Home Influence: A Tale for Mothers & Daughters

PREFACE.


The following story will, the author trusts, sufficiently illustrate its
title to require but few words in the way of preface. She is only
anxious to impress two facts on the minds of her readers. The one--that
having been brought before the public principally as the author of
Jewish works, and as an explainer of the Hebrew Faith, some Christian
mothers might fear that the present Work has the same tendency, and
hesitate to place it in the hands of their children. She, therefore,
begs to assure them, that as a simple domestic story, the characters in
which are all Christians, believing in and practicing that religion, all
_doctrinal_ points have been most carefully avoided, the author seeking
only to illustrate the spirit of true piety, and the virtues always
designated as the Christian virtues thence proceeding. Her sole aim,
with regard to Religion, has been to incite a train of serious and
loving thought toward God and man, especially toward those with whom He
has linked us in the precious ties of parent and child, brother and
sister, master and pupil.

The second point she is desirous to bring forward is her belief, that
in childhood and youth the _spoken_ sentiment is one of the safest
guides to individual character; and that if, therefore, she have written
more conversation than may appear absolutely necessary for the
elucidation of "Home Influence," or the interest of the narrative, it is
from no wish to be diffuse, but merely to illustrate her own belief.
SENTIMENT is the vehicle of THOUGHT, and THOUGHT the origin of ACTION.
Children and youth have very seldom the power to evince character by
action, and scarcely if ever understand the mystery of thought; and
therefore their unrestrained conversation may often greatly aid parents
and teachers in acquiring a correct idea of their natural disposition,
and in giving hints for the mode of education each may demand.

Leaving the beaten track of works written for the young, the author's
aim has been to assist in the education of the HEART, believing that of
infinitely greater importance than the mere instruction of the MIND, for
the bright awakening of the latter, depends far more on the happy
influences of the former than is generally supposed.

The _moral_ of the following story the author acknowledges is addressed
to mothers only, for on them so much of the responsibility of Home
Influence devolves. On them, more than on any other, depends the
well-doing and happiness, or the error and grief, not of childhood
alone, but of the far more dangerous period of youth. A Preface is not
the place to enter on their mission. The author's only wish is to _aid_
by the thoughts, which in some young mothers, anxious and eager to
perform their office, her story _may_ excite. To daughters also, she
hopes it may not be found entirely useless, for on them rests so much of
the happiness of home, in the simple thought of, and attention to those
little things which so bless and invigorate domestic life. Opportunities
to evince the more striking virtues woman may never have, but for the
cultivation and performance of the lesser, they are called upon each
day.

CLAPTON, _January, 1847_.




MEMOIR OF GRACE AGUILAR.


Grace Aguilar was born at Hackney, June 2d, 1816. She was the eldest
child and only daughter of Emanuel Aguilar, one of those merchants
descended from the Jews of Spain, who, almost within the memory of man,
fled from persecution in that country, and sought and found an asylum in
England.

The delicate frame and feeble health observable in Grace Aguilar
throughout her life displayed itself from infancy; from the age of three
years, she was almost constantly under the care of some physician, and,
by their advice, annually spending the summer months by the sea, in the
hope of rousing and strengthening a naturally fragile constitution. This
want of physical energy was, however, in direct contrast to her mental
powers, which developed early and readily. She learned to read with
scarcely any trouble, and, when once that knowledge was gained, her
answer, when asked what she would like for a present, was, invariably,
"A book," which was read, re-read, and preserved with a care remarkable
in so young a child. With the exception of eighteen months passed at
school, her mother was her sole instructress, and both parents took
equal delight in directing her studies and facilitating her personal
inspection of all that was curious and interesting in the various
counties of England to which they resorted for her health.