him, soured his temper; and, in the midst of these mortifications, he became unjust, and cast the whole blame of his own errors on his family. They, unused to controul, high spirited and vain; systematically determined to oppose the necessary changes; and seemed ready to prefer any expedient, to that which good sense and necessity pointed out. The brother, too, had been accustomed to the life of a gentleman. The few farming orders he gave, were soon expedited; and considered as a burden that must be borne, to keep father in temper. Such was the state of things in Mr. Jennings's family, when Michael, coolly declining the honour of the alliance, had seemed to open the old man's eyes more clearly to their real situation. Mrs. Jennings was, in fact, the most to be pitied of the party. She was an ignorant, goodtempered woman, who had worked very hard to exalt her children; and, though it was misguided zeal, one cannot but pity the parents, whose blind fondness hath led them to spend their labour for that which satisfieth not. And surely, it will touch every mother with sympathy, to see any one thus disappointed in hopes cherished for so many years, and to find herself surrounded by a set of listless, indolent beings, awake to no exertion, but that of

vanity;-cherishing no hopes, but the unfounded ones of romantic promotion, to which neither their birth, education, or personal attractions, had in the remotest degree entitled them. We cannot feel for them; but we do feel for the weak, suffering parent.

Mr. Lascelles, whose goodness of heart was universally acknowledged, by people who did not understand his principles, was the first person of whom Mr. Jennings thought, in his present exigencies:-" he would go to him straight, that he would!" So he began to walk quicker and quicker up and down his little parlour-" yes, I'll go; I'll go and consult with him." He had scarcely walked half way, ere he was met by his excellent pastor, whose keen eye saw at a glance, that something more than ordinary was working in his mind. "Well, my good Sir," said this kind-hearted minister, so you are walking away very briskly this afternoon. "I was just going to your house, Sir."-" Indeed! why I don't very often see you there, Mr. Jennings." "No, sir, that's very true; and I don't know that you would have seen me now, if I had been quite easy in my mind. Where all is right, we seldom think of the parson." Mr. Lascelles. "I cannot understand that." Mr. J.—“Why, ye see, Sir, times of dan

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ger, and death, and such like, are times when ye are most wanted; it seems like your business, Sir, then."-Mr. L. “Well, Sir; if you have any thing painful or distressing to communicate, will you do me the pleasure to walk to my house; any counsel or assistance I can afford you, are freely yours." The farmer was unused to such prompt kindness;-it seemed to affect him; he stammered out something about "he didn't deserve such kindness while Mr. Lascelles continued to say, that "any thing within his power- -and it would be a pleasure to oblige him."

By this time they reached the Rectory. As they entered the parlour, where Mrs. L. was sitting at work with her two little girls, they rose with that cordial politeness, which they were in the habit of practising continually; and Mr. Jennings was impressed with respect, for which he could not account. Thus it is, where urbanity is the ruling principle. It insensibly awes the mind, and prevents those advances to familiarity, which the ignorant are sure to fall into, unless thus repressed. They gathered up their little work-baskets. Pray, madam, don't disturb yourself, I can speak afore you ;"—and these few words from Mr. Lascelles-" you had better remain, my love,"-determined her; and she resumed

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her seat. There was something formidable, both to the speaker and to the hearers, in this interview. There never had been any thing like cordiality between them. Mr. Lascelles entirely disapproved of the manner in which this family was conducted; but of course, he never interfered; and a lofty politeness alone, of which they felt the force, kept them at a distance, and made them feel they were not in the number of his particular favourites. Yet, such was the confidence which true worth ever inspires, that there was not a moment's hesitation in the mind of Mr. Jennings, as to whom he should turn in sorrow. Why, madam," said the farmer, twisting his hat about, and placing his stick quietly on the ground, "I've got a large family, and the times are very hard: and I thought, among your great relations and friends, and acquaintances, and what not, you might know of a situation as might suit some of my daughters. I thought they might do, (for they've had the best of educations,) for governesses to young ladies; or, perhaps, they would not mind waiting on a lady of quality, only they must not be obliged to be in the servants' hall. They would'nt mind dining with the chaplain, or any thing of that.". "Mr. Jennings," said Mr. Lascelles, "the chaplain sits at the table of his lord,

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where his rank places him; and, of course, would not be the companion of ladies' maids."—"Oh, I ask pardon, Sir; I didn't know.""I thought you did not, and therefore I stated the fact; but, I really think your daughters would find the most permanent employment, as housekeepers in some steady family, or perhaps they might take in work."-Mr. Jennings hemmed; for he felt conscious they were incompetent to either. My dear," said Mrs. Lascelles, "it strikes me, that Miss Jennings might keep a preparatory school for boys, under their father's roof. I cannot go out much, Mr. Jennings; but I think I could be of use to your daughters in this way; I have two dear little nephews coming on a visit to me, and if your daughters would come to my house every day, for a month, I would point to them such things, as they must principally attend to, in the training of little boys, as to their manners and habits, and point them to such books, as would be most likely to facilitate their progress."

"Madam, you are all goodness," said the happy father; "I will go home, and tell my daughters;" and Mr. Jennings returned to his own house. No sooner was the door closed, than Mr. Lascelles said, "Now, Mentoria, with your sense, and just discrimination, how you could ever