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Sophron. What can they poffibly do more?

Worthy. They furnish us with inftruction, and conduct us by gentle fteps to the knowledge of the first Being, who has condefcended to shape and paint them with fo much delicacy, and to grace them with such a variety of beauties. How amiable mult he then be, who is the fource of fo many charms in fuch an infinity of objects, to which he conftantly imparts the fame laitre they difclofed when they first appeared on the earth? And if he has been pleased to bestow so magnificent an array on creatures of fuch a tranfient duration, and who to-morrow will be withered and trodden under foot, like the herbage of the field, what will he not do for us, who are the objects of his complacency? What riches will he not shower upon us with profufion, when he fhall fill the defires which he himself has created within us, and when his omnipotence fhall be employed to embellifh the fouls of men?

THE SISTERS CHOICE.

OR,

JUDGMENT OF THE FLOWERS.

Near Avon's banks, a cultur'd spot,
With many a tuft of flow'rs adorn'd,

Was once an aged fhepherd's cot,
Who fcenes of greater fplendor fcorn'd.

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Three beauteous daughters bleft his bed,
Who made the little plat their care;
And ev'ry fweet by Flora fpread,
Attentive till they planted there,

Once, when ftill ev'ning veil'd the sky,
The fire walk'd forth and fought the bow'r
And bade the lovely maids draw nigh,
And each felect fome fav'rite flow'r.

The first with radiant splendor charm'd,
A variegated Tulip chofe;

The next with love of beauty warm'd,.
Preferr'd the fweetly blushing Rofe..

The third, who, mark'd with depth of thought
How thefe bright flow'rs muft droop away;
An ev'ning primrose only brought,
Which opens with the clofing day.

The fage awhile in filence view'd

The various choice of flow'rs difplay'd;: And then (with wifdom's gift endued) Addrefs'd each beauteous lift'ning maid:

"Who chose the Tulip's fplendid dyes,
"Shall own, too late, when that decays,
"That vainly proud, not greatly wife,
She only caught a fhort-liv'd blaze:

"The

The Rofe, though beauteous leaves and tweet, "It's glorious vernal pride adorn,

Let her who chofe, beware to meet "The biting fharpness of its thorn.

But fhe, who to fair day-light's ftrain,
"The ev'ning flow'r more juit prefer:'d;
Chofe real worth, nor chofe in vain,
"The one great object of regard.

se Ambitious thou, the Tulip race,

"In all life's varied course beware; "Caught with sweet pleasure's roy grace, "Do thou, it's fharper thorns beware.

"Thou, prudent ftill to virtue's lore,

"Attend, and mark her counfels fage; She, like thy flow'r, has charms in flore, "To foothe the ev'ning of thine age."

He ceas'd,-attend the moral ftrain,
The mufe enlighten'd pours;

Nor let her pencil trace in vain
The judgment of the flow'rs.

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CONVERSATION.

FROM MORAL TALES.

BY PERCIVAL.

Honour and fhame from no condition rife.

POPE.

SACCHARISSA was about fifteen years of age. Nature had given her a high fpirit, and education had fostered it into pride and haughtiness. This temper was displayed in every little competition which she had with her companions. She could not brook the least oppofition from thofe whom he regarded as her inferiors; and if they did not inftantly fubmit to her inclination, she affumed all her airs of dignity, and treated them with the moft fupercilious contempt. She domi. neered over her father's fervants; always commanding their good offices with the voice of authority, and difdaining the gentler language of request. Euphronius was walking with her yesterday, when the gardener brought her a nofegay, which fhe had ordered him to collect. You blockhead! fhe cried, as he delivered it to her; what strange flowers have you chofen, and how aukwardly have you put them together! Blame not the

man

man with fo much harfhnefs, faid Euphronius, becaufe his tafte is different from yours! He meant to please you; and his good intention merits your thanks, and and not your cenfure. Thanks! replied Saccharifia, fcornfully, He is paid for his fervices, and it is his duty to perform them. And if he does perform them, ke acquits himself of his duty, returned Euphronius. The obligation is fulfilled on his fide; and you have no more right to upbraid him for executing your orders according to his best ability, than he has to claim from your father more wages than were covenanted to be given him. But he is a poor dependant, faid Saccharissa, and earns a livelihood by his daily labour. That livelihood, answered Euphronius, is the juft price of his labour; and if he receive nothing farther from your hands, the account is balanced between you. But a generous perfon compaffionates the lot of thofe, who are neceffitated to toil for his benefit or gratification. He lightens their burthens; treats them with kindness and affection; ftudies to promote their interest and happinefs; and as much as poffible conceals from them their fervitude, and his fuperiority. The diftinctions of rank and fortune he regards as accidental; and though the circumstances of life require that there should be hewers of wood, and drawers of water, yet he forgets not that mankind are by nature equal; all being the offspring of God, the fubjects of his moral government, and joint heirs of immortality. A conduct directed by fuch principles, gives a mafter claims which no money can purchase, no labour can repay. His affection can only

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