21



i

i



fccti of hor fol)v f in tho accumulated Ills of
poverty and neglect. Yet she still cherishes
the most passionate fondness for what has
provod hor bono. A friend called to see her,
not long sinco, and found her the emblem of \
wretchedness and sloth. Hor omaciatod form,
her squalid appoaranco, tho disorder of hor j
house, and hor tattorod raiment, bospoko tho j
shameful nogligenco of tho owner. Yot sho •
was sitting with a novel in her hand, oyer \
which sho nod apparently been woeping. (Sho
expatiated largely on tho talo it contained,whilo \
her children, who oxhibitcd a picture of real \
woe, engaged not her attention/] Her friend
enquired how she could bo thus interostod
and distrossod by moro fiction, whilo evory J
thing about her was calculated to arouso tho /
kconost feelings of her soul ! She coolly re-/
plied, I havo fortitudo sufficient to support my
own calamity, but I muatsympathize with tho
heroine of adversity. I havo not lost my
sensibility with my fortune. My only luxury
is now imagination I J How ill-timed, and how
improperly exerted, was this kind of sonsibili*
ty, in Juliana! Where, and what was her
sensibility, when she disobeyod an indulgent
parent, sacrificed her reputation, and threw
horself into the arms of a worthless man for
protection— from what ? from the kindness and
love of her best friends! * _

44 But I would not be understood to con*
demn all novels indiscriminately ; though great
prudence is necessary to make a ujctuiseloo*



92 THI MARDIMO SCHOOL. |

f tioo. Soma of thorn are fraught with senti- f
man!; convoy lessons for raorafimprovomont; \
and exhibit striking pictures of virtrie reward- :
ed; and of vice! tolly! and indiscretion pun- ;
iihed; which may prove encouragements to \
imitate, or warnings to avo ; d similar practi- \
, ces. I shall not descend to particulars. Those, t
r which are sanctioned by the ^onj^ral vqicojof [

delicacy and~"rcfinementf mnypo allowed a
1 reading; yet none shouJ^erigrosa)your minds, *
to the neglect of more important objects; nor
be suffered to monopolize too largo a portion.
