The Test of Principle

CHAPTER XLVIII.

The Jodh Moran, or the Collar of Irish Judges - School-house completed - Artificers' Bills - No Money - Evelyn's Self-examination.

EVELYN'S mind had been so much occupied by all the interesting things she had seen and heard while at The Cliffs that she had scarcely once thought of home, or of her various plans and works going on there. She felt surprised when she returned at finding that her mind could have been so completely withdrawn from her school and garden and plantations, and all her accustomed pursuits.

"I do not know how it is," said she to her father; "but while I was at The Cliffs I never thought of my castle nor of my different improvements; nor indeed of myself."

"That shows," replied he, "the advantage of mixing with good society. We learn to doubt our self-importance; for we find that there are others as cultivated and as useful as ourselves, perhaps more so; and we perceive that our real influence and importance must depend on our own steadiness in fulfilling our various duties towards others and towards ourselves on our acting, in a word, not from wavering and uncertain fancy, nor in mere imitation of others, but from principle."

"But by what standard is that principle to be established?" said Evelyn. "How are we to ascertain that what we call our principle is right? for each person's conscience will vary according to their opinions, and, though forming different views, each will think they are right."

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My dear daughter, there is one only test by which we can try the correctness of the principles on which we act—the Gospel. The pure and unselfish morality laid down in the Gospel is an unerring guide, and ought to be the groundwork

of our judgment when we want to analyse the soundness of our opinions, for, unquestionably, none can be correct that are in opposition to that.”

"But, papa, in the laws of our country, to which, of course, we must all submit, is there much reference to the Gospel?"

"The laws of this or of any other country, my dear, must relate to and provide for many circumstances to which no special allusion is made in the Gospel; and those laws, being made by man, probably partake too much of our infirmities and passions; but you find the principles on which they were established fully sanctioned by the Gospel. The simplicity, wisdom, and majesty of our Saviour's reply to the Pharisees, 'Render unto Cæsar the things that be Cæsar's,' appears to me to be altogether divine, and solemnly shows the duty of our obedience, while it does not in any degree lessen the responsibility of the lawmakers. But I think you can scarcely find any one law in direct opposition to the simple golden rule of acting towards others as we wish them to act towards us." "But are there not some cases, papa, where that rule, although influencing our motives, might not be sufficient to guide us?"

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Very likely; but such cases very seldom occur. In private life, whether obeying the law or the Gospel, deliberate before you act; examine with sincerity your motives, apply to them the test of your conscience, and, when you have satisfied the truth-telling monitor in your bosom that your decisions are right, then persevere. The constant habit of consulting that monitor within us is most useful, and, if you do so with undissembling candour, you will find its influence become daily more and more constant and efficacious."

"Do you recollect the story of Amurath, papa? Grandpapa told it to me when I was a child. Oh! how often I used then to wish for the ring which pressed his finger when he did anything wrong-how useful it would be in any doubtful case !"

"Yes, if you could be in doubt where you have such tests to consult as those of which we have just spoken; but there is a corresponding circumstance mentioned in that little

History of Ireland* that I showed you this morning.

The

collar worn by Irish judges in the early ages is said to have given warning by increased pressure round the neck of the wearer whenever he was about to pronounce an unjust sentence; and though that is only a pretty fable, the judges did certainly wear a peculiar collar. That peculiar collar was called the Jodh Moran."

"Why had it that odd name?"

"The history tells us," replied her father, "that Moran, after whom it was named, was son of Carbery, who had usurped the crown of a neighbouring kingdom. On the death of his father, Moran nobly restored it to the son of the monarch from whom Carbery had wrested it, and contented himself with the office of chief justice."

"How generous !" exclaimed Evelyn.

"His conduct was the effect of principle," said Mr. Desmond, "and he was therefore consistent, whatever situation he filled. It was in consequence of the satisfaction he gave by his upright decisions, and the fame acquired by his wisdom, that the collar worn by the Irish judges was from his time called Moran's Collar, or Jodh Moran."

"What a pretty anecdote !" said Evelyn; "I should like to read the book in which you found it; I ought to know more of Irish history."

"Indeed," said Mr. Desmond, "people here are wonderfully ignorant of the history of their own country, and too easily deterred from reading it by the idea of its containing nothing but perpetual wars and rebellions."

"That monitor which you just now advised me to consult," said Evelyn," tells me that we ought to be out this very fine morning. Will you come to the school, papa? I am sure my mother and all will like to come with us; I will ask them."

Evelyn's proposal was willingly agreed to, particularly by Mabel and Gerald: it was gratifying to Mrs. Desmond to see Mabel and Evelyn take a mutual interest in the same objects.

They found the school-house completely finished; air and fires were now all that was necessary to dry and make it habitable; and Evelyn, as she looked at it, felt that self

* History of Ireland for Schools and Families, by Miss Brabazon.

satisfaction which is so natural when we see the success of our exertions.

"How rejoiced I am to see it all finished at last and looking very well!" Evelyn exclaimed with some little triumph: "and it was all my own plan, too! Now the next step will be to settle the schoolmistress in it, and open school,' as people say in their advertisements, as soon as possible."

"As soon as possible is a very good expression to use on this occasion," said Mrs. Desmond; "for, however anxious you are to have the house occupied, and to see the success of your good intentions, it will not for some time be habitable -till the plaster is really dry."

"But I hope that the air and constant fires will soon have that effect surely in a few days it will be all ready; I shall be much disappointed and vexed indeed if my school is not soon established."

"I should be sorry to be the victim you first put to live there," said her father drily, "since you are so impatient to have it inhabited; but in the mean time, Evelyn, I should like to know, now that you have the rest of the bills, what this house has cost you altogether?"

Evelyn coloured, hesitated, was silent for a minute, and then said in a low voice, "I have not yet paid for all; and I have no idea what the amount will be."

"But you have at least paid all those bills we lately examined?"

66 No, papa, I am paid a part of them."

sorry to say I could not; I have only

"Oh, Evelyn! how is that? you did not tell me at that time that you could not pay them: that was uncandid; though I am sure you did not intentionally deceive me. Besides, I thought you were resolved to build the school with the money you had in your hands when you began it?"

"I deceived myself," said she, looking abashed; "but indeed I never meant to deceive you, papa. I had several expenses of other kinds which I had not foreseen-extra workmen in the farm and garden; and then—indeed I do not know how it was, but I-and so, from one thing to another, my money slipped away, and I had not enough to pay more

than a part of the bills you saw; and now I have more bills, but have not looked at them yet; there is no use in looking at them till I can pay them."

"You are unwise, however, not to ascertain the amount."

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"I will, before November, which fortunately is not very far off."

"Fortunately for you, perhaps; but it is a long time for those poor artificers to wait, who naturally expected immediate payment from the owner of this fine mansion."

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"I am very sorry for them," said Evelyn, "but I can do nothing more."

"That is generally the case," said he; "few consider the injury to the poor tradespeople that is caused by delaying their payment, nor how much of the distress and misery of this country arises from that alone. And then you should also consider the injurious effect on your own mind: you become insensible to the distress you cause; unpunctual in every way; and uncandid—perhaps false-at least, not upright."

"I hope at least I shall never become deceitful; but indeed I did not think those small sums could make much difference to the people who sent their bills."

"If paying those 'small sums,' the amount of which, however, you do not know, is inconvenient to you, just consider what a hardship it must be to those who earn their daily bread by their work not to receive their money when due. Justice, my dear Evelyn, must not be sacrificed to convenience, much less to our fancies. It is the first fruit of the golden rule of which we were speaking just now. Let us consider for a moment the effect of your delay in the payment of their bills, to persons in the situation of your mason, your plasterer, your carpenter, or your slater; they are each of them attended by their hodmen, or labourers, or apprentices, whom in their turn they cannot pay, because they wait for your money, nor can they provide the necessaries of life for their wives and children, nor the implements requisite for their business; how then are they to live or to support their families and those dependent on them? By one way only;