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Charlotte Temple-Part15_Susanna Rowson(1762-1824)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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since her letter was dispatched, and she had received no answer:

she therefore imagined that her conduct had either entirely alienated



their affection from her, or broken their hearts, and she must

never more hope to receive their blessing.



Never did any human being wish for death with greater fervency

or with juster cause; yet she had too just a sense of the duties of



the Christian religion to attempt to put a period to her own existence.

"I have but to be patient a little longer," she would cry, "and nature,



fatigued and fainting, will throw off this heavy load of mortality,

and I shall be released from all my sufferings. "



It was one cold stormy day in the latter end of December,

as Charlotte sat by a handful of fire, the low state of her finances



not allowing her to replenish her stock of fuel, and prudence

teaching her to be careful of what she had, when she was surprised



by the entrance of a farmer's wife, who, without much ceremony,

seated herself, and began this curious harangue.



"I'm come to see if as how you can pay your rent, because as how we

hear Captain Montable is gone away, and it's fifty to one if he b'ant



killed afore he comes back again; an then, Miss, or Ma'am, or whatever

you may be, as I was saying to my husband, where are we to look



for our money. "

This was a stroke altogetherunexpected by Charlotte: she knew so



little of the ways of the world that she had never bestowed a thought

on the payment for the rent of the house; she knew indeed that she



owed a good deal, but this was never reckoned among the others:

she was thunder-struck; she hardly knew what answer to make,



yet it was absolutely necessary that she should say something;

and judging of the gentleness of every femaledisposition by her own,



she thought the best way to interest the woman in her favour would

be to tell her candidly to what a situation she was reduced,



and how little probability there was of her ever paying any body.

Alas poor Charlotte, how confined was her knowledge of human nature,



or she would have been convinced that the only way to insure

the friendship and assistance of your surroundingacquaintance



is to convince them you do not require it, for when once the

petrifying aspect of distress and penury appear, whose qualities,



like Medusa's head, can change to stone all that look upon it;

when once this Gorgon claims acquaintance with us, the phantom



of friendship, that before courted our notice, will vanish into

unsubstantial air, and the whole world before us appear a barren waste.



Pardon me, ye dear spirits of benevolence, whose benign smiles

and chearful-giving hand have strewed sweet flowers on many



a thorny path through which my wayward fate forced me to pass;

think not, that, in condemning the unfeeling texture of the human heart,



I forget the spring from whence flow an the comforts I enjoy: oh no!

I look up to you as to bright constellations, gathering new splendours



from the surrounding darkness; but ah! whilst I adore the benignant

rays that cheared and illumined my heart, I mourn that their influence



cannot extend to all the sons and daughters of affliction.

"Indeed, Madam," said poor Charlotte in a tremulousaccent, "I am at



a loss what to do. Montraville placed me here, and promised to defray

all my expenses: but he has forgot his promise, he has forsaken me,



and I have no friend who has either power or will to relieve me.

Let me hope, as you see my unhappy situation, your charity--"



"Charity," cried the woman impatiently interrupting her, "charity indeed:

why, Mistress, charity begins at home, and I have seven children



at home, HONEST, LAWFUL children, and it is my duty to keep them;

and do you think I will give away my property to a nasty,






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