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The crime which has been once committed, is committed again with lefs reluctance.

The great disturbers of our happiness in this world are our defires, our griefs, and our fears; and to all these the confideration of mortality is a certain and adequate remedy.

"Think" (lays Epictetus) "frequently on poverty, banishment, and death, and thou wilt never indulge violent defires, or give up thy heart to mean fentiments."

The certainty that life cannot be long, and the probability that it will be shorter than nature allows, ought to awaken every man to the active profecution of whatever he is defirous to perform. It is true that no deligence can afcertain fuccefs; death may intercept the swifteft career; but he who is cut off in the execution of an honeft undertaking, has at least the honor of falling in his rank, and has fought the battle, tho he miffed the victory.

When we act according to our duty, we commit the event to him by whofe laws our actions are governed, and who will suffer none to be finally punished for obedience. But, when in profpect of fome good, whether natural or moral, we break the rules prescribed to us, we withdraw from the direction of fuperior wifdom, and take all confequences upon ourselves.

Employment is the great inftrument of intellectual dominion. The mind cannot retire from its enemy into total vacancy, or turn aside from one object, but by paffing to another,

Without frugality, none can be rich; and with it, very few would be poor.

Tho in every age there are fome, who by bold adventures, or by favorable accidents, rise suddenly into riches; the bulk of mankind must owe their affluence to fmall and gradual profits, below which their experfes must be refolutely reduced.

A man's voluntary expenses should not exceed his income.
Let not a man anticipate uncertain profits.

The happiness of the generality of the people is nothing, if it is not known; and very little, if it is not envied.

To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life. Many wants are fuffered which might have once been supplied, and much time is loft in regretting the time which has been loft before.

One of the golden precepts of Pythagoras directs us, "That a friend fhould not be hated for little faults."

NARRATION.

CHAP. IX.

STORY OF THE COBLER AND HIS SON.

A YOUNG mán, fon of a cobler in a small village near Madrid, having pushed his fortune in the Indies, returned to his native country with a confiderable stock, and fet up as a banker in Madrid. In his abfence, his parents frequently talked of him, praying fervently that Heaven would take him under its protection; and the vicar being their friend, gave them frequently the public prayers of the congregation for

him.

2. The banker was not lefs dutiful on his part; for, fo foon as he was fettled, he mounted on horfeback, and went alone to the village. It was ten at night before he got there; and the honeft cobler was in bed with his wife, in a found fleep, when he knocked at the door. Open the door, fays the banker, 'is your fon Francillo.

3. Make others believe that if you can, cried the old man, ftarting from his deep; go about your bufinefs, you thieving rogues, here is nothing for you: Francillo, if not dead, is now in the Indies. He is no longer there, replied the banker; he is returned home, and it is he who now fpeaks to you; open your door and receive him.

4. Jacebo, faid the woman, let us rife then; really believe 'tis Francillo-I think I know his voice. The father, starting from bed, lighted a candle; and the mother putting on her gown in a hurry, opened the door. Looking earnestly on Francillo, fhe flung her arms about his neck, and hugged him with the utmost affection.. Jacobo embraced his fon in his turn; and all three, tranfported with joy after so long abfence, had no end in expreffing their tenderness.

5. After thefe pleafing tranfports, the banker put his horse into the ftable, where he found an old milch cow, nurfe to the whole family. He then gave the old folks an account of his voyage, and of all the riches he had brought from Peru. They liftened greedily, and every the leaft particular of his relation made on them a fenfible impreffion of grief or joy. Having finished his ftory, he offered them a part of his eftate, and entreated his father not work any more.

6. No, my fon, faid Jacobo, I love my trade and w not leave it. Why, replied the banker, is it not now high time to take your cafe? I do not propofe your living with me at Madrid; I know well that a city life will not please you; enjoy your own way of living; but give over your hard labor, and pafs the remainder of your days in eafe and plenty.

7. The mother feconded the fon, and Jacobo yielded. To please you, Franeillo, faid he, I will not work any more for the public, but will only mend my own shoes and those of my good friend the vicar. The agreement being concluded, the banker ate a couple of eggs and went to his bed, enjoying that pleafing fatisfaction which none but dutiful children can feel or understand.

8. The next morning, the banker, leaving his parents a purfe of three hundred ducats, returned to Madrid; but was furprised to fee Jacobo at his house a few days after. My father, faid he, what brings you here? Francillo, anfwered the honeft cobler, I have brought your purfe; take it again, for I defire to live by my trade, and have been ready to die with uneafinefs ever finee I left off working.

PERRIN

CHAP. X.

HONESTY REWARDED.

ERRIN loft both parents before he could articulate their names, and was obliged to a charity-house for his education. At the age of fifteen, he was hired by a farmer to be a fhepherd, in the neighborhood of Lucetta, who kept her father's fheep. They often met, and were fond of being together.

2. Five years thus paffed, when their fenfations became more ferious. Perrin propofed to Lucetta to demand her from her father: She blushed, and confeffed her willingness. As she had an errand to town the next day, the opportunity of her abfence was chofen for making the propofal. You want to marry my daughter, faid the old man. houfe to cover her, or money to maintain her? Lucetta's fortune is not enough for both.

Have

you

3. It won't do, Perrin, it won't do. But replied Perrin, I have hands to work. I have laid up twenty crowns of my wages, which will defray the expenfe of the wedding. I'l work harder, and lay up more. Well, faid the old man,

you are young, and may wait a little. Get rich, and mỹ daughter is at your fervice. Perrin waited for Lucetta's returning in the evening. Has my father given you a refufal, cried Lucetta? Ah Lucetta! replied Perrin, how unhappy am I for being poor; but I haye not loft all hopes. My circumstances may change for the better.

4. As they were never tired of converfing together, the night drew on, and it became dark; Perrin, making a falfe step fell on the ground. He found a bag, which was heavy. Drawing toward a light in the neighborhood, he found that it was filled with gold. I thank heaven, cries Perrin in a tranfport, for being favorable to our wifhes. This will fatisfy your father, and make us happy.

5. In their way to her father's houfe, a thought struck Perrin: "This money is not ours-It belongs to fome ftranger-and perhaps this moment he is lamenting the lofs of it. Let us go to the vicar for advice-he has always been kind to me." Perrin put the bag into the vicar's hand, faying, that at firft he looked on it as a providential prefent, to remove the only obstacle to their marriage, but that he now doubted whether he could lawfully retain it. The vicar eyed the lov ers with attention.

6. He admired their honefty, which appeared even to furpass their affection. Perrin, faid he, cherish these fentiments, heaven will blefs you. We will endeavor to find out the owner-he will reward thy honefty-I will add what I can spare -you fhall have Lucetta. The bag was advertised in the newspapers, and cried in the neighboring parishes. Some time having elapfed, and the money not being demanded, the vicar carried it to Perrin :

7. "These twelve thousand livers bear at prefent no profit -you may reap the intereft at leaft-lay them out in fuch a manner as to infure the fum itfelf; o the owner, if he shall appear." A farm was purchafed, and the confent of Lucetta's father to the marriage was obtained. Perrin was employed in husbandry, and Lucetta in family affairs. They lived in perfect cordiality, and two children endeared them ftill more to each other. Perrin one evening returning homeward from his work, faw a chaife overturned, with two gentlemen in it.

8. He ran to their affiftance and offered them every accommodation his fmall house could afford. This spot, cried one

of the gentlemen, is very fatal to me. Ten years ago, I loft here twelve thousand livers. Perrin liftened with attention. What fearch made you for them? said he. It was not in my power, replied the ftranger, to make any fearch. I was hurrying to Port l'Orient to embark for the Indies, for the veffel was ready to fail.

9 Next morning Perrin fhowed to his guests his houfe, his garden, his cattle, and mentioned the produce of his fields. "All these are your property," addreffing the gentleman who had loft the bag: "the money fell into my hands; I purchafed this farm with it; the farm is yours. The vicar has an inftrument which fecures your property, tho I had died without feeing you." The ftranger read the inftrument with emotion. He looked on Perrin, Lucetta, and the children.

Your

10. Where am I? cried he-and what do I hear? What virtue in people fo low! Have you any other land but this farm? No, replied Perrin-but you will have occafion for a tenant, and I hope you will allow me to remain here. honefty deferves a better recompenfe, anfwered the stranger. My fuccefs in trade has been great, and I have forgot my lofs. You are well entitled to this little fortune keep it as your own. II. What man in the world would have acted like Perrin? Perrin and Lucetta fhed tears of affection and joy. My dear children," faid he, "kifs the hand of your benefactor. Lucetta, this farm now belongs to us, and we can now enjoy it without anxiety or remorse." Thus was honefty rewarded; let thofe who defire the reward, practice the virtue.

I.

CHAP. XI.

CHARACTER OF A YOUNG LADY.

SOPHIA is not a beauty, but in her prefence, beauties are difcontented with themselves. At first she scarcely appears pretty; but the more fhe is beheld, the more agreeable the appears. She gains when others lofe, and what the gains the never lofes. She is equalled by none in a fweet expreffion of countenance; and without dazzling beholders, fhe interests them.

2. She loves drefs, and is a good judge of it; defpifes finery, but dreffes with peculiar grace, mixing fimplicity with elegance. Ignorant fhe is of what colors are in fashion; but knows well what fuits her complexion. She covers her beau

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