THE YOUNG LADY'S OR, CASKET OF AMUSEMENTS. With COLOURED PLATES AND GILT UDGES. ONE PENNY. LONDON: ORLANDO HODGSON, 10, Cloth Fair, West Smithfield. J mM --•t-*»H,-s,- t ♦..•A" ;'^ft4.o'M|ftt< ■'JVl'* PI <^ wm. i AM) T E History of Betsey Harlow. WITH A BEAl'Tll HL ENGKAVING. LONDON: ORI.ANDO nODOSON. 10, CLOTH EAIR.WEST SMITHFIKLD- i •ite* I ■PW^ii.,JB THE PIGEON AND DOVE The queen of the countiy of Deserts, ha^ ving lost the king h^r husband, and finding- herself to draw nigh her end, with grief en- treated her old friend, the Sovereign Fairy, to take under her care her only child. The fairy undertook the charge, and the queen died in peace. The fairy foresaw, that great misfortunes would happen to the princess, if seen by a certain giant before she was sixteen years of age ; and therefore carried her to a solitary place, wbere she might live concealed. The fairy informed Constantia of the reason, and ordered her never to stray from home. To amuse herself, the princess had bred up a ram, named Ruson, and she became extra- vantly fond of him. One dav, hearing the ram make most pitiable bleatings, she ran out to know what was the matter, and saw a wolf running off with the poor Ruson. For- getting the fairy's order, she pursued him, till, at last, passing by a grove, out starts a giant, who immediately laid his hands on her, uttering these words: " Long have I sought for a goddess to marry her, and now I have found one." The terrified Constantia, how^ «ver, making no reply, he put her into a . THE PiaEON AND DOYE. 3 large sack, where shs meet with the wolf and Ruson, a dog, cock, parrot, and cat. It happened that the giant was obliged to go and fight a duel with another giant, and the princess taking out her scissars cut the bag, and let out all but the wolf. These creatures did her all the service in their power ; for, it being night-time, the cat's glaring eyes served as a light, the dog as a sentinel, the cock's crowing to frighten the lions, and the parrot, by talking as much as twenty people, prevented her being attacked by thieves. When morning came, Constan- tia found herself by a river's side, but sud- denly deserted by all her attendants, except Ruson. Here she laid herself down to rest ; but she had not slept long before Ruson awoke lier, and looking round, she saw a youth, un- commonly beautiful, and magnificently dres- sed. Ibis stranger was a prince, and was so stricken with Constantia's beauty, that he desired to know if he could render her any iiervice. She expressed her wish of having a flock of sheep to take care of. This he promised to procure for her. ^^Constantio (for that was the prince's name) obtained the (;are of a flock for Constantia; and became so passionately in love with her, th.at he was for ever going to see her, undejr ■wa 4 THE PIGEON pretence of visiting the flock. Constantia, on her part, had conceived no less affection for the prince ; but which, however, she dis- sembled, ai d could not be prevailed upon to promise him any return. Thus falling into despair, he was seized with a fever. Con stantia was conscious of being the cause of his illness, and after some time informed one of his attendants that she knew of a prepa- ration of simples that would cure him. Ac- cordingly she was introduced into the palace and was conducted into the prince's apart- ment. No sooner was she entered than he found himself relieved : not from any effect of the herbs, but from the sight of his char- mingshepherdess ; he grew better every hour, and quickly recovered. Constantia was then introduced to the king and queen ; but the queen was so struck with her appearance, that she gave a violent shriek however, she thanked her for the cure of her son, and appointed her to take care of her flowers in her garden. 1-he queen had dreamt that the prince her son was married to a shepherdess, whose per- son exactly corresponded with that of Con- stantia, and this was the reason of her shrieking. In consequence of this dream, she determined to watch them, and a short observation convinced her that thep'inct AND DOYF* 5 was in love with Constantia, and she with bim ; whereupon she resolved to break otF their aequaintance. With this view, there- fore, she told the prince he must go to a neighbouring king's court, in order to marry his daughter: with wliich the prince, after many excuses, promised to comply. Full of sorrow, he made liaste to acquaint his dear Constantia with it, who was overwhelm- ed with grief at the news. However, she told him that she was born a princess, which was an inexpressible pleasure to the prince ; and they parted, after vowing the most constant fidelity towards each other. The queen also tried several statagems to take Constantia off, but in vain j at last she resolved to send her on board some ship bound for foreign parts, and sold her as a slave to the master of a vessel that was then about to sail. The princess could make no resistance, and so wa» hurried on board by three ruffians. The prince Constantio's behaviour, (as had been agreed on between him and Con- stantia) was rather disgusting than other- wise at the court whither he was sent ; and the queen pretending, by a letter to him, that Constantia was at the point of death, he set off in great agony of mind, and /** turned home. When he arrived, the 4. ^ ■^^.miWVBtlHB ■■»« • ../: --^^^ THE PIGEON thing he heard was, that Constantia was (lead and buried ; wliich threw him into such grief, that he shut himself up in his room. At last he resolved to go to her grave, where he drew his sword, and was going to fall on its point, when the queen, who was with him, interposed ; and, in order to make him desist, was obliged to confess the vile deed she had been guilty of. The prince was thunderstruck, and loaded his mother with reproaches ; but, as he found his dear princess was not dead, he resolved to go in quest of her, and embarked on board a vessel next day. He left no means untried to discover the object of his pursuit. One night, the ship coming to an anchor behind a large rock, he landed ; and, perceiving a great light, made up to it, where thirty Cyclops were making arms. Presently he heard most delightful music; and, looking towards a furnace, he saw a beautiful child coming out of it, whom he knew to be Cupid, and who accosted him in these words: — " Gentle Constantio, the Sovereign Fairy and myself have engaged to protect Con- stantia; but, before we inform you where she is, give some proof of the purity of your flame, by casting yourself into this furna<*e. If you love faithfully, you will be saved; b^'t, if not, you vvili be lost.^* '' So br^ iy AND DOVE. returned Constantio, aii^' inimedi itdr threw himself into the furnace, vviitie havint^ h)>t all sense for thirty hours, he ai last sccineci to avfake as from sleep, and found himself ehanged into a beautiful piiireon, and lying- on a bed of roses. JSothing' eould equal his surprise at this ; but he had lost the use of his speeeh, and this made him disconsolate, so that he determined to put an end to his life. With this intent he cast himself otf from a liigh rock, but was kept up by his feathers ; whereupon he plucked every one otf, and was going to make a second attempt, when be was surprised and caught by two youno^ damsels, who belonged to the Sove- reign Fairy. As soon as she saw him, she knew who he was, and said, ^' Prince, I love you for my Constantia's sake, of whom I will now give yon some account. The ship on board which she embarked, being over- taken by a storm, was forced to make for the first haven that could be got at ; it happened to be in the territories of a giant, who had formerly fallen in love with her, and from whence she had escaped. He cairied her to a great high tower, where he has kept her a prisoner ever since. "* Twelve months,' said he, * I will allow you for consideration ; and, if you will ooC th^n marry me, 1 will force you.' There 8 THE PfGEOfI only one Jay of these twelve months to eome ; and the only way to save the princess is for yoii to fly to her with this little rini^, which, being put on her finger, will change her into a dove, and so you may fly away together.'' The overjoyed prince bowed his head in token of thanks ; and the fairy having given him the ring in his mouth, and rubbed him with an essence, that instantly replumed him with feathers, he flew to the place where Constantia was confined. He soon saw her come into the garden, and flying upon her shoulders, put the ring in her bosom. At this moment the giant had come into the garden, to know her last reso^ lution ; when the princess, trembling at his approach, had the good luck to slip the ring on her finger, and being immediately change ed into a dove, flew away with her faithful pigeon, to the inexpressible confusion of the monster. After a long flight they alighted in a shady •rood; and the prince, suddenly finding his tongue loosed, "See," said he, "my adorable Constantia, see your devoted prince, that has suffered so many anxieties on your account."* "Ah,'' returned the princess, '" am I then so happy as once more to be with you ! you, for whom only 1 have wished fo live!" These words were no sooner a AND DOVE. y Uttered, than the Sovereign Fairy and Cupid ap|)eared before them ; and the faiiy pro^ mised always to be their friend, and offered to restore them to their former shapes. They thanked her, but declined her offer, sayine^, " That being now free from the cares of crowned heads, they could live for each other, the one a pigeon, and the other a dove, in peaceful enjoyment of a constant and virtuous love.'' The f^iiry approved of their choice ; and having adorned the wood with every delight, she and Cupid kindly bade farewell to them ; and ever since that time, the pigeon and dove have been repre- sented as true emblems of love and constancy THE History of Betsey Harlow Betsey Harlow was the daughter of a gentleman, who had retired into the country to enjoy the fruits of an industrious life spent in the heart of the City as a linendraper. : her mother w^as the descendant of a clergy- man of the Church of England, alHd made a '^ery prudent and affectionate wife. This little girl was as pretty a creature as ever was seen, of a sweet temper, obliging in her 10 BETSET IIARLO^Y. manncTK., ami ever ready to obey her parents: at tlie same time she was so playful, that her mother was fearful of lettim^ her go out of her si\uht, iest in her romping she might come to harm. Though she was only six years old whan I first knew her, yet she would play with the skipping rope as well as many that were mueh older; but although she was fond of the exereis<3, she was never known to neglect any thing she was de« sired to do, for the purpose of indulging her humour. She was of a very humane dispa- sition, and had a favourite little binl, with which she frequently amused herself for two or three hours at a time. She would set it upon the table, where it played many fanci- ful tricks ; and having taught the bird to ciiatter, it would sometimes express its anger at being teased so long, but then she would instantly catch it up, and put it in her bo- som, where it slept in peace for a long time. She had also a fine little dog, which her father had given her as a reward for her diligence in helping to make him up a set of shirts, and she had good sense enough to know that she ought to set a value upon this mark of her father's approbation ; she there- fore was very fond of it, treated it very- kindly, and taught it to play a number of tricks j but though she was so very playfuj, BETSEY HARLOW. 13 yet she would sometimes sit down, and fetch suth deep sighs, that you would have thought shs had been taken very ill ; but that was not the ease, she had a tender heart, and her mother had always instilled into her mind, that she ought to consider herself very happy in having enough to eat and drink, and good clothing to cover her, and that she should pity those who were not so well pro- vided for: therefore her sighing would take place just after seeing some poor man or woman pass by, who seemed to have no means of getting a comfortable living. One morning, when she was standing at the window, she observed a poor woman with two children, begging in the street, the poor little creatures crying with cold and hunger. This had such an effect upon Betsey's spi- rits, that she went crying about the house almost all the day after. At the same time, it seemed to make her thankful that she was not forced to beg her bread as the poor children she had seen did. Her mother ha- ving relieved them, she was in better spirits, and the next day was as active and lively as before. When she had attained her fourteenth year, her mother invited a party of friends to celebrate her birthday, and after dinner, as a reward for her industry aod virtn^^ mIx^ 12 BETSEY HARLOW. presented her with a basket of fint- fruit, that she might entertain the young folk who had come to pay her their compliments on this occasion ; for, as Betsey was a very great favorite with her school-fellows and compa» nions, they all availed themselves of this op- portunity to shew how highly they esteemed her. Her mother being a very prudent woman, Betsey was obliged to divide her time in such a manner as would be likely to do her good as she grew older. The morning was generally improved in studying her book, and in doing any little thing about the house in which she was able to assist her mother. In the afternoon she sat down to her needle, and in the evening Mistress Harlow would allow her to go and play at her favourite games, or take a walk in the the fields to see the sheep feeding. Though as she grew older, she grew more thoughtful, and frequently spent her leisure time in looking at the reapers ; she would then reflect on the great goodness of the Al- mighty in providing so bountifully for the sus- tenance of his creatures, and never failed, on returning home, to go upon her knees, and offer up her thanksgivings in prayer for the happy life she led, and would oft-times seek her parents to make her acknowledgements for the the great care they had taken of her BETSEy HARLOW. 13 in infane)^ and the excellent example they had always held forth, and imitating which, had i>:ained her so many friends, and so much respect. Indeed, Betsey soon began to think and act like a woman, and was respected by many ladies ;vho were placed in much higher situations in life than herself. Now Betsey had a fine melodious voice, and could sing very prettily, and, when joining in the psalms at church, hs,d so distinguished herself, that a rich old lady in the neighbourhood, who had taken a fancy to her, made her a present of a fine harp, and learnt her to play upon it. She soon attained such proficiency on that instrument, that every person who heard her was quite delighted with her performance. I can assure my little readers, that her man- ners, as well as her person, were much ad- mired. This lady had a nephew called Henry, who was the son of a deceased sister, who had on her death bed confided him to her care. Of this nephew she was exceedingly fond, gave him a good education, and at a proper age apprenticed him to a respectable Printer in London : it was his custom to go every three months into the country to see his in- dulgent aunt ; indeed, she would not have been happy if he had not, for as she had been very fond of her sister while alive, she was l4 BETSEY HARLOW. equally fond of her son, who, to say the truth, was every way deserving of it. His master gave hin an excellent character for sobriety, integrity, and industry : he made great pro- gress in learning his business, was remarka- ble for his punctuality, and his undeviating adherance to truth ; nothing could induce him to utter a falsehood, nor would he asso- ciate with any one who did, if he knew it; indeed he became so proverbial for liis verity, that all who knew him would as soon take his word as th^y would the oaths of most persons. It was during one of these quarterly visits that he became acquainted with Betsey Har- low : the young folk soon became intimate, from the similarity of their dispositions.. As Henry drew near the end of his apprentice- ship, he began to think of making a settle- ment in life, and being posessed of a good property, he wished to meet with a partner, who would cheerfully tug with him through the rugged road of life : for this purpose, he cast his eyes upon Betsey, with whom he was already in love. After some time he made her an offer, of his hand and heart, and ha- ving obtained the consent of his annt and Betsey's parents, it was agreed that they houjd be married, and that he should com- mence business on his own account ; 1-ut Henry's master being unwilling to part with ^ BETSEY HARLOW. 1^ him, he took him into partnership, and they carried on a very flourijshing trade. Henry's partner dying without a family, the whole coneern fell into his hands; and Betsey hy her prudent manag:ement so inereased his wealth, and by her affectionate attention ren- dered his home so entirely eomfortable, that he was wont to say, he belived himself to be the happiest man in the three kingdoms. After being in business for many years, Henry having accumulated a very pretty propel ty, retired into the country, to enjoy the estate left him by his aunt, on which she had lived until she was called to her final account. They had several children, and had the happiness to live to see them grow up, highly respected, and all well settled in life. Henry died, and left Betsey a widow : she, as a token of the happy life she had led, endowed twelve alms-houses for poor widows, and sufficient room for orphan children. From this little hiscoiy we may learn, that if our conduct be good, it will procure the respect and esteem of our superiors, as well as of our own particular friends, which will promote our happiness and prosperity through li/e. THE PICRON' AND THE DOVE, To LTiiid*^ her (iaiiire— the (ju- en her mother heing dead — She nito Kolitn 'e the PRINOHSS led, KxfdHined the caiisse, and hade her never roam, h\\\ for her [leace confine herself to home. Imprnft will counsel *i;^ood defeat, — Thus, wh<^n h