Letters to my pupils: with narrative and biographical sketches

Front matter

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Preface

Instructors are wont to find the requisitions of written thought, formidable to their pupils. Espe cially, to the younger classes, the production of grave essays, at stated times, and the liabilities of criticism, are appalling. The reluctance of those entrusted to my care, was diminished by being encouraged to simple efforts in the epistolary style, addressed to me, with the expectation of a response.

My letters, thus prompted, became numerous ; and it has been recently suggested that, coupled with some delineation of the schools that called them forth, they would be interesting to others still engaged in the pursuits of education. Of this, I am, perhaps, not the best judge. But at least, I am sure of having found great pleasure in their preparation. It has given new life to imagery and associations connected with those lovely and true-hearted beings, whose intercourse made some of the years of early life so cloudless.

1* iy PREFACE.

The letters contained in this volume, are a severe selection from the mass that had accumulated, for in rejecting those which were so interspersed with local matter, as to be less adapted to the public eye, scarcely a decimation survived the ordeal. With their appendant descriptive and biographical sketches, may they be neither an unacceptable nor useless oflfering from one who would fain leave some tribute of gratitude for the unalloyed happiness which, both as pupil and teacher, it has been her lot to taste.

L. H. S.

Hartford, Connecticut, AprU, 1851.