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former, in the evening of his life, finds a perpetual source of amusement in the knowledge he acquired in his early days, and his company is admired and sought by all those who wish to derive understanding from the knowledge of others, improved by a long life and philosophical experience; but the ignorant old man is no company for himself, nor any one else, unless over a pitcher or a bottle, when the assistance of a pipe will be necessary to excuse his silence. I know you have too much good nature to be offended at my advice, especially when I assure you, that I as sincerely wish your happiness and advancement in life as I do my own. We are all very well, thank God, and your friends desire to be remembered to you. Pray write as often as opportunity and leisure will permit; and be assured, that a letter from you will always give great satisfaction to your parents, and to

LETTER 12.

Your affectionate brother.

From an Apprentice to his Father in praise of his Master and family

HONORED SIR,

I know it will be a great satisfaction to you and my dear mother, to hear that I go on very happily in my business; and my master seeing my diligence, puts me forward, and encourages me in such a manner that have great delight in it, and hope I shall answer in time, your good wishes and expectations, and the indulgence which you have always shown to me. There is such good order in the family, as well on my mistress's part as my master's, that every servant knows his duty and does it with pleasure. So much evenness, sedateness and regularity is observed in all they enjoin or expect, that it is impossible but should be so. My master is an honest, worthy man; every body speaks well of him. My mistress is a cheerful, sweet tempered woman, and rather heals breaches than widens them. And the children, after such examples behave to us all, like one's own brothers and sisters. Who can but love such a family? I wish when it shall please God to put me in such a station, that I may carry myself just as my master does; and if I should ever marry, have just such a wife as my mistress: and then by God's blessing, I shall be as happy as they are; and as you, sir, and my dear mother have always been. If any thing can make me still happier than I am, or continue to me my present felicity, it will be the continuance of yours and my good mother's prayers, for, honored sir and madam, Your ever dutiful son.

LETTER 13.

From a Young Man to his Mɔther during his Apprenticeship. HONORED MOTHER,

Your having retired to the country, has hindered me from writing to you as often as I could wish. Ever since I was bound to Mr. Shepard, he has treated me with every indulgence, and I have endeavored to ac quire the good will of all our customers. I know that you are so straitened in your own circumstances, as not to be able to afford me pocket money; but I have the pleasure to tell you that Mrs. Howard has taken

care, in that particular, and generously supplied me from time to time. In every part of my conduct I shall endeavor to act consistently with the principles of virtue, and am with the utmost respect and duty, Your affectionate son.

LETTER 14.

From a young Lady to her Mother.

HONORED MOTHER,

In my last I informed you that my worthy benefactress, Mrs. Walton, had been extremely ill; I have the pleasure to assure you that she is now perfectly recovered. The happiness of my present situation may be conceived, but it is not in my power to describe it. After we get up in the morning, the family is called together, to render thanks to the Almighty for his preserving them during the preceding night, and to implore his protection the remaining part of the day; afterward we retire to breakfast. During the forenoon, we young ones walk into the garden, or the fields, whilst the good lady is employed in dispensing medicines to her poor tenants. At one o'clock we dine, and afterwards retire to the summer house, when each in her turn, reads some part of the best English writers, whilst the others are employed in needle-work I have received a letter from my brother, and am glad to hear he is settled in so good a family. I am, honored madam,

Your affectionate and dutiful daughter

LETTER 15.

From a Young Man to his Father, desiring him to intercede with his Master to take him again into his service.

HONORED SIR,

With shame, arising from the consciousness of guilt, I have presumed to write to you at this time. I doubt not but you have heard of the ir regularities in my conduct, which at last proceeded so far, as not only to induce me to desert the service of the best of masters, but to run in to the commission of those vices that might have proved fatal to me; it was the allurements of vicious company that first tempted me to forsake the paths of virtue, and neglect my duty, in a family where I was treated with the greatest tenderness. Fully sensible of my fault, I am wil ling to make every reparation in my power; but know not of any oth er, than by acting diametrically opposite to my former conduct. Let me beg of you, sir, to intercede with my worthy master to take mo again into his service, and my whole future life shall be one continued act of gratitude.

MY DEAR CHILD,

Your affectionate though undutiful son.

LETTER 16.

The Father's answer.

If ever you live to be a father, you will know what I feel for you on the present occasion. Tenderness as a parent, resentment on account

of ingratitude, a real concern for vc future happiness, and respect for the worthy man whose service you have deserted, all conspire together to agitate my mind to different purposes; but parental affection becomes predominant, and I am obliged to act as your friend, although I am afraid you have considered me as your enemy. I have written to your master, and have just received his answer, a copy of which I enclose. Your master is willing again to receive you into his service, and I hope that your behavior will be correspondent to so much lenity.

I am your affectionate father

LETTER 17.

The Father's Letter to the Master.

MY WORTH FRIEND,

I have often written to you with pleasure, but alas! I am constrained at present to address myself to you on a subject I little expected. I have recently received a letter from my son, by which I am informed that he has left your service through the instigation of evil company his letter contains a penitential acknowledgement of his offence, togeth er with a declaration of his resolution to act consistently for the future. He has begged me to intercede with you in his behalf, and I know your bumanity will excuse paternal affection. If you will again receive the unhappy youth into your family, I have great reason to hope that his conduct will be equal to his promises; and it will confer a lasting obli. gation on an afflicted parent, and oblige

DEAR SIR,

LETTER 18.

The Master's Answer.

Your sincere friend.

Ever since I first considered the state of human naturs, or the differ. ence between right and wrong, I have always preferred mercy to the severity of justice. However reasonable your request may be to yourself, yet to me it was really unnecessary. I am a father, sir, and can feel, at least, part of what you suffer. My resentment against the young man is less than my anxiety for his happiness; and were I sure of his adhering to an uninterrupted course of virtue, I should have more real pleasure than in his acquiring me the wealth of a nabob.

In the mean time, that nothing may be wanting on my part, to make both him and you as happy as possible, all faults are from this moment forgotten; my house is open for his reception; and, if he will return, he shall be treated with the same indulgence as if he had never con mitted any fault whatever. I am your affectionate friend.

LETTER 19.

From a Mother in town, to a Daughter at school in the country, recommending the practice of virtue.

DEAR CHILD,

Although we are separated in person, yet you are never my thoughts and it is my continual practice to recommend

sent from you to the

tare of that Being, whose eyes are on all his creatures, and to whom the secrets of all hearts are open; but I have been somewhat alarmed because your two last letters do not run in that strain of unaffected pi ety as formerly. What, my dear, is the reason? Does virtue appear unpleasant to you? Is your beneficent Creator a hard task master, or are you resolved to embark in the fashionable follies of a gay, unthinking world? Excuse me, my dear, I am a mother, and my concern for your happiness is inseparably connected wite my own. Perhaps I am mistaken, and what I have considered as a fault, may be only the effusions of youthful gaiety. I shall consider it in that light, and be extremely glad, yea, happy to find it so. Useful instructions are never oo often inculcated, and, therefore, give me leave again to put you in mind of that duty the performance of which alone can make you happy both in time and in eternity.

Religion, my dear, is a dedication of the whole soul to the will of God, and virtue is the actual operation of that truth, which diffuses itself through every part of our conduct; its consequences are equally beneficial as its promises: "Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace."

Whilst the gay, unthinking part of youth are devoting the whole of their time to fashionable pleasures, how happy shall I be to hear, that my child was religious, without hypocritical austerity, and even gay with innocence. Let me beg that you will spend at least one hour each day, in perusing your Bible, and some of our best English writers; and do not imagine that religion is such a gloomy thing as some enthusiasti have represented; no, it indulges you in all rational amusements, no inconsistent with morality: it forbids nothing but what is hurtful. I beg that you will consider attentively what I have written, and write to me as soon as possible. Your anxious mother.

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I am so much affected by the perusal of your kind parental advice, that I can scarcely hold the pen to write an answer; but duty to the best of parents obliges me to make you easy in your mind before I take any rest to myself. That levity, so conspicuous in my former letters, is too true to be denied; nor do I desire to draw a veil over my own folly, No, madam, I freely confess it, but, with great sincerity, I must at the same time declare, that they were written in a careless manner, without considering the character of the person to whom they were addressed; I am fully sensible of my error, and, on all future occasions shall endeavor to avoid giving the least offence. The advice you sent me in your valuable letter, needs no encomium; all that I desire, is, to have it engraven on my heart. My dear madam, I love religion, I love virte, and I hope no consideration will ever lead me from those duties, in which alone I expect future happiness. Let me beg to hear from you often, and I hope that my whole future conduct will convince the best of parents that I am what she wishes me to be.

Your affectionate and dutiful daughter.

LETTER 21.

From an officer in the navy to his Son at school. DEAR WILLIAM,

Our frigate is now lying in the harbor of New-York, and we are ordered to sail immediately for the Mediterranean. I thought to have called on you at school, but our orders to sail were so sudden, that I had Do time to spare from the necessary duties of my station. Let me beg, my dear, that you will attend with the utmost assiduity to your studies.

Youth is the proper time for acquiring knowledge, which, if properly improved, and reduced to practice, will be of the utmost service to you in your future life; you are yet unacquainted with the world, and happy will it be for you, if you remain ignorant of the evils and dangers of a seafaring life. Let me therefore intreat you, in the most earnest manner, to think of some employment which will procure you a decent subsistence, and enable you to live independently in the world. I have left an order with our agent to pay for your education; and although my pay is small, yet nothing on my part shall be wanting to make your situation as easy as possible. As it will be some days before we sail, I shall expect to have a letter from you, and if too late, it will be sent after me. In the mean time, I am your affectionate father.

HONORED SIR,

LETTER 22.

The Son's Answer.

It was one of the first lessons you taught me, that gratitude is the noblest principle that can actuate the heart of man; but what must be when connected with filial duty incumbent on a son to the most indulgent parent! I am left in a situation that may be felt, but not described. That my fond worthy parent should be so precipitately hurried away to a distant country, almost overpowers me; especially when I consider that I may never have an opportunity of seeing you any more. I am convinced that your friendly advice to me is such, that if strictly follow ed, must be attended with the most beneficial consequences to myself; my honor and happiness will equally depend on adhering to it, and ĺ shall always consider it as my second greatest duty, to obey the precepts of my worthy father.

I have got so far in my studies as to be able to read Xenophon, and next week I enter upon Homer. I have some thoughts, if agreeable to you, to take lodgings, in order to study the law; my inclinations run that way, but I submit it wholly to your approbation. Pray let me hear from you as often as possible, as it will be the greatest pleasure that you can afford Your affectionate and dutiful son.

LETTER 23.

From a young Gentleman, clerk to a merchant in town, to his Father in the country, soliciting pocket money.

HONORED SIR,

I wrote to you by Mr. Ball, the dry goods trader, but not having re ceived any answer, I am disappointed. Although I have been as good

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