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 | The boarding school, or, Lessons of a preceptress to her pupils ; consisting of information, instruction, and advice, calculated to improve the manners, and form the character of young ladies ; to which is added, a collection of letters, written by the pupils, to their instructor, their friends, and each other |  |
Salem.
From your recommendation of Mrs. Chapone's
letters; and, what is still more, from the
character given them by Mrs. Williams, I was
anxious to possess the book; but, not being able
to procure it here, my clerical brother, who was
fortunately going to Boston, bought and presented
it to me.
I am much gratified by the perufal and flatter
myself that I shall derive lasting benefit from it.
So intricate is the path of youth, and so many
temptations lurk around to beguile our feet astray,
that we really need some skilful pilot to guide us
through the delusive maze. To an attentive and
docile mind, publications of this sort may afford
much instruction and aid. They ought, therefore,
to be carefully collected, and diligently perused.
Anxious to make my brother some acknowledgment
for his present, I wrought and sent him
a purse, accompanied with a dedication which I
thought might amuse some of his solitary moments;
and which, for that purpose, I here transcribe
and convey to you.
Implor'd my permission to wait upon you;
And begg'd that the muse would her favour extend,
To briefty her worth and her service commend.
The muse, who by dear-bought experience had known
How little her use to the clergy had grown,
With officious advice thus attack'd the poor purse:
Why, you novice! 'tis plain that you cannot do worse!
If the end of your being you would ever attain,
And honor, preserment, and influence gain,
Go quick to the pocket of some noble knave,
Whose merit is wealth, and his person its slave:
Or enter the mansion, where splendour appears,
And pomp and eclat are the habit she wears:
Or hie to the court, where so well you are known,
So highly esteem'd and so confident grown,
That without your assistance and recommendation,
None claims any merit, or fills any station!
Seek either of these; and with joy you'll behold
Yourself crown'd with honor, and filled with gold.
But to wait on a priest! How absurd is the scheme:
His reward's in reversion; the future's his theme.
Will these, for the present, your cravings supply;
Or soften the din of necessity's cry?
Of hunger and want the loud clamours repel;
Or crush the poor moth that would on you revel?
For poets and prophets, the world has decreed,
On fame and on faith may luxuriously feed!
Here the purse interpos'd with a strut and a stare,
Pray, good madam muse, your suggestions forbear!
On virtue and worth I'm resolv'd to attend,
A firm, if I am not a plentiful friend.
Tho not swell'd with gold, and with metal extended,
What little I have shall be rightly expended:
Is better than millions dishonestly gain'd!
Yet I hope and presume, that I never shall be
Excluded his pocket for the lack of a fee!
Thus the muse and the purse—till I took the direction,
And destin'd the latter to your kind protection.
My wishes attend her, with fervour express'd,
That in yellow or white she may always be dress'd;
And e'er have the power each dull care to beguile;
Make the summer more gay, and the bleak winter smile!
But if Fortune be blind; or should she not favour
These wishes of mine, you must scorn the deceiver;
And, rising superior to all she can do,
Find a bliss more substantial than she can bestow!
| The boarding school, or, Lessons of a preceptress to her pupils ; consisting of information, instruction, and advice, calculated to improve the manners, and form the character of young ladies ; to which is added, a collection of letters, written by the pupils, to their instructor, their friends, and each other | |