The Boarding School; Lessons of a Preceptress to Her Pupils / Consisting of Information, Instruction and Advice, Calculated to Improve the Manners and Form the Character of Young Ladies. To Which Is Added, a Collection of Letters, Written by the Pupils to Their Instructress, Their Friends, and Each Other.

by Hannah Webster Foster

and laboring to convince them of the utter insignificance and uselessness of that part of the sex, who are

“Bred only and completed to the taste

Of lustful appetence; to sing, to dance,

To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye.”

Early rising she recommended, both by precept and example. This, she said, would not only promote their health, but render them mistresses of many hours, which must otherwise be lost in enervating sloth and inaction. “And should we,” continued she, “who have so much cause for exertion, thus sacrifice the best part of our time?”

“Falsely luxurious, will not man awake,

And, starting from the bed of sloth, enjoy

The cool, the fragrant, and the silent hour,

To meditation due, and sacred song?

And is there aught in sleep can charm the wise?