Young Grandison: Volume 1 by Madame de Cambon - HTML preview

LETTER XII.
 MISS EMILIA GRANDISON TO MISS CHARLOTTE L——.

I send you a small landscape which I have drawn myself, my dear cousin. It is not very valuable I know; but I hope to improve as I grow older, and then I will send you one done in a superior style; but pray hang this in your chamber, and then you will often think of me.

I wish now to ask your advice; next Thursday is mama’s birth-day, can you not transcribe for me some verses out of that pretty book you have, which I would present to my mother to express my respect and good wishes, and to shew her—No,—I believe it would not be right—No, do not do it; I will try to express my wishes in my own words.—Why should mama have stolen verses? I love her dearly, and I think I can easily say what gratitude and love inspires; and should my foolish tongue falter, surely she will be able to read in every turn of my face, the sincere affection which warms my heart. I will then think of what this good mother has done for me, what misfortunes she preserved me from; next to God, my thanks are due to her. Indeed I do love her, and I will endeavour to shew my gratitude by my attention to her most trivial commands or wishes; and I hope, I shall never through thoughtlessness occasion her a moment’s uneasiness: I I should hate myself if I did.

For the future, dear cousin, I will earnestly pray to God to spare my father and mother, the dearest earthly blessings I enjoy. The thought of losing them depresses my spirits:—O may God long preserve them! Yes, yes, with these sentiments, I shall know very well how to wish mama many returns of the day we are to celebrate. I have net her a purse, during our play hours; I mean to surprise her—she will see that Emilia thinks of her.

Adieu, dear Charlotte, love your affectionate cousin

EMILIA.