thou canst impart! Hail, Gueft fublime, all pure and lovely, thou art wifely given by Providence adored, to footh the Ills of Life! "The cordial Drop "Heav'n in our Cup has thrown," to balance all our Pains and numerous Ills: By thee, each fordid Notion is exiled, and every Sentiment refined ; our Miens are fashion'd, and our Tongues are

..

fild" Charmed with the Love of my adored Louisa, I breathed a purer Element, and feem'd, nor only feem'd, but was infpir'd! The little bafe Defires indulged before, now fickened in my Thoughts, how mean, how low, how trivial!

Who to forbidden Joys would rove,

That knows the Sweets of virtuous Love!

ADDISON.

The present Ease of my Mind had fuch an Effect on my Body, that I was foon reftored to my priftine Health, and had at the fame Time the Pleafure to see my Louifa's Countenance arrayed in her ufual Smiles; the beauteous Vermeil, which had been fo long banished, resumed its Seat in her Cheeks, and gave an added Luftre to her Graces. Till this Time fhe had forgot to inquire into the Manner I received "my late Hurts, and the Confequences were to me fo falutary, that I even counted the Affault made upon me a Bleffing rather than a Misfortune; but when I happened to say, that I was coming to pay her a Visit, pursuant to a Mes

fage

fage I had received from her, fhe was astonished, and protested she had never fent to me, nay, had, even at that Period, refolved, if poffible, to wean herself from my Company, fearful of the Effects of that infinuating Paffion that she found had affaulted her Breaft. This opened a Field of Conjectures about the Author or Authors of the Cruelties that had been acted upon me, and we could, after long Examination, fix upon no one fo likely to have engaged in fo rash and base an Attempt, as her Coufin, who, tho' fhe believed he had little Affection for her, was too much fwayed by his Intereft to look upon her Regard for me with any Meafure of Patience or Forbearance.

She makes him her Confidant.-Her amiable Benevolence and Charity.-She furprises him by a Proof of her Goodness.-Story of an unfortunate Family.-Advice to young Ladies. He makes a Difcovery which he imparts to her. Her Sentiments of Religion.

N Rounds, and all was Happiness, and all was

OW, the gladsome Hours flowed in jocund

Love; each confcious Walk, each embowering Shade, was Witnefs to the blissful Moments I spent in the Converfation, in the Contemplation

of

of my amiable Louifa: Every Day difcovered ftill more and more Perfections in the Soul of that lovely Maid; I grew quite another Sort of Creature, and was fo improved by her Wit and good Senfe, that I breathed nothing but generous and noble Sentiments and Defires. It was one fmiling Morn, when I was in raptured Accents, fpeaking my Gratitude and Acknowledgments, that the interrupted me, and, with a Voice that fpoke the foftest Melody, told me, she was refolved to impart all the Pleasure he was now capable of beftowing upon me, and make me the Confidant of fome Secrets, that fhe doubted not would give me heightened Satisfaction; in fhort, Mr. Thompson, I will give you a Specimen of the Manner in which I chufe to fpend fome Part of my Time, which has given me ineffable Delight, and contains all the Secrecy I ever thought myself obliged or inclined to obferve. My Father's Generofity of Temper yields me an Opportunity, from the Overplus of my own Expences, to diffufe a Number of little benevolent Kindneffes amongst the poor Inhabitants of the neighbouring Villages, whom I endeavour to make as happy as I can, with what Providence has bestowed upon me. You must know, Sir, I think this one of the most grateful Returns I can make to my Creator, for the Bleffings of Abundance and Plenty he has imparted to me; and raises my Mind to an Imitation

of

of that Beneficence, wherewith he fuperintends and looks thro' whole Nature, fcattering his Bleffings, in fuch Profufion, upon his unworthy Creatures. A Heart that is not fufceptible of Humanity and Pity, that does not feel the angelic Transports that glow in the Bofom in relieving Poverty and Diftrefs, and Affliction and Grief, is unworthy the Enjoyment of the common Favours of Providence, and should be ashamed to partake even of the Sun's reviving Influence. I am foon tired with the Folly of my Toilet, any farther than it adminifters to Neatness and Decency; and the Books you know I generally converfe with give added Force to this Difpofition I find fo natural to me; but above all, that beft of Books, which I rega d as a Rule for my Salvation, in the strongest Terms inculcates the Neceffity of doing Good, and in so sublime a Manner, that a Ferfon must be dead to all Sentiment and Beauty of Expreffion, to difregard its Precepts. Nay, I will own to you, my Thomp fon, that my Observation of your Turn of Mind to benevolent Principles firft opened a Way to admit your Image into my Breaft. Come, come, continues the fmiling, I'll conduct you to a Scene that will be a Proof of what I have faid; fo faying, she struck across a Meadow, which terminated the Walk we were in, and rofe on one Side into a Hill of fome Height, whilst I followed her with filent Admiration; and methought he looked like

ore

one of thofe miniftring Angels, who, we are told, are employed in Acts of Love and Kindnefs to the fallen Race of Men. Oh Worth innate! Oh Goodness most extreme! I was forced to exclaim, what envied Fate is mine! thus to be confidered by the faireft, beft, and moft excellent Pattern of her Sex, adorned with inward Greatness, unaffected Wisdom, and Sanctity of Manners!

At the farther Side of this verdant Eminence, was a small Hovel, which refembled the ruftic Dwelling of Baucis and Philemon of old; and no fooner was our Approach difcovered by the Yelping of a small Cur that was frisking in the Sun-fhine, and ran crouching to the Feet of Louifa, than a comely Woman looked out and approached with a modest Diffidence, mingled with Joy in her Face, and faluted that Lady, in Terms of the utmost Veneration and Refpect; to which The replied with an Affability and Good-nature, that was calculated to diffipate the Confufion, that our fudden Appearance feemed to have inspired ; and afked, How her Hufband did To-day, and then inquired after the reft of her little Family by Name? My Lady, replies the honeft Dame, fince we had the Honour to receive your comfortable Present Yesterday, which came at a very seasonable Time, my Hufband has recovered his Spirits, and is upon the mending Hand. Oh, Madam! you have rendered us truly happy: May every Bleffing

crown

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