Chapter IX: Part 9

_Sept. 16._ [picture of Hector & Andromache, Plate XXXIII.] Not the
parting of Hector & Andromache but of M. & myself on Thursday morning.
The sword is not quite as crooked as it should be, & the handkerchief
at M’s face is not sufficiently particularized—But it’s a glorious
drawing—you have done nobly with your own face particularly the nose.
But why does she turn away from you?—to conceal her grief—as maiden
diffidence dictated.

_Sept. 17_ (It being Sunday wore pumps & white stockings to meeting.)

_Sept. 18_ tore my Angola pantaloons! They will be obliged to be
mended with drab—which will not quite suit their complexion. Children
of the brain are as dear as living offspring let them be never so
homely—& moreover I am acquiring quite a friendship for my law books
since they are my only associates except this my favorite crony &
patient confident.

Somebody said there was a letter in the Post Office directed to some
person in the Estate of Conn.

_Sept. 21_ to begin this great day was powdered. huzza! here we go,
the defenders of our country—but lo my horse has fallen under me & I
am with my sword in the dirt & he (careful creature) is bounding in
his turn over me without harming a hair of my head—now I am appearing
to great advantage—now the girls are falling in love with me—now at
dinner Mr. Such a thing whom Lyman & myself saw at the ball & Mr.
Law—both from Georgia there—now it is afternoon & I am bounding
about—now running our people—now my horse is fatigued—now it is
night—now I am dancing at the ball—Mr. Tomlinson there that I look so
much like & also Daniel Bacon’s daughters—Julia is handsome—now I am
at home & there is a sweet little letter from her that is dearer than
the apple of my eye or the core of my heart or the spirit of my breath
& I have read it with delight & am in bed.

* * * * *

So George M^cClellan is growing largely in Philadelphia & married to
John Brinton’s sister—it beats the Dutch.

Geo. Jacobs M. calls him my brother “in mischief & wickedness.”

PL. XXXIII.—FROM JOURNAL OF GEORGE Y. CUTLER
]

(Noon) to dine with Lucy—a Miss Davenport from Stamford. At tea at
Judge Holmes. Evening a pleasant call on Miss Rogers & afterwards a
charming visit at Mary Ann W’s—how interesting! how beautiful! how
much improved in her personal appearance. I could not help telling her
my opinion—In return she reciprocated my compliments—which I always
like—she is one of the finest looking females I ever saw—she told me
of my interview with Parson Beecher at New Haven—am very sorry to have
my conduct in that affair misrepresented or misunderstood—as it is—I
never thought of treating his reverence with disrespect.

Thereby hangs a tale [this at Litchfield—E. N. V.]

A pleasant frolic at Dr. Catlin’s [North St.—E. N. V.]

Tea at Miss Collins

Evening Litchfield

Was examined for admittance to the Barr of the Court of Common Pleas &
admitted—5 other young men with me—Walter S. Franklin from Lancaster
Penn^a William T. Gould of this place & formerly a class mate of mine
at Yale—Thomas Whittlesey of Danbury, Conn—one Humphrey & one
Towny—all passed.

_Sept. 29_ took the oath of an attorney at nine o’clock in the
morning.

_Oct. 2_ in conversation with Amelia Flint.

_Oct. 10_ John Myers dead—is it he that Sarah Noyes used to talk so
much of? What an eternal talker she was! and yet always
entertaining—fine girl—I am sorry that she is so unwell as they tell
of.

_Oct. 19_ gathered my winter apples.

_Oct. 18_ letter from T. Whittlesey characteristically filled with a
burlesque translation of one of Horace’s Odes—introducing Bantam’s
river which flows gently along making eddies as it goes & says that
Taylor has been refused by Miss Swift of Windham, Taylor of
Canandaigua (afterward Chancellor Whittlesey living in Rochester N. Y.
E. P. Childs)

* * * * *

_Oct. 21_ A painful day this. Small infirmities vex me severely at
times—I don’t sit down with saint like patience—but an ague in my face
causes more grumbling & groaning than an age of real misery would—Yet
I study quite as much as when well....

_Oct. 22_ (Draft of a letter to a lady.) Take care of your health—take
exercise—attend to the affairs of the house—rise early & cultivate
your appetite—I hope to see your waist larger when I next have a view
of your otherwise charming-person—My complaint today is an ague in the
face, it is a cruel one too. I once all but died with it at
Litchfield; to cure it I go without food & take my usual remedy.
Laudanum—it is a rheumatic disease. I wish you were here to kiss my
cheek & make me well I know you would do it—would you not?

I am very sorry to hear you say a word about depression of spirits! Be
careful not to indulge yourself in repeating such things as will
excite no interest in those you may be addressing, but who will
perhaps ridicule your troubles; do not talk about the wearisomeness of
life & say you wish yourself out of the world. if such things must be
expressed put them in your book—there they will incommode no one & you
can scar them out at your leisure. I have never met with four persons
who were willing to listen to such details. When such sensations
oppress you fly from yourself, seek society, go abroad, walk or ride,
take up some hard work or read the first book that comes in your
way—or do them all—in short put your mind into a different train of
ideas.—... run to this letter if you please—when you are in your next
fit—read over this part of it, & then fly about the house until you
are much fatigued & see if your tone is not altered.

_Oct. 24_ A mineralogical compliment from Dr. A. S. M. in return for a
box of stones sent him—which I collected from the neighboring stone
walls, etc. “horizontalizing them” to use his expression, much to the
disadvantage of the agricultural interests in this part of the
country.

(Evening) was pleased to see in the Journal the marriage of Nancy
Hotchkiss [notes the death of] Elias L. Townsend, a school mate of
mine at Wolcott & a classmate for a while at College—a fine mind he
had. he wrote good poetry.

_Oct. 26_ Made my debut at pleading before Squire C—opposed by Phelps
of Woodbury in 2 cases—lost one of them—liked it on the whole.

_Oct. 27_ The name Seymour—very common among us—should be spelt
Seamer—meaning one who uses a needle.

Sec. 3 Atkins reports page 44....

_Nov. 7_ Mr. L. & myself to Woodbury. Nate (horse that is) broke loose
ran away with the gig—for a mile. Sally Porter (that was) gave us a
most excellent dinner—Fortunate man I am that the gig was not ruined.

“Like Sir John Cutler’s stockings our present Constitution is to be
darned & mended till not a speck of the original texture is left.” Ev.
Post.

It was actually so of the first ship that went round the world.

_Nov. 8_ went to chace the fox with Jo & Land in a drizzling storm of
wind.

Miss Skinner, the Gov. of Vermont’s daughter, at B. De Forest’s says
Oliver & Conard are to be married this evening at Miss Pierce’s.

* * * * *

_Nov. 12_ a terrible storm of snow, 10 inches deep & not a trifle
remarkable for the earliness of the season.

_Nov. 13_ “The Paddy sat down by a river, saying, I can cross over
soon—for it runs so fast that it cannot run long.”

_Nov. 16_ For the toothache

1 Tablespoonful of spirits
1 do vinegar
1 tea do common salt. Ev. Post.

_Nov. 18_ Mr. Daggett read me a curious letter of Old Reeve’s. Hunt
Stone surmises that L. cheated M. A. W. to revenge an insult of that
kind once offered to one of his Uncles by one of her Aunts.

_Nov. 19_ Charlotte tells me a story of Aunt Hopkins & my mother how
they used to “keep house” for Uncle Leman at L——, how they used chairs
in those days which were “worked” on the seat by their own hands. &
how a great deal of labor was bestowed upon them, & how valuable and
fashionable they were—Aunt M. was one day employed in this way & was
sitting in the Hall so that she could be seen from the street—Old
Parson Bellamy was riding that way & saw the girl thus pleasantly
situated & agreeably employed, for she was educated in industry. The
good old Priest turned his horse to the door & said, “My child, do you
know to whom it is that you are indebted for your present situation?
You have the good things of this life about yourselves & it is the
prayers of your good mother which has done this for you. I saw you all
stand like lambs about her death-bed & I thought the wolves would have
you.”

_Nov. 20_ Mr. John Stirling has been here on his way to see a
sweetheart, he looks well & is large & finely formed. Mary Ann Beers
is the name of his inamorata—he says J. K. Livingston & Charlotte
Landon are to be married this evening.

_Nov. 24_ Walter S. Franklin Esq.[60] says there was kissing done at
Charlotte Landon’s wedding—singular for so stiff & prudish a place as
L——

* * * * *

[The following extracts are from his mother’s journal transcribed in
his own.—Ed.]

“_Jan. 20, 1782._ Last Monday we had visitors from Town in Slay. we
drinkd tea then Leman sent for a fiddler. we spent the evening pretty
enough.”

She mentions John Talmadge having gone with them to a ball—the same
who now lives in Warren (1820) I suppose—he has a daughter Francis.

At another ball “Leman waited on Elizabeth Garnsey.” “Sweet Ireland”

At DERBY Jan. 20 1782.

“Just at night Leman came to us Drest & went with us slay & horses
across the river & through the snow. at length through a great Deal of
tribulation we arrived at Mr. David Deforists, where we had good
fires, good Brandy wine & wincom too—our company was not large but we
had good Musick which kept those few the busier.”

* * * * *

“_Sept. 26._ Returned from D. Sheldon’s Sister Rachel came there from
Hartford the night after I got there with Noah Webster.”

* * * * *

“It fell to Sam Sheldon to carve. he took up a rib which was taken out
of the Pork, & very impolitely tho very innocently said—that was such
a thing as woman was made of. Yea, says Polly Hopkins & (in both
cases) it was taken out of much such a creature.”

* * * * *

My mother appears to have been extremely fond of scribbling in this
way. I may have inherited some of her fondness for the quill. Would to
heaven I could have inherited her whole disposition—for I believe it
to have been one of the sweetest ever bestowed upon a mortal.

ANTICIPATION.

Why grieve at cruel, wayward fate
She yet may have in store
Some princely, pow’rful proud estate
For thee to lord it o’er.

Perhaps e’en now there lies conceal’d
Beneath tomorrow’s mystery;
Events, which when they are reveal’d,
Will place thy name in history.

* * * * *

_Nov. 28_ Went to Waterbury & tomorrow morning before daylight, shall
be obliged to be off in the cold—thro’ the snow on horseback to
Litchfield—all for this vexatious law—cursed be the day when I first
turned my face towards the fields of litigation.

_Nov. 29._ It was no killing thing either. Much worse would it be to
hang. for the moon was bright, The snow full of reflection, I full of
breakfast, & Nate full of fire. While the cocks of the country crowed
about us for musick & the stars shot this way & that about the
heavens, as if making a display of fireworks for our amusement. All
was silent. As we rose the hills & looked back upon the far distance
which ran down the valley to the south east, the two extremes of the
splendor of the united powers of snow & moonbeams & and the contrasted
darkness of the deep ravines into which light would not penetrate,
filled the whole view. I often stopped to admire the cold but
burnished beauties of the prospect & felt the magnificence of the
scene.

I found Geo. up, tho I little expected it when I turned a corner to
take a look at his window. I had little thought of seeing a light
there at that time of the night—I ran upstairs opened the door an inch
and inquired if Mr. Gibbs lived there. Then we laughed ourselves to
death & disturbed the neighbors. Mr. Chambers in the backroom inquired
who the Devil had come & being told, said, he “thought t’was him.”
breakfasted there & told stories till I thought I had told too many.

“William is indeed engaged to Miss Rodgers. Little Taylor,[61] you
remember him—he is mentioned in orator Ogilvies book as a rare
specimen has killed himself for the love of Miss Swift.”

“Your affair with Parson B. is much misrepresented here & the old
women shake their heads whenever your name is mentioned.

I do not blame myself neither does he blame me.

Aaron Burr told a student of his, to rise in the morning with this
determination—“_As I shall never see this day again I will today do
all that can be done in one day._”

“Daggett’s letter pleased Reeve & his family very much.” When I turned
my face homeward I felt the inconvenience of 3 pairs of pantaloons, 2
of stockings, 2 shirts and 2 great coats.

Now I think my ride too good a one to grumble about.

_Dec. 1_ Cousin John good fellow has come thro this piercing wind to
bid me goodbye before he goes to New York—that maelstrom, that
whirlpool of business into whose vortex so many of our best young men
are attracted & drawn away from their own firesides. [New York in
1820!—Ed.] John thinks he has suffered enough from this ride to atone
for a great many sins.

_Dec. 2_ There was a Miss Shephard from Newtown at the Election ball
last May—she was the counterpart of some fine looking Indian girl—tall
as one of the trees of her native forest, but still not
disproportionate by any means. She was just as round as she should
be—her head as high as it could be & surmounted with a single white
ostrich feather[62]—She danced with some grace, stept high as she
looked & commanded much notice. I was pleased with the exhibition & so
were some others ladies & gents who went with me from one end of the
room to the other to have a view of the architecture of her frame &
headdress. I thought the girl looked as if she had some notions of her
own. Some others who pretended to more than they deserved made flying
shot her. Gentlemen always mark down such slights to the score of envy
whether dictated by that spirit or not.

_Dec. 4_ John has laughed all day till he has at last split his
jacket. his company has raised my spirits till they have become
absolutely volatile. He is teasing me off to bed—that disgraceful spot
for a man: Nothing is more demeaning than to be every day obliged to
crawl into a nest and vilely snore away one third of that time which
is already so short. Nothing but a Sancho Panza would ever consider
the practise as otherwise than an unhappy fashion & a shameful
employment. It would naturally seem fit for so frail a creature as
woman to spend most of her time in this effeminate operation, but for
a hearty, hard & healthy piece of stuff like the other rough sex, who
is not above it?

_Dec. 9_ Harry Storrs(?)—grandfather purchased one of the present
senators in Congress (Matthew Lyon) for a yoke of oxen from the master
of the ship in which he came from England to be sold for his passage.

_Dec. 10._ (Anent the trial of the Queen) a curse fit for England—“Thy
skies over thy head shall be brass & the earth that is under thy feet
shall be iron.” Why? Because they deserve all they can pick up. It is
impossible to invent enough for them. Sodom contained more good in
proportion to its population. The heart sickens at the national
corruption of that proud people. Their missionary and Bible Societies
are but the beautiful outside of the apple of Sodom which is filled
with loathsome ashes.

_Dec. 12._ It was very cold going to Litchfield—but I reached it—went
to Geo. Jacob’s room—Mr. Glover (son of John J.) there—told a story of
Mr. Jeffersons how a large turkey was put before a fire within a
screen which was high enough to confine him, for he was alive—how a
plate of stuffing or dressing was put in each corner—how the Turkey
had been kept from food for a few days previous—how he went from one
dish to another till he was completely roasted & ready dressed.

_Ev._ Saw a pretty sight at —— Catlin’s went to Mary Peck’s have
seldom seen a girl look more kissable. Caroline Lord is not as
pleasantly situated as I wish she were. Sarah Denny is not married.

_Dec. 15_ went home.

_Dec. 18_ went to L—escaped from the lawsuit by an accident—went to a
party at Mrs. Goodwin’s was happy to find the Misses W. there. They
were the gems of the circle—Flora was sociable—Miss Lewis
animated—Susan Leavitt showed some spirit which became her—Mrs. Gould
was civil to me for having taken a poor relative of hers into my gig
one day and transporting her a mile or so without knowing who she was.
Mr. Austin sang a song of one Miss Pough, &c. it was as good as such
things in general—Miss Mary Ann thought she was near being swallowed
at the kissing bout which has been held in L——.

Miss Lewis says Susan Leavitt is to marry some priest.

They say Helen was all but kissed to death at the Landons—The wonder
would be if she was not. a saw was lost at sea—the carpenter said next
day “I can’t forget that excellent saw, it sticks in my gizzard yet.”
The Boy ran down to the Captain crying out—“I have found where the Saw
is—it sticks in the Carpenter’s gizzard!! A good story & well told by
Sam Glover.

_Dec. 20_ This being at court has some pleasant things about it—it
creates at least a little variety in life—this is the second week of
it.

_21^{}_— I sat in Judgment at the examination of Geo. Jacobs—he did
finely—it was a matter of course however.

_Dec. 22_ A little Miss Williams at Dr. Sheldon’s looks pretty.

Mr. Bacon made a funny argument in the lawsuit of the
students—Huntington is the best pleader at our bar—particularly in a
question of technical law—he does not do as well with facts. He is
lazy however & slovenish—Bacon is industrious & rather fond of
dress—Benedict is sly.

Came home in the evening—it is now eleven & quite cold—the nails of
the house crack.

Here I close this piece of quil driving enjoyment to commence another
with Christmas—You that read be not offended—for there is nothing ill
meant in all this—but be charitable and be amused if you can—I have
been very often and very much so while thus engaged.

SCRATCH’EM

WRITINGS OF MISS PIERCE.

ADDRESS AT THE CLOSE OF THE SUMMER 1820. BY MISS S. PIERCE.

In reviewing the occurrences of the past summer & in giving out the
rewards promised at its commencement many subjects of reflection
present themselves to you. Another season for improvement has elapsed
& its influence on your future fate has already been stamped & cannot
be erased. Standing as you now do at the threshold of the [school?] &
about to bid it adieu forever—pause for a few moments and ask
yourselves the question—What have been its uses, its profit, its
bearing on your happiness in this world and its effects on your
eternal condition—Young persons as they stand in life are too apt to
suppose that they have almost an eternity of years before them and
that the misimprovement of one term or one year will be of little
value—But how idle is such an opinion, how destructive to improvement
and deadening to the mind—Even granting that ideas fail’d of being
obtained in one year may be accumulated the next—yet the progress in
the path of science must be stopped by this unreasonable
indolence—Besides the habits of mind given, the power of indolent
habits will be sufficient to exhibit the incorrectness of such
positions—The mind formed as it is for activity must be constantly
exercised in the years of growth—otherwise it will move in a sluggish
and indolent course and finally stagnate in its channel—There is no
moment when the mind is stationary if not moving onward in its orbit
it will retrograde—Hence a continual culture is necessary until the
habits of intellectual industry are formed, and the mind can go on in
its progress from the momentum of its first impulse—Those of you then
who have watched the summer and have calmed your consciences with the
notion that after industry will enable you to atone for this
neglect—have reasoned from false premises and have perhaps originated
those habits of indolence, whose cold and palsying touch will freeze
the current of your soul & chain its every future effort—This question
then, should be heard with attention and reflection—“Have I this
summer by the constant improvement of each hour, accumulated those
treasures of science which are so necessary to usefulness & acquired
those habits of intellectual perseverance that will render my future
progress in science easy”—To those who have not I will repeat that
they themselves are the cause of the weakness of mind & want of genius
of which they complained & as they have “sown to the wind so they must
reap to the whirlwind”—My young friends hear my advice whether you
continue with us or employ your hours at some other seminary or under
the parents guidance—be advised by me to stop the deadly influence of
indolence, the disease is now young & can be checked—allow it for a
few years & no power on earth can control its lethargy—it will benumb
one faculty after another until your understanding “sleep the sleep of
death”—We are extremely happy in asserting that a stretch of industry
& perseverance rarely equalled in the annals of this school has been
exhibited this summer but few are exceptions to this assertion—but to
the consciences of those few, I would wish to speak so plainly as to
be felt & so powerfully as to govern—What will be the account that God
will demand of hours supplied but to be wasted—of talents granted but
to be abused—of the light of intellect given but to be shrouded by the
mists of indolence. From these few dark shades in the picture we turn
to those brighter hues, that have gladdened our eyes and encouraged
our hearts—To those who have employed their time to advantage, who
have now been sowing that harvest they will reap hereafter, we have
many words of praise to give—But the character of our praise & the
merits of each can be better learnt by a reference to the prizes & the
credit marks—

But there is another light in which the flight of time this summer is
to be viewed—When industry shall have accomplished its object &
indolence shall have performed its office, when the stream of time
shall have emptied all its waters into the ocean of eternity—indeed
long after this world with its own peculiar concerns & trials shall
appear “as some lone island speck seen far—far off across a wide long
stretch of sea”—will this summer be remembered with pain or joy, as
its time of probation has been improved—Have you any good reason to
suppose its remembrance will be painful—If the occurrences of this
summer have not induced your repentance & reformation, will any after
considerations effect them—Is there great reason to imagine that
hearts that have resisted the providences of this season will still
resist them when habits of sin have increased its power and the chains
of the world wound themselves more closely round. Will God be more
merciful hereafter, when you have sinned longer against him—But will
that hereafter arrive? Are none a prey to death as young, as strong as
blooming as you? Where now is all that was Clarinda Darling, whose sun
at this summer dawn rose as clear as bright as yours? mouldering
beneath the clods of the valley—Will you not pause one moment and
leaning over her grave resolve that e’er death strike you, you will
give yourselves to God—Do you think that strength of frame & vigor of
body will secure from the tyrant’s grasp, & then after neglect your
repentance?—Who three months since so blithely bound’d on your path to
school as she? Whose frame so vigorous & whose strength so strong? Can
beauty save you—Look at her grave & ask—

“Will the cold earth its silence break
To tell how soft, how smooth a cheek
Beneath its surface lies.”

Can intellect stay the dart? If native strength of mind & intellect’s
opening promise could e’er have stopped the power of death, Clarinda
would have heard me this day. Seldom in the course of my experience
have I found at such an age the promise

“of fairer flowers,
Or richer fruits in future hours.”

To a memory of quick & ready powers she joined a comprehension and
grasp of mind at her age rarely equalled—sure she was young her
intellect was dawning, but it was a dawn of vivid light—a dawn that
promised a bright & glorious day of mind—Be advised then in your
attention to other duties not to neglect those you owe to God—We have
seldom dismissed a school with the regret we now do—You have marked
this summer with a persevering industry, an attention to our commands
& a regard to our feelings that will lead us to hold you long in
remembrance—But the time of our control over you has elapsed & we send
you from us with most ardent wishes for your future usefulness &
happiness in life & hopes that we all shall meet in that world where
those who assemble “meet to part no more.”

A FRAGMENT.

According to your request I have taken my pen to communicate a few
remarks, which long experience has taught me, have a great influence
on the character of youth. A German writer justly observes, “that no
one can labor for himself, without at the same time laboring for all
others, or labor for others without favoring his own interest, the
increasing welfare of each being the increasing welfare of all. For
each to consider himself a member of the great connexion that embraces
the family of man, adds much to his feeling of interest in being.”
Each mother may say to herself, I am not a useless being, I have been
the instrument of introducing into this world an immortal being—a soul
that must be happy or miserable to all eternity—what a solemn thought,
what a responsible situation do ye mothers hold in the great chain
which extends from the first breath inhaled by our first parents, to
the remotest point of eternity. All that is great or wise or good
among men, (with a few wonderful exceptions), is planted in infancy.
Parents are therefore the benefactors, or the curse of society. As you
fulfil your duties to your children, the prosperity of your country,
the happiness of the world, and the glory of the church, will increase
or diminish. Say not then to yourselves I am poor, illiterate, and can
therefore do no good; if you have the training of one mind, you have a
treasure committed to your trust of more value than the mines of Peru.
The servant who had but one talent, and did not improve it, was cast
out into utter darkness—he was not punished for wasting his Lord’s
money, but for not increasing its value. Thus some parents think it
sufficient to clothe and feed their children and protect their bodies
from harm, but do not think of training their immortal minds for
usefulness in this world, and to promote the glory of God, and the
happiness of heaven through the endless ages of eternity. Think then
when looking upon your infant offspring, I owe to this child all the
obligations laid on me by former generations—the wise and good men who
laid the foundation of this mighty empire whose names are signalized
in the history of the world, who amidst persecution, toil and danger,
planted churches, founded colleges and schools, enacted wise and
equitable laws, and were the benefactors of the human race. I am come
into their harvest, I tread upon the same earth, which they
cultivated, I am enjoying the blessings everywhere spread around by
their wisdom and industry. They have finished their work and gone to
that rest prepared for the faithful servant. I am now bound in duty to
them, my country and my God to take up the sublime task which they
imposed on themselves. They have ceased from their work; but I have
greater facilities and a wider field for action. I can bring to
greater perfection than they had the power of performing that
magnificent undertaking of making our common race wiser and happier.
And how is this to be done—by training up children in the fear of
God—by teaching them to deny themselves to both luxury and pride, by
inspiring them with true patriotism to prize the good of their country
above their own private interest, to fulfil the scripture rule, of
loving their neighbor as themselves. Selfishness is the great
destroyer of human happiness. A selfish person is always uneasy, he is
even jealous of the attention he receives from others, for he rates
his own merit beyond the standard it deserves. This principle often
extends to a whole family; the parents love their children, not for
the virtues they possess, but because they are their children,—they
are never afflicted at the danger impending over their neighborhood or
country, unless it threatens them with loss of property or some
inconvenience. They will not unite in any of the benevolent societies
of the age, because _if_ they give they choose to do it according to
their own whim and not to be confounded with the vulgar—so that their
charities are the offspring of pride, not of benevolence—and can such
beings ever enter heaven where all is love? If this selfish spirit
prevailed in every family, would there be anything great or good
performed in the earth? I call upon parents who love their country,
who love the cause of Christ to begin early to eradicate this
principle of our sinful nature. As soon as a child begins to desire
the playthings of its older brothers or sisters teach it to be content
with its own portion of toys, and frequently give up his right to
another, praise him for every act of self-denial, and frown upon him
for every act of selfishness. The method pursued in some Sabbath
schools is highly commendable, to give your children an opportunity of
earning a cent each week to place in the charity box at the S. School,
and when you give your children money encourage them to bestow it on
some good object, either in the purchase of some useful article, or to
benevolent purposes. Never permit your children to spend their money
in the purchase of dainties to please the palate; it will not only
destroy their health but create a desire of self-gratification, which
in the end may lead them to glutony and drunkenness. Begin early to
teach them the shame of thinking much of the pleasure of the
table—relate to them pleasing stories from sacred and profane history
of the heroes and Christians who rose above the pleasures of animal
nature, and amidst the temptations of a court subsisted on the
simplest food. Daniel and his three friends and Cyrus are two
excellent examples. Enforce your precepts by examples of the
disgusting effects of glutony in some of the Roman emperors and of
others in later times, that they may learn early to prefer the
intellectual to the animal nature. Do not give your children as a
reward an orange or a bit of cake; it will give them a love of good
eating, but if they have been good take them to see some curious
animal, beautiful garden, or some interesting works of art, or present
them with a useful entertaining book. Often oblige them to perform
acts of duty when their inclinations are opposed to it—for instance,
if your child is engaged in an interesting play, and it is the proper
hour for study, or you have some act of labor for him to perform, and
he is unwilling to leave his sport, state to him mildly....

DIALOGUE BETWEEN MISS TRUSTY AND HER PUPILS.

(MISS T.) You are much engaged, my young friends, may I ask what
subject you are discussing?

(EMILY) We have been disputing whether men or women have the greatest
influence in the world, and which contributes most to the benefit of
the community. Mary contends that men justly claim that honor, as they
rule nations, command armies, and perform the principle part of the
active labor, which contributes to the sustenance and comfort of
society. I have been endeavoring to prove that the tasks assigned to
women though not often of so public notoriety are not the less
important.

(MISS T.) It would give me pleasure to hear what arguments you have
both advanced.

(E) I have thought, madam, that though men are the ostensible rulers
of the world, their counsels and actions are often the result of
female influence. I know at least their bad actions are frequently
instigated by weak or unprincipled women. Was not Adam persuaded by
his ambitious consort to eat of the prohibited Tree? Was it not the
depravity introduced by the beautiful, but vicious descendants of
Cain, which brought on the Deluge? And in every period of the Jewish
history do we not find women sustaining a conspicuous part? Deborah
was not only a distinguished ruler, but a commander of the armies of
Israel. The city of Abel was saved from destruction by the wisdom of a
woman, when Joab pursued after the rebellious Sheba. The Israelites
were saved by the wisdom and courage of Judith, when they appeared on
the verge of destruction. It was the influence of depraved females
which destroyed the wisdom and power of Solomon, and the idolatry
introduced by the daughter of Jezebel withered the prosperity of the
kingdom of Judah. I could mention many other instances both in ancient
and modern history were it necessary, to prove that in every age of
the world, the influence of women has had great weight in national
affairs.

(MARY) Emily has mentioned a few acts of heroism performed by women
during the existence of the Jewish nation, but in that long period how
many wise and great men displayed their talents for the benefit of
mankind. I therefore contend that illustrious women are like comets
which appear but seldom, and therefore surprise and astonish by their
brilliancy, while men of virtue and talents like planets are always
visible in some part of the moral hemisphere, and by their constant
light are of more use than the most dazzling star whose rays are
seldom seen. I think, Miss Trusty, you must decide in my favor.

(MISS T.) It is of little consequence, my dear young friends, whether
men or women have the power of rendering most benefit to the world,
but it is of the utmost importance that we perform all the good in our
power, and use the talents God has bestowed upon us to improve the
happiness of society. But few of our sex are called to act a
conspicuous part on the grand Theatre of life, but our influence in
community is notwithstanding of immense importance. Most men are so
entirely engrossed by business as to have but little opportunity of
fully understanding the characters of their children; this can be done
only by the mother. She has it her power to plant the seeds of vice or
virtue and an awful responsibility rests upon her, if she does not
exterminate every root of evil as she perceives it springing up in the
heart or temper of her children. Many amiable and pious women have
permitted the seeds of selfishness, ambition, revenge and deceit to
spring up in the hearts of their offspring, by false tenderness and
partiality, a fond mother who imagines that her children will love her
more ardently if she indulges them in all their early wishes, and thus
prepares them to repine at the necessary evils of life, while the
mother who habituates her children to self-denial, prepares them to
meet every cross accident with cheerfulness. She will teach them honor
exists not in resenting, but in forgiving injuries, and thus guard
their young minds from imbibing the false and fatal vice of duelling.
That true greatness lies not in titles or wealth, but in advancing the
cause of religion. She will be careful to search deeply into the
characters of her children and guard them against those lighter faults
to which they are naturally inclined, as well as those deeper sins
which easily beset them and is never turned aside by false tenderness
from crossing their desires if they tend to evil. She not only prays
daily for them, but with them. She begins with the first dawn of
reason to teach them the obligations they are under to God, their
parents, their near relatives, and their fellow beings with whom they
have intercourse. And when their capacities are sufficiently enlarged,
she will endeavor to impress their minds by expounding the doctrines
of the Gospel, as connected with its precepts. Nor does she confine
her instructions to religion, but imbues their young minds with human
science and literature; for this end she studies the best authors,
that she may be able to point out to her children their beauties and
defects, and thus store their minds with sound ideas and solid
principles, and fit them for acting on the scenes of busy life with
firmness and dignity.

Would every mother in this intelligent and free nation thus carefully
train up her children, we should soon feel its beneficial effects, not
only in private life, but in society. It would produce Davids, Edwards
and Dwights to adorn our pulpits and colleges, Washingtons, Madisons
and Jays to fill our military and civil offices and Brainards, Eliots
and Mayhews to disseminate knowledge and religion among the heathen. A
faithful mother not only points out the road to virtue, but arduously
guards her offspring against the dangers of dissipation in all its
various forms. The theatre, the gaming table, and the midnight revel,
would not open the gates of the bottomless abyss, to so many of our
deluded youth, had their mothers with agonizing eloquence warned them
to shun those dangerous inlets to the infernal regions, when as yet
the world had not cast its iron chains around their hearts, while
their minds were in a degree pure and spotless, and their bosoms
glowed with love to her who bore them. It is not enough to plant moral
principles in the heart and to warn the young against the baleful
effects of dissipation—the syren tongue of pleasure will often lure
the youth of lively temper from the paths of virtue, unless pleasing
entertainments are found at home to relax the mind. Women who have the
arrangement of domestic amusements should seek to procure such as are
innocent and improving not only to induce their children, but their
husbands and brothers, to delight more in the domestic circle than in
the most elegant public entertainment. And would mothers, wives and
sisters exert their talents as much to please their own family as they
do to entertain strangers, we shall see fewer husbands, sons and
brothers resorting to public places for amusement. I cannot elucidate
this theory better than by giving you the history of one of my
earliest friends. Mrs. B—— possessed a superior understanding which
had received the highest improvement that a solid and polished
education could bestow. These advantages were rendered more pleasing
by the charms which pure and ardent piety cast around her sincere....
Her husband was so much engaged in public business he seldom found
leisure to assist in the arduous task of training up their three sons
to usefulness. Mrs. B. early discovered that her sons possessed
uncommon eagerness of spirit, and would be easily led astray by the
arts of the designing and flattering multitude, who swarm around young
men of high rank and large fortunes. She therefore devoted her time
and talents and all the power of her mind to guard them against the
dangers which surrounded their path. While infants in the mother’s
arms she began to form their tempers and check their too glowing
sensibility by teaching them to bear and forbear with each other’s
petulance and to submit with patience when any disappointment
occurred. I remember finding her one morning with books, pictures and
children’s toys scattered around her; she made an apology for the
litter in her parlor, saying as it was a holy day, she felt it her
highest duty to entertain her children, lest they should desire to
resort to the common among their school companions, where they might
acquire habits that the exertions of maternal influence would never
correct. I endeavor, therefore, she added, to select their associates
and devote my time to enliven their amusements, that their home may be
the happiest place on earth to them, and truly I never beheld a
happier group of youthful faces than at that instant entered the room,
from a short run they had taken in the garden, each one begging Mrs.
B. to come and walk with them, and teach them the names and history of
the flowers and birds as she promised them. When the sons of Mrs. B.
had reached that period of life when childish amusement becomes
insipid, and as young men they wished for higher entertainment, she
invited an orphan niece to reside with her, whose amiable manners and
polite accomplishments, assisted to enliven the family circle. Musick,
painting and the most sprightly and interesting conversation gave a
zest to each hour not devoted to study. Mrs. B. gave frequent
entertainments to prevent her high spirited sons from resorting to
public places for amusement. The charms of intellectual conversation
were never more fully displayed than in Mrs. B.’s parties. Men of the
most enlightened minds and most shining talents thought themselves
honored to be admitted as her guests. And none received that favor but
those who possessed unblemished morals. She was particularly careful
to select as companions for her sons young gentlemen and ladies who
were more distinguished for talents and virtue than for rank or
wealth. By these means she formed the taste and matured the judgment
of her sons and preserved them from the dangerous allurements of the
gay and dissipated circles they would otherwise have entered and which
would undoubtedly have proved their ruin.

Her prayers and her exertions have been fully answered for their
spiritual as well as their temporal interest. They are now active
promoters of religion both at home and in foreign countries, united to
intelligent and pious wives and displaying those manly virtues which
justly entitles them to rank among our most distinguished citizens.
Nor was the bright example of Mrs. B. lost on her husband, who in
early life had imbibed infidel principles. She was greatly afflicted
when she found the husband whom she so tenderly loved, was not only
indifferent to religion but a disbeliever in Divine revelation; his
respect for his wife’s weakness (as he thought it) prevented him from
expressing his contempt of religion in her presence, but she easily
perceived his sentiments were perverted, and strove by her conduct to
prove what influence it produced on the heart and temper. She never
obtruded her principles upon him, or reverted to his want of faith.
But in a severe affliction which befell them, he saw and admired the
fortitude which sustained his pious wife, while he felt only the
repinings of discontent. This led him to wish that there was another
and happier state where he should again meet his beloved and only and
uncommonly lovely daughter, who had been snatched from them at the
interesting age of four, when the infantile prattle is most dear to a
parent’s heart. Mrs. B. seized upon these moments of affliction and by
her mild and forcible arguments prevailed on her husband to read the
Scriptures and attend public worship. When he read or heard any
doctrine advanced which he disbelieved or perverted, her lucid and
simple explanations accompanied with the tenderest expressions of
affection, convinced him of his error and removed his doubts. Her
prayers in the meantime ascended hourly to heaven for his conversion
and were heard by Him who has promised that the prayer of faith shall
never be offered in vain. Mr. B. had sought for happiness from wealth,
from the approbation of the world; his political and military talents
raised him to the highest summit which ambition desired, but he found
the temple of happiness was not there, and he sought it before age had
palsied his feelings in the bosom of his family, in communion with his
Redeemer and in employing his great abilities for the extension of
knowledge and truth. Mrs. B.’s example and instructions were blessed
to all who were so fortunate as to reside long in her family. Her
domestics were patterns of honesty, industry and piety. But she did
not confine her exertions to her own family,—the poor looked to her as
their protector, her alms were always accompanied with suitable
admonitions and many hardened sinners have been brought through her
influence to humble themselves at the foot of the cross. She engaged
with ardor in all the benevolent societies of this day of enterprise.
Like Mr. Frey she visited the abodes of infamy and guilt, on her
tongue dwelt the words of persuasion and kindness, and many outcasts
of society were brought by her means to abandon the paths of iniquity
and return to the abodes of virtue and blessed the day which led Mrs.
B. to visit their wretched cells. Age has now silvered her head and
destroyed the bloom of her cheek, but the virtues of her heart and the
exalted intelligence of her mind have stamped a loveliness upon her
countenance which the withering hand of Time cannot destroy, and
though seventy years have shaded the charms of youth, she is a more
interesting object to her husband and friends than she was at the
fascinating age of seventeen.

(E.) You have in the history of Mrs. B. shown us how a married woman
possessed of wealth and intelligence may exert influence, but what can
be done by the young and inexperienced.

(MISS T.) Young women have the power of extending the knowledge of
religion by aiding the charitable institutions established for
preaching the Gospel, those who are rich by their contributions and
influence. We have not many women who like Lady Huntington devote
_all_ their income to that noble end, but I am happy to know a number,
who though they do not leave themselves destitute of a change of
apparel (as Lady Huntington often did) yet clothe themselves in the
most simple attire that they may bestow what others expend in jewels
and fashionable dress, in promoting the cause of their Redeemer.

Miss Julia T—— receives a moderate allowance from her father, who is a
man of the world and wishes to see his daughter dress in the most
fashionable style. Julia conforms to his wishes so far as to appear
neat and elegant in her attire, but at the same time practices such
strict economy as enables her to bestow a great part of her little
income in charity. Her expensive dresses are never worn except to
please her father, or when ceremony requires a splendid attire. She
can with truth apply the words of Queen Esther to her own feelings:
“Thou knowest O Lord that I abhor these signs of my high estate,” and
Julia not having any family to employ her time devotes all her
activity in promoting the cause of Christ. She not only contributes
largely herself, but influences others to support the Gospel, not only
in their own city and country, but in evangelizing the heathen. Her
hands are daily employed in making garments for the poor, or for the
benefit of education and missionary societies. The sick, the
afflicted....

[A fragment.]

A free government like ours can only be supported by the virtue of its
citizens. The ancient governments were destroyed by the vices of their
subjects. Greece and Rome ceased to rule the world when their citizens
became corrupted by luxury and sloth. It is indispensable to the
existence of a republic to be moral and religious. Who then can
calculate the beneficial effects resulting from the early habits of
piety and morality planted by maternal wisdom upon the rising
generation. And may we not hope that the daughters of America will
imitate the example of the Spartan and Roman matrons in the day of
their glory, who taught their children to love their country beyond
every earthly object, even their own lives. Then shall we find many a
Pederatio (?) who will rejoice that there are three hundred citizens
more worthy to fill a part of honor than himself. May we not hope that
by cultivating the solid rather than the ornamental branches of
education, our young women will emulate their sisters in Europe in
moral and intellectual acquirements, that on this side of the Atlantic
Hannah Mores and Mrs. Sherwoods will arise to instruct and enlighten
the world and justly merit the high enconium pronounced by Gov.
Metcalf of Kentucky. “It is true that woman....

[A fragment.]

Among the poor and middling classes of society a dangerous ambition is
excited which every lover of their country and religion should
endeavor to suppress. Many of the wives and daughters of our mechanics
and day laborers expend all their earnings in dress and furniture, and
thus deprive themselves of the pleasure of contributing to the
extension of Christianity. Those who have professed themselves to be
the followers of Christ should remember, that when they took the vows
of God upon them, they engaged to devote their time and talents to his
cause, and the small sum bestowed by the poor will meet as great a
reward as the large donations of the rich, and it will be said to the
daily laborer who spends all his earnings upon his own pleasure, as
well as to the rich, for as much as ye did it not to one of the least
of these my disciples, ye did it not to me. The greater part of the
funds raised in England for the extension of the Gospel are from the
poorer classes of society, and she who can prevail on these classes in
our community to contribute to this noble enterprise will aid much in
the extension of the Gospel.

VERSES TO MISS NANCY COLLINS WHO WAS ENGAGED TO BE
MARRIED THE FIRST SLEIGHING.