5

If we are unhappby, let us not blame our destiny, & idly set down
to suffer; let us rather turn our eye inward, & instead of complain-
ing of circumstances which we cannot change, examine ourselves,
& perhaps we will discover, that by moving the mind to activity,
by calming the restlessness of our passions, by softening our tempers,
we may find that happiness [word?] our own bosoms, which
we have sought for in vain from the circumstances & accidents of
life. For my own part, if I have been happier, than most others
have been, I attribute it chiefly to this power, of drawing my
happiness more from within than without myself. Often have
I been in a situation, which had an other been the judge, they
would have decided to have been miserable. -- but I have been
happy. If any thing or any person displeases me, I try to forget the cause, by thinking of some more agreeable object or circumstance; if I
am sick I try to forget it by reading something amusing, or by sending
forth my imagination in search of agreeable images, & some of my
most pleasing hours have passed in the bed of sickness. If I form
an agreeable scheme, & am disappointed, instead of thinking one
moment on the scheme that has failed, I set myself to work
to form a better. I never voluntarily indulge melancholy, or disatis
faction with my self or then, I continualy cultivate a cheerful &
a contented disposition & where I cannot accomodate circum
stances to my wishes, I try to accomodate my wishes [to?]
my circumstances -- My dear daughter, before the
time arrives, at which the instructions & experience of your
mother, can assist you; that mother may be taken from
you by death, in this case, I should die without being
known to my darling children, they would be ignorant
how fondly they were beloved, how [word?] they were
thought of, how tenderly watched over by their mother. If
such should be the [decree?] of heaven, let this book
speak for me my children, in these hopes you may