Palladium Of Virginia And The Pacific Monitor

THE LADIES FRIEND
ADDRESSED TO A CIRCLE OF YOUNG LADIES.

An accomplished woman never can become
an object of neglect; she must always remain an
object of distinction amongst her acquaintance.
When she was young, she might please more, but
as even then she pleased chiefly by her mind,
she will therefore continue to please still. The
discerning few, at least, will discover in her.
beauties, which neither the inroads of age, nor
the ravages of sickness can deface. When "de-
clined into the vale of years," she will, still, from
the superiority of her character, stand forth an
exalted figure. Sense and capacity, joined to
worth and sweetness, are exempted from the
condition of all things which are to lose their
influence when they lose their novelty. The
ornament of grace which wisdom shall give to
thy head, will not appear with less lustre, when
infirmity shall cause that head to shake. The
crown of glory which she shall deliver to thee,
will in reason's eye, receive new dignity from
grey hairs: or rather, according to our inspired
author, those "grey hairs are themselves a
crown of glory, being found in the way of righ-
teousness." Do you know a woman far advan-
ced in life, but yet in virtue and understanding,
who, with mild insinuation, employs them to
render wise and happy those about her, especial-
ly the young, who, for such in particular, makes
every kind allowance, not forgetting those early
days, when she too stood in need of indulgence;
who, when her health will permit, takes pleasure
in seeing herself surrounded by a circle of youth
innocently gay, condescending even to mix in
their little sports, and by a graceful compacency
of look, and pleasing remainder of ancient
humour to encourage and promote their harm-
less amusements? Do you know such a woman:
Then speak your opinion freely. Will this
youthful circle be in any danger of despising her,
because she is old? On the contrary, will they
not contend with one another who shall pay her
most veneration, who shall stand highest in her
affection? Can you conceive a character more
respectable, and at the same time more amiable?
What is there good or excellent, to which
she will not have it in her power to win them? In
truth, most of the grievances complained of by
mortals, are self-created. They proceed from
that fondness of fancy which gives consequence
to trifles, or from those gusts of passion which
produce agitation without a cause. But, next
to the power of religion, can you imagine any
means of avoiding both, so probable as the wise
and calm pursuits to which I would now per-
suade you: Permit me, my beloved readers, to
succeed. Defer not, by the cultivation of your
minds, as well as hearts, to lay in a store of en-
joyment and comfort, such as you can repair to
in secret, when all abroad is unsolacing and in-
sipid. Every thing external is hastening to
change and dissolution. You yourselves are
gliding insensibly down the current of time.
You are on your passage to eternity; and can
you bear the thoughts of resigning a passage as
important as it is short, to the blind impulse of
chance, caprice, and ignorance? Or suppose,
you are so far careful of consequences, as to se-
cure a safe arrival; can you, like illiterate and
incurious mariners, sailing by some beautiful
coast, be satisfied to hurry along without attend-
ing to the various prospects and numerous ob-
jects which nature and art have spread out be-
fore you; or, without taking advantage of the
best assistance you can find on your voyage, to
improve in whatever is instructive, ornamental,
and praise-worthy? Have you forgotten, that,
when landed on the blissful shore, your felicity
will bear no inconsiderable proportion to your
present attainments in knowledge: that the most
enlarged understandings, where the dispositions
have been of a piece, will be rewarded by the
noblest discoveries; in short, that they who
shine now with the fairest lights of wisdom,
shall, like the more distinguished stars of heaven,
be crowned hereafter with superior splendor?