lo m
lo g^
33
! O
T -'^
td:}:AJ\:^L
m-
• -.^-'^'jf'?i,iir -'.'■■• •
'
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
Ex Libris
SIR MICHAEL SADLER
ACQUIRED I948
WITH THE HELP OF ALUMNI OF THE
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
AFFECT I (XX ATE BE0T 1 1 E RSo
.i/y Mot/ur tikes Prawn*
Tagt 44
0"-^
-Mftdxomte 0votbn$,
j&rmoT&mD: >)
////TV // ~)
The Qeigymaji's Widow; Merchants Widi m-Yoi mg Crusoe;
1 Slighter- in-Law.- Ifonng ^Norttif th Traveller;
Rmorama of Europe. fiacltadoes Girl-. Blind Farmer;
( h )< >rt ( ii.'i nduiother : Sisters Sec
LOUD oisr.
ARTHUR 1TAJLIL, TIMtTE & C<?
26, PATERTTOSTER ROW.
THE
AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS.
A TALE.
MRS. HOFLAND,
author of
the clergyman's widow; young crusoe; blind farmer; barbadoes
girl; merchant's widow; the sisters; panorama of Europe;
good grandmother; young northern traveller j stolen boy;
alicia and her aunt; elizabeth; william and his uncle ben;
godmother's tales; DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, &c.
Vigour from toil, from trouble patience grows ;
The weekly blossom, warm iu summer bower,
Some tints of transient beauty may disclose,
But, ah ! it withers in the chilling hour.
Mark yonder oaks ; superior to the power
Of all the warring winds of heaven they rise,
Fur each assailing blast increase of strength supplies.
Beattie.
NEW EDITION.
LOXDON :
ARTHUR HALL, VIRTUE AND CO.,
PATERNOSTER ROW.
J. EILLING, PRINTER, WOKING, SURREY.
i"7fo
THE
AFFECTIONATE BR0THE11S.
CHAPTER I.
Mr. Harewood was the only son of an
officer, who died in the service of his country
about the time when he was bidding adieu
to a public school, where he had received his
education. The last efforts of Captain Hare-
wood had been attended by singular success,
and all his military career distinguished by
great personal bravery ; while his private
virtues, though less conspicuous, were still
more deeply engraven on the hearts of all who
knew him. Of these, some extended their
a 2
6298'* 1 1
4 AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS.
friendship towards him beyond the grave ; they
exerted themselves to comfort his widow and
assist her son ; to the former they ensured
her pension, and the arrears of what was
due to the deceased, and procured for the latter
a situation under government, which it well
became a grateful country to bestow on the son
of one of its gallant defenders.
These arrangements, however necessary and
advantageous, could not hastily wipe away
those tears which flowed for the memory of an
excellent husband, cut of! in the prime of his
life, and the bereaved mourners wept over their
loss together.
Mrs. Harewood was an excellent mother,
a pious and enlightened women, and she took
the opportunity this period presented, of deeply
impressing on the mind of her son, those
awful precepts and divine consolations the
impressive moment naturally awakened ; she
taught him to look to religious comfort, to
consider the eternal importance of that state to
which his father was called ; and so to form
AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS. O
his own future faith and conduct, that he might
rejoice in the well-grounded hope of meeting
his earthly father in the presence of his
heavenly Father.
Charles did not forget her precepts; he
treasured them in his mind — they grew with
his growth; his piety he imbibed from his
mother — a high sense of honour and virtuous
integrity he had previously imbibed from his
father, and he grew up an honour to both.
Yet was there one thing wanting in his
character — he was deficient in prudence, or at
least that part of it which is combined with
foresight ; for though his honesty prevented
him from a blamable extravagance, still Charles
was one who never provided against a rainy
day.
Poor Mrs. Harewood only lived until her son
entered his twenty-second year. She had for
some time perceived in him a growing at-
tachment for a very amiable orphan, and was
aware that he had only been prevented from
soliciting her hand, from the fear of disturbing
a 3
Q- AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS.
his declining mother. She spoke to him on
this interesting subject, and entreated him to
consider himself at full liberty to follow the
â– wishes of his heart, adding, that it would be a
consolation to her to know, that when Provi-
dence removed from him the parent who had
so fondly loved him, her place would be
supplied by a tender wife.
In consequence of this request, young Hare-
wood advanced his suit with the amiable young
person to whom he was attached, and they
were married about two months before the
affectionate mother breathed her last ; and she
had the satisfaction of perceiving that the
amiable daughter she thus gained was of a
disposition to make her husband happy, and to
manage his domestic concerns in the way she
desired. She endeavoured to imprint on the
minds of both, a necessity for observing
economy in their expenditure, as they were both
very young, and might have a large family :
and she knew that her son was inclined to be
too liberal in his expenses. To this advice they
AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS. 7
promised to attend, and she departed in peace,
her last words blessing them.
Mr. Harewood fully intended to obey the
injunctions of his beloved mother, but he
thought it was time enough to retrench ex-
penses when the expected family should arrive ;
and was the more confirmed in this idea, be-
cause he had no children for several years.
At length he became the father of a fine boy,
for whom he felt willing to make any sacrifice,
so delighted was he with the endearing ac-
quisition ; but yet, when in little more than a
year his lady presented him with another, he
considered them as yet too young to call for
any abridgment of his expenditure, but deter-
mined to put every necessary system of eco-
nomy in practice by-and-by.
The eldest of these boys was called after the
father, Charles ; the second, after his maternal
grandfather, Thomas. The former was, from
his birth, a healthy, handsome, robust, high-
spirited, and lively boy — the latter, on the
contrary, was subject to delicate health, and
8 AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS.
was of that cast of features and complexion
which is usually styled " too pretty for a boy ;"
he was timid, but gentle and engaging to those
who knew him ; and though very apt to be
overlooked by strangers in the presence of his
more showy and attractive brother, never failed
to make very sincere friends amongst those
with whom he frequently associated.
In consequence of the difference in the
health and the pursuits of these boys, one
became very naturally the associate of one
parent, and the other of the other. Charles
excelled in all athletic exercises, and he was
soon taught to ride on a pretty pony, and to
accompany his father to town ; whilst Thomas
was, as the phrase is, tied to his mother's
apron-strings, either reading some little book
to her, or listening to her information, as he
watered her plants, or attended to the wants of
his favourite birds or rabbits. Though his
body was not strong, yet his mind was active
and penetrative, and from very infancy he
discovered that disposition for study, and that
AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS. 9
perseverance in application, which promised
high attainments in whatever branch of learning
he should be induced to follow.
Nothing could exceed the judicious care and
real tenderness with which Mr. and Mrs.
Harewood managed the different powers and
dispositions evinced by their children. Far
from each making a separate favourite of the
child who had, as it were, from the direction of
Nature herself, become their more immediate
companion, they endeavoured to pay more
particular attention to the other party, when-
ever they were altogether ; and by this im-
partiality led each to estimate whatever was
excellent in the other, and in a great degree,
through the force of pure fraternal love, to
rejoice most in the qualities of the brother he
loved.
Poor little Tom, mild and fearful in himself,
was yet proud of the prowess of Charles, and
listened with delight to his praises, when
visiters and schoolfellows related his exploits ;
and though he seldom spoke, yet his glistening
10 AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS.
eyes and glowing features shewed to every
discerning eye how much was passing in his
heart ; and, on the other hand, never was any
child spoken of as being clever and forward at
his book, but Charles would eagerly advance
with — " I'm sure he can't be more of a scholar
than my brother Tom — I'll bet you what you
like, I've a little fellow will match him :" and
if even the most trifling exertion of bodily
force was put in effect against the stripling, on
account of his personal inability to punish the
offender, Charles, though the best-tempered
fellow in the world (in cases where he was
alone concerned, resented such insult with
warmth, and generally avenged it with only
too much promptitude, in poor Thomas's
opinion.
When these boys had attained their seventh
and eighth years, their expences of course in-
creased; and the sensible resolution formed by
their father of giving them every advantage of
education, seemed to call for some decided re-
trenchment in his establishment, at which his
AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS. 11
wife had repeatedly, though delicately, hinted
very often of late.
Mr. Harewood declared seriously that he
would do it, although, as they were not likely
to have any more children, there was not much
necessity. Whilst, however, this point was
debating, he was presented with an increase of
four hundred pounds per annum in his office,
and all fears for the future from that moment
were unfortunately banished from his mind.
It immediately struck Mrs. Harewood, that
it would be a happy thing for all parties, if this
new income were regularly laid apart, in order
to furnish fortunes for their surviving children;
but fearful that if she mentioned such a scheme,
her husband might accuse her of selfishly
endeavouring to secure herself from want, she
blamably remained silent ; and poor Mr. Hare-
wood indulged a less prudent way of showing
his affection for her, by purchasing an elegant
carriage for her, and in various ways so far
increased his expenditure, that the acquisition
of property thus attained proved eventually a
12 AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS.
misfortune, since every indulgence only in-
creases the number of our wants, and renders
us less able to submit to future privations.
The boys, even after they were sent to
school, and mingled with others in the same
general pursuits, still retained much of their
original character; each had separate excellen-
cies and separate deficiencies, but both per-
fectly harmonized together; there was mutual
dependence each on the other, which ever
strengthens affection; but there was no point
of rivalry, unless it was in the affection they
bore their parents.
Mr. Harewood, on examining them, found
•at each vacation that Charles had those pro-
perties which appeared to fit him for active
life ; he wrote a beautiful hand — was quick, if
not profound, as an accountant — had a pleasing
address, fluent language, and, considering his
youth, a good deal of penetration of character,
and a steadiness of judgment, and even prin-
ciple, that seemed to render him likely to
sustain the character of a British merchant
AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS. 13
with propriety ; but along with this he found
that he had not by any means studied so
deeply as he ought, to enable him to be a
sufficient linguist, and he insisted on farther
attention to this point, which Charles readily
promised, but was too much inclined to forget,
when any scheme of pleasure presented itself,
or any lighter exercise could be substituted —
he preferred acting to thinking at all times.
On the other hand, Thomas was an excellent
Latin scholar, a very tolerable Grecian, and
understood French thoroughly ; he had no
greater pleasure than solving a mathematical
problem, or a difficult question in arithmetic :
but the number of his external accomplish-
ments continued much the same ; he could
neither ride, dance, nor fence — he was bashful
and reserved to his friends, and impenetrable to
strangers ; and although his knowledge and good
sense qualified him for writing a good letter,
yet he had been so accustomed to scribble his
numerous exercises, that his handwriting was
become very indifferent ; and he paid too little
B
14 AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS.
attention to every thing which required neat-
ness and dispatch.
Mr. Harewood, with true parental anxiety,
endeavoured to remedy the deficiencies of both
his sons, and render each emulous of the
merits of the other, without expecting from
either of them that absolute similarity which
it was perhaps impossible for them to attain ;
and as they had now passed that period of
infancy when rivalry might have been danger-
ous, they both adopted the line of improvement
the wisdom and affection of their beloved father
pointed out. Charles was taught to consider
himself designed for a merchant, and he looked
forward to the period when he should be placed
in some great counting-house with pride and
pleasure — while Thomas, with equal though
silent joy, contemplated the period when he
might be permitted to pursue his studies at
college, and in due time aspire to the honour
he most coveted — of becoming a worthy cler-
gyman.
"When I am a man," the eldest would say,
AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS. 15
"I will send ships, and take voyages into every
part of the world; and whatever the people
want in one place, I will supply from another
— thus all will become rich, and civilised, and
happy. I will have stores and warehouses full
of all kinds of property, and a great number of
clerks and porters employed to manage my
business, and they too shall all be improving
and merry. Oh, I love a great deal of bustle !
and I don't mind how hard I work ; I will get
a great deal of money, and give a great dea
away."
" Well, you are welcome to it all, dear
Charles. For my part, I only want just enough
to keep me in a little house, with a good
library, in a country place, where the people
around knew and loved me : I would pray with
the sick, relieve the poor, and try to persuade
all to do their duty, and that would satisfy me:
indeed I think it is leading the life of heaven
on earth, especially if my dear mother were with
me," was the observation of Thomas.
This dear mother, to the great surprise of
b 2
16 AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS.
the boys, presented them with a little sister,
just as Charles completed his fourteenth year ;
and on this occasion they were sent for from
school, about a fortnight before the regular
commencement of the Midsummer vacation.
Their affectionate hearts were delighted to re-
ceive this new claimant on their love ; and Tom
especially was never weary with examining its
pretty features and curious little hands; but
Charles, though equally warm-hearted, could
not bear confinement ; and a pony, which had
been bought for him the preceding Christmas,
divided his attention with little Emily: and he
generally accompanied his father to London,
who was desirous of giving him some general
notions of business, as he only intended to
keep him one year longer at school, and was
naturally proud of showing such a boy among
that circle of friends where he intended even-
tually to place him.
Meantime the heart of the mother was full
of care ; her family was increased — the period
was again approaching when the boys must be
AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS. 17
an additional expence ; and she was well aware
that the many elegancies of her present situ-
ation consumed the whole of her husband's
income. The anxiety she felt affected her
health ; and Mr. Harewood, ever most affec-
tionately solicitous, pressed her so closely on
the subject, that at length she confided to him
all her fears, and besought him to adopt some
plan to obviate the difficulties she foresaw ;
observing, that even if he had interest to pro-
vide for his boys, yet his girl would be por-
tionless, unless something were saved for her
future portion.
Mr. Harewood, smiling, kissed the babe,
and observed, that she was a very young lady
to want a portion ; but, however, he would do
his best for her — he would that very day se-
cure her a dower, by paying an annual sum,
which he could do without feeling the differ-
ence in his income — " Or," added he, " if I
should, surely the sweet lamb will make me
abundance of amends for such a trifling priv-
ation."
b 3
18 AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS.
With much tenderness and sincere pleasure,
Mrs. Harewood commended him for the reso-
lution, and continued to chat on the inexhaust-
ible subject of their children's welfare, until
the fond father, starting up, declared that he
should be too late ; he was accustomed to the
utmost regularity, and to atone for his delay-
he set out at full speed.
It was now July, and the weather was ex-
cessively hot. It was Mr. Harewood's custom
to leave his horse at livery-stables about a mile
from the office ; and on dismounting at the
stables, he found that a messenger had been
dispatched for him, as his presence was par-
ticularly required. Already heated, he now
hastened forward on foot, and just before he
stepped into the house, imprudently assuaged
his thirst by drinking a large glass of lemonade
at a confectioner's near. Had he continued to
walk, perhaps he would not have suffered much
inconvenience from this ; but as he now took
his pen, and sat down to business in a cool
retired room, the effects soon became apparent.
AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS. 19
He was seized with terrible pains, which he
endured with resolution, on account of the
peculiar press of business, which he did not
leave until the excess of his sufferings com-
pletely subdued him, and he was carried in
extremity to the nearest coffee-house.
From the bed on which this suffering father
and husband was now laid, he never arose. It
was found that inflammation had arisen to a
degree it was impossible to allay, and in two
days he was a corpse.
At the first intimation of danger, Mrs. Hare-
wood had flown to his assistance ; and she left
him not till torn from him insensible and a
widow. So overwhelmed was she by the sud-
denness and severity of the stroke, that those
around her feared that her senses were fled
for ever ; but when she beheld her children,
she evinced that she was yet a mother — that
for them she could exert herself, and pray for
her own return to a world which was robbed of
its most precious treasure.
The poor boys were, in the first instant,
20 AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS.
stunned, in the next agonized, by this terrible
stroke. Death had never visited their mansion
before ; and that their father — that dear, dear
relative, whose goodness had been the delight
of their lives, whose will was their law, whose
smile was their reward, should be thus unex-
pectedly snatched from their eyes, in the full
flower of manly strength and activity, was an
event so dreadful, so overbearing, that they
knew not how to comprehend or endure it ;
they flew into each other's arms shrieking and
sobbing in the bitterest transport of grief, and
utterly unable to attend to the condolences and
remonstrances of those around them.
But when they were permitted to behold
their mother — when they saw the deadly pale-
ness of her cheek, the fearful hollowness of
her eye, each felt at once convinced that she
suffered more than all, and each strove so to
command his own feelings, that he might con-
sole the dear — the only parent he had now
left ; and while large silent tears stole down
AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS. 21
their innocent faces, they yet sought to speak
words of comfort to her.
But, alas ! to weep over the memory of their
beloved father was a satisfaction only too soon
denied to this bereaved family ; with him had
perished the means of their support, and all
that Mrs. Harewood had often feared now in-
deed came upon her, and she was soon called
upon to exert herself, and consider how she
must provide for the wants of future life, and
the destination of those unhappy boys, who
had till now basked in the brightest sunshine
of prosperity, and were strangers to the very
name of want, except to relieve it.
As the sight of her children never failed to
renew her distress too acutely, and the edu-
cation they had and might receive was become
their sole dependence, the friends of Mrs.
Harewood urged her to let them return to
school for the following half-year, in which
time she might be enabled to dispose of her
house and property, and consider on some eli-
gible plan for future life. Accordingly they
22 AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS.
bade her a short adieu, with streaming eyes,
and tender assurances that they would in every
thing obey her advice, which had particularly
tended to impress on their minds the necessity
of attending on their studies, as it was but too
probable this would be the last opportunity of
improvement they ever would enjoy.
AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS. 23
CHAPTER II.
Mrs. Harewood, ever regular and economic
in her own department, and religiously just in
her worldly concerns, had soon drawn her
affairs into a narrow compass ; her carriage,
horses, and furniture, were disposed of — her
debts paid to the uttermost farthing — and a few
hundred pounds all that remained to her in
the wide world.
She had no relations ; but in the first shock
of her misfortunes, many of her numerous
friends, struck by the sudden fate of a com-
panion they had loved and esteemed, assembled
round her, and by their friendly counsel had
24 AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS.
assisted her in the sad scenes which imme-
diately succeeded her misfortune ; but as she
was of too generous a nature to tax the kind
beyond their convenience, and too independent
to solicit the mercies of the overbearing, by
degrees all were dropped off, and she was left
to make the best of her melancholy situation.
She desired, with all a mother's longings, to
see and enjoy the society of her beloved boys ;
but she was too sincerely their friend to abridge
the advantages they enjoyed ; and in her letters
she constantly assured them of her returning
health, and endeavoured to inspire them with
cheerfulness, though far from attaining her-
self that blessing she was anxious to commu-
nicate.
But when the time approached, feeling for
the change they would experience, she sought
to break it to their minds, by informing them
that she was now in a very humble lodging in
the city, and that the luxuries and comforts
they had once known at their dear and pleasant
home must be relinquished : but yet the poor
AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS. 25
boys had formed no idea of the place to which
they were really conducted ; and the sorrow
with which they beheld their mother, once so
waited upon by numerous servants and a tender
husband, now nursing her own babe in a narrow
dark room, ill furnished, is indescribable. Oh !
how did they each wish and pray for the
means of relieving her — how earnestly did they
resolve that they would apply every thing they
could hereafter earn, for her and the dear infant
w r ho was thus bequeathed to their care !
Naturally sanguine, and of that age when
hope is easily kindled in the heart, Charles
soon admitted consolation ; from the observa-
tion of his mother, that he was prodigiously
grown — " Oh," said he internally, " I shall
soon be a man, and then I can support them
all."
Poor Tom could not take comfort in this way ;
for though he too was grown, yet he was still
so slim and delicate, that the master of the
lodgings observed that he looked three years
younger than his brother.
26 AFFECTIONATE BROTHERS.
In a short time the very sting of poverty
seemed to enter the heart of the unhappy
mother ; the school-bills for her sons had not,
in the distress of the time, been discharged ;
on their return to school, of course, a whole
year was due, and in paying it she parted
with more than two-thirds of all her property ;
and the sense of this, together with the daily
wants of two fine growing boys, distressed her
so much, that she was shortly thrown upon a
bed of sickness, at that season of the year
when every species of assistance is most
difficult to procure, and disease most obstinate
in its stay.
The children had now but one pursuit, one