daughter, with great pertnefs. "Ied, there was always a plain-dreffed confider my father's death as the moft fortunate thing that ever hap pened to us. I fhould tell a lie to fay that I am forry at it. My uncle and coufins now take notice of me my grandmother has promised me a portion; and, as foon as we have paid our visit to my aunt at Glasgow, I will throw off these black things that I will!"And fhe looked around her with a smile, and an air approaching to laughter and exultation. "Good God!" exclaimed I, ❝can a female bofom, can the heart of the youthful offspring of love, be fo utterly devoid of feeling and natural affection ?" Like a detected criminal, fhe ftared at me, without prefuming to utter a word. Mortified at fuch a difcovery, I paid the bill; and, mounting my horfe, rode full speed towards Langtown, (the first village in England on that quarter), frequently exclaiming, with great fervour, "Othoughtlefs mortals! O my fair countrywomen! O youths and virgins! beware of the intoxicating, and too often fhort-lived pleafures of journey to GRATNA-HALL. Domeftic Lefons for the Ufe of the younger Part of the FEMALE READERS of the LADY'S MAGAZINE. The LITTLE EPICURE. (Continued from Vol. XX. p. 594.) S foon, however, as this relifh Afor nice eating was difcovered, every thing of a luxurious kind was prohibited; and though Mr. and Mrs. Somers had a variety at their hie, in which they never exceed his anecdote is literally true. dish for the children. James, indeed, who, like his parents, was quite moderate, was frequently per mitted to partake of the delicacies which were fet before them, but this partiality began to disturb Gertrude's domestic happiness in that line extremely; and the difcovered fo much uneafinefs at it, that they at length allowed her to have a reafonable fhare of what appeared at table agreeable to her, provided the did not go beyond the bounds of moderation but there was no fetting limits to fuch a propenfity as her's; the would tafte every thing, and when it happened to pleafe her, which was often the cafe, fhe was actually voracious. A firft, Mr. and Mrs. Somers were delighted to fee her fo happy in confequence of their kindnefs to her; but, when they reflected on the evils with which the giving way to an ungovernable appetite might be attended, they deemed it abfolutely neceffary to reason with her, and to endeavour to prevail on her to act with the moderation of her brother; but Gertrude, though forry to be chid, had fuch a natural fund of good-humour, that the never appeared much disturbed at what was faid to her; but then the at the fame time paid not that attention te it which they required of her. She laughed, but fe eat as much as the laughed: by fo doing she began to grow round, instead of growing long; and her parents were apprehenfive of her being a dwarf they to'd her, therefore, that he would never grow tall like other young people, but would be so short as to be shewn for a fight; which would be exceedingly disagreeable to them all, and would alfo make her appear in a cri minal light, as God had formed her well.proportioned in every partadding, that if the would eat like other young people of her age, the would became a tall, well-made woman." She She fmiled, but made no anfwer, than all the company prefent, not and fill endeavoured to be helped in large flices, or any great quanto every thing he liked at dinner.tity of any particular thing; but tasted every dish, and whenever the liked her difh made frequent returns to it. When company were invited to dinner or fupper at home, the took advantage of the attention which her parents paid to their guefts, and helped herfelf to every thing which attracted her eye; this behaviour was, of courfe, noticed, and the friends of the family, who were not fond of the pleasures of the table, or who either grudged, or could not afford the expence, were heard frequently to fay to each other, that they did not like to invite Mr. and Mrs Somers, because they must invite Mifs alfo, who continually turned up her nofe at the ferting out of their tables, and if there happened to be any thing particularly nice, took care to have the largest share of it. In fhort, she foon got the name of the little Epi. cure, which, coming to the car of her mother, fhe talked to her very seriously about it; but it was all to no purpose: her exceffive good-humour upon thofe and all other occa. fions, made her parents not fay fo much as they would have done. Finding that all they faid had no effect, her parents determined to flint her, not only with refpect to quantity, but with regard to the quality of her food; not caring whether fhe liked it or not, thinking, that if she did not like it, fhe would eat the less of it: and their conjectures were well-founded; but then, in order to make herself amends for these restrictions on her tafte, the laid out all her pocket money in eatables. In confequence of this mode of proceeding, the fervants were ftrictly charged not to buy any thing for her but what they approved; and this prohibition did very well for a time; but as he grew older, and had more money given her to spend, fhe bribed them to procure her a number of little dainties, to which her inclination strongly led her, and which the devoured in her own room, when the retired for the night: how ever, as most of these delicacies were cold, fhe began to long for hot diffies, compofed of those fiery materials which were forbidden her; and coaxed the cook to fave her out of the ragouts, fricandeaus, &c. &c. which came to table, a fufficient -She went on in the fame quantity to be warmed for her at ftyle at home, and when he was night; fhe would then fit for an abroad with her young companions, hour or two eating, when Mr. and he was always making parties to Mrs. Somers imagined the was atlcep paftry.cooks and confectioners, where in her bed. This way of indulging the picked and culled every thing her appetite was attended with new nice in their fhops; would often eat. inconveniences; by eating fo much, half a pound of ham, a Bologna and by fitting up fo late, he could faufage, or a pigeon pie; and then not eafily get up in a morning; fhe adjourn to plum-cakes, creams, became fo far, indeed, and fo indo. jellies, ices, and other things of the lent, that he did not care to ftir; fame kind: but even thofe tasteful nor could be scarcely rouzed to any articles were not fufficient to fatisfy thing but a vifit, where he was her, for, as Mr. and Mrs. Somers likely to meet with good Sandwich, had often denied themfelves the an elegant dinner, or a well covered dishes to which they had been actable, with hot as well as cold things cuftomed, to prevent her indulging of the nicest kind for fupper.- herfelf fo largely, when they appear When the was prefent upon any fuched in her fight fhe was perpetually animatings, the difpatched more longing for goofe, turkey, &c. which foldom Accordingly, Mis. Saners opened the door, and her attonithmeat was great indeed to fee the fituation of her daughter, who was no lefs furprifed at fo unexpected an interrup tion. Rifing in fome confution, flie endeavoured to flammer out an apo logy to her mother; while her father and brother followed her the former chid her feverely; the latter laughed ar her extremely. Mrs. Somers rang the bell, and on the maid-fervant's appearing, afked her, "how the came to connive at mifs Somers's having a fupper in private, and of fuch a kind too, when the had already eaten a very good one in the parlour "--The maid pretended that the, knew nothing of the mat-` feldom were seen at their table. SheSomers, the girl has an excellent began, therefore, growing quite im-nofe at a goofe." patient, to confider if it was not poffible for to get a goofe roasted, unknown to her mother, who feldom visited the kitchen, efpecially in an evening, which was the most likely time, the thought, to enjoy it in quiet. Accordingly, the prevailed on the cook to purchase one for her, and to prepare it to come up to her, just as he was going to retire for the night, After having made a very good fupper on oysters, tarts, &c. one evening, he went up ftairs, rather before the ufual hour, and fat down to a fire, which was allowed her, that he might not get cold by undreffing herself, to this to fo much longed-for bird, well feafoned with fage and onion, with a fauce-boat of rich gravy, and a potter.-Mrs. Soners replied, “that of porter-a liquor of which fire was extravagantly fond, but which, for obvious reafons, never appeared at her father's table-thofe days excepted, when he had particular guests to entertain, who generally drank it. To this high-feafoned difh little Gertrude fat down, with much greater joy than most other young Jadics of her age feel (he was, at that time, between fifteen and fix teen) on their being invited to a ball or concert. When Mr. and Mrs. Somers, with their fon, were going up to their refpective apartments, foon after, the latter declared he felt a very favoury fmell, and that had he not been fure it was impoffible, he fhould have faid there was a fine fat goofe in the houfe! This declaration fet Mr. and Mrs. Somers a fuifling, and the tatter said, fe was of his mind, and, more than that, he was fure there was more in it than he thought of. The fmell came from Gertrude's room,' faid he," and will step in and ask what he thinks.' Ay, do, my dear," replied Mr. is impoffible, as the goofe must have been drefled in the kitchen; bur, fince you are fo ignorant, you must take care to be better informed another time, and pray tell the cook fo too, or elfe the mutt lofe her place." She then, turning to her daughter, afk d her who bad procured and dreiked the goofe ?-Ġertrude aufwered, if you will premise not to be angry with the perfon, I will tell you who?"—“ I fhall make no conditions," replied her mother, and you are very impertinent to propofe any. I can, you know, be fufficiently informed without applying to you Mits Somers then whimpered out, "that the cook was the periou who procured her the goole." "Then," faid Mrs. Somers, to the fervant who attended, "fend up the cook." She is in bed, madam-she went to bed as torn as fhe had brought up the goofe." Call her up then," faid Mrs. Somers, chat she may take it down." This order was not complied with but The Little Epicure. but with fome grumbling by the cook, while fhe was putting on her cloaths. Mr. and Mrs, Somers read their daughter a pretty fevere lecture upon her giving way in this manner to a ravenous appetite, which would in the end destroy her health, and which, at prefent, made her appear in a very ridiculous light. Her brother, on the other hand, treated her with raillery, and made himself merry with her favoury tafie. When the cook made her appearance, Mrs. Somers pointed out the impropriety of her conduct in a few words, ordered her to take down the goofe, and to prepare for quitting her fervice the next day. 23 and wings till the collection of nice morfels was considerably diminished. One day when there was a large company affembled, Mrs. Somers turned over a fricaffee of chickens till it was almost cold, in order to find out the avings; but after all her fearching, could only meet with two. When her friends were gone, the cook was called, and, on being fmartly reprimanded, laid the fault on the cat. The next time they had an entertainment, the fish, which were to have been accompanied with shrimps and oysters for fauce, was hard y eatable, as neither of the boats had a fufficiency, mifs Somers having fwallowed the greatest part of both before the butter was put to them. In this manner she went on, but, as e conftrained herfelf when her father and mother obferved her, they faid little they were only forry to fee her grow fo fat, as fhe grew, at the fame time, indolent: and frequently indulged herself in sleeping off her dinner, that the might be the more ready for fupper: yet, lazy as the was, he was pleased to be invit ed with her brother to dance; and as Mr. and Mrs. Somers declined being of the party, he was determined to have her fill of any thing the might happen to like. With regard to the dancing part, the puffed and blowed, and was always behind, out of time, and fat down whenever an opportunity offered, in order to receive every kind of refreshment which was prefented to her. Ac fupper the ate fo much of every thing that was to her tatte, that fe grew quite unfit for any farther exercife: but, as there was only the fame number of males and females, and as her partner was very picff Gertrude was now, for a while, fo ftrictly watched, that the found it very difficult to elude the vigilance of her parents, and therefore appl.ed herfelf more to her mufic, dancing, &c. &c. She had a very pretty voice, and fung with expreffion; fte alfo danced well, and her form would have been exquifitely genteel if he had not, by growing too fat for her height, rendered it out of proportion. However, as fhe had a pleafant countenance, and was exceedingly good humoured, he was much taken notice of, and admired : but, though fach notice is agreeable to most girls, it did not hinder her from giving way to her earlieft propenfity, wherever it was in her power; before her parents, indeed, the affected to decline what the longed to eat, but when he could find an opportunity to fleal down into the kitchen, while dinner was dreifing, fhe would tafte every thing fo many times, that he had more than her fhare of every dish, before the fat down to table in the parlour, She took many fpoonfuls of the faucesing, he complied. By jumping abour, before they were fent up, and part of the puddings before they were baked. When there were fricafl'es and hafies, he would take out lcgs however, upon a loaded ftomach, fhe made herfelf intolerably fick. The lady of the houfe, perceiving her disagreeable fituation, took her up up to her dreffing-room, and gave | Reftlefs apparently reconciled and her a dofe of emetic tartar, which was of infinite fervice to her, not only for the time prefent, but for fome time to come; though it added new vigour to her appetite: as this, however, was looked upon by thofe who were not intimate with her, as an accident, it did not prevent her being well spoken of: though most of the company obferved that he was too heavy to make a good dancer; and that it was a pity that fo pretty a girl fhould be fo fat, as the wanted both breath and agility to acquit herfelf properly. Thefe obfervations, circulated among a few, did not hinder her from being generally liked. A young man of fortune and character, who faw her at an affembly, made overtures to her father, who, having made all proper enquiries, thought it would be a happy event to fettle her fo well; and might be produc. ive alfo of another good effect, by turning her attention from the pleafures of the table. He, therejore, mentioned Mr. Seward's propofals to her he had never particularly diftinguifbed him, but thinking that when the became her cwn mifi efs, the might eat and drink what the pleafed, from morning to night, he was completely obedient to her father's will. : (To be continued.) happy, and it would give us much fatisfaction could we now add that this compofure was of long dura. tion; but jealoufy is a paffion that exifts only in a fucceffion of torments of its own creating, and as this is the fource and prefervation of its life, it must be allowed that no paffion is more tenacious of life than jealousy. It must be allowed, however, at the fame time that the incident we are now about to relate might have roufed jealoufy in a mind lefs given to fufpicion than that of Mrs. Reftlefs. Next morning at breakfast, while our happy pair were laughing over the unfortunate mifunderilanding of the preceding night, and with fome pleafantry retaliating on each other for their mifplaced fufpicion, a fervant entered the room with a letter, and held it for a moment in his hand, uncertain to whom to deliver it, while Mrs. Reftlefs infifted that her husband should open it, and he with equal politenefs gave her the preference; this polite contest ended at length in favour of Mr. Reftlefs, who opening the letter, and feeing the fubfcription, inflantly changed colour. This circumftance as infantly roufed the fufpicions of his fair partner, who infifted on knowing what was in the letter-Mr. Reftlefs, recovering himself, affected an air of gaiety and faid it was nothing, nothing at all-This was not fatisfactory" You changed colour Mr. HISTORY or Mr. AND Mrs. Reftlefs-people don't change colour at nothing." "Changed colour; my dear, fure you must be mistaken." "I was not mistaken Mr. Restless, and I infift upon knowing what is in that letter." Pooh! my dear-it is a mere trifle-a matter of business-a fool. ifh perfon wants to borrow money of me." "Who is he? what money does he |