A Garden of Girls; Or, Famous Schoolgirls of Former DaysConcannon, Thomas, Mrs.
History
A Garden of Girls; Or, Famous Schoolgirls of Former Days
Concannon, Thomas, Mrs.
Catholic Church -- Education; Girls -- Biography; Women -- Education -- History
holiness, your beauty is deformyty—you are all over black and defiled,
ugly and loathsome to all holy beings, the wrath of the great God lies
upon you, and if you die in this condition, you will be turned into hell,
with ugly devils, to eternity.” That might be so; but it did not deter a
certain little girl from “dressing all (even to loading) of her best” for
“Miss Soley’s constitation” (“a very genteel, well-regulated assembly,”
she informs her mamma). “I was dressed in my yellow coat, black bib and
apron, black feathers on my head, my past (_i.e._, paste) comb, and all
my past garnet marquesett and jet pins, together with my silver plume—my
loket, rings, black collar round my neck, black mitts, and two or three
yards of blue ribbon (black and blue is high taste), stripped tucker
and ruffels (not my best) and my silk shoes compleated my dress.” Nor
was there much consolation in the thought of “interior whiteness” on
occasions when there seemed danger of Aunt Deming making her wear “‘the
black hatt with the red Dominie.’ For the people will ask me what I have
got to sell as I go along the street if I do, or how the folk at New
Guinie do? Dear Mamma, you don’t know the fation here—I beg to look like
other folk. You don’t know what a stir would be made in Sudbury-street,
were I to make my appearance there in my red Dominie and black Hatt.”
In contrast with Hélène’s exciting experiences, little Anna Green’s
sedate goings to and fro to writing school to Master Holbrook, or
“dansing-school” to Master Turner, or sewing school to Madam Smith seem
very tame indeed. It is quite an adventure for her “to be overtaken
by a lady who was quite a stranger to her,” and to be accosted by her
with “how do you do, Miss?” “I answered her, but told her I had not the
pleasure of knowing her.” She then asked, “What is your name, Miss? I
believe you think it is a very strange question to ask, but have a mind
to know.” It turns out that the lady is an old friend of Nanny’s mother,
and sends her all kinds of affectionate messages, including one “to come
up and live on Jamaîcaplain,” the attraction being “a nice meeting-house,
and a charming minister, and all so cleaver.” Sometimes when there is
absolutely nothing to tell, Nanny copies out, “with her Aunt’s leave,”
something which pleased that good lady very much, “and which I hope
will please you, my Papa and Mamma.” It turns out to be a rather dull
joke wherein Mr. W., “who don’t set up for an Expositor of Scripture,
yet ventures to send Dr. Byles a short comment on 1 Cor. ix. 11[17] in
the shape of a dozen pounds of chocolate.” To which the Dr. returned the
following very pretty answer: “Dr. Byles returns respects to Mr. W. and
most heartily thanks him for his judicious practical Familie Expositor,
which is in Tast.” To do Nanny justice, this “joke” is more in the “tast”
of Aunt Doming than her own, for the little lady has a charming sense
of humour, and sometimes employs it very prettily even against herself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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