Sarah Smith
poltroon had fear, engendered of unjust punishment, made of me in those days! I feared to return to the nursery, and feared to go forwar
should I see besides Aunt Reed in the apartment?-a man or a woman?' The handle turned, the door unclosed, and passing through and curt- saying
as like a carved mask, placed a
a signal to me to approach; I did so, and she introduced me
whom I appl
man, turned his h
ooking grey eyes which twinkled under a pair of bushy brows, said s
yea
olonged his scrutiny for some minutes. Presen
Smith
leman, but then I was very little; his features were large, and
ith, and are yo
opinion: I was silent. Mrs. Reed answered for me with an expressive shake of the
nd bending from the perpendicular, he installed his per- so
m. What a face he had, now that it was almost on a level with mine!
hild,' he began, 'especially a naughty
ter d
and orthodox answer. 'And what
full of
to fall into that p
rever?'
you do to
How can you keep in good health? Children younger than you die daily. I buried a little child of five years old only
you to be ca
cast my eyes down on the two large feet planted on
you repent of ever having been the occasion o
'They all call Mrs. Reed my benefactress; if
ayers night and mor
rrog
s,
your Bible?
re? Are you
esis and Samuel, and a little bit of Exodus, and som
I hope you like
ould rather have, a gingerbread nut to eat or a verse of a Psalm to learn, he says: 'Oh! The verse of a Psalm! angels si
ot interestin
God to change it: to give you a new and clean one: to tak
ging my heart was to be performed, when Mrs. Reed interposed, telling m
nd disposition I could wish: should you admit her into Lowood school, I should be glad if the superintendent and teachers were requested
attempt to impo
aid by such sentences as the above. Now, uttered before a stranger, the accusation cut me to the heart; I dimly perceived that she was already obliterating hope from the new phase of existence that she destined me to enter; I felt,
thought I, as I str
y some tears, the impotent
sehood, and all liars will have their portion in the lake burning with fire and brimstone
to be brought up in
d my benefactress; '
for the vacations,
pend them alw
d Mr. James. 'Humility is a Christian grace, and one pec
second daughter, Augusta, went with her mama to visit the school, and on her return, she exclaimed: 'Oh, dear papa, how quiet and plain all the girls at Lowood look, with their hair combed behind their ears, and the
f things I quite app
d a system more exactly fitting a child like Sarah Smith. Consis
it has been observed in every arrangement connected with th
active habits; such is the order of th
being received as a pupil at Lowood, and there being
that nursery of chosen plants, and I tru
e privilege of
hen, as soon as pos
xious to be relieved of a responsib
wo: my good friend, the Archdeacon, will not permit me to leave him sooner. I shall send Miss Temple not
rs. and Miss James, and Augusta and T
entitled The 'Child's Guide,' read it with
dden death of Mar
ed to falsehoo
nd a thin pamphlet sewn in a cover, and h
uldered and strong- limbed, not tall, and, though stout, not obese: she had a somewhat large face, the under jaw being much developed and very solid; her brow was low, her chin large and prominent, mouth and no
ntrol; her children only at times defied her authority and laughed it to scorn; s
perused her features. In my hand, I held the tract containing the sudden death
ten- or of their conversation, was recent, raw, and stinging in my mind; I had felt every w
ye settled on mine, her fingers at the s
struck her as offensive, for she spoke with extreme though suppressed ir- ritation. I got up, I
how? What strength had I to dart retaliation at my antagonist?
if I were, I should s
ve you: I dislike y
ok about the liar, you may give to your girl, Ge
ll lay on her work in
dwell freez
tone in which a person might address an opponent of
ipathy I had. Shaking from head to foot, thril
ever come to see you when I am grown up; and if anyone asks me how I liked you, and how you treated
affirm that,
er how you thrust me back-roughly and violently thrust me back-into the red- room, and locked me up there, to my dying day; though I was in agony; though I cried out while suffocating with distress, 'Have
, but you are bad, h
eit
an invisible bond had burst, and that I had struggled out into unhoped-for liberty. Not without cause was this sentiment: Mrs. Reed looked frigh
e matter with you? Why do you tremble so vi
Mrs.
ish for, Sarah? I assure you,
a deceitful disposition; and I'll let everybody at
these things: children must b
ult!' I cried out in
must allow: and now return to the nurse
down: send me to school soon, Mr
d her to school so