Samplers are got a little old-fashion- enable him to walk without limping; ed since then; but you may learn from but, being very vain, he had this high this account of mine, that in old times it was best to be humble, and that, however clever I might imagine myself to be, there were people in the world more clever than I was. O how I love to see an innocent, open-hearted girl, who thinks more humbly of herself than others think of her!-for the excellencies of the humble-minded give us pleasure, while we are displeased at those of the proud. Depend upon it, we are the most vain when we have the least reason to be so. If we were vain only of good actions and useful attainments, our vanity might be excused; but when a pretty face, a handsome dress, or a diamond ring, makes its possessor vain, she must indeed be very silly. If any of you possess beauty, it was bestowed upon you, and a day's sickness may destroy it. If you have a handsome dress, it was, in part, manufactured by the silkworm, or worn on the back of the silly sheep, or it grew unheeded in the field. If you possess a diamond, it was dug without your assistance from the bowels of the earth. What reason have you then to be vain? If you have no better things than these to be proud of, and yet are proud, again I say, that you must of necessity be very silly. A rich man who had one leg somewhat shorter than the other, ordered the heel of one of his shoes to be made thick enough to remedy the defect, and heel covered over with gold; thus did he not only render more conspicuous his bodily defect, but also the infirmity of his mind, by the exhibition of his vanity. It is not likely that any of you will ever think of having a golden heel to your shoe, even if you are so unfortunate as to be lame; but you must remember that vanity may be shown as much in other things as in high-heeled shoes; therefore, my dear girls, be on your guard, be humble, remembering, however clever you may be, that there are, no doubt, people in the world more clever than you are. To be vain of your dress is to manifest a weak mind. Let the dunghillcock strut about in all his plumage ;the swan arch her proud neck, and wave her white wings;-the turkey ruffle his fine feathers;--and the peacock expand his tail;-let them appear as proud as they please of their gay attire;-but do not, my dear girls, imitate the actions of a silly bird. To be vain of your person, is not only to be very silly, but to draw upon you the ill will of those who would otherwise be friendly disposed. Arabella Hawkins was a pretty little creature to gaze upon, but so insufferably vain that her vanity was even more conspicuous than her beauty. When about eighteen years of age, after attending an assembly, where she had attracted much attention by the splendour LETTER FROM AUNT NEWBURY. 69 of her dress, she received a note, and instances; but in almost all of them the opened it with the full expectation of vain person sinks in the estimation of finding therein some compliment ad- "Pretty bauble, glittering toy, Fair and soft as roses blown : "Though with health the bosom glows, others in the same proportion in which she rises in her own. When we see a broad squat figure, arrayed in a huge bear-skin tippet and monstrous muff ;the fingers of a coarse hand covered with diamond rings;-or an ugly person dressed foolishly fine; -our attention is fixed upon bodily defects that otherwise would not be noticed; and thus vanity proclaims what good sense might in part conceal. Not soon shall I forget my poor dear sister Margaret, as good and kind-hearted a creature as ever was born, but not without her fits of vanity. We were out together walking with a party, and my sister was very handsomely dressed in her green satin gown, a gold watch and seals hanging at her side. Gold watches were not so commonly worn in those days as they are now, and attracted more attention. I know not on what occasion it was, but a crowd of people were collected together, and we were obliged to pass through them. A gentleman of our party advised my sister to take care of her watch; but poor Margaret thinking to obtain a little more respect than others, by the exhibition of her finery, still left the watch hanging at her side. When we had passed the crowd, the first thing we observed was that my sister's watch had disappeared. Never did I see Margaret so cast down: all her attempts to keep up her spirits Vanity betrays itself in a thousand were in vain; and her vanity cost her Thou art filled with feign'd alarms ? "Spurn the mirror-tutor'd feature, Beam reflected from thy face. "Though thy wiles escape detection; an unhappy evening and a sleepless fied for our pains, and be convinced that night. Nor was it till twelve o'clock there are in the world people more clever the next day that she recovered her than we are. usual good temper; for then a small parcel arrived, containing her gold watch, and a slip of paper on which was written, "She who would wear a watch, this she should do, HINDOO CUSTOMS. THE FAIR [The following curious story of Eastern customs, was found in an old paper; but we have reason to believe it to be Pocket her watch-and watch her pocket true.] too." This trick had been put upon my sister by one of our party, as a punishment for the vanity she had displayed, and to convince her of the advantage of being humble. I grant you that a person may be clever, and possess many good qualities, and yet be vain; for vanity is oftentimes the very motive that excites a person to excel: but, if a clever person who is vain is thought well of by us, how much better should we think of her if she were clever without being vain! Humility makes merit more meritorious; while vanity lowers it in our estimation. If you have not beauty, good temper, and information, vanity will not give you these qualifications; and if you possess them, the addition of vanity will only make you ridiculous. Come then, let us all make up our minds to be humble; for, after what I have said, I think you will readily admit that we have no great reason to be proud. We may hold up our heads, and give ourselves airs in passing through life; but so surely as we do this shall we be morti On the confines of Europe and Asia, and near the Wolga, is situated the miserable village of Makerief, celebrated for the great fair which is held there in July every year. There we find assembled people of all nations, and merchandise of every description. Among the most remarkable articles for sale, and perhaps the most interesting to the ladies of Europe, must be mentioned the Shawls of Cashmere. One of my friends, having had an opportunity of attending as a witness at the purchase of a parcel of these manufactures, has given me an account of the transaction, which appears so curious that I think the detail will be amusing. The conclusion of a bargain for shawls always takes place before witnesses.Having been asked to attend in that capacity, I went to the fair with the purchaser, the other witness, and a broker, who was an Armenian. We stopped at a miserable house, which was, however, the abode of a rich Hindoo, and being ushered into the cellar, beheld eighty large packages piled against the wall, -parcels of the most HINDOO CUSTOMS. THE FAIR. 71 valuable shawls are sold without the is performed in the most grotesque manpurchaser seeing any more than the out- ner. The brokers seize upon the seller side of them; yet he buys by a descriptive catalogue procured by the broker from Cashmere. He and his witnesses and brokers, (for he sometimes has two,) all sit down. He does not, however, say a word; every thing being managed by the brokers, who go continually from him to the seller, whispering in his ear, and taking him to the farthest corner of the cellar. This negotiation is continued till the price first asked is so far reduced, that the difference between that and the price offered is not too great; so that hopes may be entertained of coming to an agreement. The shawls are now brought and the two principals begin to negotiate. The seller displays his merchandise and extols it highly; the buyer looks upon it with contempt, and rapidly compares the marks and numbers. This being done, the scene becomes animated; the purchaser makes a direct offer, the seller rises as if to go away. The brokers follow him crying aloud and bringing him back by force; they contend and struggle; one pulls one way, and one the other; it is a noise and confusion of which it is difficult to form an idea. The poor Hindoo acts the most passive part; he is sometimes even ill-treated. When this has continued some time and they think they have persuaded him, they proceed to the third act, which consists of giving the hand; and and endeavour by force to make him put his hand into that of the purchaser, who holds it open for the purpose and repeats his offer with a loud voice. The Hindoo defends himself; he makes resistance; disengages himself, and wraps up his hand in the wide sleeves of his robe, and repeats his first price in a lamentable voice. This comedy continues a considerable time; they separate; they make a pause, as if to recover strength for a new contest; -the noise and struggling recommence:-at last the two brokers seize the hand of the seller, and notwithstanding all his efforts and cries, oblige him to lay it in the hand of the buyer. All at once the greatest tranquillity prevails: the Hindoo is ready to weep, and laments in a low voice that he has been too hasty. The brokers congratulate the purchaser; they sit down and proceed to the final ceremony-the delivery of the goods. All that has passed is mere comedy ; it is however indispensable; because the Hindoo will by all means have the appearance of having been deceived and duped. If he has not been sufficiently pushed about and shaken, if he has not had his collar torn, if he has not received the full complement of punches in the ribs and knocks on the head, if his arm is not black and blue from being held fast to make him give his hand to the buyer, he repents of his bargain till the next fair when it is very difficult to down to pray. My prayer was fervent make him give his hand on any terms. and sincere. I prayed Heaven to be In the above affair the Hindoo de- pleased to cure the women of Europe, manded 230,000 roubles, and came down as soon as possible of their extravagant to 180,000, A new dispute arose about fondness for this article of luxury. We the time of payment, which however be- then separated, and each went his way. ing finally settled, the whole party knelt It is brought from the pits, which are large, And all, when the sharp cold of Winter pre To the surface in buckets-then laid in a May gratefully think of the coal fields of heap, And all who live near them may hasten to buy, Wales. Rhymes for my Children. |
