early age, afford a striking proof of what may be gained by persevering industry. Henry. But he had natural genius; and you know, mamma, that all little boys do not possess that.

Mamma. Joshua Rowley Gilpin was a child of no common capacity, I grant, my dear Henry; but I am of the decided opinion, that diligence and application will ensure for their possessor equal success with those, who, exulting in the brighter endowments of talent and genius, are destitute of these valuable properties, or at least do not consider it worth their while to cultivate them. Without attention and application we cannot expect to make any real progress in knowledge; or, at all events, that the knowledge hastily acquired, will be of such permanent utility as that which has been gained by unremitted industry.

Henry. Ah! I recollect, mamma, that when you gave us an account of Sir Isaac Newton, you said, that it was to this

quality that that great man considered himself indebted for all his vast attainments. But what were you going to say about little Gilpin?

Mamma. He learned Latin at a very early age, and so much delighted was he with the acquisition, that he persuaded his nurse, by many warm entreaties, to become his scholar. He endeavoured, by every means in his power, to engage her attention, frequently telling her what a nice thing it would be to excel in knowledge all the other young women in the village. For her use he drew up a little abridgment of his Eton Grammar, formed a vocabulary, and was never without a few slips of paper in his pocket, upon each of which was some noun regularly declined.

Louisa. How did his pupil get on, mamma? I should think Joshua found the task rather more difficult than he thought for.

Mamma. She succeeded better than

might be expected; and though by no means anxious for a place among classical scholars, she still retains many scraps of Latin and Greek, which will no doubt remain with her as long as she lives; particularly the Lord's Prayer, which her young master made her repeat to him every evening, in Greek, while she was attending him to bed.

Henry. What a very clever boy he must have been! Why, mamma, I am only just beginning Latin now, and I am not sure that I could yet decline a noun quite perfectly by myself. I will try to imitate Joshua, and get on very fast. But will you tell me whether he was an active boy and fond of play? or did he spend the whole of his time in learning Latin and Greek?

Mamma. Oh, no: although he applied with so much assiduity to his lessons, while he was about them, he was as fond of play as you are; and his father, who was not only the companion,

but the play-fellow of his darling boy, says that they passed together many a happy hour in trundling their hoops along the broad nut-tree walk, on one side of the garden, whipping their tops, flying their kites, or brandishing their battledoors. Joshua was very skilful in the construction of little machines and toys of various kinds, in which his father was content to work under his direction. Alas! his bow now lies unstrung, his horses stand ready-harnessed by their well-hung carriages, his printing-press is no longer employed, his telegraph stands still, and his yeomanry-troop is called out no more. But, as I have now related some of the incidents of the childhood of this amiable youth, I must conclude my little history. He advanced in piety, in knowledge, and in loveliness, as he advanced in years; and, when only eighteen, his pure and gentle spirit was removed to a higher state of existence.

11

CHAP. II.

ELIZABETH HAMILTON.

Louisa.

WILL you be so kind, dear mamma, as to give us the history of a little girl to-night: you know I am a little girl myself, and therefore I should like to hear about one.

Mamma. Well, then, I will give you a short account of Elizabeth Hamilton, who was not only a very clever little girl, but grew up to be a sensible and accomplished woman; and whose various works, you will, I hope, at some future time, read with advantage and pleasure. Elizabeth Hamilton was born at Belfast, in Ireland, in 1758. She had one sister, named Catherine, and one brother named Charles, to whom she was exceedingly attached.