wrongs of these oppressed Africans? What can prevent an act being passed to forbid Englishmen from buying and selling slaves? FATHER. Many persons of great talents and virtue have made several fruitless attempts to obtain an act for the abolition of this trade. Men interested in its continuance have hitherto frustrated these generous designs: but we may rely upon the goodness of that Divine Providence, who cares for all creatures, that the day will come, when their rights will be considered: and there is great reason to hope, from the light already cast upon the subject, that the rising generation will prefer justice and mercy to interest and policy; and will freethemselves from the odium we at present suffer, of treating our fellow-creatures in a manner unworthy of them, and of ourselves. MOTHER. Henry, repeat that beautiful apostrophe to a negro woman, which you learned the other day out of Barbauld's Hymns. HENRY. "Negro woman, who sittest pining in captivity, and weepest over thy sick child, though no one sees thee, God sees thee; though no one pities thee, God pities thee. Raise thy voice, forlorn and abandoned one; call upon him from amidst thy bonds, for assuredly he will hear thee." CECELIA. I think no riches could tempt me to have any share in the slave trade. I could never enjoy peace of mind, whilst I thought I contributed to the woes of my feldow-creatures. MOTHER. But, Cecelia, to put your compassion to the proof, are you willing to debar yourself of the numerous indulgences you enjoy, from the fruit of their labour? CECELIA. I would forego any indulgence to alleviate their sufferings. The rest of the Children together. We are all of the same mind. MOTHER. I admire the sensibility of your uncorrupted hearts, my dear children. It is the voice of nature and virtue. Listen to it on all occasions, and bring it home to your bosoms, and your daily practice. The same principle of benevolence, which excites your just indignation at the oppression of the negroes, will lead you to be gentle towards your inferiors, kind and obliging to your equals, and in a particular manner condescending and considerate towards your domestics: requiring no more of them, than you would be willing to perform in their situation; instructing them when you have opportunity; sympathizing in their afflictions, and promoting their best interests to the utmost of your power. MENTAL IMPROVEMENT. CHAPTER VII. PROMISCUOUS PIECES, SECTION I. WE DESTROY PLEASURE BY PURSUING IT TOO EAGERLY. A BOY smitten with the colours of a butterfly, pursued it from flower to flower with indefatigable pains. First, he aimed to surprise it among the leaves of a rose; then to cover it with his hat, as it was feeding on a daisy. At one time, he hoped to secure it, as it revelled on a sprig of myrtle; and at another, grew sure of his prize, perceiving it to loiter on a bed of violets. But the fickle fly still eluded his attempts. At last, observing it half buried in the cup of a tulip, he rushed forward, and snatching it with violence, crushed it to pieces. Thus, by his eagerness to enjoy, he lost the object of his pursuit.-From this instance, young persons may learn that pleasure is but a painted butterfly; which, if temperately pursued, may serve to amuse; but which, when embraced with too much ardour, will perish in the grasp, SECTION II. THE WHISTLE. WHEN I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pockets with half-pence. I went directly towards a shop where toys were sold for children; and being charmed with the sound of a whistle that I met by the way, in the hands of another boy, I voluntarily offered him all my money for it. I then came home, and went whistling over the 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 fol ly, that I cried with vexation. 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 continuing 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. 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. When I saw any one too ambitious of court-favour, sacrificing his time in attendance on levees, his repose, his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his friends, to attain it, I have said to myself, This man gives too much for his whistle. 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. 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. 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. If I saw one fond of fine clothes, fine furniture, fine equipages, 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. In short, I conceived that great part of the miseries of mankind, were brought upon them by the false cstimate they had made of the value of things, and by their giving too much for their whistles. DR. FRANKLIN. SECTION III. THE FOLLY OF PRIDE. If there be any thing which makes human nature appear ridiculous to beings of superior faculties, it must |