The author is a particular friend of my own; a gentleman who, marrying at a rather advanced stage in the journey of life, was unexpectedly and agreeably presented with a small earnest of posterity in the shape of a son. Parental feelings, like many other good things, are better late than never; and it has often struck me that such feelings are much stronger, considerably more fervent, and, indeed, a great deal better when they do come late. Methinks the love of grandfather, grandmother, uncle, great-aunt, and a whole kit of cousins, is blended in the sexagenarian sire. It will be perceived, from the affecting apostrophe or invocation, that my friend commenced his poem with praiseworthy promptitude; and I do hope that its success will be more than commensurate with his expectations. The youth is now half-past six, in the morning of existence. I have, once only, had the pleasure of meeting him. He entered his father's study somewhat abruptly, mounted on a timber steed, which, I am advised, he is already perfectly able to manage; and, immediately he opened his mouth, with a raspberry-jam border to it, I perceived that he would, at no distant day, become not only a worthy member, but an undoubted ornament, of society. But this is from my present purpose.
Your Miscellany, sir, professes to furnish materials for the amusement and delight of the community; and hitherto you have acted up to your professions. But were it not as well, allow me to suggest, that you should combine instruction with amusement,—that you should clear the heart as well as purify the liver—that you should attend to the mind at the same time that you tickle the midriff? You must confess, when I remind you of it, that the rising generation has strong claims upon you, which I am sure you will be anxious, and indeed most happy, to allow. The Youth's New Vade-Mecum, then, is a compendious manual of instruction, which cannot fail of becoming permanently serviceable and efficient. Similar although I allow it to be, in many respects, to certain "Guides to Youth" and "Young Man's Best Companions" which have been published, yet I cannot but think that the precision with which the precepts are laid down in it, and the judicious manner in which they are conveyed, must cause it very shortly to supersede all other works of the same nature.
I enclose for your gratification the real name of the author, and I grant you the discretionary power of whispering it to any grateful parent (there may be many such) who would fain make the acquaintance and cultivate the friendship of their benefactor: and I have the honour to be, sir,
Your obedient, humble servant,
Charles Whitehead.
THE YOUTH'S NEW VADE-MECUM.
My son, whose infant head I now survey, Guiltless of hair, whilst mine, alas! is grey,— Whose feeble wailings through my bosom thrill, And cause my heart to shake my very frill,— Incline thine ear, quick summon all thy thought, And take this wisdom which my love has brought: Perpend these precepts; sift, compare, combine; And be my brain's results transferr'd to thine.
Soon as thy judgment shall grow ripe and strong, Learn to distinguish between right and wrong: Yet ponder with deliberation slow, Whether thy judgment be yet ripe or no; For wrong, when look'd at in a different light, Behold! is oft discovered to be right, And vice versâ—(such the schoolmen's phrase)— Right becomes wrong, so devious Reason's maze!
Take only the best authors' mental food, For too much reading is by no means good; And, since opinions are not all correct, Thy books thyself must for thyself select.