The foster-sisters : $b A story in the days of Wesley and WhitfieldGuernsey, Lucy Ellen
History
The foster-sisters : $b A story in the days of Wesley and Whitfield
Guernsey, Lucy Ellen
Evangelical Revival -- England -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction; Historical fiction; Young women -- Fiction
I saw Amabel nicely settled in her new house, and then went back to
Mrs. Deborah. I tried not to be selfish, but I must confess I felt
rather forlorn. However, I knew there was no use in repining, and no
sense in it either, seeing that my fate had been ordered by One wiser
than myself, who knew just what was best for me.
So I set to work with all my might nursing Mrs. Deborah, who was
growing very feeble and helpless from rheumatism, and attending to the
poor folks and teaching in the school, whereby I got into some trouble
with Mr. Lethbridge from teaching the children one of Mr. Charles
Wesley's hymns. He forgave me afterward, however, and grew somewhat
inconveniently friendly. However, he got over it, and married a very
nice young lady.
I helped Mary Lee prepare her wedding set out, and saw her married to
Alick, who made her an excellent husband. I spun a great deal of fine
thread, and made baby-linen for Amabel, whose first child was named for
me. I was quite rich for the time and place. Sir Julius had directed
Mr. Thirlwall to pay me the rents of the Black Lees, which was in the
hands of an excellent tenant, and I asked no questions about the past
profits which had gene into Sir Julius' pockets. Besides, I had a
hundred a year from Mr. Carey.
I finished Mrs. Chloe's knitted quilt, and made one of silk patchwork
for Amabel, which was much admired. I will not say that I was not
somewhat sad and lonely at times, but generally I was content enough.
Amabel was happy as a woman could well be in this world, with an
excellent husband and lovely, healthy children, and I saw her two or
three times a year.
I knew that I was a great comfort to Mrs. Deborah in her lonely old
age, and that I was useful in the village.
I staid several years with Mrs. Deborah, and laid her honored head in
the grave beside Mrs. Chloe's.
Then, being over five and twenty, and my presence being needful in
Exeter to settle certain business matters, I made the long journey
thither, and staid with Mr. and Mrs. Carey several months, after which
I came to my present home. It is a very neat and pretty old house, not
large, but convenient and sunny, in a little valley or coombe opening
to the sea.
After I had lived here a year, I put in practise a plan which had been
brewing in my head for some time. I took into my family five or six
orphan maidens, children of sailors, and with the help of an excellent
worthy woman, I made a home for them; teaching them to read and write,
to knit, spin, and sew, and giving them other learning suitable for
their condition, preparing them either for service or for ruling
families of their own. I never have more than six at one time, and
though they have all sorts of dispositions among them, and are naughty
and troublesome at times like all children, I have been very happy with
them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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