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PLEASURE ANTICIPATED.

not to be imagined that we should be commanded to abound in love to each other whilst in this imperfect state, if in a state of perfection the principle was to be annihilated.” "I think," said Miss Finakin," 'tis time enough to talk of what we shall meet with in heaven when we get there.""Dost thou not anticipate the pleasures which thou expectest to meet with at the play-house and the ball-room?" asked Mrs. Placid. Miss F. was compelled to answer in the affirmative. "But that," added she, " is a very different case. "Yes, indeed," rejoined Mrs. P——“ the case is widely different; for one pleasure is vain and transitory, the other substantial and everlasting; but the argument is good for both, and whilst thy party hold it reasonable to enjoy by anticipation the pleasures they pursue, they must allow it to be. equally so for our's." "Excellent logic! madam,” cried the scholar," no student in our college would attempt a confutation."

Our vehicle now made a sudden stop, in conse quence, as we found, of a shower of rain, and our gay captain petitioned to be admitted as he had not a great coat, and indeed if he had been provided with that necessary article, he appeared one of that puny race who "suffered not the wind of heaven to visit his face too roughly." "Squeezing work," said the 'squire," but if the ladies will accommodate, we'll see what can be done." "Certainly," replied Mrs. P. " we ought to accommo

THE COMPANY ENLARGED.

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date our fellow-travellers, if possible, some of us are slender; Rachael, sit as close to me as thou art able." She did so, and matters were rendered more comfortable than I expected ;-we had now an addition to our company, but how far we enjoyed it, the reader shall judge for himself, if he pleases, in the next chapter.

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CHAP. IV.

A dissertation on the art of conversation. The 'Squire makes an offer to the Widow Placid, who gives her opinion upon scandal. The Captain discovers a new misery, and utters a groan on the occasion. The scholar offers a hint upon education, which rouses the captain's poetical genius. Mrs. Placid decides the controversy. A frolic in high style from the Captain concludes the chapter.

"WELL, captain," said our country-gentleman, who, if the reader pleases, we will for the future distinguish by the name of Bustle, "I hope you have no objection to good conversation; this gentlewoman here (looking at Mrs. Placid) has entertained us for the last twenty miles with such, and I dare say will proceed." "Excuse me, friend, at present," returned Mrs. P. " perhaps before we part, I may conclude the subject on which we have been discoursing; but other topics may now be more interesting." The captain very politely protested he should be sorry to interrupt them, " but upon my honour," added he, " conversation is a bore, as 'tis generally managed; it either takes the air of a debating society, a party of geographers assembled to discuss winds, weathers, and climates, or a criticism on the characters, persons, and for

GOOD CONVERSATION.

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tunes of our neighbours." "There is a good deal of truth in your observation, I think, sir," replied the collegian," but those who see the defects, may perhaps improve the art, of conversation: I therefore hope you will take the subject into serious consideration." "I like cheerful entertaining conversation, as well as any one," observed Miss Finakin; "but when it cannot be made so, we have an excellent substitute in cards-they are ever at command to relieve an insipid visit, and even in a moral point of view, as the serious people would say, they are useful, and act as a check to scandal in many instances." "If," replied the student, "the absence of cards necessarily produces the presence of scandal, I should heartily unite in your last sentiment, madam; but this you must allow is far from being the case; and, indeed, I fear that many a reputation has been wounded between the deals of a card-table." "I wonder," said Mr. Bustle, "how people can take delight in talking scandal; for my part I hate it worse than a lame horse." "Most persons," observed Mrs. Placid, "have some sin which most easily besets them. It happens, I suppose, that this is not thine, and therefore thou wonderest. I wish thou wouldst examine thy heart diligently, and try to discover what error thou indulgest, at which other people in their turn might wonder. Thou wilt excuse my plain speaking." "Yes, yes," rejoined Mr. Bustle, "I have no objection to plain speaking:

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THE TONGUE UNGOVERNABLE.

do you ever speak in public?" Mrs. P. answered in the affirmative." Then," said the 'squire, "you shall have my barn whenever you please, and I'll come and hear you." "I wish," continued Mrs. Placid," there were more persons to be found in the world, who, as the poet WATTS says, Will scarce believe an ill report,

Nor vent it to their neighbour's hurt.'

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But I am far from thinking, that all who speak ill of their neighbours are actuated by a settled principle of ill-will and malice in their hearts. It is often done inadvertently, and for want of due reflection. The tongue is,' as James says, 'an unruly member which cannot be tamed; and he seems to intimate, that if it could, so that we never offended by it, we should be arrived at perfection. This being the case, we must make due allowance for faults of this nature, though certainly the fault itself cannot be too severely censured and guarded against; and it is every christian's duty to set a watch on the door of his lips, that he offend not with his tongue." No one interrupting Mrs. P. she went on: "I have been reflecting on what has dropped respecting conversation, and I cannot imagine why reasonable beings should ever be at a loss for rational discourse. Thou sayest," addressing Miss Finakin, " that an insipid visit is relieved by the card-table; but why should there be insipid visits?" This was a pointed question, and I felt my curiosity excited to hear Miss Fina

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