I could never have dared to prefix names so illustrious and so venerated by all men as yours are to my own humble Work, had I not been encouraged to do so by your own orders, springing spontaneously from the generous feelings of your hearts. These orders, which it is so delightful to me to obey, are but a new mark of kindness to be added to those which my gratitude already burns to disclose; for to reveal the generosity which has deigned to lend its powerful support to my weakness, is but to make more manifest one of your manifold virtues. Sheltered by names alike so august and so beloved, I can cherish no hope more sanguine for the simple narrative which you have encouraged me to relate, than that it may fall into the hands of readers as benevolent, and judges as indulgent as yourselves. I remain, with the most profound respect, Your humble and devoted servant, and former governess, ALEXANDRINE DES ECHEROLLES. TO MY NIECE.* It is no feeling of personal vanity, nor any desire to give publicity to the sad events of my life, which has induced me to fill the ensuing pages with my own history. You, the child of my affection and of my care, have been my only object in writing them; for I have nothing to bequeath to you but the recollection of the * These pages were addressed to my niece, Maria des Echerolles, whom, as a child, her parents entrusted to my care. Bred up as she was in a foreign land, I considered it desirable that she should be made acquainted with the misfortunes which her family had endured in France, when the Reign of Terror, rampant throughout the land, had bowed the heads of her children under its iron yoke. I publish this address as it was written at the time. misfortunes of your family. In the contemplation of them you will find strength to endure your own sufferings, should it be the good pleasure of Providence to afflict you—you will here learn to meet without murmuring the trials to which you may be exposed, and to put your whole trust in the Almighty, when you read what unexpected assistance He has often vouchsafed to His children in the hour of their extremest need. My child, you will be poor; so far at least as we can foresee, the riches of this world will not be your portion. If this should ever cause you a pang of regret, read these pages again, and your complaints will be hushed. Seek but to love God, and then the true riches will be yours; love Him, and He will give you richly all things to enjoy. My child, all is fleeting here below; even the afflictions, which at times seem to us neverending, pass away in due season like a shadow. It may be, that when you read these pages, I myself shall be to you but a memory of the past, ready to vanish away. But I would now earnestly entreat you, in your joy and in your sorrow, never to forget that everything in this world is transitory; and if earthly happiness should be |
