their affection. Perrin, said he, cherish these sentiments, heaven will bless you. We will endeavor to find out the owner; he will reward thy honesty; I will add what I can spare; you shall have Lucetta. The bag was advertised in the newspapers, and cried in the neighboring parishes. Some time having elapsed, and the money not demanded, the vicar carried it to Perrin: 7. "These twelve thousand livres bear at present no proût; you may reap the interest at least; and lay them out in such a manner as to ensure the sum itself to the owner, if he shail appear." A farm was purchased, and the consent of Lucetta's father to the marriage was obtained. Perrin was employed in husbandry, and Lucetta in family affairs. They lived in perfect cordiality, and two children endeared them still more to each other. Perrin, one evening, returning homeward from his work, saw a chaise overturned with two gentlemen in it. 8. He ran to their assistance, and offered them every accommodation his small house could afford. This spot, cried one of the gentlemen, is very fatal to me. Ten years ago, I lost here twelve thousand livres. Perrin listened with attention. What search made you for them? said he.. It was not in my power, replied the stranger, to make any search. I was hurrying to Port L'Orient to embark to the Indies, for the vessel was ready to sail. 9. Next morning Perrin showed to his guests his house, his garden, his cattle, and mentioned the produce of his fields.--"All these are your property," addressing the gentleman who had lost the bag; "the money fell into my hands; I purchased this farm with it; the farm is yours. The vicar has an instrument which secures your property, though I had died without seeing you." The stranger read the instrument with emotion. He looked on Perrin, Lucetta, and the children. 10. Where am I, cried he, and what do I hear? What virtue in people so low! Have you any other land but this farm? No, replied Perrin; but you will have occasion for a tenant, and I hope you will allow me to remain here. Your honesty deserves a better recompense, answered the stranger. My suc cess are trade has been great, and I have forgot my loss. You entitled to this little fortune; keep it as your own. 11. What man in the world would have acted like Perrin Portin and Lucetta shed tears of affection and joy. "My dear hildren," said he, "kiss the hand of your benefactor. Lucet 4. farin belongs to us, and we can now enjoy it withou anxiety or remorse." Thus was honesty rewarded. Let those who desire the reward practise it. CHARACTER OF A YOUNG LADY. 1.OPHIA is not a beauty, but in her presence beauties are discontented with themselves. At first she scarcely appears pretty'; but the more she is beheld, the more agreeable she appears. She gains when others lose, and what she gains she never loses. She is equalled by none in a sweet expression of countenance; and without dazzling beholders she interests them. 2. She loves dress, and is a good judge of it; despises finery, but dresses with peculiar grace, mixing simplicity with elegance. Ignorant she is of what colors are in fashion; but knows well what suits her complexion. She covers her beauties; but so slightly, or rather artfully, as to give play to the imagination. She prepares herself for managing a family of her own, by managing that of her father. 3. Cookery is familiar to her, with the price and quality of Provisions; and she is a ready accountant. Her chief view, however, is to serve her mother, and lighten her cares. She lds, cleanliness, and neatness to be indispensible in a weman; and that a slattern is disgusting, especially if beautiful. 4. The attention given to external, does not make her overlook her more material duties. Sophia's understanding is solid, without being profound. Her sensibility is too great for a perfect equality of temper; but her sweetness renders that inequality harmless. A harsh word does not make her angry; but her heart swells, and she retires to disburden it by weeping 5. Recalled by her father and mother, she comes at the instant, wiping her eyes and appearing cheerful. She suffers with patience any wrong done her; but is impatient to repair any wrong she has done, and does it so cordially, as to make it appear meritorious. If she happens to disoblige a companion, her joy and her caresses, when restored to favor, shew the bur'den that lay upon her good heart. 6. The love of virtue is Sophia's ruling passion. She loves it, because no other thing is so lovely: She loves it, because it is the glory of the female sex: She loves it, as the only road to happiness, misery being the sure attendant of a woman without virtue: She loves it, as dear to her respectable father and tenther. These sentiments inspire her with a degree enthusiasm, that elevates her soul, and subdues every irregu lar appetite. 7. Of the absent she never talks but with circumspection, her female acquaintance especially. She has remarked, that what renders women prone to detraction, is talking of their own sex; and that they are more equitable with respect to the men. Sophia therefore never talks of women, but to express the good she knows of them: of others she says nothing. 8. Without much knowledge of the world, she is attentive, obliging, and graceful in all she does. A good disposition does much more for her than art does for others. She possesses a degree of politeness, which, void of ceremony, proceeds from a desire to please, and which, consequently, never fails to please. MODESTY, DOUBT AND TENDER AFFECTION. 1 CALISTA was young and beautiful, endowed with a great share of wit and solid sense. Agathocles, whose age very little exceeded hers, was well made, brave and prudent. Head the good fortune to be introduced to Calista; where his looks, wandering indifferently over a numerous circle, soon distinguished and fixed upon her. 2. But recovering from the short ecstacy occasioned by the first sight, he immediately reproached himself, as being guilty of rudeness to the rest of the company; a fault which he had endeavored to correct, by locking round on other objects, Vain attempts! They were attracted by a powerful charm, and turned again towards Calista. He blushed as well as she, while a sweet emotion, till then unlelt, produced a kind of fluttering in his heart, and confusion in his countenance. 3. They both became at the same time more timid and more curious. He was pleased with gazing at Calista, which he could not do without trembling; while Calista, secretly satisfed with this flattering preference, cast her eyes on him by stealth. They were both under an apprehension, but espectally Calista, of being caught by the other in the fact and yet caught they were most every moment. 4. The hour of separation came, which to them appeared too sudden: melancholy were the reflections they made on the repidity of time. Imagination, however, did not permit them be entirely absent from each other; for the image of Calista 3 deeply engraven on the mind of Agathoclez, and ke CA tures were strongly impressed on that of Calista. They both appeared less cheerful the rest of the day. A lively sentiment, which they did not well comprehend themselves, entirely employed their minds, in spite of every attempt to divert themselves. 5. Two days passed without seeing one another again, and though this interval of time had been filled up either by business or recreations, yet they both, notwithstanding, experien ced a weariness and dissatisfaction in their minds, for which they could no way account. But the moment which brought them together again, explained it to them: the perfect contentment they felt in each other's company, made them sensible of the real source of their melancholy. 6. Agathocles took more courage that day. He addressed Calista in a most obliging manner, and had the happiness to converse with her for the first time. As yet he had seen only her outward charms; but now he discovered the beauty of her mind, the integrity of her heart, the dignity of her sentiments, and the delicacy of her wit; but what charmed him most, was the opinion he conceived that she did not judge him unworthy of her esteem. 7. From this time, he made her frequent visits; in every one of which he discovered some new perfection in the fair Calista. This is the characteristic of true merit; it gains by being exposed to the eye of a judicious person. A man of sense will soon dislike a coquette, a fool, or a giddy woman: but if he fall in love with a woman of merit, time, far from weakening, will only strengthen and augment his passion. 8. The fixed inclination of Agathocles convinced him now, that what he felt for Calista, was love, and that of a most tender nature. This he knew; but Calista did not as yet know it, or at least had not learnt it from his lips. Love is timorous and diffident. A bold suiter is not the real lover of the lady whom he addresses; he seeks for nothing but pleasure. 9. Agathocles at last resolved to open his heart to Calista; but he did not do it in the affected language of a romantic passion." Lovely Calista," said he ingenuously," it is not mere estcem that binds me to you, but a most passionate and tender love. I feel that I cannot live without you: can you, without violence to your inclinations, consent to make me happy? I try love you without offence; 'tis a tribute due to your merita sug may I flatter myself with the hope of some small return 10. A coquette would have affected to be displeased declaration. But Calista mot only listened to ho- samman je out interrupting him, but answered him without ill nature, and gave him leave to hope. Nor did she put his constancy to a tedious trial: the happiness for which he sighed was no longer delayed than was necessary to prepare the ceremony. 11. The marriage settlements were easily regulated betwixt the parties; for interest was out of the question: the chief : *ticle consisted in the mutual exchange of hearts, which was already fulfilled. What will be the lot of the new married couple? The happiest, I may venture to foretel, that mortals can enjoy upon earth. 12. No pleasures are comparable to those that affect the heart, and there are none, as I have observed before, that affect it with such exquisite delight, as loving and being beloved. To this tender union we can never apply the words of Demoeritus, that the pleasure of love is but a short epilepsy. He meant, without doubt, that mere sensual pleasure, which has so little in it of the nature of love, that a man may enjoy it without loving, and love without ever enjoying it. 13. They will be constant in their love. This I dare also to predict; and I know the reason. Their affection is not founded on the dazzling charms of beauty; they are both the friends of virtue; they love each other on this account. They will therefore continue to love as long as they are virtuous-and their union itself is a pledge of their perseverance-for nothing so much secures our continuance in the paths of virtue, as to have perpetually before our eyes the example of a person whom we love. 14. Nothing is capable of disturbing their happiness, but those disasters and misfortunes from which their love cannot shelter them. But, supposing such a reverse of fortune, would not their fate in this respect be common with that of the rest of mankind? Those who have never tasted the pleasures of love, are not exempt from the like casualties; and the lover is at least a gainer in regard to those pleasures which constitute a small part of the happiness of life. Besides, even love itself will greatly diminish the sense the misfortunes. For love has the peculiar property of allemurg he sufferings of two fond hearts, and of rendering their pleasures moré exquisite. By this communication of they seem to divide its weight: and on the contrary, Mon, their satisfaction is doubled. tsuit of horse is with greater difficulty broken Saumy, in propertion to its closeness; : |