22. Offences are Easily Pardoned Where There is Love at Bottom.
THE next morning I took my daughter behind me, and set out on
my return home. As we travelled along, I strove by every persuasion to
calm her sorrows and fears, and to arm her with resolution to bear the
presence of her offended mother. I took every opportunity, from the
prospect of a fine country, through which we passed, to observe how
much kinder Heaven was to us, than we to each other, and that the
misfortunes of nature's making were very few. I assured her that she
should never perceive any change in my affections, and that during my
life, which yet might be long, she might depend upon a guardian and an
instructor. I armed her against the censures of the world; showed her
that books were sweet, unreproaching companions to the miserable, and
that if they could not bring us to enjoy life, they would at least teach us
to endure it.
The hired horse that we rode was to be put up that night at an inn
by the way, within about five
miles from my house; and as I was willing to prepare
my family for my daughter's reception, I determined to leave her that
night at the inn, and I to return for her, accompanied by my daughter
Sophia, early the next morning. It was night before we reached our
appointed stage; however, after seeing her provided with a decent
apartment, and having ordered the hostess to prepare proper
refreshments, I kissed her, and proceeded towards home. And now my
heart caught new sensations of pleasure the nearer I approached that
peaceful mansion. As a bird that had been frightened f rom its nest, my
affections outwent my haste, and hovered round my little fireside with all
the rapture of expectation. I called up the many fond things I had to
say, and anticipated the welcome I was to receive. I already felt my
wife's tender embrace, and smiled at the joy of my little ones. As I
walked but slowly, the night waned apace. The laborers of the day were
all retired to rest; the lights were out in every cottage; no sounds were
heard but of the shrilling cock, and the deep-mouthed watch-dog at
hollow distance. I approached my little abode of pleasure, and before I
was within a furlong of the place, our honest mastiff came running to
welcome me.
It was now near midnight that I came to knock at my door; all was
still and silent; my heart dilated with unutterable happiness; when, to my
amazement, I saw the house bursting out in a blaze of fire, and every
aperture red with conflagration! I gave a loud con
vulsive outcry, and fell upon the pavement insensible. This alarmed my
son, who had till this been asleep, and he perceiving the flames instantly
waked my wife and daughter, and all running out naked and wild with
apprehension, recalled me to life with their anguish. But it was only to
objects of new terror; for the flames had by this time caught the roof of
our dwelling, part after part continuing to fall in, while the family stood
with silent agony looking on as if they enjoyed the blaze. I gazed upon
them and upon it by turns, and then looked round me for my two little
ones; but they were not to be seen. 0 misery! "Where," cried I, "where
are my little ones?"-"They are burnt to death in the flames," says my
wife, calmly, "and I will die with them." That moment I heard the cry of
the babes within, who were just awaked by the fire, and nothing could
have stopped me. "Where, where are my children?" cried I, rushing
through the flames, and bursting the door of the chamber in which they
were confined. "Where are my little ones?"-"Here, dear papa, here we
are," cried they, together, while the flames were just catching the bed
where they lay. I caught them both in my arms. and snatching them ran
through the fire as fast as possible, while just as I was got out, the roof
sunk in. "-Now," cried I, holding up my children, "now let the flames
burn on, and all my possessions perish. Here they are; I have saved
my treasure.
Here, my dearest, here are our treasures, and we shall
yet be happy." We kissed our little darlings a thousand
times, they clasped us round the neck, and seemed
to share our transports, while their mother laughed and wept by
turns.
I now stood a calm spectator of the flames, and after some time
began to perceive that my arm to the shoulder was scorched in a terrible
manner. It was, therefore, out of my power to give my son any
assistance, either in attempting to save our goods, or preventing the
flames spreading to our corn. By this time the neighbors were
alarmed, and came running to our assistance; but all they could do was
to stand, like us, spectators of the calamity. My goods, among which
were the notes I had reserved for my daughters' fortunes, were entirely
consumed, except a box with some papers that stood in the kitchen, and
two or three things more of little consequence, which my son brought
away in the beginning. The neighbors contributed, however, what they
could to lighten our distress. They brought us clothes, and furnished one
of our outhouses with kitchen utensils; so that by daylight we had
another, though a wretched dwelling, to retire to. My honest next
neighbor and his children were not the least assiduous in providing us
with everything necessary, and offering whatever consolation untutored
benevolence could suggest.
When the fears of my family had subsided, curiosity to know the
cause of my long stay began to take place; having, therefore, informed
them of every particular, I proceeded to prepare them for the reception
of our lost one, and though we had nothing but wretchedness now to
impart, I was willing to procure her a welcome
to what we had. This task would have been more diffi
cult but for our recent calamity, which had humbled my wife's pride and
blunted it by more poignant afflictions. Being unable to go for my
poor child myself, as my arm grew very painful, I sent my son and
daughter, who soon returned, supporting the wretched delinquent, who
had not the courage to look up at her mother, whom no instructions of
mine could persuade to a perfect reconciliation; for women have a much
stronger sense of female error than men. "Ah, madam," cried her
mother, "this is but a poor place you have come to after so much finery.
My daughter Sophy and I can afford but little entertainment to persons
who have kept company only with people of distinction. Yes, Miss
Livy, your poor father and I have suffered very much of late; but I hope
Heaven will forgive you." During this reception the unhappy victim
stood pale and trembling, unable to weep or to reply; but I could not
continue a silent spectator of her distress; wherefore assuming a degree
of severity in my voice and manner, which was ever followed with
instant submission: "I entreat, woman, that my words may be now
marked once for all; I have here brought you back a poor deluded
wanderer: her return to duty demands the revival of our tenderness.
The real hardships of life are now coming fast upon us; let us not,
therefore, increase them by dissension among each other. If we live
harmoniously together, we may yet
be contented, as there are enough of us to shut out the
censuring world and keep each other in countenance. The kindness of
Heaven is promised to the penitent, and let ours be directed by the
example. Heaven, we are assured, is much more pleased to view a
repentant sinner, than ninety-nine persons who have supported a course
of undeviating rectitude. And this is right; for that single effort by
which we stop short in the downhill path to perdition, is itself a greater
exertion of virtue than a hundred acts of justice."
