THE BRACELETS;
OR,
AMIABILITY AND INDUSTRY REWARDED.
BY
MARIA EDGEWORTH,
AUTHOR OF "POPULAR TALES," "MORAL TALES," ETC. ETC.
With Illustrations from Original Designs.
1850.
CONTENTS
CONTINUATION OF THE BRACELETS.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Very Little Tales for Very Little Children
Uncle John's Fancy Picture Books
THE BRACELETS.
In a beautiful and retired part of England lived Mrs. Villars, a ladywhose accurate understanding, benevolent heart, and steady temper,peculiarly fitted her for the most difficult, as well as most importantof all occupations—the education of youth. This task she hadundertaken; and twenty young persons were put under her care, with theperfect confidence of their parents. No young people could be happier;they were good and gay, emulous, but not envious of each other; for Mrs.Villars was impartially just. Her praise they felt to be the reward ofmerit, and her blame they knew to be the necessary consequence of illconduct; to the one, therefore, they patiently submitted, and in theother consciously rejoiced. They rose with fresh cheerfulness in themorning, eager to pursue their various occupations; they returned in theevening with renewed ardour to their amusements, and retired to restsatisfied with themselves and pleased with each other.
Nothing so much contributed to preserve a spirit of emulation in thislittle society as a small honorary distinction given annually, as theprize of successful application. The prize this year was peculiarly dearto each individual, as it was the picture of a friend whom they alldearly loved—it was the picture of Mrs. Villars in a small bracelet. Itwanted neither gold, pearls, nor precious stones, to give it value.
The two foremost candidates for the prize were Cecilia and Leonora.Cecilia was the most intimate friend of Leonora, but Leonora was onlythe favourite companion of Cecilia.
Cecilia was of an active, ambitious, enterprising disposition; moreeager in the pursuit than happy in the enjoyment of her wishes. Leonorawas of a contented, unaspiring, temperate character, not easily rousedto action, but indefatig