I Looked About For Some Of My

To Whom, Then, Must I Dedicate My Wonderful, Surprising And Interesting Adventures? To Whom Dare I Reveal My Private Opinion Of My Nearest Relations? The Secret Thoughts Of My Dearest Friends? My Own Hopes, Fears, Reflections And Dislikes? Nobody!

I Never Pretend To Be So Superior A Being As To Be Above Having And Indulging A Hobby Horse [her Journal Writing], And While I Keep Mine Within Due Bounds And Limits, Nobody, I Flatter Myself, Would Wish To Deprive Me Of The Poor Animal: To Be Sure, He Is Not Formed For Labour, And Is Rather Lame And Weak, But Then The Dear Creature Is Faithful, Constant, And Loving, And Though He Sometimes Prances, Would Not Kick Anyone Into The Mire, Or Hurt A Single Soul For The World--and I Would Not Part With Him For One Who Could Win The Greatest Prize That Ever Was Won At Any Races.

A Youthful Mind Is Seldom Totally Free From Ambition; To Curb That, Is The First Step To Contentment, Since To Diminish Expectation Is To Increase Enjoyment.

To Have Some Account Of My Thoughts, Manners, Acquaintance And Actions, When The Hour Arrives In Which Time Is More Nimble Than Memory, Is The Reason Which Induces Me To Keep A Journal: A Journal In Which I Must Confess My Every Thought, Must Open My Whole Heart!

. . . Men Seldom Risk Their Lives Where An Escape Is Without Hope Of Recompense.