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"hufband." "Ay, Sir," faid the, "but do you "know of any fuch perfon ?"-" No, madam," returned he," it is impoffible to know any person that "deferves to be her husband: fhe's too great a trea"fure for one man's poffeffion: fhe's a goddefs. "Upon my foul, I fpeak what I think, fhe's an angel."" "Ah, Mr. Thornhill, you only flatter my poor girl but we have been thinking of "marrying her to one of your tenants, whofe mother "is lately dead, and who wants a manager: you "know whom I mean, farmer Williams; a warm man, Mr. Thornhill, able to give her good bread; "and who has feveral times made her propofals:" (which was actually the cafe)" but, Sir," concluded the," I should be glad to have your approbation of our choice." How, Madam," replied he, my approbation! My approbation of fuch "choice! Never. What! Sacrifice fo much beauty, "and fenfe, and goodness to a creature infenfible of "the bleffing! Excufe me, I can never approve of "fuch a piece of injuftice! And I have my rea"fons!"" Indeed, Sir," cried Deborah, " if

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you have your reafons, that's another affair; but "I fhould be glad to know thofe reafons."-" Ex"cufe me, Madam," returned he, "they lie too

deep for difcovery" (laying his hand upon his bofom)" they remain buried, rivetted here."

After he was gone, upon general confultation, we could not tell what to make of thefe fine fentiments. Olivia confidered them as inftances of the most exalted paffion; but I was not quite fo fanguine: it feemed to me pretty plain, that they had more of love, than matrimony in them: yet, whatever they might portend, it was refolved to profecute the fcheme of farmer Williams, who, from my daughter's first appearance in the country, had paid her his

addreffes.

CHAP. XVII.

Scarcely any virtue found to refift the power of long and pleafing temptation.

As

S I only ftudied my child's real happiness, the affiduity of Mr. Williams pleafed me, as he was in eafy circumstances, prudent, and fincere. It required Dut very little encouragement to revive his former paffion; fo that in an evening or two he and Mr. Thornhill met at our houfe, and furveyed each other for fome time with looks of anger, but Williams owed his landlord no rent, and little regarded his indignation. Olivia, on her fide, acted the coquet to perfection, if that might be called acting which was her real character, pretending to lavish all her tenderness on her new lover. Mr. Thornhill appeared quite dejected at this preference, and with a penfive air took leave, though I own it puzzled me to find him fo much in pain as he appeared to be, when he had it in his power fo cafily to remove the caufe, by declaring an honourable paffion. But whatever uneafinefs he feemed to endure, it could. eafily be perceived that Olivia's anguifh was ftill. greater. After any of these interviews between her lovers, of which there were feveral, fhe ufually retired to folitude, and there indulged her grief. It was in fuch a fituation I found her one evening, after she had been for fome time fupporting a fictitious gaiety-" "You now fee, my child," faid I," that

your confidence in Mr. Thornhill's paffion was "all a dream: he permits. the rivalry of another, "every way his inferior, though he knows it lies in "his power to fecure you to himfelf by a candid de

claration. Yes, papa," returned fhe, "but

"he has his reasons for this delay: I know he has. "The fincerity of his looks and words convinces me "of his real efteem. A fhort time, I hope, will "difcover the generofity of his fentiments, and con"vince you that my opinion of him has been more juft than yours."" Olivia, my darling," returned (6 every fcheme that has been hitherto pursued "to compel him to a declaration, has been propofed "and planned by yourself, nor can you in the leaft

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fay that I have conftrained you. But you muft "not fuppofe, my dear, that I will ever be inftru“mental in fuffering his honeft rival to be the dupe "of your ill-placed paffion. Whatever time you require to bring your fancied admirer to an expla"nation fhall be granted; but at the expiration of "that term, if he is ftill regardless, I muft abfolutely "infift that honeft Mr. Williams fhall be rewarded "for his fidelity. The character which I have hi"therto fupported in life demands this from me, and my tenderness, as a parent, fhall never influence "my integrity as a man. Name then your day, let "it be as diftant as you think proper, and in the "mean time take care to let Mr. Thornhill know "the exact time on which I defign delivering you up to another. If he really loves you, his own good fenfe will readily fuggeft that there is but one method alone to prevent his lofing you for "ever."- This propofal, which fhe could not avoid confidering as perfectly juft, was readily agreed She again renewed her moft pofitive promise of marrying Mr. Williams, in cafe of the other's infenfibility; and at the next opportunity, in Mr. Thornhill's prefence, that day month was fixed upon for her nuptials with his rival.

to.

Such vigorous proceedings feemed to redouble Mr. Thornhill's anxiety: but what Olivia really felt gave me fome uneafinefs. In this ftruggle between prudence and paffion, her vivacity quite forfook her,

and

and every opportunity of folitude was fought, and fpent in tears. One week paffed away; but Mr. Thornhill made no efforts to reftrain her nuptials. The fucceeding week he was ftill affiduous; but not more open. On the third he difcontinued his vifits entirely, and inftead of my daughter teftifying any impatience, as I expected, the feemed to retain a penfive tranquillity, which I looked upon as refignation. For my own part, I was now fincerely pleafed with thinking that my child was going to be secured in a continuance of competence and peace, and frequently applauded her refolution, in preferring happiness to oftentation.

It was within about four days of her intended nuptials, that my little family at night were gathered round a charming fire, telling ftories of the paft, and laying schemes for the future. Bufied in forming a thousand projects, and laughing at whatever folly came uppermoft, "Well, Mofes," cried I, "we "fhall foon, my boy, have a wedding in the family; "what is your opinion of matters and things in ge"neral ?"" My opinion, father, is, that all things go on very well; and I was juft now thinking, that when fifter Livy is married to farmer Williams, we fhall then have the loan of his cyder-prefs and brewing tubs for nothing." "That we fhall, Mofes," cried I," and he will fing us Death and the Lady, to raise our spirits into "the bargain,"-"He has taught that fong to our

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Dick," cried Mofes," and I think he goes through "it very prettily."" Does he fo? cried I, "then "let us have it: where's little Dick let him up "with it boldly." "My brother Dick," cried Bill my youngeft, is just gone out with fifter Livy: but Mr. Williams has taught me two fongs, and I'll fing them for you, papa. Which fong do you choole, the Dying Swan, or the Elegy on the Death " of a Mad Dog ""The elegy, child, by all means,"

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faid I; "I never heard that yet; and Deborah, my life, grief you know is dry, let us have a bot"tle of the beft goofeberry wine, to keep up our fpirits. I have wept fo much at all forts of elegies of late, that without an enlivening glass I "am fure this will overcome me;, and Sophy, love, "take your guitar, and thrum in with the boy a "little."

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An ELEGY on the death of a Mad Dog.

GOOD people all, of every fort,

Give ear unto my fong,
And if you find it wond'rous short,
It cannot hold you long.

In Iflington there was a man,
Of whom the world might fay
That still a godly race he ran,
Whene'er he went to pray.

A kind and gentle heart he had,
To comfort friends and foes;
The naked every day he clad,
When he put on his cloaths.

And in that town a dog was found,
As many dogs there be,

Both mungrel, puppy, whelp, and hound,

And curs of low degree.

This dog and man at first were friends;
But when a pique began,

The dog, to gain fome private ends,
Went mad and bit the man.

Around