Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

* From the RAMBLER.

SIR,

Hough I have been but a little time conver

fant in the World, yet I have already had frequent Opportunities of obferving the little Efficacy of Remonftrance and Complaint, which, however extorted by Oppreffion, or fupported by Reafon, is detefted by one Part of the World as Rebellion, cenfured by another as Peevifhnefs, by another heard with an Appearance of Compaffion, only to betray any of thofe Sallies of Vehemence and Refentment, which are apt, to break out upon Encouragement, and by others paffed over with Indifference and Neglect, as Matters in which they have no Concern, and which, if they should endea vour to examine or regulate, they might draw Mis chief upon themfelves.

Yet fince it is no lefs natural for those who think themfelves injured, to complain, than for others to neglect their Complaints, I fhall venture to lay my Cafe before you, in hopes that you will enforce my Opinion, if you think it juft, or endeavour, to rectify my Sentiments, if I am miftaken. I expect, at least, that you will divest yourself of Partiality, and that whatever your Age or Solemnity may be,

A Paper publish'd every Tuesday and Saturday, price 2d. which is worthy the Patronage of all Gentlemen of Tafte and Genius.

you

you will not with the Dotard's Infolence, pronounce me ignorant, and foolish, perverfe, and refractory, only because you perceive that I am young.

My Father dying when I was but ten Years old, left me, and a Brother two Years younger than myfelf, to the Care of my Mother, a Woman of Birth, and well bred, whofe Prudence, or Virtue, he had no reason to diftruft. She felt, for fome: time, all the Sorrow which Nature calls forth, upon the final Seperation of Perfons dear to one another; and as her Grief was exhaufted by its: own Violence, it fubfided into Tendernefs for me and my Brother, and the Year of Mourning was fpent in Careffes, Confolations, and Inftruction, in Celebration of my Father's Virtues, in Profef fions of perpetual Regard to his Memory, and hourly Inftances of fuch Fondnefs as Gratitude will not eafily fuffer me to forget.

But when the Term of this mournful Felicity was expired, and my Mother appeared again with-out the Enfigns of Sorrow, the Ladies of her Acquaintance began to tell her, upon whatever Motives, that it was time to live like the reft of the World; a powerful Argument, which is feldom ufed to a Woman without Effect. Lady Giddy was inceffantly relating the Occurrences of the Town, and Mrs. Gravely told her privately, with great Tenderness, that it began to be publickly obferved how much the over-acted her Part, and that most of her Acquaintance fufpected her Hope of

[blocks in formation]

procuring another Husband to be the true Ground of all that Appearance of Tenderness and Piety.

All the Officioufnefs of Kindnefs and Folly was bufied to change her Conduct. She was at one time alarmed with Cenfure, and at another fired with Praife. She was told of Balls, where others fhone only becaufe fhe was abfent; of new Comedies to which all the Town was crowding, and of many ingenious Ironies, by which domeftick Dili gence was made contemptible.

It is difficult for Virtue to ftand alone against Fear on one Side, and Pleasure on the other; efpecially when no actual Crime is propofed, and Pru dence itself can fuggeft many Reasons for Relaxation and Indulgence. My Mamma was at laft perfuaded to accompany Miss Giddy to a Play. She was received with a boundlefs Profufion of Compliment, and attended home by a very fine Gentleman. Next Day fhe was with lefs Difficulty prevailed on to play at Mrs. Gravely's, and came home gay and lively; for the Diftinctions that had been paid her awakened her Vanity; and good Luck had kept her Principles of Frugality from giving her Disturbance. She now made her fecond Entrance into the World, and her Friends were fufficiently induftrious to prevent any Return to her former Life; every Morning brought Meffages of Invitation, and every Evening was paffed in Places of Diverfion, from which the for fome time, complained that he had rather be abfent. In a fhort time the began to feel the Happiness of acting

without Controul, of being unaccountable for her Hours, her Expences, and her Company; and, learned, by degrees, to drop an Expreffion of Con tempt, or Pity, at the Mention of Ladies, whose Hufbands were fufpected of reftraining their Plea fures, or their Play, and confeffed that the loved to go and come as she pleased.

I was ftill favoured with fome incidental Pre cepts, and tranfient Endearments, and was now and then fondly kiffed for fmiling like my Papa: but most Part of her Morning was fpent in com→ paring the Opinion of her Maid and Milliner, contriving fome Variation in her Dress, visiting Shops, and fending Compliments, and the reft of the Day was too fhort for Vifits, Cards, Plays, and Con

certs.

She now began to discover that it was impoffible to educate Children properly at Home; Parents could not have them always in their Sight, the Society of Servants was contagious, Company produced Boldness and Spirit, Emulation excited Induftry, and a large School was naturally the first Step into the open World. A thousand other Reafons fhe alledged, fome of little Force in themselves, but fo well feconded by Pleafure, Vanity, and Idlenefs, that they foon overcame all the remaining Principles of Kindness and Piety, and both I, and my Brother, were dispatched to Boarding Schools.

How my Mamma fpent her Time when she was thus difburthened I am not able to inform you, but I have reason to believe that Trifles and Amufe

ments

« AnteriorContinua »