This pitiable state of mind is the natural result of her
education.
Her father was a respectable mechanic, and might have been a wealthy
one, had he not been fascinated by the beauty of a thoughtless, idle,
showy girl, whom he made his wife. The usual consequences followed--he
could not earn money so fast as she could spend it; the house became a
scene of discord; the daughter dressed in the fashion; learned to play
on the piano; was taught to think that being engaged in any useful
employment was very ungenteel; and that to be _engaged to be married_
was the chief end and aim of woman; the father died a bankrupt; the
weak and frivolous mother lingered along in beggary, for a while, and
then died of vexation and shame.
The friends of the family were very kind to the daughter; but her
extreme indolence, her vanity, pertness, and ingratitude, finally
exhausted the kindness of the most generous and forbearing; and as
nothing could induce her to personal exertion, she was at length
obliged to take shelter in the alms-house. Here her misery is
incurable. She has so long been accustomed to think dress and parade
the necessary elements of happiness, that she despises all that is
done for her comfort; her face has settled into an expression which
looks like an imbodied growl; every body is tired of listening to her
complaints; and even the little children run away, when they see her
coming.
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