HE reminded Shepherd of his obstinacy in persisting in an explanatory meeting, and refusing to grant Ophelia’s request in suffering the affair to subside—“Your proud spirit,” said he, “would not harken to the gentle remonstrances of your daughter—your heart was closed to every conciliatory proposition. Though she expressed a propensity to fly from the eye of the world, she had hitherto appeared lulled in a kind of happy insensibility; yet the approaching time of explanation was terrible, it renewed the story and torture of all her misfortunes, and the idea filled her with grief and dismay. Had you been as willing to receive her, as she to return to you, happy would it have been for both; but your pride was the cause of additional calamities—when the time arrived—But why shall we harrow upon souls with the reiteration of her sorrowful exit?—
“FROM these circumstances,” said Martin, “you cannot accuse me as the immediate cause of Ophelia’s death; the facts are as I have stated them—and thus was a straying, but penitent child, driven to despair and suicide by a severe use of parental power, and a vain attempt to resent an injury, for which it was impossible the accused party could make compensation.”
NOTWITHSTANDING the plausibility of Martin’s plea, I have little hesitation in my mind to charge him with the remote cause of the miserable end of Ophelia.
HOW far parental authority may be extended, is a question which I shall not determine; I must, however, think it depends upon the combination of circumstances. The duty of a child to her parents will be in proportion to the attention paid to her education. If, instead of the usual pains bestowed by many partial parents, upon the vain parade of forming the manners of a child, and burthening the mind with the necessity of douceurs and graces, would it not often be happier for both, to take a small share of thought to kindle one spark of grace in the heart?
HAPPY the parents, who have bestowed upon their children such an education, as will enable them, by a principle of mediocrity, to govern them without extorting obedience, and to reclaim them without exercising severity.
Farewel!
LETTER XXIV.
Harriot to Myra.
Rhodeisland.
MRS. Francis is not altogether pleased with her journey to this part of the country—She does not delight to brood over sorrow—She flies from the house of mourning, to scenes of dissipation—and, like the rest of the world, bears the misfortunes of her friends with a most christian fortitude: The melancholy aspect of affairs here, will therefore shorten our visit—so you may expect us at Boston in a few days.