for George, and the apothecary did all he could also he could not have prescribed a greater number of draughts, and cordials, and jalaps, to the only son of a duke; for his bill was as long as a spit; so there is no cause for sorrow or reflection. And as for this hospital-boy, although he is nothing to me, yet since he bears such a resemblance to George, I am willing to make a weekly allowance out of my own pocket to the old woman, to make her careful of him." Mrs. Barnet shook her head.

Why, what would you have me do ?" resumed the hus band: " you would not surely have me take him quite out of the bands of the old woman, and be at the whole burden of his maintenance myself."

Mrs. Barnet smiled, with a nod of assent.

"Good gracious, my dear! You do not reflect,” added the husband, "how strange a thing it would be for us to take a poor miserable wretch of a boy, perhaps the son of a footman, under our care, and be at the whole expense of maintaining him. I should be glad to know who would thank us for it?"

2

"Our own hearts," said Mrs. Barnet.

"My heart never thanked me for any such thing since I was born," said Mr. Barnet; " and I am sure all our acquaintances would laugh at us, and turn us into ridicule.”

"All the laughter in the world cannot turn benevolence into ridicule," said Mrs. Barnet: " and the narrow-minded may be hurt to see you do what they cannot imitate; but malice itself can neither prevent the pleasure which a charitable action will afford to your own breast, my dear, nor the respect which will attend it."

"So your drift is," replied the husband, " to tease me till I take this boy into the house."

"My drift has never been to tease you, but always to make you happy, my dear. I own I am affected with the friendless condition of this poor orphan, and struck with his resemblance to the child who was torn from us at the same age; as for the poor young creature's maintenance, it will be a mere trifle to us, but of infinite importance to him; it may save him from vice and the worst kind of ruin. The reflection of having done so charitable an office to a lovely boy, like your own departed son, would no doubt afford you constant satisfaction: but," continued she, perceiving that her husband began to be affected, "I desire you to do nothing which is not prompted by the generous feelings of your own heart for of this I am certain, that your acting

up to them will render you more prosperous in the world, and secure you a reward of a hundred-fold in your own mind."

The earnestness of Mrs. Barnet's manner, and the recollection of a son whom he had loved as much as he could love any thing, had already touched the heart of the husband and this last intimation of immediate prosperity and future reward, sounding in his ears something like accumu .lated interest and a large premium, came nearest his feelings, and overcame him entirely.

"Well, my dear," said he, " since this is your opinion, let the boy be brought hither as soon as you please."..

Mrs. Barnet threw her arms around her husband's neck, and thanked him with all the warmth of an overflowing and benevolent heart...

WHEN thou considerest thy wants, when thou beholdest thy imperfections, acknowledge his goodness, O son of humanity, who honoured thee with reason, endowed thee with speech, and placed thee in society, to receive and confer reciprocal helps and mutual obligations.

Thy food, thy clothing, thy convenience of habitation; thy protection from the injuries, thy enjoyment of the comforts and the pleasures of life; all these thou owest to the assistance of others, and couldest not enjoy but in the bands of society.

It is thy duty, therefore, to be a friend to mankind, as it is thy interest that man should be friendly to thee.

CHARITY.

Happy is the man who hath sown in his breast the seeds of benevolence; the produce thereof shall be charity and love. From the fountain of his heart shall rise 'rivers of goodness; the streams shall overflow for the benefit of mankind.

He assisteth the poor in their trouble; he rejoiceth in furthering the prosperity of all men.

He promoteth in his neighbourhood peace and good will, and his name is repeated with praise and benedictions.

GRA TUDE.

As the branches of a tree return their sap to the root, from whence it arose; as a river poureth its streams to the sea, whence its spring was supplied; so the heart of a grateful man delighteth in returning a benefit received. He acknowledgeth his obligation with cheerfulness, he looketh on his benefactor with love and esteem.

SINCERITY.

O thou who 'art enamoured with the beauties of truth, and hast fixed thy heart on the simplicity of her charms, hold fast thy fidelity unto her, and forsake her not; the constancy of thy virtue shall crown thee with honour. The tongue of the sincere is rooted in his heart, hypocrisy and deceit have no place in his words.

He blusheth at falsehood, and is confounded; but in speaking the truth he hath a steady eye.

Yet with prudence and caution he openeth his lips; he studieth what is right, and speaketh with discretion.

He adviseth with friendship; he reproveth with freedom; and whatsoever he promiseth shall surely be performed.

DOMESTIC FELICITY.

OH! happy they, the happiest of their kind,
Whom gentle stars unite, and in one fate,
Their hearts, their fortunes, and their beings blend!
"Tis not the courser tie of human laws

(Unnatural oft, and foreign to the mind)

That binds their peace, but harmony itself,
Attuning all their passions into love,

Where friendship full exerts her softest power
Ineffable, and sympathy of soul;

Thought meeting thought, and will preventing will
With boundless, confidence, for nought but love
Can answer love, and render bliss secure.
Let him, ungenerous, who alone intent.
To bless himself, from sordid parents buys
The loathing virgin, in eternal care,
Well merited, consume his nights and days:

Let eastern tyrants from the light of heaven
Seclude their bosom slaves meanly possessed
Of a mere lifeless violated form:

While those whom love cements in holy faith,
In equal transport, free as nature live,
Disdaining fear. What is the world to them!
Its pomp, its pleasures, and its nonsense all!
Who in each other clasps, whatever fair
High fancy forms, and lavish hearts can wish!
Something than beauty dearer should they look,
Or on the mind, or mind-illumined face,
Truth, goodness, honour, harmony, and love,
The richest bounty of indulgent heaven!

Meantime, a smiling offspring rises round,
And mingles both their graces. By degrees,
The human blossom blows, and every day,
Soft as it rolls along, shews some new charm,
The father's lustre, or the mother's bloom.
The infant reason grows apace, and calls
For the kind hand of an assiduous care :
Delightful task, to rear the tender thought,
To teach the young idea how to shoot,
To pour the fresh instruction o'er the mind,
To breathe th' enlivening spirit, and to fix
The generous purpose in the glowing breast!
Oh! speak the joy! ye whom the sudden tear
Surprises often, while ye look around,

And nothing strikes your eye but sights of bliss,
All various nature pressing on the heart,
An elegant sufficiency, content,

Retirement, rural quiet, friendship, books,
Ease and alternate labour, useful life,
Progressive virtue, and approving heaven!
These are the matchless joys of virtuous love!
And thus their moments fly. The seasons thus,
As ceaseless round a jarring world they roll,
Still find them happy, and consenting spring
Sheds her own rosy garland on their heads,
Till evening comes at last, serene and mild,
When after the long vernal day of life,"
Enamoured more as more remembrance swells
With many a proof of recollected love,
Together down they sink in social sleep,
Together freed, their gentle spirits fly,

To scenes where love and bliss immortal reign!

RULES FOR MATRIMONIAL HAPPINESS,

THE foundation of the greater portion of the unhappiness which clouds matrimonial life, is to be sought in the unconcern so prevalent in the world as to those radical principles on which character, and the permanence of character, de pend-the principles of religion. Popular language indicates the state of popular opinion. If an union about to take place, or recently contracted between two young persons, be mentioned in conversation, the first question which we hear asked concerning it is, whether it be a good match. The very countenance and voice of the enquirer, and of the answerer, the terms of the answer returned, and the obser vations, whether expressive of satisfaction or of regret, which fall from the lips of the company present in the circle, all concur to shew what, in common estimation, is meant by being well married. If a young woman be described as thus married, the terms imply, that she is united to a man whose station and fortune are such, when compared with her own or those of her parents, that in point of precedence, in point of command of finery and of money, she is more or less a gainer by the bargain. In high life they imply, that she will now possess the enviable advantages of taking place of other ladies in the neighbourhood; of decking herself out with jewels and lace; of inhabiting splendid apartments; rolling in handsome carriages; gazing on numerous servants in gaudy liveries; and of repairing to London, and other fashionable scenes of resort, all in a degree somewhat higher than that in which a calculating broker, after poring on her pedigree, summing up her property in hand, and computing, at the market price, every item which is contingent or in reversion, would have pronounced her entitled to. A few slight and obvious alterations would adapt the picture to the middle classes of society. But what do the terms imply as to the character of the man selected to be her husband? Probably nothing. His character is a matter which seldom enters into the consideration of the persons who use them; unless, at length, it appears in the shape of an after-thought, or is awkwardly hitched into their remarks for the sake of decorum. If the terms imply any thing on this point, they mean no more than that he is not