LETTER XXIII.
HARRIOT to MYRA.
Whatever may be the
other causes (if there were any besides her
seduction) which drove the unhappy Ophelia,
temerariously to end her existence, it certainly
becomes us, my dear friend, to attend
to them—and to draw such morals and lessons
of instruction from each side of the
question, as will be a mirrour by which we
may regulate our conduct and amend our
lives. A prudent pilot will shun those rocks
upon which others have been dashed to
pieces, and take example from the conduct
of others less fortunate than himself: It is
the duty of the moralist, then, to deduce his
observations from preceding facts in such a
manner as may directly improve the mind
and promote the economy of human life.
THIS may be an apology for sending you
the arguments of Martin in answer to Shepherd,
who in his rage and grief had called
him the murderer of his child.
HE reminded Shepherd of his obstinacy in
persisting in an explanatory meeting, and
refusing to grant Ophelia's request in suffering
the affair to subside—“Your proud spirit,”
said he, “would not hearken to the
gentle remonstrance of your daughter—your
heart was closed to every conciliatory proposition.
Though she expressed a propensity
to fly from the eye of the world, she had
hitherto appeared lulled in a kind of happy
insensibility; yet the approaching time of
explanation was terrible, it renewed the story
and torture of all her misfortunes, and the
idea filled her with grief and dismay. Had
you been as willing to receive her, as she to
return to you, happy would it have been for
both; but your pride was the cause of additional
calamities—when the time arrived
—But why shall we harrow up our souls
with the reiteration of her sorrowful
exit?—
“FROM these circumstances,” said Martin,
“you cannot accuse me as the immediate
cause of Ophelia's death; the facts are as I
have stated them—and thus was a straying,
but penitent child, driven to despair and
suicide by a severe use of paternal power, and
a vain attempt to resent an injury, for which
it was impossible the accused party could
make compensation.”
NOTWITHSTANDING the plausibility of
Martin's plea, I have little hesitation in my
mind to charge him with the remote cause of
the miserable end of Ophelia.
HOW far parental authority may be extended,
is a question which I shall not determine;
I must however think it depends upon
the combination of circumstances. The
duty of a child to her parents will be in proportion
to the attention paid to her education.
If, instead of the usual pains bestowed
by many partial parents, upon the vain
parade of forming the manners of a child,
and burthening the mind wiht the necessity of
the douceurs and the graces, would it not
often be happier for both, to take a finall
share of thought to kindle one spark of grace
in the heart?
HAPPY the parents, who have bestowed
upon their children such an education, as
will enable them, by a principle of mediocrity,
to govern them without extorting obedience,
and to reclaim them without exercising
severity.
Farewel!
