LETTER IV.

From the Young Gentlewoman to her Mother.

Honoured Mother,

IN my last I informed you that my worthy benefac tress, Mrs. Howard, had been extremely ill: I have the pleasure to assure you that she is now perfectly recovered. The happiness of my present situation may be conceived, but it is not in my power to describe it. After we get up in the morning, the family are called together, to return thanks to the Almighty for his preserving them during the preceding night, and to implore his protection the remaining part of the day. Afterwards we retire to breakfast. During the forenoon, we young ones walk into the garden, or the fields, whilst the good lady is employed in dispensing medicines to the poor tenants. At one o'clock we dine, and afterwards retire to the summer-house, when each, in her turn, reads some part of the best English writers, whilst the others are employed in needle-work. I have received a letter from my brother, and am glad to hear that he is settled in so good a family.

I am, honoured Madam,

Your affectionate and dutiful daughters,

LETTER V.

From a Young man to his Father, desiring him to intercede with his Master to take him again into his Service.

Honoured Sir,

WITH shame, arising from a consciousness of guilt, I have presumed to write to you at this time. I doubt not but you have heard of the irregularities in my conduct, which at last proceeded so far, as not only induced me to desert the service of the best of masters, but to run into the commission of those vices which might have proved fatal to me. It was the allurements of vitious company that first tempted me to forsake the paths of virtue, and neglect my duty in a family where I was treated with the greatest tenderness. Fully sensible of my fault, I am willing to make every reparation in my power; but know not of any other, than by acting diametrically opposite to my former conduct. Let me beg of you, Sir, to intercede with my worthy master to take me M

again into his service, and my whole future life shall be one continued act of gratitude.

I am, honoured Sir,

My Dear Child,

Your affectionate, though undutiful Son.

LETTER VI.

The Father's Answer.

IF ever you live to be a father, you will know what I feel for you on this present occasion. Tenderness as a parent, resentment on account of ingratitude,-a real concern for your future happiness, and respect for the worthy man whose service you deserted, all conspire together to agitate my mind to different purposes; but paternal affection becomes predominant, and I am obliged to act as your friend, although I am afraid you have considered me as your enemy. I have written to your master, and just now received his answer; copies of which I have sent enclosed. Your master is willing again to receive you into his service, and I hope your behaviour will be correspondent to so much lenity.

I am, your affectionate father.

I HAVE often written to you with pleasure, but alas! I am constrained at present to address myself to you on a subject I little expected. I have just now received a letter from my son, by which I am informed that he has left your service, through the instigation of evil company: his letter contains a penitential acknowledgment of his fault, and his resolution to act consistently with his duty for the future. He has begged me to intercede with you in his behalf, and I know your humanity will excuse paternal affection. If you will again receive the unhappy youth into your family, I have great reason to hope that his conduct will be equal to his promises; and it will confer a lasting obligation on an afflicted parent, and oblige

Your sincere well-wisher.

Sir,

LETTER VIII.

The Master's Answer.

EVER since I first considered the state of human nature, or the difference between right and wrong, I have always preferred mercy to the severity of justice. However reasonable your request may appear to yourself, yet to me it was really unnecessary. I am a father, Sir, and can feel at least part of what you suffer. My resentment against the young man is less than my anxiety for his happiness, and were I sure of his adhering to an uninterrupted course of virtue, I should have more real pleasure than his acquiring me the revenue of a Naob.

In the mean time, that nothing may be wanting on my part to make both you and him as happy as possible, all faults are from this moment forgotten, my house is open for his reception, and if he will return he shall be treated with the same indulgence, as if he had never committed any fault whatever.

I am, Sir, your affectionate friend.

LETTER IX.

From a Mother in Town, to her Daughter at a BoardingSchool in the Country, recommending the practice of Virtue.

Dear Child,

ALTHOUGH we are separated in person, yet you are never absent from my thoughts; and it is my continual practice to recommend you to the care of that Being, whose eyes are on all his creatures, and to whom the secrets of all hearts are open: but I have been lately somewhat alarmed, because your two last letters do not run in that strain of unaffected piety as formerly. What, my dear, is this owing to ? Is your beneficent Creator a hard master, or are you resolved to embark in the fashionable follies of a gay unthinking world? Excuse me, my dear, I am a mother, and my concern for your happiness is inseparably connected with my own. Perhaps I am mistaken, and, what I have considered as a fault, may be only the effusions of youthful gaiety. I shall consider it in that light, and be extremely glad, yea, happy, to find it so. Useful instructions are never too often inculca

ted, and therefore, give me leave again to put you in mind of that duty, the performance of which alone can make you happy, both in time and in eternity.

Religion, my dear, is a dedication of the whole man to the will of God, and virtue is the actual operation of that truth, which diffuses itself through every part of our conduct: "her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are "peace."

Whilst the gay unthinking part of youth are devoting the whole of their time to fashionable pleasures, how happy shall I be to hear that my child was religious without hypocritical austerity, and even gay with innocence. Let me beg that you spend at least one hour each day in perusing your Bible, and some of our best English writers; and don't imagine that religion is such a gloomy thing as some enthusiasts have represented: no, it indulges you in every rational amusement, so far as it is consistent with morality;-it forbids nothing but what is hurtful.

Let me beg you will consider attentively what I have written, and send me an answer as soon as you can.

Honoured Mother,

I am your affectionate mothers

LETTER X.

The Answer.

I AM so much affected with the perusal of your really parental advice, that I can scarcely hold the pen to write an answer; but duty to the best of parents obliges me to make you easy in your mind, before I take any rest to myself. That levity so conspicuous in my former letters, is too true to be denied, nor do I desire to draw a veil over my own folly. No, Madam, I freely confess it; but, with the greatest sincerity, I must at the same time declare, that they were written in a careless manner, without considering the character of the person to whom they were addressed: I am fully sensible of my errour, and, on all future occasions, shall endeavour to avoid giving the least offence. The advice you sent me in your valuable letter, wants no encomium; all that I desire is, to have it engraven on my heart. My dear Madam, I love religion, I love virtue, and I hope no consideration will ever lead me from those duties, in which alone I expect future happiness. Let me beg to hear

from you often, and I hope that my whole future conduct will convince the best of parents, that I am what she wishes, me to be.

I am, honoured Madam, your dutiful daughter.

LETTER XI.

From a Young Gentleman, Clerk to a Merchant in Phila delphia, to his Father in the Country, soliciting PocketMoney.

Honoured Sir,

I WROTE to you by Mr. Bale, but not having received any answer makes me very uneasy: Although I have been as good an economist as possible, yet I find the pocketmoney you allowed me to take monthly from Mr. Willis, is not sufficient to support my necessary expenses. I assure you, Sir, that I abhor every sort of extravagance as much as you desire, and the small matter which I ask as an addition to your former allowance, is only to promote my own interest, and which, I am sure, you have as much at heart as any parent possibly can. My master will satisfy you, that my conduct has been consistent with the strictest rules of morality. I submit it to your judgment what you think proper to order me. I did not choose to mention my want of money to Mr. Willis, and for that reason have not taken any thing more than what you ordered. I hope you will not be offended with what I have written; as I shall always consider myself happy in performing my duty, and acquiring the favour of my honoured parents.

My Dear Child,

I am, dear Sir, your affectionate son.

LETTER XII.

The Father's Answer.

MY reason for not writing to you sooner was, that I had been on a journey to your uncle's, where I was detained longer than I expected, and consequently, did not see your letter till last night. I have considered your request, and am convinced that it is altogether reasonable. You are greatly mistaken if you think that I wanted to confine you to the small matter paid to Mr. Willis: No; it was indeed