University of Virginia Library

Friday, A. M.
FILIAL AND FRATERNAL AFFECTION.

“The filial and fraternal are the first duties
of a single state. The obligations you are
under to your parents cannot be discharged, but
by a uniform and cheerful obedience; an unreserved
and ready compliance with their wishes,
added to the most diligent attention to their ease
and happiness. The virtuous and affectionate behaviour
of children is the best compensation, in
their power, for that unwearied care and solicitude
which parents, only, know. Upon daughters,
whose situation and employments lead them
more frequently into scenes of domestic tenderness;
who are often called to smooth the pillow
of sick and aged parents, and to administer with
a skilful and delicate hand the cordial, restorative
to decaying nature, an endearing sensibility,
and a dutiful acquiesence in the dispositions, and
even peculiarities of those from whom they have
derived existence, are indispensably incumbent.

“Such a conduct will yield a satisfaction of
mind more than equivalent to any little sacrifices

of inclination or humour which may be required
at your hands.

“Pope, among all his admired poetry, has not
six lines more beautifully expressive than the
following:

“Next in rank and importance to filial piety, is
fraternal love. This is a natural affection which
you cannot too assiduously cultivate. How delightful
to see children of the same family dwell
together in unity; promoting each other's welfare,
and emulous only to excel in acts of kindness
and good will. Between brothers and sisters
the connexion is equally intimate and endearing.
There is such a union of interests, and
such an undivided participation of enjoyments,
that every sensible and feeling mind must value
the blessings of family friendship and peace.

“Strive, therefore, my dear pupils, to promote
them, as objects which deserve your particular attention;
as attainments which will not fail richly
to reward your labour.

“Prudelia, beside other amiable endowments
of person and mind, possessed the most lively
sensibility, and ardent affections.

“The recommendations of her parents, united
to her own wishes, had induced her to give her
hand to Clodius, a gentleman of distinguished
merit. He was a foreigner; and his business required
his return to his native country.

“Prudelia bid a reluctant adieu to her friends,
and embarked with him. She lived in affluence,
and was admired and caressed by all that knew
her, while a lovely family was rising around her.
Yet these pleasing circumstances and prospects
could not extinguish or alienate that affection,
which still glowed in her breast for the natural
guardians and companions of her childhood and
youth.

“With the deepest affliction she heard the
news of her father's death, and the embarraffed
situation in which he had left his affairs. She
was impatient to console her widowed mother,
and to minister to her necessities. For these
purposes, she prevailed on her husband to consent
that she should visit her, though it was impossible
for him to attend her. With all the transport
of dutiful zeal, she flew to the arms of her
bereaved parent. But how great was her astonishment
and grief, when told that her only sister
had been deluded by an affluent villain, and by
his insidious arts, seduced from her duty, her
honor, and her home! The emotions of pity,
indignation, regret, and affection, overwhelmed
her, at first; but recollecting herself, and exerting

all her fortitude, she nobly resolved, if possible,
to snatch the guilty, yet beloved Myra, from
ruin, rather than revenge her injured family by
abandoning her to the infamy she deferved. To
this intent she wrote her a pathetic letter, lamenting
her elopement, but entreating her, notwithstanding,
to return and receive her fraternal embrace.
But Myra, conscious of her crime, and
unworthiness of her sister's condescension and
kindness, and above all, dreading the superiority
of her virtue, refused the generous invitation.
Prudelia was not thus to be vanquished in her
benevolent undertaking. She even followed her
to her lodgings, and insisted on an interview.
Here she painted, in the most lively colours, the
heinousness of her offence, and the ignominy and
wretchedness that awaited her. Her affection
allured, her reasoning convinced her backsliding
sister. Upon the promise of forgiveness from her
mother, Myra consented to leave her infamous
paramour, and retrace the paths of rectitude and
virtue.

“Her seducer was absent on a journey. She,
therefore, wrote him a farewell letter, couched
in terms of sincere penitence for her transgression,
and determined resolution of amendment in
future, and left the house. Thus restored and
reconciled to her friends, Myra appeared in quite
another character.

“Prudelia tarried with her mother till she had
adjusted her affairs, and seen her comfortably settled
and provided for. Then taking her reclaimed
sister with her, she returned to her anxiously
expecting family. The uprightness and modesty
of Myra's conduct, ever after, rendered her universally
esteemed, though the painful consciousness
of her defection was never extinguished in
her own bosom.

“A constant sense of her past misconduct depressed
her spirits, and cast a gloom over her
mind; yet she was virtuous, though pensive,
during the remainder of her life.

“With this, and other salutary effects in view,
how necessary, how important are filial and fraternal
affection!”