Nothing could be saved from the wreck of Mr. Ludgate’s
fortune for the widow; but Allen, in looking over
old Ludgate’s books, had found and recovered
some old debts, which Leonard, after his father’s
death, thought not worth looking after. The sum
amounted to about three hundred and twenty pounds.
As the whole concern had been made over to him, he
could lawfully have appropriated this money to his
own use, but he reserved it for his friend’s
children. He put it out to interest; and in the
mean time he and Lucy not only clothed and fed, but
educated these orphans, with their own children, in
habits of economy and industry. The orphans repaid,
by their affection and gratitude, the care that was
bestowed upon them; and, when they grew up, they retrieved
the credit of their family, by living according to
their grandfather’s useful maxim—“Out
of debt out of danger.”
Nov. 1801.
Near Derby, on the way towards Darley-grove, there
is a cottage which formerly belonged to one Maurice
Robinson. The jessamine which now covers the
porch was planted by Ellen, his wife: she was
an industrious, prudent, young woman; liked by all
her neighbours, because she was ready to assist and
serve them, and the delight of her husband’s
heart; for she was sweet-tempered, affectionate, constantly
clean and neat, and made his house so cheerful that
he was always in haste to come home to her, after
his day’s work. He was one of the manufacturers
employed in the cotton works at Derby; and he was
remarkable for his good conduct and regular attendance
at his work.
Things went on very well in every respect, till a
relation of his, Mrs. Dolly Robinson, came to live
with him. Mrs. Dolly had been laundry-maid in
a great family, where she learned to love gossiping,
and tea-drinkings, and where she acquired some taste
for shawls and cherry-brandy. She thought that
she did her young relations a great favour by coming
to take up her abode with them, because, as she observed,
they were young and inexperienced; and she, knowing
a great deal of the world, was able and willing to
advise them; and besides, she had had a legacy of
some hundred pounds left to her, and she had saved
some little matters while in service, which might make
it worth her relations’ while to take her advice
with proper respect, and to make her comfortable for
the rest of her days.
Ellen treated her with all due deference, and endeavoured
to make her as comfortable as possible; but Mrs. Dolly
could not be comfortable unless, besides drinking
a large spoonful of brandy in every dish of tea, she
could make each person in the house do just what she
pleased. She began by being dissatisfied because
she could not persuade Ellen that brandy was wholesome,
in tea, for the nerves; next she was affronted because
Ellen did not admire her shawl; and, above all, she
was grievously offended because Ellen endeavoured
to prevent her from spoiling little George.
