IN

LONDON,

AND

THE ADJACENT VILLAGES.

DESIGNED TO AMUSE THE MIND, AND IMPROVE
THE UNDERSTANDING OF YOUTH.

By ELIZABETH HELME.

"Let us consider that youth is of no long duration; and that
"in maturer age, when the enchantments of fancy shall cease,
"and phantoms of delight no more dance about us, we shall
"have no comfort but the esteem of wise men, and the means
"of doing good "

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR T. N. LONGMAN, AND 0. REES, PATERNOSTER ROWS
AND E, NEWBERY, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD.

1800.

PREFACE.

IN

N writing the following sheets, my design has been to blend instruction with amusement; to give "Virtue its own feature, "Vice its own image," and to shew the necessity of all evil propensities being crushed in infancy; and that children of good natural abilities and dispositions may be led to tread the paths of truth and rectitude, as easily as they may be suffered to imbibe erroneous opinions; which, like the weeds in the Scripture, that choaked the corn, destroy the virtuous principles implanted in them by their Creator. To inculcate a love of study, industry, charity, duty to parents, &c. has been my wish; and equally to discourage idleness, dissatisfaction with our situation, vanity, falsehood, and arrogance. Should I be happy enough to awaken in the susceptible bosom of uncorrupted childhood any of the former, how greatly will my efforts be repaid! Nor will