Tales and Novels, vol 1

Tales and Novels, vol 1

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Title: Tales And Novels, Volume 1
Author: Maria Edgeworth
Release Date: September, 2005 [EBook #8826] [This file was first
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TALES AND NOVELS, VOLUME I
MORAL TALES
BY
MARIA EDGEWORTH

PREFACE.
It has been somewhere said by Johnson, that merely to invent a story is
no small effort of the human understanding. How much more difficult
is it to construct stories suited to the early years of youth, and, at the
same time, conformable to the complicate relations of modern
society--fictions, that shall display examples of virtue, without
initiating the young reader into the ways of vice--narratives, written in
a style level to his capacity, without tedious detail, or vulgar idiom!
The author, sensible of these difficulties, solicits indulgence for such
errors as have escaped her vigilance.
In a former work the author has endeavoured to add something to the
increasing stock of innocent amusement and early instruction, which
the laudable exertions of some excellent modern writers provide for the
rising generation; and, in the present, an attempt is made to provide for
young people, of a more advanced age, a few Tales, that shall neither
dissipate the attention, nor inflame the imagination.
In a work upon education, which the public has been pleased to notice,
we have endeavoured to show that, under proper management,
amusement and instruction may accompany each other through many
paths of literature; whilst, at the same time, we have disclaimed and
reprehended all attempts to teach in play. Steady, untired attention is
what alone produces excellence. Sir Isaac Newton, with as much truth
as modesty, attributed to this faculty those discoveries in science,

which brought the heavens within the grasp of man, and weighed the
earth in a balance. To inure the mind to athletic vigour is one of the
chief objects of good education; and we have found, as far as our
limited experience has extended, that short and active exertions,
interspersed with frequent agreeable relaxation, form the mind to
strength and endurance, better than long-continued feeble study.
Hippocrates, in describing the robust temperament, tells us that the
athletae prepare themselves for the gymnasium by strong exertion,
which they continued till they felt fatigue; they then reposed till they
felt returning strength and aptitude for labour: and thus, by alternate
exercise and indulgence, their limbs acquire the firmest tone of health
and vigour. We have found, that those who have tasted with the keenest
relish the beauties of Berquin, Day, or Barbauld, pursue a
demonstration of Euclid, or a logical deduction, with as much
eagerness, and with more rational curiosity, than is usually shown by
students who are nourished with the hardest fare, and chained to
unceasing labour.
"Forester" is the picture of an eccentric character--a young man who
scorns the common forms and dependencies of civilized society; and
who, full of visionary schemes of benevolence and happiness, might,
by improper management, or unlucky circumstances, have become a
fanatic and a criminal.
The scene of "The Knapsack" is laid in Sweden, to produce variety; and
to show that the rich and poor, the young and old, in all countries, are
mutually serviceable to each other; and to portray some of those virtues
which are peculiarly amiable in the character of a soldier.
"Angelina" is a female Forester. The nonsense of sentimentality is here
aimed at with the shafts of ridicule, instead of being combated by
serious argument. With the romantic eccentricities of Angelina are
contrasted faults of a more common and despicable sort. Miss Burrage
is the picture of a young lady who meanly natters persons of rank; and
who, after