George Brewer

“ One day in particular, master Gobblegruel made a more than commonly ridiculous figure; he had got the end of a drumstick of a fowl in his mouth, which upon being reminded by some person present was vulgar, he transfixed immediately between his teeth, sitting bolt upright, and grinning like his honourable father’s pug-dog, to the infinite amusement of all the servants. The young gentleman would not however part with the bone. (Henry burst into a fit of Laughter.) ”

“ Philip, with tears of joy and Admiration in his eyes, exclaimed—‘My son, seek a kingdom more worthy of thee, for Macedon is below thy merit.’
“Admiration of genius and talent may be often indulged. The many curious pieces of mechanism that may be seen daily, are objects worthy of admiration; but perhaps the most extraordinary of any to a young mind is a ship, when it is considered, that within its space several hundreds of persons traverse immense oceans, and sail to places many thousand leagues distant.” ”

“ Willock, “as I have showed you the picture of Attention, it will be proper that I should describe the passion to you. Attention is implanted in us by nature, as the means by which we may become acquainted with the objects of our curiosity, and is a virtue, whenever a proper object is selected. The face is then always interesting, however intent it may appear; but it is the choice of a proper object which can alone make this passion of value, and truly estimable. Attention is therefore either praiseworthy or not, according to the object it selects. ”

“ The mouth, half open, shews the teeth; the corners of the mouth drawn back, cause a wrinkle in the cheeks, which appear so swelled as in some measure to hide the eyes; the nostrils are open, and all the face is of a red colour. Laughter is at all times ungraceful, therefore you will observe, that vulgar people are most addicted to it: well-bred persons manage this passion better; they seldom do any thing more than smile. Yet at times, it will happen that something we meet with is so truly ridiculous or comical, that we cannot by any means help laughing. ”

“ Willock, “consider the nature of the Desire by which men wish to obtain any [Pg 77] thing unfairly, or what is called coveting our neighbours’ goods.—There is not any Desire that can be more base or wicked than this, and it leads to the greatest crimes; if ever you feel it in your bosoms, which I trust you never will, check it, my dear children, as being base, mean, unfair, unjust, and beneath your natures; and be assured, that it is a Desire which in the end will never have success, as it is contrary to the commands of God, and below the honour and dignity of the human character. ”

“ Attention to the duties of religion, such as praying to God, and attending the divine service, is not only the most delightful Attention that can be paid, but is of most advantage to us, as by it we secure the blessing of Providence upon our actions, and it is only a preparation for the numerous comforts we enjoy. ”

“ Willock,
JOY with TRANQUILLITY.
“You will observe here, that very little alteration is remarked in the face of those who feel within themselves the sweetness of Joy. The [Pg 95] forehead is serene; the eyebrows without motion, elevated in the middle; the eye pretty open, and with a laughing air; the eyeball lively and shining; the corners of the mouth turn up a little; the complexion lively; the cheeks and lips red.
“Joy is a delightful sensation, and gives health to the body as well as to the mind; when we feel joyful, with what alacrity, what spirit, do we move and act! ”

“ What can I do with all these riches?’—‘Do with them; leave that to me,’ said Gertrude, quite overjoyed.—‘I don’t want to be put out of my way,’ said [Pg 154] Nicholas.—Poor Gertrude, in the innocence of her heart, stopped the mouth of her husband—‘Dear Nicholas, do not affront the gentleman; I am sure that I should like to be a lady very much; and to be sure I did think that there was something very odd in the stranger’s behaviour to us that night, and took it into my head that he would do something for us, though to be sure I did not think that he would die and leave us all his wealth ”

“ What a dreary thing, my dear children, must be despair—afflicted by an accusing conscience, and bereft of hope! What would this wicked man have given, after he had parted with his ill-gotten wealth, to have found the child alive! ”

“ The place was filled with the fragrance of myrrh, aloes, sandal-wood, the jessamine flower and the rose.
“Baizeed fell prostrate on his face; it was the good genius Zemrud, who had appeared as the old merchant. ‘Blessed,’ said he, ‘are the good, and powerful are those who trust in Bramah.’ With these words the genius disappeared, and Baizeed [Pg 94] returned home to his faithful Aseecha, satisfied of the goodness of Providence, and resolved never again to forfeit the blessings of the talisman.” ”

“ Willock,“I would wish you, as often as possible, to indulge this passion, as it leads to many virtues.—Admiration of the objects of nature brings us to the contemplation of an almighty God, who has filled the universe with the innumerable wonders of creation; and, indeed, it is the whole work of Admiration to prove our dependence on him, and his great power and goodness ”

“ The poor dear woman seems to be without the most distant prospect of relief; without the most remote chance of meeting with a friend; without means of extricating herself and her little ones from ruin; yet she ought not to despair, for Providence, when none appears, can find itself a way. ”

“ In the passion of Admiration, the mind is occupied with pleasing thoughts, usually accompanied with love, esteem, or veneration for the object; and these sensations that give such a pleasant turn to the features. In this passion (according to Le Brun) , the eyebrow rises; the eye [Pg 22] opens a little more than ordinary; the eyeball, equally between the eyelids, appears fixed on the object; the mouth half opens; and to this disposition of features, astonishment only exaggerates a little. ”

“ When Joy is felt, the mind is occupied with every thing that is pleasant; all care is for the time obliterated from your recollection; you jump, and dance, and sing, and spring about like young [Pg 96] fawns, from place to place. But this is not Joy with Tranquillity, like that in the picture. Joy with Tranquillity is more lasting, and is less violent. I will attempt to describe the passion to you by an example.
The Story of Matthieu and Gerrard, the two Fishermen, who each found a treasure. ”

“ But to continue—While Nicholas was gone to the western turret, refreshment was prepared in the hall, and Gertrude and Henry waited anxiously for his return to partake of it with them. The honest old steward and Jonas the butler had not been sparing of expence on the occasion: so that the entertainment was as superb as if the Baron had been alive. ”

“ The lively attention to the misfortunes of another, which is called Compassion, causes the eyebrows to [Pg 133] sink towards the middle of the forehead; the eyeball to be fixed upon the object; the sides of the nostrils next the nose, to be a little elevated, making wrinkles in the cheeks; the mouth to be open; the upper lip to be lifted up, and thrust forward; the muscles, and all the parts of the face sinking down, and turning towards the object which cause the passion.
“Yes, this is indeed the portrait of the scholar looking at the infant in the cradle. ”

“ I indulge, however, a hope, that aided by the talents of the inimitable Le Brun, I may be able to place an inscription at least, beneath the portraits he has so admirably delineated, and which may have some effect on the mind of the young reader, who, when he observes that the best people look best and most happy, will be inclined to become of the best. ”

“ Willock called their attention again to the picture. “Let us now, my dear children,” said he,“consider what must be the power and goodness of the Almighty, who created all these things; what can we conceive of the hand that could fix a ball of fire in the heavens, of the magnitude of the sun? but our Admiration increases when we reflect, that it is that fire which occasions the plant and the herb to grow. You know, that in the winter the ground is bare; but when spring appears, and when the sun approaches to us, it revives nature ”

“ Gertrude had directed him to the place where Nicholas was felling trees. On the stranger’s approach, he heard a man scolding—‘What,’ cried he, ‘do you think I am to keep you for nothing, you little lazy monkey? why don’t you get another withy, and bind up these faggots?’—‘I am at work, as fast as I can,’ answered the boy, ‘but you are so cross. If you are tired of keeping me, I’ll leave you to-morrow, and seek for support elsewhere.’—‘Leave me, that you shant,’ cried Nicholas; ‘I found you in the forest one night, laid on the turf, a poor helpless brat; humanity made me take you in ”

“ It happened, however, that the two officers who were in the poor widow’s room were of that description who debase the very nature of man, by rapacity and cruelty, and who, hardened by constant scenes of misery, commit every possible outrage on the distressed and friendless. ”

“ At length George and Charles were both of them sent into the world, and placed in the counting-houses of merchants of eminence, who were friends of Mr. Wilson.—George immediately began to pay Attention to business, and Charles was as inattentive as ever. George [Pg 13] was always employed, and Charles did nothing but follow pleasure. Now there is not any thing more agreeable than amusement, when it does not interfere with business; but at the same time, there is not any thing that can be more dangerous, when it does. ”

“ Baizeed’s wife Aseecha loved her husband very much, and frequently entreated him to be more careful of the valuable treasure he had, and to turn the magic pebble to advantage; but unhappily he neglected her counsel; and at length, what with the waste of time, and seeing company to show off the talisman, his situation became desperate; when he thought it best to call on his friend Daoud, to explain to him his circumstances, and to consult what was best to be done, as he was afraid his creditors would take the pebble from him. ”

“ The father and mother of Nicholas had, nevertheless, sent him to inquire after the health of his uncle: he was a fine little boy, with the colour of the carnation upon his cheeks, and with a brave open countenance.
“The old man surveyed him from head to foot. ‘What, Nicholas,’ cried he, ‘is it you? How are your father and mother? I am ill, Nicholas, very ill.’
“Nicholas asked if he could do any thing for his uncle? ”

“ Attention to our friends and acquaintance, particularly to the aged, is not only a duty, but shows our politeness and good breeding.
“Attention to the sick is required from us by the precepts of religion, and by the need we may some day have for such Attention ourselves.
“Attention to business merely consists in minding what we have [Pg 10] got to do, and is always rewarded with profit. ”

“ Attention of young people to their studies is the only way for them to acquire improvement, for without it they must remain for ever in ignorance; for instance, if, when I shewed you this portrait, you were all the time playing, or thinking of something else, you could never know what Attention meant, nor the advantages to be gained by it. ”

“ With these desires in your breast, poverty will stand no chance of keeping you under. The world, my dear children, is like a market-place, where many different persons [Pg 65] bring their wares, their industry, and their trinkets for sale. Those who have the best articles, or who are the best workmen, will find the readiest and most certain sale and profit or employ; those who have more humble talents, or wares of a worse quality, are obliged to wait longer, and sell for less ”

“ It is then that our prudent hours are blest by Providence, and the motive approved by the same Almighty who has taught the ant to provide for winter; and indeed old age, my dear children, may properly be called the winter of life. ”

“ A few years ago, there lived a gentleman, in the West of England, whose name was Willock: he was married to a very amiable lady, and had five children—three boys and two girls; the boys were named John, William, and Henry; and the girls, Caroline and Louisa. Mr. Willock was possessed of a very handsome fortune, but preferred a country to a town life, as he was very domestic, and his lady equally fond of retirement. The young people were brought up in the love [Pg 2] of God, and of their parents ”

“ Thou wilt find,” said he, “in the forest of Dean, a solitary cottage, inhabited by a wood-cutter and his wife. The name of the wood-cutter is Nicholas; the name of his wife is Gertrude. These people are poor; they wish for riches, and they shall be rich; they shall be the heirs of the Baron de la Braunch; who knows, perhaps to them riches may be a blessing.”—The Baron affixed his seal to the parchment, and soon after expired in the arms of father Benedict. ”

“ To-morrow evening, I will tell you a story of another kind, where I shall have to represent to you some of the worst of the passions of the human mind, such as you will hate and detest, when you see their ugliness and deformity. ”

“ Willock,“we go a step lower, and survey the animal creation, our Admiration will yet be great: whether we examine the mighty mammoth, the skeleton of which you saw at the exhibition the other day, or the little hummingbird, which was shewn you at the museum, still you must admire. ”

“ Your mamma can tell you a very pleasant story of the good effects of industry, over indolence, or despair.” At this intimation, all the young party directed their eyes to Mrs. Willock, and“Pray, mamma, [Pg 37] do oblige us,” was repeated by two or three of them at the same time.
Mrs. Willock, who was not only a very elegant and well-educated woman, but extremely good-natured, smiled at the eagerness of her young friends, and began
The Story of the Two Gardeners.
“There were two market gardeners, who were also neighbours, and lived somewhere near the village of Hammersmith. ”

“ I have been poor in the midst of riches, and have starved in abundance. I might have been happy myself, and I might have made others happy; I have neglected the opportunity; and before I have tasted refreshment, I expire on my journey.’
“The doctor asked the old miser again about his affairs—‘If I die,’ said he, ‘I leave what little I have to this boy, my nephew Nicholas.’ The doctor took his leave, and Alvarus addressed his nephew as follows:—‘Nicholas,’ said he, ‘take care of this bag for me; I shall fall asleep presently, for I feel heavy; there is not any thing worth having in it ”

“ The scholar’s attention was now taken off by a heavy sigh, which he found proceeded from the breast of an aged man, who was seated in an old elbow chair by the fireside. It was the poor widow’s father, mourning for her sorrows, and grieving for her distress; for as far as respected himself, he had but little care. He was near eighty years of age. Here is the countenance of the poor old man; it is the face of
WEEPING.
“The alterations that Weeping causes are very strongly marked. ”