MRS. HUTCHJNSON TO HER CHILDREN CONCERNING THEIR FATHER. " TO MY CHILDREN." THEY who dote on mortall excellencies, when by the inevitable fate of all things fraile, their adored idolls are taken from them, may let loose the winds of passion to bring in a flood of sorrow; whose ebbing tides carry away the deare memory of what they have lost; and when comfort is assay'd to such mourners, commonly all obiects are remoov'd out of their view, which may with their remembrance renew the grief; and in time these remedies succeed, when oblivions curtaine is by degrees drawn over the dead face, and things !esse lovely are liked, while they are not view'd together -with that which was most excellent; but I that am under a command not to grieve alt the common rate of desolate woemen,' while I am studying which way to moderate my woe, and if it were possible to augment my love, can tor the present find out none more iust to your deare father nor consolatory to myselfe then the preservation of his meh The command of her husband at his denth. It will be readily admitted that she does indeed not grieve after any comtp.on rate, but with that noble sorrow which raises instead of depressing the soul: it would be an affront to the reader's taste to point out the beauties of this dirge; but it is oBljr a just commendatton of our authoress' judgment and modesty to observe, that having shewn her ability to ornament and embellish, she confines herself to such occasions a3 are most suitable, and employs the g reatest simpl icity in her narrative.
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