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DOMESTIC AMUSEMENT.

V

ARIETY is, in general, the very effence of amusement, How then is it poffible to fix an idea which exifts but in change? or how define a term, the meaning of which may be understood fo differently by different perfons?

YET ftill every human mind. requires relaxation, and amufement will be fought, and fhould be found, by perfons of every condition in life. Thofe whom Providence has placed in elevated

fituations

fituations of rank or fortune, have undoubtedly an infinite advantage over their inferiors, in this article, as a proper and liberal education must have afforded them an early tafte for two of the moft elegant amufements that can be enjoyed, namely, Reading and Mufic. Whoever has felt the charms of these delightful avocations, will never be subject to that miferable complaint called Ennui, nor lament the want of company or employment for a few hours in any part of a short day, for fuch the longest

will

will seem to those who can fo well

employ it.

DRAWING and Painting are alfo delightful refources to those whom favouring Genius has led to fuch sweet arts; but talents for these are rare, and those who are fo peculiarly gifted, fhould be particularly grateful for fuch rare endowments.

- Bur befides thefe inexhaustible: funds of rational amufement, there are ftill an infinite number of minor refources, which may afford us occupations fufficient to combat

the

the tedioufnefs of life, even fuppofing it to be paffed in folitude. The great variety of needleworks, which the ingenious women of other countries, as well as of our own, have invented, will furnifh us with conftant and amufing employment; and though our la bours of the loom may not equal a MINERVA's,oran AYLESBURY's, yet if they unbend the mind by fixing its attention on the progrefs of any elegantor imitative art, they anfwer the purpofe of domeftic amusement; and when the higher duties of our fituation do not call forth our exertion, we may feel the fatisfaction

F

of

of knowing that we are, at least,

innocently employed.

WHILE under the influence of this calm fentiment, we fhall be lefs apt to rush into the torrent of diffipation, where conjugal happinefs is too frequently loft, or, at least, endangered, by the poisonous gales of flattery, which, though breathed from coxcombs whom we may in our hearts defpife, will in fome fort render us defpicable; for no woman liftens to adula

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tion whofe vanity is not flattered by it,

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