Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1836-06-22
WASHINGTON'S ADVICE TO "A
YOUNG LADY.

ence of Washington. 1t was written
to Miss Harriet Washington, his or
)phan neice, who had resided for some
time in his family, and to whom he ex-
handed his care and aid. She then re-
Sided with some Of her relatives at
Fredericksburg. The letter is dated
Philadelphia, 3Oth Oct. 1891:
Dear Harriet: ] received your let
ter of the 2lst inst, and shall always
be glad to hear from you. When my
business will permit, inclination will
not be wanting in me to acknowledge
the receipt Of your letters; and this l
shall do the more cheerfully, as it will
afford me opportunities at those times,
of giving you such occasional advice
as your situation may require.
Atpresent l could plead better ex-
cuse for curtailing my letter to you,
than you had for shortening yours to
me, having multitude Of occupations
before me, while you have nothing to
do; consequently you might with as
much convenience to yourself have sat
down to write your letter an hour or
two or even day sooner, as have de-
|layed it until your cousin was on the
point of sending to the post Office. l
make this remark for no other reason,
than to show it is better to offer no ex-
cuse than bad one, if at any lime, you
should happen to fall into an error.
Occupied as my time now is, and
must be during the sitting of congress,
/ nevertheless will endeavor to incul-
cate on your mind the delicacy and
danger Of thatperiod to which you are
now arrived under peculiar circum-
stances. You are justentering into the
state of wamanhood, without the watch
full eye of a mother to admonish, or the
protecting aid Of father to advise and
defend you; you may not be sensible,
that you are at this moment about to he
stamped with that character, which will
adhere to you through life; the conse-
quences of which you have not per-
haps attended to, but be assured 1t is Of
the utmost importance that you should.
Your cousins with whom you live, are
well qualified to give you advice; and
| am sure they will if you are disposed
to receive it. But if yo,, are aisobii-
ging, self willed, and untowardly, it is
hardly to be expected that they will
engage Themselves in unpleasant dis
putes with you, especially Fanny,
whose mild and placid temper will not
permit her to exceed the limits Of
wholesome admonition, or gentle re-
buke.
Think then to what dangers giddy
girl of fifteen or sixteen must be ex-
posed in circumstances like these. To
be under little or no control may be
pleasing to mind that does not reflect,
but this pleasure cannot be of long du-
ration, and reason, too late perhaps,
may convince you Of the folly Of mis-
spending time. You are not to learn,
l am certain, that your fortune is small.
Supply the want Of it, then, with awell
cultivated mind, with dispositions to
industry and frugality, with gentleness
Of manners, an obliging temper, and
such qualifications as will attract notice,
and recommend you to happy cstab-
lishment tor life.
You might, instead Of associating
with those from whom you can derive
nothing that is good, but may have OBJ
served every thing that is deceitful,
lying, and bad, become the intimate
companion Of and aid to your cousin in
the domestic concerns Of the family.
Many girls, before they have arrived
at your age, have been found SO trust
worthy as to take the whole charge Of
the family from their mothers; but it is
by steady and rigid attention to the
rules Of propriety, that such confidence
is obtained, and nothing would give me
more pleasure than to hear that you had
acquired It. The merits and benefits
of it would rebound more to your adj
vantage in your progress through life,
and to the person to whom you may,
in due time, form matrimonial connec- J
ton, than any other; but to none would
such q circumstance afford more real
satisfaction than to your affectionate
uncle, GEORGE WASHINGTON.
CHARIrY.---Wc may see mountains
removed, and miracles wrought; but
there isnothing in the compass, either !
Of human or divine action, that is SO /
sublime and beautiful as CHARITY-as
giving aims II the poor, and pouring
oil into the Wounds Of distress. /
The city 81. w ashiingt ton, cont mining