make itself useful. But even this case may admit of a few exceptions, and it behoves us, who have ability and influence to investigate the dispositions and talents of the poor we assist, in order, if possible, to direct them to some useful end. I have done so in the case before us, and the old woman you pronounce so useless will soon, I hope, by my instrumentality, rival many of her wealthy cotemporaries."

All parties expressed curiosity to know, and acknowledged their inability to devise, the means of making a poor paralytic a useful member of society. At length Mr. Nichols announced his intention, after amusing himself some time with the conjectures of his companions. "I am going," said he, "to exchange the occupation of an honest old nurse into that of a bookseller."

"A bookseller!" exclaimed Mr. Gregory, "why I should sooner have thought of turning the old woman into an author, shivering and shaking before an host of critics. Where do you intend her to open shop ?” "It would not be for her comfort," replied Mr. Ni: chols," to remove her from the cottage of her worthy son; I therefore intend enlarging his small habitation by adding a room to join the strawberry one, which is, you know, a favourite resort to many of our fair neighbours in the strawberry season." "A famous gossipping one," observed Mr. Gregory; "between ourselves there has been some scandalous stories traeed to Judith's strawberry parlour, and 1 think 'tis worth your while to consider whether the addition of a library on the same spot is not likely to increase the evil." "When I engage in any new scheme," plied Mr. Nichols, "I examine the principle and the natural result. If I find it good, I trouble not my

re:

self about the abuse persons of corrupt minds may make of it; for were I to do so I find the scruple would lead me away from much practical virtue. While I feel persuaded that furnishing a cottage window with moral and religious tracts, and employing an intelligent person to sell them, is a laudable measure, and that cultivating fruits in season is an innocent means of contributing towards the support of a numerous family, I shall cheerfully supply the one and tolerate the other, leaving others to speculate on all the possible inconveniencies." "I can, perhaps," said Mrs. Wilson, with a smile, "enter more into the character of a gossip than either of you; for, to confess the truth, I am tinctured with the spirit; but I think it arises in me, and I hope in most, from a kind of restlessness of mind, rather than a malignancy of disposition. We must have something to interest us; and when we meet, we must have something to talk about. Now possibly, if the next time we meet in the strawberry parlour there should be a few of these good books laying on the table, they may so engage our attention that". "The reputation of their authors," interrupted Mr. Gregory, "may be the only sufferers." "Or rather," resumed Mrs. Wilson, "let us charitably hope that some reformation may take place amongst us in consequence." "You have,. madam," said Mr. Nichols, " caught the idea I meant to suggest. It is far easier to direct the natural disposition than to change it. I trust your definition of the female gossip is just. I wish not to change your energetic propensities into apathy, nor your agreeable loquacity into taciturnity; the well cultivated mind has little to fear from yielding to inclination in these respects. ." "But you cannot educate them over

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again," returned Mr. Gregory. "Some of the gossips are old, and the season for cultivation consequently expired." Happily, as respects moral and religious culture," replied Mr. Nichols, " that season never expires, though it cannot be too strongly insisted upon (glancing his eye on Miss Patty) that youth is the properest season for every kind of mental improvement."

Mr. Nichols now expatiated on the utility of that kind of composition adopted by the judicious writer of serious and entertaining tracts. He said he never travelled without some of them, always using his diseriminating powers in their selection and disposal. And because they were generally best adapted for the young and the ignorant, he added to his repository a few magazines and reviews, where the essayist displayed the morality of the gospel, or the literary critic detected errors in religion or morals ; so that it frequently happened that while in a remote corner of the room, the lively daughters were grouped together perusing with avidity his entertaining and instructive tract, their father and himself were deriving equal profit and delight from the labours of genius and piety in the higher walks of literature.

Though Miss Wilson's countenance always testified the interest she took in Mr. Nichols's conversation, she seldom spoke before him; but at the mention of entertaining tracts she could not refrain from expressing her warm approbation of the intended library. Even her uncle ceased from any more argumentative opposition, and Mr. Nichols remained in possession of the palm of victory.

CHAP. IV.

ON every occasion where our wishes or designs are disappointed, it is not merely our duty to be resigned, but our interest to endeavour to convert the disappointment into some channel of improvement. This happy art was discovered by Mr. Wilson in the case mentioned in the last chapter, where, on account of the accident of his brother's overthrow, he resolved to relinquish the luxury of his new chaise. The folfowing day he calculated the expenses attendant on this carriage, and found they would amount to a sum so considerable by the end of ten years, as to suggest the possibility of supporting a benevolent expenditure, (with the assistance of a few friends he thought he could engage) which had long been the object of his wishes.

After communicating his ideas to Mrs. Wilson, and obtaining, as was usually the case, her entire consent to his inclinations, the chaise was disposed of, and every other unnecessary expense curtailed in the family.

What have we here! exclaims a reader—an author declaiming against the innocent luxuries of civilised society. Must the honest earnings of industry be sacrificed at the shrine of benevolence? How can the propriety of station be maintained by such a system ? In the noble structure of morals, excellence, the grand beauty, consists in the just arrangements of its several parts. Virtues must reflect a mild lustre on each other, not blaze in opposition. Gifts from God are to be received with thankfulness, and so improved as to produce correspondent graces. Thus the splendid

equipage may become the vehicle to display humility; and condescension, and the well spread table, hospitality united with temperance.

Mr. Wilson's conduct in this particular, though worthy of admiration, is not proposed for an example. It exemplified the ardour of his benevolent feelings, and demands imitation, as far as prudent discrimination in various situations will admit.

We have mentioned that the acquaintance of Miss Wilson was desired by some of her neighbours ; amongst these, the farmer's daughters were the most assiduous in their attentions, and she was at length prevailed on to accept an invitation to spend a long day, as they termed it, at the farm-house. Knowing the Misses Jones were accomplished young ladies, she set off in the expectation of finding entertainment in their company, and on her way had almost reasoned herself into the belief that the human heart was capacious enough to admit of more than one intimate associate. The clock struck eleven as she entered the farm-house. She was shewn into a room, and much surprised by the observation made by the servant, that his mistresses had not quite finished their breakfast. She seated herself, and her surprise was equally excited to observe the elegance of the furniture, where she expected to see only rustic neatness. Nothing remained to characterise the farm-house drawing-room, but the lowness of its ceiling, and the prospect from its windows; for to the great mortification of the Misses Jones, they overlooked the cowbarton; and even the smart appearance of the livery boy who daily attended the movements of these troublesome visitants, could not compensate for the humiliating discovery their presence occasioned.