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think of making the Miss Jennings's governesses to gentlemen's children, I cannot conceive!" Why, my dear, little boys want to be kept nicely clean, and to take good exercise; and there are a few little gentlemanly habits, which I thought I could put Miss Jennings in the way of teaching them." "Doubtless

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you could; but, my love, where is the refinement of mind, and the thousand nameless delicacies, which none but a polished character could impart; and then, Mentoria, what can you do without the piety?" Mrs. Lascelles was silent; she felt that her husband was right. in for it, my dear; what can I do?" nothing: I am persuaded Miss Jennings will decline the employment; and, in that case, you know, the business is finished. It is an arduous undertaking, my love; and girls of such idle habits, will not easily be induced to accept such a charge.

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As Mr. Lascelles had foreseen, so it proved. When the honest farmer, with heart elate, related to his wife all the goodness of Mr. and Mrs. Lascelles, she was pleased to see him pleased; but she greatly feared, whether her daughters would like to slave after children. "Would they like to eat, woman; tell me that?" said her husband. She was frightened at his

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angry manner of speaking; and replied, My dear, I can't think what is come to you to day; ye are not like yourself." "No; that's very true; I am not. I have been a thriving man; that day is gone by; I'm poor, and I've a parcel of idle, gaping people about me, that can't bring in a shilling, and have got rare appetites; and want to be dressed out every day of their lives, like Duchesses. Oh, how much better would my girls look in a tidy stuff gown, like Fanny Meredith, at the Mill.' "Fanny Meredith, indeed!" said Mrs. Jennings, with an involuntary look of astonishment; "I hope, Mr. Jennings, you don't compare my daughters with Fanny Meredith!" "Indeed I do not; I think Fanny Meredith as much beyond my daughters, in every respect, as Mr. Lascelles is beyond me.' "Why, my dear, you seem to take a delight to bring me low to-day; first, to humble me before my children, about my poor dear father that's dead, and now to be trampling down my children to the dust, as I may say. "Wife; I never did mean to fret ye; but ye are very foolish about your children; ye seem blind to all their nonsense, and can't see a fault they have got.' "Well, my dear, if I can't see their faults, I think you can't see their good their good qualities." This

gentle speech of the poor, vexed mother, had its effect; and he again said, "Mary, I do not wish to grieve you; but the girls are out of their places, and ye must be sensible on't." Well, my dear, let us put them in gently." Very well; only see that it is done." He gave her his hand, and she went to seek her daughters.

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Louisa was standing with her back to the door, when her mother entered, putting her drawers in order ; Antoinette was sitting on one chair, her feet on another, and a book in her lap, reading. Come, put by the book; I want to speak to you, girls. Why don't ye speak, Louisa? I'm worried out of my life." "Mother, how could I speak; I had three pins in my mouth; but you are in such a fluster; what is the matter now?" "I came to tell you what Mr. and Mrs. Lascelles have been saying." Mr. and Mrs. Lascelles ! Why, I never knew as they were much acquainted with our family!" No, indeed, nor I; but your father seems to have taken an odd turn; he has been and opened all his heart. "What! to Mr. and Mrs. Lascelles?" Tiny laughed, and said, "she supposed papa was going to turn Methodist." "Well, don't worry me, girls; but hear what I've got to tell you." They had scarcely patience to

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hear their mother through. "I'd sooner be Becky, our girl, who washes the milk-pails, than I'd be tagging with a pack of little boys, two and two, before me to church. No, I thank you, mother; it shan't be said of me, that I'm a hardhearted governess, seizing the poor little struggling things, just as the hawks do the young chickens. Much obliged to Mrs. Lascelles, all the same. Pray, who are we to thank for this very kind thought? Is it pa's own, or did Madam Lascelles put it in his head?" "Whose thought it is, I don't know," said the mother; "but this I know, that between ye all, I'm pretty nigh weary of my life; and when I'm laid under the green sod, perhaps ye may know that ye had once a good mother:" and with the dread of what she should say to her husband, she sank down in an hysteric fit.

The farmer had determined to give his wife sufficient time for explanation; so he mounted his horse, and rode off to a farmer's, about five miles distant. The first thought the young ladies had, was to run down, and fetch papa to assist in recovering mamma; and, by endeavouring to put into his head that mamma's distress was on account of the new plan, effectually to stop him. But, in this they were completely disappointed. Their father was

out, the sisters were gone for a walk, and there was not a single creature but themselves in the house. So the hartshorn was fetched, and cold water, and all the remedies they could think of; but it was full two hours before she was restored; and they then prevailed on her to go to bed, where her wearied frame at length reposed in peace. Still, they cherished a hope of being the first to inform their father. They knew he was fond of his wife, and would not willingly do any thing to teaze her. At length he arrived, and they began with a melancholy story, how ill poor mamma had been. It's just as I thought; you are a couple of undutiful girls." Vain was remonstrance, and endeavours to persuade him, that it was the thought of parting with them which distressed her, and made her so ill. "Your mother was very well, when I left her, and would not all at once have been so distressed; you must have said something to worry her; I will know the truth. If I don't get it from you, I will from her." "Oh, pray, papa, do not begin again, and vex her beyond every thing." "Then speak the truth. When she proposed what I sent her about to you, did you make any, or the slightest objection?" "Of course, papa, we did not like to leave you and mamma and home." "Come, let's have