I thought, afterwards, how much sense there was in what she had said; and regretted her rule was not oftener acted on in families. Mrs. Pevensey, for instance, not unfrequently makes Arbell handsome presents, but gives her no regular allowance; consequently, not knowing what she has to expect, Arbell is sometimes improvident—sometimes pinched. Consequently, also, she knows little of the shop-prices of articles in common request, and does not regularly keep private accounts. I know it is not my province to interfere on the subject; but, should an opening unexpectedly occur, I will just direct Mrs. Pevensey’s thoughts to it, by alluding to the plan pursued by Mrs. Prout.
Every one of these young Prouts has left off drinking sugar in their tea, to lighten their mother’s bills; and at their own instance. How well it speaks for them!
Priamond, Diamond, and Triamond, says Spenser, were three brothers in Fairy-land:—
“These three did love each other dearly well; And with so firm affection were allied, As if but one soul in them all did dwell, Which did her power into three parts divide.”
In the course of their story, a deadly quarrel ensued between the youngest of these three brothers and Camball, brother of the Princess Canace, which was assuaged by the goddess Concord, who gave them Nepenthe to drink. And what is Nepenthe?—
“Nepenthe is a drink of sovereign grace Devised by the gods, for to assuage Heart’s grief, and bitter gall away to chase, Which stirs up anger and contentious rage. Instead thereof, sweet peace and quietage It doth establish in the troubled mind; Few men, but such as sober are and sage, Are by the gods to drink of it assigned— _But such as drink, eternal happiness do find_.”
I can well believe it, good Mr. Spenser. Where can it be found? Did you ever drink of it yourself? or did you write thus feelingly because you sought and found it not? Oh! by what name shall we pray for it? “_The grace of God?_”
Here we are in the dog-days! and every one is complaining of the heat. Last night we had a thunder-storm, and Phillis was afraid to go to bed, till I told her that feathers were non-conductors. So then she thought, the sooner she was on her feather-bed, the better.