Page:The Children's Robinson Crusoe, Or, The Remarkable Adventures of an Englishman.pdf/10

 ADDRESS TO PARENTS.

the narrative of a profane, ill-educated, run-away appren tice of the seventeenth century ; and with perfect con

sistency of character even his better feelings have a

stamp of vulgarity and superstition. But can such a tale, though perfect in itself, be suited to children who have been carefully guarded from all profaneness, vulgar

ity ,and superstition ? Itwas written for grown persons, particularly that class to which the hero is supposed to be long ; and the very skilful manner in which it was adapted

to them, makes it unfit for the perusal of children. There is necessarily much in it which they cannot comprehend, and much that a judicious parent would hope they might pass over without understanding ; yet the story is

so fascinating, that the book is constantly read by chil dren, with themost intense interest ; and Robinson Cru

soe,with all his faults, his disobedience to his parents, and his inordinate love ofadventure, becomes their favorite and admired hero.

The best modern writers for children have considered it important, that characters which excite in them a deep interest, should be represented as models of those

qualities which we wish them to admire and cultivate ; and it occurred to the writer of the following story, that

the fascination of De Foe's hero might be enlisted on the side of industry, perseverance, resignation to the will of

God, and numerous other good qualities of which he

mightbe supposed an example. With this view, the Children 's Robinson Crusoe is here represented as an amiable and well educated youth, early

trained to habits of observation and reflection, and capa ble of pure and exalted feelings of religion ; a hero, in