It is easy to judge the anxiety of these affectionate parents, when they found the return of their father delayed so much beyond the expected time. They were now met in the dining parlour, and several of the young people who had been invited were already arrived. Each different part of the company was employed in the same manner, looking out at the windows which faced the road. At length the long-expected chaise appeared. Mrs. Temple ran out to receive and welcome her darling: her young companions flocked round the door, each one eager to give her joy on the return of her birth-day. The door of the chaise was opened: Charlotte was not there. “Where is my child?” cried Mrs. Temple, in breathless agitation3.
Mr. Eldridge could not answer: he took hold of his daughter's hand and led her into the house; and sinking on the first chair he came to, burst into tears, and sobbed4 aloud.
“She is dead,” cried Mrs. Temple. “Oh my dear Charlotte!” and clasping her hands in an agony of distress5, fell into strong hysterics.
Mr. Temple, who had stood speechless with surprize and fear, now ventured to enquire6 if indeed his Charlotte was no more. Mr. Eldridge led him into another apartment; and putting the fatal note into his hand, cried—“Bear it like a Christian,” and turned from him, endeavouring to suppress his own too visible emotions.
It would be vain to attempt describing what Mr. Temple felt whilst he hastily ran over the dreadful lines: when he had finished, the paper dropt from his unnerved hand. “Gracious heaven!” said he, “could Charlotte act thus?” Neither tear nor sigh escaped him; and he sat the image of mute sorrow, till roused from his stupor7 by the repeated shrieks8 of Mrs. Temple. He rose hastily, and rushing into the apartment where she was, folded his arms about her, and saying—“Let us be patient, my dear Lucy,” nature relieved his almost bursting heart by a friendly gush9 of tears.
Should any one, presuming on his own philosophic10 temper, look with an eye of contempt on the man who could indulge a woman's weakness, let him remember that man was a father, and he will then pity the misery11 which wrung12 those drops from a noble, generous heart.
Mrs. Temple beginning to be a little more composed, but still imagining her child was dead, her husband, gently taking her hand, cried—“You are mistaken, my love. Charlotte is not dead.”
“Then she is very ill, else why did she not come? But I will go to her: the chaise is still at the door: let me go instantly to the dear girl. If I was ill, she would fly to attend me, to alleviate13 my sufferings, and cheer me with her love.”
“Be calm, my dearest Lucy, and I will tell you all,” said Mr. Temple. “You must not go, indeed you must not; it will be of no use.”
“Temple,” said she, assuming a look of firmness and composure, “tell me the truth I beseech14 you. I cannot bear this dreadful suspense15. What misfortune has befallen my child? Let me know the worst, and I will endeavour to bear it as I ought.”
“Lucy,” replied Mr. Temple, “imagine your daughter alive, and in no danger of death: what misfortune would you then dread2?”
“There is one misfortune which is worse than death. But I know my child too well to suspect—”
“Be not too confident, Lucy.”
“Oh heavens!” said she, “what horrid16 images do you start: is it possible she should forget—”
“She has forgot us all, my love; she has preferred the love of a stranger to the affectionate protection of her friends.
“Not eloped?” cried she eagerly.
Mr. Temple was silent.
“You cannot contradict it,” said she. “I see my fate in those tearful eyes. Oh Charlotte! Charlotte! how ill have you requited17 our tenderness! But, Father of Mercies,” continued she, sinking on her knees, and raising her streaming eyes and clasped hands to heaven, “this once vouchsafe18 to hear a fond, a distracted mother's prayer. Oh let thy bounteous19 Providence20 watch over and protect the dear thoughtless girl, save her from the miseries21 which I fear will be her portion, and oh! of thine infinite mercy, make her not a mother, lest she should one day feel what I now suffer.”
The last words faultered on her tongue, and she fell fainting into the arms of her husband, who had involuntarily dropped on his knees beside her.
A mother's anguish22, when disappointed in her tenderest hopes, none but a mother can conceive. Yet, my dear young readers, I would have you read this scene with attention, and reflect that you may yourselves one day be mothers. Oh my friends, as you value your eternal happiness, wound not, by thoughtless ingratitude23, the peace of the mother who bore you: remember the tenderness, the care, the unremitting anxiety with which she has attended to all your wants and wishes from earliest infancy24 to the present day; behold25 the mild ray of affectionate applause that beams from her eye on the performance of your duty: listen to her reproofs26 with silent attention; they proceed from a heart anxious for your future felicity: you must love her; nature, all-powerful nature, has planted the seeds of filial affection in your bosoms27.
Then once more read over the sorrows of poor Mrs. Temple, and remember, the mother whom you so dearly love and venerate28 will feel the same, when you, forgetful of the respect due to your maker29 and yourself, forsake30 the paths of virtue31 for those of vice32 and folly33.
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1
reprieve
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| n.暂缓执行（死刑）；v.缓期执行；给…带来缓解 | |
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2
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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3
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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4
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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5
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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6
enquire
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| v.打听，询问；调查，查问 | |
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7
stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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8
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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9
gush
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| v.喷，涌；滔滔不绝(说话)；n.喷，涌流；迸发 | |
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10
philosophic
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| adj.哲学的，贤明的 | |
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11
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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12
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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13
alleviate
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| v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等) | |
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14
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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15
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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16
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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17
requited
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| v.报答( requite的过去式和过去分词 )；酬谢；回报；报复 | |
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18
vouchsafe
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| v.惠予，准许 | |
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19
bounteous
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| adj.丰富的 | |
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20
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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21
miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
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22
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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23
ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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24
infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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25
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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26
reproofs
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| n.责备，责难，指责( reproof的名词复数 ) | |
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27
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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28
venerate
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| v.尊敬，崇敬，崇拜 | |
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29
maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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30
forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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31
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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32
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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33
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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