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In liberal arts thy youthful hands did grow,
Quick moving at thy better sense's call;
That better sense is gone-their task is now
To twist the yarn, or grope the friendly wall.

O! fate severe! earth's lesson early taught, That all is vain, save Virtue, Love, and Truth; We own it all that through life's days have wrought

But thou hast learnt it in thy morn of youth.
Pupil of Heav'n thou art; compute thy gain
When dullness loads thee, or regret assails;
All is not gone, for Faith and Hope remain,
And gentle Charity which never fails.
Love Row shall glow where Envy might have
burn'd,

And every eye and every hand be thine;
Each hunan form, each object undiscern'd,
From borrow'd organs thou may'st still divine.
But thy great Maker's own transcendent form,
His love ineffable, his ways of old,

His perfect wisdom, and his presence bright,
"Thine eyes, and not another's shall behold."

L. B.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS FOR APRIL.

FRENCH THEATRE.

MAIDS TO BE MARRIED.

As every thing which relates to the theatrical art cannot fail to entertain a British reader, we have thought proper to present to the public a translation of a new play, which was received with great applause on one of the Paris stages. It is composed by L. B. Picard who has already distinguished himself by the pieces which his muse has produced, as well as by his talents in acting, which, in the comic line, without ever descending to low buffoonery, have left him few rivals. The title of the play is, Maids to be Married; and the scene in the house of Mr. Jaquemin.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

JAQUEMIN, an opulent country gentleman, father to Louise and Therese, and the guardian of Agathe and Pauline.

SAINVILLE, his guest.
CORSIGNAC, Sainville's friend.

LEDOUX, an elderly gentleman to whom
Agathe is promised.

AGATHE DE PERMONT, twenty-six years old. PAULINE, her sister, twenty-one ditto.

URSULE ROUVIGNY, a neighbour, twenty

three years old.

LOUISE JAQUEMIN, eighteen ditto. THERESE, her sister, sixteen ditto.

Аст 1.

Therese. Great news my friends, I have an important secret to reveal.

All. What is it? tell us quick.

Therese. A bachelor is to day expected here.
All. A bachelor!

Therese. A young handsome man from Paris, with five hundred a year and an only son! Agathe. Indeed!

Louise. But how could you learn

Therese. You know my curiosity, my father is not very prudent, as he owns it, anger or joy make him betray himself. Just now he received a letter, which filled him with pleasure, a few words escaped from his lips, which made me wish to know more; by degrees my cunning inade him speak more than he meant, and I guessed the rest. He has ordered the apartment in the little pavillion to be got ready, and to-day the young man comes,

Ursule. He is going to be your father's guest, I perceive.

Therese. To be sure he is.

Ursule. Tis plain he comes on your account. Louise. Why not on that of his wards? Since Agathe and Pauline had the misfortune of losing their parents, my father, who was appointed their guardian, has acted by them with the same affection as by his children. Is it not true Agathe? He has accustomed us to love you as a sister; has he not Pauline?

Pauline. Yes; our guardian is the best man in existence. It is not his fault if my sister has been a maid these five-and-twenty years. How many excellent matches has he not proposed to her, which she has all refused to finish, by listening to Mr. Ledoux, quite an old man!

Agathe. Five-and-twenty did you say, Pauline, I am scarcely twenty-four; but take care you do not follow my example: I was too proud, you are too romantic; I wanted a faultless being, and you are waiting for a stroke of sympathy. But as to my marriage with Ledoux, it is not yet

over.

Therese. I understand you; this new comer changes your projects, and as for our handsome neighbour, she is sorry that we should have such a guest, as there is no doubt that he is intended for one of us.

Ursule. I sorry! no my friends be just; our relations esteem each other, and live together as good neighbours ought to do; we are all born in the same place, I have been educated in a boarding school in town, Agathe and Pauline by their mother, till her death; when they became your companions, and lived beneath your roof; during three years I have never ceased to visit you, and it is hard you should now doubt of the sincerity of my friendship.

Therese. Yes, yes, it can never hurt a maid to frequent a house which contains four young ladies, for it is always filled with suitors.

Louise. You are too severe, Therese.

Therese. And you too good, Louise, you do not dive into the secret intentions of other people. I do not mean, however, to call it a crime in her to think of matrimony; it is very natural, for all our conversations dwell upon it; the word matrimony itself is so charming, that it is impossible to hear it pronounced without emotion.

Ursule. True; but I never would think of it at the expence of my friends. It is I who have engaged Agathe not to reject the addresses of Mr. Ledoux, though he be far from deserving her. Like Pauline, I am fond of reading, and if 1 prefer serious works to her novels, still I have as great a wish of inspiring also a strong passion in the bosom of a man. My mother who looks upon me as a little girl, will not permit me to meddle with the affairs of the house, like you iny dear Louise, and yet I should like very much to command and rule in my turn; but lord bless

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Jaquemin. Good morning to you all; has Therese imparted the news to you? The son of an old friend of mine, Mr. Sainville, is on the way to my house.

Ursule. Sainville! his father was also acquainted with my parents.

Jaquemin. He was; I saw a good deal of the young man when I was at Paris last.

Therese. He comes to get a wife? Jaquemin. What is it you say? your fancy has already taken its flight.

Therese. Be not angry, dear father, you are so fiery, but then you are so easily appeased. Jaquemin. To get a wife! he comes to buy an estate in this province.

Therese. Ah! you wish to keep your secret; but I am sure you told him you had four young girls in your house.

Jaquemin. Well, what then?

of

Therese. He wants to make a choice. Jaquemin. He has not thought about it-there is no such thing in contemplation-I approve matrimony; Sainville is a very good fellow, and far from throwing any obstacle in the way-I should be delighted with-but as to making a choice-At last, my dear Agathe, your marriage is nearly settled with Mr. Ledoux, a respectable notary; he is a man of fifty, but blessed with a robust state of health; his fortune is not

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Designed expressly for La Belle Assemblée N916 May 1.1807.

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Pattern for a parisian Night Cap, trimmed round the face with two rows of Vandyke Lace.

The Size of this pattern to be encreased or reduced according

Standard of the Wearer.

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