The Merchant's Family
There was once a merchant, who possessed great riches; he had six children, three boys and three girls, whom he liberally educated. The youngest girl was extremely pretty, insomuch that she obtained the name of Little Beauty, which created jealousy on the part of her less amiable sisters.
The two eldest were extremely proud at being rich, and spoke to their inferiors with the greatest haughtiness: they gave themselves the most disdainful airs, and refused to visit other merchants' daughters; nor would they indeed be seen with any but persons of the highest quality. They went every day to balls, plays, and public walks, and constantly jeered their youngest sister for spending her time in reading, or other useful and improving employments.
In the course of time, by some unexpected event, their father lost his whole fortune, being bereft of everything but a small cottage and a few acres of land. "My children," said the tender father, "in consequence of my misfortunes, we must now work and labour." The elder daughters were very ill-disposed at this sudden change from opulence to comparative poverty, and obtained no pity from their neighbours, because of their pride; but every one sympathised with Little Beauty, whose engaging manners and affable disposition commanded respect.
When they removed to their cottage, the merchant and his three sons employed themselves in tilling and sowing the fields, and working in the garden, that they might have corn and vegetables for their support. Beauty rose by four o'clock, lighted the fire, cleaned the house, and got breakfast ready for the whole family. She at first found all this very fatiguing; but she soon grew quite accustomed to it. When she had done her work, she generally amused herself with reading, or playing on her harpsichord. The two eldest sisters, on the contrary, were at a loss what to do to pass away the time: they breakfasted in bed, and did not rise till ten, when they commonly walked out; and would frequently sit down under a shady tree, to lament the loss of their carriage and fine clothes; when they would say to each other, "What a mean-spirited, poor, stupid creature is our youngest sister, to be so content with our miserable situation!" But the father thought very differently: he admired the patience of this sweet young creature; for her sisters not only left the whole of the work of the house to her, but insulted her every moment.