The Mask of the Red Death - Graham's Magazine, May 1842 — reading text

Yes, you left her to do as she pleased, after she much cause to be proud ofthem. A better daughter had been allowed to discover exactly what you wish- than Edith, a more steady boy than Charley,. and ed she should do. This is always the way, Sarah; prettier girls than Caroline and Maria, are not to be the incident just mentioned, is only one out of hund- found anywhere in society ; andI dare say I shall reds, where Edith’s kind feelings have been made to be just as proud of the little ones in the nursery as interfere with her pleasures. Ihave longseen in the they grow up.” family a disposition to take advantage of her unsel- “7 dare say you will, my dear,” said her husband, fish character, and it seems to me exceedingly unjust. smiling good-humoredly, ‘‘it would be very strange I do not want to part with Edith, and should give her if you were not, and quite as strange if I had not to a husband with great reluctance, but I insist that similar opinions ; Edith is as good as she is handsome she should have a fair chance, and not be compelled and I only wish young Ellis was in circumstances to to join the single sisterhood whether she will or not. marry her.” You had better let match-making alone, Sarah ; leave *¢ Don’t speak of such a thing, husband, I cannot the girls to choose for themselves; only be careful consent to part with her for the next four or five that they have the right sort of admirers, from which years.” to select their future master .”’ “Yet you want to get rid of Caroline.” Edith Pemberton was the eldest of a large family. ‘*T have already told you my motives; there never Her father, immersed in business like most of our were two sisters more unlike.” American merchants, spent the working days of ‘‘ Edith has all the prudence and kindliness which every week at his counting room, only returning at befits a good wife, and therefore deserves to be well evening, Jaded and fatigued, to read the newspaper, mated.” and to dose upon the sofa till bed time. Governed by ‘‘ She does not seem to think of such a thing as the erroneous ideas, which led men, in our country, marriage, and I am truly glad she is so indifferent to attempt the accumulation of a rapid fortune, in about it, indeed I almost believe that Edith is destined the vain hope of enjoying perfect leisure in their later to be an old maid.” years, Mr. Pemberton had become little more than a ‘¢ It needs no great prophetic skill to predict that,, money-making machine. He loved his family but he if you keep her forever in the back-ground.”’ had little time to devote to them. He spared no ex- ‘¢T am sureI do no’such thing,” said Mrs. Pem- pense in the education of his children, liberally pro- berton, warmly. vided them with comforts, and punctually paid all ‘< [ don’t pretend to know much about these matters the family bills, but he left all the management of but I have noticed that when the girls are invited to household matters to his wife, who soon found it ut- a party itis generally Edith who is left at home.” terly useless to consult him on any domestic arrange- ‘Jt is not my fault, Mr. Pemberton, if she takes ment, His purse was always open to her demands, no pleasure in gay society.” but his time he could not give. The consequence » ‘*‘ Are you certain she always stays at home from wasthat Mrs. Pemberton while endeavoring con- choice ?” scientiously to perform her duties, made the usual ‘*] dare say she does, at least she is never controll- mistake, and fell into those habits which often con- ed by me.” vert our good wives into mere housekeepers and ‘* But you know as well as I do, that the slightest nurse maids ; ‘‘ household drudges’’ as our grumbling expression of a wish is sufficient to influence her. cousin Bull callsthem. A rapidly increasing family, The truth is, Edith has made herself so useful in the and her utter ignorance of her husband’s business family that we all depend upon her for a large por- prospects, induced her to practise thé strictest econ- tion of our comforts, and are too apt to forget that omy which was consistent with comfort. Abandon- she often sacrifices her own. Do you suppose that ing the elegant accomplishments which she had ac- she actually preferred staying at home to nurse little quired with so much expense of time and labor at i. 2: : -e ee aee te a 7 oo a ie  EDITH PEMBERTON, 279 school, she secluded herself in her nursery, and in never observe that with this useful and willing per- the care of her children and the duties of housekeep- son, every body seemed to claim the right of sharing ing found full empioyment. their troubles? Such an one was Edith Pem- In childhood, Edith was what old ladies call ‘a berton. nice quiet little girl Her delicate features, fair But Edith was not proof against that passion which complexion, and blonde hair, established her claim is usually libelled as selfish and engrossing. Edward to infantile beauty, while her bright smile, sweet Ellis had cultivated an intimacy with her young and voice and graceful gentleness seemed to win the love studious brother, solely on her account, and the of all who knew her. Endowed with no remarka- patience with which the gifted ‘‘ senior,’ assisted the ble intellect, no decided genius, she yet managed, by efforts of the zealous ‘‘ sophomore,” might be attribu- dint of good sense, industry and perseverance, to ted less to friendship than to a warmer emotion. maintain her place at the head of her classes, and to Ellis was talented, ambitious and vain, but he was leave school, which she did at fifteen, with the repu- also warm-hearted, and susceptible to virtuous im- tation of a very good scholar. , A plain, but thorough pressions. The perfect gentleness, the feminine de- English education, a little French, a few not very licacy, the modest beauty of Edith had charmed the ill done drawings in water colors ; some velvet paint- romantic student, and her unaffected admiration of ings and a profound knowledge of the art of stitching his superior mental endowments, completed the spell in all its varieties, were the fruits of Edith’s studies. of her fascination. His parents, well knowing how Gentle reader, do not despise the scanty list of accom- strong a safeguard against evil influences, is a virtu- plishments which she could number. It comprised ous attachment, rather encouraged his intimacy with the usual course of education at that time, and per- the Pemberton family, without enquiring closely into haps, in point of real usefulness, would bear a fair his motives; and Edward was content to enjoy the comparison with the more imposing ‘“ sctences”’ present, leaving the future to take care of itself. In and ‘ ologies” which are now preswmed to be taught compliance with his wishes, his father had given in schools of higher pretensions. Her skill in him a liberal education, but when, upon leaving col- needlecraft was a most valuable acquisition to the lege he requested permission to study some profess- eldest daughter of so numerous a family, and Mrs. ion, he met with a decided negative. ‘‘I wish you Pemberton availed herself fully of its aid. Edith to be a merchant, Edward,”’ said his father, ‘‘ I have returned from school only to take her place as an given you an education which will enable you to be assistant to her mother in the nursery. The maid an enlightened and intelligent one, but upon yourself whose business it was to take care of the children, it depends to become a rich one. Talents and learn- was not trustworthy, and it became the duty of Edith ing without money are of as little use as rough gems ; to watch over the welfare of the little ones, while they are curiosities for the cabinet of the virtuoso, she employed her busy fingers in shaping and sewing not valuables to the man of sense ; they must be their multifarious garments. Kindly in her feelings, polished and set in a golden frame before they can affectionate in her disposition, gentle and patient in adorn the possessor, or seem precious in the eyes of temper, she was dearly loved by the children. It the multitude. If you are wealthy, a little wisdom was soon discovered that her influence could do more will procure you a great reputation ; if you are poor than the clamor of an impatient nursemaid, or the your brightest talents only serve as a farthing rush- frown of a mother whose natural good temper had light to show you your own misery!” Such were been fretted into irritability. Ifa child was refrac- the views of Mr. Ellis, and though his son differed tory, sister Edith alone could administer medicine, widely from him in feeling, yet he dared not gainsay or smooth the uneasy pillow,—and in short Edith be- the assertions which he deemed the result of experi- came a kind of second mother to her five sisters and ence and worldly wisdom. three brothers.