ness in old people. But though the aged and infirm are most liable to this evil, (and they alone are to be pitied for it); yet we sometimes see the young, the healthy, and those who enjoy most outward blessings, inexcusably guilty of it. The smallest disappointment in pleasure, or difficulty in the most trifting employment, will put wilful young people out of temper; and their very amusements fiequently become sources of vexation and peevishness. How often have I seen a girl, preparing for a ball, or for some other public appearance,-unable to sa tisfy her own vanity,-fret over every ornament she put on, quarrel with her maid, with her clothes, her hair; and, growing still more unlovely as she grew more cross, be ready to fight with her looking-glass for not making her as handsome as she wished to be! She did not consider that the traces of this ill-humour on her countenance would be a greater disadvantage to her appearance, than any defect in her dress, or even than the plainest features, enlivened by joy and good-humour. There is a degree of resignation necessary even to the enjoyment of pleasure; we must be ready and willing to give up some part of what we could wish for, before we can enjoy that which is indulged to us. I have no doubt that she, who frets all the while she is dressing for an assembly, will suffer still greater uneasiness when she is there. The same craving, restless vanity will there endure a thousand mortifications, which, in the midst of seeming pleasure, will secretly corrode her heart; whilst the meek and humble generally find more gratification than they expected, and return home pleased and enlivened from every scene of amusement, though they could have staid away from it with perfect ease and contentment.

Sallenness, or obstinacy, is perhaps a worse fault of temper than either of the former,-and, if indulged, may end in the most fatal extremes of stub. born melancholy, malice, and revenge. The resentment which, instead of being expressed, is nursed in secret, and continually aggravated by the

imagination, will, in time, become the ruling pas. sion: and then, how horrible must be his case, whose kind and pleasurable affections are all swallowed up by the tormenting as well as detestable sentiments of hatred and revenge!" *Admonish "thy friend, peradventure he hath not done it; or, "if he hath, that he do it no more.-Admonish "thy friend, peradventure he hath not said it; or, "if he hath, that he speak it not again."-Brood not over a resentment which perhaps was at first illgrounded, and which is undoubtedly heightened by an heated imagination: but, when you have first subdued your own temper, so as to be able to speak calmly, reasonably, and kindly; then expostulate with the person you suppose to be in fault; hear what she has to say; and either reconcile yourself to her, or quiet your mind under the injury by the principle of Christian charity. But if it should appear that you yourself have been most to blame, or if you have been in an error, acknowledge it fairly and handsomely: if you feel any reluctance to do so, be certain that it arises from pride, to conquer which is an absolute duty." A soft an"swer turneth away wrath;" and a generous.confession oftentimes more than atones for the fault which requires it. Truth and justice demand that we should acknowledge conviction as soon as we feel it; and not maintain an erroneous opinion, or justify a wrong conduct, merely from the false shame of confessing our past ignorance. A false shame it und ubtedly is, and as impolitic as unjust, since your error is already seen by those who endeavour to set you right: but your conviction, and the candour and generosity of owning it freely, may still be an honour to you, and would greatly recommend you to the person with whom you disputed. With a disposition strongly inclined to sullenness or obstinacy, this must be a very painful exertion; and to make a perfect conquest over yourself at once, may perhaps appear impractica

Eccl'us xix. 13.

ble, whilst the zeal of self-justification, and the abhorrence of blaine, are strong upon you. But, if you are so unhappy, as to yield to your infirmity at one time, do not let this discourage you from renewing your efforts. Your mind will gain strength from the contest, and your internal enemy will, by degrees, be forced to give ground. Be not afraid to revive the subject, as soon as you find yourself able to subdue your temper; and then frankly lay open the conflict you sustained at the time: by this you will make all the amends in your power for your fault, and will certainly change the disgust you have given, into pity at least, if not admiration. Nothing is more endearing than such a confession; and you will find such a satisfaction in your own consciousness, and in the renewed tenderness and esteem you will gain from the person concerned, that your task for the future will be made more easy, and your reluctance to be convinced, will on every occasion grow less and less.

The love of truth, and a real desire of improvement, ought to be the only motives of argumentation: and, where these are sincere, no difficulty can be made of embracing the truth, as soon as it is perceived. But, in fact, people oftener dispute from vanity and pride, which makes it a grievous mortification to allow that we are the wiser for what we have heard from another. To receive advice, reproof, and instruction, properly, is the surest sign of a sincere and humble heart,-and shews a greatness of mind, which commands our respect and reverence, while it appears so willingly to yield to us the superiority.

you

Observe, notwithstanding, that I do not wish to hear of your faults without pain: Such an indifference would afford small hopes of amendment. Shame and remorse are the first steps to true repentance; yet we should be willing to bear this pain, and thankful to the kind hand that inflicts it for our good. Nor must we, hy sullen silence under it, leave our kind physician in doubt, whether the operation has taken effect or not, or whe

ther it has not added another malady, instead of curing the first. You must consider, that those who tell you of your faults, if they do it from motives of kindness, and not of malice, exert their friendship in a painful office, which must have cost them as great an effort as it can be to you to acknowledge the service: and, if you refuse this encouragement, you cannot expect that any one, who is not absolutely obliged to it by duty, will a second time undertake such an ill-requited trouble, What a loss would this be to yourself! How difficult would be our progress to that degree of perfec tion, which is necessary to our happiness, were it not for the assistance we receive from each other. This certainly is one of the means of grace held out to us by our merciful Judge; and, if we reject it, we are answerable for all the miscarriages we may fall into for want of it.

I know not whether that strange- caprice, that inequality of taste and behaviour, so commonly attributed to our sex, may be properly called a fault of temper; as it seems not to be connected with, or arising from our animal frame; but to be rather the fruit of our own self-indulgence, degenerating by degrees into such a wantonness of will as knows not how to please itself. When, instead of regulating our actions by reason and principle, we suffer ourselves to be guided by every slight and momentary impulse of inclination, we shall, doubtless, appear so variable and inconstant, that nobody can guess, by our behaviour to-day, what may be expected from us to-morrow; nor can we ourselves tell whether what we delighted in, a week ago, will now afford us the least degree of plea sure. It is vain for others to attempt to please us; -we cannot please ourselves, though all we could wish for, waits our choice: and thus does a capricious woman become "sick of herself, through very "selfishness:" And, when this is the case, it is. easy to judge how sick others must be of her, and how contemptible and disgusting she must appear. This wretched state is the usual consequence of

power and flattery.-May my dear child never meet with the temptation of that excessive and ill-judged indulgence from a husband, which she has happily escaped from her parents, and which seldom fails to reduce women to the miserable condition of a hu moured child, always unhappy from having nobody's will to study but its own! The insolence of such demands for yourself, and such disregard to the choice and inclinations of others, can seldom fail to make you as many enemies as there are persons obliged to bear with your humours: whilst a compliant, reasonable, and contented disposition, would render you happy in yourself, and beloyed by all your companions,-particularly by those who live constantly with you; and, of what consequence this is to your happiness, a moment's reflection will convince you. Family friendships, are the friendships made for us (if I may so speak) -by God himself. With the kindest intentions, he has knit the bands of family love, by indispensable duties: and wretched are they who have burst them asunder by violence and ill-will, or worn them out by constant little disobligations, and by the want of that attention to please, which the presence of a stranger always inspires, but which is so often shamefully neglected towards those, whom it is most our duty and interest to please.-May you, my dear, be wise enough to see that every faculty of entertainment, every engaging qualification, which you possess, is exerted to the best advantage for those, whose love is of most importance to you; -for those who live under the same roof, and with whom you are connected for life, either by the ties of blood, or by the still more sacred obligations of a voluntary engagement.

To make you the delight and darling of your family, something more is required than barely to be exempt from ill-temper and troublesome hu mours: the sincere and genuine smiles of complacency and love must adorn your countenance: that ready compliance, that alertness to assist and oblige, which demonstrates true affection, must animate