Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-03-10
H E A L T E.
From the Journal of Health.
EARLY DEATHS.


Will parents and teachers read carefully
the following, and see if they cannot unfold
the secret of that mysterious Providence,
which hurries the young, the lovely, and
the gifted into an untimely grave.
1.-The subject assumes a still greater
importance when the intellectual powers
are unfoided at very early age. The
Very affection Of the misguided parent then
becomes the certain nurse Of premature
disease and DEATH The delighted parents
are sedulousl y disposed TO furnish every
means to hasten the growth of the tender
bud of promising genius, at the expense,
or total neglect of the physical powers of
the bod Y, which it is destined 10 inhabit,
during It's earthly sojournng and, alas
In many instances, how short has been the
journey to the world of Spirits through
feebeness mainly caused by erroneous
tenderness of this nature. Such was the
case with that peculiar instance of mental
precocity LucretlG III. Daridson, whose
early death is to be deplored by every low
Ter of piety and genius. Had she been
more wisely directed in her early habits,
it is more than probable she might have
Iived brilliant ornament to her sex and
her country. The writer was, in 1916
and 1917, acquainted in the family, and
had frequent opportunities of conversing
with the bright and amiabIe Lucreta-
But little, if any regard was paid to her
physical education; a subject Of more es-
ptcial importance in persons like her, " no
are endowed with high intellectual pow
ers; their mental delights very naturally
preventing that very attention 10 muscular
exercise which their health demands.
THAT all this is true, may be gathered
! from her memoirs; instance the intense
interest she took in the reading of a poem,
or new book SO much so, she les Of
ten torgotte1 her meaIs;;' and at neigh
boris house in the morning, SANDING in
the library, so absorbed in her book, that
the darkness of the coming night first re-
minded her she had forgotten her meals
Now, with such habits, and it is evident
that all is not told, not to have fallen into
the incipient stages of disease, would have
| been a miracle; because it was transgress-
jig the laws of nature, as they affect our
material powers ofaction.
Thus persisted martyr to the love of
intellectual pleasure; or rather to mis-
guiding parental fondness for remarka-
| bly, promising genius. To the name of
the lovely Lucrela may be added many
more besides Krke Whte,-as a Hon
tington, a Thatcher. and Winchell! All,
humanity speaking, might have had a long,
er lie, had they been taught now to obev
! the immutabie laws of nature. These laws
will not relax one inta in favor Of piety,
learning, or genius; neither ought they
TO be lmPugned. Whether we be per-
forming the acts OF piety or profanity, if
they are transgressed, The effect must be
borne; and to him who does violence to
| his own nature, whether he be on an err
rand of mercy or of death, the consequent
ces are certain. There can be no sus-
pending of these laws, but by His imme-
diate act who constituted them; and we
are not warranted to expect a miracle in
favor of our supposed importance, or the
i goodness of our intentions.
! at was from the briliancy and sensi-
tiVeness of L1cretias mind, con,eBdlng
with the first stages of disease in her
young frame, which caused her PRESENT.
ment of deathto be expressed in her IF.