t

body of their deftroyer: but before one in ten thousand could get at thee, every particle of it was devoured; fo ill proportioned was the offender to the offence.

This flory made fuch an impreffion on the Sophi, that he would not fuffer above one dish of meat to be brought to his table ever after.

By this, my dear children, you may learn to avoid the odious vice of gluttony, and that those who give into it, are only worthy to be claffed with brutes; as inordinate eating or drinking debafes every pobler fentiment of the foul; and renders us alternately ftupid, vicious and wicked.'

"Tis very early yet madam, faid Mifs Beaver, and I hope we have none of us, by any fault, deferved the punishment of being excluded the indulgence you taught us to expect." "I have no fault to find with

any

of you, my dear pupils," faid Mrs. Corbett, "and shall therefore continue to amuse you till the hour of retirement. I will now relate two inftances of Reproof, in one little ftory I lately read.".

On

ON

REPROOF,

« IT requires a certain greatness of foul to reprove without pride and to receive it without a fecret indignation. Among private men, it deftroys friendship; and among the great, whoever attempts to undeceive them runs the hazard of their displeasure. Philip of Macedon, whofe virtues rendered him as confpicuous as his crown, as he was going on an expedition, was stopt by an old woman, who demanded of him to rehear a cause in which fhe had been injured: Go woman, faid he, I am not at leifure: If

you are not at leifure to do juftice, replied fhe, why do you not lay aside being king? Philip upon this ftopped, examined the affair, and redreffed her grievance. A Spanish merchant on the coaft of Africa having been plundered by one of the late Muley Molock's alcades, threatened to demand justice, but was obliged to take refuge among the woods. Some months after Muley paffed that way with his court, the merchant went directly to the road, feized the bridle of Muley's horfe, and demanded juftice against the alcade who had wronged him. Muley, aftonished at his boldness, asked him if he knew who he was?" I know, faid the Spaniard, that thou art an emperor of Morocco, and I know therefore that it becometh thee to do me right. Muley called for the Alcade, and finding him guilty, commanded him inftantly to be beheaded, ordering the merchant to receive a triple recompence out of his effects; and as he was withdrawing, the prince reproached

proached the meanness of his courtiers, by faying to them, Behold a Man.

True greatness is never fo amiably dif played, as when it repreffes the arrows of adverfity or adminifters juftice to the diftref

fed.

"Your ftories are very entertaining, my dear governess, and you are very good to relate them," faid Mifs Sawbridge; but I have fometimes heard fuch pretty stories of boys and girls, birds and beasts,-Ah madam! I wish you could favour us with one of them.

"I know not," answered Mrs Corbett, "whether I can exactly fuit you, but as you are a very good girl, I will relate one con, cerning three little fishes."

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