mind operate to the production of worthy deeds, we cannot want such an auxiliary. That sentiment which inculcates the smallest degree of contempt towards the depraved part of society must be wrong. No emotion but pity should be cherished, and in many cases it is our duty to mix with them for the purpose of reforming them by our counsel and example. Recollect the conduct of our Lord himself in this particular, and the warm feelings of compassion he expressed for sinners while he faithfully reproved and warned them of their danger. I agree with you that a good character is a most invaluable possession, and should be guarded with vigilence; but those who have much intercourse with the world must expect a share of calumny, especially if they are zealous christians, discouraging by their practice its modes and opinions. It will be most conducive to their peace of mind to repress jealousy, and be slow to credit evil reports of themselves, as well as of their neighbours; but if they must know them, let them say with a pious writer"They are sparks which, if not blown, may go out of themselves. Live down scandal by a perseverance in well doing, and by praying to God that he would cure the distempered minds of those who traduce us.' In cases where a vindication is necessary, the christian is not actuated by pride or resentment, but an honest desire of justice and a fair reputation. That heroism too, which has pride and vain glory for its foundation is merely selfish and unworthy of commendation. Acts of heroism should proceed from patriotism or love to mankind in general. With respect to the ambition of uniting ourselves with the higher ranks of society, it is contrary to the apostolic injunctionIn whatever state we are to be content.' I imagine this restless spirit of competition and relinquishment of the line of life to which the education and talents are best suited, has occasioned great injury to numbers, though often dignified with the appellation of ' enterprising genius.' Perhaps you may suppose this sentiment will check the desire of advancement where it ought not, and the cold system of contentment confine goodness and genius to the shades of that obscurity which destroys its usefulness. You will Ι observe all my reasonings and conclusions are built on religious principles, for I know no others which can safely be reduced to practice. On this principle -I eye providence as marking out, by its numerous dispensations, the boundaries of our lawful pursuits. To the watchful and sincere, I believe, these boundaries are always discoverable, and it is their duty to acquiesce in the allotment assigned. I do not conceive this opinion can ever impede active exertions to advance our fortune in the world; for, should favourable opportunities present, they must be considered as the means appointed for success; but, should these exertions fail, it will console the mind, and prevent. the corroding effects of mortified ambition. Should your in the course of your observation meet with superior merit or abilities depressed by the chilling blast of neglect, recollect the idea so finely illustrated in the Elegy in a Country Churchyard,' and suppose it possible that heaven by its allotment of obscurity "Not circumscribed alone, "Their glowing virtues, but their crimes conceal'd.” "The beginning of your next essay-on Truth, pleased me greatly, for you wisely remark that Truth is in its very nature immutable, and the graind pillar on which we build our hopes for eternity; for could we suppose the deity to swerve from it, we might close our Bibles on all the promises it contains. The imitation of the divine perfections is the duty of man, and perhaps there is not one he is more required to imitate than the perfection of truth.' The above conclusion admitted, I was surprised at your next sentiment. There may occasionally arise cases where a good man may dispense with the rigid observance of his word, and lawfully use evasion, because he may clearly see abiding by it will be productive of evil consequences. There are a few instances recorded in scripture of the practice in some of the best characters, and scripture characters are held up for our imitation as well as admiration.' "Now, my dear inexperienced friend, let this axiom sink deep in your mind, and govern your conduct. No part of scripture, nor any deduction of reason, warrants a departure from duty with a view to ideal advantages. You greatly mistake also in your apprehension of scripture characters; they are no further set forth for our imitation than others we read of in profane biography. It must be confessed they were on the whole more excellent; but they partook of human frailty, and there is scarcely one of them of whom some error is not recorded for our avoidance. "The reflection that every engagement ought to be inviolable must necessarialy deter prudent persons from hasty or improper ones, and I think cases would rarely occur where such could wish to retract their words; but granting the possibility, it would be safer to submit to the inconvenience incurred as their just punishment, than violate the sacred law of truth. I thought your essay a little defective in not offering a hint of the cultivation of a habit of striet integrity. You will allow me to supply the deficiency. I conceive a constant watchfulness over our daily words would tend greatly towards it; we are apt to think this of little importance; we make trifling engagements, regardless whether we keep them or not, because neither our own or neighbours interest is concerned, when, perhaps, they were heard by a child or a servant, on whose minds our non-observance may produce unfavourable impressions; and we indulge ourselves in the arts of embellishment in our narations merely from the desire of entertaining, without reflecting that the practice gradually lessens our veneration for truth." Just as Miss Wilson reached nearly the close of her friendly criticism on her third essay, she heard her mother's voice requesting her immediate attendance. Reluctantly she obeyed the summons, concluding it was occasioned by some domestic duty which seldom possessed amusement sufficient to compensate, in her estimation, for the relinquishment of a volume, how much less for that of a manuscript in which she herself formed so prominent a character. CHAP. IX. MISS Wilson, following the sound of the reiterated summons, entered the kitchen, where the natural bloom of her mother's cheek received an unusual heightening from the blaze of a neighbouring fire. 1 Mrs. 66 "Patty, my dear," said she, " I have sent for a calf's head to day, on purpose that you may learn how to hash one, and you may see how it is done from beginning to end. I should be sorry to hear you were like who turned away an excellent cook, a few weeks after her marriage, because she refused to hash a calf's head in four hours." "Dear!" exclaimed Miss Patty, "must we stay more than four hours with this head in the kitchen ?" "No, no, child,” returned her mother, rather displeased by the impatience this question indicated," after you have seen me prepare it for boiling, and make the gravy, you may return to what you like better, your foolish books, which will never instruct you in useful matters.' "I don't intend to read any more foolish books," replied Miss Wilson; but, indeed, I cannot like hot kitchens, and I'm resolved never to marry unless I can afford to keep servants to do all this sort of business." wish you to marry to advantage, my dear," rejoined Mrs. Wilson," but, as I said before, I should be sorry to see you so ignorant as not to know a servant's duty. Every mistress of a family should know how every thing ought to be done, and the reasonable time for doing it; otherwise they will be liable to constant imposition from their servants, or immoderate in their expectations from them." Miss Patty ceased to controvert her mother's arguments, which, indeed, she was convinced were reasonable, though not tuned exactly to her wishes. After impatiently abiding the tedious process acting before her, the sentence generally passed by Mrs. Wilson on her best dishes was pronounced" Fit to be set before the son of a king.” But as no hopes could be entertained of the presence of such an exalted personage, it was agreed more 66 |