a few minutes, when the friend heard a piece of intelligence that gave him great concern. The officers of justice, it seems, were laying in wait for the unhappy debtor: which, when the friend learned, he was afraid that the poor man would fall into their hands before an application was made to the Person who was to introduce him to the Sovereign; in which case, he knew that the prisoner would be conveyed to a place of confinement abroad, according to measures taken by the Creditor, who was a foreigner. It is certain, that from this time he saw no more of his visitor.* But, on the other hand, he conceived hope, when he recollected that the disappearance might be owing to the Sovereign's having sent him off to his kingdom immediately, in order the better to ensure his safety and felicity. There was reason to believe, that, circumstanced as he was, and convinced, as he appeared to be, respecting the only means of security, he would make the procurement of access to the Sovereign his very first concern. At any rate, the geographer saw cause for satisfaction, that, before they parted, he had given him the

* There is no one who is not liable to sudden death, whether abroad or at home, by some accident, or otherwise.

Introducer's address, together with every other informątion which the case required.*

The degree of melancholy which clouded his hope respecting the happy issue of this last affair, rendered him solicitous to know the result of inquiry on the part of those whose disposition he had (as appeared in the beginning of this story) so highly commended. To obtain satisfaction on this point, he called upon one of them with whom he was acquainted. He had the pleasure to find, that the information he had given was discovered by many of them to be both true and beneficial in the highest degree. Thus did he gain the object of his benevolence, having either contributed to the attainment of happiness, or rendered neglect the sole cause of its being unattained.

* See how dangerous it is to defer the concerns of eternity! The dying sinner never could be saved, had he not to do with a' God at hand,' and not merely with a God afar off.

25

ALLEGORY II.

THE UNNATURAL CHILD.

Deut. xxxii. 18.

A LADY of great opulence, and of high rank, conducted. herself towards her daughter in a manner that must appear, at first view, very eccentric. So extraordinary, indeed, was her mode of acting, that as her reasons for it were for the most part unknown, it would have been thought absurd, and incompatible with natural affection, had not the soundness of her judgment, and the excellence of her character, been absolutely unquestionable.*

* I must here observe, however, that the conduct of the Deity toward man ought not to seem wonderful, to those among the rich and the great, who, with a view to the improvement of the understanding and morals of their children, bring them up in the belief that their birth and prospects are far inferior to what they really are; or who, for the sake of giving them a better education, send them to a distant country at so tender an age, that, on returning, they do not know their parents.

C

Before the child, it seems, was capable of knowing its parent, so as to be able to recollect her after remaining from her a considerable number of years, she sent it abroad to be brought up. As her means were immense, she took care that the family to which she entrusted it should be highly respectable: and that every possible attention might be paid to its necessities and comforts, she displayed the greatest punctuality and generosity in sending remittances. She had, therefore, the strongest reason to believe that the child would be used well. Yet she did not repose such entire confidence in its guardians, as to abandon it to them. Notwithstanding the distance of her habitation, she contrived frequently to visit the place where the little lady resided; though on these occasions she was always so effectually disguised, that the child could not have the least knowledge of her. She did not, however, wish her to be kept ignorant of these visits, after attaining in some degree the exercise of reason and speech; and therefore made it her practice at these times to go into an apartment adjoining to that of her daughter. The latter, on the other hand, being apprized of the circumstance, was taught to enter her own room, and there, without seeing or hearing her mother,

to address her through a thin partition which separated the two chambers.

In this manner several years passed away, during which the little girl grew apace. She was pleasing in her person, and, in general, not less so with respect to her mind. She readily acquired every accomplishment that was suitable to her sex and prospects in life. She was of an amiable temper, of an agreeable deportment, and of the most correct morals. In short, her courteous and obliging disposition, and her engaging manners, rendered her the darling of the family in which she lived, and of all others who enjoyed the happiness of her acquaintance.

But now I come to a part of her history, which will scarcely appear credible; yet it is no less true, than it is lamentable. This young lady, though extremely desirous of information on most subjects that were proper and useful, never cared to learn a single particular relative to her mother. She who could not endure the idea of wronging another in the merest trifle, lived without compunction in the daily breach of filial duty. Sensible as she

showed herself in general to the least kind office done for her, she received continual marks of parental tenderness, without the smallest degree of grateful emotion. Of