God forbid that I should sneer at this terrible infirmity, which
Providence has seen fit to inflict; God forbid too, that I should not be
grateful to the same kind Providence for bestowing upon others among
his creatures a more genial apprehension of true goodness, and a hearty
sympathy with every shade of human kindness.

But in all this I am not making out a case for my own correct teaching,
or insinuating the propriety of my tone. I shall leave the book, in this
regard, to speak for itself; and whoever feels himself growing worse for
the reading, I advise to lay it down. It will be very harmless on the
shelf, however it may be in the hand.

I shall lay no claim to the title of moralist, teacher, or romancist: my
thoughts start pleasant pictures to my mind; and in a garrulous humor I
put my finger in the button-hole of my indulgent friend, and tell him
some of them,--giving him leave to quit me whenever he chooses.

Or, if a lady is my listener, let her fancy me only an honest,
simple-hearted fellow, whose familiarities are so innocent that she can
pardon them;--taking her hand in his, and talking on; sometimes looking
in her eyes, and then looking into the sunshine for relief; sometimes
prosy with narrative, and then sharpening up my matter with a few
touches of honest pathos;--let her imagine this, I say, and we may
become the most excellent friends in the world.




_SPRING;_