as well as he can. and then cries, "Yes my dear," and then "No my dear;" and then again, "I can't answer you, you speak so fast." And when his patience is nearly exhausted, he will cry, "My dear, you talk so fast, that it quite makes my head ache."

He hums and haws; and now

Loveg. What is supposed to be the difference between their ages ?

Consid Why, Miss was about twenty-five, and the old gentleman about sixty-five; and it seems, this young lady, is his third wife. He is a very good sort of an old gentleman, and has a considerable deal of money, while the young lady has little or none, only she had, as it is called, a very polite education at a boarding-school; where I suppose, she was taught to talk at this extraordinary rate.-But did you nevcr hear what a sad mistake took place, when the old gentleman was on a journey, about a fortnight after their marriage, with his new wife, and his son by his first wife, to pay a visit to some distant friends?

Loveg. The story is quite new to me.

Consid. Sir, report says, that when they came to the inn where they were to rest for the evening, the old gentleman and his son retired to sleep, somewhat sooner than the bride, she being engaged to write some letters to her friends, on this happy event. When she called for the chambermaid, she unhappily turned her into the chamber of the old gentleman's son. The young man, finding that a young woman was beginning to undress by his bed side, and not immediately recollecting her, cried out against her as an impudent strumpet, and told her to get out of the room, or he would kick her down stairs. Directly she made her escape, called for the chambermaid, told her what a mistake she had made, and asked where the other gentleman was gone to bed the maid answered, "Why ma'am, there is no other strange gentleman gone to bed in this house, but your grand papa,”

Loveg. What blunders are produced by these imprudent matches! But how came Mrs. Liberal to put up with Mr. Scraper, for her second husband?

Traf. By all accounts, there is sad quarrelling between them already. While she will always have her table covered with sufficient provision, that a plenty may be left in the pantry for occasional visitants, he will be hunting after bits, and scraps, supposing that almost any thing will do to mess up for a dinner. And as about food, so he is about raiment. He would appear like an old broken tradesman out of a work-house, with his tattered clothes, and darned stockings, if his wife would let him ; and when she only gave away some of his old clothes the other day, that had got into this trim, to a poor old neighbour, this so offended him, that he would not speak to her for near a fortnight.

Loveg. Does not he want her to dress as shabby as himself?

Consid. O Yes Sir, and he is always telling her where the cheapest old remnants are to be bought; and that she leaves off her clothes too soon, when she might scour, and dye them, and then turn them, and thus wear them over, and over again.

Loveg. This must make sad jarrings between them; what strange confusion is created in the world, by the contests which exist between the different corruptions of the human heart!

Consid. Yes, and when people are united, who are under the influence of the same sort of corruptions, the evil will be abundantly worse. What a terrible misfortune it was to Mr. Sharp, and Miss Trimmer, that ever they should make a match of it!

Traf. Ah, that poor girl was ruined from her childhood. Her foolish mother humoured her on every occasion; and though her temper was naturally bad, yet her mother has made it ten thousand

:

times worse, by puffing up the pride of her heart, in telling her she was a girl of fortune and yet at first they appeared fond of each other, though such love scarcely deserves the name.

Consid. Whatever love might have been between them, 'tis all hatred now. While he tries to thwart, and contradict her upon every occasion, she flies at him in return, like a fury, calling him fool, puppy, and tells him he would have been a beggar if it had not been for her fortune; though his business, as a large vinegar merchant, is quite equal to the trifling sum he may have received with her.

Far. But I'll warrant she pays him home again, and gives him tit for tat. I remember she came once to our house, to see my daughter Polly, so dressed up in her furbelows and fal-lals, and I thought her tongue run desperate glib. I have a notion she is a sad saucy puss.

Consid. However, it seems that her husband can match her in language, and insolence. "Hold your tongue, you insolent jade. Madam, I will be master;" and sometimes the house is all of an uproar between them. Of late, it seems that she has been very jealous of him, and trims him well on that

score.

Loveg. Oh, the terrible consequences of sin! What a variety of little hells are created in hearts, and in families, and throughout all the world, by its horrid existence! Lord, what is man! who can deny the fall?

Consid. True dear Sir, and I think there is another union in our town, which perfectly proves the same awful truth. It evidently appears to me, that it is almost as necessary to prove, that a man is to die, as that he is a fallen creature.

Loveg. To what other matches do you refer ?

Consid. Oh Sir! it was that unhappy union between Miss Jemima Meek, and Mr. Lofty, who is a great man in his own esteem, because his great grand-mother, was the daughter of some lord, who

lived in the reign of Charles the Second; and on this account, though he is almost a beggar in his circumstances, he can strut about with such consequence!

Loveg. What silly thoughts can feed that carrion bird of pride, when roosted during the night time of our ignorance, in the unregenerate heart of man! But who is this Mr. Lofty?

Consid. He is the gingerbread baker, that lives in Pride Alley.

Loveg. Oh, that is the shop, I suppose, where Mrs. Considerate is so kind as to buy her fine golden kings, and queens, as presents to my little child

ren.

Consid. Yes Sir, and while he is selling these fine golden things for a farthing a-piece, he is feeding upon the conceit of his ancient noble-blood. Besides, he fancies himself a man of reading, and great knowledge. He is one of Dr. Dronish's hearers.

Loveg. Well, this beggarly pride is the worst of pride. But how does he treat the poor young wo

man?

Consid. Why, in language like this. If she asks a question, he answers, Child, I'll tell you by and by." If she humbly repeats it, "Child, don't be troublesome :" if she ventures to speak in company, "Child, don't expose yourself;" or "How should you know, child?" If she proposes to do any thing, his answer is, "Child, I shall think of it." If he wants her to do any thing, it is, "Child, do this," or "Child, do that ;" in short, he scarcely treats her with the respect due to an upper servant.

Far. Old Betty Bustle, who has lived in our house these five-and-twenty years, would run away from us, if I and my dame were to talk to her as Master Lofty, the gingerbread baker, talks to that poor creature. Well, the Lord be praised, that he has a little humbled my proud nature! but to my mind, I had once such noble blood in my heart,

while I was living without God in the world, and while I was blustering with my big looks about the market.

But now for an abridgement of the subject. It was much lamented. during the same evening's conversation, that Mr. Lion should have been married to Miss Pigeon, who treated her with an abundance of austerity, though it caused some laughter, when they conversed about the marriage of Mr. Blunt to Miss Prudish; while the plainness, and simplicity of the one were contrasted with the unmeaning affectation of the other; though it was a much less laughable concern, when Mr. Smart, who was all vivacity and wit, married Mrs. Dorothy Dull; and no wonder that soon after their marriage, he treated her with sad neglect.

A counterpart of the same sort of unhappy matches, took place, between Mr. Consequence, and Miss Nobody, who never could find out her stupidity, till after he had married her, and then treated her with cruel contempt.

After this, Mr. Lovegood had to improve the subject. He very wisely remarked, that our infinitely merciful God, has so regulated the government of the human race, as that they should be helpmates to each other, that thereby, a bond of general union might be created for the good of the whole. That the poor, though in servitude, should find guardians and supporters in the rich, who have it in their power, to make even their situation a blessing to them, by their merciful and kind deportment towards them. That parental authority was most mercifully instituted according to the laws of nature, so that the care needed by children, and the respect and honour due to parents, arising therefrom,might create a bond of union between families, through life. And that the foundation of this, originated in the marriage