Milford High School - Oak Lily and Ivy Yearbook (Milford, MA)

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20 THE OAK, LILY AND IVY. This briefly is the summary of the first novel, which aims, as Richardson himself declared, to give religious and moral instruction. In an age when pub¬ lic and domestic morality were very lax, he thought it his duty to teach Christian tenets as he understood them. The critic declares: “Unlearned he discovered what for a quarter of a century Europe had been looking for, not knowing pre¬ cisely what it wanted, a form of literature that should adequately present its life as it was, united with an ideal of life as it ought to be.” Notwithstanding the fact that Richardson’s novels are of considerable length, many people of different ages have delighted in reading them. Cross in “The Development of the English Novel,” after commenting on the custom in Richardson’s time of reading novels aloud in the family circle, says: “When some pathetic passage was reached, the members of the family would re¬ tire to separate apartments to weep ; and after composing themselves, they would return to the fireside to hear the reading proceed.” An anecdote is told to show how his novel “Pamela” affected even larger groups:— “In a certain village a blacksmith was fortunate enough to procure a copy of Richardson’s first novel ‘Pamela.’ Every evening sitting on his anvil he read it to large audiences. At length when happy fortune brought the hero and hero¬ ine ' together to live happily ever after,—according to approved rules,—the con¬ gregation was so delighted that they procured the keys and actually set the parish bells ringing.” The following was dedicated to ‘.‘the unknown Author of the Beautiful Piece ‘Pamela’ ” : “Blessed be thy powerful pen, where e’er thou art, Thou skilled great moulder of the master’d heart! Where hast thou lain conceal’d? or why thought fit At this dire period, to unveil thy wit? Sweet Pamela! forever blooming maid! Thou dear enlivening (yet immortal) shade, Why are thy beauties flashed upon the blind! What thought thy fluttering sex might learn from thee, That merit forms a rank above degree. That pride too conscious falls from every claim, While humble sweetness climbs beyond its aim.” This dedication was written because when Richardson first gave “Pamela” to the world he published it anonymously. This was perhaps, the most beauti¬ ful dedication to him, for when he died he was buried beside his first wife in the church of St. Bride and only a large stone records the fact that Samuel Rich¬ ardson, the “Father of the English Novel” lies beneath it. To him the world owes tribute for having discovered the novel, which has become a valuable re¬ corder of modern life. One of the best statements I have found in regard to the novel in general is as follows: “The art of novel embraces every sort of mental interest. Among those who regard novel writing as man’s work, and the noblest of arts—among those of fine natural endowments who approach it with sincerity and their full strength—shall be found the best writers of the English language at present living. It is not too much to say that contemporaries have written some of the best novels in our tongue. Fielding and Richardson had a different field to play upon, and art has developed so enormously, that the novel as written in England and America challenges the finest intellects and greatest artists of the time. The very fire of life glows in this art, and its possibilities are beyond all prediction, for fiction is the greatest educational force in the modern world.” Esther Gagliardi, 1923.

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THE OAK, LILY AND IVY. 19 Thus Pamela who withstood all temptations earns as a reward for her virtue a promise of marriage from Mr. B. But before her marriage she undertakes the task of reforming him and teaching him the meaning of virtue. Always virtu¬ ous herself she sets such a splendid example that she finally succeeds in reform¬ ing him. Unlike many modern novelists the author of “Pamela” does not con¬ sider his volume ended with the union of his two leading characters, but con¬ tinues to describe the various trials and tribulations of the virtuous Pamela. After her marriage came the ordeal of winning the love of her husband’s sister, Lady Davers, a very proud and haughty young lady, who would not deign to consider a mere servant girl her sister. But pure sweet Pamela slowly earns her way to Lady Daver’s heart and the latter receives her to her heart. Thus reconciled with Mr. B’s relatives and presented in society, Pamela leads a very happy life, a just reward for her virtue. As a result of her marriage she be¬ comes acquainted with several people, among whom are Lady Darnford and her daughter, Mary, who proves to be a great comfort to Pamela in her troubles. During the first winter after her marriage, Pamela pays her first visit to London accompanied by her husband. There they purchase a home and intend to live throughout the season. To Pamela London is a wonder with its large theatres and grand balls which she frequently attends. Her first masquerade ball was destined to stand out in her memory, for there she was disturbed by the obvious attentions paid by her husband to a woman dressed in the garb of a nun. Pamela enjoyed herself as best she could and the evening passed. A few months later a baby boy was born in the home of Mr. B. With the coming of her son there was less time for Pamela to attend social affairs, and she spent most of her time in the nursery with Billy, the baby. But not so with her husband; he still continued to frequent ballrooms and enjoy his London visits. As the days go by, Pamela hears many reports concerning her husband from outsiders, especially from a Mr. Hunter, who delights in tortur¬ ing her by telling of her husband’s frequent visits to the home of “Lady S.,” the nun of the masquerade ball. At first Pamela pays no attention to these reports, but finally she decided to investigate, because she realizes that her husband sel¬ dom seeks her company. Then, too, he receives several letters sealed with the seal of Lady S. The crisis is reached one Saturday night when she received a letter, telling her that her husband left for Tunbridge with Lady S to purchase a home there and marry her. That night her decision is reached; she will give up her husband to this wicked woman but not her child, for he is to comfort her for the loss of her husband. These are her plans and she awaits the return of her husband to inform him of them. Poor Pamela knows not where to begin but finally, believing it best to be prudent, she begins by telling him of the masquerade ball and ends by showing him the letter. He demands to know who her informants are and mentions Mr. Hunter, but she refuses to tell him. Then realizing the virtue of this wife and her desire to sacrifice her happiness for what she believes will be his he takes her into his arms and tells her the truth. “His pride, his vanity and his thoughtlessness had been his misguiders,” he admits, and then he explains to her the truth concerning his apparently guilty friendship with the Lady S, and discloses that the stories of his intended mar¬ riage were all lies told by Mr. Hunter, who was very jealous and tried to cause trouble. Pamela believes and forgives him, and her forgiveness restores peace and happiness. Thus through tides of unhappiness, resisting all evil temptation, Pamela re¬ formed her husband and won as a reward for her virtue and prudence, future happiness for her husband, her children, and herself.

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THE OAK, LILY AND IVY. 21 CARESSANT. Far across the sea in a little town of Wales lived a family many y ears ago. It was a good family,—respected by all the neighboring countryside, for these were good honest people, obtaining from the soil of their small farm such means of living as two strong and healthy people could. Their little dwelling far from the other farms was situated on a slope facing the West, and behind, a long arm of the nearby forest stretched around as if to protect the little house on the slope. The lives of the man and his wife were wrapped up in this little cottage of which they were very proud, and especially in the tiny baby girl who slept in the cradle by the window. The fourth member of the family was “Caressant”—of the famous race of shepherds which have slowly but surely died away, but whose name will ever live in story, standing for all that is beautiful, loyal, and noble. He was a handsome dog, truly worthy of his noble ancestry, with those wonderful appeal¬ ing eyes which hold in their depths a soul of undying loyalty to the “Master.” Hardly less affection did Caressant hold for the Mistress and the wee person in the cradle. For did not the Master love the Mistress? This alone insured the eternal love and loyalty of the dog. Then, too, both the Master and the Mistress loved that tiny person in the cradle—so Caressant loved her as only a dog can, for jealousy was something far below the dignity and honor of his ancestry. All day the Master and the Mistress worked in the fields. They were not far away, but the house was out of sight since the fields lay behind the narrow neck of woodland. Occasionally when the Master and the Mistress went away and had released him from watching the sheep in the nearby pasture, Caressant was al¬ lowed to stand guard by the cradle. He deemed this a great honor, but usually it was necessary for him to remain on the hillside watching the sheep when the Master and Mistress were away. All the morning and through the long hot afternoons the man and his wife toiled in the fields for the little one asleep in the little house, but when the twi¬ light shadows began to fall they would return to the little house on the slope, weary from their long day’s work but happy with the prospect of the long sum¬ mer’s evening around the doorway with Caressant at their feet and the baby for whom they made wondrous plans asleep in the cradle. What matter if the wolves from the big forest howled about the little house and the wind shook the rafters? They were blissfully happy in the cosy room where nothing could harm them. Then came the time when there was not enough food in the big forests for the wild creatures living there. The wolves came more frequently to the little house on the slope to howl in the evening, and Caressant had to double his watch over the flock in the pasture. Then one day, in the late afternoon when before long the evening shadows were already lengthening about the little home, a lean, gray wolf, hardly more than a shadow, crept across the field to the little house and after several fruit¬ less attempts finally pushed open the screen-door at the back of the house. Oh, little babe, sleeping so peacefully in your cradle, could you but sense your peril, and call to your aid the beautiful shepherd! Out in the pasture where the flock was feeding so peacefully, Caressant, as he faithfully watched his charges, knew something was wrong. His instinct told him that; yet had not the Master told him again and again not to leave the sheep? And the Master could not be disobeyed! And yet ever more persistently his in-