"The ballad of 'Decourcy and Wilhelmine' was written for a weekly paper, which she issued for the amusement of the family. It was dated from 'The Little Corner of the World,' edited by the Story-Teller, and dedicated to Mamma. After a time it was discontinued, and to my extreme regret destroyed. The fragment inserted in the collection, is one of the very few remnants found among her manuscripts; the first sixteen verses are purely original; the sequel was supplied by a friend, it being deemed too fine to be rejected for want of mere filling out. Lucretia's diffidence, and the apprehension that the circumstances might transpire or the papers be read by some friend out of the family, was, I believe, the sole reason why she discontinued and destroyed them. This mutilated paper, and a part of 'Rodin Hall," are all that remain of the 'Story-Teller.'
"Her sweetly playful disposition is strongly manifested in her 'Petition of the Old Comb.' She had retired to her room with her books and pen, where she had spent several days. Feeling a desire to see how she was getting on, I went to her room. As I passed through the hall, I saw a sealed letter directed to me, lying at the foot of the stairs; I opened it, and found it contained the
My teeth decayed and gone;
O, give me but one moment's rest,
For, mark, I'm tott'ring down.
