to their mamma all the chat of the evening they could remember, she pointed out the innumerable advantages and pleasures they would receive throughout their lives, from having their enjoyments dealt out sparingly: for those who possessed great wealth seized every pleasure, and pursued it till the relish was lost; while their humbler friends long enjoyed their taste without satiety. "So Providence," she added, "kindly distributes its innume rable blessings more impartially than we are generally aware of." Charles could not conceive what could make brothers and sisters hate each other so much. "My dear Charles," said his mother, "that sort of appearance which you call snarling is no proof of hatred; it is an ill-bred vulgar habit that some gentleman indulge themselves in, from a mistaken idea that they amuse their hearers; and they care not at whose expense, forgetting the strong prejudice every feeling mind must form against the heart that is gratified at such a price. I have sometimes met with people who endeavour to entertain you with the failings and imperfections of their whole family. Those who must talk at all events, grow careless of whom and what they are talking: if you will but listen, it is all they require; and knowing most of their nearest connections, they naturally talk most about them. Some families, keep a sort of sharp-shooting at each other, as if they were the bitterest enemies, and keep every body present uneasy, while they are really the very best of friends; and as soon as the scene closes, love each other with a due proportion of affection."

"How they laughed and talked of ladies!" said Charles; "how much I am obliged to papa for telling me how

wrong and vulgar it is! I felt the truth of his remarks, and I had a great mind to ask if they would see the chart, to know how they ought to think upon such a subject; but they were so tall and so well dressed, that I fancied Louis the Fourteenth was just such another man, and as fine a gentleman. I wish they had not been so cross and severe to their sisters. Papa has told me that retirement is unfavourable to conversation, and intellect was liable to degenerate for want of exercise; but surely London gentlemen can have no such excuse."

The evening was a most delightful moonlight, and cast such fine shadows from the trees as they passed, and shone so resplendent on the sea when they came near it, that they were tempted to take a walk upon the beach, where they ardently wished for Pneumanee's return, to tell her all they had seen and heard since her departure. Some time passed on without any event at the Parsonage worth transcribing, till one morning at breakfast Pneumanee returned. All most joyfully welcomed her, kissed her hands, her lips; told her of all the events that happened in her absence, of Mr. Mowbray's notes, of Miss Volatile's brothers, of Charles's going to school, and every little occurrence that had severally interested them. She heard one, caressed another, took a third upon her lap, and entered with the most endearing kindness into all their little affairs. A carpet had been laid in the arbour on purpose for her; a new kind of basket worked with ribbon, for her to pick shells on the beach; and Charles had turned a very pretty necklace, which was immediately put on by himself, and all was gaiety and joy throughout the day. In the evening when the little

ones were gone to bed, Fanny requested Pneumanee to tell them some of her visits during her absence. "By all means," she said. "My first was to the young lady's mother, who you remember went to Scotland to marry a man against the knowledge of her parents."-"O yes," said Fanny; "I well remember how sorry I was for her and her poor dear papa and mamma!"-" You will be more sorry now, my dear Fanny, because she herself must be so. She begged, on her return from Scotland, to be allowed to bring her husband to her happy home; but was desired by her parents to leave them some time to recover the shock they had received, in finding their darling child sought other protection than their's; adding they were at present too unhappy, their sorrows too recent, it would damp her bridal hours to witness it. They solemnly forgave her for such a breach of duty, and only reproached themselves for not acting up to the affection they felt, or she could never so have left them. The gentleman, it seems, was disconcerted at this: as his friends were in Ireland, and he could not leave his regiment to take her to them, she went to barracks with him; and after many supplicating entreaties, at the end of a year, she was received at home, and I was requested to be of the party. I would not witness the first interview; I went the day after; her mother welcomed me with tears, which she quickly wiped away, and led me to the nursery, where her daughter sat with her sleeping infant on her lap. See,' said she, what a sweet little granddaughter I have! bless her, Pneumanee,' she continued; for your blessing will secure her from mischief.' The young and interesting mother sighed deeply, and held

out her hand, but could not speak. 'I do bless her,' I said, with all my heart; may she prove a lasting source of comfort to you both!'

"I dare not hope she will be a comfort to me,' said the mother, kissing her infant's hand; I have not deserved it. Bid her avoid her mother's fatal example; she cannot have a path in life so smooth, so rosy as mine, and I have filled it with briars and thorns.'Be comforted,' said her mother, your father and I will make it the object of our future lives to make you happy.'You have always done so,' she replied; and I have done all in my power to make you miserable,'' Say no more, my dear child; my heart bleeds for your feelings; promise me that you will forget all that is past.'--'I would, my dear madam; but this dear innocent will remind me every hour of what you felt for me, and what you have received as your reward. Oh, could she but know my agonies! she would then avoid my cruel conduct.'

"When I recollected," added Pneumanee, "the short space since I had seen her, the young and blooming darling of the fondest, most indulgent parents, and now the mourning dejected mother of an infant whose very smiles would add reproaches to her heart, I could scarcely bear the scene.We were summoned to dinner, and I hoped that her husband's affectionate tenderness would soon wear off the dejection she appeared to feel.

"He was not returned from his walk; he had gone out immediately after breakfast, and left no word where he was going. It was my fault, I believe, my dear, (to his daughter), I ought to have told him our dinner hour,

and that we are very exact to it.' I told the gentle, man, Sir,' said the butler. He did not hear it,' my friend said. 'Yes, Sir, he did; for he said, very well.' Take out the dinner again, and keep it as warm as you can till the gentleman comes.' The daughter said not a word, but looked through the avenue from which she expected to see him. How different, my dear Fanny," said Pneu. manee," from the behaviour of a happy woman who had married the husband of her parents' choice as well as her own! With what confidence would such an one plead for the absentee, or join in some plan to mortify the delinquent; secure of his partiality for any plot that might be imagined against him. But here all was silence and mortification, and time for distressing reflections. After waiting nearly an hour, the dinner was again ordered, and new remarks upon the absence, lest some accident should have happened. Where was the lively interest that a young and happy mother would have felt for the father of her child, if but the shadow of a hair-breadth's danger had been suggested to her? It was not here: a sort of wild half-drawn sigh escaped her; it would have said, Mine is the heart that would have been alive to that alarm, if-if-the object was deserving.

When the comfortless meal was nearly over, in came a die-dapper coxcomb, taking off his gloves and hat, and throwing them upon a chair, with a fear that he was late. No, faith!' he added, taking out his watch; not so late as I expected. I was three miles from here half an hour ago-it is confoundedly hot,' wiping his face; "you will never guess where I have been: why, I'll tell you bye and bye. Pray, dear, (to his wife), give me