incapable of supporting herself. While Catharina spun, the old woman would sit by, and read some book of devotion. When the fatigues of the day were over, both would sit down contentedly by the fire-side, and enjoy their frugal meal.

3. Though Catharina's face and person were models of perfection, yet her whole attention seemed bestowed upon her mind. Her mother taught her to read, and an old Lutheran minister instructed her in the maxims and duties of religion. Nature had furnished her not only with a ready, but a solid turn of thought; not only with a strong, but a right understanding.

ལུ 4. Her virtues and accomplishments procured her seve ral solicitations of marriage, from the peasants of the Country: but their offers were refused; for she loved her mother too tenderly to think of a separation.

5. Catharina was fifteen years old when her mother died. She then left her cottage, and went to live with the Lutheran minister, by whom she had been instructed from her childhood. In his house she resided, in quality of governess to his children; at once reconciling in her character unerring prudence with surprising vivacity.

6. The old man, who regarded her as one of his own children, had her instructed in the elegant parts of female education, by the masters who attended the rest of his family. Thus she continued to improve, till he died; by which accident she was reduced to her former poverty.

7. The country of Livonia was at that time wasted by war, and lay in a miserable state of desolation. Those calamities are ever most heavy upon the pocr; wherefore Catharina, though possessed of so many accomplishments, experienced all the miseries of hopeless indigence. Provisions becoming every day more scarce, and her private stock being entirely exhausted, she resolved at last to trave. to Marienburgh, a city of greater plenty.

8. With her scanty wardrobe, packed up in a wallet, she set out on her journey, on foot. She was to walk through a region miserable by nature, but rendered still more hideous by the Swedes and Russians, who, as each happened to become masters, plundered it at discretion: but hunger had taught her to despise the dangers and fatigues of the way. 9. One evening, upon her journey, as she had entered a

12. We now see Catharina, raised from the low, mudwalled cottage, to be empress of the greatest kingdom upon earth. The poor solitary wanderer is now surrounded by thousands, who find happiness in her smile. She, who formerly wanted a meal, is now capable of diffusing plenty upon whole nations. To her good fortune she owed a part of this pre-eminence, but to her virtues more.

13. She ever after retained those great qualities which first placed her on a throne: and while the extraordinary prince, her husband, laboured for the reformation of his male subjects, she studied, in her turn, the improvement of her own sex. She altered their dresses; introduced mixed assemblies; instituted an order of female knighthood; promoted piety and virtue; and, at length, when she had greatly filled all the stations of empress, friend, wife, and mother, bravely died without regret,-regretted by all.

SECTION XVIII.

GOLDSMITH.

Virtue and happiness equally attainable by the rich and the poor.

1. THE man to whom God has given riches, and blessed with a mind to employ them aright, is peculiarly favoured, and highly distinguished. He looks on his wealth with pleasure, because it affords him the means to do good. He protects the poor that are injured; he suffers not the mighty to oppress the weak.

2. He seeks out objects of compassion; he inquires into their wants; he relieves them with judgment, and without ostentation. He assists and rewards merit; he encourages ingenuity, and liberally promotes every useful design. He carries on great works, his country is enriched, and the labourer is employed; he forms new schemes, and the arts receive improvement.

3. He considers the superfluities of his table, as belong. ing to the poor of his neighbourhood: and he defrauds them not. The benevolence of his mind is not checked by his fortune; he rejoices therefore in riches, and his joy is blameless.

4. The virtuous poor man also may rejoice; for he has many reasons. He sits down to his morsel in peace; his

table is not crowded with flatterers and devourers. He is not embarrassed with a train of dependents, nor teased with the clamours of solicitation. Debarred from the dainties of the rich, he escapes also their diseases.

5. The bread that he eats, is it not sweet to his taste? The water he drinks, is it not pleasant to his thirst? yea, far more delicious than the richest draughts of the luxurious. His labour preserves his health, and procures him a repose, to which the downy bed of sloth is a stranger.

6. He limits his desires with humility; and the calm of contentment is sweeter to his soul, than all the acquisitions of wealth and grandeur.-Let not the rich, therefore, presume on his riches; nor the poor in his poverty yield to despondence for the providence of God dispenses happiness to them both.

ECONOMY OF HUMAN LIFE.

SECTION XIX.

The character of Christ.

1. WHOEVER Considers, with attention, the character of our blessed Lord, as it may be collected from the various incidents and actions of his life, (for there are no laboured descriptions of it, no encomiums upon it, by his own disciples,) will soon discover that it was, in every respect, the most excellent that ever was made known to mankind.

2. If we only say of him, what even Pilate said of him, and what his bitterest enemies cannot and do not deny, that we can find no fault in him, and that the whole tenour of his life was blameless, this is more than can be said of any other person that ever came into the world.

3. But this is going a very little way indeed, in the excellence of his character. He was not only free from every failing, but he possessed and practised every imaginable virtue. Towards his heavenly Father he expressed the most ardent love, the most fervent yet rational devotion: and displayed, in his whole conduct, the most absolute resignation to his will, and obedience to his commands.

4. His manners were gentle, mild, condescending, and gracious: his heart overflowed with kindness, compassion, and tenderness to the whole human race. The great employment of his life, was to do good to the bodies and souls

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of men. In this, all his thoughts, and all his time, were constantly, and almost incessantly occupied.

5. He went about dispensing his blessings to all around him, in a thousand different ways; healing diseases, reliev. ing infirmities, correcting errors, removing prejudices; promoting piety, justice, charity, peace, and harmony; and crowding into the narrow compass of his ministry more acts of mercy and compassion, than the longest life of the most benevolent man upon earth ever yet produced.

6. Over his own passions he had obtained the most complete command: and though his patience was continually put to the severest trials, yet he was never overcome, never betrayed into any intemperance or excess, in word or deed; 66 never once spake unadvisedly with his lips.”

7. He endured the cruellest insults from his enemies, with the utmost composure, meekness, patience, and resignation; displayed astonishing fortitude under a most painful and ignominious death; and, to crown all, in the very midst of his torments on the cross, implored forgiveness for his murderes, in that divinely charitable prayer, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

8. Nor was his wisdom inferior to his virtues. The doctrines he taught were the most sublime, and the most important, that were ever before delivered to mankind; and every way worthy of that God, from whom he professed to derive them, and whose Son he declared himself to be.

9. His precepts inculcated the purest and most perfect morality; his discourses were full of dignity and wisdom, yet intelligible and clear; his parables conveyed instruction in the most pleasing, familiar, and impressive manner; and his answers to the many insidious questions that were put to him, showed uncommon quickness of conception, soundness of judgment, and presence of mind; completely baffled all the artifices and malice of his enemies; and enabled him to elude all the snares that were laid for him. 10. From this short and imperfect sketch of our Saviour's character, it is evident that he was, beyond comparison, the wisest and the most virtuous person that ever appeared in the world. BIELBY, BISHOP OF LONDON.

PART II.

PIECES IN POETRY..

CHAPTER I.

SELECT SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS.

SECTION I.

Improvement of time.

DEFER not till to-morrow to be wise;
To-morrow's sun to thee may never rise.

Moral culture.

If good we plant not, vice will fill the place; And rankest weeds the richest soils deface.

The noblest art.

Indulge the true ambition to excel
In that best art,—the art of living well.

Life a state of trial.

In its true light, this transient life regard:
This is a state of trial, not reward.

Happiness domestic.

For genuine happiness we need not roam; 'Tis doubtless found with little, and at home.

Virtue and vice progressive. The human heart ne'er knows a state of rest; Bad leads to worse, and better tends to best.

Humility.

Be humble; learn thyself to scan:

Know, pride was never made for man.

Contentment is happiness.

Could wealth our happiness augment?
What can she give beyond content?