Several other exercises in prose and verse are here subjoined for the learner's practice. Prose. Dissimulation in youth is the forerunner of perfidy in old age. Its first appearance is the fatal omen of growing depravity, and future shame. If we possess not the power of self-government, we shall be the prey of every loose inclination that chances to arise. Pampered by continual indulgence, all our passions will Become mutinous and headstrong. Desire, not reason, will be the ruling principle of our conduct. Absurdly we spend our time in contending about the trifles of a day, while we ought to be preparing for a higher existence. How little do they know of the true happiness of life, who are strangers to that intercourse of good offices and kind affections, which, by a pleasing charm, attaches men to one another, and circulates rational enjoyment from heart to heart. If we view ourselves, with all our imperfections and failings, in a just light, we shall rather be surprised at our enjoying so many good things, than discontented because there are any which we want. Verse. Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, If nothing more than purpose in thy power, To be resign'd when ills betide, And pleas'd with favours giv'n: Whose fragrance smells to heav'n. The spacious firmament on high, And spangled heav'ns, a shining frame, Who noble ends by noble means obtains, Our hearts are fasten'd to this world, Teach me to feel another's woe, This day be bread, and peace my lot: All else beneath the sun Thou know'st if best bestow'd or not, But soon I found 'twas all a dream; ARITHMETIC. THAT every young woman should have a knowledge of the art of computing by numbers, is indispensable, if she would fit herself for some of the most useful employments in life. Indeed, without an acquaintance with the first principles of this science, she must forego many of the advantages and pleasures which others enjoy, and be exposed to the mistakes of the ignorant, or submit to the impositions of the designing. Its utility is in fact so general, that there is no situation in which females can be placed where the benefits to be derived from it will not be evident. The following narrative is given as a striking instance of the necessity of being acquainted with the art of computation. A poor farmer had sold a certain number of cattle, at so much per head, and being unacquainted with arithmetic, relied on the calculation of the buyer, and was about to receive the amount; when the farmer's daughter, a little girl, the mother of whom he had often reproved for giving her so much "larning," as he called it, happened to pick up the paper containing the price and number, which her father had accidentally dropped; and, either in the hope of amusement, or to see if the sum was right, unknown to her parents she made the calculation herself, and found a deficiency in the amount of upwards of twenty pounds; which, without this timely inspection of the child, the father must certainly have lost. In the following system the professed object is simplicity. The rules will appear so plain and easy that it is unnecessary to perplex the learner with prolix directions; and as females are seldom called upon to practise as deep skilled accountants, it will not be advisable to go beyond the rudiments of this most useful science. NUMERATION. NUMERATION is the art of expressing properly and methodically any proposed number by figures. Thus the whole series are described: 339 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. 1, 2, 3, One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. Another character formed by the letter 0, is called a cipher, signifying, when alone, nothing, but when joined to another figure it adds tenfold to its original value, thus: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90. Ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety. Other ciphers added, still increase it tenfold, thus: 1,000, 200,000, 100, 1,000,000. One hundred, one thousand, 2 hundred thousand, one million. The value of any number may be known by learning the following Table, which must be read from right to left, beginning with No. 1, calling it units. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 tens of thousands The figures together in one sum, thus, 10,987,654,321, would read or be called as follows, ten thousand, nine hundred eighty-seven millions, six hundred fifty-four thousand, three hundred and twenty-one. The Roman figures, called numerals, are I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. L. C. D. M. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 50, 100, 500,1000. |