present, "that the methods of Mrs. Bentley, which you so much condemn, originate in indolence? May they not result from her adoption of a system different from your own, on which-however mistakenly she conscientiously pursues the methods which she considers most conducive to the welfare of her children?"

"Perhaps it may be so; but it is very different from what I should do if I were in her place."

"Doubtless it is, if you carried your present sentiments into Mrs. Bentley's circumstances. But before we allow ourselves bitterly to censure the actions and condemn the spirit of others, we ought at least to make ourselves acquainted with the principles on which they act. Without at all reflecting, Mrs. Churchill, on your principles or practices, I have the pleasure to assure you, from a long and intimate acquaintance with Mrs. Bentley, that she is one of the most devoted and diligent of mothers. It is not from indolence, but from principle, that she endeavours to check, rather than elicit precocious efforts, either of the physical or intellectual powers of her children; and, as far as I have had an opportunity of judging, I consider her system most favourable both to bodily and mental vigour indeed, I suspect that a thorough and candid investigation of the matter, would lead some other mothers to adopt rather than condemn her methods."

"What a shame it is that the Miss Goods never attend the Dorcas meetings! They can have nothing particular to hinder them. If I were one of them, I should be quite ashamed to be so wrapped up in selfishness; it must be either pride, or stinginess, or love of pleasure, that keeps

them from joining us. When they came into the neighbourhood, every body expected that they would prove an acquisition to the various societies; but they never make their appearance at any of them."

66

Young lady," said my Uncle Barnaby, "if you were one of the Miss Goods, you would think and feel very differently from what you do, at least in one respect. You would not be so ready to form a hasty and censorious judgment on imperfect information. It is possible that you may be absent from some party, or stand aloof from some engagement, with which the ladies to whom you have referred might wish to see you identified; but I can venture to say, not one of them would think of assigning motives for your conduct, which you yourself had never avowed. Mrs. Mortimer, who is well acquainted both with the society and the ladies in question, can perhaps explain to your satisfaction the reasons of their conduct, and obtain from you their full acquittal from the several charges you have brought against them."

"Yes," replied my cousin Mortimer, “I feel happy in being able to vindicate my friends; and have no doubt of convincing the young lady that their conduct is what it ought to be, and leading her to wish that hers might be equally honourable if she were in their place. The health of Miss Margaret Good is exceedingly delicate, and almost entirely confines her to the house during the winter season; nor can she at any time bear the excitement of company. Mrs. Good is blind, or so nearly blind, as to be deprived of all literary and intellectual gratifications, of which the sense

of seeing is the avenue. Her only employment is knitting. Miss Anne Good, though healthy, cheerful, and every way capable of enjoying and delighting society, conscientiously devotes herself to alleviating the privations and multiplying the pleasures of her afflicted mother and sister. She never spends one evening from home, because she will not deprive them of her company, and the gratification of hearing her read aloud, on which the mother entirely depends for all her acquaintance with modern literature, as well as the refreshment of her memory in intercourse with those authors with whom she was formerly familiar. While the absence of these ladies from our working parties is justly a matter of regret to ourselves, the circumstances I have stated will, I think, relieve them from the charge of staying away either from pride or a love of pleasure: and that stinginess does not keep them back, appears from the fact that their contributions to the funds of the society are larger than those of any other family, and that a double portion of the needlework, is, by their desire, sent to be executed in their house."

66

I hope, my young friend," said Uncle Barnaby, addressing the lady who had so freely uttered her censures, and on such mistaken grounds, "I hope if you were one of the Miss Goods, you would do as they do; and that, being as you are, you will see the wisdom of exercising candour in judging, and modesty in expressing an opinion of those whose circumstances you very imperfectly understand."

I hope so, sir," said the young lady, in a tone of unaffected humiliation; and there is reason

to believe the lesson was not soon forgotten, and that it did not altogether fail of producing practical results.

"I consider it a most unneighbourly and ungentlemanly action of old Barnard to build that house just in view of your grounds. It cannot be regarded otherwise than an act of direct hostility; and, if I were you, I should resent it exceedingly, and take every occasion of annoying him in return. The view should be entirely intercepted by a thick plantation, or the erection of a high wall indeed, having all the surrounding land in your possession, you might easily, in one way or another, render the house absolutely untenantable; and if I were you, I certainly should do it. It would serve him exactly right, a churlish old fellow! I told his workpeople myself that he would never dare to do it; or, if he did, that you would certainly be a match for him."

:

"I am sorry, captain," replied my uncle, "that you should imagine yourself called upon to avenge my quarrels, or stir up my resentments. We are all quite apt enough to take fire in our own cause, whether or not any offence was intended; and it is the duty of friendship to endeavour to allay rather than excite irritation. I am not aware of ever having given cause of hostility to my old neighbour Barnard, nor do I suspect him of any intention to offend or injure me. The plot of ground is his own; nor have I any right to dictate to him whether or not he shall build upon it. I would gladly have purchased the ground, but he was not disposed to sell it. The thing is of no great value in itself; but it is dear to him, as it was his father's freehold, and

the spot on which he was born. We have most of us little partialities of this kind; and far be it from me to be offended at those of my neighbour, even though they may, in a slight degree, interfere with some little preferences of my own. Houses are wanted in the neighbourhood; and it is not at all surprising that Mr. Barnard, a plodding, matter-of-fact man, who has risen by his own industry, and knows the value of money, should be inclined to turn his property to the best account by building a house upon it; or that he should be so little alive to the picturesque as not to consider whether the erection would improve or disparage my prospect, though not quite so insensible as to deprive his future tenant of the privilege of overlooking it. It would ill become me, however, to indulge resentment or to practise retaliation against my neighbour."

66

'Well," returned the captain, "every man to his humour; but I think you are much to blame to take the matter so tamely. By taking it up with a proper spirit you might soon bring him to reason; and that is what I certainly would do, if I were you."

"That is what I intend, and hope to do, captain; but you must allow me to fix my standard of a proper spirit, not exactly in what I should do if I were you, or if I were Mr. Barnard, but what I ought to do in obedience to the universal rule, 'Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them,' Matt. vii. 12. This appeal to Scripture silenced the captain. The next day my uncle called on old Mr. Barnard, who at first behaved in a rather surly, snappish manner, saying he had as good

ووو