know that we never should have parted from you had it not been for your good. If you continue virtuous and obliging, all the family will love and esteem you. Keep yourself employed as much as you can, and be always ready to assist your fellow-servants. Never speak ill of any body, but when you hear a bad story, try to soften it as much as you can; do not repeat it again, but let it slip out of your mind as soon as possible. I am in great hopes that all the family are kind to you, from the good character I have heard of them. If you have any time to spare from your business I hope you will spend some part of it in reading your Bible, and the Whole Duty of Man. I pray for you daily and there is nothing I desire more than my dear child's happiness. Remember, that the more faithful you are in the discharge of your duty as a servant, the better you will prosper if you live to have a family of your own. Your father desires his blessing, and your brothers and sisters their kind love to you. Heaven bless you, my dear child, and continue you to be a comfort to us all, and particularly to

LETTER 29.

Your affectionate mother

From an Uncle to his Nephew, an apprentice, on his keeping bad company, bad hours, &c.

DEAR NEPHEW,

I am very much concerned to hear, that you are of late fallen into bad company; that you keep bad hours, and give great uneasiness to your master, and break the rules of his family. That when he expostulates with you on this account, you return pert and bold answers; and instead of promising or endeavoring to amend, repeat the offence; and have entered into clubs and societies of young fellows, who set at naught all good example, and make such persons who would do their duty, the subject of their ridicule, as persons of narrow minds, and who want the courage to do as they do.

Let me on this occasion expostulate with you, and set before you the evil of the way you are in. In the first place: what can you mean by breaking the rules of a family you had bound yourself by contract to observe? Do you think it honest, to break through engagements into which you have solemnly entered? Seven years, several of which are elapsed, is not so long a term but that you may see it terminate before you are over fit to be trusted with your own conduct. Twenty-one or twenty-two years of age is full early for a young man to be his own master, whatever you may think; and you may surely stay till then at least to choose your own hours, and your own company; and I fear as yo go on, if you do not mend your ways, your discretion will not then u credit to your choice. Remember you have no time you can call you own, during the continuance of your contract; and must you abuse your master in a double sense: rob him of his time, especially if any of it be hours of business: rob him of his rest; break the peace of his family, and give a bad example to others? And all for what? Why to riot in the company of a set of persons, who contemn, as they teach you to do, all order and discipline; who, in all likelihood, will lead you into gaming, drinking, swearing, and even more dangerous vices, to the unhing. g of your mind from your business, which must be your future support

Consider, I exhort you, in time, to what these courses may lead you Consider the affliction you will give to all your friends, by your continu ance in them. Lay together the substance of the conversation that passes in a whole evening, with your frothy companions, after you have come from them, and reflect what solid truth, what useful lessons, worthy of being inculcated in your future life, that whole evening has afforded you; and consider whether it is worth breaking through all rule and order for? Whether your present conduct is such as you would allow in a servant of your own? Whether you are so capable to pursue your business with that ardour and delight next morning, as if you had not drank or kept bad hours over night? If not, whether your master has not a double loss and damage from your misspent evenings? Whether the taking of small liberties, as you may think them, leads you not on to greater? For let me tell you, that you will not find it in your power to stop when you will: and then, whether any restraint at all will not in time be irksome to you?

I have gone through the like servitude with pleasure and credit. I found myself my own master full soon for my discretion: what you think of yourself I know not; but I wish you may do as well for your own interest and reputation too, as I have done for mine: and I assure you I should not have thought it either creditable or honest to do as you do. I could have stood the laugh of an hundred such vain companions as you choose, for being too narrow minded to break through all moral obligations to my master, in order to show the bravery of a bad heart, and what an abandoned mind dared to perpetrate. A bad beginning seldom makes a good ending, and if you were assured that you could stop when you come for yourself, which very improbable, how will you answer it to equity and a good conscience, that you will not do so for your master? There is, let me tell you, more true bravery of mind in forbearing to do an injury, than in giving offence. You are now at an age when you should study to improve, not divert your faculties. You should now lay in a fund of knowledge, that in time, when ripened by experience, may make you a worthy member of the commonwealth. Do you think you have nothing to learn, either as to your business, or as to the forming of your mind? Would it not be much better to choose the silent, the sober conversation of books, than of such companions as never read or think? Let me entreat you then, my dear kinsman, for your family's sake, for your own sake, before it be too late, to reflect as you ought upon the course you have entered into. By applying yourself to books, instead of such vain company, you will be qualified in time for the best of company, and be respected by all ranks of inen. This will keep you out of unnecessary expenses, will employ all your leisure time, will exclude a world of temptations, and finally set you above that wretched company which now you seem so much delighted with.

And one thing let me recommend to you, that you keep a list of the young men of your standing within the compass of your knowledge, and for the next seven years observe what fate will attend them: scc if those who follow not the course you have so lately entered into, will not appeas in a very different light from those who do: and for the industry and

prosperity of the one, and the decay or failure of the other, (if their vain ways do not blast them before or as soon as they begin the world) you'll find abundant reason every day to justify the truth of the observations I have thrown together. As nothing but my affection for you could possibly influence me to these expostulations, I hope for a proper effect from them, if you would be thought well of by, or expect any favor froin, Your loving uncle.

P. S. Your master will, at my request, send me word of the success of my remonstrance.

LETTER 30.

An Uncle in answer to a Nephew's complaining of hardship in his apprenticeship.

DEAR NEPHEW,

I am sorry you should have any misunderstanding with your master: I have a good opinion of him, and am unwilling to entertain a bad one of you. It is so much a master's interest to use his apprentices well, that I am disposed to think that when they are badly used it oftener the effect of provocation than choice. Wherefore, before I give myself the trouble of interposing in your behalf, I desire that you will inquire of yourself, whether you have not, by some misconduct or other, provoked that alteration in your master's behaviour of which you so much complain. If, after having diligently complied with this request, you assure ine that you are not sensible of having given cause of disgust on your side, I will readily use my endeavors to reconcile you to your mas ter, or procure you another. But if you find yourself blameable, it will be better for you to remove, by your own amendment, the occasion of your master's displeasure, than to have me or any other friend, offer to plead your excuse, where you know it would be unjust to defend you If this should be your case, all your friends together could promise your better behaviour, indeed; but as the performance must even then be your own, it will add much more to your character to pass through our whole term, without any interposition between you. Weigh what I ave here said; and remember that your future welfare depends great! ▾ on your present behaviour. I am your loving kinsma

LETTER 31.

From a Mother to her Son on the same subject.

MY DEAR SAMUEL,

7

You cannot imagine how sorry I was to hear that your master an you do not agree so well as I could wish. I was always afraid you vuld expect the same. indulgence when-you got abroad into the world, as you experienced when at home. You know, that in many instances, I bave endeavored to make seeming hardships as easy to you as I could; but if this makes you more difficult to be satisfied, it would be a great truble Your uncle tells me, and I am afraid with too much truth that the indulgences you have received from me, have made your present situation more disagreeable than it would otherwise have been. Wha ever I have done for you, was always intended for your good, and nothing could so deeply afflict me, as to see my tenderness have a mischievous

to me.

ffect. Therefore, my dear child, to my constant care for you, do not add the sorrow of my seeing it the cause of your behaving worse, than if I had been less tender to you. Before we put you to your master, we had a very pleasing character of him from all his neighbors, and those who had any dealings with him. As Mr. James, who is now out of his time, gives him the best of characters, and declares your mistress to be a woman of great prudence and good conduct, I know not how to think they would in any respect use you ill. Consider, my dear, you must not, in any other woman than myself, expect to find a fond and perhaps partial mother; for the little failings which I could not see in you, will conspicuously appear to other persons. My affection for you would make me wish you to be always with me; but as that would be inconsistent with your future welfare, and as you must certainly be a gainer from the situation you are now in, let a desire to promote my happiness as well as your own, make every seeming difficulty light. I have desired your uncle to interpose in this matter, and he will write to you soon. He has promised to see justice done you, provided your complaints are founded on reason. Believe me, my dear child, Your affectionate mother..

LETTER 32.

From a Father to a Son, on his negligence in his affairs.

DEAR JAMES,

You cannot imagine what a concern your carelessness and indifferent management of your affairs give me. Remissness is inexcusable in all men, but in none so much as in a man of business, the soul of which is industry, diligence and punctuality.

Let me beg you to shake off the idle habits you have contracted; quit unprofitable company, and unseasonable recreations, and apply to your compting house with diligence. It may not yet be too late to retrieve your affairs. Inspect therefore, your gains, and cast up what proportion they bear to your expenses; and then see which of the latter you can, and which you cannot contract. Consider, that when once a man suffers himself to go backward in the world, it must be an uncommon spirit of industry that retrieves him, and puts him forward again.

Reflect, I beseech you, before it be too late, upon the inconveniences which an impoverished trader is put to, for the remainder of his life; which too may happen to be the prime part of it; the indignities he is likely to suffer from those whose money he has unthinkingly squandered; the contempt he will meet with from all, not excepting the idle companions of his folly; the injustice he does his family, in depriving his children, not only of the power of raising themselves, but of living tolerably; and how, on the contrary, from being born to a creditable expectation, he sinks them into the lowest class of mankind, and exposes them to most dangerous temptations. What nas not such a father to answer for! and all this for the sake of indulging himself in an idle, careless, thoughtless habit, that cannot afford the least satisfaction, beyond the present hour, if in that; and which must be attended with deep remorse, when he begins to reflect. Think seriously of these things, and in time resolve on such a course as may bring credit to yourself, justice to all you

deal with, peace and pleasure to your own mind, comfort to your family; and which will give at the same time the highest satisfaction to Your careful and loving father.

HONORED SIR,

LETTER 33.

The Son's grateful answer.

Your

I return you my sincere thanks for your seasonable reproof and advice. I have indeed too much indulged myself in an idle, careless habit; and had already begun to feel the evil consequences of it, when I received your letter, in the insults of a creditor or two, from whom I expected kinder treatment. But, indeed, they wanted but their own, so I could only blame myself, who had brought their rough usage upon me. letter came so seasonable upon this, that I hope it will not want the desired effect; and as I think it is not yet too late, I am resolved to take another course with myself and my affairs, that I may avoid the ill consequences you so judiciously forewarr me of, and give to my family and friends the pleasure they so well deserve at my hands; and particularly that satisfaction to so good a father, which is owing to him by his Most dutiful son.

LETTER 34.

From an aged Lady in the county, to her Niece in New-York, cautioning her against keeping company with a Gentleman of a bad character.

DEAR NIECE,

The sincere love and affection whe I now have for your indulgent father, and ever had for your virtuous mother, when she was alive, together with the tender regard for your future happiness and welfare, have prevailed on me rather to inform by letter than by word of mouth, concerning what I have heard of your guarded conduct, and the too great freedoms you take with Mr. Lovele. You have been seen with him at the Theatre, Columbia, Mount Vernon, aud Vauxhall Gardens. Do not imagine, neice, that I write this a principle of ill nature; it is on purpose to save you from ruin! for at me tell you, your familiarity with him gives me no small concern, as is character is extremely bad, and as he has acted in the most ungenen manner to two or three virtuous young ladies of my acquaintance, wh entertained too favorable an opinion of his honor. It is possible, au have no great fortune to expect, and as he has an uncle from whose expects a considerable estate, that you may be tempted to imagim is address an offer to your advantage; but that is greatly to be que oned; for I have heard that he is deep in debt, as also that he is privately engaged to a rich old widow in the Jerseys. In short, my dear, he is a perfect libertine, and is ever boasting of favors from our weak sex, whose fondness and frailty are the constant topics of his railing and ridicule.

Let me prevail. on you, dear niece, to avoid his company as you would that of a madman; for, notwithstanding 1 still hope you are strictly virtuous, yet your good name may be irreparably lost by ruch open acte of imprudence. I have no other motive but an unaffected zeal for your