pher led me out of the folemn repofitory, he gave me advice, cloathed in the tendereft expreffions, for the regulation of my future conduct, and implored me, in the most ardent manner, to live such a life as would make my election fure; and ended by saying, "A&t "thus, adorable Aspelia! and you will with pleasure

66

meet the end of all things. Death, when he comes, "will wear the form of an angel, instead of a tyrant: "he will give you liberty, in the manfions of bliss, "there to enjoy, during the round of vaft boundless "eternity, happiness beyond the power of mortals to "form any idea of."

FROM A LADY TO HER NIECE.

ONCE more, my dear Catherine, let me remind you, that you are now entering on the grand ftage of life, in which you will be expected to perform a part becoming yourself, and your houfe. Your knowledge has been enlarged as far as books and a lively imagination could enlarge it. Your obfervation must now be directed to the actual conduct of those around you; and as you will, in your turn, be subject to the observation of others, learn to imitate what is moft amiable in them. Follow the dictates of your own good fenfe, and do not let either the example or precept of others influence you against what you conceive to be propriety; and, believe me, when the paffions are not deeply interested,

you

you can feldom mistake the measures you ought to adopt in almost all cases.-Your breaft is fufceptible of friendship; and the world, to fuch as you, is but a thorny wilderness without a friend-without fome one to share your joys and forrows. I am fure you will avoid the good-natured folly of thofe young women who have a confidante in every female acquaintance. A difcreet friend is a rare prize, I think you will have discernment fufficient to difcover when fuch a prize falls to your lot; and I am fure you have virtue enough to deferve and to retain it.

May the Almighty guide and direct you in this choice, and in all your concerns, that you may be happy both here and hereafter, is the fincere wish and prayer of your affectionate

AUNT.

FROM A MOTHER TO HER DAUGHTER AT SCHOOL.

My dear Sophy,

Ir is with great pleafure I at any time hear of any advancement in your learning. Mrs. S. writes me word that you make great progrefs in the knowledge of your native language, and that the expects you will foon be one of the best readers in your clafs. To be able to read with propriety, is not only a moft neceffary qualifica

tion, but a very genteel accomplishment, and not fo eafy to be acquired, as many people imagine, and perhaps, you will not find one woman in five hundred an entire miftrefs of it. There are fo many faulty ways of reading which young perfons run into, that it is very difficult to avoid them all, and when a bad habit is once contracted, it requires great pains in the learner, and ability in the teacher to correct it.

Mrs. B. you know reads with fuch a disagreeable tone that it offends the ears of all who listen to her, and your coufin D. reads with fuch hurry and rapidity, without any attention to her ftops or pauses, that the moft attentive hearer cannot understand one sentence she utters; on the other hand Mifs G. drawls out her words in fuch a manner, that no one has patience to follow her.

I would therefore wish you to form yourself from the examples of fuch teachers, who are appointed to inftru&t you; such, whom I will take for granted, read with the fame eafy natural tone of voice they use in converfation, who obferves the ftops and paufes with great exactness, who know where to lay the proper emphafis, and are able to judge when you read too fast or too flow. And if your teacher is a complete mistress of the art of reading, you cannot fail to improve under her inftructions; which will great contribute to the happinefs of your papa, and

Your affectionate mother,

A. L.

When ever you write to me, pray pay a ftrict regard to your spelling. I have herewith fent you a Dictionary to confult when you are at a loss.

.

THE YOUNG LADY'S ANSWER.

Dear Mamma,

I have all your letters lying by me, and I read them carefully every morning. I think myself much obliged to you for every part of your good advice, which I fhall endeavour to follow, and fhall pay a particular attention to your advice concerning my reading and spelling. I hope you will perceive in this fhort acknowledgement of your kindness to me, I have paid fome regard to my fpelling, and fhall take care, whenever I find myself at a lofs, to look into the Dictionary you was fo kind to fend me, for which I am also much obliged to you, and return you my best thanks.

If I have made any mistakes, be fo kind to let me know in your next letter. I beg my kind love and

duty to my papa, and believe, dear madam, that

I am

Your truly affectionate daughter,

M. L.

DIALOGUES.

MRS. MILDMAY AND NARCISSA.

FROM THE WIDOWED WIFE.

Narcifa. Blefs me, mama, what harm can there be in the indulgence of a little harmless mirth? Is it pofpoble my chearfulness can give any body offence?

Mrs. Mildmay. I am fearful, my dear, least it should offend no body fo much as yourself. When I was of your age, I was just fuch another wild unthinking thing as you are; careless of cenfure, and prefuming that while I preferved my innocence, I might laugh at decorum, as mere formality; but the world is come to

fuch