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doubt not but you have heard of the irregularities 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 into 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 willing to make every reparation in my power; but know not of any other, than by acting diametrically opposite to my former conduct. Let me beg of you, sir, to intercede with my worthy master to take me again into his service, and my whole future life shall be one continued act of gratitude.

Your affectionate though undutiful son.

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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 your future happiness, and respect for the worthy man whose service you have deserted, all conspire together to agitate my mind to different purposes; but paternal 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 behaviour will be correspondent to so much lenity.

I am your affectionate father.

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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 of fence, together 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 humanity 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 obligation on an afflicted parent, and oblige

Your sincere friend.

LETTER 18.

The Master's Answer.

SIR,

Ever since I first considered the state of human nature, or the difference between right and wrong, I have always preferred mercy to the severity of justice. How

ever seasonable 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 unin. terrupted course of virtue, I should have more real pleasure than 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 committed 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 absent from my thoughts: and it is my continual practice to recommend you to the care 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 piety 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 con

nected with 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 too 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 enthusiasts have represented; no, it indulges you in all rational amusements, not 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.

LETTER 20.

The Answer.

HONORED MOTHER,

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 virtue, 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 NewYork, and we are ordered to sail immediately for the Me

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