Read Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 6 Page 51

  LETTER LI

  MRS. HOWE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE[SUPERSCRIBED AS DIRECTED IN THE PRECEDING.]FRIDAY, JUNE 30.

  MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE,

  You will wonder to receive a letter from me. I am sorry for the greatdistress you seem to be in. Such a hopeful young lady as you were! Butsee what comes of disobedience to parents!

  For my part; although I pity you, yet I much more pity your poor fatherand mother. Such education as they gave you! such improvement as youmade! and such delight as they took in you!--And all come to this!--

  But pray, Miss, don't make my Nancy guilt of your fault; which is that ofdisobedience. I have charged her over and over not to correspond withone who had made such a giddy step. It is not to her reputation, I amsure. You know that I so charged her; yet you go on correspondingtogether, to my very great vexation; for she has been very perverse uponit more than once. Evil communication, Miss--you know the rest.

  Here, people cannot be unhappy by themselves, but they must invoke theirfriends and acquaintance whose discretion has kept them clear of theirerrors, into near as much unhappiness as if they had run into the likeof their own heads! Thus my poor daughter is always in tears and grief.And she has postponed her own felicity, truly, because you are unhappy.

  If people, who seek their own ruin, could be the only sufferers by theirheadstrong doings, it were something: But, O Miss, Miss! what have you toanswer for, who have made as many grieved hearts as have known you! Thewhole sex is indeed wounded by you: For, who but Miss Clarissa Harlowewas proposed by every father and mother for a pattern for theirdaughters?

  I write a long letter, where I proposed to say but a few words; and thoseto forbid your writing to my Nancy: and this as well because of the falsestep you have made, as because it will grieve her poor heart, and do youno good. If you love her, therefore, write not to her. Your sad lettercame into my hands, Nancy being abroad: and I shall not show it her: forthere would be no comfort for her, if she saw it, nor for me, whosedelight she is--as you once was to your parents.--

  But you seem to be sensible enough of your errors now.--So are all giddygirls, when it is too late: and what a crest-fallen figure then do theconsequences of their self-willed obstinacy and headstrongness compelthem to make!

  I may say too much: only as I think it proper to bear that testimonyagainst your rashness which it behoves every careful parent to bear: andnone more than

  Your compassionating, well-wishingANNABELLA HOWE.

  I send this by a special messenger, who has business only so far as Barnet, because you shall have no need to write again; knowing how you love writing: and knowing, likewise, that misfortune makes people plaintive.