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Epitaph on a Black-Smith.

parent beyond every other virtue. The Indian, who in the Spanish flaughter of the Mexicans, fled naked with his children in his arms, leaving all other treasure to the plunderers, demands more than the famed Æneas carrying away his father.

The Scotch M'Donald, who died of famine, while he fed the motherleis infants with his little oatmeal, claims

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He fhewed great ftrokes of his ftrong

parts,

As well in cutting funder the firmeft connections

Which lay in his way,

As in uring what he found asunder, To answer his purpose. Whatever black contrivances were forged He foon blew them up, And was fuccefsful in quenching

hand.

more glory than the fon of that Mil-The rea-bot fury of thofe he had in tiades, who fold his liberty to give his father burial.

The British poet (Pope) who, according to Swift in his libel on Dr. Delany, in his mother's fickness refufed the vifits of a queen, because they would have broke in upon the difcharge of filial duty, muft yield the palm to Racine, who declined an invitation from his prince, to eat among his children.

"You must dine to day with the prince," faid the meflenger.

"I cannot have that honour," anfwered the affectionate father.--" It is feven days fince I have feen my children they are overjoyed at my return! Look here; they have provided this fine carp for me :-I must dine with the dear little creatures; they will have no pleafure in tafting it without me. They will break their hearts to lofe me the moment I am returned to them. Pray be fo kind to mention to his highness my excufe."

The ftory is literal truth, and Racine derives from it more glory than from all his poems.

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His ftation was an unquiet one, But by a judicious use of inftruments, Of which he was mafter, And by making even vice itself Subfervient to his work,

He fecured his points,

And by hitting the right nail on the bean,

Arrived to the height of his defires, And lived with spirits

In the commen way;
In which fituation
Hent himself to be serviceable
To his neighbourhood,
Among whom he wrought
A good understanding;
And when things went wrong or lame
Would stoop

To fet them on a better footing.
He was not linked to any party,
Old and new

Were equally his interest.
He made a great noije in the world,
And hone in his station,
Till age fpread a rufi over him, ́
And death put out his fire,
And here laid his dust and ashes.

MILITARY DISTRESS;

O R,

DAMIN VILLE.

An ANECDOTE.

[Continued from Page 310.]

ELICIA did not impofe upon

Fher relations: the two lovers

were married at Avignon. They had lived till then on a feeble support, for

But he would ferew into them, and which they were indebted to the ge

fpy through them.

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nerofity of that friend who had pro

cured

In a

fible, the most delicate heart, proceed from the lethargic foul of a mifer; but only thofe which ought to be bu ried in the abyss of oblivion.

Felicia's uncle made hafte to return her an anfwer. His letter commenced

aevolence followed the expreffions which originated from anger. Villemont sent a small sum of money to the

tune would not permit him to anfwer their neceffities-for he could not forbear making ufe of that intimation in the close of his letter, and thereby developed his heart.

Monforia thought and acted in a different manner. He tore the letter in pieces which he had received from his fon and daughter, and at the fame time he determined to have recourse to the utmott feverity of the law to difannul his fon's marriage. The counsellor and

cured Daminville his liberty, and was going to embark for India. Frequently fome tears efcaped from Felicia, which the ftrove to conceal from the eves of her hufband. "You weep," faid he, "adorable woman! When I hold thee to my bofom, and am intox-with very pointed reproaches; but beicated with the pleasure of confecrating my life to you, can you give way to chagrin ?" "How can I help it, dear Damin-new-married couple, and exhorted ville? How dearly have we purchased them to make the beft or that supply, the happiness of being allied to cachefpecially as the fmallnefs of his torother?-Without the confent of your father, without the confent of my relations, Felicia is now in your arms: and I tore myself from the bofom of thofe relations, who loved me as much as if I were their own child.. word, I am your's by a fhameful flight, at the lofs of my character. Has our marriage rendered me that happiness which I had preferved in all its purity? and is this union contracted under the neceffary forms?-It is fufficient to have heaven on our fide.lawyer united their forces in drawing Mankind, Daminville, mankind have neither his indulgence nor goodness." Felicia's relations, as we faid before, fhewed figns of great refentment; but nature foon refumed her throne; virtuous characters find fo much difficulty in smothering their feelings. Ville-existence but the mischief they promont, after spending fome moments in duce, diverted themselves for fome complaints, and even in menaces, foon days with the diftrefs which would not recollected that Felicia was his niece: fail to corrode the hearts of the unmelting into tears, he yielded to the fortunate pair. The voice of the goodgenerous emotions. A perfon must be is uttered only in low whispers, which brutalized by the unnatural intoxica-few perfons liften to; while that of tion of fortune, to keep his heart ob the wicked, that is to fay the multifinately fhut to the fweet and affec-tude, fpreads and re-echoes withoutting impreffions of humanity. No, it end, and is catched at with all the eais not the perfon who is hardened ingernefs of delight. proportion to the riches which he accumulates; but he who enjoys an honourable competency, and has no fuperfluity, who tates the charms ofny weight, funk under the confideracompaffion, the unalloyed delights of tion which riches, by a fatal abufe, that heavenly fentiment, which appro- enjoys in this world. The burthen priates the distress and the neceffities of Monforin's fortune crushed him.of others. Never did that amiable Befieged, as it were, by the public ruverfe of Terence, "I am a man: no- mour, he had not the courage to turn thing which belongs to a man can be his eyes into his own heart, and to be ftrange to me:" never did this expref-fatisfied with the faithful witnefs of fion, the exclamation of the maft fen- his own confcience; he fell, therefore,

up a long inftrument, which they termed a memorial, in which Daminville and Felicia were blackened with all the venom of calumny and defamation. The world, that is to fay the idle, who give no other proof of their

The unfortunate uncle of Felicia, who, on account of the moderateness of his fortune, was far from having a

Military Diftrefs.

into a profound melancholy and lan. guor, and found no other cure for his fufferings in death, but by flying to the bofom of that Being, who is the fupreme comforter, the only friend of fuffering innocence, and fhould always be the fole fupport of oppreffed honesty.

Mad. Villemont, had more eaufes of grief than the death of her husband. Her relacions, no lefs inhuman than covetous, difputed her right to the little property bequeathed her by her husband. The fire of the procefs fpread itself like a devouring confiagration; and the poor widow, who had the misfortune to find herself incapable to give her niece any fupport, was reduced to extreme indigence, and foon accompanied her husband to the

grave.

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by which he difinherited the unfortunate Daminville.

The unhappy youth came to Paris with his wife, who was now advanced in her pregnancy; they hid themfelves, as it were, in that city. The husband never went out but at night, to pay his vifits to fome perfons, whom he had, till this crifis, regarded as his friends. He appealed to their feelings-'twas then that he faw human nature in all its hideous deformity; he experienced the vanity of those confoling ideas which he had figured to himself. He was overwhelmed with truth. Ons perfon excufed himself on account of the large fum he had laid out in building; another had been obliged to pay a confiderable draught to a creditor; another was obliged to difcharge a dab of bonour, as if the prinFelicia, informed of thefe melan- cipal debt of honour was not to relieve choly incidents, accufed herself with a friend in his distress: another had the death of her relations, with the cha-nothing to give him, but inftead of it grin in which the young Monforin was involved, and the inextricable wretchedness in which they were about to be plunged. "Heavens !" cried the, are these the effects of love?-Totion, together with his child in embrio, have inhumed my relations in the efpecially as his marriage would never grave, armed a father against his fon, meet with confent, and ought to be to have expofed one whom I love better reckoned as a trip of youth." Sevethan myfelf to all the horrors of pover-ral expatiated on his faults, exhorted ty, to be ready to multiply our diftreffes him to patience, and reminded him of by giving birth to a third unfortunate? the confolations of religion; but cone This is all my doing!--My love has gave him any fuccour, though his mibrought me into thefe circumstances! fery increased every moment. But let us not conceal our faultsthey are tremendous, and I am not the only facrifice."

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The wretched, the pitiable pair carried their adverfity from one province to another. Monforin had fucceeded in diffolving their marriage; he had likewife declared Daligni his heir, who from fome great ftrokes of avarice, merited the confidence and friendship of his uncle more and more. Darnicourt carried on a profecution against the wretched fon; he had made the courts ring with the cries of his father to fet afide his marriage; and it was he who was the inftrument of perfwading the old man to make a will

gave him excellent advice--"The young man ought by all means to be reconciled to his father, and fhould leave his wife without the leaft hefita

Daminville ran, on his firft coming to Paris, to Beranger's houfe, who had removed, but nobody knew where. The wretched hufband of Felicia finding himself without refource, abandonned, rejected, had no other hope than that of the fupport which all ought to implore; he addreffed his tears and fighs to heaven in fecret. At the turning of a freet he found somebody pluck him by the arm.

"Ah!" faid the perfon, "are you M. Daminville ?"--The latter fixing his eyes upon him, cried out, and rufhing into the arms of his old benefactor-" Have I found you again, dear Beranger! Is not this a delufion!

I find I can clafp you in my arms! But who has ftolen you from my refearches ?"

increafed the feelings which it excited. She fpake; her words redoubled the compaffion with which Beranger was penetrated; he could not refrain from mingling his tears with theirs.

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My friends, my dear friends, per

"I have come from the country where fome family affairs had called me. You cannot doubt but I interesled myself to the utmost in your be-mit me to make use of that expreffion, half. The intrigues of your coufin, let me affure you that you will not who is a dupe to Darnicourt, had meet with a rigid cenfor to entertain made your father forbid me his houfe you with useless reflections on your previous to your departure, and there- conduct: without doubt it is culpafore I could not, notwithstanding the ble. I would have done every thing moft diligent enquiries and researches, in the world to prevent that alliance get the leaft intimation of your circum- which has proved fo fatal to you; but ftances. Are they changed, or are the knot is tied, which nothing ought they, at least, mitigated? Your looks, to untie or cut afunder; it is facred your appearance do not indicate a re- in the eyes of heaven and nature, it conciliation with M. Monforin." muft therefore be refpected, and you muft fubmit to all the obligations of marriage, help each other in fupporting your misfortunes, and offer up your prayers to the Supreme Being, who, I doubt not, will hear you. He never lofes fight of, he never deserts the wretched. Believe me, they are not the happiness and arrogant joy of this lower sphere which attach the attention of the Deity; but they are our tears, our tribulations, which we may call the object of Providence, and fooner or later it will pay a regard to

Daminville gave the honeft Beranger a minute detail of his wretched circumftances. The latter interrupting him-" Certainly you have been guilty of a very great fault in forming an alliance without the fanction of your father's confent: you have been remifs in your duty to heaven; you endure the punishment; you are unhappy; nothing remains now but to be of fervice to you. Advice is now unfeasonable it is the duty of your friend," added Beranger, embracing him, to fulfil the dictates of friend-it. The character of a good father is fhip and humanity. Shew me your lodgings, introduce me to your wife, and depend upon it that my firft eares fhall be to be of fome fervice to you.'

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Daminville conducted Beranger to his lodgings in tranfport: they went up to a chamber on the fourth story: Monforin's fon entered firft--" My deareft love, I have brought you a guardian angel, the model of those fouls who have delicate feelings.M. Beranger, whom I have mentioned to you so often-heaven, heaven touched with our misfortunes, has thrown him in my way."

With what fcenes was the foul of this honeft man wounded! Under the depravation of wretchedness, Felicia preferved that dignity which never abandons beauty and virtue: the fad viciffitudes of misfortune, inftead of leffening her agrement, feemed to leud shem more eclat. This affecting scene

not incompatible with the greatness of a master. I declare to you before hand, M. Monforin will conceive fuch fentiments in your favour, as nothing fhall be able to fhake. Nature is fometimes oppofed, but never entirely defeated. Daminville, a father muft have fenfibility: you ought to think of nothing but procuring your pardon and reconciliation. While we wait for the return of parental affection, I will do all I can to alleviate your distress: it is on this occafion that I feel all the bitterness of a narrow fortune.--My friends, my purfe, my life is at your difpofal: I am indebted to you for the most pure pleasures, and the most affecting that I ever felt in my life”,

In a word, is there a more delightful fentiment than that of beneficence! To pour the balm of confolation in the bofom of distress, in the bosom of a distreffed family!-Ye vo

lup

The Governess?

luptuous, can your intoxication, can your pleasure adinit of any comparison to this?

Beranger gave Daminville the all, the little he had in his pocket, and ran to his lodgings to fetch more to the aew-married couple; he anticipated their wants; every day was marked with fresh inftances of his benevolence; but how much were they aggrandized by his delicacy? It has been faid that the foul of an unhappy perfon was the chef-d'oeuvre of fenfibility. He who knows how to beftow, to confer a favour, may, perhaps, feel more; and if his feelings for the unfortunate are not flight, the worthy benefactor is always in fear of offending him.

(To be continued.)

THE GOVERNES S. (Continued from Page 314.) Accordingly defcribed, in a letter, the gentleman in queftion from the character I had heard of him, and defired her advice.

Her reply was short, and to the purpose. Go, my dear Lizzy," faid fhe, "you may be trufted any where. I fhall depend upon your marrying the old man as foon as you conveniently can, and fecuring for yourself an establishment for life."

I made my aunt laugh at this epiftle: but though fhe did not copy Mrs. Mafters, in ordering me to marry Mr. Forfter, the faid the thought I might do very well in fuch a place, and invited the gentleman and his daughter to drink tea with her, that we might have an opportunity to know how we liked each other.

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ception from that at Mrs. Grantham's, or at Mrs. Monfon's, though the lat ter was very partial to me.

Mr. Forfter placed me at the head of his table, prefented the keys of the family to me, and told me I was the miftrefs of his fervants. From that I found I was to act in a more extenfive capacity than I had hitherto appeared.

As I had but one young pupil to inftruct, and as Mr. Forfter had immediately closed with my aunt's terms for me, I had no reason to think my. felf under-paid, especially as Mifs Forfter had been already taught to read, write, and conftrue the French verbs by her father. The first, and dulleft part of her education had been begun, and I had only the more pleas ing parts to enter upon, and as my pupil had very good talents, I conceived the greatest hopes of making fomething of her.

While I was in this agreeable situa. tion, I received a letter from Mr. Graham, in which he informed me, that my filter was very near her time, and that he could not be easy without my coming to stay with her.

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This requeft I could by no means comply with: I was, indeed, exceedingly anxious about her health and fafety, but I rejoiced at having it in my power to make a fufficient excufe for declining an apartment in Mr. Graham's houfe. I wrote a kind and encouraging letter, however, to Kitty, with a refpectful poftfcript to her hufband, containing only my thanks for his invitation, and good wishes for my fifter. I then applied myfelf to the bufinefs allotted me in Mr. Forfler's family, and endeavoured to make his daughter derive profit from my instructions, and to gain also her affection Mr. Forfter expreffed himself quite and efteem; and I believe I should pleafed with me, and as he had the have been very highly in her favour, appearance and behaviour of a gentle- bad I not, unfortunately, proved more man, I had no objections to make to agreeable to her father than his famiwhat I had feen. His daughter was ly thought neceffary, to every part of a very pleafing child, and he told me which he introduced me with the moft fhe was the exact image of her mother, flattering encomiums, which put me of whom he spoke in the highest terms. to the blush, and made me feelingly I, therefore, went to his houfe in a sensible, at the fame time, that his refew days, and met with a different relations were alarmed by them. In

VOL. X.

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