When we act according to our duty, we commit the event to Him by whofe laws our actions are governed, and who wil fuffer none to be finally punished for obedience. But when in profpect of fome good, whether natural or moral, we break the rules preferibed to us, we withdraw from the direction of fu perior wisdom, and take all confequences upon ourselves.

Employment is the great inftrument of intellectual domin ion. The mind cannot retire from its obje& into total vaca cy, or turn afide from one object, but by paffing to another. Without frugality, none can be rich; and with it, very few would be poor.

Though in every age, there are fome, who by bold adven. tures.or by favorable accidents, rife fuddenly into riches; the bulk of mankind must owe their influence to fmall and gradual profits, below which their expences must be refolutely reduced. A man's voluntary expences fhould not exceed his income. Let not a man anticipate uncertain profits.

The happiness of the generality of the people is nothing if it is not known, and very little if it is not envied.

To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life. Ma ny wants are fuffered which might have once been fupplied, and much time is loft in regretting the time which has been Loft before.

One of the golden precepts of Pythagorus directs us—“That a friend fhould not be hated for little faults."

NARRATION.

CHA P. IX.

STORY of the COBLER and his SON.

YOUNG man, fon of a cobler in a fmall village near Madrid, having pushed his fortune in the Indies, return ed to his native country with a confiderable ftock, and fet up as a Banker in Madrid. In his abfence, his parents frequently talked of him, praying fervently that Heaven would take him under its protection; and the vicar being their friend, gave them frequently the public prayers of the congregation for him, 2. The Banker was not lefs dutiful on his part; for fo foon as he was fettled, he mounted on horseback, and went alone to the village. It was ten at night before he got there; and the honeft cobler was abed with his wife, in a found fleep, when he knocked at the door. Open the door, fays the bank. er, 'tis your fon Francillo.

3. Make others believe that if you can, cried the old man, ftarting from his fleep; go about your bufinefs, you thieving rogues, here is nothing for you: Francillo, if not dead, is now in the Indies. He is no longer there, replied the banker; he is returned home, and it is he who now speaks to you; open your door and receive him.

4. Jacobo, faid the woman, let us rife then; I really believe 'tis Francillo-I think I know his voice. The father, ftarting from bed, lighted a candle; and the mother, putting on her gown in a hurry, opened the door. Looking earnestly on Fran. cille, fhe flung her arms about his neck, and hugged him with the utmost affection. Jacobo embraced his fon in his turn, and all three, tranfported with joy after fo long abfence, had no end in expreffing their tenderness.

5. After thefe pleafing tranfports, the banker put his horfe into the ftable, where he found an old milch cow, nurfe to the whole family. He then gave the old folks an account of his voyage, and of all the riches he had brought from Peru. They liftened greedily, and every the leaft particular of his relation made on them a fenfible impreffion of grief or joy. Having finished his story, he offered them a part of his estate, and entreated his father not to work any more.

6. No, my fon, faid Jacobo, I love my trade, and will not leave it off. Why, replied the banker, is it not now high time to take your eafe? I do not propose your living with me at Madrid: I know well that a city life will-not pleafe you; enjoy your own way of living; but give over your hard labour, and pass the remainder of your days in cafe and plenty.

7. The mother feconded the fop; and Jacobo yielded, To please you, Francillo, faid he, I will not work any more for the public, but will only mend my own fhoes, and thofe of my good friend the vicar. The agreement being concluded, the banker ate a couple of eggs and went to his bed, enjoying that pleafing fatisfaction which none but dutiful children can feel or understand.

8. The next morning the banker, leaving his parents a purfe of three hundred ducats, returned to Madrid; but was furprif ed to fee Jacobo at his houfe a few days thereafter. My father, faid he, what brings you here? Francillo, anfwered the honeft cobler, I have brought your purse; take it again ; for I defire to live by my trade, and have been ready to die with uneafiness ever fince I left off working. C

СНАР. Ҳ. .
Honefly rewarded.

PERRIN loft both parents before he could articulate

their names, and was obliged to a charity houfe for his education. At the age of fifteen he was hired by a farmer to be a fhepherd, in the neighborhood of Lucetta, who kept her. father's heep. They often met, and were fond of being together.

2. Five years thus paffed, when their fenfations became more ferious. Perrin propofed to Lucetta to demand her from her father: She bluflieft, and confefled her willingness. As the had an errand to town next day, the opportunity of her abfence was chofen for making the propofal. You want to marry my daughter, faid the old man. Have you a house to cover her, or money to maintain her? Lucetta's fortune is not nough for beth.

3. It won't do, Perrin, it won't do. But, replied Perrin, I have hands to work, I have laid up twenty crowns of my wages which will defray the expence of the wedding. I'll work harder, and lay up more. Well, faid the old man, you

re young, and may wait a little. Get rich and my daugher is at your fervice. Perrin waited for Lucetta's return in the evening. Has my father given you a refufal? cried Lucetta, Ah Lucetta replied Perrin, how unhappy am I for being poor; but I have not loft all hopes, My circumstances may change for the better,

4. As they were never tired of converfing together, the night drew on, and it became dark Perrin making a false flep, fell on the ground. He found a bag, which was heavy. Drawing toward a light the neighborhood, he found that it was filled with gold. I thank heaven, cries Perrin, in a tranf port, for being favorable to our wifhes. This will fatisfy your father, and make us happy.

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5. In their way to her father's houfe, a thought flruck Perrin: This money is not ours; it belongs to fome franger; and perhaps this monent he is lamenting the fs of it. Let us go to the vicar for advice-he has always been kind to me.' Ferrin put the bag into the vicar's hand, faying, that at first he looked upon it as a providential prefent, to remove the only obfacle to their marriage; but that he new doubted whether he could lawfully retain it. The vicar cyed the lovers with attention,

6. He admited their honefly, which appeared even to furpafs

their affection. Perrin, faid he, cherish thefe fentiments, heav en will blefs you. We will endeavour to find out the owner; he will reward thy honefty; I will add what I can fpare; you shall have Lucetta. The bag was adveitifed in the newfpapers, and cried in the neighboring parishes. Some time having elapfed, and the money not demanded, the vicar cartied it to Perrin: 7. "Thefe twelve thousand livres bear at prefent no profit; you may reap the intereft at leaft ; lay them out in fuch a man. ner as to enfure the fam itfelf to the owner, if he fhall appear." A farm was purchafed, and the confent of Lucetta's father to the marriage was obtained. Perrin was employed in husbandry, and Lucetta in family affairs. They lived in perfect cor. diality, and two children endeared them ftill more to each other," Perrin, one evening returning homeward from his work, faw a chaife overturned with two gentlemen in it.

8. He ran to their affiftance, and offered them every accom modation his small house could afford. This fpot cried one of the gentlemen, is very fatal to me. Ten years ago, I lost her: twelve thoufand livres. Perrin liftened with attention. What fearch made you for them? faid he. It was not in my power, replied the franger, to make any fearch. I was hurrying to Port L'Orient to embark to the Indies, for the veffel was rea. dy to fail.

9. Next morning Perrin showed to his gues his houfe, his garden, his cattle, and mentioned the produce of the fields.

All these are your property," addreffing the gentleman who had loft the bag; "the money fell into my hands; I purchased this farm with it; the farm is yours. The vicar has an inftru. ment which fecures your property, tho' I had died without feeing you" The ftranger read the inftrument with emotion, He looked on Perrin, Lucetta and the children.

10. Where am I, cried he, and what do I hear? What vit. tue in people fo low! Have you any other land but this farm? Nó, replied Perrin; but you will have occafion for a tenant, and I hope you will allow me to remain here. Your honefty deferves a better recompence, anfwered the ftranger. My fuc, cefs in trade has been great, and I have forgot my lofs. You are well entitled to this little fortune; keep it as your own. II. What man in the world would have acted like Perrin? Perrin and Lucetta ihed tears of affection and joy. My dear children," faid he, "kifs the hand of your benefactor. Lucetta, this farm now belongs to us, and we can now enjoy it

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without anxiety or remorle." Thus was honefty rewarded. Let thofe who da fire the reward practise it.

1. SOPH

CHAP. XI.

Character of a Young Lady.

OPHIA is not a beauty, but in her prefence beauties are difcontented with themselves. At firft the fcarcely appears pretty; but the more he is beheld, the more agree able he appears. She gains when others lofe, and what the gains he never loses. She is equalled by none in a fweet expreffion of countenance; and without dazzling beholders the interefts them.

2. She loves drefs, and is a good judge of it; dofpifes finery, but dreffes with peculiar grace, mixing fimplicity with elegance. Ignorant fhe is of what colours are in fashion; but knows well what fuits her complexion. She covers her beauties; but fo flightly, or rather artfully, as to give play to the imagination. She prepares herfelf for managing a family of her own, by managing that of her father,

3. Cookery is familiar to her, with the price and quality of provifions; and fhe is a ready accountant. Her chief view, however, is to ferve her mother, and lighten her cares. She holds cleanness, and neatness to be indifpenfible in a woman; and that a flattern is difgufting, efpecially if beautiful.

4. The attention given to externals, does not make her o. verlook her more material duties. Sophia's understanding is folid, without being profound. Her fenfibility is too great for a perfect equality of temper; but her fweetnefs renders that inequality harmlefs. A harsh word does not make her angry; but her heart fwells, and fhe retires to difburden it by weeping.

5. Recalled by her father and mother, fhe, comes at the in ftant, wiping her eyes and appearing cheerful. She fuffers with patience any wrong done her; but is impatient to repair any wrong he has done, and does it fo cordially, as to make it ap pear meritorious. If the happens to difoblige a companion, her joy and her careffes, when restored to favor, fhew the bur then that lay upon her good heart.

6. The love of virtue is Sophia's ruling paffion. She loves it, bec ufe no other thing is fo lovely: She loves it, because it is the glory of the female fex: She loves it as the only road to happinefs, mifery being the fure attendant of a woman without virtue: She loves it, as dear to her refpectable father and ten. der mother. These fentiments infpire her with a degree of