when I am grown up, I fhould be a laughing-ftock or make-game to others for my ignorance: but I am resolved to be a fcholar.

Pray give my duty to my mamma, and my love to my fifter. I am, dear pappa,

Your most dutiful fon.

LETTER IV.

Another on the fame fubject.

Dear Pappa,

S I know you will be glad to hear from little

your

A boy, acquaint

you, that I in am good health, and that I am very well pleafed with my mafter; for he is very kind to me, and tells me, that he will always love young gentlemen that mind their learning: therefore, I am fure, he will ftill love me, because you have told me, that boys who do not mind their learning, will never become gentlemen, and will be laughed at for their ignorance, though they have ever fo much money; and as I am fure you always fpeak truth, and I would willingly be a gentleman like you, I am refolved to be a good scholar, which, I know, will be a pleasure to you and my mamma, and gain me the love of every body.

Pray give my duty to my mamma, my uncle, and my aunt, and my love to my fifter and coufins.

I am, dear pappa,

Your moft dutiful fon.

Dear Sir,

Co

CONVERSE often with yourself, and neither lavish your time, nor fuffer others to rob you of it. Many of our hours are ftolen from us, and others pafs infenfibly

away;

away; but of both these loffes, the moft hameful is that which happens through our own neglect. If we take the trouble to obferve, we fhall find, that one confiderable part of our life is fpent in doing evil, and the other in doing nothing, or in doing what we fhould not do. We do not feem to know the value of time, nor how precious a day is; nor do we confider, that every moment brings us nearer to our end. Reflect upon this, I intreat you, and keep a strict account of time. Procraftination is the most dangerous thing in life. Nothing is properly ours but the instant we breathe in, and all the rest is nothing; it is the only good we poffefs; but then it is fleeting, and the first comer robs us of it. Men are fo weak, that they think they oblige by giving of trifles, and yet reckon that time as nothing, for which the most grateful perfon in the world can never make amends.

I am, &c.

SIR,

Tot

LETTER VI.

In answer to a friend.

O tell you, in anfwer to yours, what I think of profperity, is, that I take it to be more dangerous to our virtue, than adverfity. It is apt to make us vain and infolent; regardless of others, and forgetful of God; ambitious in our purfuits, and intemperate in our enjoyments. Thus it proved to the wifeft man on earth, I mean Solomon. But I much admire what you fay of filence, and with I could practife that paffive virtue, which is the first step of wisdom, the nurse of peace, and the guardian of virtue. Words do but ruffle and difcompofe the mind, betraying the foul to a thousand vanities. I hope you will, in our next meeting, find me greatly improved in what you fo much recommend to

me.

t

I remain, Sir, yours, &c.

LET

DARE venture to affirm, that learning, properly cultivated and applied, is what truly makes the gentleman, and that a wife man is as much fuperior to an ignorant perfon, as a man is above the level of a brute. Wherefore, you cannot do better than to apply yourself feriously to the cultivation of your mind; to which purpose nothing will contribute more, than your prefcribing yourself a regular method of ftudy. The morning is undoubtedly more proper for reading than any other part of the day, because the mind is then free and direngaged, and unclouded by thofe vapours which we generally find after a full meal. Nevertheless, I would not affect to read over a multitude of volumes, nor read with greediness; I would rather chufe to read a little, and digeft it. Neither would I regard the number, fo

much as the choice of my books, &c.

From a young lady, in anfwer to a letter he had received from her mamma, advifing her to perfevere in the Chrif tian duties fhe had been inftructed in.

I

Moft hongured Madam,

AM at a lofs for words to exprefs the joy I felt at the receipt of your letter; wherein you are pleafed to acquaint me, that nothing ever gave my dear mamma greater pleasure and fatisfaction than the account I have given her of the conduct I observe in my fpiritual affairs; and that I may ftill add to that comfort (which shall ever be my fludy,) when an opportunity offers itself, I prefume to continue the information.

E 3

Wlica

When I have properly difcharged my duty to that Divine Being, to whom I am indebted for my existence, I repair to my toilet; but not with an intent to clothe my body (which I know, muft fooner or later, fall into corruption) with vain attire, but with fuch as is decent and Innocent; regarding fine robes as the badge of pride and vanity; keeping thofe enemies, to our fex in particular, at too great a distance, ever to dare an attempt upon my mind.

When public prayers and breakfast are over, I apply my thoughts to the duties of the fchool; and divide the time appointed for them, as equally as poffibly I can, between the feveral branches of education I am engaged in, both before and after dinner.

When fchool is finished for the day, I, accompanied by a young lady, who is my bed-fellow, and of a like difpofition, retire to our room, where we improve ourfelves by reading. Books of piety are our most common choice. Thefe warm our affections, and enlighten our un derstandings; they inftruct us in the cause of our misconduct, and preferibe to us a remedy: they neither flatter a dignified title, nor infult the peasant who tills the ground; but, like painted buftos, look upon every one alike. In fine, they refresh the memory, enlarge the understand. ing, and enflame the will; and, in a delightful manner,

cultivate both virtue and wisdom.

Having finifhed cur reading, either of piety, or hiftory, which we prefer next, (efpecially fuch as relates to our own country,), and fupper and prayers are over, I retire alone to my room, to take an impartial view of the actions of the day. If my confcience does not accufe me of having committed any thing criminal, I give glory to God; and, with bended knees, and an humble heart, return him unfeigned thanks for protecting me againft thofe temptations which the enemy of mankind is ready to allure us with: for, I am perfuaded, it was not my ftrength of virtue that withstood the temptations, but his affifting grace that enabled me to overcome them; and if I am confcious of having done amifs, I fue for rdon, and lay not my body to reft, till I have piccured peace to my foul.

If at any time I am permitted to pay a vifit, (which liberty your indulgence has allowed,) I take care to time it properly; for there are certain times when vifits become rather troublesome than friendly: wherefore, I avoid it when much company is expected; or when I am certain that family affairs will not admit of fufficient leifure to receive them; the former on my own account, the latter on my friends: that is, much company affembled together, ferves rather to confufe our ideas, than enliven them. Wherefore, when I am fo unfortunate to ill-time a vifit, I withdraw as foon as civility and ceremony will permit me; for, in my weak opinion, Madam, long converfations grow dull, as few of our fex are furnished with a fufficient fund of materials for long dif courses, unless it be to comment upon the frailties of the abfent, and turn their misfortunes into a fubject for our moft cruel diverfion.

This, Madam, is a vice you have often cautioned me againft, and I fhall be particularly careful to avoid it; being both an unchriftian and difingenuous principle, to feaft ourselves at another's expence.

This is all I have to offer at prefent; and am, with great humility,

Moft honoured Madam,

Your moft dutiful daughter.

LETTER IX.

From a young lady to her mamma, requesting a favour,

Dear Mamma,

THE

HE many inftances you have given me of your affection leave me no room to believe that the favour I prefume to afk will be difpleafing. Was I in the least doubtful of it, I hope my dear mamma has too good an opinion of my conduct, to imagine I would ever advance any thing that might give her the least diffatisfaction.

The holidays are nigh at hand, when all of us young ladies are to pay our feveral perfonal respects and duties

to