the vanities of the world, that he looked for supreme happiness from God alone; but he considered his future prospects as opening the way to approach one of the greatest of earthly blessings. He set out on his tour with a hope it would please the Sovereign disposer of events, to crown his prospects with the privilege of calling Prudentia his; and of enjoying in the possession of a person so amiable, the common blessings of life, and the invaluable comforts of godliness.

After having travelled for several days, and made his usual candid reflections, he wrote to his father a general account of what had passed since he left home; and of what he had seen in his present tour, in particular.

HONORED FATHER,

Though I have written to you several times before, and have received your kind answers, yet I have not transmitted any particular relation concerning my travels, and the reflections which have occurred during them; and my very happy acquaintance in the family of your old friend, Mr. P. and other respectable families, with whom I have had the pleasure to be acquainted. I cannot give a detailed account of the past, but shall, in future, convey to you whatever I observe worthy of your notice. I know of no one to whom I may write with greater confidence, and to whom I am under greater obligations. Though absent from you, I still regard you as a father; and as a father for whom I ought to have the highest esteem. I remember, with gratitude, a thousand kind offices you have performed in my behalf.

I feel that my youthful feet are in danger of slipping; and that the indiscretion common to my age, may betray into difficulty. Though I have reason to be thankful that a gracious Providence has so surrounded me with faithful and experienced friends, that nothing disgraceful has befallen me; yet I know I am not hereby secured from future danger. You will not, I trust, forget to pray for me, nor omit any means you judge conducive to my present and future felicity.

Several things have transpired since I left home, which I have judged worthy of notice, and have been faithfully comImitted to paper. I had never conceived, before, that the characters of human life were so various.

The family of your old friend so much resembles home, that recollection was sometimes required to convince me I

was not under your friendly roof. Domestic and Christian virtues there shine out in a pleasing lustre. The most inviting harmony, the best directed economy, the nicest prudence, united with liberality to the poor, an even and well regulated piety, and a daily manner of life and conversation, highly calculated to please and profit, seem to have taken up their perpetual abode in that family.

I found in General Americus, both the patriot and the christian-a man of riches and humility. His lady is a person of admirable temper and exemplary conduct.

I have seen in the character of Prudentia, all you described to me the evening before I left home. She permits me to indulge a hope that the period approaches, when the union of our hands shall witness that of our hearts. Your opinion as to the time proper for this desirable event, and other circumstances relating to it, will be received and followed with gratitude.

It was my intention to have given you some particulars of my present journey, but the length of the preceding remarks, render it improper. It shall not be long before I communicate them by letter. In the mean, while, you will not fail to present my most dutiful respects to an indulgent mother, and affectionate brothers and sisters.

Sept. 1814.

Your dutiful son,

C. OBSERVATOR.

HONORED FATHER,

The day after I left the house of Mr. P. I discovered a new shade in the human character. The information given in this letter, was received from a person of unquestionable veracity. Two young women, said he, daughters of the same parents, took it into their heads to be ladies. The father had a good trade, gained a comfortable living, but had little property before-hand. Bent as they were on being ladies, they would do no housework, would neither spin nor weave, and were rarely seen with their needles. The afternoon was usually spent from home, when they sat and folded their hands, played with their pretty fingers, or some other such rational amusement occupied their time; because some one had told them, that the first rank of ladies never carry work abroad. Their industrious father suffered, not only the loss of their time, but as they were ladies, they must have genteel visitors

also; and as the old tea-set was too ordinary, a new and costly one must be furnished; and as a further proof of their just elaim to ladyship, they must have wines and cordials, loaf sugar, best of hyson, rich cakes, and sweet meats. For to be a step behind the richest, in the elegance and luxury of their entertainments, was an impoliteness not to be endured.

New and costly dresses added to the bill of expence. These must be laid aside or given away if a little soiled, nor would it comport with the rules adopted, to wash and iron for themselves; but the earnings of an honest father must go for the support of this mark of polite distinction.

It was not long before the house was too mean for the residence and reception of such distinguished personages; the unfortunate father, therefore, had no rest till he was prevailed on to build one in an elegant style, and fit up an apartment to suit the exalted taste of his daughters. This, together with their former extravagance, involved him in debts he was unable to pay; he was therefore obliged to give up all and remove, in a state of poverty, to another place. But his daughters would be ladies still.

One of them at length married, which only increased her notions of the dignity of living without work, and of politely folding her hands. If one went only into her parlour, he would see nothing offensive, except an idle woman, dressed much above her rank and fortune. But a peep into her kitchen and closets would suddenly remind him of a hogpen.

Her husband was obliged to help her cook, because the fire would spoil her delicate face; her time was so taken up with compliments, visits, and nothings, as made it needful to hire her sewing and knitting; and she would not consent to have the noise of the wheel and loom in the house, for fear some of the grandecs should suspect she employed herself with them; which would have been such an indeliable disgrace, as never could be obliterated.

Her husband struggled against these hindrances for a time, and did all in his power to keep himself from sinking; but his efforts proving ineffectual, he at last sunk under his misfortunes; and is now likely to be tormented, during his whole life, with poverty, and a lazy, sluttish, would-be sort of a lady.

You will not fail to present my warmest filial affection to an aged and worthy mother, and to my highly esteemed rothers and sisters. As ever yours, &c.

C. O.

Charles having written where his father' might direct a letter, he rejoiced to find it according to his expectation.

MY DEAR SON,

I have received and read yours with pleasure. It af fords me no small satisfaction, that you have hitherto been preserved from disgraceful immoralities. But never think yourself so secure, as not to need the constant influence of grace, incessant watchfulness and prayer, and the advice of the best friends.

Be cautious not to indulge a censorious spirit, and thereby attach blame where it does not belong. Men, who set out to examine the characters and shades of characters in human society, are exposed to partiality on one side or the other. If they are rather loose in their own morals, they seldom see blemishes in the characters of men; but exalt vices as shining virtues. If, on the other hand, they are austere and rigid they are prone to pronounce a hasty sentence on unavoidable infirmities; and to misrepresent or exaggerate every fault.

The path for you to walk, lies between these extremes. You have need of a quick discernment, a sweet and charitable temper; that by the one you may discriminate between good and evil, and by the other be led to speak of both, with all the candor of an impartial critic.

If such be the method you pursue, I have a hope you will return like a bee, which draws honey from every flower. But if you fall into either of the extremes, you will be in danger of becoming relaxed in your morals, or slanderously sour in your speech and behaviour.

Fail not to write at every opportunity.

Your affectionate mother, together with your brothers and sisters, join in expressing their tender regard for you. L. OBSERVATOR.

Charles daily noticed the nice shades of character; finding a subject for another letter, he wrote as follows:

HONORED FATHER,

It is with pleasure I acknowledge the receipt of yours; and more especially for the very good advice it contained. It is not among my smallest earthly blessings, that I am blest with a father so capable and willing to advise.

Since I wrote last, the character of an undutiful son has come to my knowledge; which, though it may not be pleasant, will be a lesson of instruction.

As is too often

He is the only son of a man of wealth. the case with only sons, he met with extreme indulgence in his childhood. He early discovered a roguish disposition; but was never blamed or punished, and seldom advised, and even then with a softness which made no impression. If a neighbor complained against him, the father was sure to be offended and to justify the son.

As he grew in years he grew in mischief. By the time he was sixteen years of age, he regarded neither home nor parents. He commanded a company like himself, who plundered fruit gardens, and committed many other petty depredations.

At this early age he visited the houses of lewd women, spending among them whatever he could get. In one of his visits his father learning where he was, went to persuade him away; the young sinner had the impudence to reproach his father with the crime of which he was guilty. The father left the place; to mourn in bitter anguish the ruin he saw approaching, and his own misguided indulgence.

He frequently plunged the old gentleman into debts, which he was obliged to pay; and his oft repeated breaches of law, drew immense sums for fines and costs of prosecution; till at last, he was reduced to poverty. When his father could no longer keep him from prison by buying off from the law, he fell a miserable victim to his own folly, and was condemned to the State's Prison.

This should be a warning to parents not to be too indulgent, lest they prepare a dagger to plunge into their own bosoms. Nor should sons themselves, be regardless of the fate of this unhappy wretch. What is first intended only as a diversion, may open the way to a dungeon or gibbet.

Before I close this letter, I must give you another shade. A young man, the son of a gentleman of moderate fortune, was foppish and lazy from a child, but at twenty resolved to be a gentleman. He then put on his best coat with a ruffle shirt, new boots, a watch in his pocket, and went strutting about the streets. He soon found some other idle gentlemen like himself, their intimacy led to habits of gambling and drinking, which afforded nothing for a new coat or to ruffle a second shirt; his watch went to pay a tavern bill, and in one year he was a dirty, gentleman-drunkard; shunned and despised by all who knew him. Your dutiful son, C. 0.