neglected: but he rejoiced in his hum- confolation: eternal life is not for him ble growth and his perfevering pati- on this earth. Haften; for his hour ence; and still his juice enlivens the is come." heart of the fad, lifts the finking courage, and infpires to perfeverance and exertion. Despair not, ye forfaken; bear, wait, and frive. From the infignificant reed flows the sweetest of juices: from the bending vine fprings the most delightful drink of the earth. THE DEATH OF ADAM. NINE hundred and thirty years old was Adam, when he felt in his bones the fentence of the judge thou fhalt furely die." To Eve, who forrowed greatly, he faid: "Let all my fons come around me, that I may behold and bless them," --and they came, as their father had bidden, and stood around him, many hundreds in number, and wept, and prayed for his life. "Who of you, (faid Adam) will go to the holy hill? Perhaps he may obtain mercy in my behalf, and bring me fruit from the tree of life." All his fons offered to go: but Seth, the moft pious of them, was appointed by his father to accomplish this errand. His head frown with ashes, Seth haftened and stayed not until he flood at the gates of paradife. There he prayed, faying: "Let Adam find favour in thy fight, O All-merciful! fend my father of the fruit of the tree of life." Suddenly a meffenger of God, a fhining cherub, stood before him, holding in his hand, inftead of the fruit, a three-leaved twig;-and he faid mildly: "Take this unto thy father for his last Swift as an angel of confolation, Seth haftened, and proftrated himself, and faid: "No fruit from the tree of life do I bring thee, O my father! bụt this branch which the angei gave to me for thy laft confolation." The dying man took the bough, and was glad. He fmelled thereon the odours of paradife, and his foul 66 was lifted up: My children, (faid he) eternal life dwelis not for us on this earth: I am dying, and ye must follow :-but on this fhrub I fcent the odours of a higher world, the fragrance of a purer paradife." Then his eyes were glazed, and his spirit departed from him. The fons of Adam buried their father, and mourned for him thirty days; but Seth wept not. He planted the twig on his father's grave, near the place of his head, and called it the tree of refurrection from the dead. The branch became a fpreading tree, and all the children of Adam were comforted under it; because therewith came the promise of revival from the fleep of death;-and it defcended to their children's children, and was feen in David's garden; until his misled fon began to doubt of his immortality :— then the tree withered :—but fhoots thereof were multiplied in many nations. At length, on a ftem of this tree, the Teacher of immortality refigned his hallowed life; and, behold, the fragrant hopes of refurrection are thence spread abroad among all the nations of the earth. at the inftant that Mrs Barnet and her maid got fafely out of the poft-chaife; the coachman knew Mrs Barnet, and his courfe being directly through a village contiguous to her husband's houfe, he ftopped, and offered to fet her down at her own door. Mrs Barnet perceiving that it would take a confiderable time before the chaife could be mended, agreed to the coachman's propofal, and defired her maid to put a small bundle into the coach. "Lard, ma'am !" cried the maid, as foon as the had peeped into the coach, "here is a frightful old woman and a beggarly looking boy-you cannot poffibly go in here." "As for the old woman and the boy," faid the coachman," although they are fitting within, they are no more than outfide paffangers-for as ill luck would have it, I chanced to have none within; fo when the rain came on, I took pity on the boy, and defired him to take fhelter in the coach, which he refufed, unless the old woman was allowed to go in alfo; fo as the boy, you fee, is a very pretty boy I could not bear that he should be exposed to the rain, and fo I was obliged to let in both; but now, to be fure, if her ladyship infifts on it, they muft both go on the outside, which will be no great hardship, for it begins to grow fair." "Fair or foul, they muft get out directly," faid the maid; " do you imagine that my mistress will fit with fuch creatures as these, more particularly in fuch a dirty machine?" "Hark you, young woman," faid the coachman, "you may fay of the old woman and the boy what you pleafe, they do not belong to me; but as for the coach, it is my coach, and I would have you to know, bears as good a reputation as any on the road, perhaps a better than your own; fo I would not advife you for to go for to flurify the character of thofe who are faying nothing against yours:-But as for you, my dear, you must come out," continued he, taking the boy by the arm, "fince this here gentlewoman infifts upon it." "By no means," "faid Mrs Barnet; "let the child remain, and the woman alfo; there is room for us all." So faying, the flopped into the coach; the maid followed, and the coachman drove on. This arrangement was highly disagrce able to the maid, who feemed greatly mortified at being feated near a woman fo meanly dreffed. Mrs Barnet on the other hand, was pleafed with the opportunity of accomdating the poor woman and boy-for this lady was of a benevolent difpofition and although fhe was moft uncommonly free from vanity, yet if all the maid's ftock had been divided between them, the mistress and maid together would have made a couple of very vain women. Mrs Barnet was rather in low fpirits, owing to her being feparated now, for the first time in her life, from her daughter; the old woman, on the contrary, being delighted with her fituation in the coach, was in high fpirits, and much disposed to fhare them with all the company. She made repeated attempts to draw Mrs Barnet into converfation, but without fuccefs; for although from a civility of difpofition which never forfook her, the answered with affability all the woman's queftions, the always relapfed into filence. The old woman was surprised as well as difappointed at this, fhe never in the courfe of her life had met with fo filent a woman, and thinking it next to impoflible that the fhould stumble upon two on the fame day, in the fame coach, of the fame difpofition, fhe ventured to addrefs the maid in spite of her repulfive looks, faying, "Pray, mistress, as the fun begins to break out, do you not think it will turn out a good day?" In this attempt to lead the majd into converfation, fhe was ftill more unfuc cefsful than fhe had been with the miftrefs; for although the former did not partake of the latter's dejection of fpirits, and had no kind of averfion in ge neral to talking, yet fhe deemed a perfon dressed as this poor woman was, far beneath her anfwering, therefore furveying the woman's ruffet gown with contempt, and at the fame time brufhing the duft, from the fleeves of her own, which was of filk, with an elevated nofe and projected under lip, she turned her difdainful eyes to the other fide, without making the poor woman any anfwer. Baffled in all her attempts to provoke a conversation, and quite unable to hold her tongue, as a laft recourfe the old woman began to talk with the boy. His prattle foon disturbed the meditations and attracted the attention of Mrs Barnet, who at length asked the old woman, woman, what relation the boy was to her. Pleased with this opportunity of giving freedom to her tongue, the anfwered with great rapidity, and almoft in one breath, "relation to me! All my relations are dead, please your ladyship, except my nephew, the pawn-broker in Shug-lane, who is grown fo rich and fo proud, that he hardly fpeaks to me; but as for that there boy I never saw him in my life, till this here bleffed day, when I received him from the overfeers of the work-houfe, to take him to my own houfe in the country; where I already have fix children all boarded at the rate of poor three fhillings a-week, which your ladyfhip muft acknowledge is too little in all confcience for my trouble and expence; but the hearts of those who take care of the poor of fome pariches, are as hard as the very church walls. Now, please your ladyship, this poor child, it feems, was lately ill of the affluenza, and cannot be put out to a trade till he grows ftronger. And so they gave him to me with the other children, for the benefice of country air; which I do affure your ladyfhip does quite and clean the contrairy of doctors drugs, for it recovers the health of the children, and gives them all a monftrous appetite, as I am fure I finds to my coft-and fo-if fo be as "Pray, who are his parents?" faid Mrs Barnet interrupting the old woman's fluency, which the faw was inexhaustible. "The Lord above, he only knows." replied the old woman; “for they told me he was brought to the work-house when he was only a few months old; the parifl. officers received him from a poor woman, who faid she was not his mother but his name was Edward Evelin; but who was his mother, is difficult to tell; and ftill more, who was his real father, as your ladyship well knows, for they have never been found out; but it ftands to reafon, that he must have had both; for I never heard of any body who had neither father nor mother, except Michael Hifendeck, of whom the parfon of our parish preached lat Sunday; but Michael lived in the Bible days, which is different from thefe here times; fo this boy's parents must be perfons unknown; but be who they will, I fufpect that they were no better than they fhould be in which cafe it is pretty clear that this here boy, faving your ladyfhip's prefence, is neither more nor lefs than an unnatural child; for if he had been born in the natural way of marriage, it ftands to reafon that his parents would have owned him long ago.' Mrs Barnet, affected with the condition of this boy, who began life under fuch unfavourable aufpices, said, “Are you not forry, my dear, to leave home?" "No," anfwered he; "I don't care." "Is there not fomebody at home whom you are forry to leave?" resumed the. "No," replied the boy;" I am not forry to leave any body." "What, not thofe who are good to you?" rejoined the. 66 Nobody was ever good to me," faid the boy. Mrs Barnet was touched with the child's anfwers, which strongly painted his helpless lot, and the cruel indifference of the world. She thought of her own child now, for the first time, left to the care of ftrangers, and the tear ftood in her eye. "My poor little fellow," faid fhe, after a fhort pause, was nobudy ever good to you?" "No!" anfwered he, "they are good only to the mistress' fon." "And have you no friend, my dear?" added the with a figh. "No! for old Robin the footman died laft week." "Was he your friend ?" "Yes, that he was," replied the boy; "he once gave me a piece of gingerbread." Mrs Barnett could not help fmiling at the expreffive fimplicity of the anfwer, and felt herself so much interested in him, and so much affected at féeing fo fine a child thrown as it were at random on the world, that while the yet fmiled, the tears flowed from her eyes-which the boy obferving, and miflaking their caufe, faid, "I fell acrying myfelf, when I heard that poor old Robin was dead." "That was like a good boy," said Mrs Barnett. "No, it was like a naughty boy;" faid he, "and the matron whipt me for it." "My poor dear little fellow," exclaimed Mrs Burnet, "that was hard indeed!" "It is very right howfomever, ma dam, dam," said the old woman, "that chil- plied Mrs Barnet; "the fish is done to a moment; and the veal, as well as the beans and bacon, feem admirable—allow me to help you." dren fhould be whipt for crying; if I did not make that a conftant rule at my houfe, there would be nothing but fqualling from morning to night-for I'll tell you, as how I always ferves them there little chits, whenever they begins to make a noife-I takes them-" Here the old woman was interrupted by the ftopping of the coach at the part of the common where he was to get out and walk to her own house. Mrs Barnet warmly recommended the boy to her care, putting at the fame time a guinea into her hand, and adding that the would perhaps call upon her fometimes, and would reward her more liberally if the found that the boy was treated with kindaefs.-The old woman having promifed to treat him kindly, led him away, and the coach drove on. The forlorn condition of this poor boy, deftitute of father, mother, relation, or protector, fo ftrongly awakened the humane feelings of Mrs Barnet, that her thoughts were divided between him and her own child for the remainder of the way; and when the arrived at her own houfe, after giving her husband a particular account of every thing relative to the establishment of his daughter, the began the hiftory of the workhouse boy; but fhe had not proceeded far, when Mr Barnet haftily rung the bell to know whether dinner was near ready, faying, "that he had eaten little or nothing fince his breakfaft, and indeed not a great deal then, owing to the carleffness of the maid, who had not put butter enough upon the toaft.” "Why did you not order her to make fome more, my dear?" faid Mrs Barnet. "Lecaufe," replied he," I did not observe it till I could eat no more." "I am forry for it," faid Mrs Barnet; but I hope you have had fomething fince." 66 Very little," replied he;" for I was put fo out of humour with the toaft, that I have had little or no appetite until now." "That is provoking, indeed," said Mrs Barnet, in a sympathifing tone of voice. "But here comes the dinner, and I truft you will now be able to make up for the lofs of your breakfaf, I with to God my dear, the fish be not overdone," cried Mr Barnet, fixing an alarmed look on the difh. "Pray do not terrify yourfelf," re Mrs Barnet accordingly helped her husband to every thing the knew he li ked, which, he being a man of few words, particularly at meals, accepted in filent complacency. After having amply indemnified himself for the miffortunes of the breakfast, and having attempted, in vain, to fwallow another morfel, he looked with benignity at his wife, and faid, "I really wish you would eat a little bit yourself, my dear." "I believe the parting with our sweet girl has entirely deprived me of appetite; it is not in my power to eat much; but, if you pleafe, I will drink a glass of wine with you." "I will just take one draught more of ale firft; believe there is but one other draught in the tankard.” Mr Barnet, having finished his alc, "Upon my word," faid he, " this ale is excellent-and now, my dear, I am ready to join you in a glafs of wine.— Here, my dear, is your very good health, with all my heart, not forgetting our dear Louifa." 66 After Mr Barnet had drank a few glaffes more, and praised the port as found and stomachic, and of a good body; "I am glad to fee you here again, my dear," faid he; they may talk of the conveniencies and comforts of London as they please, but I think there is no place where one finds every thing fo neat, and fo clean, and so comfortable, as in one's own houfe here, and at one's own, good, warm, fnug firelide." 66 Mrs Barnet, defirous of interefting her hufband in the poor boy, thought this a good opportunity, and after expreffing her own fatisfaction in the thoughts of his finding home fo agreeable, she proceeded in the following terms: Yet, my dear, in the midft of those comforts which Providence has fo bountifully beftowed upon us, it is impoffible not to feel uneafinefs in reflecting on the numbers of our fellow-creatures, who, inflead of thofe conveniencies which we enjoy, are fain, after fatigue and labour, to feek a little refreshment, and repofe upon firaw, in cold uncomfortable habitations, and from fcanty provifions! The fine boy, whom I already mentioned, was going from a workhouse, to the miferable cottage of a wretched ald woman woman, who had no natural interest in him, and-" Here Mrs Barnet stopped, because fhe perceived that her husband had fallen fleep. The following day they had visitors, and Mrs Barnet found no proper opportunity of mentioning to her husband the boy in whom the felt so strong an intereft. The day after, she was again prevented by the following accident:-A large company were invited to dine on turtle, at an inn in the village. This dinner was given by a gentleman, whofe intereft in the county, Mr Barnet oppofed, of course he was not invited to the feaft; but the inn-keeper, who had private reasons for cultivating the good will of Mr Barnet, and knew by what means that was to be moft effectually obtained, gave him to know that a copious bafon of the turtle should be fent to him.-Mr Barnet hav ing prepared himself for the occafion, by a longer airing than ufual, was wait ing with impatience for the accomplishment of the inn-keeper's promife, when he was informed, that in conveying the foup from the inn, the servant had ftumbled, and spilt the rich cargo on the ground. This melancholy accident af fected Mr Barnet fo deeply, that his wife plainly perceived it would be vain to expect that he should, for that day at leaft, think of any body's misfortune but his own. The following morning, Mrs Barnet, on the pretext of paying an early vifit, drove to the old woman's cottage, to inquire after the poor boy. She foon obferved him fitting on a ftone before the old woman's door, a-part from the other children, who were playing on the heath. He fprung, with extended arms, to ward Mrs Barnet, as soon as he saw her. "Why are you not playing with the other children?" said she. "Becaufe," faid he, " you promised to come and fee me, and I have watched for you ever fince." "That he has, indeed, madam," faid the old woman, who came out of the hovel, when the faw the carriage ftop; he has been conftantly on the lookout from morning to night, although I told him--" You filly fool," faid I, "do you think that that there fine lady will take the trouble to come to fee fuch a poor little wretch as you-and what does your ladyfhip think he answered ?”- "What did he anfwer?" faid Mrs Barnet. " for "that your "Yes, I do think it," fays he; fhe promised to do fo," faid he, "and the parfon of the work-houfe school told us, that good folks always kept their promife," fays he. "And I am fure," continued the old woman, ladyship always will, particularly to me, whereof your ladyship must remember that you promised to reward me, if so be I treated this boy kindly, which God he knows I have done, as in duty bound." "Have you had any breakfast, my dear?" faid Mrs Barnet to the boy. "I was juft going to give him fome," anfwered the old woman, "when your ladyship arrived.-Was I not, child?" "I don't know," faid the boy. "He does not understand politeness as yet, please your ladyfhip," faid the the old woman; "but I will foon teach him in time; for indeed I was just goi to give him fome breakfast, as in duty bound." Mrs Barnet continued to talk with the boy for a confiderable time, and was highly pleased with all he said. She then gave fome money to the woman, repeating her injunctions, "that the fhould be careful and attentive to the boy; and now, my dear, here is fomething for you," added the; prefenting him with a large fweetcake. 66 "Are you going away already?” faid the boy, with a forrowful look. "Yes, my dear, I muft go," replied fhe. "There," faid the boy, giving the cake to the old woman, 66 you may divide that among the children." "Firft take fome yourself," rejoined the old woman; tearing off a piece, and offering it to the boy. "No," faid he; "I do not like it που. "You cannot choose but like it," faid fhe, taking a large bite of the cake herself. Here, here," refumed the, as foon as he could articulate; "I affure you it is very nice, fo there is a piece for you." "I cannot eat it now," replied he, rejecting the cake, and looking mournfully at Mrs Barnet. 66 I will come and fee you again, my dear," faid Mrs Barnet, tapping his cheek; "but I am obliged to go at prefat; pray be a good boy." |