Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-09-21
P r E F A c E J.

In the present volume OF the Moral
Instructor" | have ventured 10 leave the
common track OF reading books for schools,
and to present continued narrative in
place of a collection of unconnected frag-
menls. The hero of the story is a Yam
kee Boy" born and bred on farm,
among the romantic mountains of New
England. His sports, his early studies,
bis rura! palions, form the topics Of
the fest part OF the volume. and the re.
mainde- is occupied with narrative Of
journey with his father and sister, in the
course OF which they visit some of the
most interesting portions of the United
States.
This plan, it will be perceived, COM
bines the advantages of book of travels
with that Of an interesting story; and it is
to be hoped, that the description of New
England scenery and New England man.
ners will be found quite as interesting and
useful to American youth. as extracts from
European writer's. At all events, the pic
ture OF these home scenes will avoid that
tendency 10 awaken the feelings of caste,
which deform descriptions of society in
the old world. and which are so inconsis-
tent with the perfect freedom and equality
of our institutions and manners, especially
in the country.
Pat Aha main object in this, as we'll as
in the other Parts of the Constructor" is to
awaken & develop the conscience in early
youth, and to cause it habitualIy to act al
most with the ease and rapidity ofinstinct;
to accustom the child, of has oaon accord,
TO deduce valuable moral lesson from
every scene and from every occurrence /;
and 10 lead him TO look deeper into Nature
than the mere surface, by habituating him
to see it 10 a spiritual as well as a physi-
cal point of view; TO acquire a taste Tor
beauty, and TO see impressed on every OBJ
ject around him the power and goodness
of the Deity, in characters too evident 10
be mistaken to cultivate an abiding sense
of the Omnipresence of God, and to i'm
press its importance on the child, by fire.
quent appeals to him whether he could
possibly fail to act right under its guild
ance.
Another object, although a subordinate
one TO that OF moral training, is that of
rendering labor honorable and attractive,
by exhibiting the laborers as ne frequent.
ly appears in the interior of New Eng
land, combining genuine politeness, mot
only of The heart, but of the outward man
ner, intelligence, aud moral worth, with
unwearied industry and economy. The
cultivation Of taste for rural occupations
and rural pleasures also has not been lost
sight of. The example of Frank and his
associates, it is believed, will have ter
dency to do away the strong bias which
exists among our youth 10 despisethe pur-
suits Of their fathers, TO desert The country,
and crowd into the cities.
Throughout the whole of this series oil
books, dealing out what is called poetscGl
|. justice to the different characters has been
studiously avoided, under the conviction
that il is not accordant with Truth and
Nature that the rewards of virtue, even
| in this life, are of higher order than
mere outward circumstances. The objec
has been 10 show that happiness does no
consist in external things, and 10 appea
to the pupil as to has oa0n consciousness o
"ihe souls calm sunshine, the heartfelt
lioyn attendant on virtue, and the shame
and remorseful feelings which cling So
closely TO vice.
! Should this sketch of the I" Yankee
Boy" meet with appreciation, the subjec
Will be continued, by exhibiting Franz
supporting himself and passing through {
collegiate course. AMI gradually rising (
independence, without o.her aid than hi
own industry.