A dozen ways of love

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Title:JulianaHoratiaEwingAndHerBooks
Author:HoratiaK.F.Eden
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STARTOFTHISPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKJULIANA
HORATIAEWING***
ProducedbyJulietSutherland,SankarViswanathan,andthe
OnlineDistributedProofreadingTeamat
[Illustration:JulianaHoratiaEwing]JULIANAHORATIAEWINGANDHER
BOOKS.BYHORATIAK.F.EDEN(néeGATTY).SOCIETYFOR
PROMOTINGCHRISTIANKNOWLEDGE,LONDON:
NORTHUMBERLANDAVENUE,W.C.43,QUEENVICTORIASTREET,
E.C.BRIGHTON:129,NORTHSTREET.NEWYORK:E.&J.B.YOUNG&
CO.[PublishedunderthedirectionoftheGeneralLiteratureCommittee.]
PREFACE.
InmakingaSelectionfromMrs.Ewing’sLetterstoaccompanyher


Memoir,IhavechosensuchpassagesastouchmostcloselyonherLife
andBooks.Ifounditwasnotpossibleinallcasestogivereferences
infootnotesbetweentheMemoirandLetters;butasbotharearranged
chronologicallytherewillbenodifficultyinturningfromonetothe
otherwhendesirable.

ThefirstLetter,relatingJulie’smethodofteachingaLiturgical
Class,shouldbereadwiththeremembrancethatitwaswritten
thirty-twoyearsago,longbeforethedevelopmentofourpresent
EducationalSystem;butitisvaluableforthezealandenergyit
records,combinedwiththecommonincidentofthewriterbeingtooill
toappearatthecriticalmomentoftheInspector’svisit.
Inalaterletter,datedMay28,1866,therearecertainremarksabout
classsinginginschools,whicharealsooutofdate;butthisis
retainedasaproofofthekeensenseofmusicalrhythmandaccent
whichmysisterhad,andwhichgaveherpowertowritewordsformusic
althoughshecouldplaynoinstrument.
Itisneedlesstoaddthatnoneoftheletterswereintendedfor
publication;theywerewrittentonearrelativesandfriends_currente
calamo_,andarefulloffamiliarexpressionsandallusionswhichmay
seemtrivialanduninterestingtoordinaryreaders.Those,however,
whocaretostudymysister’scharacterIthinkcannotfailtotrace


intheserecordssomeofitsstrongestfeatures;herkeenenjoymentof
thebeautiesofNature,—herloveforanimals,—forherHome,—her
laresandpenates;—andherFriends.Aboveallthatloveof
GODwhichwastheguidinginfluenceofeverythingshewrote
ordid.Soinseparablewasitfromherevery-daylifethatreaders
mustnotbesurprisediftheyfindgraveandgaysentencesfollowing
eachotherinclosesuccession.
Julie’ssenseofhumourneverforsookher,butshewasnever
malicious,andcouldturnthelaughagainstherselfasreadilyas
againstothers.Ihaveventuredtoinsertaspecimenofherfun,which
Ihopewillnotbemisunderstood.InalettertoC.T.G.,datedMarch
13,1874,shegavehimamostgraphicpictureoftheerraticcondition

ofmindthathadcomeoveranoldfriend,theresultofheavy
responsibilitiesandtherushofLondonlife.Juliehadnoideawhen
shewrotethatthesesymptomswereinrealitythesubtlebeginningsof
abreakdown,whichendedfatally,andnoonelamentedtheissuemore
trulythanshe;butshecouldnotresistcatchingfollyasitflew,
andmanyoftheflightyaxiomsbecameproverbialamongstus.
TheinsertionofBishopMedley’sreplytomysister,April8,1880,
needsnoapology,itissointerestinginitself,andgivessucha
charminginsightintothefriendshipbetweenthem.


TheListofMrs.Ewing’sWorksattheendoftheMemoirwasmade
beforethepublicationofthepresentCompleteEdition;this,
therefore,isonlymentionedincaseswherestorieshavenotbeen
publishedinanyotherbookform.AllMrs.Ewing’sVersesfor
Children,Hymns,andSongsforMusic(includingtwoleftinMS.)are
includedinVolumeIX.
VolumeXVII.,“Miscellanea,”containsTheMysteryofabloodyhand
togetherwiththeTranslatedStories,andotherpapersthathad
appearedpreviouslyinMagazines.
InVolumeXII.,“BrothersofPityandothertalesofmenandbeasts,”
willbefoundAmongtheMerrows;AWeekspentinaGlassPond;
Tiny’sTricksandToby’sTricks;_TheOwlintheIvyBush,and
OwlhootsI.II._,whilstSunflowersandaRushlighthasbeenput
amongsttheFlowerStoriesinVol.XVI.,Mary’sMeadow,etc.
TheLetterwithwhichthisvolumeconcludeswasoneofthelastthat
Juliewrote,anditsallusiontoGordon’stranslationseemedtomake
itsuitablefortheEnd.
AfterherdeaththereadersofAuntJudy’sMagazinesubscribed
enoughtocompletetheendowment(£1000)ofaCotattheConvalescent

HomeoftheHospitalforSickChildren,CromwellHouse,Highgate.
ThishadbeenbeguntoourMother’smemory,andwascompletedinthe


jointnamesofMargaretGattyandJulianaHoratiaEwing.So
liberalwerethesubscriptionsthattherewasasurplusofmorethan
£200,andwiththisweendowedtwo£5annuitiesinthe_CambridgeFund
forOldSoldiers_—asthe“Jackanapes,”and“Leonard”annuities.
OfothermemorialstherearethemarblegravestoneinTrull
Churchyard,andTabletinEcclesfieldChurch,bothcarvedbyHarry
Hems,ofExeter,andsimilarlydecoratedwiththedoublelilac
primrose,—St.Juliana’sflower.
InEcclesfieldChurchthereisalsoabeautifulstainedwindow,given
byherfriend,BernardWake.TheglasswasexecutedbyW.F.Dixon,and
thesubjectisChrist’sAscension.JuliediedontheEveofAscension
Day.
Lastly,thereisasmallwindowofjewelledglass,byC.E.Kempe,in
St.George’sChurch,SouthCamp,Aldershot,representingSt.Patrick
tramplingonathree-headedserpent,emblematicalofthepowersof
evil,andholdingtheTrefoilinhishand—asymboloftheBlessed
Trinity.
HORATIAK.F.EDEN.
Rugby,1896.
*****
_ThefrontispieceportraitofMrs.Ewingisaphotogravureproducedby


theSwanElectricEngravingCompany,fromaphotographtakenbyMr.
FergusofLargs_.
_AlltheotherillustrationsarefromMrs.Ewing’sowndrawings,

exceptthetail-pieceonp.136.ThisgracefulidealofMrs.Ewing’s
gravewasanofferingsentbyMr.Caldecottshortlyafterherdeath,
withhisfinalillustrationsto“LobLie-by-the-Fire.“_
AllheartsgrewwarmerinthepresenceOfonewho,seekingnothisown,Gave
freelyfortheloveofgiving,Norreapedforselftheharvestsown.Thygreeting
smilewaspledgeandpreludeOfgenerousdeedsandkindlywords:Inthylarge
heartwerefairguest-chambers,Opentosunriseandthebirds!Thetaskwas
thinetomouldandfashionLife’splasticnewnessintograce;Tomaketheboyish
heartheroic,Andlightwiththoughtthemaiden’sface.*****Ofriend!if
thoughtandsenseavailnotToknowtheehenceforthasthouart,Thatalliswell
withtheeforever,Itrusttheinstinctsofmyheart.Thinebethequiethabitations,
Thinethegreenpastures,blossomsown,Andsmilesofsaintlyrecognition,As
sweetandtenderasthyown.Thoucom’stnotfromthehushandshadowTo
meetus,buttotheewecome;Withtheewenevercanbestrangers,Andwhere
thouartmuststillbehome.“AMemorial.”—JOHNG.WHITTIER.
JULIANAHORATIAEWING
ANDHERBOOKS.
PARTI.
InMemoriamJULIANAHORATIA,SECONDDAUGHTEROFTHEREV.
ALFREDGATTY,D.D.,ANDMARGARET,HISWIFE,BORNAT
ECCLESFIELD,YORKSHIRE,AUGUST3,1841,MARRIEDJUNE1,1867,
TOALEXANDEREWING,MAJOR,A.P.D.,DIEDATBATH,MAY13,1885,
BURIEDATTRULL,SOMERSET,MAY16,1885.
Ihavepromisedthechildrentowritesomethingforthemabouttheir
favouritestory-teller,JulianaHoratiaEwing,becauseIamsurethey


willliketoreadit.
IwellrememberhoweagerlyIdevouredtheLifeofmyfavourite
author,HansChristianAndersen;howanxiousIwastosenda

subscriptiontothememorialstatueofhim,whichwasplacedinthe
centreofthepublicGardenatCopenhagen,wherechildrenyetplayat
hisfeet;and,stillfurther,tosendsomeflowerstohisnewly-filled
gravebythehandofonewho,morefortunatethanmyself,hadthe
chanceofvisitingthespot.
Ithinkthatthepointwhichchildrenwillbemostanxioustoknow
aboutMrs.Ewingishowshewroteherstories.Didsheevolvethe
plotsandcharactersentirelyoutofherownmind,orweretheyinany
waysuggestedbytheoccurrencesandpeoplearoundher?
Thebestplanofansweringsuchquestionswillbeformetogivea
listofherstoriesinsuccessionastheywerewritten,andtotell,
asfarasIcan,whatgaverisetotheminmysister’smind;indoing
thisweshallfindthatanoutlinebiographyofherwillnaturally
follow.Nearlyallherwritingsfirstappearedinthepagesof_Aunt
Judy’sMagazine_,andaswerealizethisfactweshallseehowclose
herconnectionwithitwas,andceasetowonderthattheMagazine
shouldendafterherdeath.
Thosewholivedwithmysisterhavenodifficultyintracing


likenessesbetweensomeofthecharactersinherbooks,andmanywhom
shemetinreallife;butletmesay,onceforall,thatshenever
drew“portraits”ofpeople,andevenifsomeofusnowandthencaught
glimpsesofourselvesundertheclothingshehadrobedusin,weonly
feltashamedtothinkhowunlikewereallyweretotheglorified
beingswhomsheputbeforethepublic.
Stilllessdidsheeverdowithherpen,whatanartisticfamilyof
childrenusedtothreatentodowiththeirpencilswhentheywere
vexedwitheachother,namely,to“drawyouugly.”
Itwasoneofthestrongestfeaturesinmysister’scharacterthatshe

“receivedbutwhatshegave,”andthrewsuchahaloofsympathyand
trustroundallwithwhomshecameincontact,thatsheseemedtosee
them“withlargerothereyesthanours,”andtreatedthemaccordingly.
Onthewhole,Iamsurethiswasgoodinitsresults,thoughthepain
occasionallyofawakeningtodisappointmentwasacute;butshe
generallycontrivedtocoverupthewoundwithsomenewshootofHope.
OnthoseinwhomshetrustedIthinkherfaithactedfavourably.I
recollectonefriendwhoseconsciencedidnotallowhimtorestquite
easyundertherosylightthroughwhichhefelthewasviewed,saying
toher:“It’sthetrustthatsuchwomenasyoureposeinusmen,which
makesusdesiretobecomemorelikewhatyoubelieveustobe.”


Ifheruniversalsympathysometimesledhertowhatwemighthastily
consider“wastehertime”onthepettyinterestsandtroublesof
peoplewhoappearedtousunworthy,whatwerewethatweshouldblame
her?ThevalueofeachsoulisequalinGod’ssight;andwhenthe
booksareopenedtheremaybemoreentriesthanwenowcancountof
heartscomforted,self-respectrestored,andsoulsraisedbyherhelp
tofreshloveandtrustinGod,—ay,evenofoldsinsanddeedsof
shameturnedintorungsontheladdertoheavenbyfeetthathave
learnedtotreadtheevilbeneaththem.Itwasthiswell-springof
sympathyinherwhichmademysisterrejoiceasshedidinthe
teachingofthenowChaplain-General,Dr.J.C.Edghill,whenhewas
yetattachedtotheironchurchintheSouthCamp,Aldershot.“He
preachesthegospelofHope,”shesaid—hopethatisinthelatent
powerwhichlieshiddenevenintheworstofus,readytotakefire
whentouchedbytheDivineflame,andburnupitsoldevilintoa
lightthatwillshinetoGod’sglorybeforemen.Istillpossessthe
epitomeofoneofthese“hopeful”sermons,whichshesentmeina

letterafterhearingthechaplainpreachonthetwotexts:“What
meanestthou,Osleeper?arise,calluponthyGod”;“Awake,thouthat
sleepest,andarisefromthedead,andChristshallgivetheelight.”
Ithasbeensaidthat,inhisstoryof“TheOldBachelor’sNightcap,”


HansAndersenrecordedsomethingofhisowncareer.Iknownotifthis
betrue,butcertainlyinherstoryof“MadamLiberality”[1]Mrs.
Ewingdrewapictureofherowncharacterthatcanneverbesurpassed.
Shedidthisquiteunintentionally,Iknow,andbelievedthatshewas
onlygivingherownexperiencesofsufferingunderquinsy,in
combinationwithsomerecordofthevirtuesofOnewhosepowersof
courage,uprightness,andgenerosityunderill-healthshehadalways
regardedwithdeepadmiration.Possiblythevirtueswere
hereditary,—certainlytheoriginalownerofthemwasarelation;but,
howeverthismaybe,MadamLiberalitybearsawonderfullystrong
likenesstomysister,andsheusedtobecalledbyagreatfriendof
oursthe“littlebodywithamightyheart,”fromthequotationwhich
appearsattheheadofthetale.
[Footnote1:Reprintedin“AGreatEmergencyandotherTales.”]
Thesamefriendisnowabishopinanotherhemispherefromours,but
hewilleverbereckoneda“great”friend.Ourbondsoffriendship
weretiedduringhoursofsorrowinthehouseofmourning,andsuchas
thesearenotbrokenbyafter-divisionsofspaceandtime.Mrs.Ewing
namedhim“Jachin,”fromoneofthepillarsoftheTemple,onaccount
ofhisbeingapillarofstrengthatthattimetous.Letmenowquote
theopeningdescriptionofMadamLiberalityfromthestory:—


Itwasnotherrealname;itwasgiventoherbyherbrothersandsisters.People

withverymarkedqualitiesofcharacterdosometimesgetsuchdistinctivetitles
torectifytheindefinitenessofthosetheyinheritandthosetheyreceivein
baptism.Therulingpeculiarityofacharacterisapttoshowitselfearlyinlife,
anditshoweditselfinMadamLiberalitywhenshewasalittlechild.Plum-cakes
werenotplentifulinherhomewhenMadamLiberalitywasyoung,and,suchas
therewere,wereofthe“wholesome”kind—plentyofbreadstuff,andthe
currantsandraisinsatarespectfuldistancefromeachother.But,fewasthe
plumswere,sheseldomatethem.Shepickedthemoutverycarefully,andput
themintoabox,whichwashiddenunderherpinafore.Whenwegrown-up
peoplewerechildren,andplum-cakeandplum-puddingtastedverymuchnicer
thantheydonow,wealsopickedouttheplums.Someofusatethematonce,
andhadthentotoilslowlythroughthecakeorpudding,andsomevaliantly
dispatchedtheplainerportionofthefeastatthebeginning,andkepttheplumsto
sweetentheend.Soonerorlaterweatethemourselves,butMadamLiberality
keptherplumsforotherpeople.Whenthevulgarmealwasover—that
commonplacerefreshmentordainedandsuperintendedbytheeldersofthe
household—MadameLiberalitywouldwithdrawintoacorner,fromwhichshe
issuednotesofinvitationtoallthedolls.Theywere“fancywritten”oncurlpapers,andfoldedintocockedhats.Thenbegantherealfeast.Thedollscame
andthechildrenwiththem.MadamLiberalityhadnotoytea-setsordinner-sets,
buttherewereacorn-cupsfilledtothebrim,andthewatertasteddeliciously,
thoughitcameoutoftheewerinthenight-nursery,andhadnotevenbeen
filtered.Andbeforeeverydollwasaflatoyster-shellcoveredwitharound
oyster-shell,acompletesetofcompletepairswhichhadbeencollectedby
degrees,likeoldfamilyplate.And,whentheuppershellwasraised,onevery
dishlayaplum.ItwasthenthatMadamLiberalitygothersweetnessoutofthe
cake.Shewasinhergloryattheheadoftheinvertedtea-chest,andiftheraisins
wouldnotgoroundtheemptyoyster-shellwashers,andnothingoffendedher
morethantohavethisnoticed.Thatwasherspirit,thenandalways.Shecould
“dowithout”anything,ifthewherewithaltobehospitablewaslefttoher.When
one’sbrainisnostrongerthanmineis,onegetsverymuchconfusedin

disentanglingmotivesandnicepointsofcharacter.Ihavedoubtedwhether
MadamLiberality’sbesettingvirtuewereavirtueatall.Wasitunselfishnessor
loveofapprobation,benevolenceorfussiness,thegiftofsympathyorthelustof
power,orwasitsomethingelse?Shewasaverysicklychild,withmuchpainto
bear,andmanypleasurestoforego.Wasit,asthedoctorssay,“aneffortof
nature”tomakeherliveoutsideherself,andbehappyinthehappinessof
others?


AllmyearliestrecollectionsofJulie(asImustcallher)picture
herasatoncetheprojectorandmanagerofallournurserydoings.
Evenifshetyrannizedoverusbyalwaysarrangingthingsaccordingto
herownfancy,wedidnotrebel,wereliedsohabituallyandentirely
onhertooriginateeveryfreshplanandidea;andIamsurethatin
ourturnweoftentyrannizedoverherbyreproachingherwhenanyof
whatwecalledher“projukes”endedin“mulls,”orwhenshepausedfor
whatseemedtousalongerfiveminutesthanusualinthemiddleof
somestoryshewastelling,tothinkwhatthenextincidentshouldbe!
Itamazesmenowtorealizehowunreasonablewewereinour
impatience,andhowherpowersofinventioneverkeptpacewithour
demands.Theseearlystorieswereinfluencedtosomeextentbythe
booksthatshethenlikedbesttoread—Grimm,Andersen,and
Bechstein’sfairytales;tothelastwriterIbelieveweowedher
storyaboutaWizard,whichwasoneofourchieffavourites.Notthat
shecopiedBechsteininanyway,forwereadhistalestoo,andwould
nothavesubmittedtoanythingapproachingarecapitulation;butthe
characterofthelittleWizardwasonewhichfascinatedher,andeven
moreso,perhaps,thequaintpictureofhim,whichstoodatthehead
ofthetale;andshewoveroundthisskeletonideaaramblingromance
fromherownfertileimagination.

Ihavespeciallyalludedtothepicture,becausemysister’sartistic
aswellasliterarypowersweresostrongthatthroughallherlife
thetwoeverransidebyside,eachaidinganddevelopingtheother,
sothatitisdifficulttospeakofthemapart.[2]
[Footnote2:Letter,May14,1876.]
Manyofthestoriesshetoldusinchildhoodwereinspiredbysomefine
woodcutsinaGerman“ABCbook,”thatwecouldnoneofusthenread,and
inlateryearssomeofherbesteffortsweresuggestedbyillustrations,
andwrittentofitthem.Iknow,too,thatinarrangingtheplotsand
wordingofherstoriesshefollowedtherulesthatarepursuedbyartists
incomposingtheirpictures.Shefoundgreatdifficultyinpreventing
herselffrom“overcrowdinghercanvas”withminorcharacters,owingtoher
tendencytothrowherselfintocompletesympathywithwhatevercreatureshe
touched;and,sometimes,—particularlyintaleswhichcameoutasserials,
whenshewrotefrommonthtomonth,andhadnoopportunityofcorrecting
thecompositionasawhole,—shewasapttogiveundueprominenceto
minordetails,andthrowherhighlightsontoobscurecorners,insteadof
concentratingthemonthecentralpoint.Theseartisticruleskepther
humourandpathos,—likelightandshade,—dulybalanced,andmadethe
lightsshe“leftout”someofthemoststrikingpointsofherwork.
[Illustration:POSTMILL,DENNINGTON.]


Buttogobacktothestoriesshetoldusaschildren.Anotherofour
favouriteonesrelatedtoaCavalierwhohidinanundergroundpassage
connectedwithadesertedWindmillonalonelymoor.Itisneedlessto
saythat,aswewerebroughtuponMarryat’s_ChildrenoftheNew
Forest_,andpossessedanauntwhoalwayswentintomourningforKing

CharlesonJanuary30,oursympathieswereentirelydevotedtothe
Stuarts’cause;andthispersecutedCavalier,withhisbighatand
boots,longhairandsorrows,wasourbestbelovedhero.Wewould
alwaysletJulietellusthe“WindmillStory”overagain,whenher
imaginationwasatalossforanewone.Windmills,Isupposefrom
theirpicturesqueness,hadaverystrongattractionforher.There
werenonenearourYorkshirehome,so,perhaps,theirrarityaddedto
theirvalueinhereyes;certainitisthatshewasnevertiredof
sketchingthem,andoneofherlatestnote-booksisfulloftheold
millatFrimley,Hants,takenundervariousaspectsofsunsetand
storm.ThenHolland,withitslowhorizonsandrowsofwindmills,was
thefirstforeignlandshechosetovisit,andthe“DutchStory,”one
ofherearliestwrittenefforts,remainsanunfinishedfragment;
whilst“JanoftheWindmill”owesmuchofitsexistencetoherearly
loveforthesequaintstructures.
ItwasnotonlyinthematteroffairytalesthatJuliereigned


supremeinthenursery,shepresidedequallyoverourgamesand
amusements.Inmatterssuchasgarden-plots,whensheandoureldest
sistercouldeachhaveoneofthesamesize,theydidso;but,whenit
cametotherebeingonebower,devisedunderthebendingbranchesof
alilacbush,thenthelawsofseniorityweredisregarded,anditwas
“Julie’sBower.”Here,onbenchesmadeofnarrowboardslaidon
invertedflower-pots,wesatandlistenedtoherstories;herewas
keptthediscardeddinner-bell,usedatthefuneralsofourpet
animals,andwhichsheintroducedinto“TheBurialoftheLinnet.”[3]
NeartheBowerwehadachapel,dedicatedtoSt.Christopher,anda
sketchofitisstillextant,whichwasdrawnbyoureldestsister,
whowasthechiefbuilderandcaretakeroftheshrine;hencestarted

thefuneralprocessions,bothofourpetsandofthestraybirdsand
beastswefoundunburied.In“BrothersofPity”[4]Juliegaveherhero
thesamepredilectionforburyingthatwehadindulgedin.
[Footnote3:“VersesforChildren,andSongsforMusic.”]
[Footnote4:“BrothersofPity,andotherTalesofBeastsandMen.”]
Sheinventednamesforthespotsthatwemostfrequentedinourwalks,
suchas“TheMermaid’sFord,”and“St.Nicholas.”Thelattercovereda
spaceincludingseveralfieldsandaclearstream,andoverthis
localityshecertainlyreignedsupreme;ourgatheringofvioletsand


cowslips,orofhipsandhawsforjam,andourdiggingofearth-nuts
werelimitedbyherorders.Idonotthinksheeverattemptedto
exerciseherprerogativeoverthestream;Iamsurethat,wheneverwe
caughtsightofadarktuftofslimyBatrachospermuminitsclear
depths,weplungedintosecureitforMother,whetherJulieorany
otherNaiadlikeditorno!But“thesplendourinthegrassandglory
intheflower”thatwefoundin“St.Nicholas”wasverydeepandreal,
thankstoallshewovearoundthespotforus.Eveninchildhoodshe
musthavefelt,andimpartedtous,agreatdealofwhatsheputinto
theheartsofthechildrenin“OurField.”[5]Tomethisstoryisone
ofthemostbeautifulofhercompositions,anddeeplycharacteristic
ofthestrongpowershepossessedofdrawinghappinessfromlittle
things,inspiteofthehindrancescausedbyweakhealth.Herfountain
ofhopeandthankfulnessneverrandry.
[Footnote5:“AGreatEmergency,andotherTales.”]
MadamLiberalitywasaccustomedtodisappointment.Fromherearliestyearsit
hadbeenafamilyjoke,thatpoorMadamLiberalitywasalwaysinill-luck’sway.
Itistruethatshewasconstantlyplanning;and,ifonebuildscastles,onemust
expectafewloosestonesaboutone’searsnowandthen.But,besidesthis,her

littlehopeswereconstantlybeingfrustratedbyFate.Ifthepigsorthehensgot
intothegarden,MadamLiberality’sbedwassuretobelaidwastebeforeany
onecametotherescue.Whenapicnicoratea-partywasinstore,ifMadam
Liberalitydidnotcatchcold,soastohinderherfromgoing,shewasprettysure
tohaveaquinsyfromfatigueorwetfeetafterwards.Whenshehadatreat,she
paidforthepleasurableexcitementbyahead-ache,justaswhensheatesweet
thingstheygavehertoothache.But,ifherluckwaslessthanotherpeople’s,her


courageandgoodspiritsweremorethancommon.Shecouldthinkwithpleasure
aboutthetreatwhenshehadforgottenthehead-ache.Onesideofherfacewould
lookfairlycheerfulwhentheotherwasobliteratedbyaflannelbagofhot
camomileflowers,andthewholewasredolentofeverypossibledomestic
remedyfortoothache,fromoilofclovesandcreosotetoabakedonioninthe
ear.Nosufferingsabatedherenergyforfreshexploits,orquenchedthehopethat
cold,anddamp,andfatiguewouldnothurther“thistime.”Intheintervalsof
wringingouthotflannelsforherquinsyshewouldamuseherselfbydevisinga
desertislandexpedition,onalargerandpossiblyadamperscalethanhitherto,
againstthetimewhensheshouldbeoutagain.Itisaveryoldsimile,butMadam
Liberalityreallywaslikeacorkrisingonthetopoftheverywaveofill-luckthat
hadswallowedupherhopes.Herlittlewhitefaceandundauntedspiritbobbed
upaftereachmischanceormaladyasreadyandhopefulasever.
SomeoftheindooramusementsoverwhichJulieexercisedgreat
influencewereourtheatricals.Herpowersofimitationwerestrong;
indeed,mymother’sstoryof“JoachimtheMimic”waswritten,when
Juliewasveryyoung,rathertocheckthishabitwhichhadearly
developedinher.Shealwaystookwhatmaybecalledthe“walking
gentleman’s”partinourplays.MissCorner’sSeriescamefirst,and
thenJuliewasusuallyaPrince;butafterweadvancedtofarces,her
mostsuccessfulcharacterwasthatofthecommercialtraveller,

CharleyBeeswing,in“TwentyMinuteswithaTiger.”“Character”parts
werewhatshelikedbesttotake,andinlateryears,whenaidingin
privatetheatricalsatAldershotCamp,thepieceshemostenjoyedwas
“HelpingHands,”inwhichsheactedTilda,withCaptainF.G.Slade,
R.A.,asShockey,andMajorEwingastheblindmusician.


ThelasttimesheactedwasatShoeburyness,whereshewastheguest
ofherfriendsColonelandMrs.Strangways,andwhenCaptain
Goold-Adamsandhiswifealsotookpartintheentertainment.The
terriblenewsofColonelStrangways’andCaptainGoold-Adams’deaths
fromtheexplosionatShoeburyinFebruary1885,reachedherwhilst
shewasveryill,andshockedhergreatly;thoughsheoftenalludedto
thehelpshegotfromthinkingofColonelStrangways’unselfishness,
courage,andsubmissionduringhislasthours,andtryingtobearher
ownsufferingsinthesamespirit.Shewassomuchpleasedwiththe
descriptiongivenofhisgravebeinglinedwithmossandlilac
crocuses,thatwhenherownhadtobedugitwaslinedinasimilar
way.
ButnowletusgobacktoherintheNursery,andrecallhow,inspiteof
verylimitedpocket-money,shewasalwaysthepresidingGeniusover
birthdayandChristmas-treegifts;andthetrue‘St.Nicholas’whofilled
thestockingsthatthe“littleones”tied,inhappyconfidence,totheir
bed-posts.HerethedescriptionmustbequotedofMadamLiberality’s
strugglesbetweengenerosityandconscientiousness;—
ItmayseemstrangethatMadamLiberalityshouldeverhavebeenaccusedof
meanness,andyethereldestbrotherdidonceshakehisheadatherandsay,
“You’rethemostmeanestandthegenerousestpersonIeverknew!”AndMadam
Liberalityweptovertheaccusation,althoughherbrotherwasthentooyoungto
formeitherhiswordsorhisopinionscorrectly.Butitwasthetouchoftruthinit

whichmadeMadamLiberalitycry.TotheendoftheirlivesTomandshewere
alike,andyetdifferentinthismatter.MadamLiberalitysaved,andpinched,and
planned,andthengaveaway,andTomgaveawaywithoutthepinchingandthe
saving.Thissoundsmuchhandsomer,anditwaspoorTom’smisfortunethathe
alwaysbelievedittobeso;thoughhegaveawaywhatdidnotbelongtohim,
andfellbackforthesupplyofhisownprettynumerouswantsuponother
people,notforgettingMadamLiberality.PainfulexperienceconvincedMadam
Liberalityintheendthathiswaywasawrongone,butshehadherdoubtsmany
timesinherlifewhethertherewerenotsomethingunhandsomeinherown
decidedtalentforeconomy.Notthateconomywasalwayspleasanttoher.When
peopleareverypoorfortheirpositioninlife,theycanonlykeepoutofdebtby
stintingonmanyoccasionswhenstintingisverypainfultoaliberalspirit.Andit
requiresasternervirtuethangoodnaturetoholdfastthetruththatitisnoblerto
beshabbyandhonestthantodothingshandsomelyindebt.ButlongbeforeTom
hadabillevenforbull’s-eyesandGibraltarrock,MadamLiberalitywas
pinchingandplotting,andsavingbitsofcolouredpaperandendsofribbon,with
athriftinesswhichseemedtojustifyTom’sviewofhercharacter.Theobjectof
thesesavingswastwofold,—birthdaypresentsandChristmas-boxes.Theywere
thechiefcaresandtriumphsofMadamLiberality’schildhood.Itwaswiththe
nextbirthdayortheapproachingChristmasinviewthatshesavedherpence
insteadofspendingthem,butshesoseldomhadanymoneythatshechiefly
reliedonherowningenuity.Yearbyyearitbecamemoredifficulttomake
anythingwhichwould“doforaboy;”butitwaseasytopleaseDarling,and
“Mother’s”unabatedappreciationofpin-cushions,andofneedle-booksmade
outofoldcards,wasmostsatisfactory.
EquallycharacteristicofJulie’smoralcourageandunselfishnessis
theincidentofhowMadamLiberalitysufferedthedoctor’sassistant
toextractthetoothfangwhichhadbeenaccidentallyleftinherjaw,

becausehermother’s“fixedscaleofrewardwassixpenceforatooth
withoutfangs,andashillingforonewiththem,”andshewantedthe
largersumtospendonChristmas-treepresents.
Whentheoperationwasover,


MadamLiberalitystaggeredhome,verygiddy,butveryhappy.Moralistssaya
greatdealaboutpaintreadingsocloselyontheheelsofpleasureinthislife,but
theyarenotalwayswiseorgratefulenoughtospeakofthepleasurewhich
springsoutofpain.Andyetthereisablisswhichcomesjustwhenpainhas
ceased,whoserapturerivalseventhehighhappinessofunbrokenhealth;and
thereisakeenpleasureaboutsmallpleasureshardlyearned,inwhichthefull
measureofthosewhocanaffordanythingtheywantissometimeslacking.
Reliefiscertainlyoneofthemostdelicioussensationswhichpoorhumanitycan
enjoy!
ThedetailswhichcanbetracedinJulie’slettersafterundergoing
theremovalofhertonsilsreadverymuchlikeextractsfromMadam
Liberality’sbiography.Duringmysister’slastillnessshespoke
aboutthisepisode,andsaidshelookedbackwithsurpriseatthe
courageshehadexercisedingoingtoLondonalone,andstayingwith
friendsfortheoperation.Happily,likeMadamLiberality,shetoo
earnedarewardinthereliefwhichsheappreciatedsokeenly;for,
afterthisevent,quinsiesbecamethingsofthepasttoher,andshe
hadthemnomore.
OnApril14,1863,shewrote—
“MYDEARESTMOTHER,—IcouldknockmyheadoffwhenIthinkthatIam
toblamefornotbeingabletosendyouwordyesterdayofthehappyconclusion
ofthisaffair!!**Icannotapologizeenough,butassureyouIpunishedmyself
bytwodays’suspense(aletterhadbeenmisdirectedtothesurgeonwhich
delayedhisvisit).IdidintendtohaveaskedifImighthavespentatriflewith

theflower-manwhocomestothedoorhere,andbringhomealittleadornment
tomyflower-boxasasugar-plumaftermyoperation**nowIfeelIdonot
deserveit,butperhapsyouwillbemerciful!“Itwasatiresomeoperation—so
choking!He(Mr.Smith,thesurgeon)wasaboutanhouratit.Hewasmorekind
andconsideratethancanbeexpressed;whenhewentIsaidtohim,‘Iamvery


muchobligedtoyou,firstfortellingmethetruth,andsecondlyforwaitingfor
me.’ForwhenIgot‘downinthemouth,’hewaited,andchattedtillIscrewedup
mycourageagain.Hesaid,‘Whenpeoplearereasonableitisbarbaroustohurry
them,andIsaidyouwerethatwhenIfirstsawyou.’”April16,1863.“Thank
yousomuchforlettingmebringhomeaflowerortwo!Idolovethemso
much.”
AsJulieemergedfromthenurseryandbegantotakeaninterestinour
villageneighbours,hertastefor“projects”wasdevotedtotheir
interests.ItwasherenergythatestablishedaVillageLibraryin
1859,whichstillremainsaflourishinginstitution;butallher
attemptswerenotcrownedwithequalsuccess.Sheoftenrecalled,with
greatamusement,how,thefirstdayonwhichshedistributedtractsas
aDistrictVisitor,anoldladyoflimitedideasandcrabbed
dispositioncalledintheeveningtorestorethetractwhichhadbeen
lenttoher,remarkingthatshehadbroughtitbackandrequiredno
more,as—“My‘usbanddoesnotattendthepublic-‘ouse,andwe’veno
unrewlychildren!”
MysistergaveaseriesofLessons6ontheLiturgyinthe
day-school,andonSundayheldaClassforYoungWomenatthe
Vicarage,becauseshewassooftenpreventedbyattacksofquinsyfrom
goingouttoschool;indeed,atthistime,asthemotherofsomeof
herex-pupilsonlylatelyremarked,“MissJuliewerealwayscayling.”
[Footnote6:Letter,August19,1864.]

[Illustration:SOUTHSCREEN,ECCLESFIELDCHURCH.]
Thefirststoriesthatshepublishedbelongtothisso-to-speak
“parochial”phaseofherlife,whenherinterestswerechieflydivided
betweenthenurseryandthevillage.“ABitofGreen”cameoutinthe
MonthlyPacketinJuly1861;“TheBlackbird’sNest”inAugust
1861;“Melchior’sDream”inDecember1861;andthesethreetales,with
twoothers,whichhadnotbeenpreviouslypublished(“Friedrich’s
Ballad”and“TheViscount’sFriend”),wereissuedinavolumecalled
“Melchior’sDreamandotherTales,”in1862.Theproceedsofthefirst
editionofthisbookgave“MadamLiberality”theopportunityof
indulginginherfavouritevirtue.Sheandhereldestsister,who
illustratedthestories,firstdevotedthe“tenths”oftheir
respectiveearningsforletterpressandpicturestobuyingsome
hangingsforthesacrariumofEcclesfieldChurch,andthenJulie
treatedtwoofhersisters,whowereoutofhealth,toWhitbyfor
changeofair.Threeyearslater,outofsomeotherliteraryearnings,
shetookhereldestbrothertoAntwerpandHolland,toseethecityof
Rubens’pictures,andthelandofcanals,windmills,andfine
sunsets.[7]Theexpeditionhadtobeconductedonprincipleswhich
savouredmoreofstrictintegrityandeconomythanofcomfort;for
theywentinasmallsteamerfromHulltoAntwerp,butJuliefeasted


hereyesandbrainonallthefreshsightsandsoundssheencountered,
andfilledhersketch-bookwithpictures.
[Footnote7:Letters,September1865.]
[Illustration:INOWNINGAGOODTURN]
“ItwasatRotterdam,”wroteherbrother,“thatIleftherwithher

camp-stoolandwater-coloursforamomentinthestreet,tofind
her,onmyreturn,withahugecrowdroundher,andbefore—abaker’s
manholdingbackablueveilthatwouldblowbeforehereyes—andshe
sketchingdownanavenueofspectators,towhomshekeptmotioning
withherbrushtostandaside.Perfectlyunconsciousshewasofhow
shelooked,andIhadgreatdifficultyingettinghertopackupand
moveon.EveryquaintDutchboat,everyqueerstreet,everypeasantin
goldornaments,wasatreasuretohernote-book.Wewereveryhappy!”
Idoubt,indeed,whetherhercompanionhasexperiencedgreater
enjoymentduringanyofhislaterandmoreluxuriousvisitstothe
samespots;thefirstsightofaforeigncountrymustremaina
uniquesensation.
ItwasnottheintrinsicvalueofJulie’sgiftstousthatmadethem
soprecious,butthewide-heartedspiritwhichalwayspromptedthem.
Outofamoderateincomeshecouldonlyaffordtobegenerousfromher
constanthabitofthinkingfirstforothers,anddenyingherself.It


madelittledifferencewhetherthegiftwaselevenpence
three-farthings’worthofmodernJapanesepottery,whichsheseized
uponasjusttherightshapeandcolourtofitsomenicheononeof
ourshelves,oracopyoftheeditiondeluxeof“Evangeline,”with
FrankDicksee’smagnificentillustrations,whichsheorderedoneday
tobeincludedintheparcelofasister,whohadbeenjudiciously
layingoutasmallsumonthepurchaseofcheapeditionsofstandard
works,notdaringtolookintothetemptingvolumeforfearof
covetingit.Whenthecarrierbroughthometheunexpectedlylarge
parcelthatnight,itwasdifficulttosaywhetherthereceiverorthe
giverwasthehappier.
MyturncameoncetobetakenbyJulietotheseaforrest(June

1874),andthenoneofthechiefenjoymentslayintheunwontedluxury
ofbeingallowedtochoosemyownroute.Freedomofchoicetoa
weariedmindisquiteasrefreshingasozonetoanexhaustedbody.
Juliehadnoneofthepettytyrannyaboutherwhichoftenmarsthe
generosityofotherwiseliberalsouls,whoinsistongivingwhatthey
wishratherthanwhatthereceiverwants.
IwastoldtotakeoutBradshaw’smap,andgoexactlywhereIdesired,
and,oh!howweporedoverthevariousrailwaylines,butfinally
choseDartmouthforadestination,asbeingoldinitself,andnewto