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you. This dress, and this ticket, will give you free access to all the ravishing delights of my palace. With me you will pass your days in a perpetual round of ever-varying

amusements.

3. Like the gay butterfly, you will have no other business than to flutter from flower to flower, and spread your charms before admiring spectators. No restraints, no toils, no dull tasks, are to be found within my happy domains. All is pleasure, life, and good humour. Come then, my dear! Let me put you on this dress, which will make you quite enchanting; and away, away, with me!"

Melissa felt a strong inclination to comply with the call of this inviting nymph; but first she thought it would De prudent at least to ask her name.

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My name," said she, " is DISSIPATION.”

4. The other female then advanced. She was clothed in a close habit of brown stuff, simply relieved with white. She wore her smooth hair under a plain cap. Her whole person was perfectly neat and clean. Her look was serious, but satisfied; and her air was staid and composed. She held in one hand a distaff; on the opposite arın hung a work-basket; and the girdle round her waist was garnished with scissors, knitting-needles, reels, and other implements of female labour. A bunch of keys hung at her side. She thus accosted the sleeping girl.

5. “Melissa, I am the genius who have ever been the friend and companion of your mother; and I now offer you my protection. I have no allurements to tempt you with, like those of my gay rival. Instead of spending all your time in amusements, if you enter yourself of my train, you must rise early, and pass the long day in a variety of employments, some of them difficult, some laborious, and all requiring exertion of body or of mind. You must dress plainly; live mostly at home; and aim at being useful ra ther than shining.

6. "But in return, I will insure you content, even spirits, self-approbation, and the esteem of all who thoroughly know you. If these offers appear to your young mind less inviting than those of my rival, be assured, however, that they are more real. She has promised much more than she can ever make good. Perpetual pleasures are no more in the power of Dissipation, than of Vice and Folly, to bestow

Her delights quickly pall, and are inevitably succeeded by languor and disgust. She appears to you under a disguise, and what you see is not her real face.

7. "For myself, I shall never seem to you less amiable than I now do; but, on the contrary, you will like me better and better. If I look grave to you now, you will see me cheerful at my work; and when work is over, I can enjoy every innocent amusement. But I have said enough. I is time for you to choose whom you will follow, and upon hat choice all your happiness depends. If you would know my name, it is HOUSEWIFERY."

8. Melissa heard her with more attention than delight; and though overawed by her manner, she could not help turning again to take another look at the first speaker. She beheld her still offering her presents with so bewitching an air, that she felt it scarcely possible to resist; when, by a lucky accident, the mask with which Dissipation's face was so artfully covered, fell off. As soon as Melissa beheld, instead of the smiling features of youth and cheerfulness, a countenance wan and ghastly with sickness, and soured by fretfulness, she turned away with horror, and gave her hand unre luctantly to her sober and sincere companion.

SECTION XVI.

The noble basket-maker.

BARBAULD.

1. THE Germans of rank and fortune, were formerly remarkable for the. custom of having their sons instructed in some mechanical business, by which they might be habituated to a spirit of industry; secured from the miseries of idleness; and qualified, in case of necessity, to support themselves and their families. A striking proof of the utility of this custom, occurs in the following narrative.

2. A young German nobleman of great merit and talents, paid his addresses to an accomplished young lady of the Palatinate; and applied to her father for his consent t marry her. The old nobleman, amongst other observations, asked him, "how he expected to maintain his daughter." The young man, surprised at such a question, observed, "that his possessions were known to be ample, ard as secure as the honours of his family."

3. "All this is very true,” replied the father: « but you

well know, that our country has suffered much from wars and devastation; and that new events of this nature may sweep away all your estate, and render you destitute. To keep you no longer in suspense, (continued the father, with great politeness and affection,) I have seriously resolved never to marry my daughter to any person, who, whatever may be his honours or property, does not possess some mechanical art, by which he may be able to support her in case of unforeseen events."

4. The young nobleman, deeply affected with his determination, was silent for a few minutes; when, recovering himself, he declared, "that he believed his happiness so much depended on the proposed union, that no difficulty or submissions, consistent with his honour, should prevent him from endeavouring to accomplish it." He begged to know whether he might be allowed six months to acquire the knowledge of some manual art. The father, pleased with the young man's resolution, and affection for his daughter, consented to the proposal; and pledged his honour that the marriage should take place, if, at the expiration of the time limited, he should succeed in his undertaking.

5. Animated by the tenderest regard, and by a high sense of the happiness he hoped to enjoy, he went immediately into Flanders, engaged himself to a white twig basket-ma ker, and applied every power of ingenuity and industry to become skilled in the business. He soon obtained a complete knowledge of the art; and, before the expiration of the time proposed, returned, and brought with him, as specimens of his skill, several baskets adapted to fruit, flowers, and needle-work.

6. These were presented to the young lady; and universally admired for the delicacy and perfection of the workmanship. Nothing now remained to prevent the accomplishment of the noble youth's wishes: and the marriage was solemnized to the satisfaction of all parties.

7. The young couple lived several years in affluence, and seemed, by their virtues and moderation, to have secured the favours of fortune. But the ravages of war, at length, extended themselves to the Palatinate. Both the families were driven from their country, and their estates forfeited. And now opens a most interesting scene.

8. The young nobleman commenced his trade of basket-making; and by his superior skil! in the art, soon commanded extensive business. For many years, he liberally supported not only his own family, but also that of the good oid nobleman, his father in law: and enjoyed the high satisfaction of contributing, by his own industry, to the happiness of connexions doubly endeared to him by their misfortunes: and who otherwise would have sunk into the miseries of neglect and indigence, sharpened by the remem brance of better days.

141

CHAPTER III.

DIDACTIC PIECES.

son.

SECTION

Tenderness to motners.

1. MARK that parent hen, said a father to his beloved With what anxious care does she call together her offspring, and cover them with her expanded wings! The kite is hovering in the air, and, disappointed of his prey, may perhaps dart upon the hen herself, and bear her off in his talons.

2. Does not this sight suggest to you the tenderness and affection of your mother! Her watchful care protected you in the helpless period of infancy, when she nourished you with her milk, taught your limbs to move, and your tongue to lisp its unformed accents. In your childhood, she mourned over your little griefs; rejoiced in your innocent delights; administered to you the healing balm in sickness; and instilled into your mind the love of truth, of virtue, and of wisdom. Oh! cherish every sentiment of respect for such a mother. She merits your warmest gra titude, esteem, and veneration.

PRCIVAL

SECTION II.

Respect and affection due from pupils to their tutors.

1. QUINCTILIAN says, that he has included almost all the duty of scholars in this one piece of advice which he gives them to love those who instruct them, as they love the sciences which they study; and to look upon them as fathers from whom they derive not the life of the body, but that instruction which is in a manner the life of the soul.

2. This sentiment of affection and respect disposes them to apply diligently during the time of their studies; and preserves in their minds, during the remainder of life, a tender gratitude towards their instructers. It seems to include a great part of what is to be expected from them.

3. Docility, which consists in readily receiving instruc tions, and reducing them to practice, is properly the virtue of scholars, as that of masters is to teach well. As it is not sufficient for a labourer to sow the seed, unless the earth, after having opened its bosom to receive it, warms and moistens it; so the whole fruit of instruction depends upon a good correspondence between masters and scholars.

4. Gratitude towards those who have faithfully laboured in our education, is an essential virtue, and the mark of a good heart. "Of those who have been carefully instructed, who is there," says Cicero, "that is not delighted with the sight, and even the remembrance of his preceptors, and the very place where he was educated ?" Seneca exhorts young men to preserve always a great respect for their masters, to whose care they are indebted for the amendment of their faults, and for having imbibed sentiments of honour and probity.

5. Their exactness and severity sometimes displease, at an age when we are not in a condition to judge of the obligations we owe them; but when years have ripened our understanding and judgment, we discern that admonitions, reprimands, and a severe exactness in restraining the passions of an imprudent and inconsiderate age, far from justifying dislike, demand our esteem and love. Marcus Aurelius, one of the wisest and most illustrious emperors that Rome ever had, thanked Heaven for two things especially ;-for

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