versity," for he is now the pride of his acquaintances, and his Mother. Maria. What a lesson is this for the ignorant. I shall remember the Insect as long as I live; this rose bower will be the place I shall in future prefer to any in the shrubbery: here, Mary, in this beautiful spot we will endeavour to become the wisest as well as the best girls in the world. I need not say we, but I will learn of you, that to be attentive to the precepts of our parents, is the safest and only method to become good and wise, ON ON BEAUTY. "Some beauty's snatch'd each day, each hour, For beauty is a fleeting flower: Then how can wisdom e'er confide, IT is a matter of astonishment to me, to observe the regard and reverence that is paid to beauty, in preference to the graces and accomplishments of the mind. It is certain, that no happiness or real advantage can be derived from it; and is it, as some argue, true, that those who are in possession of this fleeting gift, seldom or ever bestow any care or thought for the culture of the more valua'ble and lasting part, the mind? How anxious have I seen the fond and admiring mother, exercising all her contrivances to protect her fair daughter from any accident that might deface her with a scar, or stain her with a freckle: weak woman! rather turn thy attentive assiduity to thy favourite's future beauty; teach her the true loveliness of the soul, without which it is impossible she can be esteemed by any but the frivolous and vain. As life is, with so much propriety, compared to grass, by our holy Psalmist, so is beauty to flowers. Prior's beautiful poem of the Garland, conveys a charming lesson to youth, particularly to females; for who can read the poem, -without feeling a conviction of the truth of every word which it contains; but, lest my young readers should be unacquainted with it, the moral of it is, that of a lovely girl's returning from a visit of festivity; she had danced, sung, and, indeed, bore the belle at the wake; she wore on her head a garland of nature's sweetest orna ments, roses; in the midst of hila rity and youthful frolicks, these frail and fading beauties drooped their heads and died: nor was it discovered, 'till returning to her own reflections in the evening, and casting off the garb of gaiety, poor Stella saw, with grief, the change such a short period had made: she threw her garland on the ground, and, pointing to the flowers, she exclaimed, smiling, though |