found very common place, indeed, and very puerile; therefore--the more dangerous-except, if required, an explanation is at hand; because, adage, of familiar stamp, full often catches the ear and provokes the curiosity of a child, and puts his little tongue in motion; and, when he has once asked what this or that means, he will never cease to persecute until satisfaction shall be procured, or ignorance acknowledged. Of this familiar cast of adage, we will instance no further, than, "I gave him a Rowland for his Oliver:"" it shall be accomplished by hook or by crook:"

he was hauled over the coals:" "I have a crow to pluck with you:" and such like quaint and enigmatical allusions, adapted, as I have just noticed, to attract the attention of a child, and to render him an examiner of importunate, determined, and most troublesome character. And here, I will take the liberty of remarking, that, if such trite, and ordinary adage is not thought beneath the introduction of its employer, so neither can it be supposed by him unworthy of after explanation; and what concerns him more closely, it will not be considered so, by any other person.-He must not therefore be allowed to blink the

question, by an affected disregard of the little interrogator at his side,and an assumed indifference to his prattle and demand.— No,no-stick to him, my little man—at him again for his" Rowland and his Oliver:"his, "by hook and by crook"-his "crow picking" and, if he has spoken of "passing the Rubicon," urge and torture him. until he fairly gets over; or, in chastisement of his flippancy, is overwhelmed, and-no-he sha'nt make food for fishmerely upset, and well watered by the way.

But, to be solemn-suppose any of the foregoing allusions or references to have been made!-let us imagine the thing to have happened at this moment: the child has asked the formidable question: the company are silent: some of them, perhaps, silently glad, that the prattle was not directed to themselves. But, the yonker perseveres: he will be heard: the company are still sitting in silent expectation

no answer is made: no explication is attempted!-Imagine this scene to be laidwhere it frequently has been laid-in real life; and, more need not be imagined-except, how unlucky! how embarrassing, how exposing!-how blushing!!!—

REFLECTION.

Ir has been remarked, that the mind most alive to the feelings of piety, is the most susceptible of the passion of virtuous love. Let it be understood, that by piety is meant the amiable and innocent quality of genuine and pure religion, and, then, I am inclined to admit the position with unconditional acquiescence. I would go further: I would assert,that, as no mind, except a pious mind, can be seriously impressed with a pure and tender sentiment, such, I mean, as is the foundation and indispensable associate of true affection between the sexes, so none other can possibly feel, or conceive, the force of such affection. 1 It is the pious mind, and that only, which is for ever looking forward with a hope and an anxiety, unspeakable, to the disclosure, and the regions of futurity. It is the character of such a mind to connect

the person, dear to it, with the faith and contemplation of that future. It is in the habit of fervently introducing that long loved object into every prayer, offered up in the retirement of devotion, and of actually identifying it with its own existence; and nothing tends to endear and seal it to us so closely, as the constant act of suppli cating, with the zeal of affection, for its eternal felicity, associated with the unutterable, but, anticipated joy, springing from the actual expectation of a re-union, after the separation made by death, in a state of new existence, where the dreadful void, and blank, and desolation, in which a survivor is involved, shall be, for ever, unfelt; unknown; unimaginable; impossible. But, all this comprehends feelings and desires, known to the mind of strong pious sentiment, and to none other; and they will be powerful and vivid in proportion to the force and ardor of such sentiment. Hence it is, that the most pious are not only more deeply impressed with the lineaments of dear affection, than those, in whose hearts the sentiments of piety are feeble; but, it may be questioned, whether any, except the former, can be impressed at all with the tender, and the pure perceptions of virtuous love.

To love dearly; virtuously; with a well regulated mind; and without misgiving; is, to be happy. A mind so circumstanced, extracts delight from all its associations. It has this grand ingredient of happiness; it is in harmony with itself; because it feels itself to be in amity with all that it beholds. By the fine magic of its own perceptions, every object is brought into unison and accordance with its peculiar sensibilities and presented lovely: "every thing soothes; every thing cheers; creation appears every where enveloped in comfort and in joy.