pain and difficulty. Indeed, there are so many snares besetting her in this situation, that it is well if she be not entangled in some of them. She is, perhaps, introduced to a variety of strangers; with some of whom she may form hasty intimacies, which afterwards prove undesirable. The efforts which are frequently made to amuse and entertain a visiter operate unfavorably, by dissipating the mind, and producing a disrelish for the sober occupations of Home. She is more likely to be flattered for her imaginary excellencies, than to be told of her real faults: and the natural consequence of all this, is, that her parents, brothers, and sisters, appear to disadvantage, as they cannot, exclusively, devote themselves to her convenience and pleasure. She forgets, that were she to become an inmate, instead of an occasional visiter, she would cease to experience those attentions by which she is now distinguished, and that she would soon have to partake of the regular avocations of the rest of the family. To see people as they are, it is necessary to live with them; and by so doing, we should frequently discover, that your first-sight favorites are not so much more excellent than our old friends, as a temporary residence with them had inclined us to suppose. This is a digression; but it may serve at once to moderate your expectations, and to afford a useful hint, whenever such a circumstance as a visit among new friends may take place. But you are returning Home. It is a comprehensive word, my dear Laura: upon your right estimation of its value greatly depends your future happiness. It is chiefly there that the lustre of the Female character is discernible; because home is its proper sphere. Men have much to do with the world without; our field of action is circumscribed; yet, to confine ourselves within its humble bounds, and to discharge our duties there, may produce effects equally beneficial and extensive with their wider range. It is no mean art to be able to govern well, and those who have proved most successful in the attainment, are generally such as have themselves submitted to be governed. It is the mistake of some young people returning from school, that they think themselves qualified immediately to take the command; and it is a yet greater mistake in those mothers who submit to it. As well might "a house be broken down, and without walls," as to be left to the guidance of such a manager. She might not, indeed, like her infant brothers and sisters, fall into the fire, or into the water, throw down the china, or cut herself sure. with knives and scissors; but she may, by her exploits, do what is quite as mischievous in its consequences, though less instantaneous in its effects. But you my dear Laura, have been trained from your childhood in habits of proper subordination: and I should deem such observations altogether superfluous, were it not sometimes seen, that young persons, at this period, undergo a sudden revolution; and from the engaging, meek, and tractable Child, start all at once, into the pert, self-willed, young Lady. I must say, however, that the spirit in which your letters appear to be written, leave me little to fear on this subject. You are returning Home I was going to say, not for the purpose of enjoying yourself, and taking your pleasure but to a well-regulated mind, the daily routine of Duty is enjoyment; to live a life of usefulness, is a perpetual pleaNor does affluence itself, where it is enjoyed, exempt from this obligation: it rather enhances it. Those who suppose otherwise, totally mistake the Purpose for which it is bestowed; and deprive themselves of the principal satisfaction it is intended to produce. Besides, they are unprepared for Adversity; unfit to cope with the deprivations to which they are exposed, who hold their wordly possessions, as well as the breath of life, by an uncertain tenure. No legal process can so insure our estates, or secure them from accident, as to render them certainly unalienable; or prevent our "riches from taking wings and flying away." We may contemplate with pleasure the prospect of your Establishment in the world, in the same circumstances of comfort which have attended you hitherto. But we do not forget, that it is the World into which we are sending you: and however well equipped you may be for your journey, we cannot foresee what may befal you in the course of it. And whatever may be your future circumstances, habits of Activity and Economy will prove beneficial, and will be no disparagement to any station you may fill. If such had not been our habits, perhaps you might have lacked many advantages which you enjoy at the present moment; and your future prospects might have been clouded in the same degree. Through the kindness of Providence, you are returning to a Comfortable-home: but remember, it is not a Paradise. Your parents have their trials to harrass their spirits, and ruffle Their tempers, as well as others; and in proportion to your filial affection, you will participate in them, and by the tender sympathy of your deportment, manifest that in all our afflictions you are afflicted." Indeed, my dear, there can be no temporal alleviation of our sorrows, equal to that which arises from this source: the cordials administered by the tender hands of affectionate children, possess the happiest efficacy. If some young persons were aware of this, surely they would be more frequent in the application of them. 1. O, my dear Laura, what a blessing you may prove to us! especially to me, your Mother. Shall I find in my beloved child, as she rises to maturity, the confidential Friend, with whom I may take sweet counsel; and on whose bosom, as she once did on mine, I may repose all my cares? One, who will be indulgent to my Infirmi-. ties, attentive to my Wants, and who will plant thé vále of life, into which I am gradually descending, with many a flower, such as she can gather, here and there, from the wilderness around? What a delightful sight it is, (and surely a natural one) when a Mother and Daughter dwelltogether in unity! It is like the precious ointment, which descended down the vestments of Aaron, and exhaled a fragrant odor all around. Well, you are returning to "your father's house: " and this, in a higher sense, may, I trust, be said of us. The World is the great school wherein we are each receiving our education: and the prosperity and adversity which we experience, are the means whereby the great Governor trains us for a maturer state. When "He visits our transgressions with the rod, and our iniquities with stripes," it is for our final benefit; for He does not "willingly afflict the children of men." When He smiles upon us by his providence, when He entrusts us with various talents, it is to prove us, whether we will use them for his glory and the good of our fellow creatures. Otherwise he may deprive us of them intirely; or, what is worse, continue them without his Blessing; and desist from fatherly correction, saying, "Why should they be smitten. any more? they will yet revolt." We have a task assigned us; and the day of our dismission from it, although to us unknown, is immutably fixed by Him, who has the keys of Death." May Divine Grace so prepare our dear Laura, that when she is summoned home by her heavenly Father, she may obey the call without reluctance; and earnestly longing, as she now is, to return to the abode of her Earthly parent may she then feel a still greater "desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better!" Your affectionate Mother." HENRY Vth's Address to his Soldiers, On St. Crispin's-day, at Agincourt. ACT IV; SCENE III. The English Camp. Enter the English Host; (a) GLOSTER, BEDFORD, EXETER Glos. Where is the king? Bed. West. Is rode to see the Battle. (b) The king himself Of fighting men They have full threescore thousand. Ex. That's Five to One; (c) besides, they all are freshe God be wi' ye princes all! I'll to my charge: Bed. Farewel, good Salisbury; and good-luck go with thee! West, O that we now had here (Exit Sal (Enter King Henry. But one Ten thousand of those men in England, What's he that wishes so? To do our country loss; and if to Live, (a) Host army, heir, leger. - (b) Battle a body of forces, or division of an army; here, the main body, as distinct from the van and rear. "the (c) That's Five to One' -the king says, Twenty to One French may lay twenty French crowns to one, they will beat us; for they bear them on their shoulders:" here, the king uses crowns as a synonyme with heads.. The Historical facts are these - on 25 October, 1415, Henry, at the head of "Nine thousand men", attacked the Constable of France, d'Albret, who headed an Army "nearly Ten times that number;' French lost 10.000 men and 14.000 prisoners the English only Forty men in all!" Among the former were many Princes and Nobles, among the latter the Duke of York and the Earl of Suffolk. God's will! I pray thee, wish not One man more. Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost; It yearns me not (a) if men my garments wear; I am the most offending soul alive! No, 'faith, my coz, wish not a man from England: He that shall live this day, and see Old-age, And say Then will he strip his sleeve, and show his scars, And say Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot, But he'll remember, with advantages, What feats he did that day: (e) then shall our Names, (Familiar in his mouth as household words,) Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter, (a) It yearns me not het raakt my niet. (b) Stomach inclination, desire, verlangen. (c) The feast of Crispian St. Crispin and St. Crispinian were Shoemakers; two brothers, who came from Rome to preach Christianity at Soissons, in France, "towards the middle of the third century," and suffered martyrdom "about the year 287," nuder the government of Rictius Varus, the most implacable enemy of the Christian name.” St. Crispin's-day is yet a day of feasting and jollity among the Slioeuakers and Cobblers in England. -- (d) Will stand a tip-toe op de toonen staan. (e) Old men forget; &c. notwithstanding the natural forgetfulness of Age, yet shall this day be remembered while memory exists; and on the eve the old man shall magnify the feats this day performed. |