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58     Juvenile Letters.

Chain'd in the ship's dark scanty womb,
Behold us pant for breath,
Envying those friends, who happier far,
Exchange their bonds for death.

Behold us in the sun's fierce blaze,
Struggling with toil and pain!
Behold us sink beneath the lash,
Expiring on the plain!

And who are they that dare torment
The produce of thy hand,
And with their brethren's blood, like CAIN,
Pollute both sea and land?

Ah! 'tis a race that falsely boast
Salvation through his name,
Who taught "What ye wish men to do,
Do ye to them the same."

Yet vengeance is not our request;
We wish but LIBERTY;
And light sufficient to explore
The way that leads to THEE.

If these in mercy thou bestow
O! may thy bounty move
Our hearts, our minds, our souls to glow
With gratitude and love!
Yours, &c.

THOMAS TRUMAN.
Master Henry Hopeful.

LETTER


Juvenile Letters.   59

LETTER XXII.

Answer to the foregoing.

Boston.

Dear Friend,

I tnank you for the letter you did me the honor to write me. You know we are all fond of receiving letters ; and I am peculiarly pleased with those which treat of learning. I confess you hit my own case exactly, in one of your remarks. For when our preceptor first required me to write a letter, I was foolish enough to say, "I don't know how, sir; I never wrote a letter in my life." That, said he, is the very reason why I should teach you. Boys, he said, should seldom say, "I don't know how ; I can't do this thing, and I can't do that;" but whatever they are required by their superiours, they should undertake with cheerfulness. They should say, "I will try, sir; I will do my best endeavour," &c. Ever since I received this admonition, I have been cautious how I used that word can't.

Your

Transcription Notes:
The letter s, at the time, was depicted as an f-shape. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-29 14:38:26 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-29 16:34:06