From the same good example, let children see what a blessing awaits their
duty to their parents, though ever so low in the world; and that the only
disgrace, is to be dishonest; but none at all to be poor.
From the economy she purposes to observe in her elevation, let even
ladies of condition learn, that there are family employments, in which
they may and ought to make themselves useful, and give good examples to
their inferiors, as well as equals: and that their duty to God, charity
to the poor and sick, and the different branches of household management,
ought to take up the most considerable portions of their time.
From her signal veracity, which she never forfeited, in all the hardships
she was tried with, though her answers, as she had reason to apprehend,
would often make against her; and the innocence she preserved throughout
all her stratagems and contrivances to save herself from violation:
Persons, even sorely tempted, may learn to preserve a sacred regard to
truth; which always begets a reverence for them, even in the corruptest
minds.
In short,
Her obliging behaviour to her equals, before her exaltation; her
kindness to them afterwards; her forgiving spirit, and her
generosity;
Her meekness, in every circumstance where her virtue was not
concerned;
Her charitable allowances for others, as in the case of Miss
Godfrey, for faults she would not have forgiven in herself;
Her kindness and prudence to the offspring of that melancholy
adventure;
Her maiden and bridal purity, which extended as well to her
thoughts as to her words and actions;
Her signal affiance in God;
Her thankful spirit;
Her grateful heart;
Her diffusive charity to the poor, which made her blessed
by them whenever she appeared abroad;
The cheerful ease and freedom of her deportment;
Her parental, conjugal, and maternal duty;
Her social virtues;
Are all so many signal instances of the excellency of her mind, which may
make her character worthy of the imitation of her sex.
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