Then, said Miss _Lydia_, at least let me give you some fruit and some cake; and taking the little girl by the hand, seated her upon a bench, and ran to fetch her a piece of cake; then, with her Mamma’s leave she gathered for her some strawberries and cherries. _Sally_ thanked her very prettily, and begged leave to carry them home to divide with her brother; thus having given the little lamb a kiss, and again told Miss _Lydia_ it must be fed with warm milk, and be taken into the house at night, she went away.
You may believe that the greatest part of _Lydia_’s employment was to feed and tend the little lamb, whose baaing would indeed have excited tenderness even in a heart of less sensibility than _Lydia_’s.
The pleasure she had in the lamb, naturally led her to think and talk of the little giver. _Lydia_ observed to her Mamma, that although _Sally_ was a poor girl, and had never gone into company, yet she always behaved in a very pretty manner, and spoke gently and civilly, and made charming courtesies.
My dear, said her mamma, when people have a modest opinion of themselves, and wish to behave with respect and civility, they seldom do any thing that is improper.
A fear of offending will make them gentle and reserved in their behaviour; and a person who tries to speak in an obliging manner is not often at a loss for language. It is conceit and forwardness which make people disgusting; and conceit and forwardness are as disagreeable in a little girl or boy, if their parents are rich as if they were poor. Nothing can make children agreeable, but being humble and tractable, and behaving in an obliging, respectful manner to every body; for as children, whoever their parents be, can know very little, and are unable to say any thing worth hearing, they should, therefore, think every body of more consequence than themselves, and be very much obliged to any body who takes notice of them. I am sure, said _Lydia_, I think myself so. You always appear to think so, my dear, said her Mamma; our friends are very kind to you, and will continue so while you behave as properly as you do; but whenever children begin to argue with grown people, speak pertly to them, like Miss _Smart_, or pretend to know better than they do, what is right and proper, they become very ridiculous and very disagreeable. What pleases you in _Sally_, and what will equally please in yourself is, that she seems to have no wish nor will but to oblige you, and to do what she thinks may please you, and show her respect to you.