1 84 I^ISEN B V PERSE VERANCE. 



know you were interested, and still more happy to know, 

 though it may sound paradoxical, that you were disappointed 

 —I mean the death of the little heroine. When I first 

 conceived the idea of conducting that simple story to its 

 termination, I determined rigidly to adhere to it, and never 

 to forsake the end I had in view. Not untried in the school 

 of affliction, in the death of those we love, I thought what a 

 good thing it would be if in my little work of pleasant amuse- 

 ment I could substitute a garland of fresh flowers for the 

 sculptured horrors which disgrace the tomb. If I have put 

 into my book anything which can fill the young mind with 

 better thoughts of death, or soften the grief of older hearts ; 

 if I have written one word which can afford pleasure or 

 consolation to old or young in time of trial, I shall consider 

 it as something achieved — something which I shall be glad to 

 look back upon in after life. Therefore I kept to my purpose, 

 notwithstanding that towards the conclusion of the story I 

 daily received letters of remonstrance, especially from the 

 ladies. God bless them for their tender mercies ! The 

 Professor was quite right when he said that I had not reached 

 to an adequate delineation of their virtues ; and I fear that I 

 must go on blotting their characters in endeavouring to reach 

 the ideal in my mind. These letters were, however, combined 

 with others from the sterner sex, and some of them were not 

 altogether free from personal invective. But, notwithstanding, 

 I kept to my purpose, and I am happy to know that many of 

 those who at first condemned me are now foremost in their 

 approbation. 



' If I have made a mistake in detaining you with this little 

 incident, I do not regret having done so; for your kind- 

 ness has given me such a confidence in you, that the fault is 



