to any thing her situation required, or perhaps could justify. To this agreeable employment, however, she devoted her whole time; and when Harriet had reached her eighteenth year, she was in every respect a highly accomplished woman; she was become what that picture represents her. With an amiable temper and gentle manners, she was the idol of the village. Hi therto she had experienced a state of felicity unknown in the more exalted stations of life-unconscious, alas! of the ills that awaited her fu ture years.

"It is with reluctance I proceed in the melancholy narrative.-One evening, as a young man, attended by a servant, was passing through the village, his horse startled, and threw him. Happening to be on the spot at the time, I offered every assistance in my power, and conveying him to my cottage, dispatched his servant in quest of a surgeon, who declared our patient was not in any danger, but recommended it to him to delay his departure for a day or two. His health, however, or, rather, his love, did not admit of his travelling for near a fortnight; during which time he established his interest with Harriet by the most pleasing and unremitting attention to her slightest wishes.-When about to depart, he requested leave to repeat

his visit on his return from his intended tour, dropping, at the same time, some distant hints of his affection for Harriet, to whom he was by no means indifferent.

"Mr. H(for so our guest was named) informed us, previous to his departure, that he had a small independent fortune; but that from a distant relation he had considerable expectations. After bidding an affectionate adieu to Harriet, he set out on his intended tour, which lasted for a month."-The effects produced by his absence must, however, be reserved for another paper.

THE OLLA PODRIDA, No. 37, Nov. 24, 1787.

No. CXXI.

Thou art come

Hither to rob a father of that wealth

That solely lengthens his now drooping years,

His virtuous daughter.

ROBERT TAILOR.

(Conclusion of the Vicar's Tale.)

DURING the time of Mr. H's absence, Harriet appeared pensive, and I observed, with pain, that he had made no slight impression on her heart. At length. Mr. H returned, and Harriet's reception of him left us no room to doubt her attachment. During his second visit he was very assiduous to secure the favour of all the family with Harriet he easily succeeded; nor were Mrs. T or myself disposed to dislike him. His manners were elegant, and his wit lively. At length he obtained from Harriet the promise of her hand, provided her parents should not object. Hitherto I had never been induced to make inquiries concerning his circumstances and character. Now, however, by his direction, I applied to a Mr. E-ns, a clergyman of his acquaintance. This gentleman, now in an exalted station in the church, then chaplain to Lord C, informed

me that Mr. H-was, in every respect, a desirable match for my daughter, and that whenever his cousin should die, he would be enabled to maintain her in affluence and splendour he added that his character was unexceptionable. Little suspecting the villanous part Mr. E-ns was acting, I readily consented to the proposed union, and performed the ceremony myself. Mr. H requested that their marriage might be kept a secret, till the birth of a son and heir. This proposal rather alarmed me, but it was too late to retreat; and, knowing no one in the great world, it was impossible for me, previous to the marriage, to procure any account of Mr. H, but such as his friend communicated to me. Thus circumstanced, I could only consent; and as Harriet readily adopted every proposal that came from one she so tenderly loved, the matter was finally agreed After staying a few days, he set off for London, but soon returned, and passed the whole winter with us; and in the spring, Harriet was delivered of that little girl you so much admire. I now pressed him to acknowledge my daughter as his wife. To this he answered, that had she brought him a son, he would readily have complied with my request; but that his cousin was so great an oddity, that he could

on.

not bear the idea (to use his own expression)

of having his fortune lavished in a milliner's shop:' 'But,' added he, if you insist upon it, I will now risk the loss of all his fortune, and introduce my Harriet to his presence.' Harriet, however, again interfered, and desired that Mr. Hmight not be forced into measures that might, in the end, prove destructive of his future prospect, and induce him to regret the day he ever saw her. These arguments prevailed, and Mr. H was suffered to continue as a mem ber of the family, without any farther notice taken of the subject. In this manner had three years elapsed undistinguished by any remarkable event, Mr. H- generally passing half the year with us, and the remainder in London, attending, as he said, on his cousin; when one day, as he was sitting with us at dinner, a chaise and four drove up to the house. The servants inquired for Mr. H, and on hearing he was there, opened the carriage door. A gentleman, dressed like an officer, jumped out, followed by a lady in a travelling dress;-they rushed immediately into the room. Their appearance amazed us; but Mr. H— the most visible marks of consternation. lady appeared to be about thirty. She was a woman by no means destitute of personal

betrayed

The