ro MRS. SARAH, MRS. MARY, AND MRS. ELIZA- BETH ABNEY, Daughters of Sir Thomas Abney, Knight and Alderman of London. MY HONOURED 'YOUNG FRIENDS, WHEN 13 it pleased God toaffordme the first degrees of releasefront a long and tiresome weakness, I thought myself bound to make my best acknow- ledgment of that uncommon generosity and kindness of your honouréd parents, by which I was first invited into your family, and my health began to be restored. Nor could I do any thingmore grateful to them, nor more pleasing to myself, than offer my assistance in some part of your education, While I was incapable of more public work. I began therefore at the first principles of learning, that I. might have opportunity to correct any lesser mistakes of your youngest years, and to perfect your knowledge of our mother- tongue : For this purpose, when t found nospelling-book sufficientto answer mydesigns, I wrote many of these directions ; but my health was so imperfect, that I was not able, atthat time, to transcribe and finish this littlebook, which was designed for you. Thus it lay by neglected some years, till a charity- school arose at Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, raised and supported by the diffusive goodness of your family, in concert with the pious neighbourhood,' Then was t requested, and even provoked to put the last hand to this work, for the better instruction of thechildren that were taught there ; though I must confess, it has grown up, under my reviews of it to a much larger size than I evee intended. But, Ladies, 1 take the freedom to make youmy sole patronesses in this affair ; for I scarce know any thing else that can effectually defend . me, for laying out so many hours in these rudiments of learning, but a desire to bd made useful in lesser services, while I am cut off from greater ; and the duty of gratitudeto an excellent household, where so many years of my affliction have been attendedwith so rich a variety of conveniences and benefits : And now I ask your leave to offer it to the public. May the 'valuable lives of Sir Thomas Abney, and his honouredLady, be prolonged as blessings to the world ; while the kindness they have shown me, is signally and plentifully rewarded from heaven with blessings on all your heads And may the little share I have had in assisting your education, be improved by divine providence and grace, to your temporal and everlasting welfare. So prays Theobalds in Hertfordshire July 31, 1720. Your affectionate Instructor, And obliged humble Servant, I. WATTS.
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