In the construction of the following little Poem, the Author has declined the aids of Genii, &c.—the powerful auxiliaries of her two former works,—on the belief that a moral truth requires little of artificial embellishment to render it attractive. She presents therefore a simple unadorned tale to her young readers, as an experiment; not without hope that their reception and approval of it may be such, as to sanction future efforts, and to confirm her in the propriety of her present opinion.
THE
MILLER.
If, ’mid the passions of the breast,
There be one deadlier than the rest,
Whose poisonous influence would control
The generous purpose of the soul,
A cruel selfishness impart,