her again. She has long since entered into her rest: but I often think of
her maxim, and in many cases have proved its value.

I think of it when I see a man spending time and money, and enduring all
the wretchedness of long suspense or excitement, in a lawsuit which he
might have avoided; and which, whether lost or gained, will prove to him a
source of continual self-reproach. When I see a business man who, by an
overbearing demeanor and oppressive attempts to make too much of a good
bargain, has converted a conscientious and peace-loving partner into an
unyielding opponent: or, when I hear of a farmer who has provoked a
well-disposed neighbor by killing his fowls and throwing them over the
fence, instead of trying some neighborly way of preventing their
depredations on his grain. When I have seen a teacher exciting the
emulation of a jealous-minded child; or by threats, or even by ill-timed
reasoning(?), converting a momentary pettishness into a fit of obstinacy--I
have felt as if I wanted to whisper in her ear, "Do not seem to notice
them; let well enough alone." When I see an envious mother depreciating and
finding fault with a judicious and conscientious teacher till she has
discouraged or provoked her, I think it likely that the day will come when
both mother and children will wish that she had "let well enough alone."
So, too, when I observe a mother forcing upon her daughters an
accomplishment for which they have no taste: a father compelling his son to
study law or physic, while the bent of his genius leads to machinery or
farming: or a widow with a little property placing her children under the
doubtful protection of a young stepfather. Vanitia is intelligent and well
read, and appears to advantage in general society; but her love of
admiration, her wish to be thought _superior_, is so inordinate, that she
cannot bear to appear ignorant of any subject; hence she often tries to
seem conversant with matters of which she knows nothing, and perceives not
that she thereby sinks in the estimation of those whose homage she covets.