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It has been often said, that infancy is the happieststate of human life, as being exempted fromthose serious cares, and that anxiety which mustever, in some degree, be an attendant on a more advancedage; but the Author of the following littleperformance is of a different opinion; and has everconsidered the troubles of children as a severeexercise to their patience; when it is recollectedthat the vexations which they meet with are suitedto the weakness of their understanding, and thoughtrifling perhaps in themselves, acquire importancefrom their connexion with the puerile inclinationsand bounded views of an infant mind, where presentgratification is the whole they can comprehend,and therefore suffer in proportion when their wishes[Pg 4]are obstructed.
The main design of this publication is, to prove,from example, that the pain of disappointmentwill be much increased by ill-temper; and that toyield to the force of necessity will be found wiserthan vainly to oppose it. The contrast betweenthe principal character, with the peevishness of hercousin's temper, is intended as an incitement tothat placid disposition which will form the happinessof social life in every stage; and which, therefore,should not be thought beneath any one's attention,or undeserving of their cultivation.
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As I had nothing particular to do, I took a walkone morning as far as St. James's Park, where meetingwith a lady of my acquaintance, she invited meto go home with her to breakfast; which invitationI accordingly complied with. Her two daughtershad waited for her a considerable time, and expressedthemselves to have been much disturbed ather stay. They afterwards fretted at the heat ofthe weather; and the youngest happening accidentallyto tear her apron, she bewailed it the succeedingpart of the day with so much appearanceof vexation, that I could not help showing somedegree of astonishment at her conduct; and havingoccasion afterwards to mention Miss Placid; Iadded, that she was the most agreeable girl I hadever known.
Miss Eliza, to whom I was speaking, said, That shehad long wished to hear something farther concerningthat young lady, as her mamma very frequentlyproposed her as an example, without mentioning the[Pg 6]particulars of her conduct; but as I was so happy asto be favoured with her intimacy, she should be gladto hear a recital of those excellencies which acquiredsuch universal approbation.
In compliance with this request, I wrote the followingsheets, and dispatched them to Eliza, and byher desire it is that they are now submitted to theworld; as she obligingly assured me, that her endeavoursto imitate the calm disposition of theheroine of this history, had contributed so much toher own happiness, and increased the good opinionof her friends, that she wished to have so amiablean example made public for the advantage of others.I shall therefore present these memoirs to the world,just as they were sent to my young friend; andsincerely wish they may meet with as favourable areception from the more general, as they did