Catholic system has been so long maintained on the Continent, as evidently appeared to me some years ago when visiting France; where I saw with surprise, that the statues and emblems of the ancient heathen divinities occupied every palace and public place, while those of even their saints were thrown comparatively into the shade. And I cannot question, but that the impiety of our English youth may, humanly speaking, be traced very frequently to the same source. For what else can

we expect, when our infant sons are compelled to devote many hours daily to the study not only of the philosophers and historians of Greece and Rome, but also to those productions of their most licentious poets, which cannot be understood without an accurate knowledge of their abominable mythology, to the no small neglect of the New Testament, and the almost utter omission of the Old, in their original languages?

"While Satan is able," continued the lady of the manor, "to carry this point thus triumphantly, although it is now nearly two thousand years since the revelation of the Christian system, I think we must not presume to say that his power is greatly diminished."

The lady of the manor, requesting the further attention of the young ladies, informed them that she should then proceed to consider the next part of the clause in the Catechism:-namely, "The pomps and vanities of this wicked world." "My dear young people," said she, after a moment's consideration, "it is perhaps difficult to define what are pomps and vanities; because those things which are proper and merely decent in one situation of life, may be called pomps and vanities when found in another: I have, however, by me a little narrative which was communicated to me by a friend, in which these matters are so well and accurately defined, that I shall satisfy myself by reading this story to you, without entering into any further discussion on the subject."

THE TWO COUSINS.

In a certain village in one of the midland counties of England there formerly resided a gentleman and lady, who, having no child for some years after their marriage,

and expecting never to enjoy that blessing, adopted the orphan daughter of a sister-a little girl, who, at the time she entered her uncle's family, was not more than two years of age.

This child, whom we will call Maria, although an orphan, was not portionless, having about one thousand five hundred pounds settled upon her; a part of the interest of which her uncle was so kind as to allow to accumulate as long as she remained under his roof, deducting only what was barely sufficient to repay him for her board.

As soon as Maria was received into the family, plans were formed for her education and training-plans upon the whole extremely good; but which not being tempered with paternal tenderness, bordered rather upon too great strictness; not however so much as to render them injurious to the permanent good of the child, although her present comfort was sometimes unnecessarily affected by them.

Notwithstanding this needless severity, Maria loved her uncle and aunt; and as no indiscreet visitor or servant was allowed to interfere between the child and her protectors, Maria, whose natural disposition was mild and accommodating, never supposed that her situation was in any way different from that of most other children.

When Maria had been in this family about three years, it pleased God to gratify her uncle and aunt with what they had long earnestly desired. A little daughter was born to them, who became the distinguished darling of the whole family.

The birth of Matilda rather increased than diminished the difficulties of Maria, inasmuch as she was required in various ways to submit to the humours and whims of the growing favourite: for although Matilda was not indulged in the commission of gross improprieties, yet her lesser faults were so winked at by her parents, as to allow her ill humours to cause her cousin needless vexation on a thousand little occasions.

In the mean time, Maria was told, when Matilda was unreasonable, that she must excuse her on account of her youth, and endeavour to please her because she was a child. Thus was the proper order of things continually

inverted in this family, by making the elder submit to the younger; an arrangement which, as might have been expected, proved decidedly injurious to Matilda; while, through the divine blessing, Maria continually improved under the constant exercise of petty acts of self-denial. They who love to observe the dealings of the Almighty towards his children, will be particularly struck with the manner in which he renders the ordinary events of life subservient to their good, preparing them for glory under circumstances apparently the most adverse to such preparations.

The absence of pleasurable incidents during the youth of Maria at first tended to make her thoughtful; whence, through the leadings of the Holy Spirit, she was gradually brought to the consideration of religious subjects. And by the divine blessing, in proportion as she became more sensible of the painful circumstances attending her situation under her uncle's roof, she felt such an increasing desire for spiritual comfort and divine communion, as gradually tended to the production of that peace to which otherwise she must have remained a stranger. She was even made to see, amid all the little disagreablenesses of her situation, that she had received such solid benefits from her uncle and aunt as she could never be sufficiently grateful for. She perceived that the education which they had given her was indeed a useful one, and that the very discipline to which they had made her submit would probably enable her to support with more patience those trials, which in the ordinary course of things she had to expect in future life. Thus the reflections which these subjects excited, were made in a spirit of charity and thankfulness; and certain it is, that no one can meditate on the inconveniences and troubles of their own life in such a spirit, unless divinely assisted so to do.

Maria remained in her uncle's family till she had attained her twenty-fifth year, at which time she was seen by a young gentleman lately established in the law in a neighbouring town, to whom she appeared with so many attractions as speedily determined him to solicit her uncle's permission to visit her.

Mr. Charles Hunter, for such was the name of the young man who had attached himself to Maria, was one

of the younger sons of a genteel family in the neighbourhood. His patrimony was about one hundred pounds per annum, together with a handsome house in the town where he resided. Added to this, his profession, at the period when he sought Maria's hand in marriage, produced him about one hundred and fifty pounds a year.

After Mr. Charles Hunter had made his mind known to Maria's uncle, and it was found that he was not disagreeable to her, and that his character upon the whole stood higher than that of the generality of young men, a council was called by the families on both sides, when all parties being agreed upon the propriety of the marriage, calculations were made upon the income which the young people would possess; and which, on a reasonable computation, was found to be about three hundred and twenty pounds a year, together with a handsome house ready furnished. It was therefore unanimously decided by the old people that this might do, as Mr. Hunter had a growing profession in his hands.

The next consideration was, what establishment should be fixed upon for the young people. In all these consultations, Maria, if present, presumed to give no opinion, not knowing how far money would go in housekeeping; and Mr. Charles Hunter, being equally inexperienced as herself, had almost as little to say.

Consequently the old people had every thing their own way; and it was natural to suppose that, on occasions of this kind, those who had known the expence of maintaining a family, might be trusted not to involve their children in difficulties. But old Mrs. Hunter, being a woman of family, and much in bondage to the pomps and vanities of this world, was more taken up, in ordering her son's establishment, with views of family consequence, than with the real comfort of her children; insomuch that, while considering what kind of figure she should wish her son and daughter-in-law to make in the town of K, she lost sight of their income and of what that would allow.

Her manner of speaking was generally to this effect, or something very like it." Charles's drawing-room is well furnished; every thing in it is handsome; nothing is wanting but a mirror between the windows. There

must be a mirror: the room will not do without a mirror.

And the best bed-room requires a carpet: there must absolutely be a carpet over a great part of the room. Another dressing-table and glass will also be wanted; those which now stand there are not the thing at all. If any of my son's noble clients should come to town, and he should think it necessary to offer them a bed, the room, as it now is, would be quite insufficient. My daughter-in-law must have two maid-servants-a cook, and a housemaid-it would be impossible to do with less; and to these must be added a footboy, to wait at table, and open the door to company. My son will have no business, if he does not make a respectable figure in the town, particularly as a married man. A professional man, who does not keep up a creditable appearance, will never be employed: this is universally acknowledged. My son must also keep a horse; Mr. Charles Hunter cannot do without a horse."

In this manner the old lady very fluently proceeded; and being what the world calls a clever woman, that is, one who had much to say on every subject that interested her, she easily carried every thing her own way. The mirror was bought, the carpets, the dressing-table, and various other needless articles not worthy of note; by which all the ready money of the young couple was swallowed up, together with several lesser sums which had been received as marriage presents from the friends of the respective parties. A cook, a housemaid, and a footman, were hired and established in their several places a short time previous to the marriage. Maria's uncle and aunt in the mean time (though generally esteemed prudent persons) remained passive spectators of these imprudent proceedings, while they could not but foresee the consequences of this sinful accommodation to the world.

Thus do many persons, who in their baptismal engagement have undertaken to renounce the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, not only pursue these vanities themselves through a long life, but take an active part in plunging the young people over whom they have any influence into the same destructive course. And this may be said not only of those who are manifestly devoted to the world, but even of such as believe themselves pious, yea, and who are deemed such in religious society.