ject around her.

"We are all crea

tures of habit," she continued, "and may really form ourselves to what we please the world may appear to us a dreary miserable scene of perpetual woe, if we accustom ourselves so to talk and think of it; or we may feel it a delightful residence, where every thing, wonderfully and most beautifully perfect, conduces to our ease and delight. By the wise and gracious disposal of our Creator, all his works have a reference to the benefit and enjoyment of its noblest inhabitants."

Lucy, who had been listening to high encomiums on the young ladies, and the astonishing volubility of their mamma, now asked Pneumanee if the young ladies were really so much wiser and better than any body else? "I dare say, my dear, she thinks so; and if she does, it is very natural to try to make the world of the same opinion: c 2

but

"that

but unfortunately it does not succeed; the world will most unkindly judge for itself, and is apt to suspect, where so much is said, that the objects require much to be said for them, and so the young ladies are deprived of the credit they really deserve."-" How happy are we," said Fanny, "dear Pneumanee, to have such an inestimable friend as you, to tell us, in every circumstance, how to act and how to think!" -"Oh, I am sure," said Lucy, you know every thing that is to happen, as well as every thing that ever has happened already. If you do, dear Preumanee, tell me what sort of woman I shall be. I should like, of all things, to be a fine tall handsome woman, that the whole world should admire, and say, as I passed, that is the beauty; and then I should look up and smile to shew my dimples, and increase their admiration. Perhaps I am to be a great

great fright, that the boys and girls in the street will run from and hide their eyes. I should very much like to know what I am to be-pray, dear Pneumance, tell me.""If you are to be that alarming fright, my dear Lucy, from whom boys and girls would eagerly fly, the foreknowledge of it would but increase your horror and disgust; and were you sure of being such a transcendent beauty as you describe, with those all-powerful dimples, that the whole world would admire, do you think that gracious condescending smile, which would play them off to such advantage, would not lose some of its triumph by the cruel knowledge that wrinkles were lying in wait, to bring neglect and mortifying indifference from your whole world of admirers!"—" O, spare me," said Lucy, "such a dreadful conclusion to my beauty; I would not that it should

happen

happen for the universe."-"We are most happily prevented from knowing a single moment before us," said Pneumanee, "to save us from still greater woes than those you so much dread.". "But you are above us poor mortals, and pray tell us why you do not communicate to us, who love you so well, all the powers and blessings by which you are distinguished? and why you have distinguished us above all the families who know and value you so much?"-"Nothing more to ask, my little inquisitive Lucy ?" taking her by the hand; "now it is my turn to inquire of you why you are not satisfied with the powers exerted for your amusement and advantage, without investigating their source? why you must know all that I can do before I feel it necessary to inform you? and why not be too well satisfied with the preference I have given to your family,

over so many others that would rejoice to receive me, without sifting into reasons and causes that I may feel it expedient not to explain?" Seeing that Lucy's ever-ready blush was mantling on her cheek, she added, "I will be one day more explicit with you and Fanny upon this subject; and I am sure you will spare me the pain of replying to such inquiries again, by never making them the subject of conversation." They were awed into silence; and Pneumanee, fearing her unusually grave manner had given them pain, said, smiling, "It is in vain, my dear girls, to attempt to develop those mysteries which are purposely concealed from human comprehension. I am summoned to attend my young friends in their first visit to Town; I shall not long be absent from scenes I prefer to all others." As soon as their walk was ended, and the family-party were

all