but with strict injunctions never to change it. After they had been closeted up with the fortune-teller for fome time, I knew by their looks, upon their returning, that they had been promised fomething great.-Well, my girls, how have you sped? Tell me, Livy, has the fortune-teller given thee a penny-worth?' I protest, pappa,' fays the girl, I believe the deals with fome body that's not right; for fhe pofitively declared, that I am to ⚫ be married to a 'Squire in less than a ⚫ twelvemonth!-- Well, now, Sophy, my child,' faid I, and what fort of a • husband are you to have?' Sir,' replied fhe, I am to have a Lord foon after my fifter has married the 'Squire.'

How,' cried I, is that all you are to have for your two fhillings! Only a Lord and a 'Squire for two fhillings! You fools, I could have promised you a Prince and a Nabob for half the money.'

This curiofity of theirs, however, was attended with very ferious effects: we now began to think ourselves defigned by the ftars to fomething exalted, and already anticipated our future grandeur.

It has been a thousand times observed, and I muft obferve it once more, that the hours we pass with happy profpects in view, are more pleafing than thofe crowned with fruition. In the firft cafe we cook the dish to our own appetite; in the latter, nature cooks it for us. It is impoffible to repeat the train of agreeable reveries we called up for our entertainment. We looked upon our fortunes as once more rifing; and as the whole parish afferted that the 'Squire was in love with my daughter, she was actually fo with him; for they perfuaded her into the paffion. In this agreeable interval, my wife had the moft lucky dreams in the world, which she took care to tell us every morning, with great folemnity and exactnefs. It was one night a coffin and crofs

bones,

bones, the fign of an approaching wedding at another time fhe imagined her daughters' pockets filled with farthings, a certain fign they would shortly be stuffed with gold. The girls themfelves had their omens. They felt ftrange kiffes on their lips; they faw rings in the candle, purfes bounced from the fire, and true love-knots lurked in the bottom of every tea-cup.

Towards the end of the week we received a card from the town ladies; in which, with their compliments, they hoped to fee all our family at church the Sunday following. All Saturday morning I could perceive, in confequence of this, my wife and daughters in clofe conference together, and now and then glancing at me with looks that betrayed a latent plot. To be fincere, I had ftrong fufpicions that fome abfurd propofal was preparing for appearing with splendor the next day. In the evening they began their operations. in a very regular manner, and my wife undertook to conduct the fiege. After

tea, when I feemed in fpirits, fhe began thus. I fancy, Charles, my dear, we fhall have a great deal of good company at our church to-morrow.'- Perhaps we may, my dear,' returned I; though you need be under no uneafinefs about. that, you fhall have a fermon whether there be or not.'--That is what I expect,' returned fhe: but I think, my dear, we ought to appear there as decently as poffible, for who knows what may happen? Your precau

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tions, replied I, are highly commend• able. A decent behaviour and appearance in church is what charms me. We fhould be devout and humble, chearful and ferene.'- Yes,' cried fhe, I know that, but I mean we fhould go there in as proper a manner as poffible; not altogether like the fcrubs about us." You are quite right, my dear,' returned I, and I was going to make the very fame propofal. The proper manner of going is, to go there as early as poffible, to have time for meditation before the • fervice

Phoo, Charles,"

• fervice begins.'— interrupted fhe, all that is very true; ⚫ but not what I would be at. I mean,.

we should go there genteelly. You • know the church is two miles off, and I protest I don't like to fee my daughters trudging up to their pew all blowzed and red with walking, and looking for all the world as if they had been winners at a fmock race. Now, my dear, my propofal is this: there are our two plow horfes, the colt that has been in our family thefe nine years, and his companion Blackberry, that has fcarce done an earthly thing for this month paft. They are both grown fat and lazy. Why fhould they not do fomething as well as we? And let me tell you, when Mofes has trimmed them a little, they will cut a very tolerable figure.'

To this propofal I objected, that walking would be twenty times more genteel than fuch a paltry conveyance, as Blackberry was wall-eyed, and the Colt wanted