Moral tales/The Dutiful Daughter & Grand-Daughter

TALE II.

The DUTIFUL DAUGHTER and
GRAND-DAUGHTER.

AFTER Mrs. Andrews left Hannah Jenkinſon, she called in at another cottage, where ſhe beheld a very different ſcene. In a neat little room, and in an elbow chair, ſat a venerable old woman, named Goody Bennet, totally blind, who was liſtening with great attention, while her grand-daughter, a young girl, about thirteen years old, was reading the Bible to her. As ſoon as Mrs. Andrews perceived in what manner they were engaged, ſhe made ſigns to the girl to proceed, and took a feat, in which ſhe ſat ſilent till the chapter was ended, and then kindly aſking the poor old woman how ſhe did, gave her half a crown. This money was particularly welcome, as the laſt ſixpence the poor creature had in the world was changed in the morning to buy a three-penny loaf ; however, Goody Bennet had not given way to deſpondency, for ſhe had been ſo accuſtomed to rely on the good providence of God, that ſhe aſſured herſelf He would ſend her a freſh ſupply by some means or other.

This good woman was remarkable for her cheerful reſignation to the will of God, -ſhe was thankful that her eye-ſight had been ſpared while ſhe had a family to toil for: the only thing that grieved her was, that ſhe could no longer read the Bible ; for though ſhe knew a vaſt deal of it by heart, and could recollect all the hiſtories in it; yet ſhe uſed to ſay, it was ſuch a book as a person might read an hundred and an hundred times, and always learn something new from it : but ſhe was thankful that it had pleased the Almighty to spare her the sense of hearing, by which means ſhe was ſtill able frequently to enjoy the benefit of the Scriptures, as her daughter and grand-daughter were always ready to indulge her with reading them to her whenever they had time. To be sure, added the good woman, I have one of the beſt children in the world; every thing that my dear daughter can do to comfort me ſhe does ; not a day paſſes but ſhe ſhows her tenderness to me one way or other : and I have reason to believe ſhe often pinches herself to supply me. O, madam, I could talk for ever of her kindness ! and ſhe brings up her girl to be as dutiful to me as herself ; so that I am attended like a lady, and very seldom want for any thing. At this inſtant Betty Loveit, her daughter, came in and brought a nice mess of broth, which having earned a ſhilling that day, ſhe had made on purpose for her ; and giving a young infant, which ſhe suckled, into the hands of the eldeſt girl, who has been mentioned before, ſhe fed her thankful parent, who as ſoon as ſhe had finiſhed her meal, implored the Almighty to ſhed his bleſſing upon her dutiful daughter, and grant that her own children might grow up to be comforts to her ; on which the eldeſt girl ſaid, that ſhe would follow the example of her good mother, if ever the ſame misfortune ſhould befal her. Mrs. Andrews, was highly delighted with the behaviour of theſe worthy people, and greatly commended Betty Loveit, who replied, I ſhould think myſelf very wicked, Madam, if I did not honour and ſuccour my dear mother, as the catechiſm teaches me to do.

How can I pray that I may live happily in this world, or go to heaven hereafter, if I do not obey the comand of the Great God who made me, and ſent me into the world to do all the good in my power? For my part, if God pleaſes to give me ſtrength, I do not mind how hard I work, to help to maintain my mother, ſhe ſhall never want for any thing I can earn for her.

Then I fear, ſaid Mrs. Andrews, I ſhall rob you of a pleaſure if I provide for your mother myſelf ; but I really muſt take this buſineſs out of your hands, ſo pray come or ſend to my houſe every day, and fetch whatever ſhe wants.

This kind offer of Mrs. Andrews came very ſeaſonably, for though Betty Loveit was willing, ſhe was not very able to ſupport her mother, and ſhe had put herſelf to great ſtraits to do what ſhe had done, and therefore received this kind offer with grateful thanks. Mrs. Andrews then took her leave, and the poor blind woman, and her daughter, and grand-daughter, returned thanks to God for his great goodness in raiſing them up ſuch a friend.