jet, which had hitherto so happily set off the whiteness of her forehead, was lost under a clod of powder and po matum. 8. In a few days the mantua-maker arrived with a fine slip of pea green taffata, with fine pink trimmings, and a pair of shoes, elegantly worked to answer the slip. The sight of them gave infinite pleasure to Caroline; but it was easily to be perceived, when she had them on, that her limbs were under great restraint, and her motions had lost their accustomed ease and freedom. That innocence and candour, which used to adorn her lovely countenance, began to be lost amidst the profusion of flowers, silks, gauzes and ribands. 9. The novelty however, of her appearance, quite enchanted her. Her eyes, with uncommon eagerness, wandered over every part of her dress, and were seldom removed, unless to take a general survey of the whole in a pier-glass. She prevailed on her mamma, to let her send cards of invitation to all her acquaintances, in order to enjoy the inexpressible pleasure of being gazed at. As soon as they were met, she would walk backward and forward before them, like a peacock, and seemed to consider herself as the empress of the world, and them as her vassals. 10. All this triumph and consequence, however, met with many mortifying circumstances. The children who lived near her, were one day permitted to ramble about the fields, when Caroline accompanied them and led the way. What first attracted their attention, was a beautiful meadow, enamelled with a variety of charming flowers; and butterflies, whose wings were of various colours, hovered over its surface. 11. The little ladies amused themselves with hunting these butterflies, which they carefully caught without hurting them; and, as soon as they had examined their beauties let them fly again. Of the flowers that sprung beneath their feet, they made nosegays, formed in the prettiest taste. 12. Though pride would not at first permit Caroline to partake of these mean amusements, yet she at last wanted to share in the diversion; but they told her, that the ground might be damp, which would infallibly stain her shoes, and hurt her silk slip. They had discovered her intention in thus bringing them together, which was only to show her fine clothes, and they were, therefore, resolved to mortify her vanity. 13. Caroline was of course under the necessity of being solitary and inactive, while her companions sported on the grass without fear of incommoding themselves. The pleasure she had lately taken in viewing her fine slip and shoes was, at this moment, but a poor compensation for the mirth and merriment she thereby lost. 14. On one side of the meadow grew a fine grove of trees, which resounded with the various notes of innumerable birds, and which seemed to invite every one that passed that way to retire thither, and partake of the indulgences of the shade. 15. The little maidens entered this grove, jumping and sporting, without fearing any injury to their clothes: Caroline would have followed them, but they advised her not, telling her, that the bushes would certainly tear her fine trimmings. She plainly saw that her friends who were joyously sporting among the trees, were making themselves merry at her expense, and therefore grew peevish and ill-humoured. 16. The youngest of the visiters, however, had some sort of compassion on her. She had just discovered a corner where a quantity of fine wild strawberries grew, when she called to Miss Caroline, and invited her to eat part of them. This she readily attempted; but no sooner had she entered the grove, than she was obliged to call out for help. Hereupon the children all gathered to the spot, and found poor Caroline fastened by the gauze of her hat to a branch of white-thorn, from which she could not disengage herself. 17. They immediately took out the pins that fastened her hat; but to add to her misfortune, as her hair, which had been frizzled with so much labour, was also entangled with the branch of white-thorn, it cost her almost a whole lock before she could be set at liberty. Thus, in an instant, was all the boasted superstructure of her head dress put into a state of confusion. 18. After what had passed, it cannot be difficult to suppose in what manner her playmates viewed this accident. Instead of consolation, of which Caroline stood in much need, they could not refrain laughing at the odd figure she made, and did actually torment her with an hundred witty jokes. After having put her a little into order, they quit ted her in search of new amusements, and were soon seen on the top of a neighbouring hill. 19. Caroline found it very difficult to reach this hill; for her fine shoes, that were made very tight, in order to set off her feet the better, greatly retarded her speed. Nor was this the only inconvenience; for her corsets and stays were drawn so close that she could not properly breathe. She would very willingly have gone home to change her dress, in order to be more at ease; but she well knew that her friends would not give up their amusements to please her caprice. 20. Her playmates having reached the summit of the hill, enjoyed the beautiful prospect that surrounded them on all sides. On one hand were seen verdant meadows; on the other the riches of the harvest, with meandering streams which intersected the fields, and country seats and cottages scattered here and there. So grand a prospect could not fail of delighting them, and they danced about with joy; while poor Caroline found herself obliged to remain below, overwhelmed with sorrow, not being able to get up the hill. 21. In such a situation she had leisure enough to make the most serious reflections. "To what purpose said she to herself, am I dressed in these fine clothes? Of what a deal of pleasure do they debar me, and do not all my present sufferings arise merely from the possession of them?" She was giving up her mind to these distressing thoughts, when she suddenly saw her friends come running down the hill, and all crying out together as they passed her, run, run, Caroline! there is a terrible storm behind the hill, and it is coming towards us! If you do not make haste, your fine silk slip wll be nicely soused!" 22. The fear of having her slip spoiled recalled her strength; she forgot her weariness, pinched feet, and tight laced waist, and made all the haste she could to get under shelter. In spite of all her efforts, however, she could not run as fast as her companions, who were not incommoded by their dresses. 23. Every moment produced some obstacle to her speed; at one time, by her hoop and flounces in the narrow paths she had to pass through; at another, by her train, of which the furzes frequently took hold; and at others, by Mons. Pomatum and Powder's fine scaffold work about her head, on which the wind beat down the branches of such trees as she was obliged, in her progress home, to pass under. 24. At last, down came the storm with great fury, and hail and rain mixed fell in torrents. All her companions were safe at home before it began, and none were exposed to its rage but poor Caroline, who indeed, got home at last, but in a most disastrous condition. 25. She had left one of her fine shoes behind her in a large muddy hole, which, in her precipitate flight, she had hurried over without observing; and to fill up the measure of her misfortunes, just as she had got over the meadow, a sudden gust of wind made free with her hat, and blew it into a pond of stagnated and filthy water. 26. So completely soaked was every thing she had on, that it was with difficulty they got her undressed; as to her silk slip, it indeed afforded a miserable spectacle of fallen pride and vanity. 27. Her mother seeing her in tears, jocosely said to her, "My dear, shall I have another slip made up for you against to-morrow?"—"Oh, no, mamma, answered Caroline, kissing her, I am perfectly convinced from experience, that fine clothes cannot add to the happiness of the wearer. again have my nice white frock, and no more powder and pomatum; for I am ashamed of my folly and vanity." Let me 28. Caroline soon appeared in her former dress, and with it she recovered her usual ease and freedom, looking more modest and pleasing than she ever did in her gaudy finery. Her mamma did not regret the loss she had sustained in the wreck of the silk slip, fine shoes, and hat, since it produced the means of bringing her daughter back to reason and prudence. BERQUIN. 29. Do you, my fair, endeavour to possess An elegance of mind as well as dress: Be that your ornament, and know to please SECTION V. Arthur and Adrian; or two heads better than one. 1. ADRIAN had frequently heard his father say, that children had but little knowledge with respect to what was most proper for them; and that the greatest proof they could give of their wisdom, consisted in following the advice of people, who had more age and experience. This was a kind of doctrine Adrian did not understand, or at least would not, therefore it is no wonder he forgot it. 2. This wise and good father had allotted to him and his brother Arthur a convenient piece of ground, in order that each might be possessed of a little garden, and display his knowledge and industry in the cultivation of it. They had also leave to sow whatever seed they should think proper, and to transplant any tree they liked out of their father's nursery into their own garden. 3. Arthur remembered those words of his father, which his brother Adrian had forgotten, and therefore went to consult their gardener Rufus. "Pray tell me, said he, what is now in season to sow in my garden, and in what manner I am to set about my business?" 4. The gardener hereupon gave him several roots and seeds, such as were most proper for the season. Arthur instantly ran and put them in the ground, and Rufus, very kindly, not only assisted him in the work, but made him acquainted with many things necessary to be known. 5. Adrian, on the other hand, shrugged up his shoulders at his brother's industry, thinking he was taking much more. pains than was necessary. Rufus not observing this contemptuous treatment, offered him likewise his assistance and instruction; but he refused it in a manner that sufficiently betrayed his vanity and ignorance. 6. He then went into his father's garden and took from thence a quantity of flowers which he immediately transplanted into his own. The gardener took no notice of him but left him to do as he liked. 7. When Adrian visited his garden the next morning, all the flowers he had planted hung down their heads like so many mourners at a funeral, and, as he plainly saw, were in a dying state. He replaced them with others from his father's garden; but, on visiting them the next morning, he found them perishing like the former. 8. This was a matter of great vexation to Adrian, who consequently became soon disgusted with this kind of business. He had no idea of taking so much pains for the possession of a few flowers, and therefore gave it up as an unprofitable game. Hence his piece of ground soon became a wilderness of weeds and thistles. 9. As he was looking into his brother's garden, about the beginning of summer, he saw something of a red colour hanging near the ground, which, on examination, he found |