heard related an excellence of Lucilla with- ties.' My heart was more than easy; dilated, while I congratulated myself in thought that there were young ladies to found who could spend a winter not only unrepiningly, but cheerfully and delightedly in the country.

out a sigh that my beloved parents did not share my happiness. 'How would they,' said I, delight in her delicacy, rejoice in her piety, love her benevolence, admire her humility, her usefulness! O how do children feel, who wound the peace of living parents by an unworthy choice, when not a little of my comfort springs from the certainty that the departed would rejoice in mine! Even from their blessed abode, my grateful heart seems to hear them say, This is the creature with whom we shall rejoice with thee through all eternity!'

I am aware that were I to repeat my conversations with Lucilla, I should subject myself to ridicule, by recording such cold and spiritless discourse on my own part. But I had not yet declared my attachment. made it a point of duty not to violate my engagement with Mr. Stanley. I was not addressing declarations, but studying the charYet such was my inconsistency, that acter of her on whom the happiness of my charmed as I was, that so young and lovely life was to depend. I had resolved not to a woman could be so cheaply pleased, and shew my attachment by any overt act. I delighted with that simplicity of taste which confined the expression of my affection to made her resemble my favourite heroine of that series of small, quiet attentions, which Milton in her amusements as well as in ber an accurate judge of the human heart has domestic pursuits; still I longed to know pronounced to be the surest avenue to a deliwhat those Christmas diversions, so slightly cate mind. I had, in the mean time, the inhinted at, could be; diversions which could expressible felicity to observe a constant unreconcile these girls to their absence not on-ion of feeling, as well as a general consonly from their green-house, but from London I could hardly fear indeed to find at Stanley Grove what the newspapers pertly call Private Theatricals. Still I suspected it might be some gay dissipation, not quite suited to their general character, nor congenial to their amusements. My mother's favourite rule of consistency strongly forced itself on my mind, though I tried to repel the suggestion as unjust and ungenerous.

Of what meannesses will not love be guilty! It drove me to have recourse to my friend Mrs. Comfit to dissipate my doubts.From her I learned that that cold and comfortless season was mitigated at Stanley Grove by several feasts for the poor of different classes and ages. Then, Sir,' continued she, if you could see the blazing fires, and the abundant provisions! the roasting, and the boiling, and the baking. The house is all alive! On those days the drawers and shelves of Miss Lucilla's store-room are completely emptied. 'Tis the most delightful bustle, Sir, to see our young ladies tying on the good women's warm cloaks, fitting their caps and aprons, and sending home blankets to the infirm who cannot come themselves.-The very little ones kneeling down on the ground to try on the poor girl's shoes; even little Miss Celia; and she is so tender to fit them exactly, and not hurt them! Last feast-day, not finding a pair small enough for a poor little girl, she privately slipt off her own and put on the child. It was some time before it was discovered that she herself was without shoes. We are all alive, Sir. Parlour, and hall, and kitchen, all is in motion ! Books, and business, and walks, and gardening, all is forgotten for these few happy days.' How I hated myself for my suspicion! And how I loved the charming creatures who could find in these humble but exhilarating duties, an equivalent for the pleasures of the metropolis! Surely,' said I to myself, my mother would call this consistency, when the amusements of a religious family smack of the same flavour with its business and its duVOL. II.

53

ancy of opinion between us. Every sentiment seemed a reciprocation of sympathy, and every look, of intelligence. This unstudied correspondence enchanted me the more, as I had always considered that a conformity of tastes was nearly as necessary to conjugal happiness, as a conformity of principles.

CHAP. XXXIV.

ONE morning I took a ride alone to breakfast at Lady Aston's, Mr. Stanley having expressed a particular desire that I should cultivate the acquaintance of her son. • Sir George is not quite twenty,' said he, and your being a few years older, will make him consider your friendship as an honour to him: I am sure it will be an advantage.'

In her own little family circle, I had the pleasure of seeing Lady Aston appear to more advantage than I had yet done. Her understanding is good, and her affections are strong. She had received a too favourable prepossession of my character from Mr. Stanley, and treated me with as much openness as if I had been his son.

The gentle girls, animated by the spirit of their brother, seemed to derive both happiness and importance from his presence; while the amiable young Baronet himself won my affection by his engaging manners, and my esteem by his good sense, and his considerable acquirements in every thing which becomes a gentleman.

This visit exemplified a remark I had sometimes made, that shy characters, who from natural timidity are reserved in general society, open themselves with peculiar warmth and frankness to a few select friends, or to an individual of whom they think kind. ly. A distant manner is not always, as is suspected, the result of a cold heart, or a dull head; nor is gaiety necessarily connected with feeling. High animal spirits, though they often evaporate in mere talk, yet by

The rattling tongue

Of saucy and audacious eloquence. When people who have seen little of each other are thrown together, nothing brings on free communication so quickly or so pleasantly, as their being both intimate with a third person, for whom all parties entertain one common sentiment. Mr. Stanley seemed always a point of union between his neighbours and me.

After various topics had been discussed, Lady Aston remarked, that she could now trace the goodness of Providence in having so ordered events, as to make those things which she had so much dreaded at the time, work out advantages which could not have been otherwise obtained for her.

เ

They are my faults, my dear George, and not yours that I am relating. Few mothers would have acted like me; few sons differently from you. Your affectionate heart deserved a warmer return than my broken spirits were capable of making you. But I was telling you, Sir,' said she, again addressing herself to me, that the event of my com ing to this place, not only became the source of my present peace, and of the comfort of my children, but that its result enables me to look forward with a cheerful hope to that state where there is neither sin, sorrow, nor separation. The thoughts of death, which used to render me useless, now make me only serious. The reflection that the night cometh,' which used to extinguish my activity, now kindles it.

Forgive me, Sir,' added she, wiping her eyes, these are not such tears as I then shed. These are tears of gratitude, I had almost said of joy. In the family at the Grove, Providence had been providing for me friends, for whom, I doubt not, I shall bless him in eternity.

'I had long been convinced of the importance of religion. I had always felt the insufficiency of the world to bestow happiness; but I had never before beheld religion in such a form. I had never been furnished I had a singular aversion,' added she, 'to with a proper substitute for the worldly the thoughts of removing to this place, and pleasures which I yet despised, I did right in quitting Sir George's estate in Warwick- giving up diversions, but I did wrong in shire, where I had spent the happiest years of giving up employment, and in neglecting my life. When I had the misfortune to lose duties. I knew something of religion as a him,' here a tear quietly strayed down her principle of fear, but I had no conception of cheek,) I resolved never to remove from it as a motive to the love of God, and as the the place where he died. I had fully per- spring of active duty; nor did I consider it suaded myself that it was a duty to do all I as a source of inward peace. Books had not could to cherish grief. I obliged myself, as a been of any great service to me, for I had no law, to spend whole hours every day in walk-one to guide me in the choice, or to assist me ing round the place where he was buried.These melancholy visits, the intervals of which were filled with tears, prayers, and reading a few good but not well chosen books, made up the whole round of my sad existence. I had nearly forgotten that I had any duties to perform, that I had any mercies left. Almost all the effect which the sight of my children produced in me was, by their resemblance to their father, to put me in mind of what I had lost.

in the perusal. I went to my daily task of devotion with a heavy heart, and returned from is with no other sense of comfort but that I had not omitted it.

'My_former friends and acquaintances had been decent and regular; but they had adopted religion as a form, and not as a principle. It was compliance and not conviction. It was conformity to custom, and not the persuasion of the heart. Judge then how I must have been affected, in a state when I was not sufficiently aware how much sorrow and disappointment had made my more truly I should have honoured his mem- mind peculiarly impressible, with the conory, by training his lively representatives, inversation and example of Mr. and Mrs. such a manner, as he, had he been living, Stanley! I saw in them that religion was not would have approved. My dear George,' a formal profession, but a powerful princiadded she, smiling at her son, through her tears, was glad to get away to school, and my poor girls, when they lost the company of their brother, lost all the little cheerfulness which my recluse habits had left them. We sunk into total inaction, and our lives became as comfortless as they were unprofitable.'

6

My dear Madam,' said Sir George, in the most affectionate tone and manner, I can only forgive myself from the consideration of my being then too young and thoughtless to know the value of the mother, whose sorrows ought to have endeared my home to me, instead of driving me from it.'

ple. It ran through their whole life and character. All the Christian graces were brought into action in a way, with a uniformity and a beauty, which nothing but Christian motives could have effected.

'The change which took place in my own mind, however, was progressive. The strict consonance which I observed between their sentiments and actions, and those of Dr. Barlow and Mr. Jackson strengthened and confirmed mine This similarity in all points, was a fresh confirmation that they were all right. The light of religion gradually grew stronger, and the way more smooth. It was

literally a lamp to my feet,' for I walked more safely as I saw more clearly. My difficulties insensibly lessened, and my doubts disappeared. I still indeed continue hourly to feel much cause to be humbled, but none to be unhappy.'

When Lady Aston had done speaking, Sir George said, I owe a thousand obligations to my mother, but not one so great as her introduction of me to Mr. Stanley. He has given a bent and bias to my sentiments, habits and pursuits, to which I trust every day will add fresh strength. I look up to him as my model: happy if I may, in any degree, be able to form myself by it! Till I had the happiness of knowing you, Sir, I preferred the company of Dr. Barlow and Mr. Stanley, to that of any young man with whom I am acquainted.'

After some further conversation, in which Sir George, with great credit to himself, bore a considerable part; Miss Aston took courage to ask me if I would accompany them all into the garden, as she wished me to carry home intelligence to Miss Stanley, of the flourishing state of some American plants, which had been raised under her direction. To speak the truth, I had for some time been trying to bring Lucilla on the tapis, but had not found a plausible pretence. I now inquired if Miss Stanley directed their gardening pursuits. She directs all our pursuits,' said the two bashful, blushing girls, who now, for the first time in their lives, spoke both at once; the subject kindling an energy in their affectionate hearts, which even their timidity could not rein in.

I thought Clara,' said Sir George, that Miss Phabe Stanley too had assisted in laying out the flower garden. Surely she is not behind her sister in any thing that is kind, or any thing that is elegant. His complexion heightened as he spoke, and he expressed himself with an emphasis, which I had not before observed in his manner of speaking. I stole a glance at Lady Aston, whose meek eye glistened with pleasure, at the earnestness with which her son spoke of the lovely Peœbe. My rapid imagination instantly shot forward to an event, which some years hence will probably unite two families so worthy of each other. Lady Aston, who already honours me with her confidence, afterwards confirmed my suspicions on a subject, about which nothing but the extreme youth of both parties made her backwards to express the secret hope she fondly entertained.

After having admired the plants of which I promised to make a favourable report, I was charged with a large and beautiful bouquet for the young ladies at the Grove. They then drew me to the prettiest spot in the grounds. While I was admiring it, Miss Clara, with a blush, and some hesitation, begged leave to ask my advice about a little rustic building, which she and her sisters were just going to raise in honour of the Miss Stanleys. It was to be dedicated to them, and called the Temple of Friendship. 'My brother,' said she, is kindly assisting us. The materials are all prepared, and we have now only to fix them up.'

She then put into my hands a little plan. I highly approved it; venturing, however, to suggest some trifling alterations, which I told them I did in order to implicate myself a little in the pleasant project. How proud was I when Clara added, that Miss Stanley had expressed a high opinion of my general taste !'-They all begged me to look in on them in my rides, and assist them with my farther counsel; adding that, above all things, I must keep it a secret at the Grove.

Lady Aston said, that she expected our whole party to dine at the Hall, some day next week. Her daughters entreated that it might be postponed till the latter end, by which time they doubted not their little edifice would be completed. Sir George then told me, that his sisters had requested him to furnish an inscription, or to endeavour to procure one from me. He added his wishes to theirs that I would comply. They all joined so earnestly in the entreaty that I could not withstand them, albeit unused to the rhyming mood.'

After some deliberation, Friday in the next week was fixed upon for the party at the Grove to dine at Aston-Hall, and I was to carry the invitation. I took a respectful leave of the excellent Lady of the mansion, and an affectionate one of the young people; with whom the familiar intercourse of this quiet morning had contributed to advance my friendly acquaintance, more than could have been done by many ceremonious meetings.

When I returned to the Grove, which was but just in time to dress for dinner, I spoke with sincere satisfaction of the manner in which I had passed the morning. It was beautiful to observe the honest delight, the ingenuous kindness, with which Lucilla heard me commend the Miss Astons. No little disIn our walk round the gardens, the Miss paraging hint on the one hand, gently to let Astons continued to vie with each other, who down her friends, nor on the other, no such should be warmest in the praise of our young exaggerated praise as I have sometimes seen friends at the Grove. To Miss Stanley they employed as a screen for envy, or as a trap gratefully declared, they owed any little to make the hearer lower what the speaker taste, knowledge, or love of goodness which had too highly raised. they themselves might possess.

It was delightful to observe these quiet girls warmed and excited by a subject so interesting. I was charmed to see them so far from feeling any shadow of envy at the avowed superiority of their young friends, and so unanimously eloquent in the praise of merit so eclipsing.

I dropped in at Aston-Hall two or three times in the course of the week, as well to notice the progress of the work, as to carry my inscription, in which, as Lucilla was both my subject and my muse, I succeeded rather better than I expected.

On the Friday, according to appointment, our whole party went to dine at the Hall. In

our way, Mr. Stanley expressed the pleasure ing of the Temple of Friendship is likely to it gave him, that Lady Aston was now so afford too much gratification to be passed convinced of the duty of making home agree-over without some such association. So my able to her son, as delightedly to receive such girls give to day a little feast, with prizes of her friends as were warmly disposed to be- of merit, to their village school, and to a few other deserving young persons."

come his.

Sir George, who is extremely well-bred, When we had taken our seats in the temdid the honours admirably for so young a ple, Phoebe suddenly cried out, clasping her inan, to the great relief of his excellent hands in an ecstacy, Only look Lucilla! mother, whom long retirement had rendered There is no end to the enchantment. It is habitually timid in a party, of which some all fairy land.' On casting our eyes as she were almost strangers. directed, we were agreeably surprized with The Miss Astons had some difficulty to re-observing a large kind of temporary shed or strain their young guests from running di-booth at some distance from us. It was picrectly to look at the progress of the Ameri- turesquely fixed near an old spreading oak, can plants; but as they grew near the mys- and was ingeniously composed of branches terious spot, they were not allowed to ap-of trees, fresh and green. Under the oak proach it before the allotted time. stood ranged the village maids. We walked After dinner, when the whole party were to the spot. The inside of the booth was walking in the garden, Lady Aston was de- hung round with caps, aprons, bonnets, bandsired by her daughters to conduct her com-kerchiefs, and other coarse, but neat articles pany to a winding grass walk, near the little of female dress. On a rustic table was building, but from whence it was not visible. laid a number of Bibles, and specimens of While they were all waiting at the appoint- several kinds of coarse works, and little ed place, the two elder Miss Astons gravely manufactures. The various performances took a hand of Lucilla, Sir George and I were examined by the company; some preeach presented a hand to Phoebe, and in pro-sents were given to all. But additional prifound silence, and great ceremony, we led zes were awarded by the young Patronesses, them up the turf steps into this simple, but really pretty temple. The initials of Lucilla and Phoebe were carved in cyphers over a little rustic window, under which was written,

Sacred to Friendship.

In two niches prepared for the purpose, we severally seated the two astonished nymphs, who seemed absolutely enchanted. Above was the inscription in large Roman letters.

The Astons looked so much alive, that they might have been mistaken for Stanleys, who in their turn, were so affected with this tender mark of friendship, that they looked as tearful as though they had been Astons. After reading the inscription, my dear Clara,' said Lucilla to Miss Aston, where could you get these beautiful verses? Though the praise they convey is too flattering to be just, it is too delicate not to please. The lines are at once tender and elegant.' We got them,' said Miss Aston, with a sweet vivacity, 'where we get every thing that is good, from Stanley Grove,' bowing modestly to me. How was I elated; and how did Lucilla blush but though she now tried to qualify her flattery, she could not recal it. And I would not allow myself to be robbed of the pure delight it had given me. All the company seemed to enjoy her confusion and my pleasure.

to the best specimens of different work; to the best spinners, the best knitters, the best manufacturers of split straw, and the best performers in plain work, I think they called it.

Three grown up young women, neatly dressed, and of modest manners, stood behind. It appeared that one of them had taken such good care of her young sisters and brothers, since their mother's death, and had so prudently managed their father's house, that it had saved him from an imprudent second choice. Another had postponed for many months a marriage, in which her heart was engaged, because she had a paralytic grandmother whom she attended day and night, and whom nothing, not even love itself, could tempt her to desert. Death had now released the aged sufferer, the_wedding was to take place next Sunday. The third had for above a year worked two hours every day, over and above her set time, and applied the gains to clothe the orphan child of a deceased friend. She also was to accompany her lover to the altar on Sunday, but had made it a condition of her marrying him, that she should be allowed to continue her supernumerary hours' work, for the benefit of the poor orphan. All three had been exemplary in their attendance at church, as well as in their general conduct. The fair Patronesses presented each with a handsome Bible, and with a complete, plain, but very neat suit of apparel.

I forgot to mention, that as we crossed the park, we had seen enter the house, through a back avenue, a procession of little girls While these gifts were distributing, I whisneatly dressed in a uniform. In a whisper, pered Sir John that one such ticket as we I asked Lady Aston what it meant, you are were desired to take for Squallini's benefit, to know,' replied her ladyship, that my would furnish the cottages of these poor girls. daughters adopt all Miss Stanley's plans, and And it shall,' replied he with emphasis. among the rest, that of associating with all How little a way will that sum go in supertheir own indulgences some little act of char-fluities, which will make two honest couple ity, that while they are receiving pleasure, happy! How costly is vanity, how cheap is they may also be conferring it. The open-charity!'

Can these happy, useful young creatures tellectual. For this,' added he, various be my little, inactive, insipid Astons, reasons may be assigned. In London man Charles?' whispered Mr. Stanley, as we is every day becoming less of a social, and walked away to leave the girls to sit down to their plentiful supper, which was spread on a long table under the oak, without the green booth. This group of figures made an interesting addition to the scenery, when we got back to the Temple, and often attracted Our attention while we were engaged in conversation.

CHAP. XXXV.

more of a gregarious animal. Crowds are as little favourable to conversation as to reflection. He finds, therefore, that he may figure in the mass with less expense of mind: and as to women they figure at no expense at all. They find that by mixing with myriads, they may carry on the daily intercourse of life, without being obliged to bring a single idea to enrich the common stock'

'I do not wonder,' said I, that the dull and uninformed love to shelter their insigniTHE Company were not soon weary of ad- ficance in a crowd. In mingling with the miring the rustic building, which seemed multitude, their deficiencies elude detection. raised as if by the stroke of a magician's The vapid and the ignorant are like a bad wand, so rapidly had it sprung up. They play; they owe the little figure they make were delighted to find that their pleasure to the dress, the scenery, the music and the was to be prolonged by drinking tea in the temple.

-While we were at tea Mr. Stanley, addressing himself to me, said, I have always forgotten to ask you, Charles, if your high expectations of pleasure from the society in London had been quite answered?'

company. The noise and the glare take off all attention from the defects of the work. The spectator is amused, and he does not inquire whether it is with the piece or with the accompaniments. The end is attained, and he is little solicitous about the means. But an intellectual woman, like a well written drama, will please at home without all these aids and adjuncts, nay the beauties of the superior piece, and of the superior woman, will rise on a more intimate survey. But you were going, Sir John, to assign other causes for the decline and fall of conversation.'

'One very affecting reason,' replied he, is that the alarming state of public affairs fills all men's minds with one momentous object. As every Englishman is a patriot, every patriot is a politician. It is natural that that subject should fill every mouth, which occupies every heart, and that little room should be left for extraneous matter.'

I was entertained, and I was disappointed,' replied I. 'I always found the pleasure of the moment not heightened, but effaced by the succeeding moment. The ever restless, rolling tide of new intelligence at once gratified and excited the passion of novelty, which I found to be le grand poisson qui mange les petits. This successive abundance of fresh supply gives an ephemeral importance to every thing, and a lasting importance to nothing. We skimmed every topic, but dived into none. Much desultory talk, but little discussion. The combatants skirmished like men whose arms were kept bright by constant use; who were accustomed to a flying fight, but who avoided the fatigue of coming to close quarters. What was old, however momentous, was rejected as dull, what was new, however insignificant, was thought interesting. Events of the past week were placed with those beyond 'There is a third reason,' said Sir John, the flood; and the very existence of occur-polite literature has in a good degree given rences which continue to be matter of deep way to experimental philosophy. The adinterest with us in the country, seemed there totally forgotten.

I found, too, that the inhabitants of the metropolis had a standard of merit of their own; that knowledge of the town was concluded to be knowledge of the world; that local habits, reigning phrases, temporary fashions, and an acquaintance with the surface of manners, was supposed to be knowledge of mankind. Of course, he who was ignorant of the topics of the hour, and the anecdotes of a few modish leaders, was ignorant of human nature.'

Sir John observed, that I was rather too young to be a praiser of past times, yet he allowed that the standard of conversation was not so high, as it had been in the time of my father, by whose reports my youthful ardour had been inflamed. He did not indeed suppose that men were less intellectual now, but they certainly were less colloquially in

'I should accept this,' said I, ' as a satisfactory vindication, had I heard that the same absorbing cause had thinned the public places, or diminished the attraction of the private resorts of dissipation.'

mirers of science assert, that the last was an age of words, and that this is the age of things. A more substantial kind of knowledge has partly superseded these elegant studies, which have caught such hold on your affections.'

'I heartily wish,' replied I, that the new pursuits may be found to make men wiser; they certainly have not made them more agreeable."

It is affirmed,' said Mr. Stanley, that the prevailing philosophical studies have a religious use, and that they naturally tend to elevate the heart to the great Anthor of the Universe.'

'I have but one objection to that assertion,' replied Sir John, namely, that it is not true. This should seem indeed, to be their direct tendency; yet experiment, which you know is the soul of philosophy has proved the contrary.'