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Ending there were perfons in the world more wretched than myself. I dare fay my much respected* Thompson's defcription of the miseries of human life, will here occur to your recollection, as they do to mine on a review of the incident,

"Ah little do the gay, licentious, proud,

"Whom pleasure, power, affluence furround;
"They who their thoughtless hours in giddy mirth,
"And wanton often cruel, riot waste;

"Ah little think they, while they dance along,

"How many feel, this very moment, death
"And all the fad variety of pain:

"How many fink in the devouring flood,
"Or more devouring flame: how many bleed
"By fhameful variance betwixt man and man :
"How many pine in want, and dungeons glooms :
"Shut from the common air, and common use
"Of their own limbs: how many drink the cup
"Of baleful grief, or eat the bitter bread of mifery."

1 am apprehenfivce I fhall tire you with this melancholy account of the extreme of despair, into which your poor fallen friend was thus plunged. And yet I flatter myfelf, that an event fo interesting to me, will not be confidered as uninterefting to you. I will, however, think about bringing it

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to a conclufion, and with it conclude this propor tionably long letter.

Whilft I compared my own fituation with that of the poor woman, whose starving child and dying hufband occafioned her to vent fo pungently her grief, I received great fatisfaction from considering, that all those who were dear to me, as well from affection as the ties of blood, were in profperous circumstances.

I had no one to care

for, but the poor girl whofe affection kept her with me, and whom I regarded as my child. Having therefore adored the great Source of Good, for my recent deliverance from the fatal effects of my despondency, I prayed that he would pardon the atrocious attempt; and concluded my petition, with begging that he would grant me power to affift her, and make her future days more comfortable.

Having done this, I remounted the steps, and found my mind inexpreffibly relieved. The gloom which had fo lately overwhelmed it, was in an inftant cleared away, and a tranquillity I had long been a stranger to, fucceeded it. Such a fudden tranfition from the blackeft defpair to peace and hope, I was well affured could only have been effected by fome invifible agent; for I never felt

fuch

fuch a ray of comfort diffuse itself through my heart, fince those blessed days of innocence I spent in my church-regreted convent. "It came o'er "my mind," (as the immortal bard * describes the power of mufic) "like the fweet South, that breathes upon a bank of violets, stealing and giving odour."

LETTER XCVI.

G. A. B.

January 8, 17

HAVING offered up my adorations to Heaven, with a fervour I had fcarcely ever experienced before, I returned home. When I got in, I found my poor Sally crying as if her heart would break, left fome misfortune had happened to me. The faithful girl was, however, foon reftored to quiet, by observing the gloom, which had lately been so apparent in my looks dispelled, and tranquillity feemingly restored to my distracted bofom. She informed me, that during my abfence, her fifter had called upon her, and had lent her two fhillings. With this she had been out, and bought

* Twelfth Night, A&t I. Scene 1.

4

fomething

fomething fhe thought I should like for fupper, and some tea and fugar for the morning.

When fupper was got ready, we fat down together to our repast, with thankful hearts; for she was become more a humble friend than a fervant; and I cannot remember, even in the most elevated fituation I was ever in, and when my table was spread with dainties, that I made a more pleasing meal. The goodness of the poor girl's heart was fo evident in her waiting patiently for my return, to partake of what she had provided, notwithstanding she had been long fafting; and gave me fuch an uncontrovertible proof of her affection, that it greatly added to my regard for her; and then I refolved, if I was ever bleft with power, amply to return it.

So interefted and lukewarm is the fervice of domestics, in general, to their masters and miftreffes, that when their attendance appears to be tinctured ' with regard as well as duty, they claim every indulgence their station will admit of, and become invaluable. To fhew my approbation of the confiderate girl's attention, I gave her leave to pass the following day with her fifter, who had called to invite her; and I was not difpleased at her having fuch an opportunity of regaling herself, as no part of the supply she had furnished me with remained but the tea and fugar.

As

As I fat ruminating, after fhe was gone, upen late intended rafhness, I heard a gentle tap at the door. Since I had removed to the Attic story,

my

I had, through a false pride, avoided seeing any of those who had known me in a better fituation; my furprize therefore was very great, at beholding Madam Krudnar enter; and more particularly fo, as a difference fubfifted at that time between a relation of her's and myfelf. This lady is the widow of a Polish baron, a most agreeable generous woman, and poffeffed of the moft liberal fentiments.

She had accidentally heard of my distress, and taken the first opportunity to come and relieve

She gently chid me for concealing my fituation from my acquaintance, as my being reduced to my present extremity, did not proceed from my own misconduct, but was occafioned in a great measure by the barbarity of the lawyer, who had wantonly expended my property in unneceffary fuits of law. She obferved, upon my relating to her my fituation, that the debts I had contracted, were in confequence of the fuppofition, that I fhould be poffeffed of an income more than adequate to my expences."

As it was Sunday when Madam Krudnar called upon me, and my maid was gone out, it was impracticable

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