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poorest and most destitute of all who had ever been my companions.

I cannot describe what I felt when the duties of the school were divided among us, for it was found that as I was very far behind my sisters in all elegant accomplishments, it was necessary to give me more than my share of the drudgery of the work.

It was done in the most delicate manner by my sisters, under the direction of my mother; but necessity has no law. It was needful for us either to work or starve; and where the labour of all would hardly suffice, it was requisite to put the talents of each to the best account.

The music, the drawing, the fine needlework, and the religious instruction, therefore, devolved on Ellen and Maria, and I was soon made to feel that my accomplished sisters were much more respected by the young ladies than I was; for abilities always, I believe, command the respect of young people under a course of education. I also derived mortification from another source. While at school I had, as I before remarked, exhibited a vast deal of obstinacy on the subject of good manners, and had persisted in many awkward tricks for several years, taking it for granted, as many young people do, that when I left school I should be enabled, as if by magic, to lay aside all inelegant ways at once, and to become a perfect gentlewoman, merely in consequence of change of place. Undoubtedly, on my return home, I had found it necessary, and in some degree not altogether impossible, to lay aside many of my gaucheries; but there is a wide difference between being decidedly vulgar and having fine manners. These last I never could obtain by any effort: my politeness never could become a second nature, since it was opposed to all the habits of my childhood; hence I retain to this day a constrained and stiff manner; and though I trust I do not now give offence to any one, yet I must ever remain inferior to my sisters in the habit of making myself generally agreeable in society.

I was most deeply depressed and mortified by all these circumstances, in addition to the other distresses of the family; yet I have reason to think that these mortifications were blessed to me, for I was humbled under them; yet still my pride was such that I could not bring myself to open my mind to any friend. And when the sinfulness of my former .conduct exhibited itself more

and more to my mind, I became, as it were, an astonishment to myself, and suffered a long time under a sense of sin, for which I could find no relief; for I was ignorant of the depravity of man's heart, and of the nature of the remedy provided against it-an ignorance which had at first been wilful, and was afterward, as it were, judicial, at least so for a time. My mother had, for a considerable period, ceased to expostulate with me on religious subjects, finding that hitherto she had only excited irritation and enmity by so doing; I was therefore left for a long time to suffer alone, and without consolation, under the anguish of a wounded spirit.

At length, on my sister next in age to myself falling ill, I was made to feel my deficiencies still more deeply; for we were actually obliged to engage our former governess, the one who had educated my sisters, and had attempted to instruct me, and to pay her, poor as we were, to fulfil those duties which I was unable to perform.

Thus was grief added to grief, and mortification to mortification, till, being no longer able to contend with my sufferings, I at length opened my mind to my parents, confessed all the sins of my youth, implored their pardon on my knees, and was led by these tender parents to throw myself entirely on the divine mercy, as manifested in the Lord Jesus Christ, and to seek the teachings of the Holy Spirit, whereby peace was restored to my soul, and I was enabled to submit, without further repining, to that state in life to which I had, in some measure, brought myself.

Soon after this my dear sister recovered her health, and from that time to the present, being ten years, have, I trust, with Christian humility, and even with cheerfulness, submitted to perform the most ordinary functions of my situation, and been the stocking-darner, and hornbook-teacher, and the drudger at rudiments, of our large, and, I thankfully add, our prosperous school; and if I have had no higher earthly pleasure, I have, since that time, been blessed in the approbation and affection of every individual of our numerous family.

THE INFANT'S GRAVE.

IN one of those chateaux which are situated in the country between Montreuil and Abbeville, resided, a short time before the revolution, Monsieur le Comte de R- This nobleman was then in narrow circumstances, his patrimony having been much injured by his own imprudences in early life. In consequence of which he became a dissatisfied character, and was easily drawn to associate with those who indulged themselves in expressions derogatory at once to the honour of their king and their God.

Monsieur le Comte de R- Ihad a wife and one daughter. His wife was a woman of ordinary accomplishments, who, having no fixed opinions of her own, adopted implicitly those of her husband. The daughter had, however, more energy of character, and, in better hands, might have become an honour to her sex; but her education being neglected, while her mind was peculiarly active, she readily adopted all her father's modes of thinking, till she had acquired a settled contempt of all that is venerable and sacred.

Monsieur le Comte de R— did not live to see that revolution effected which he had so ardently desired, and to which he contributed, as much as in him lay, by his licentious discourse.

Immediately after his death, his wife and daughter, finding their property too small for the creditable occupation of their chateau, removed to Abbeville, where they took a small house. In this city they remained till the revolution began not only to disturb the capital, but to extend its horrors to every town and village throughout the kingdom, affecting many of every rank and denomination with the unaccountable phrensy of reducing all orders of society to one common level.

Mademoiselle Louise de R- who had been reared by her father in those revolutionary and irreligious principles with which her country was then so deeply agitated, failed not, during this confusion, to hazard her opinions on all occasions, and to express her approba

tion of every outrage committed by the people, in terms so decisive as to obtain for her the character of a good citoyenne, though at the expense of that delicacy which ought ever to be considered as the chief ornament of the female sex.

About this time she was sought in marriage by Eugene Perault, an officer of the republican army, whom she presently accepted, because his genteel air pleased her fancy; although her mother privately objected to him on account of his ignoble birth. But Louise pleaded that, according to the opinions which they professed, nobility was so mere a nothing, that the very name of it ought to be forgotten; adding, that she was unable to discover upon what principle her mother could objeet to the son-in-law who offered himself, because his family was not noble. She accordingly married this man, and resided with him some months in Abbeville. After which he, being called into actual service on the frontier, left her with the Comtesse de R- at Abbeville; where, in due time, she became the mother of a son, to whom she gave his father's name.

Louise Perault was by this means separated from her husband at the time of her son's birth; and not having money sufficient to pay for his being nursed from home (a custom too prevalent in this country, though calculated to deprive a mother of all those sweet and tender endearments which affectionate mothers only can experience), she condescended to perform the part of a nurse to her child. In these circumstances the ties of natural affection were every.day strengthened between them, while all the tenderest feelings of maternal love were excited by the lovely infant in the breast of its parent.

During the time in which Louise Perault was thus closely occupied by her child, she seldom heard from her husband. But believing him to be fully engaged by the duties, and daily wearied by the fatigues of his situation, she felt no great uneasiness from this neglect; never entertaining a doubt of the continuance of his regard, although at that period the ties of marriage, as well as the duties it involves, were not much regarded by society in general.

The time at length arrived when it became necessary to wean her son. Louise, being informed that her husband's corps was then in the neighbourhood of the capi

tal, resolved to leave her infant with her mother, and repair immediately to the place in which she might expect to see her husband; nothing doubting but that he would participate in the joy she hoped to derive from this happy interview with her beloved Eugene.

But the young man desired nothing less than the presence of his wife. He had, during his absence from Abbeville, formed other connexions; so that when Louise appeared before him, he coldly told her that he no longer regarded her as the object of his choice; that he had otherwise disposed of himself; and that he con ceived every union of this sort ceased to be binding as soon as the affections of the parties were diverted to other objects. In so unfeeling and shameful a manner did this republican soldier presume to violate that precept of religion which is thus strongly expressed-For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Louise Perault was at once offended, wounded, and shocked, by this conduct of her husband: but having too much pride to expostulate with him, she prepared to return to Abbeville, resolving, if possible, to banish from her mind the memory of a man who had treated her with so much indignity. Her mouth also was stopped; and she felt that she had no right to complain, since the conduct of her husband was perfectly consistent with the sentiments she had often expressed in his presence on the subject of marriage, which she had frequently spoken of as a contract to be made and broken at will, and according to the convenience of the parties. It was, however, not to be wondered at, that the unhappy wife, finding herself suddenly deprived of the affections of her husband, should feel herself irresistibly drawn towards her infant; and that, in consequence of these predominant feelings, she should immediately retrace her steps to Abbeville.

But new and unexpected sorrows awaited her there. Her infant had, during her absence, been attacked by an epidemical disease, the course of which was so swift and fatal, that his remains had been consigned to the grave a few hours before the return of his unconscious mother.

While all nature smiles upon a man, while he enjoys

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