house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the family. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins, understanding the bargain I had made, told me I had given four times as much for it as it was worth. This put me in mind what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money and they laughed at me so much for my folly, that I cried with vexation.

3. My reflections on the subject gave me more chagrin, than the whistle gave me pleasure. This little event, however, was afterwards of use to me, the impression continu ing on my mind: so that often, when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, Do not give too much for the whistle; and so I saved my money.

4. As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of men, I thought I met with many, very many, who gave too much for the whistle.

5. When I saw any one too ambitious of court-favour, sacrificing his time ir. attendance on levees, his repose, his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his friends, to attain it, I said to myself, This man gives too much for his whistle.

6. When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly employing himself in political bustles, neglecting his own affairs, and ruining them by that neglect; He pays indeed, said I, too much for his whistle.

7. If I knew a miser, who gave up every kind of comfortable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and the joys of benevolent friendship, for the sake of accumulating wealth; Poor man, said I, you indeed pay too much for your whistle.

8. When I met a man of pleasure, sacrificing every laudable improvement of mind, or of fortune, to mere sensual gratifications; Mistaken man! said I, you are providing pain for yourself, instead of pleasure; you give too much for your whistle.

9. If I saw one fond of fine clothes, fine furniture, fine equipage, all above his fortune, for which he contracted debts, and ended his career in prison; Alas! said I, he has paid dear, very dear for his whistle.

10. In short, I conceived that great part of the miseries of mankind, are brought upon them by the false estimate they make of the value of things, and by their giving too much for their whistles.

DR. FRANKLIN.

SECTION VIII.

A generous mind does not repine at the advantages others

enjoy.

1. EVER charming, ever new,

When will the landscape tire the view:
The fountain's fall, the river's flow,

The woody valleys warm and low;
The windy summit, wild and high,
Roughly rushing on the sky;

The pleasant seat, the ruin'd tow'r,
The naked rock, the shady bow'r;
The town and village, dome and farm,
Each gives each a double charm.

DYER,

Alexis was repeating these lines to Euphronius, who was reclining upon a seat in one of his fields, enjoying the real beauties of nature which the poet describes.

2. The evening was serene, and the landscape appeared in all the gay attire of light and shade. "A man of lively imagination," said Euphronius, "has a property in every thing which he sees: and you may now conceive yourself to be the proprietor of the vast expanse around us; and exult in the happiness of myriads of living creatures, that inhabit the woods, the lawns, and the mountains, which present themselves to our view." The house, garden, and pleasure grounds of Eugenio, formed a part of the prospect: and Alexis expressed a jocular wish, that he had more than an imaginary property in those possessions.

3. "Banish the ungenerous desire," said Euphronius, "for if you indulge such emotions as these, your heart will soon become a prey to envy and discontent. Enjoy, with gratitude, the blessings which you have received from the liberal hand of Providence; increase them if you can, with honour and credit, by a diligent attention to the business for which you are designed; and though your own cup may not be filled, rejoice that your neighbour's overflows with plenty. Honour the abilities, and emulate the virtues, of Eugenio but repine not that he is wiser, richer, or more powerful, than yourself.

4. His fortune is expended in acts of humanity, generosity, and hospitality. His superior talents are applied to the in

struction of his children; to the assistance of his friends; to the encouragement of agriculture, and of every useful art; and to support the cause of liberty and the rights of mankind. And his power is exerted to punish the guilty, to protect the innocent, to reward the good, and to distribute justice, with an equal hand, to all. I feel the affection of a brother for. Eugenio: and esteem myself singularly happy in his friendship."

SECTION IX.

PERCIVAL.

Nature

Insolent deportment towards inferiors reproved. 1. SACCHARISSA was about fifteen years of age. had given her a high spirit, and education had fostered it into pride and haughtiness. This temper was displayed in every little competition, which she had with her compan ions. She could not brook the least opposition from those whom she regarded as her inferiors; and if they did not instantly submit to her inclination, she assumed all her airs of dignity, and treated them with the most supercilious contempt. She domineered over her father's servants; always commanding their good offices with the voice of thority, and disdaining the gentle language of request.

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2. Euphronius was one day walking with her, when the gardener brought her a nosegay, which she had ordered him to collect. "Blockhead !" she cried, as he delivered it to her; "what strange flowers you have chosen; and how awkwardly you have put them together! " Blame not the man with so much harshness," said Euphronius, "because his taste is different from yours! he meant to please you, and his good intention merits your thanks, and not your censure." "Thanks!" replied Saccharissa, scornfully, "He is paid for his services, and it is his duty to perform them." 3. "And if he does perform them, he acquits himself of his duty," returned Euphronius. "The obligation is fulfilled on his side; and you have no more right to upbraid him for executing your orders according to his best ability, than he has to claim, from your father, more wages than were convenanted to be given him.” "But he is a poor dependent," said Saccharissa, "and earns a livelihood by his daily labour."

4. "That livelihood," answered Euphronius," is the just

price of his labour; and if he receive nothing farther from your hands, the account is balanced between you. But a generous person compassionates the lot of those, who are obliged to toil for his benefit or gratification. He lightens their burdens; treats them with kindness and affection; studies to promote their interest and happiness; and, as much as possible, conceals from them their servitude, and his superiority.

5. On the distinctions of rank and fortune, he does not set too high a value and though the circumstances of life require, that there should be hewers of wood, and drawers of water, yet he forgets not that mankind are by nature equal; all being the offspring of God, the subjects of his moral government, and joint heirs of immortality. A conduct directed by such principles, gives a master claims, which no money can purchase, no labour can repay. His affection can only be compensated by love; his kindness, by gratitude; and his cordiality, by the service of the

heart."

SECTION X.

PERCIVAL.

Arachne and Melissa; or, the happiness of cultivating a good temper.

1. A GOOD temper is one of the principal ingredients of happiness. This, it will be said, is the work of nature, and must be born with us: and so in a good measure, it is; yet it may be acquired by art, and improved by culture. Almost every object that attracts our notice, has a bright and a dark side.

2. He that habituates himself to look at the displeasing side, will sour his disposition, and consequently impair his happiness; while he who beholds it on the bright side, insensibly meliorates his temper; and, by this means, improves his own happiness, and the happiness of all about

him.

3. Arachne and Melissa are two friends. They are alike in birth, fortune, education, and accomplishments. They were originally alike in temper too; but by different management, are grown the reverse of each other. Arachne has accustomed herself to look only on the dark side of every object.

4. If a new literary work makes its appearance, with a thousand beauties, and but one or two blemishes, she slightly skims over the passages that should give her pleasure, and dwells upon those only that fill her with dislike. If you show her an excellent portrait, she looks at some part of the drapery, that has been neglected, or to a hand or finger which has been left unfinished.

5. Her garden is a very beautiful one, and kept with great neatness and elegance; but if you take a walk with her into it, she talks to you of nothing but blights and storms, of snails and caterpillars, and how impossible it is to keep it from the litter of falling leaves, and worm-casts.

6. If you sit down in one of her temples, to enjoy a delightful prospect, she observes to you, that there is too much wood, or too little water; that the day is too sunny, or too gloomy; that it is sultry, or windy: and finishes with a long harangue upon the wretchedness of our climate.

7. When you return with her to the company, in hopes of a little cheerful conversation, she casts a gloom over all, by giving you the history of her own bad health, or of some melancholy accident that has befallen one of her children. Thus she insensibly sinks her own spirits, and the spirits of all around her; and at last discovers, she knows not why, that her friends are grave.

8. Melissa is the reverse of all this. By habituating herself to look on the bright side of objects, she preserves a perpetual cheerfulness in herself, which, by a kind of happy contagion, she communicates to all about her. If any misfortune has befallen her, she considers that it might have been worse, and is thankful to Providence for an escape.

9. She rejoices in solitude, as it gives her an opportunity of knowing herself; and in society, because she communicates the happiness she enjoys. She opposes every man's virtues to his failings, and can find out something to cherish and applaud, in the very worst of her acquaintance.

10. She opens every book with a desire to be entertained or instructed; and therefore seldom misses what she looks for.-Walk with her, though it be but on a heath or a common, and she will discover numberless beauties, unobserved before, in the hills, the dales, the brooms, brakes, and variegated flowers of weeds and poppies. She enjoys