not to the beauty of her perfon, or the accomplishments of her mind, but to her future expectations, and the prefent weight of her purfe: whether he is a fury or a fool is a matter of no confequence; the greatnefs of her fortune ftifles every other confideration, and, as if there were no poffibility for the virtues to dwell any where but with opulence, he takes her without knowing whether fhe is poffeffed of any one, and gains the approbation of the whole world for fo prudent a folicitude about the main chance.

As we know that the foregoing method is the general criterion of conduct among the men, why fhould they be offended with the fair fex for making it the standard of theirs?-Is it more furprifing that a woman fhould marry a lumpkin for his money, than that a man fhould give his hand to a fool for her fortune?

Charles Courtly for a long time paid his addreffes to Mifs Harriet Hartley, and was fortunate enough to engage her esteem; a day was appointed for the wedding, friends were invited, clothes were made, and no preparations were omitted for the proper celebration of the folemnity. Two days before the appointed one, a widow, with a large jointure at her own difpofal, made fome advances to him. He was caught. The defire of having an unneceffary difh at dinner, or a ufclefs fet of horfes in his ftable,

prevailed

prevailed over his honour and his love, and he fold that hand to a fuperannuated fimpleton, which he had before, in the most folemn manner, promised to exchange with the every way engaging Harriet."O fhame! where is thy blufh?”

THE MAID OF THE HAMLET.

A TALE.

L

AURA was one of the fix daughters of Mr.

Hartley, who refided in a fmall village in the county of Hereford, on an eftate which he inherited from his ancestors. Laura was the eldest child; and from her birth had been the favourite of a maiden aunt, who left the whole of her property to her infant niece. The amount of the old lady's perfonal eftate was very confiderable; and that of her real formed an income of five hundred pounds a year. The refidence of this relative was at a fmall distance from the village; and, being furrounded by a few scattered cottages, was denominated the Hamlet. Hence the heir to her fortunes acquired the appellation of The Maid of the Hamlet,"

When

When Laura had obtained her eighteenth year, The found herself furrounded by a numerous levee of admirers; fome of whom paid their court with a view of sharing the establishment which her departed relative had provided her; others were actuated by less interested motives; but none had effected the smallest impreffion on her heart.

Among the circle of her acquaintance, was admitted the only fon of the curate of the village; a youth of modeft mien and unaffuming manners. Vincent Plomer had a heart fufceptible of the most tender fenfations: can it then be wondered at, that the united efforts of worth and beauty, which were eminently confpicuous in the mind and person of the fair Laura, fhould kindle in his breast the ardent flame of love? Such, indeed, were their effects on the humble Vincent; yet dare he not reveal the fecret of his fondness. With much concern, his aged father faw the alteration which was daily making in his conftitution: frequently would he urge him to disclose the caufe of the grief which preyed on his mind, and drained from his cheek the bloom of health. Still he denied that he was unhappy; and ftrove, by a forced cheerfulness, to convince his friends of their mistake.

Vincent during his refidence at the University, among his numerous ftudies, had made a confider

able

able progrefs in the fcience of mufick, of which he was always paffionately fond. He played on feveral inftruments; but his favourite was the German flute, his execution on which was exquifitely fine.

Laura, was alfo much attached to mufick, would frequently importune Vincent to play fome of the most favourite airs then in vogue; and the pleasure he received in obeying the wishes of the woman he loved was too great to be refifted.

Calling accidentally in one of her evening walks at the parfonage, the difcovered Vincent in his study, fitting at a table with a pencil in his hand, in the attitude of drawing. So attentive was he on the fubject before him, that he heard not the entrance of Laura; who, croffing the room in soft and wary step, peeped over his fhoulder, and beheld an admirable likeness of herself nearly in a finished ftate.

The thought, which fhe had long cherished, that he entertained a fond regard for the original, at this moment recurred to her mind with increased force; and the concluded that the concealment of his paffion was the cause of his declining health and dejected fpirits. Retreating a few paces from his chair, fhe faluted the attentive artist, who instantly rofe; and, by his embarrassed address, confirmed the fufpicion fhe had imbibed.

Το

To the eyes of Laura, the features of Vincent were more than ufually pale and languid. She intimated her thoughts of the vifible decline there appeared in his conftitution; obferved, that the alteration could only be attributed to fome hidden caufe, which preyed on his mind; and lamented the error he committed in denying his friends the privilege of of partaking in his forrows and adminiftering to his griefs.

Vincent thanked her for the concern fhe expreffed for his happinefs; and affured her that he fhould ever retain a due fenfe of the friendship and esteem with which fhe honoured him.

Come, come, Vincent," faid Laura, with a fmile of bewitching fweetnefs, "make me your « confidant. I will not betray the truft, on my "honour. Say, has not fome girl got the poffeffion "of your heart? and is not love the fource of your "uneafinefs?"

Vincent fighed heavily; and, taking up his flute, played, in the most pathetic manner--

"How fweet the love that meet's return!"

His fair auditor liftened with the most profound attention to the melancholy cadence of this favourite air; and Vincent, cafting a glance on the attentive beauty, faw the tears of fenfibility glistening in her