"I hope I fhall never make any difference between relations and friends, as both are, and ought to be equally dear to us."I admired her fentiments, and loved her for being attached to me; but I was very well affured, that if I had ftaid in the house, our mutual regard would have been con verted into mutual diflike, in confequence of our refpective fituations.- I then wished her every kind of happinefs, thanked Mr. Forster for all the civilities 1 had received from him, and went to my aunt's, the fervant bringing my baggage after me. Mr. Forster, when he found that he could not prevail on me to remain in his family, fent me a bank note, and for a much larger fum than I had any right to demand for the time I had in ftructed his daughter. It was fealed up in a letter, in which he told me that he declined taking a formal leave of me, because he fhould be too much affected by it. : No fooner was I alone with my aunt, than I related all that had paffed the replied, that I knew beft what was most likely to make me happy, but that she could have wished it had been proper to remain where I was fo well treated. While we were talking over the affair in this manner, a fhort letter came from Mr. Graham, informing me that my fifter was delivered of a fine boy, after having had a very bad time, however; and begging me, as fhe was ftill in great danger, to fet out directly for his houfe, or I might not arrive time enough to find her alive. fimpleton, to refuse such an opportu nity of fettling yourself for life. I wonder what, in the name of fortune, you expect, Lizzy?" 66 Nothing fo much above my merit, Madam," replied I. 66 Nay, now you are too modeft," faid Mr. Hammond 66 your merit is beyond all price." There's a flight for you!" cried Mrs. Mafters." It is a pity, Hammond, that you have not Mr. Forster's fortune." This lively fpeech of my good friend's put both of us young folks out of countenance. I then told her I was going to fee poor Kitty, but that I did not intend to flay all night, propofing to return to my aunt in the evening. "That you fhall not," anfwered the, eagerly. You must neceffarily be late, and my houfe is nearest." Mr. Hammond here, modeftly enough, offered to meet me on my return, by way of guard, as he was in poffeffion of a friend's house for a few days. 1 thanked him, but affured him, at the fame time, that I had no fears to difturb me. I then fet off directly for Mr. Graham's. He received me with the greatest cordiality; but while he acquainted me with my fifter's dangerous fituation, did not feem fo much afted by it as I thought he would have been. As foon as I entered her apartment, he prefented his fon to me, who appeared to be in fine health, and looked as if he had taken a confiderable part of his poor mother's existence from her to add to his own. thing! fhe was not able to fpeak, but feebly preffed my hands in hers, and now and then put them to her lipa. I was very much affected at finding her in fo melancholy a ftate, and therefore, though I had determined to return home, on being earnestly intreat -Poor I was extremely fhocked at this intelligence, and with my aunt's approbation hired a poft-chaife to carry me to Mr. Graham's; but as I could not avoid paffing by Mrs. Mafters's house, I ordered the man to stop a few mo ments, while I ran in to inform her that I had left Mr. Forfter's. There was nobody with her but Mr. Ham-ed by Mr. Graham not to leave her mond, of whom I made no ftranger, as he was intimate in the family, and had been always very obliging to me. Mrs. Mafters had hardly patience to bear me, but exclaimed, "Oh, you while there were any hopes of her recovery, (in which requeft she made e very effort in her power to join her's) I felt myself incapable of refaling. In confequence of my compliance with The Female Reformer. 477 new, or genuinely inftructive, only what has been obferved and written a century ago by fome antiquated, demure, and fqueamish writers, whofe brains were turned by a redundancy of Gothic reflections, or the ravings of fome fanatical methodist. -Indeed, good Sir, you must not think of going on in this manner, or I fhall certainly mentioning the very books you have been writing out of fo long. "Mr. George R**y, who addrefles his letters to you, writes his oren thoughts, and not other peoples; I wish you did the fame; but I hope you will take this epiftle as the dictates of a real, though unknown friend, and hope it will prove that a word to the wife is fufficient. their folicitations, I difcharged my carriage, giving the driver notes both for Mrs. Malters and for my aunt, with my reafons for remaining where I was, being, at the fame time, refolved never to quit my filter's chamber till there was an abfolute neceffity for my leaving it. Accordingly prepared to fit up with her nurfe: this defign, however, was fo warmly op.expofe you to the whole world, by pofed, not only by Mr. Graham's family, who came foon after me, but by himself and poor Kitty, that 1, at last, confented to have a bed brought into a clofet within her room, on which I laid down part of the night, during which period I contrived never to fit with my brother alone. Every thing, my dinner, &c. was brought up into Kitty's room, and I really believe the received great relief from my conftant attendance on her; it gave her fpirits, and they were of infinite fervice to her. She gradually recovered her ftrength, but he had a very alarming complaint in one of her breasts, so that the child was, through neceffity, fuckled by another perfon: it was put out to nurfe at the end of the month, a measure which hurt me exceedingly, but I did not perceive that the parents fuffered any uneafinefs from it. HE following letter, being addreffed to the Female Reformer, fhall be taken into confideration, and properly attended to. "MR. REFORMER, "I have read with attention many of the numbers you have written to our fex in the Lady's Magazine, and muft acknowledge I think they are principally extracted from old fashioned books on devotion, prudence, and female manners. You advance nothing| "I remain, Sir, "Your humble fervant, "P. S. I fhould be much obliged to you for your own thoughts on the the conftitution and employments of Pleasures of a Rural Life, as adapted to the female fex, in contradiftinction to the amusements and diverfions of the bau monde in London." If you can find room for the infertion of the following in your next Magazine, it will be esteemed particularly kind. IMPELLED by a motive of hur fome kind reader a cure for the cramp. manity, I beg leave to requeft of The perfon afflicted is advanced in years, and fuffers fo much from that complaint, as to pafs whole nights correfpondent be able to communicate without fleep. Should any worthy tial fervice to the poor fufferer, and a an effectual remedy, it will be an effengreat obligation conferred on Oxfordshire. Their most obedient, A SE On the VALUE and USEFULNESS of out in raptures, "What is there, O ye KNOWLEDGE. "Knowledge by time advances flow and wife, gods, more defirable than knowledge? What more excellent and lovely? What more useful to a man? What brings fo much quiet and fatisfaction?"-The admired, and ever memorable Shakefpeare fays, "Knowledge is the wing facred past declares it is far preferable to any thing this world can bestow. Happy (fays he) is the man that findeth wifdom, and the man that getteth underftanding; for the merchandife thereof is better than filver, and the gain thereof than fine gold: fhe is more precious than rubies, and all the things thou defireft are not to be compared to her:" NDISPUTABLE it is that know-wherewith we fly to heaven."-The I ledge is lovely and amiable in her felf, and the nobleft acquifition that can be made by human nature. She it is who conducts us in the way of truth, exalts the mind, and enables us to detect error; opens to our view foenes of permanent and unutterable pleasure, and at length guides us imperceptibly to the bright feat where joy abounds, where happiness confummate for ever dwells!'Tis fhe who teaches us to with"Attend, oh man, nor leave her side, draw the veil from nature; fhe it is who And fafety fhail thy footsteps puide; fweetens the bitter draught of life, Such truth's he'll teach, fuch fecrets fhow, leads us along the thorny road, enlight-As one but favour'd mortals know, ens the faculties of the foul, multiNotwithstanding knowledge is of fo plies its ideas, and holds out to us amiable a nature, and fuch a noble acnew fcenes of pleasure and improve-quifition, there are very few who have ment, which before lay obfcured in refolution enough to fhake off their leclouds of ignorance and darkness. thargy of mind, and awaken their torBy contracting, therefore, an intimacy pid powers to feek after it. Very few with her, the gloom which hung over there are who hunt after this treasure,or our minds is difperfed, inftruction finds will take the pains to rouse themselves its way into every avenue of the foul, from the bed of floth to obtain it. we become acquainted with the won-Unacquainted with its worth and ufederful works of Providence, creation is laid open to our view, we confider what we are, and what we shall be, The great advantage and usefulness ef knowledge muit be obvious to every one who confiders its excellence and importance. From this fuperiority we derive the appellation of rational creatures: 'tis this which raifes our being, and diftinguishes us from the brute creation. The advantage of birth, wealth and beauty are nothing; they claim no merit when put in competition with knowledge. Ignorance, faith a celebrated author, is as bad a distemper in the eye of the mind, as blindnefs in thofe of the body. Knowledge and learning are molt elegant accomplishments worthy the acquifition of all. The great Ciecro cries fulness, they think it unneceffary. Strangers to the advantages which it yields, nothing defirable prompts them to the acquifition. Their minds are enveloped with the dark mifts of ignorance, and they care not for the iucid beams of inftruction to break in upon them and difperfe the gloom. Knowledge, though here amongst us it fhines with meridian luftre, enlightens but a few only the majority of mankind remain in as much darkness and ignorance, as if they lived among the moft ftupid and untutored nations. "Tis true fome there are that make efforts after knowledge; but they do it fo languidly that the most trifling avocations draw them away. Others there are who would wish to gain fo advantageous a bleffing: but they are bewildered in their purfuits, and when juft conducted in the way that would lead them to it, they are difcouraged by The Value and Usefulness of Knowledge. y many obftacles which lay in the oad, and relapfe again into the forner ftate of ignorance, in which they re content to fit down, rather than ndeavour to furmount the difficulties, r exert their powers.. Others are led fide by pleasure; her flowery paths atract their attention, lead them out of he way, and captivate all their affecons. The fafcinating goddefs fooths heir minds and guides them on till fhe as made them her votaries, and alired them to ruin; then her rofes de, the voice of melody ceafes, the yous day is at an end; and inftead f being conducted to the powers of ifs and happiness as they vainly imained, they find the fallacious forcerefs as forfaken them, and left them quite orlorn and bewildered amidst inextri 481 ledge, and is defirous of enriching his mind with the treasures which the beflows, never wants employment. In her extenfive, capacious, and delightful fields he may range at large, and find objects ever new to engage his attention. To fuch a one every moment of time is precious, and not a particle flips away unimproved. Whereas to them who are ignorant and never feek after knowledge, or wifh not to im prove their minds, what a burthen is this inestimable talent! How heavy does it hang on their hands! How tirefome are their hours for want of amufement, especially if they happen to be alone, and have no friend to divert their thoughts!-Ah! did they know the worth and importance of learning, and the pleafure and fatisfaction which accompany the acquifition of knowledge, the ufe of books would appear to them more eligible than a lounging indolent way of life; and ftudy and agreeable reading, which enriches the mind and enlightens the understanding, would be abfolutely more engaging than light and trifling converfation, to which frivolous amufement many devote the greateft part of their time. Want of time is faid to be a great obftacle to our advancement in knowledge, but I believe it may be faid with greater propriety, we want not verance. As pleafure is of fo engaging, fo al-time, but rather diligence and perfeiring a nature, men catch at her with ager impetuofity: knowledge is def- Fidelio is a great lover of knowfed, and its votaries are incompara-ledge, and has often attempted to afly lefs numerous than thofe of the ormer, and why? Because the paths which lead to it are lefs inviting, and nore difficult to be found. It is this vhich difcourages the generality of nankind. Their mental faculties are lfo wholly taken up with pleafure, ›r lulled into a kind of ftupid indolence, which quite incapacitates them for intruction, unbends their mind, enfeebles their innate powers, and at length renders them so lazy and inactive, that they are totally unfit for ftudy, and quite incapable of inveftigation. The perfon who thirfts after know- cend the fteps which lead up to her temple; but he is always complaining they are teep and difficult, and he wants more time, tho' he conftantly ipends almost half the day in foolifh vifits and worthlefs amufements. In fact I believe he wants not time but rather courage, perfeverance, and refolution. Unlefs, therefore, he exerts himfelf, and shakes off this torpidity of dif pofition, he will never attain to any li terary abilities. As well might the hufbandman expect to reap a crop from the field he has never tilled or fown, as we expect to gain knowledge and 3 Q under ped up in future thoughts.-A time: will come when earth, and feas, and fun, and ftars fhall be no more - what then will be my thoughts-Think, oh think then now !-Think-that time is nothing to eternity, think,-all nature, fun, and earth, and man, and angels are nothing-to thy God. Think, that thou art to thyfelf thy all; understanding without taking pains to tree enjoys its fhadow undisturbed, Improve, and render the mind capable the unruffled rivers glide fmoothly on of receiving them. reflecting nature's face; here thro' this The life of man, tho' much contract-road, by the fide of this fair stream, ed by incidental distractions and ine-let me fteal gently, ftep by step, wrapvitable avocations; tho' leffened by fleep, refreshments and neceffary recreations, affords us notwithstanding a Jarge space for improvement. In the literary world many have rifen to eminence, in oppofition to all the obftacles which external circumstances could place in their way. The life of Erafmus was one continued peregrination, yet he found means by a vigilant im-thy felf once loft, nothing can give thee provement of thofe hours which in the midft of the most restless activity, will remain unengaged, to write more than another in the fame condition would have hoped to have read. He joined to the knowledge of the world fuch application to books, that he will stand for ever in the firft rank of literary heroes. The Praife of Folly, one of his moft celebrated performances, was compofed by him on the road to Italy, left the hours which he was obliged to fpend on horseback should be tattled away without regard to literature. Market-Lavington. J. L-G. joy or pain from without, but all will be concentered in thy own mifery: if hap pinefs be thy lot, then wilt thou be capable of enjoying alfo the happiness of others, thus redoubling thy own Oh! my foul, behold yon fpangled fky-count the number of the ftars No-thy counting fails, then think on that eternity which awaits thee in another world; think too now, how great is the goodnefs of thy God, te grace our little world with beauties te attract the eye and captivate the mind. Beauties by day to cheer, to enlivens to call forth thy active powers, to buf tle with the bufy, beauties and blef fings inviting thee to fee, to tafte, te fmcll, to hear.-Beauties too, Oh fee by night, beauties tranfcendent and glorious; fuch as draw up the eye to OW all is hufhed, and nature yon vaft concave, where the mind's ey, feems to make a paufe; the fun follows in filent wonder, quickly paf has withdrawn his radiance, yet thefing from ftar to ftar, till truck with gloom from yonder western fky be- the beauty of the whole, it feels "the fpeaks him ftill at hand, promifing to hand that made it is divine." return with his reviving warmth, when nature is refreshed with darkness. An EVENING MEDITATION. NOW The moon borrows her light, and beflows it upon us; fhe arifes in filent majesty, humbly waiting to reign when he refigns his throne. No chorus ufhers in her reign, no rays pronounce her approach; gently fhe fteals on the world, and fits in filent majelty to view the good he does. She lights the wandering traveller, fhe warms the earth with gentle heat, fhe dazzles not the eye of the philofopher, but invites him to view and to admire.-How ftill is nature! not a breeze! each Paffion, at this filent hour and awe ful fcene, fhrinks away unperceived and every light idea flies off. The mind takes the reins, and the body feems for a while to partake of that fpiritual nature it will have hereafter. Liften then, while reafon is uninterrupted, to the filent councils of nature;-every fhadow whifpers, fuch are you! A breeze may blow you away,-to-morrow you may be no more; tread then-as now-with caution through the flippery paths of life; beware of the briars and thorns that lie athwart your way; miftake not shadow for fub ftance. |