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Thy spotless altars no oblations grace;
Thy favours wrote on sand the winds efface!

implies that those who are bound by the strongest obligations, frequently neglect to make their proper acknowledgments, and refuse to pay the tribute which is due; also that the favours we receive make but a slight impression on our heart, and are often erased by scenes of folly and dissipation; which are in their nature as light as air. The concluding lines,

O deign to hear thy modest suppliant's pray'r
Let her thy silken bands for ever wear!-

clearly indicate my ardent desire to be guided. by this divine virtue, whose yoke is easy, and burden light, and of whom with propriety it may be said, her service is perfect freedom.

Lady L. From your description, Gratitude seems to be but in an uncomfortable situation, as she had no habitation; and is obliged to wander far from her native country to seek an abode.

Ment. Let her then find an asylum in your breast; make frequent oblations at her shrine, which must consist of universal charity and bene

D.

benevolence, as no other sacrifice is acceptable to her. Yield implicit obedience to her laws, bind yourself with her silken cords, and prefer them to the fetters of guilt, or the shackles of folly.

Lady M. My dear Lady Louisa, we will both of us be votaries of Gratitude; which shall be testified by duty to our parents, and respect to good Mentoria for the pains she takes to improve us.

Ment. Exclusive of the advantages I shall derive from the practice of this resolution, I rejoice in it, because it will influence your whole conduct, and regulate the actions of your future life. The duration of a building depends entirely on the structure of the foundation if the basis be not firm, the edifice soon falls to decay: which evinces the necessity, in the formation of a human character, to erect the fabric on the solid and immutable principles of virtue and religion. Those who prefer superficial accomplishments to these divine attributes, may be compared to the foolish man described in the gospel, who built his house on the sand, which when the wind arose and the rain descended, beat upon the house, and it fell; and great was the

fall

The

fall thereof. The simile may be defined thus: that those of unenlightened minds are not fortified against the storms of affliction; nor are they able to surmount the difficulties they meet with in their warfare upon earth, great fall of the building, denotes how transient and delusive all hopes of happiness will prove, except those which are founded on religion and virtue.

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DIALOGUE IV.

THURSDAY.

ON ELOCUTION AND GEOGRAPHY.

Mentoria.

BEFORE I begin the business allotted for this morning, I shall congratulate you on your brother's arrival from Harrow, and beg the favour of Lady Louisa to inform him I shall be extremely glad of his company; which undoubtedly will be an addition to your happiness.

Lady Louisa. My dear Mentoria, I will fetch him this moment; as I know he will rejoice to join our party.

[Lady L. returns, introducing her brother, Lord

George.]

You cannot imagine how rejoiced Lord

George

George was to come; and he would bring his books to read to you..

Ment. I thought it might be agreeable to your Lordship to spend some of your leisure hours with your sisters; which induced me to request the favour of your company. I will join with them in endeavouring to make the holiday as cheerful to you as possible. I hope you will not think it lessens your consequence as a man, to be taught by a governess, and have young ladies for your school-fellows and companions.

Lord George. Not in the least, Madam: I shall esteem myself much obliged to you for permitting me to partake of your instruction,

Ment. Pray, my Lord, who is your parti ●ular friend at school? Do any of Miss Simple's brothers or cousins go to Harrow? The family of the Simples is so numerous, I think wherever one goes there is some branch of it.

Lord G. I recollect several of that name; but he who is the most remarkable is Sir Simon Simple, cousin to the Miss Simple you know.

Ment. By what quality is he so particularly distinguished? I fear by none that does him credit.

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