Produced by Delphine Lettau, Judith Wirawan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net 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.