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CHAP. XV.

Where the fenfe of the fpeech is but iil understood, "We are bound to fuppofe it uncommonly good."' SIMKIN'S Letters.

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IT is now time to return to Miss Botherim, whom we left very properly rebuking her mother for the fault committed by her domeftics. In reply to a very long and very learned exhortation, which had, however, nearly exhausted the good lady's patience, "I tell you, Biddy," faid Mrs. Botherim, "that though coming into the parlour, and speaking of your wig before the gentlemen was not his bufinefs, to be fure, yet he is a very good boy for all that. He takes fuch care of the cow, and is fo kind to all the dumb creatures, that he must be good." • Good!'

Good!' repeated Bridgetina with great indignation, 'It appears, madam, that you know very little of the nature of goodness. What is goodness but virtue? Confidered as a perfonal quality, it confifts in the difpofition of the mind, and may be defined a defire to promote the benefit of intelligent beings in general, the quantity of virtue being as the quantity of defire. Now defire is another name for preference, or a perception of the excellence, real or fuppofed, of any object; and what perception of excellence can a being fo unenlightened poffibly poffefs?".

"You know very well, daughter," rejoined Mrs. Botherim, "that I cannot answer you in all them there argumentations; but I can tell you that it will be long enough before we get a better boy than Bill, and that there is not a cow upon the common half fo well fed as ours."

It is a ftrange thing, mother,' re

joined.

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joined Bridgetina, that you never will learn to generalize your ideas. The boy may take very good care of your cow、 and by leading her to the best pasture, promote both her benefit and yours; but if he derives this benefit, not from a clear and diftinct perception of what it is in which it confifts, but from the unex→ amined leffons of education, from the phy fical effect of fympathy, or from any Species of zeal unallied to and incommenfurate with knowledge, can this defire be admitted for virtuous? If your prejudices were not invulnerable, you would not hesitate to acknowledge that it ought not; and if his actions cannot be admitted for virtuous, how can he be called good?"

To this Mrs. Botherim was incapable of making any reply. A filence of fome minutes enfued, which the mother at length broke. "I was thinking,” said fhe, " my dear, whether we might not

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drink tea with Mifs Sydney this evening; now that her brother is come home, the compliment will be expected; and you know next week is the week of our great wash, when I never goes from home, and to-morrow I muft look over your things to prepare for it; fo as it will be a long time before I have another day, I think we had as well go this."

The propofal was too agreeable to Mifs Botherim to be rejected. A meffenger was dispatched to notify their intention; and while Mrs. Botherim betook herself to the tafk of combing out the unfortunate treffes, whose lucklefs fate has already excited the reader's commiferation, Bridgetina retired to her library to study for the difcourfe of the evening.

CHAP.

CHAP. XVI.

"Thefe gentle hours that plenty bade to bloom; "Thofe calm defires that afk'd but little room; "Those healthful fports that grac'd the peaceful fcene, "Liv'd in each look, and brighten'd all the green."

GOLDSMITH.

UR heroine bestowed fo much time

OUR

on the tedious labours of the toilet, that the little party at Mr. Sydney's had enjoyed nearly an hour of each other's fociety before fhe and her mother appeared. They found the house deferted of its inhabitants, but were conducted by a little girl through the garden into a meadow which beautifully floped towards the river. On the lower part a groupe of hay→ makers were at work; Mr. Sydney and his friend the rector were cheerfully converfing with the rustic band, and encouraging the innocent merriment which lightened all their toil. At the upper

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