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Although in my own mind I despised the giddy restless insignificants that figured in this perpetual drama, yet as I considered myself as a passenger only for the time, I submitted to be carried along with the stream, and partook of the flying amusements as they occurred. I did not lose sight, however, of my own scheme; as the spring approached, I gave hints of my return to Homely Castle, and announced the day for our departure. My Lucy, who never disputed my will, prepared herself; but I could observe that she became grave and thoughtful, as the time approached for our setting out. We left our friends, and got safely home.

"The smiles of our little infant were for some time his mother's sole amusement; but this, as mere amusement, for it carried no active employment along with it, after some months began to lose its relish. The feeble exertions, which too late she endeavoured to call to her aid, were too weak to resist the demon of indolence, with languor and melancholy in his train, that now had invaded her. Such are the fruits of an education now, I am afraid, but too common! Good natural parts, in place of being trained to exercise in the several branches of knowledge and useful employments of life, had either been neglected or misapplied to frivolous and desultory amusements! Now, when out of the giddy round of the fashionable town entertainments that used to fill up her hours, my Lucy feels a vacant mind, that affords no resources within itself. Her reflections of course are painful and bitter; or if lulled at all, only sink into a lassitude, and listless unconcern for every thing around her. Her few former amusements, her tambour and harpsichord, have long become insipid; and even the smiles of her child, which used to give delight, now, I can

observe, force a sigh from her, and sometimes the tear will start into her eye, from the painful reflection, no doubt, of her inability to perform to him the duty of a mother.

"In this situation, Mr. Lounger, judge of my distress and disappointment. Instead of family happiness and domestic enjoyment, I find at home a constant source of disquiet and melancholy. Perhaps I am more unhappy than husbands whose wives were more blamable. In the greater offences against the marriage duty, the injured party has the privilege of complaint, the support of resentment, the consolation of indifference, or of hatred. I have no contradiction of which to complain, no injuries to resent; I pity, nay, I still love my wife; and yet I am most unhappy.

"Tell my situation, Sir, to those young men, who, like me or rather tell it to mothers, who, like Mrs. Lumber, have daughters to educate. Remind them that, however important the education may be that teaches to adorn the mistress, and captivate the lover, there is still another, and a higher, which requires some little attention; that which instructs them to perform the duties of the wife, to retain the affections, and to constitute the happiness of the husband. "I am, &c.,

"HORATIUS."

No. 17. SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1785.

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"TO THE AUTHOR OF THE Lounger.

SIR,

"IF I am not misinformed, you have taken up the same sort of business which was formerly carried on by a gentleman who published his performances under the title of The Mirror, with whom I had once or twice occasion, not very agreeable ones, to correspond. As I suppose you have got that gentleman's good will, I am inclined to deal with you as his successor; and I trust you will use me as well as he did, by giving place to this letter, containing an account of grievances, which I know not where else to seek redress for. You will find my correspondence, though not elegant, at least authentic. The family of the Homespuns, though I say it who should not, were always to be trusted in a story; truth and plain dealing was their motto, and I hope will continue so, if bad neighbours don't spoil them.

"The neglect of the great lady, which my daughter Elizabeth thought fit to complain of in The Mirror, was of singular use in my family. My young lady came back to the country so quiet and so reasonable a girl, that her mother and I had not once occasion to chide her for a twelvemonth; at the end of which we had proposals of marriage for her from her uncle's partner, whom she mentions in the paper I allude to; and she consented to become the wife of a plain, virtuous, thriving young man, though he had nothing of finery or fashion

about him. They are as happy as can be, and have two stout cherry-cheeked boys, who, I am told, are the pictures of their grandfather.

"The rest of us remain as we were; at least, we did so till within these two months. My Lady made some overtures towards a renewal of our acquaintance about a twelvemonth ago; but it was agreed to decline them; and I stayed at home to lay down a field of spring-wheat, instead of going to vote for a parliament-man. The waists of my wife and daughters had returned to their natural size, and the heads of the latter had moulted of their feathers. Their hoops were sent to the lumbergarret, and powder and pomatum were scarcely ever used but on Sundays. I fondly thought that all the follies of the family were over, and that henceforth we should be reasonable and happy. Alas, Sir, I have discovered, that opportunity only was wanting to renew them; the weeds were all in the ground, though my Lady -'s coldness had chilled their growth. Within these two months they have sprung up with a vengeance.

"About this time my neighbour Mushroom's son, who had been sent out to India about a dozen years ago, returned home with a fortune, as we are told, of 100,000l., and has taken up his residence at his father's till some finer place shall be found out for him. Before his arrival, he had made several large remittances to his father, for the purpose of dressing up the old house a little, so as to make it fit for his reception, and had sent a trunk full of fineries to dress up his mother and sisters for the same purpose. The good old lady, however, restrained her daughters from wearing them, as indeed they did. not well know how to make them up or put them on, till her son should arrive. His arrival furnished

them with a very able assistant; the young man had made a love-match before he left this country, with a good-looking girl of our neighbourhood, who, not altogether with his inclination, had gone out to him soon after his establishment in India. This lady returned hither with him, and has edified all the family amazingly.

"But her instructions are not confined to her own

family; mine is, unluckily, included. This is a favour which my wife is very proud of; as Mrs. Mushroom has forgot most of her old acquaintance in the parish, and associates only with us, and one or two more of her neighbours, who have what she calls capability; that is, Sir, as I understand it, who will listen to all the nonsense she talks, and ape all the follies she practises. These are strong words; but it would put any man in a passion to see how she goes on. I don't know how it is, but I am ten times angrier at this new plague than I was with Lady For her, I had many apologies; but to think of that little chit, Peg Mushroom, playing all this mischief among us!— why, Sir, I remember her but as it were yesterday, when she used to come draggled to our house of a morning afoot, and ride home double, on my blind mare, behind one of the ploughboys.

"But I interrupt my account of things in my anger at them. The Sunday after these newcomers' arrival, they appeared in church, where their pew was all carpeted and cushioned over for their reception, so bedizened there were flowered muslins and gold muslins, white shawls and red shawls, white feathers and red feathers; and every now and then the young Mushroom girls pulled out little bottles that sent such a perfume around them. Nay, my old friend, their father, like a fool as he