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  JEMIMA PLACID;

  OR, THE

  ADVANTAGE

  OF

  GOOD-NATURE.


  EXEMPLIFIED IN
  _A VARIETY OF FAMILIAR INCIDENTS_.


  A NEW EDITION.


  _LONDON_:
  Printed by T. C. HANSARD, Peterborough-court, Fleet-street, for
  BALDWIN, CRADOCK, AND JOY,
  47, Paternoster-row; and
  N. HAILES, Piccadilly.

  1819.




PREFACE.


It has been often said, that infancy is the happiest state of human
life, as being exempted from those serious cares, and that anxiety which
must ever, in some degree, be an attendant on a more advanced age; but
the Author of the following little performance is of a different
opinion; and has ever considered the troubles of children as a severe
exercise to their patience; when it is recollected that the vexations
which they meet with are suited to the weakness of their understanding,
and though trifling perhaps in themselves, acquire importance from their
connexion with the puerile inclinations and bounded views of an infant
mind, where present gratification is the whole they can comprehend, and
therefore suffer in proportion when their wishes are obstructed.

The main design of this publication is, to prove, from example, that the
pain of disappointment will be much increased by ill-temper; and that to
yield to the force of necessity will be found wiser than vainly to
oppose it. The contrast between the principal character, with the
peevishness of her cousin's temper, is intended as an incitement to that
placid disposition which will form the happiness of social life in every
stage; and which, therefore, should not be thought beneath any one's
attention, or undeserving of their cultivation.




JEMIMA PLACID;

OR, THE

ADVANTAGE

OF

GOOD-NATURE.


As I had nothing particular to do, I took a walk one morning as far as
St. James's Park, where meeting with a lady of my acquaintance, she
invited me to go home with her to breakfast; which invitation I
accordingly complied with. Her two daughters had waited for her a
considerable time, and expressed themselves to have been much disturbed
at her stay. They afterwards fretted at the heat of the weather; and the
youngest happening accidentally to tear her apron, she bewailed it the
succeeding part of the day with so much appearance of vexation, that I
could not help showing some degree of astonishment at her conduct; and
having occasion afterwards to mention Miss Placid; I added, that she was
the most agreeable girl I had ever known.

Miss Eliza, to whom I was speaking, said, That she had long wished to
hear something farther concerning that young lady, as her mamma very
frequently proposed her as an example, without mentioning the
particulars of her conduct; but as I was so happy as to be favoured
with her intimacy, she should be glad to hear a recital of those
excellencies which acquired such universal approbation.

In compliance with this request, I wrote the following sheets, and
dispatched them to Eliza, and by her desire it is that they are now
submitted to the world; as she obligingly assured me, that her
endeavours to imitate the calm disposition of the heroine of this
history, had contributed so much to her own happiness, and increased the
good opinion of her friends, that she wished to have so amiable an
example made public for the advantage of others. I shall therefore
present these memoirs to the world, just as they were sent to my young
friend; and sincerely wish they may meet with as favourable a reception
from the more general, as they did from a private perusal.

       *       *       *       *       *

The high opinion, my dear Eliza, which you entertain of Jemima Placid,
would, I assure you, be much increased upon a more intimate knowledge of
her worth. The sweetness of her temper has made her the object of
particular estimation among all her acquaintance; and I had the
happiness to be admitted of that number at a very early period of her
life. Mr. Placid is a clergyman of distinguished merit, and has been for
many years the vicar of Smiledale. The situation of the parsonage is
truly beautiful, but the income of the living is not very considerable;
therefore, as the old gentleman has two sons with the young Jemima to
provide for, it is necessary to be rather frugal in his expenses. Mrs.
Placid was remarkably handsome in her youth, but the beauty of her
person has been much impaired by a continued state of ill health, which
she supports with such a degree of cheerful fortitude, as does honour
to human nature. As she has had the advantage of a liberal education,
and has