amusement:
'for,' continued she, 'my mamma always taught me to understand what
I read; otherwise, she said, it was to no manner of purpose to read
ever so many books, which would only stuff my brain, without being
any improvement to my mind.'
The misses all agreed, that certainly it was of no use to read,
without understanding what they read; and began to talk of the
story of the giants, to prove they could make just remarks on it.
Miss Sukey Jennett said, 'I am most pleased with that part of the
story where the good Benefico cuts off the monster's head, and
puts an end to his cruelty, especially as he was so sullen he
would not confess his wickedness; because, you know, Miss Jenny,
if he had had sense enough to have owned his error, and have
followed the example of the good giant, he might have been happy.'
Miss Lucy Sly delivered the following opinion: 'My greatest joy
was whilst Mignon was tying the magic fillet round the monster's
neck, and conquering him.'
'Now I (said Miss Dolly Friendly) am most pleased with that part
of the story, were Fidus and Amata meet the reward of their
constancy and love, when they find each other after all their
sufferings.'
Miss Polly Suckling said, with some eagerness, 'My greatest joy
was in the description of Mignon; and to think that it should be
in the power of that little creature to conquer such a great
monster.'
Miss Patty Lockit, Miss Nanny Spruce, Miss Betty Ford, and Miss
Henny Fret, advanced no new opinions; but agreed some to one, and
some to another, of those that were already advanced. And as
every one was eager to maintain her own opinion, an argument
followed, the particulars of which I could never learn: only thus
much I know, that it was concluded by Miss Lucy Sly, saying, with
an air and tone of voice that implied more anger than had been
heard since the reconciliation, that she was sure Miss Polly
Suckling only liked that part about Mignon, because she was the
least in the school; and Mignon being such a little creature, put
her in mind of herself.
Miss Jenny Peace now began to be frighted, lest this contention
should raise another quarrel; and therefore begged to be heard
before they went any farther. They were not yet angry enough to
refuse hearing what she had to say: and then Miss Jenny desired
them to consider the moral of the story, and what use they might
make of it, instead of contending which was the prettiest part:
'For otherwise,' continued she, 'I have lost my breath in reading
to you; and you will be worse, rather than better, for what you
have heard. Pray observe, that Benefico's happiness arose entirely
from his goodness: he had less strength, and less riches, than
the cruel monster; and yet, by the good use he made of what he
possessed, you see how he turned all things to his advantage. But
particularly remember, that the good little Mignon, in the moment
that he was patiently submitting to his sufferings, found a method
of relieving himself from them, and of overcoming a barbarous
monster, who had so cruelly abused him.
'Our good governess last night not only instructed me in this
moral I am now communicating to you, but likewise bid me warn you
by no means to let the notion of giants or magic to dwell upon
your minds; for by a giant is meant no more than a man of great
power; and the magic fillet round the head of the statue was only
intended to teach you, that by the assistance of patience you may
overcome all difficulties.
'In order therefore to make what you read of any use to you, you
must not only think of it thus in general, but make the
application to yourselves. For when (as now) instead of improving
yourselves by reading, you make what you read a subject to quarrel
about, what is this less than being like the monster Barbarico,
who turned his very riches to a curse? I am sure it is not
following the example of Benefico, who made everything a blessing
to him. Remember, if you pinch and abuse a dog or cat, because it
is in your power, you are like the cruel Monster, when he abused
the little Mignon, and said,
I am a giant, and I can eat thee;
Thou art a dwarf, and thou canst not eat me.
'In short, if you will reap any benefit from this story towards
rendering you happy, whenever you have any power, you must follow
the example of the giant Benefico, and do good with it: and when
you are under any sufferings, like Mignon, you must patiently
endure them till you can find a remedy: then, in one case, like
Benefico, you will enjoy what you possess; and, in the other, you
will in time, like Mignon, overcome your sufferings: for the
natural consequence of indulging cruelty and revenge in the mind,
even where there is the highest power to gratify it, is misery.'
Here Miss Sukey Jennet interrupted Miss Jenny, saying, that she
herself had experienced the truth of that observation in the
former part of her life: for she never had known either peace or
pleasure, till she had conquered in her mind the desire of hurting
and being revenged on those who she thought did not by their
behaviour show the same regard for her, that her own good opinion
of herself made her think she deserved. Miss Jenny then asked
her, if she was willing to lead the way to the rest of her
companions, by telling her past life? She answered, she would do
it with all her heart; and, by having so many and great faults to
confess, she hoped she should, by her true confessions, set them
an example of honesty and ingenuity.
THE DESCRIPTION OF MISS SUKEY JENNETT.
Miss Sukey Jennett, who was next in years to Miss Jenny Peace, was
not quite twelve years old; but so very tall of her age, that she
was within a trifle as tall as Miss Jenny Peace; and, by growing so
fast, was much thinner: and though she was not really so well
made, yet, from an assured air in her manner of carrying herself,
she was called much the genteelest girl. There was, on first view,
a great resemblance in their persons. Her face was very handsome,
and her complexion extremely good; but a little more inclined to
pale than Miss Jenny's. Her eyes were a degree darker, and had a
life and fire in them which was very beautiful: but yet her
impatience on the least contradiction often brought a fierceness
into her eyes, and gave such a discomposure to her whole
countenance, as immediately took off your admiration. But her
eyes had now, since her hearty reconciliation with her companions,
lost a great part of their fierceness; and with great mildness,
and an obliging manner, she told her story as follows:
THE LIFE OF MISS SUKEY JENNETT.
'My mamma died when I was so young that I cannot remember her; and
my papa marrying again within half a year after her death, I was
chiefly left to the care of an old servant, that had lived many
years in the family. I was a great favourite of hers, and in
everything had my own way. When I was but four years old, if ever
anything crossed me, I was taught to beat it, and be revenged of
it, even though it could not feel. If I fell down and hurt
myself, the very ground was to be beat for hurting the sweet
child: so that, instead of fearing to fall, I did not dislike it;
for I was pleased to find, that I was of such consequence, that
everything was to take care that I came by no harm.
'I had a little playfellow, in a child of one of my papa's
servants, who was to be entirely under my command. This girl I
used to abuse and beat, whenever I was out of humour; and when I
had abused her, if she dared to grumble, or make the least
complaint, I thought it the greatest impudence in the world; and,
instead of mending my behaviour to her, I grew very angry that she
should dare to dispute my power: for my governess always told
her, that she was but a servant's girl, and I was a gentleman's
daughter; and that therefore she ought to give way to me; for that
I did her great honour in playing with her. Thus I thought the
distance between us was so great, that I never considered that she
could feel: but whilst I myself suffered nothing, I fancied
everything was very right; and it never once came into my head,
that I could be in the wrong.
'This life I led till I came to school, when I was eleven years
old. Here I had nobody in my power; for all my schoolfellows
thought themselves my equals: so that I could only quarrel,
fight, and contend for everything: but being liable to be
punished, when I was trying to be revenged on any of my enemies,
as I thought them, I never had a moment's ease or pleasure, till
Miss Jenny was so good to take the pains to convince me of my
folly, and made me be reconciled to you, my dear companions.'
Here Miss Sukey ceased; and Miss Jenny smiled with pleasure, at
the thoughts that she had been the cause of her happiness.
Mrs. Teachum being now come into the arbour, to see in what manner
her little scholars passed their time, they all rose up and do her
reverence. Miss Jenny gave her an account how they had been
employed; and she was much pleased with their innocent and useful
entertainment; but especially with the method they had found out
of relating their past lives. She took little Polly Suckling by
the hand, and bidding the rest follow, it being now dinner time,
she walked towards the house, attended by the whole company.
Mrs. Teachum had a great inclination to hear the history of the
lives of all her little scholars: but she thought, that being
present at those relations might be a balk to the narration, as
perhaps they might be ashamed freely to confess their past faults
before her; and therefore, that she might not be any bar in this
case to the freedom of their speech, and yet might be acquainted
with their stories (though this was not merely a vain curiosity,
but a desire by this means to know their different dispositions),
she called Miss Jenny Peace to her parlour after dinner, and told
her, she would have her get the lives of her companions in
writing, and bring them to her; and Miss Jenny readily promised to
obey her commands.
In the evening our little company again met in their charming
arbour; where they were no sooner seated, with that calmness and
content which now always attended them, than the cries and sobs of
a child, at a little distance from their garden, disturbed their
tranquility.
Miss Jenny, ever ready to relieve the distressed, ran immediately
to the place whence the sound seemed to come, and was followed by
all her companions: when, at a small distance from Mrs. Teachum's
garden-wall, over which from the terrace our young company looked,
they saw, under a large spreading tree, part of the branches of
which shaded a seat at the end of that terrace, a middle-aged
woman beating a little girl, who looked to be about eight years
old, so severely, that it was no wonder her cries had reached
their arbour.
Miss Jenny could not forbear calling out to the woman, and begging
her to forbear: and little Polly Suckling cried as much as the
girl, and desired she might not be beat any more. The woman, in
respect to them, let the child go; but said, 'Indeed, young
ladies, you don't know what a naughty girl she is: for though you
now see me correct her in this manner, yet am I in all respects
very kind to her, and never strike her but for lying. I have
tried all means, good and bad, to break her of this vile fault;
but hitherto all I have done has been in vain: nor can I ever get
one word of truth out of her mouth. But I am resolved to break
her of this horrid custom, or I cannot live with her: for though
I am but poor, yet I will breed up my child to be honest, both in
word and deed.'
Miss Jenny could not but approve of what the poor woman said.
However, they all joined in begging forgiveness for the girl this
time, provided she promised amendment for the future: and then
our little society returned to their arbour.
Miss Jenny could not help expressing her great detestation of all
lying whatsoever; when Miss Dolly Friendly, colouring, confessed
she had often been guilty of this fault, though she never scarcely
did it but for her friend.
Here Miss Jenny, interrupting her, said, that even that was no
sort of excuse for lying; besides that the habit of it on any
occasion, even with the appearance of a good intention, would but
too likely lead to the use of it on many others: and as she did
not doubt, by Miss Dolly's blushing, that she was now very
sensible of the truth of what she had just been saying, she hoped
she would take this opportunity of obliging them with the history
of her past life: which request she made no hesitation to grant,
saying, the shame of her past faults should by o means induce her
to conceal them.
THE DESCRIPTION OF MISS DOLLY FRIENDLY.
Miss Dolly Friendly was just turned of eleven years of age. Her
person was neither plain nor handsome: and though she had not
what is properly called one fine feature in her face, yet the
disposition of them were so suitable to each other, that her
countenance was rather agreeable than otherwise. She had
generally something very quiet, or rather indolent, in her look,
except when she was moved by anger; which seldom happened, but in
defense of some favourite or friend; and she had then a fierceness
and eagerness which altered her whole countenance: for she could
not bear the least reflection or insult on those she loved. This
disposition made her always eager to comply with her friends'
requests; and she immediately began, as follows:
THE LIFE OF MISS DOLLY FRIENDLY.
'I was bred up, till I was nine years of age, with a sister, who
was one year younger than myself. The chief care of our parents
was to make us love each other; and, as I was naturally inclined
to have very strong affections, I became so fond of my sister
Molly, which was her name, that all my delight was to please her;
and this I carried to such a height, that I scrupled no lies to
excuse her faults: and whatever she did, I justified, and thought
right, only because she did it.
'I was ready to fight her quarrels, whether right or wrong; and
hated everybody that offended her. My parents winked at whatever
I did in defence of my sister; and I had no notion that any thing
done for her could be unreasonable. In short, I made it my study
to oblige and please her, till I found at last it was out of my
power; for she grew so very humoursome, that she could not find
out what she had most mind to have; and I found her always
miserable; for she would cry only because she did not know her own
mind.
'She never minded what faults she committed, because she knew I
would excuse her; and she was forgiven in consideration of our
friendship, which gave our parents great pleasure.
'My poor little sister grew very sickly, and she died just before
I came to school: but the same disposition still continued; and
it was my friend's outcries of being hurt, that drew me into that
odious quarrel, that we have all now repented.'
Here Miss Dolly Friendly ceased; and Miss Jenny said, she hoped
Miss Dolly would remember, for the rest of her life, what HER good
mamma had always taught her; namely, that it was not the office of
friendship, to justify or excuse our friend when in the wrong; for
that was the way to prevent their ever being in the right: that
it was rather hatred, or contempt, than love, when the fear of
another's anger made us forego their good, for the sake of our own
present pleasure; and that the friends who expected such flattery
were not worth keeping.
The bell again summoned our little company to supper: but, before
they went in, Miss Dolly Friendly said, if Miss Jenny approved of
it, she would the next morning read them a story given her by an
uncle of hers, that, she said, she was sure would please her, as
its subject was friendship. Miss Jenny replied, that she was
certain it would be a great pleasure to them all, to hear any
story Miss Dolly thought proper to read them.
WEDNESDAY.
THE THIRD DAY.
As soon as school was over in the morning, our little company were
impatient to go into the arbour, to hear Miss Dolly's story: but
Mrs. Teachum told them they must be otherwise employed; for their
writing-master, who lived some miles off; and who was expected in
the afternoon, was just then come in, and begged that they would
give him their attendance, though out of school-time; because he
was obliged to be at home again before the afternoon, to meet a
person who would confer some favour on him, and would be highly
disobliged should he not keep his appointment: 'And I know (said
Mrs. Teachum) my little dears, you would rather lose your own
amusement, than let any one suffer a real inconvenience on your
accounts.' They all readily complied, and cheerfully set to their
writing; and in the afternoon Mrs. Teachum permitted them to leave
off work an hour sooner than usual, as a reward for their
readiness to lose their amusement in the morning: and being met
in their arbour, Miss Dolly read as follows:
THE STORY OF CAELIA AND CHLOE.
Caelia and Chloe were both left orphans, at the tender age of six
years. Amanda their aunt, who was very rich, and a maiden, took
them directly under her care, and bred them up as her own
children. Caelia's mother was Amanda's sister; and Chloe's father
was her brother; so that she was equally related to both.
They were left entirely unprovided for; were both born on the same
day; and both lost their mothers on the day of their birth: their
fathers were soldiers of fortune; and both killed in one day, in
the fame engagement. But their fortunes were not more similar
than their persons and dispositions. They were both extremely
handsome; and in their Childhood were so remarkable for liveliness
of parts, and sweetness of temper, that they were the admiration
of the whole country where they lived.
Their aunt loved them with a sincere and equal affection, and took
the greatest pleasure imaginable in their education, and
particularly to encourage that love and friendship which she with
pleasure perceived between them. Amanda being (as was said) very
rich, and having no other relations, it was supposed that these
her nieces would be very great fortunes; and as soon as they
became women, they were addressed by all the men of fortune and no
fortune round the neighbourhood. But as the love of admiration,
and a desire of a large train of admirers, had no place in their
minds, they soon dismissed, in the most civil and obliging manner,
one after another, all these lovers.
The refusing such numbers of men, and some such as by the world
were called good offers, soon got them the name of jilts; and by
that means they were freed from any farther importunity, and for
some years enjoyed that peace and quiet they had long wished.
Their aunt, from being their mother and their guardian, was now
become their friend. For, as she endeavoured not in the least to
force their inclinations, they never kept anything concealed from
her; and every action of their lives was still guided by her
advice and approbation.
They lived on in this way, perfectly happy in their own little
community, till they were about two-and-twenty years old when
there happened to be a regiment quartered in the neighbouring
town, to which their house was nearly situated; and the
lieutenant-colonel, a man about four-and-thirty years old, hearing
their names, had a great desire to see them. For when he was a
boy of sixteen, he was put into the Army under the care of Chloe's
father, who treated him with the greatest tenderness; and (in that
fatal engagement in which he lost his life) received his death's
wound by endeavouring to save him from being taken by the enemy.
And gratitude to the memory of so good a friend was as great an
inducement to make him desire to see his daughter, as the report
he had heard both of hers and her cousin's great beauty.
Sempronius (for so this Colonel was called) was a very sensible,
well-bred, agreeable man; and from the circumstances of his former
acquaintance, and his present proper and polite behaviour, he soon
became very intimate in the family. The old lady was particularly
pleased with him; and secretly wished, that before she died she
might be so happy as to see one of her nieces married to
Sempronius. She could not from his behaviour see the least
particular liking to either, though he showed an equal and very
great esteem and regard for both.
He in reality liked them both extremely; and the reason of making
no declaration of love was, his being so undetermined in any
preference that was due to either. He saw plainly that he was
very agreeable to both; and with pleasure he observed, that they
made use of none of those arts which women generally do to get
away a disputed lover: and this sincere friendship which
subsisted between them raised in him the highest degree of love
and admiration. However he at last determined to make the
following trial:
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