a lady in her own imagination; and, like other votaries of vanity, was wandering through the fantastic labyrinth of pleasure: consequently, the invitation of a forgiving father never met her eyes; and her distance from her native country, and residence in a populous capital, rendered her undiscoverable to those persons who searched after her, in hopes of the reward. Irritated by his unsuccessful exertions, Mr. Meanwell upbraided his wife, whose pride, he said, was the fatal cause of Eliza's elopement and death. "You see, madam," said he, "that your mistaken vanity has bereft us of a favourite child, who has probably been decoyed from the paths of virtue, by some fashionable seducer, and has at once brought infamy on herself, and dishonour to her connections. Our three daughters, who have remained at home, and received merely the common benefits of a domestic education, are now innocent, virtuous, and happy! Accustomed to business, they are at once useful and ornamental to their parents, and will, it is to be hoped, occupy their place in society with propriety. But poor Eliza, amiable from the hand of nature, was vitiated by false refinement, and inflated by pride, assumed a preposterous supeririority even over her own parents." Mrs. Meanwell, when too late, acknowledged her error; but, in consequence of her natural vivacity, she soon forgot Eliza. On the other hand, the ho nest grocer was deeply afflicted, and his health languished under the severe emotions of secret grief. Meanwhile winter approached, and Eliza continued in the cottage of the hospitable Christine, whose humanity at once mitigated the affliction of her companion, and proved a powerful cordial to restore her health. Yielding to the dictates of the heart, and the advice of her friend Christine, this fair penitent resolved to return to her father's house. Accordingly, in the beginning of May, she proceeded to Calais, and sailed in the packet for Dover, where she arrived. Eliza now dreading the reproaches of her parents, and the scorn of her acquaintance, retired to an obscure village, within a few miles of Dover, where she took lodgings in a farmer's house, near the seashore. She daily walked along the strand, and found her health and spirits cherished by the seabreezes; and her mind gradually recovered a degree of serenity. In one of her morning rambles, as she climbed over a small rocky point of land, she met a gentleman; but, wishing to avoid observation, she approached him with her eyes fixed on the ground. An exclamation, and the well-known voice of her father, made Eliza raise her head. The forgiving parent ran forward, just as 'she was sinking to the earth; and, at once expressed his joy at this fortuitous meeting, and his forgiveness of her follies. (See engraving.) With eyes suffused with tears, and a bosom glowing with gratitude, poor Eliza accompanied her father to London; but, notwithstanding the forgiveness of her parents, and the kindness of her sisters, she felt abashed in their presence. Every object, in her paternal home, reminded her of her former happiness, pride, and indiscretion ; and to alleviate her sufferings, and render life tolerable, she was sent by her parents to reside with a distant relation in the country. Thus, in the bloom of life, this Unfortunate Daughter mourns; a sad victim of seduction, and a proof of the general impropriety of Mo dern Female Education. EDUCATION OF YOUTH. Accomplishments have taken virtue's place COWPER. IN contemplating the importance of education, and its influence on the present and future happiness of man, the mind is warmed with philanthropic enthusiasm. We behold the docile youth pass in review, with lively minds, which, like germinating plants, require the skill of the experienced to prune their luxuriance, and direct their growth. We behold their passions ready to rebel against the authority of their sovereign reason, which yet in its infancy is unable to restrain them, and looking to us for aid. Their untaught and unsophisticated minds are like simple water, equally susceptible of the rich tincture of virtue, or the impregnation of vice. They seem to look up to us with an eye of supplication, and to cry emphatically-Who will shew us any good?Who will direct us how we may become the ornaments, and not the disgrace, of our nature and our nation! The youth of the higher and middle classes of society have a manifest advantage over those in a lower station, yet it will be found, that in consequence of injudicious management, they derive little benefit from contingent circumstances. The indulgence of infantine caprice, so prevalent in this metropolis, is one great source of folly and vice. From a ridiculous affectation of tenderness, many mothers lay the foundation of the future obstinacy of their sons, by gratifying their childish passions. Such falsely good-natured beings will exclaim, "I cannot bear to make my child unhappy, even for a moment; poor fellow he will have trouble enough when he grows up-sorrow will come too soon. This absurd idea is very common among parents, who imagine their children will be taught the regulation of their passions by experience. Boys are indulged, lest severe restrictions should break their spirit, and render them timid: hence they become assuming and impudent, and on their entrance into life are like a luxuriant tree, whose superabundance of branches and foliage prevents it from producing any good fruit, till the severe hand of experience lops its redundancies. How irrational are those indulgent parent who permit their sons to attain maturity, with only a few fashionable accomplishments! They step into life with all their passions and desires in full vigour; where, impatient of contradiction, and unaccustomed to controul, they are often involved in embarrassments and quarrels. Inchanted by the smile of Pleasure, the giddy youth revels in her illicit enjoyments. Fascinated by public amusements, and misled by dissolute companions, he pursues the phantom of happiness without reflection The stews, the gaming-table, and the tavern, co |