I was

credit; the child of so many prayers could only be as I was. at this time about sixteen years of age, but commencing life so early, I felt like twenty, and I anticipated all the enjoyments which awaited me. About this period, our society were gratified by a most unexpected acquisition. A gentleman of great fortune, who had been a virulent opposer of the Methodists, became a zealous convert to their tenets, and, with his lady, joined our congregation; no event had ever given such exultation, such complete satisfaction. They had belonged to the Presbyterian meeting, and their numerous kindred, worshipping there, continued inveterate adversaries. Between my father and the new convert the warmest friendship took place; and his good lady, who was indeed one of the first of women, became as warmly attached to our family as her husband. They had been converted at the same time; and as new converts are always the most zealous, this good couple, although advanced in years, used to rise at four in the morning, in the depth of winter, and go round among the neighbours, in order to arouse them in time to attend morning service, which was regularly at five o'clock, winter and summer; our house being in the way, they never omitted calling upon us; my father was not always well enough to accompany them, but I never failed, and the delight they took in me was great. Their family consisted of two sons, one older than myself, and one of my own age, and two daughters younger than their brothers for a long season this family, and ours, spent at least a part of every day together; they met constantly at Church, and had beside many private interviews. Mr. Little, the name of our new friend, belonged to a class of which my father was the leader, and Mrs. Little to my mother's band. The classes generally consisted of twelve, beside the leader. The band was formed from the classes, and consisted of six, beside the leader. These bands were composed of true believers, and of one sex, and condition: The single women, the married women, and the widows, the single men, the married men, and the widowers. My mother was a leader of a band of married women. The youth, I have mentioned, of my own age, sought and obtained my confidence; I conceived for him the warmest affection, and I had every reason to suppose the attachment mutual; we passed many delightful hours together, and the discovery of our friendship gave real satisfaction to our parents. The eldest son adhered to the Church, the family had left; and the only daughter who was of age to decide, embraced the principles of her parents. From our connexion with these worthy

people, I derived great pleasure; I was much beloved by the principals of the family, and I had great delight in the society of their children. I have frequently retired with my young friend to read, and pray, we had in fact no solitary pleasures. It was in the closet of this friend, that I first became acquainted with Addison, Pope, Parnel, Thomson, and Shakspeare; we read those writings together, never shall I forget the avidity with which I seized, and the delight with which I perused those authors, I was beyond expression fascinated by their numbers; but I thought best carefully to conceal this, new source of enjoyment from my father. The library, to which I thus obtained free access, was very extensive: besides the books already named, it contained much to attract a young mind; novels, essays, and histories, by a frequent perusal of which, I was both informed, and improved. Thus, in the full enjoyment of sweet serenity, glided on many happy months; my time was divided between the habitation of my father, and his friends; I enjoyed the warm regards of every individual of this amiable family, the eldest son excepted, nor was he a malignant foe; he contented himself with making a jest of our devotion, which only served to attach us the more closely to each other: but, as the affection of the youngest son grew for me, it appeared to diminish for his brother. This fact rendered his parents unhappy, and I myself was seriously afflicted, lest I should be regarded either directly, or indirectly, as the source of their inquietude. They, however, did not hesitate to impute to their eldest son's aversion from religion every thing unpleasant between their children, and I had credit for my full share of that rectitude, and correct conduct, to which their youngest son was, by nature, so uniformly inclined. It must, however, be confessed, that the first-born was not without causes of irritation; I was evidently the brother of his brother's affection, I was the object of his parents' regard, his eldest sister discovered, on all occasions, a very strong partiality for me, and even the youngest, a child of about six years old, made me the confidant of all her little secrets, often hung about my neck, with infantile fondness, while her sweet endearments were precious to my heart. It was not then, I repeat, very wonderful, if the young gentleman, who felt himself aggrieved. should become very unhappy, and very muchmy enemy. While I was thus considered as a child of this family, a young lady, a distant relation of Mrs. Little, was introduced as a visitor; she also was a Methodist, and of great piety. My young friend, and myself, were in the parlour when she entered, but soon withdrew, when we

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both agreed, she was the most ordinary young woman we had ever beheld; she was, I presume, more than twenty-five years of age, under the common stature, of a very sallow complexion, large features, and a disagreeable cast in her eye; yet this same young lady had not been more than three weeks under the same roof with us, before we both became violently in love with her. Many days however elapsed, before either became acquainted with the passion of the other; but I could never conceal any thing long, especially from this my second self; and on a summer evening, as we pursued our usual walk through a flowery mead, on the margin of a beautiful river, both sadly pensive and sighing, as if our hearts were breaking, my friend mournfully inquired: "What, my dear Murray, afflicts you? why are you so sad?" I am ashamed of myself, I cannot tell you the cause of my distress. "Not tell me! would you, can you conceal any thing from me?" I felt the full force of a question, asked in a tone of endearing sympathy. No, my friend, you shall be made acquainted with my whole heart, I will have no reserves to you: but you, you also are unhappy, and I am ignorant of the cause! Depend on it, I shall not hesitate to give you every mark of confidence, when you shall set the example." Well then, my brother, my friend, will you not wonder, (and indeed I am myself astonished) when I assure you, that I have conceived for Miss Dupee the strongest, and most tender passion! He started, appeared confused, and for some moments we both continued silent. At length, taking my hand, he said: "I pity you from my soul, nor do I blame your attachment; for, however unattractive in person, who that hears Miss Dupee converse, who that has any knowledge of her mind, can avoid loving her, even as you love her; and to prove to you how fully I am qualified to sympathise with you, let me frankly own, that I also love this charming woman.". This unexpected avowal greatly afflicted me, I trembled lest so strong a passion, for the same object, should eventually prove fatal to our friendship. I expressed to this dear, amiable youth my apprehensions, when he caught my hand, and with glistening eyes, exclaimed: “ Never, my brother, no never shall any thing separate between thee and me. By first communicating your sentiments, you have acquired a prior right, which I will not, dare not invade. No one else shall hear of my infant love, I will not allow myself to see her, but when seated by your side; and although I love her more than any body I ever have, or, as I believe, ever shall see, I never will be the cause of your unhappiness." This generosity was

E

people, I derived great pleasure; I was much beloved by the principals of the family, and I had great delight in the society of their children. I have frequently retired with my young friend to read, and pray, we had in fact no solitary pleasures. It was in the closet of this friend, that I first became acquainted with Addison, Pope, Parnel, Thomson, and Shakspeare; we read those writings together, never shall I forget the avidity with which I seized, and the delight with which I perused those authors, I was beyond expression fascinated by their numbers; but I thought best carefully to conceal this, new source of enjoy.. ment from my father. The library, to which I thus obtained free access, was very extensive: besides the books already named, it contained much to attract a young mind; novels, essays, and histories, by a frequent perusal of which, I was both informed, and improved. Thus, in the full enjoyment of sweet serenity, glided on many happy months; my time was divided between the habitation of my father, and his friends; I enjoyed the warm regards of every individual of this amiable family, the eldest son excepted, nor was he a malignant foe; he contented himself with making a jest of our devotion, which only served to attach us the more closely to each other: but, as the affection of the youngest son grew for me, it appeared to diminish for his brother. This fact rendered his parents unhappy, and I myself was seriously afflicted, lest I should be regarded either directly, or indirectly, as the source of their inquietude. They, however, did not hesitate to impute to their eldest son's aversion from religion every thing unpleasant between their children, and I had credit for my full share of that rectitude, and correct conduct, to which their youngest son was, by nature, so uniformly inclined. It must, however, be confessed, that the first-born was not without causes of irritation; I was evidently the brother of his brother's affection, I was the object of his parents' regard, his eldest sister discovered, on all occasions, a very strong partiality for me, and even the youngest, a child of about six years old, made me the confidant of all her little secrets, often hung about my neck, with infantile fondness, while her sweet endearments were precious to my heart. It was not then, I repeat, very wonderful, if the young gentleman, who felt himself aggrieved. should become very unhappy, and very muchmy enemy. While I was thus considered as a child of this family, a young lady, a distant relation of Mrs. Little, was introduced as a visitor; she also was a Methodist, and of great piety. My young friend, and myself, were in the parlour when she entered, but soon withdrew, when we

both agreed, she was the most ordinary young woman we had ever beheld; she was, I presume, more than twenty-five years of age, under the common stature, of a very sallow complexion, large features, and a disagreeable cast in her eye; yet this same young lady had not been more than three weeks under the same roof with us, before we both became violently in love with her. Many days however elapsed, before either became acquainted with the passion of the other; but I could never conceal any thing long, especially from this my second self; and on a summer evening, as we pursued our usual walk through a flowery mead, on the margin of a beautiful river, both sadly pensive and sighing, as if our hearts were breaking, my friend mournfully inquired: "What, my dear Murray, afflicts you? why are you so sad?" I am ashamed of myself, I cannot tell you the cause of my distress. "Not tell me! would you, can you conceal any thing from me?" I felt the full force of a question, asked in a tone of endearing sympathy. No, my friend, you shall be made acquainted with my whole heart, I will have no reserves to you: but you, you also are unhappy, and I am ignorant of the cause! Depend on it, I shall not hesitate to give you every mark of confidence, when you shall set the example." Well then, my brother, my friend, will you not wonder, (and indeed I am myself astonished) when I assure you, that I have conceived for Miss Dupee the strongest, and most tender passion! He started, appeared confused, and for some moments we both continued silent. At length, taking my hand, he said: “ I pity you from my soul, nor do I blame your attachment; for, however unattractive in person, who that hears Miss Dupee converse, who that has any knowledge of her mind, can avoid loving her, even as you love her; and to prove to you how fully I am qualified to sympathise with you, let me frankly own, that I also love this charming woman." This unexpected avowal greatly afflicted me, I trembled lest so strong a passion, for the same object, should eventually prove fatal to our friendship. I expressed to this dear, amiable youth my apprehensions, when he caught my hand, and with glistening eyes, exclaimed: "Never, my brother, no never shall any thing separate between thee and me. By first communicating your sentiments, you have acquired a prior right, which I will not, dare not invade. No one else shall hear of my infant love, I will not allow myself to see her, but when seated by your side; and although I love her more than any body I ever have, or, as I believe, ever shall I never will be the cause of your unhappiness." This generosity was

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