Miscellanies, moral and instructive, in prose and verse, collected from various authors, for the use of schools, and improvement of young persons of both sexes
Milcah Martha Moore, Miscellanies, moral and instructive, in prose and verse, collected from various authors, for the use of schools, and improvement of young persons of both sexes. (Philadelphia: Joseph James, 1787). The New York Historical Library.
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| REPUTATIONS are of a subtle, insinuating nature— like water, derived from the clearest spring, when it chances to mix with a foul current, it runs undistinguished in one muddy stream; and they both partake of the same color and condition. If we keep bad company, however little we may be criminal in reality, we must expect the same censure that is due to the worst of our associates. | Reputations, like water, are easily polluted. If you spend time with bad people, you will get a reputation for being a bad person, even if you’ve done nothing wrong. |
| HUMILITY is a virtue, which highly adorns the character in which it resides, and sets off every other virtue; it is an admirable ingredient of a contented mind, and an excellent security against many of those ills in life, which are most sensibly felt by people of a delicate nature. | Being humble improves every other good quality you have. Being humble will also protect you from getting into trouble. |
| THAT man is most blessed, who receives his daily bread with gratitude and thankfulness from the hand of God; and he who does, experiences a pleasure that exceeds description. It is this that gives a relish to every repast; it is this that makes the coarsest morsel delicious to the taste; and it is the want of this that makes affluence a burthen, instead of a blessing to the rich. | Having gratitude for the things in your life makes every day special. You can be poor and live happily if you are grateful for what you have. You can be rich and unhappy if you are not thankful for your blessings. |
| THE sleep of the laboring man is sweet; and if he toil hard for the bread that perishes, he has, in the midst of every want, if a follower of Christ, bread to eat that the world knows nothing of. It is not said, happy are they who possess abundance; but happy is the man who finds wisdom, which is Christ, the pearl of great price. In him are hid those durable riches and righteousness, the merchandize of which is better than that of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. | Those who work hard get the best rewards. Even if they have nothing, God will bless them for their work, and God’s blessings are worth more than any riches. |
Milcah Martha Moore, Miscellanies, moral and instructive, in prose and verse, collected from various authors, for the use of schools, and improvement of young persons of both sexes. (Philadelphia: Joseph James, 1787). The New York Historical Library.
James Fordyce, Sermons to Young Women.
James Fordyce, Sermons to Young Women, 1766. Via Internet Archive.
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| “The world, I know not how overlooks in our sex a thousand irregularities, which it never forgives in yours; so that the honour and peace of a family, are in this view, much more dependent on the conduct of daughters than of sons; and one young lady going astray shall subject her relation to such discredit and distress, as the united good conduct of all her brothers and sister, supposing them numerous, shall scarce ever be able to repair.” (pg. 12) | The world overlooks many faults in men but never forgives women for the same faults. The honor and peace of a family depend on the conduct of the daughters, not the sons. If just one young lady goes astray, her whole family will suffer. |
| “Remember how tender a things a woman’s reputation is; how hard to preserve, and when lost how impossible to recover; how frail many, and how dangerous most, of the gifts you have received; what misery and what shame have been often occasioned by abusing them: I tremble for your situation. (pg. 32) | Remember, a woman’s reputation is fragile. It is difficult to preserve and impossible to regain if lost. Most of your womanly gifts are dangerous and if you use them the wrong way, I fear you will suffer for a lifetime. |
James Fordyce, Sermons to Young Women, 1766.
John Gregory, A Father’s Legacy to His Daughters.
John Gregory, A Father’s Legacy to His Daughters, 1774. Via Internet Archive.
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| “I would advise you to read only such religious books as are addressed to the heart, such as inspire pious and devout affections, such as are proper to direct you in your conduct, and not such as tend to entangle you in the endless maze of opinions and systems” (Religion, 17). | On Religion: I recommend you only read religious books that inspire your heart to be moral and sincere. You want books that will guide your behavior, not confuse you with religious debate. |
| “But if you happen to have any learning, keep it a profound secret, especially from the men, who generally look with a jealous and malignant eye on a woman of great parts, and a cultivated understanding” (Conduct and Behavior, 37). | On Behavior: If you are smart, keep it a secret. Men are jealous of and look down on educated women. |
| “Now, supposing a woman to have sense and taste, she will not find many men to whom she can possibly be supposed to bear any considerable share of esteem…But supposing one of them should become particularly attached to her, it is still extremely improbable that he should be the man in the world her heart most approved of” (Friendship, Love, Marriage, 91). | On Friendship, Love, and Marriage: If a woman has standards, she will not find many men to love. Even if a man falls in love with a woman, it is extremely unlikely that she will care for him in the same way. |
| “I know nothing that renders a woman more despicable, than her thinking it essential to happiness to be married” (Friendship, Love, Marriage, 115). | It is despicable when women think their happiness depends on getting married. |
| “But I confess I am not enough of a patriot to wish you to marry for the good of the public. I wish you to marry for no other reason but to make yourselves happier. When I am so particular in my advices about your conduct, I own my heart beats with the fond hope of making you worthy the attachment of men who will deserve you, and be sensible of your merit. But Heaven forbid you should ever relinquish the ease and independence of a single life, to become the slaves of a fool or tyrant’s caprice” (Friendship, Love, Marriage, 120). | I am not patriotic enough to wish you would get married for the good of society. I only want you to get married if it makes your life happier. My advice is very particular, because I want you to grow up to be the kind of woman who can attract a man who deserves you. I want you to know your worth. It would be terrible if you gave up the ease and independence of your life as a single person to become the wife of a fool or a tyrant. |
John Gregory, A Father’s Legacy to His Daughters, 1774.
Background
Parents in the English colonies were eager to make sure their children grew up to become respected members of society. Recognizing an opportunity, publishers started to print advice books for young people in the 1700s. These popular books contained both religious and nonspiritual readings. Their goal was to guide young people’s behavior and improve their moral character.
About the Documents
The first excerpt comes from Quaker author Milcah Martha Moore’s Miscellanies, a book for schoolchildren. Miscellanies is based on Milcah’s common book, where she recorded her favorite sermons, poetry, passages from books, excerpts from letters, and bits of wisdom. Common books were a popular form of entertainment for women in the 1700s. Milcah’s common book came to the attention of a Philadelphia publisher in the 1780s. He encouraged her to turn it into an instructional book for schoolchildren. The book reveals the strong religious themes common in education in the 1700s. It also shows some of the personal qualities prized by communities in the 1700s. Benjamin Franklin endorsed Miscellanies, writing an introduction in which he said the book was exactly what the new country needed to instruct the next generation of citizens.
The second excerpt comes from James Fordyce’s Sermons to Young Women. James was a minister who collected his weekly sermons for publication. His advice focuses on women’s virtue and the importance of marriage. This book was popular among colonial readers. Famous writer Mary Wollstonecraft would directly challenge James’s ideas in 1792, suggesting that they were keeping women subservient to men.
The third excerpts are from A Father’s Legacy to His Daughters by John Gregory, published in 1774. He wrote this book after his wife died in 1761, hoping to preserve her ideas on women’s education for his daughters. John’s son published the book a year after his death. A Father’s Legacy offers moral and religious advice and emphasizes the importance of marriage. It was the most popular guide for young women in the English colonies.
Vocabulary
- common book: A scrap book of favorite poems, essays, and bits of wisdom collected by women in the 1700s.
- minister: A person who can lead Christian religious services.
- Quakers: The informal name for the Religious Society of Friends, a Protestant Christian group that was founded in 1650. Quakers differed from other Christian groups in the eighteenth century because of their commitment to nonviolence, rejection of elaborate religious ceremonies, and belief that women should receive formal education.
- subordinate: Lower in rank or position.
- sermon: A talk based on a passage from the Bible.
Discussion Questions
- What do these excerpts reveal about the values taught to children in the 1700s?
- What do these excerpts have in common? How are they different?
- One of these excerpts was written by a woman for all children. The other two were written by men specifically for girls. How does the author and intended audience impact the messaging?
Suggested Activities
- For a discussion comparing the differences between Quaker and Puritan instruction, pair the Milcah Martha Moore passages with Ornaments of the Daughters of Zion.
- For a discussion of girls’ education and opportunities in the 1700s, pair this resource with Children at Work and Symbols of Accomplishment.
- Teach these excerpts together with On the Capabilities of Women for a larger lesson about the debates over women’s educational opportunities in the 1700s.
- Invite students to read Coverture and then respond to the marriage advice in A Father’s Legacy.
Themes
AMERICAN CULTURE
The New York Historical Curriculum Library Connections
- For more resources relating to childhood in the English colonies, see New World—New Netherland—New York.
