this visit to see his old friend and his daughter hapPY.

On the last day of his journey, different accidents had retarded his progress; he was benighted before he reached the quarter in which La Roche resided. His guide, however, was well acquainted with the road, and he found himself at last in view of the lake, which I have before described, in the neighbourhood of La Roche's dwelling. A light gleamed on the water, that seemed to proceed from the house; it moved slowly along as he proceeded up the side of the lake, and at last he saw it glimmer through the trees, and stop at some distance from the place where he then was. He supposed it some piece of bridal merriment, and pushed on his horse that he might be a spectator of the scene; but he was a good deal shocked, on approaching the spot, to find it proceed from the torch of a person cloathed in the dress of an attendant on a funeral, and accompanied by several others, who, like him, seemed to have been employed in the rites of sepulture.

On Mr.'s making inquiry who was the person they had been burying? one of them, with an accent more mournful than is common to their profession, answered, Then you knew not Mademoselle, Sir?-you never beheld a lovelier.'-' La Roche exclaimed he in reply- Alas! it was she indeed!'-The appearance of surprise and grief which his countenance assumed, attracted the notice of the peasant with whom he talked.-He came up closer to Mr. -; I perceive, Sir, you were acquainted with Mademoiselle La RocheAcquainted with her!-Good God!-whenhow-where did she die?-Where is her father?'

She died, Sir, of heart-break, I believe; the young gentleman to whom she was soon to have

• been marrid, was killed in a duel by a French officer, his intimate companion, and to whom, before their quarrel, he had often done the greatest favours. Her worthy father bears her death, as he has often told us a Christian should; he is even so composed as to be now in his pulpit, ready to ⚫ deliver a few exhortations to his parishioners, as is the custom with us on such occasions :-Follow me, Sir, and you shall hear him.'-He followed the man without answering.

The church was dimly lighted, except near the pulpit where the venerable La Roche was seated. His people were now lifting up their voices in a psalm to that Being whom their pastor had taught them ever to bless and to revere. La Roche sat, his

figure bending gently forward, his eyes half closed, lifted up in silent devotion. A lamp placed near him threw its light strong on his head, and marked the shadowy lines of age across the paleness of his brow, thinly covered with grey hairs.

The music ceased;-La Roche sat for a moment, and nature wrung a few tears from him. His people were loud in their grief. Mr. was not less affected than they-La Roche arose. Father of mercies!' said he, forgive these tears; assist thy servant to lift up his soul to thee; to lift to thee the souls of thy people! My friends! it is good so to do at all seasons it is good; but in the days of our distress, what a privilege it is! Well saith the sacred book, Trust in the Lord; at all times trust in the Lord.' When every other support fails us, when the fountains of worldly comfort are dried up, let us then seek those living waters which flow from the throne of God.-'Tis only 'from the belief of the goodness and wisdom of a Supreme Being, that our calamities can be borne • in that manner which becomes a man. Human

་

as

⚫ wisdom is here of little use; for, in proportion as it bestows comfort, it represses feeling, without which we may cease to be hurt by calamity, but we shall also cease to enjoy happiness.—I will not bid you be insensible, my friends! I cannot, I cannot, if I would (his tears flowed afresh)—I feel too much myself, and I am not ashamed of my feelings; but therefore may I the more willingly be heard; therefore have I prayed God to give me strength to speak to you; to direct you to him, not with empty words, but with these tears; not from speculation, but from experience,-that while you see me suffer, you may know also ⚫ consolation.

my

You behold the mourner of his only child, the last earthly stay and blessing of his declining 6 years! Such a child too!-It becomes not me to speak of her virtues; yet it is but gratitude to ⚫ mention them, because they were exerted towards myself.-Not many days ago you saw her young, beautiful, virtuous, and happy ;—ye who are parents will judge of my felicity then,-ye will judge of my affliction now. But I look towards

him who struck me; I see the hand of a father ⚫ amidst the chastenings of my God.-Oh! could • I make you feel what it is to pour out the heart, when it is pressed down with many sorrows, to pour it out with confidence to him, in whose hands · are life and death, on whose power awaits all that the first enjoys, and in contemplation of whom disappears all that the last can inflict !-For we are not as those who die without hope; we know that Our Redeemer liveth,-that we shall live with him, with our friends his servants, in that blessed • land where sorrow is unknown, and happiness is endless as it is perfect.-Go then, mourn not ⚫ for me; I have not lost my child: but a little

while, and we shall meet again never to be sepa→ rated. But ye are also my children; would ye ⚫ that I should not grieve without comfort?-So live as she lived: that when your death cometh, it may be the death of the righteous, and your • latter end like his.'

Such was the exhortation of La Roche; his audience answered it with their tears. The good old man had dried up his at the altar of the Lord; his countenance had lost its sadness, and assumed the glow of faith and hope.-Mr. followed him into his house.-The inspiration of the pulpit was past; at sight of him the scenes they had last met in rushed again on his mind; La Roche threw his arms round his neck, and watered it with his tears. The other was equally affected; they went together, in silence, into the parlour where the evening service was wont to be performed.-The curtains of the organ were open; La Roche started back at the sight. Oh! my friend!' said he, and his tears burst forth again. Mr. had now

recollected himself; he stept forward and drew the curtain close-the old man wiped off his tears, and taking his friend's hand, You see my weakness,' said he, 'tis the weakness of humanity; but my 'comfort is not therefore lost.'-' I heard you,' said the other, in the pulpit; I rejoice that such consolation is your's. It is, my friend,' said he, ⚫ and I trust I shall ever hold it fast ;-if there are any who doubt our faith, let them think of what importance religion is to calamity, and forbear to ⚫ weaken its force; if they cannot restore our happiness, let them not take away the solace of our • affliction.'

Mr. -'s heart was smitten; and I have heard him, long after, confess that there were mo

N° 45 ments when the remembrance overcame him even to weakness; when, amidst all the pleasures of philosophical discovery, and the pride of literary fame, he recalled to his mind the venerable figure of the good La Roche, and wished that he had never doubted.

N° 45. TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1779.

Is he a man of fashion? is the usual question on the appearance of a stranger, or the mention of a person with whom we are unacquainted. But though this phrase be in the mouth of every body, I have often found people puzzled when they attempted to give an idea of what they meant by it; and, indeed, so many and so various are the qualities that enter into the composition of a modern man of fashion, that it is difficult to give an accurate definition or a just description of him. Perhaps he may, in the general, be defined, a being who possesses some quality or talent which entitles him to be received into every company; to make one in all parties, and to associate with persons of the highest rank and the first distinction.

If this definition be just, it may be amusing to consider the different ideas that have prevailed, at different times, with regard to the qualities requisite to constitute a man of fashion. Not to go farther back, we are told by Lord Clarendon, that, in the beginning of the last century, the men of rank were