no longer trifle with the remonstrances of conscience, seeing they are appointed by God himself as the means for their conversion; and the sincere believer will watch and pray for the influences of that Spirit, which having already convinced him of "sin, of righteousness, and of judgment," will produce in him the blessed fruits of " love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.”

The result of this evening's serious meditation was, a resolution on the part of the pious rector to simplify his discourses for the future; but having prepared a few, he was unwilling to relinquish the pleasure of delivering them before he took leave of his learned and elegant mode of composition.

CHAP. IV.

WE took leave of the Wilson family just as they were returned from their morning walk. "I am tired," said Mr. Wilson, seating himself in his arm chair; "to have enjoyed the country, I ought to have retired earlier in life." "Dear papa," exclaimed his lively daughter, "set up a one-horse chaise, and then you may ride about from morning to night." "And break my neck child," rejoined Mr. W. "No, no, I was too prudent when I was young to risk the expenses of a bankrupt cart, and now I am old I am too wise to attempt the difficult art of driving one." "If that be all your objection," returned Mr. G. Wilson, "I'll drive." As Mr. Wilson entertained no doubt of his brother's ability to fulfil his engagement, it was agreed that a horse and chaise should be purchased

as soon as possible, "which," said Mr. Wilson, "I desire may not be one of your new fashioned unsociable gim-cracks, but a good roomy chaise, for as to my part I would not say thank ye to ride out without my wife." Mrs. Wilson was just quitting the room in order to hasten the dinner preperations, when the last sentence reached her ear; she cast a look on the speaker, expressive of feelings we trust well known to most of our married readers. "Brother," asked Mr. Wilson, turning himself quick round in his chair, in order to catch a full view of his countenance, "why did you ne ver marry?" "Truly, brother," returned Mr. Gregory," I would tell you why, if I knew why myself; but you know I seldom give reasons for my actions." It was impossible for Mr. Gregory to return a more satisfactory answer, for the only reason assignable for his being in the forlorn condition of an old bachelor, was the fickleness of his disposition, which never allowed him to continue long enough in the same mind, so as to determine on such an important subject as matrimony. The appearance of dinner relieved Mr. G. from his embarrassment, for his brother still persisted in urging an unanswerable question; he soon afterwards took leave, in order to prepare for his visit to Mrs. Shuffle's. Mr. Wilson composed himself for an afternoon's nap. Mrs. Wilson withdrew to inspect some domestic concerns; notable house-wives may possibly guess what they were, when they recollect it was Saturday; and Miss Wilson retired to her apartment.

Authors possess wonderful advantages, enjoyed by no other descriptions of persons. They may follow characters into the most retired scenes, they may overhear soliloquies, relate private conversations,

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and even pry into the inmost recesses of the heart. Without staying to enquire into the origin of these wonderful advantages, or the reasonableness of their exercise, we gladly avail ourselves of the agreeable privilege, and following Miss Wilson to her dressing room, see all she does, hear all she says, and relate all she thinks. Seated opposite the glass, she frequently directed her eyes there, as busy thought suggested occasion. Well, I am glad to-morrow will be Sunday. I long to see the church and the people. Let me see; what shall I wear ?" hastily rising to open a drawer which contained a variety of dresses neatly arranged. "I won't dress in my very best the first Sunday, because it won't look so well to fall off afterwards." The plainest dress was in consequence of this resolution selected. "I think I'll wear my lilac bonnett; no, I won't neither, for most likely I shall have a colour with walking, and the straw one will then be more becoming. Each bonnet was now in turn adjusted to the head. "To be sure, at present, I look best in the lilac. determined to-morrow. Now for my manner of behaviour at church-I will not look much about me; it will seem as though I were not used to strangers; and I have beard my mother say nothing is more vulgar than to stare. Yet I don t know that she is. right in her observation, for when I walked in Kensington Gardens last spring, and in Bond Street in the winter, the ladies stared wonderfully. Dear, how these country people will gaze at me to-morrow! I dare say they never saw such a bonnet as this if papa now would but let me put it on all on one side, so, it would make them gaze indeed. As soon as church begins I may slip it a little more aside, for

Well, that shall be

then he will see nothing but his book and the parson. I shall be noticed and talked of a great deal more I dare say than ever I should have been in London. I will set all the fashions; what an amusement it will be to invent them-no, I won't invent them neither, I will only improve them, which I can easily do by having a magazine sent me every month from London. Papa told me he would treat me with any magazine I chose, and I shall chuse that which has the pictures of the fashionable dresses." The bonnets were now deposited in their box, the memorandum book taken from a neighbouring writing desk, and the face wore an aspect of recollection. "Let me see, what were the titles of those novels my cousin Susan recommended last time I saw her? To be sure there must be a circulating library in the neighbouring town, and I shall subscribe. Oh! how delightfully shall I pass my time; no shop to attend to now, another maid kept to assist with the needle-work; oh! I shall be as happy as the day is long." So saying, Miss Patty began capering about the room, and in a few minutes was interrupted by the entrance of a servant sent to inquire into the cause of that noise which had awakened her father. "Tell my dear papa," said Miss Wilson," nothing at all is the matter, but that I am so happy that I am dancing for joy."

Perhaps some may exclaim-enough of this; Miss Patty is a vain silly girl, and we wish to hear no more of her absurdities-granted; but we must take characters as we find them, ranging through the extensive course of human nature we met with her, and possibly her weaknesses may assist us in the great and important work of self-examination. For instance, have we never, like her, spent much thought upon

D

trivial matters, and been more solicitous to adorn our bodies than our minds ? Have we never like her been desirous of attracting admiration at the expense of virtue, or at least propriety? Have we never suffered our imagination to wander in the assembly of worshipping christians, while we were unaffected by the presence of that Being before whom arch-angels veil their faces? And, above all, have we never fixed our esteem on the trifles of time and sense, and permitted our affections to depart from that God who bestowed them for the noblest purposes? If, on an impartial examination, we find this to have been our case, we shall surely pity rather than despise the folly of Miss Wilson, and blush at the consideration of what the pen of a faithful historian might relate of our thoughts, our desires, and our pursuits.

Miss Patty joined her father and mother at the teatable with a countenance beaming with self-complacency and good humour. Her mother was rather lowering, for she had discovered such indiscreet proceedings in her two maids during her morning's ramble, that she protested she must cease in future from the like indulgence. A long dissertation followed on the increasing folly and extravagance of that part of the community, in which her auditors appeared quite uninterested, till at length wearied by the exhaustless theme, Mr. Wilson observed, "Well, my dear, now you have told us what your maids have been doing, let us talk a little upon what we mean to do ourselves, for or our time will hang very heavy on our hands if we don't find some employment." "I intend," replied Mrs. Wilson, "to employ much of mine in the making of curious wines. I have some excellent family receipts for the purpose, for my grandmother was famous