A Week of Instruction and Amusement Part 6

_The Advantages of Truth._

George Elliot the son of a respectable gentleman, had been paying a visit to his uncle, and on his return home, was accompanied by one of his cousins, who was to spend a few months with him at Hartley, Mr. Elliot's country residence.

George was a boy of a frank and generous disposition, and good abilities; these being cultivated by a careful education, made him at the age of eleven years, a well-informed and agreeable boy. Charles Morden his cousin, was much his inferior in every respect. Accustomed to excessive indulgence, he became fretful and idle, and often entered into mischief, for the sake of having _something to do_; his parents so plentifully supplied him with play-things, that he was consequently tired of every thing he possessed, and only desirous of what was in expectation; nay, worse, for to obtain any particular gratification, he would not scruple making use of falshood. Such was the boy, now unfortunately the constant companion of George Elliot.

Mr. Elliot indulged his son in every innocent amus.e.m.e.nt proper for his age, but loved him too well to suffer his faults to pa.s.s unnoticed.

George had been long anxious for a poney, and as soon as a proper one could be purchased, his father presented it to him, and often allowed him to ride out, either accompanied by himself or a servant, but particularly forbade him from ever mounting any other horse in the stables, telling him at the same time, the many fatal accidents that had occurred, owing to boys attempting to ride horses they were unable to manage. George promised obedience, and had strictly adhered to his word.

It was settled that Charles was to share the studies, as well as the amus.e.m.e.nts of his cousin, and the gentleman to whose care George's education was confided, paid equal attention to both, though he soon perceived that Charles had little delight in useful occupations: and he was always glad of some excuse that might save him the trouble of attending Mr. Darford, and laughed at George for being always _f.a.gging_ as he called it.

About two months after his son's return, Mr. Elliot was obliged by some business of importance, to take a journey that he thought might detain him about a fortnight from home. He embraced the children at parting, desired them to behave well, and at his return they should be rewarded.

For the first week after Mr. Elliot's departure, the boys were so good, and their tutor so well pleased with their conduct, that one fine day he gave them a holiday, telling them, that provided they avoided all mischievous amus.e.m.e.nts they were at liberty to spend the day in any manner most agreeable to themselves.--During several hours, they were employed in catching their b.a.l.l.s, flying their kites, working in the garden, &c. At length, Charles seeing a little boy going by on horseback, said he should like nothing so well as a nice ride before dinner. "Nor I neither," answered George, "but you know it is impossible, my father having expressly forbidden us to ride out alone during his absence. Mr. Darford is not at home, and I know that all the men are busy." "What does that signify?" returned Charles, "we are surely old enough to take care of ourselves, and as to my uncle, he will never know any thing of the matter."

George was at first quite shocked at the idea of disobeying his father, but he at last suffered himself to be persuaded by the artful entreaties of his cousin, to do what he knew to be wrong. They went to the stables, where George took out his own little poney, and Charles one of his uncle's large horses, a.s.suring his cousin that he could manage it very well. At their first setting out, they agreed not to go far from home, only just to ride round the paddock; the pleasantness of the weather, however, soon tempted them to alter their resolution, and they ventured into the high road. They went on very well for some time, and were just thinking of returning, when Charles's horse took fright at some object on the side of the road, and by a sudden start threw his rider; he was not much hurt by the fall, but the horse galloped away, and they soon lost all trace of the way he took: after wasting some time in fruitless endeavours to follow him, they were obliged to return home.

George was very uneasy, and bitterly repented the fault he had committed. "O Charles," cried he, "why did you ask me to disobey my father! Alas! I fear he will never forgive me."

"Don't cry so, pray," answered his cousin, "come, follow my advice, and this affair will never be discovered."--"How can that be? you surely forget the horse is lost, and besides, I would not upon any account tell an untruth." "You are very foolish then, let me tell you; for as n.o.body saw us go out, if we deny knowing any thing about the horse, we shall never be suspected."

"No, Charles, that I will never do; I had rather suffer the severest punishment that could be inflicted upon me, than tell a _lie_. Nothing shall induce me to add to the fault I have already committed. When my father comes home, I will confess what I have done, and rely upon his indulgence for pardoning a disobedience I so sincerely repent."

"Well then," said Charles, "if you will not follow my advice, at least you have no occasion to say it was I who persuaded you to take out the horses."--"I shall not even mention your name: but come, let us waste no more time, in regretting an action that cannot be recalled, we had better try by our future conduct, to make some reparation for the past."--So saying, he took his cousin by the arm, and they were together leaving the room, when Mr. Elliot entered. The young lads drew back in dismay; Mr. Elliot ran to embrace his son. "You see me here, my dear boy, sooner than you expected; but fortunately the business that called me hence, was concluded much earlier than I could have imagined." Some few minutes had elapsed, before George could gain courage to answer his father, at length he said, "you are convinced, my dear sir, that your company has always given me pleasure, but to day it causes me pain, for I have just been guilty of a fault that will I fear deprive me of your confidence." George here related to his father, all that had pa.s.sed, except carefully concealing the part his cousin had acted; when he had finished, Mr. Elliot thus addressed him, "I am charmed with your n.o.ble conduct, my dear boy, and most willingly forgive the error you have committed, because I believe your repentance to be sincere, and am convinced you have told me the exact truth. Listen, now, to the consequences that would have ensued, had you concealed it: I was in the adjoining apartment, and heard the whole conversation that pa.s.sed between yourself and Charles; so, had you, as he wickedly advised, had recourse to a falsehood, it would not have deceived _me_, but only have proved that _you_ were unworthy my care and affection: whereas, I now rejoice in the virtuous resolution of a son thus rendered dearer to me than ever. Always speak the _truth_, and be a.s.sured it is the easiest and surest way of extricating yourself from every difficulty.--As for you, Sir," continued Mr. Elliot turning to Charles, "I shall not take the trouble of punis.h.i.+ng the meanness and depravity of your conduct, because I fear that any punishment I could inflict, would have little effect on a _liar_: I shall immediately send you back to your parents, with an account of this day's transactions, at the same time advising them to find some place far distant from all who belong to you, and where, under a severe discipline, you may be made to repent of your wickedness, and I hope in time recalled to that virtuous conduct from which you have now so miserably erred."

Mr. Elliot then taking his son by the hand led him out of the parlour, and left Charles at leisure to reflect on the sad consequences of a habit of lying.

This story being finished, Mrs. Harley said, it is not necessary my dear Anne, that I should comment on the subject of which you have been reading; the advantages arising from a strict adherence to truth are too obvious not to be immediately perceived, and I trust, from the principles I have always endeavoured to instil into your young mind, that you will ever prefer the fair and open path she points out, to the intricate labyrinths of despicable falshood.

_Anne._ Indeed, mamma, if ever I should be tempted to tell an untruth, I will think of this story, and then, I am sure I shall reject it, even though I were certain it would remain undiscovered.

_Mrs. Harley._ Do not imagine _that_ would ever be the case, as it is impossible for children, however artful, long to dissemble their actions or even thoughts from persons interested about them.

I will now conclude my account of Europe.

FIFTH LESSON.

_Mrs. Harley._ I ended yesterday, I think, with the European islands.--I will now tell you the princ.i.p.al seas which surround Europe--the sea of Asoph, the Euxine or Black Sea, the Archipelago or Grecian Sea, are between Europe and Asia--the Mediterranean between Europe and Africa--the Atlantic Ocean between Europe and America--the German Ocean or North Sea between Britain and Germany--the Icy Ocean on the North, and the White Sea in Russia.

The princ.i.p.al straits are, the Straits of Caffa between the Sea of Asoph and the Black Sea--the Bosphorus, or Straits of Constantinople between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmora--the h.e.l.lespont between the Sea of Marmora and the Archipelago--the Faro of Messina between Italy and Sicily--the Straits of Bonifacio between Corsica and Sardinia--the Straits of Gibraltar between Barbary and Spain--the Straits of Dover between England and France--the Sound in the Baltic between Denmark and Sweden.

The princ.i.p.al gulfs and bays are, the Gulf of Bothnia in Sweden--the Gulf of Finland between Sweden and Russia--the Bay of Biscay between France and Spain--the Gulf of Venice between Italy and Turkey.

The princ.i.p.al rivers are, the Wolga--the Don or Tanais--and the Boristhenes or Dnieper in Russia--the Thames and the Severn in England--the Danube, the Rhine, and the Elbe in Germany--the Vistula or Wesil in Poland--the Loire, the Seine, the Rhine, and the Garonne in France--the Ebro, the Tagus, and the Douro in Spain--the Po in Italy.

The chief lakes are Ladoga and Onega in Russia--Windermere in England, Lough Neagh in Ireland, and Loch Lomond in Scotland--Lake of Geneva between Swisserland and Italy--Lake of Constance between Swisserland and Germany--Lakes of Como and Maggiore in Italy.

The chief mountains are, the Dofre-field between Norway and Sweden--the Cheviot Hills in Scotland--Plinlimmon in Wales--the Peak in Derbys.h.i.+re in England--the Carpathian mountains between Poland and Hungary--the Pyrenean mountains between France and Spain--the Alps which divide France and Germany from Italy--the Apennines which run through Italy from North to South.

Besides these, there are several volcanos in Europe, Vesuvius in Naples--Stromboli one of the Lipari isles--Etna in Sicily, and Hecla in Iceland.

_Anne._ Thank you, mamma, I will look for all of them in the map; but pray before you leave Europe tell me something more of our own country.

_Mrs. Harley._ England, my dear, is bounded on the north by Scotland, on the east by the German Ocean, on the south by the British Channel, and on the west by the Irish sea, and St. George's Channel. It is divided into 52 counties, 40 in England and 12 in Wales. The 40 English counties are

6 IN THE NORTH.

_Counties._ _Chief Towns._

Northumberland Newcastle.

c.u.mberland Carlisle Durham Durham Westmoreland Kendal Yorks.h.i.+re York Lancas.h.i.+re Lancaster.

6 IN THE EAST.

Norfolk Norwich Suffolk Ipswich Ess.e.x Chelmsford Middles.e.x London Hertfords.h.i.+re Hertford Cambridges.h.i.+re Cambridge.

6 IN THE SOUTH.

Kent Canterbury Suss.e.x Chichester Surry Guildford Hamps.h.i.+re Winchester Berks.h.i.+re Reading Wilts.h.i.+re Salisbury.

4 IN THE WEST.

Dorsets.h.i.+re Dorchester Somersets.h.i.+re Bristol Devons.h.i.+re Exeter Cornwall Launceston.

18 IN THE MIDDLE.

Gloucesters.h.i.+re Gloucester Monmouths.h.i.+re Monmouth Herefords.h.i.+re Hereford Shrops.h.i.+re Shrewsbury Ches.h.i.+re Chester Derbys.h.i.+re Derby Nottinghams.h.i.+re Nottingham Lincolns.h.i.+re Lincoln Huntingdons.h.i.+re Huntingdon Bedfords.h.i.+re Bedford Buckinghams.h.i.+re Buckingham Oxfords.h.i.+re Oxford Worcesters.h.i.+re Worcester Staffords.h.i.+re Stafford Leicesters.h.i.+re Leicester Rutlands.h.i.+re Oakham Northamptons.h.i.+re Northampton Warwicks.h.i.+re Warwick.

The 12 Welsh counties are,

6 IN NORTH WALES.

_Counties._ _Chief Towns._

Anglesea Beaumaris Caernarvons.h.i.+re Caernarvon Denbighs.h.i.+re Denbigh Flints.h.i.+re St. Asaph Merioneths.h.i.+re Harlech Montgomerys.h.i.+re Montgomery

6 IN SOUTH WALES.

Cardigans.h.i.+re Cardigan Radnors.h.i.+re Radnor Pembrokes.h.i.+re Pembroke Caermarthens.h.i.+re Caermarthen Brecknocks.h.i.+re Brecknock Glamorgans.h.i.+re Cardiff.

You will learn these counties, my dear, and trace them on the map at your first leisure opportunity. We have been so long in Europe, that I fear I must give you a very short description of the other parts of the world.

Asia is rendered famous on account of its having been the residence of our first parents, and the scene of almost every transaction mentioned in the scriptures: here our Saviour was born, lived and died; and from hence the gospel was first promulgated to mankind. Its inhabitants, though formerly celebrated for their refinement, are now, in general, a lazy, ignorant people. China is celebrated for its productions of silk and tea, which is a plant almost peculiar to this country, and the beautiful manufacture of porcelain called China. In the southern part of Asia the East Indies are situated, and in the West Arabia. The chief rivers are the Euphrates, Tigris, Indus and Ganges. The princ.i.p.al mountains are, Azarat, h.o.r.eb, Sinai and Lebanon. The most remarkable Islands are, the j.a.pan isles, the Maiana or Ladrone Islands, Formoso, Philippines, Moluccas, Banda islands, Celebes or Maca.s.sar, the Sunda islands, Ceylon, Maldives and Jesso isles.

_Anne._ Thank you, mamma, now for Africa.