suring variety, the story was usually founded on one of the texts that had been preached from the preceding Sabbath; and two or three questions relative to its meaning, with the answers, terminated the affair. To what use, if to any, the narrative was applied, the relater is ignorant ; but this he knows, that when he was in danger of deviating from the custom through press of business, the young Ladies always took care to intimate, in a manner sufficiently intelligible, though respectful, that they had not had their tale. The Author cannot hope that the stories were uniformly alike acceptable: at the same time, he can assure the Public, that whatever might be felt by the little smiling and affectionate group around him, they never suffered him to lose one cup of tea, or a single piece of bread and butter, in consequence of their disapprobation. TEA-TABLE CHAT, OR RELIGIOUS ALLEGORIES. ALLEGORY I. THE POLITE CIRCLE. A CERTAIN gentleman, on paying a morning visit to one of his friends, found him remarkably cheerful. Being curious to know the cause, as soon as the first compliments between them were finished, he said, 'Your spirits, my friend, seem uncommonly elevated, as if you had either heard of, or met with, something highly pleasing. May I be allowed to ask whether any thing particular has occurred? Why,' replied the friend, 'I was reflecting, just as you entered, on what happened to me yesterday evening. You must know, I went at that time to the house of an acquaintance, about business of importance. After transacting it, he told me that he had a party; and he was kind enough to add, that he should B esteem it a favour, if I would join it. I did so: and really, though the company consisted of persons who were almost all strangers to me, I scarcely ever met with more agreeable people. I think I never was in the society of persons more civil or well-bred, in all my life. It was the recollection of that circumstance, which diffused the air of cheerfulness and pleasure over my countenance, that has so strongly engaged your attention.' 'There must have been something,' observed the visitor, peculiarly admirable, I should suppose, in this company: otherwise you would not have been so greatly struck with it; since in this country, among the gentry at least, urbanity and benevolence are, happily, by no means uncommon in private parties.'' There was,' says he: you yourself shall judge. You know I have always been fond of geography, and that I am apt to introduce the subject into conversation, whenever I can do so with propriety. In the course of indulging my favourite passion last night, I took occasion to speak of a country, where prosperity pervaded all ranks of people, from the highest to the lowest. I added, that the Sovereign of it had no objection to admit strangers into it, with a view to their participating in the same felicity, under whatever |