hufband: chafte, pure, and unblemished, in every thought, word, and deed: she is humble and modest, from reafon and conviction, fubmiffive from choice, and obedient from inclination: what fhe acquires by love and tenderness, fhe preferves by prudence and difcretion: She makes it her business to serve, and her pleafure to oblige her husband: confcious that every thing that promotes his happiness, muft, in the end, contribute to her own: her tenderness relieves his cares, her affection foftens his distress, her good humour and complacency lessen and subdue his afflictions. "She open"eth her mouth," as Solomon fays, "with wisdom, "and her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh "well to the way of her husband, and eateth not the "bread of idleness: her children rise up, and call her "bleffed: her husband also, and he praiseth her." As a good and pious chriftian, fhe looks up with an eye of gratitude to the great difpenfer and difpofer of all things, to the husband of the widow and father of the fatherless, intreating his divine favour and affistance in this and every other moral and religious duty; well fatisfied, that if she duly and punctually discharges her feveral offices in this life, fhe fhall be bleffed and rewarded for it in another.-"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord, fhe, shall be praised." ON ON THE SAME SUBJECT. THE good wife minds the contract she has made, And ne'er from virtue's path can be betray'd; Her conftancy admits no wav'ring fire, He chafte ideas fhield her from defire ; While from conviction humble fhe appears, While reafon leads her thro' discretion's ways; And proves (while all who know her ways commend) THE IMPRUDENT MOTHER. I was making a vifit the other day to a family that pafs for what are called your very fenfible clever folks. They have a large family of children, of whom they feem exceedingly fond, and indeed imprudently fo. "Come hither my dear," faid the lady of the house, to a little girl, about four years old, who was crying to go go out of the room almost as soon as fhe came into it, "Come hither Lucy! Look ye my dear, if you will behave yourself prettily, and go and talk to the company, papa will give you a fine new doll to-morrow." This flopped the crying for the prefent, but the confequence will be that every time Mifs Lucy wants a new play thing, fhe has only to mifbehave herfelf in the fame manner, and she is fure of being bribed into good humour again. By this improper conduct of her mamma, the little gypsey will be taught to be artful and peevish, at an age, whofe greateft ornament is innocence and good humour. Good behaviour fhould always be attended with reward, but fhould never be the confequence of bad behaviour. The approbation of Friends, is a better incentive to young perfons acting properly than the reward of toys and fugar plumbs, and gives. them a pleasure of a much higher kind. The notion of doing right, for the fake of doing right, fhould be gently inculcated, and ftrengthened by degrees, as they advance in age and understanding. This will fettle in time, into a firm and fteady rectitude of mind, which interest will never bias, which adverfity will never shake, and which profperity will never enervate. From hence will proceed a calm and even cheerfulness of temper; a regular and uniform conduct, that will for ever make them happy in themfelves, and refpected by others. ORIGINAL STORIES. OVER FONDNESS OF CARDS. I REMEMBER a story of an old lady who used to divide her time principally between the church and the card table. A young man of more humour than difcretion, laid a wager that he would make her talk of her cards at her devotions in the church. He contrived the next day, to kneel down by her, and whispered in her "I had most terrible luck last night! No mortal was ever so unfortunate!" "Fie Sir! for goodness fake don't talk fo." "I had four matadores, madam,”—and fo on he went, telling his hand and the whole of the "A club was led, and I put on a small trump,” game. "Pooh!" fays this good lady, "you should have played your ponto." ear, What an impudent affront was this to the Almighty, and should caution ladies from a too fond attachment to the love of card playing. THE EXTRAVAGANT FEMALE. PRISONS, of all other places, exhibit a group of objects the most affecting to a good heart. There a variety of innocent and refpectable characters may be daily feen, languishing under all the rigour of confinement and penury. My fituation, fometime ago, gave me frequent opportunities, in company with a few companions, of vifiting and contemplating this most melancholy scene. Among all we then faw, none of them engaged our attention fo deeply, as a man of an aspect and manner peculiar to himself. He was a perfect skeleton, and looked the very picture of sadness and want. Yet in all this diftrefsful extremity, nothing about him had an appearance of meanness. Indeed the notice he always took of us, his concern for his fellow-fufferers, and every other part of his conduct, discovered uncommon manliness and fimplicity. It was remarkable, that while his companions in mifery kept teizing every one for money, he never did. This difpofed us to exert ourselves among our refpective acquaintance, and make up a little fum for him. When we begged his acceptance of it, we fignified, at the fame time, a defire of hearing how hehad been reduced. My story (faid he) is but short, and has nothing in "it very extraordinary. I was the only fon, and con- fequently fole heir of rich and refpectable parents, "who gave me a liberal education, and left me in pof"feffion of an ample fortune. I married the daughter"of a reputable citizen, who, from his mode of life, "was thought very wealthy. His family, who knew nothing of his affairs, were accustomed to live in the greatest splendor. My wife had a thoufand amiable qualities. There are few genteel accomplishments "in which fhe did not excel. Her sweetness of temper, endeared her to all who knew her. Her viva " 68 |