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LETTER 40.

From an elder to a younger Brother, cautioning him in the choice of a Wife.

DEAR WILLIAM,

Your interest is more the object of my thoughts, than you, perhaps, imagine. I feel it to be my duty to advise you for your good, and particularly in a point that may be so material to your whole life as that of love. Miss Howard is amiable on many accounts; her features are regular, her wit sprightly, her deportment genteel, and her voice, I had almost said, ravishing. Yet do I greatly fear, with all these endowments, she will not make the wife you ought to wish for. Her airy flights, and gay behaviour are pleasing as a partner in conversation; but will they be equally agreeable in a partner for life? What now charms you, charms all others. Though she is delightful in company, are you satisfied she will be as agreeable when alone with you, or when she has not an opportunity of figuring away in company? She now sees nobody but whom she chooses to see; if she should be a wife it is more than probable that she may not like restraints; and can you approve of a diffuse conversation in one you desire to yourself? Think not, brother, that I have any interested motive for this advice, for I assure you I have not. I am not your rival; nor do I desire the lady you seem too fond of. As very few prudent matches are made by young gentlemen of your age, I caution you against thinking of a young woman who may be a suitable companion to a gentleman whose station and choice lead him into much company and gay life; but to men whose circumstances require a more retired way of life,

it is obvious a woman, whose talents lie principally in con. versation, can never for that reason only, justify a young gentleman for choosing her for a wife. Shut not your ears to reason, forget not yourself, and be sure to remember that the pleasure of an hour or two, and that of twenty or thirty years, or a whole life, must arise from very different sources.

I am, dear brother,

Yours, most affectionately.

LETTER 41.

From a Daughter to her Father, pleading for her Sister, who had married without his consent.

HONORED SIR,

The kind indulgence you have always shown to your children, makes me presume to become an advocate for my sister though not for her fault. She is very sensible of that, and sorry she has offended you; but has great hopes that Mr. Robinson will prove such a careful and loving husband to her, as may atone for her past wildness, and engage your forgiveness: for all of your children are sensible of your paternal kindness, and that` you wish their good more for their sakes than your own.

This makes it the more wicked to offend so good a father: but, dear sir, be pleased to consider, that it cannot now be helped, and that she may be made by your displeasure very miserable in her choice; and that his faults are owing to the inconsideration of youth: otherwise, it would not have been a very discreditable match, had it had your approbation. I could humbly hope for my poor sister's sake, that you will be pleased rather to

encourage his present good resolutions by your kind favor, than to make him despair of a reconciliation, and so perhaps treat her with a negligence, which hitherto she is not apprehensive of; for he is really very fond of her, and I hope will continue so. Yet is she dejected for her fault to you, and wishes yet dreads to have your leave to throw herself at your feet, to beg your forgiveness and blessing, which would make the poor dear offender quite happy.

Pardon, sir, my interposing in her favor, in which my husband also joins. She is my sister. She is your daughter; though she has not done so worthily as I wish, to become that character. Be pleased, sir, to forgive her, however; and also forgive me, pleading for her; who am

Your ever dutiful daughter.

LETTER 42.

The Father's Answer.

DEAR NANCY,

You must believe that your sister's unadvised marriage, which she must know would be disagreeable to me, gives me no small concern; and yet I will assure you that it arises more from my affection for her, than any other consideration. In her education I took all the pains and care my circumstances would admit, and often flattered myself with the hope that the happy fruits of it would be made to appear in her prudent conduct. What she has now done is not vicious, but indiscreet; you must remember, that I have often declared in her hearing, that the wild assertion of a rake making a good hus

band, was the most dangerous opinion a young woman could imbibe.

I will not however, in pity to her, point out the many ills I am afraid will attend her rashness, because it is done, and cannot be helped; but wish she may be happier than I ever saw a woman who leaped so fatal a precipice.

Her husband has this morning been with me for her fortune; and it was with much decision. I told him, that as all she could hope for was at my disposal, I should disburse it in such a manner as I thought would most contribute to her advantage; and that as he was a stranger to me, I should choose to know how he deserved it, before he had the power over what I intended for her. He bit his lip, and with a hasty step was my humble

servant.

Tell the rash girl I would not have her to be afflicted at this behaviour in me; for I know it will contribute to her advantage one way or other; if he married her for her own sake, she will find no alteration of behaviour from this disappointment; but if he married only for her money, she will soon be glad to find it in my possession, rather than his,

Your interposition in her behalf is very sisterly: and you see I have not the resentment she might expect. But I truly wish that she had acted with your prudence; for her own sake I wish it.

I am your loving father.

LETTER 43.

From an Uncle to his Nephew, on the pernicious habit of drinking

to excess.

DEAR NEPHEW,

When I consider your age, inexperience, and situation, and how often you will, unavoidably, be led into company, I think I cannot employ a vacant hour better, than in laying before you a few thoughts on the detestable practice of drinking to excess; and I enter on this business the more cheerfully, because I am confident you have hitherto been careful to follow my advice.

There is no vice carries a greater shame and odium in it than drunkenness. There is no spectacle we behold with greater aversion and contempt. It sinks a man infinitely below the beasts that perish. The brutes are guilty of no excess-This is the prerogative of man. This shameful vice throws the mind into universal confusion and uproar; lays the understanding and reason in sad and deplorable ruins; effaces every thing that can be called the image of God; extinguishes reason and inflames the passions; dethrones the judgment, and exalts our worst desires in its place. The world has not in it a more contemptible sight than a rational creature in this condition. A famous republic of old used to make their slaves drunk, and expose them in that condition to their children, that, by seeing their ridiculous actions, hearing their ridiculous expressions, and beholding that deplorable alienation of reason which this vice occasions, they might be effectually deterred from it. They thought, says an useful writer, that were they to apply wholly to the reason of their youth, it might prove to little purpose,

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