CHAPTER VIII. DOMESTIC PLEASURES PLANNED.

[Instructor’s note: The scene shifts to the Temple home, where Charlotte’s parents like Adam and Eve are innocently “walking together in the garden” and planning their only child’s birthday party. The narrator resumes (from ch. 2) an extended personification of “Content” or domestic happiness.]

[8.1] "I think, my dear," said Mrs. Temple, laying her hand on her husband's arm as they were walking together in the garden, "I think next Wednesday is Charlotte's birth day: now I have formed a little scheme in my own mind, to give her an agreeable surprise; and if you have no objection, we will send for her [to come] home on that day."

[8.2] Temple pressed his wife's hand in token of approbation, and she proceeded.—"You know the little alcove [arbor] at the bottom of the garden, of which Charlotte is so fond? I have an inclination to deck this out in a fanciful manner, and invite all her little friends to partake of a collation of fruit, sweetmeats [candies], and other things suitable to the general taste of young guests; and to make it more pleasing to Charlotte, she shall be mistress of the feast, and entertain her visitors in this alcove. I know she will be delighted; and to complete all, they shall have some music, and finish with a dance."

[8.3] "A very fine plan, indeed," said Temple, smiling; "and you really suppose I will wink at your indulging the girl in this manner? You will quite spoil her, Lucy; indeed you will."

[8.4] "She is the only child we have," said Mrs. Temple, the whole tenderness of a mother* adding animation to her fine countenance; but it was withal tempered so sweetly with the meek affection and submissive duty of the wife*, that as she paused expecting her husband's answer, he gazed at her tenderly, and found he was unable to refuse her request. [*mother & wife = traditional roles associated with womanhood]

[8.5] "She is a good girl," said Temple.

[8.6] "She is, indeed," replied the fond mother exultingly, "a grateful, affectionate girl; and I am sure will never lose sight of the duty she owes her parents."

[8.7] "If she does," said he, "she must forget the example set her by the best of mothers."

[8.8] Mrs. Temple could not reply; but the delightful sensation that dilated her heart sparkled in her intelligent eyes and heightened the vermillion [pink] on her cheeks.

[8.9] Of all the pleasures of which the human mind is sensible, there is none equal to that which warms and expands the bosom [heart], when listening to commendations bestowed on us by a beloved object, and are conscious of having deserved them.

[8.10] Ye [you] giddy flutterers in the fantastic round of dissipation [partying], who eagerly seek pleasure in the lofty dome, rich treat, and midnight revel—tell me, ye thoughtless daughters of folly, have ye ever found the phantom you have so long sought with such unremitted assiduity [unrewarded devotion]? Has she not always eluded your grasp, and when you have reached your hand to take the cup she extends to her deluded votaries, have you not found the long-expected draught [drink] strongly tinctured with the bitter dregs of disappointment? I know you have: I see it in the wan cheek, sunk eye, and air of chagrin [regret], which ever mark the children of dissipation. Pleasure is a vain illusion; she draws you on to a thousand follies, errors, and I may say vices, and then leaves you to deplore your thoughtless credulity [gullibility].

[8.11] Look, my dear friends, at yonder lovely Virgin, arrayed in a white robe devoid of ornament [plain style]; behold the meekness of her countenance, the modesty of her gait; her handmaids are Humility, Filial Piety, Conjugal Affection, Industry, and Benevolence; her name is CONTENT*; she* holds in her hand the cup of true felicity, and when once you have formed an intimate acquaintance with these her attendants, nay you must admit them as your bosom friends and chief counsellors, then, whatever may be your situation in life, the meek eyed Virgin will immediately take up her abode with you. [*CONTENT = contentment or satisfaction, esp. in domestic happiness; voluntary simplicity personified as feminine—compare chapter 2.2]

[8.12] Is poverty your portion?—she will lighten your labours, preside at your frugal board, and watch your quiet slumbers.

[8.13] Is your state mediocrity?—she will heighten every blessing you enjoy, by informing you how grateful you should be to that bountiful Providence who might have placed you in the most abject situation; and, by teaching you to weigh your blessings against your deserts, show you how much more you receive than you have a right to expect.

[8.14] Are you possessed of affluence [wealth]?—what an inexhaustible fund of happiness will she lay before you! To relieve the distressed, redress the injured, in short, to perform all the good works of peace and mercy.

[8.15] Content, my dear friends, will blunt even the arrows of adversity, so that they cannot materially harm you. She will dwell in the humblest cottage; she will attend you even to a prison. Her parent* is Religion; her sisters*, Patience and Hope. She will pass with you through life, smoothing the rough paths and tread to earth those thorns which every one must meet with as they journey onward to the appointed goal. She will soften the pains of sickness, continue with you even in the cold gloomy hour of death, and, cheating you with the smiles of her heaven-born sister, Hope, lead you triumphant to a blissful eternity. [*parent, *sisters: note figuration of virtues as family]

[8.16] I confess I have rambled strangely from my story: but what of that? if I have been so lucky as to find the road to happiness, why should I be such a niggard [miser—unrelated to racial slur] as to omit so good an opportunity of pointing out the way to others. The very basis of true peace of mind is a benevolent wish to see all the world as happy as one's Self; and from my soul do I pity the selfish churl, who, remembering the little bickerings of anger, envy, and fifty other disagreeables to which frail mortality is subject, would wish to revenge the affront which pride whispers him he has received. For my own part, I can safely declare, there is not a human being in the universe, whose prosperity I should not rejoice in, and to whose happiness I would not contribute to the utmost limit of my power: and may my offences be no more remembered in the day of general retribution, than as from my soul I forgive every offence or injury received from a fellow creature.

[8.17] Merciful heaven! who would exchange the rapture of such a reflexion for all the gaudy tinsel which the world calls pleasure!

[8.18] But to return.—Content dwelt in Mrs. Temple's bosom, and spread a charming animation over her countenance [face], as her husband led her in, to lay the plan she had formed (for the celebration of Charlotte's birth day,)* before Mr. Eldridge.

Continue to Chapter 9