The Author of this little Work, many years ago, spent a few weeks in
Eskdale, the scene where she has placed the principal events of her tale.
The beauty of the country made a deep impression on her mind, at the time;
perhaps the more so, from its being the farthest excursion to the
southward, that she had then made from her native home. She, however, by
no means pretends to pourtray the scenery in the course of her narrative,
with minute accuracy. Too long a period has since elapsed, and she has
seen in the interval too great a variety of places, to retain an exact
recollection of every spot in this delightful dale; but its general
features remain strongly fixed in her memory; and she hopes that her young
readers will not find her tale less interesting from any slight inaccuracy
which they may discover in the local description.
The general character and manners of the inhabitants are, she believes,
more correctly represented; for there is scarcely an incident,
exemplifying these in the following pages, of which she has not known a
counterpart in real life. The respect universally paid by the parishioners
to their clergyman, and the familiar intercourse and great influence which
the latter possesses, in forming their minds and morals, are circumstances
which have fallen under her own observation, not only in Eskdale, but in
various other parts of Scotland; and she has felt a peculiar satisfaction
in describing the simple and useful life of MR. and MRS. MARTIN, from the
remembrance of many worthy couples in similar situations, who might have
sat for the resemblance. She has endeavoured, in relating the adventures
of JOHN TELFER, the Eskdale Herd-boy, to impress on the minds of her young
readers, the permanent advantages of early integrity and gratitude. In the
short and unfortunate life of WILLIAM MARTIN, she has attempted to show
the duty that is incumbent on all young people, to subdue that disobedient
and self-willed temper, which may otherwise undermine, not only their own
comfort and happiness, but those of their parents and friends, of all whom
they love, and of all to whom they are dear. The character of HELEN is
meant, on the contrary, to illustrate the inestimable value that a dutiful
daughter may be of, both to father and mother; the prudence, the
steadiness, and even the energy which Helen displays, on some trying
occasions, will not, it is hoped, appear to be overstrained, when her
conduct is considered as the result of an education conducted on these
steady principles, which insure the love and obedience of the child, by
inspiring a firm reliance on the justice and affection of the parent.