OR MODES OF EDUCATION. BY THE AUTHOR OF THREE EXPERIMENTS OF LIVING,' WARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY GIFT OF EMILY M. HUSSEY Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1837, by WHIPPLE & DAMRELL, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. MODES OF EDUCATION. PART I. WE REAP AS WE SOW. 'Do you say there are few such characters? So much the better; but there is a great consumption of the raw material, for making them.' Conversations on Vanity. COME, Eudora,' said Mrs. Stanley to her daughter, 'come and practise upon the piano.' 'I have been practising two whole hours,' replied she, sullenly. Very well, my dear; but if you expect to excel, you must practise all the time that you are not learning other lessons.' 'I hate the very sight of the piano,' said the young lady. 'You hate it now; but I wonder whether you will hate it when every body is crowding round to hear your performance? You must remember, Eudora, that nothing is gained without labor. If you mean to perform better than any one else, you must give your time and your mind to it.' 'I don't know what good it will do.' No, you don't know just now; but you will see, when your education is completed. Is it nothing to be distinguished in all societies as the most accomplished young lady present? Is it nothing to hear people say, that Miss Stanley understands Italian, French, Spanish, painting and music perfectly?' Eudora sat pouting, but made no reply. 'I must say,' continued Mrs. Stanley, 'that you make a most ungrateful return for all the expense I am lavishing upon your education. I pay enormous sums every year; and I only ask you to learn.' 'I should think I had learnt enough,' said Eudora. 'I am sure I can play better than any girl of my acquaintance, and I overheard Monsieur Le Franc telling you, that I spoke Italian and French as well as a native. I don't see why my education, that you talk so much. about, cannot be finished now.' The time will soon arrive. There is only one year more, and you will be eighteen years of age; then will come out. I suppose you you have no objection to that. You will like very well to go to parties, and balls, and the theatre, and wherever you appear, to be remarked upon for beauty and accomplishment?' Eudora's sullen brow assumed a more placid expression. To be sure I should.' 'Well, to obtain all this,' replied the mother, 'you have only one motto to bear in mind,— "Improve your time." Depend upon it, Eudora, it will be your own fault, if you are not distinguished. One short year! Only think how soon that will pass away, and then you will go into company with me, and I shall have the pride of seeing my daughter first in every circle. Nor will it end there;-an elegant, accomplished young lady may expect to marry well. "I detest the mis-alliances that are constantly taking place in our country.' 'Mis-alliances,' repeated Eudora, with a scornful laugh, You should say mêsalliances, mamma. You do pronounce French words so droll, that I can't help tittering.' |