dulity was not a little ftaggered. Her Ladyfhip fnapped at the bait; and the late facetious Jemmy Worfdale was appointed to perfonate the conjurer, in a lodging within a few doors to the real magician. Jemmy, being acquainted with her ladyfhip's affairs, told her the most remarkable tranfactions, to her great aftonishment. He then acquainted her lady ship, that there was an occurrence upon the point of taking place, which would be the most important of her whole life. Her ladyfhip being very inquifitive to know the particulars, he informed her, "That fhe was on the point of being married." "Indeed!" faid fhe: "pray, Mr. Conjurer, to whom?" "I am not," he replied, at liberty to acquaint you, at present, who is the perfon; but I can acquaint you when and where you will fee him, and point out to you his drefs." Blefs me! tell me, I beg of you." "On Thursday next you will be walking in the Park: you will there obferve a tall, fair gentleman, remarkably handfome, dreffed in blue and filver: he will bow to a perfon in your company, the first time he meets you: upon his return, he will join your party. It is irrevocably fixed by fate that man is to be your husband." Her lady ship asked no more questions, but refolved not to fail being in the Park the day the conjurer had mentioned.

D

D-, appeared dreffed precifely as defcribed; bowed, joined, and, in three days, was married to her lady fhip.

THE

NEGRO GIRL.

N a fertile and lonely vale, fituated on the coaft

IN

of Devonshire, a humble cottage appeared in the midft of a grove of trees that furrounded it. This peaceful and romantic retirement was calculated to infpire that pleafing calm and foft tranquility which those who mix in the gay and tumultuous scenes of the bufy world never experience. The cottage was now in the poffeffion of Mrs. Manfel, a lady whom, in the period of her paft life, misfortune had marked for her own. She had been brought up under the roof of her parents, but the fevere and tyrannical difpofition of her father, rendered the existence of those who lived with him very unhappy: he had loft his only fon while in his infancy, and this contributed in a great measure to four a temper not naturally good. Her mother was a woman poffeffed of uncommon fense and understanding, and likewife of extraordinary piety: fhe was careful that her daughter

fhould

fhould want none of the advantages a liberal education could beftow; and was at particular pains. to inftill into her mind thofe principles of religion which can alone afford true confolation under the heavy weight of misfortune: which can alone enable the mind to bear with fortitude the calamities incidental to all the human race; and which teach. the woe-worn foul to fubmit with pious refignation to the will'of Divine Providence. This excellent mother Mrs. Manfel loft when fhe was only fixteen, her father had never behaved tenderly to her, and fhe had now to fuftain alone the whole of his unkind treatment.-She lived in this ftate for about two years; the greateft part of that period fhe fpent in folitude. At the end of it fhe became acquainted with Captain Manfel; his difpofition and character very much refembled her own, and his mild and amiable manners, before fhe was aware of it, made a deep impreffion on her gentle heart. He was an officer in the army; his good qualities had endeared him to all who were acquainted with him; and had raised him to the rank he then held, though only in his twenty-fecond year. His fortune was not splendid, but it was fully adequate to all his defires, and he was ever ready to relieve the wants of thofe who flood in need of his affiftance. The charms of the lovely Mary had infenfibly won his affections, and he formed an attach

ment

ment to her which death alone could diffolve. With her confent, he made propofals to her father; he very readily agreed to their marriage, for as he had never taken any pleasure in the company of his daughter, to deprive himself of it entirely coft him no facrifice. As her mother had left her a moderate fortune, which fhe was to receive on her marriage, fhe was put in immediate poffeffion of it; but from her father fhe received nothing but his good wishes for her welfare and happiness. Captain Manfel and his amiable partner lived for three years in as perfect a state of felicity, as this tranfitory life will admit of; during this period Mrs. Manfel had borne one daughter which was the only child they ever had. In her the mild virtues of both her parents fhone confpi cuously with rapture they faw her infant graces daily expanding, and delighted themfelves with the profpect of feeing this promifing dawn of every virtue break forth into an unclouded day: but, alas! this bright vifion of ideal blifs was about to be obfcured for ever in darknefs; and the fair fabric of years of happiness which they had been raifing, was on the point of being for ever levelled with the duft.

Captain Manfel received orders to join his regiment which was ftationed abroad, he had only

two

return.

two days warning, and departed-never more to In three months after his departure, his wife received the melancholy news of his death; -he had fallen in the defence of his country. This was a moft dreadful stroke to her, and it was on this trying occafion that fhe was under the neceffity of exerting all her fortitude: the pangs of affliction may shake, but can never totally overpower the fortitude of a mind deeply impreffed with the fublime truths of religion. Mrs. Manfel, though dreadfully diftreffed at this afflictive ftroke of Providence, yet reflected that her infant daughter had now no other earthly protector than herfelf, as her father had died fome time before, leaving her what fortune he poffeffed. She devoted her time to the education and instruction of her child; and no one was better qualified for fuch an undertaking; this lovely girl grew up the admiration and delight of all who knew her; but another misfortune was preparing for her mother, if poffible, more bitter than that fhe had experienced in the death of her husband. This amiable and accomplished daughter, at the age of eighteen, fell into a confumption, and at the end of three months died. Thus deprived of her deareft bleffings, Mrs. Manfel had no felicity to expect in this world except that which flows from benevolence and charity :-objects on whom to exercise

S