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usefbl than herself whs essentially her superior- —that every creature was , like herself , sensible to pleasure and to pain—that virtue consisted in promoting the one , and rice in producing the other— -her mind hekia ( £ * ons of an almost diametrically opposite tendency . Already , thttftgh little more than ten years old , she
was pained that her father was a tradesman ; was proud of an uncle because he was a professional man , and still prouder of an aunt , because she enjoyed an unearned income . The boardingschool cant of gentility , the circulating library cant of romance , had completely deranfifed her little head , and spoiled her vounff
heart . False notions of happiness to be drawn from admiration and distinction employed her intellect ; self-gratification engrossed her feelings . Her weak , ignorant mother declared , half in boast , half in lamentation , that c Letty was resolved to be a tedy , for that she would do nothing '
It is a common notion among the utterly uncultivated that idleness and inutility are , with dress and self-indulgence , the constituents as well as the privileges of gentility : a proof of the man net * in which example operates upon the multitude . When they see so little apparent connexion between real greatness and worldly greatness , who shall wonder that they mistake glare for glory , and priie a gilt carriage beyond an estimable character ?
Letitia , vain , selfish , and unfeeling , proceeded in the common Course ; that is , from viewing Dorcas with contempt she soon began to treat her with insult . Untaught to sympathise with suffering , she did not shrink from inflicting it ; while the idea of pdrticipating a pleasure , especially with one who occupied an inferior rank in societv , never even glanced into her mind .
Many times , and in many ways , had the spirit of Dorcas been hurt . Sometimes a sigh—a tear—even a song , expressed or dissipated the painful feeling ; for humanity , unless greatly outraged , leartis to Accommodate itself to necessity . An accident at length occurred , which , in itself trifling , was far other in its consequences . A party had been invited , to afford Mrs . Barton an opportunity
for exhibiting a handsome set of china : just as in another walk of life a party is invited for the exhibition of a splendid service of plate . While restoring this treasured tea-service to its depository Dorcas unfortunately broke one of the pieces . Letty was present when the accident occurred . The involuntary delinquent , pale and trembling , ( alas , that feelings should be thus wasted !)
entreated the cnildnot to mention the circumstance , Dorcas assuring her that she would endeavour to match and replace the broken vessel . But the little tyrant , prompt to reprove , and eager to punish , flew off to the sitting-room with the hews of the disaster . Dorcas cautiousl y followed her for the purpose of listening . Thua generative i * evil : there never was a base act which became not the £ * r * nt of matoy . Oppressibn produce * deceit , attd iottigmtes V * fegfe * ite *; tortute invite * retaliation , utid ihstih getoifetet h * tred .
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Sketch * ofOomedte Life . » 9
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1835, page 399, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2646/page/35/
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