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poor; but I have not loft all hopes. My circumftances may change for the better.

4. As they were never tired of converfing together, the night drew on, and it became dark; Perrin, making a falfe step, fell on the ground. He found a bag, which was heavy. Drawing toward a light in the neighborhood, he found that it was filled with gold. I thank heaven, cries Perrin in a tranfport, for being favorable to our wifbes. This will fatisfy your father, and make us happy.

5. In their way to her father's houfe, a thought struck Perrin : This money is not ours-it belongs to fome ftranger, and perhaps this moment he is lamenting the lofs of it. Let us go to the vicar for advice-he has always been kind to me." Perrin put the bag into the vicar's hand, faying, that at first he looked on it as a providential prefent, to remove the only obstacle to their marriage; but that he now doubted whether he could lawfully retain it. The vicar eyed the lovers with attention.

6. He admired their honefty, which appeared even to furpafs their affection. Perrin, faid he, cherish these fentiments, heaven will blefs you. We will endeavour to find out the owner-he will reward thy honesty-I will add what I can fpare-you shall have Lucetta. The bag was advertifed in the newfpapers, and cried in the neighboring parifhes. Some time having elapfed, and the money not demanded, the vicar carried it to Perrin.

7. "Thefe twelve thoufand livres bear at prefent no profit-you may reap the intereft at leaft-lay them out in fuch a manner as to enfure the fum itfelf to the owner, if he fhall appear." A farm was purchafed, and the confent of Lucetta's father to the marriage was obtained.. Perrin was employed in husbandry, and Lucetta in family affairs. They lived in perfect cordiality, and two children endeared them ftill more to each other. Perrin one evening returning homeward from his work, faw a chaife overturned, with two gentlemen in it.

38. He ran to their affiftance, and offered them every accommodation his fmall houfe could afford. This fpot, cried one of the gentlemen, is very fatal to me.-Ten years ago, I loft here twelve thousand livres. Perrin liftened with attention What fearch made you for

them? faid he. It was not in my power, replied the ftranger, to make any fearch. I was hurrying to Port l'Orient to embark for the Indies, for the veffel was ready. to fail.

9. Next morning Perrin fhewed to his guefts his house, his garden, his cattle, and mentioned the produce of his fields. "All these are your property," addreffing the gentleman who had lost the bag; "the money fell into my hands; I purchafed this farm with it; the farm is yours. The vicar as an inftrument which fecures your property, though I had died without feeing you." The ftranger read the inftrument with emotion. He looked on Perrin, Lucetta, and the children.

10. Where am I? cried he-and what do I hear? What virtue in people fo low! Have you any other land but this farm? No, replied Perrin-but you will have occafion for a tenant, and I hope you will allow me to remain here. Your honefty deferves a better recompenfe, anfwered the ftranger. My fuccefs in trade has been great, and I have forgot my lofs. You are well entitled to this little fortune-keep it as your own.

17. What man in the world would have acted like Perrin? Perrin and Lucetta fhed tears of affection and joy." My dear children," faid he, kifs the hand of your benefactor. Lucetta, this farm now belongs to us, and we can now enjoy it without anxiety or remorfe." Thus was honesty rewarded; let thofe who defire the reward, pradife it.

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SOPH

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CHARACTER OF A YOUNG LADY.

OPHIA is not a beauty, but in her prefence, beauties are difcontented with themselves. At first the fcarcely appears pretty; but the more fhe is beheld, the more agreeable the appears. She gains when others lofe, and what he gains the never lofes. She is equalled by: uone in a fweet expreffion of countenance and without dazzling beholders, fhe interests them.

2. She loves drefs, and is a good judge of it; defpifes, finery, but dreffes with peculiar grace, mixing fimplicity with elegance. Ignorant fhe is of what colours are in fashion; but knows well what fuits her complexion.— She covers her beauties; but fo flightly, or rather artful

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ly, as to give play to the imagination. She prepares herfelf for managing a family of her own, by managing that of her father.

8. Cookery is familiar to her, with the price and quality of provifions: and the is a ready accountant. Her chief view, however is to ferve her mother, and lighten her cares. She holds cleannefs and neatnefs to be indifpenfable in a woman; and that a flattern is difgufting, efpecially if beautiful.

4. The attention given to externals, does not make her overlook her more material duties. Sophia's understanding is folid without being profound. Her fenfibility is too great for a perfect equality of temper; but her fweetness renders that inequality harmless. A harth word does not make her angry; but her heart fwells, and the retires to dif burden it by weeping.

5. Recalled by her father and mother, she comes at the inftant, wiping her eyes and appearing cheerful. She fuffers with patience any wrong done her; but is impatient to repair any wrong fhe has done, and does it fo cordially as to make it appear meritorious. If fhe happens to difoblige a companion, her joy, and her careffes when reftored to favour, fhew the burthen that lay upon her good heart.

6. The love of virtue is Sophia's ruling paffion. She` loves it, becaufe no other thing is fo lovely; She loves it, because it is the glory of the female sex; She loves it as the only road to happinefs, mifery, being the fure attendant' of a woman without virtue: She loves it, as dear to her refpectable father and tender mother. Thefe fentiments infpire her with a degree of enthufiafm, that elevates her foul, and fubdues every irregular appetite.

7. Of the abfent fhe never talks but with circumfpection, her female acquaintance efpecially. She has remarked, that what renders women prone to detraction, is talking of their own fex; and that they are more equitable with refpect to the men. Sophia therefore never talks of women, but to exprefs the good fhe knows of them: Of others fhe fays nothing.

8. Without much knowledge of the world, he is attentive, obliging, and graceful in all fhe does. A good difpo fition does much more for her than art does for others. She

poffeffes a degree of politenefs which, void of ceremony, proceeds from a defiire to pleafe, and which confequently never fails to please.

CHAP. XII.

1.

MODESTY, DOUBT, AND TENDER AFFECTION.
AGATHOCLES and CALISTA.

CA

ALISTA was young and beautiful, endowed with a great fhare of wit and folid fenfe. Agathocles; whofe age very little exceeded hers, was well made, brave and prudent. He had the good fortune to be introduced to Califta's, where his looks, wandered indifferrntly over. a numerous circle, foon diftinguished and fixed upon her.

2. But, recovering from the fhort ecftacy occafioned by the first fight, he immediately reproached himself, as being guilty of rudeness to the rest of the company; a fault which he had endeavoured to correct by looking round on other objects. Vain attempts! They were attracted by a pow erful charm, and turned again towards Califta. He blushed as well as the, while a fweet emotion, till then unfelt, produced a kind of fluttering in his heart, and confusion in his countenance.

3. They both became at the fame time more timid and more curious. He was pleafed with gazing at Calista, which he could not do without trembling; whilft Califta fecretly fatisfied with this flattering preference, caft her eyes on him hy ftealth. They were both under an appre henfion; but efpecially Califta, of being caught by the other in the fact and yet caught they were almost every

moment.

4. The hour of feparation came, which to them appeared too fudden: Melancholy. were the reflections they made on the rapidity of time. Imagination, how: ever, did not permit them to be entirely abfent from each other for the image of Califta was deeply engraven on the mind of Agathocles, and bis features were ftongly impreffed on that of Califta. They both appeared lefs, chearful the rest of the day. A lively fentiment, which they did not well comprehend themselves, entirely em.. ployed their minds, in fpite of every attempt to divert themfelves.

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3. Two days paffed without feeing one another again; and tho' this interval of time had been filled up either by bufinefs or recreations, yet they both, notwithstanding, experienced a wearinefs and diffatisfaction in their minds, for which they could no way account. Bnt the moment which bro't them together again, explained it to them: The perfect contentment they felt iu each other's company, made them fenfible of the real fource ef their melanchely.

6. Agathocles took more courage that day: He addreffed Califta in a moft obliging manner, and had the happinefs to converfe with her for the first time. As yet he had feen only her outward charms; but now he discovered the beauty of her mind, the integrity of her heart, the dignity of her fentimedte, and the delicacy of her mit; but what charmed him the moft was the opinion he conceived that fhe did not judge him uuworthy of her efteem.

7. From this time he made her frequent vifits: in every one of which he difcovered fome new perfection in the fair Califta. This is the charactetiftic of true merit; it gains by being expofed to the eye of a judicious perfon. A man of fenfe will foon diflike a coquette, a fool or a giddy woman: But if he fall in love with a woman of merit, time, far from weakening, will only ftrenthen and augment his paffion.

8. The fixed inclination of Agathocles convinced him, now, that what he felt for Califta, was love, and that of the moft tender nature. This he knew; but Capfta did not as yet know it, or at least had not learnt it from his lips. Love is timorous and diffident. A bold fuitor is not the real lover of the lady whom he addreffes: He feeks for nothing but pleafure.

9. Agathocles at laft refoleed to open his heart to Califta; but he did not do it in the affected language of a romantic paffion."Lovely Califta," faid he ingenueufly, it is not mere efteem that binds me to you; but a moft paffionate and tender love. I feel that I cannot live without you: Can you, withoun violence to your inclinations, confent to make me happy? I may love you without offence; 'tis a tribute due to your merit: But may I flatter myself with

the hopes of fome fmall return?

10. A coquette would have affected to be difpleafed at

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