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The GOOD VICAR: A Sequel to The MILL, a Tale, by M. Marmontel. See page 25.

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THE FOURTH STORY.

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T was at a fmall expence too, Olympia, that I was happy myfelf, the whole of that fummer, the laft, alas! that your father was to pafs in the place he was fo fond of.

These words were followed by a filence of a few moments, and diffufed a cloud of forrow over the whole company. Olympia, who perceived it, was defirous of difpelling it, and con

tinued thus:

tered her but little; and among twenty rivals, whom I faw timidly eager to pay their court, one alone fometimes obtained the favour of a fmile, or that of a look kindly prolonged. This was young Henry, my tenant's eldest fon, the pattern of the village for all the virtues of his way of life, of which he had the nobleft idea. I had seen him fometimes at work, and he feemed proud of holding the plough. You would have faid that he commanded the earth to be fruitful; and when he My daughter told you that Sufan came home, fitting on his wa gon had two children; her fofter-brother, loaded with fheaves, with his head Marcellin, the moft fprightly lad in erect, and an exulting look, you would the village, and Louifa his elder fifter. have faid that he thought himself on Louisa was pretty, with an air of in- the throne of plenty. M. de Verval nocence and candour that bespoke the efteemed him, and often congratupurity of her foul. An artift, who lated his father on having fuch a fon. hould wish to paint ingenuoufnefs, Vincent,' faid he, you are a would give it the fame look. It was worthy man, and a good farmer; eafy to fee that the idea of diffimula- but your fon will be quite as good a tion was a stranger to Louifa; no de- man as you.'-On this eulogium the ceit had tarnished her happy difpofi- modeft and ferious Henry would caft tion; and the truth, fitting on her down his eyes, and then look proudly lips, feemed only to wait for her up again.-Such was Louifa's lover. breath to make its efcape. Of all the different kinds of beauty, this is, in my opinion, the moft touching. And, indeed, Louifa made many a conqueft, when the appeared in the village of Verval.

I gave a dance every Sunday, in the court-yard before the caltie; and in the midst of the young people drawn thither by the mufic, Louifa, without perceiving that she was remarked, attracted every eye. But her amiable modelly made even her rivals pardon her the glory of eclipfing their charms; for envy is not always fo unjuft as we believe; the advantages that hurt her are most commonly thofe that are oftentatiously displayed. Far from availing herself of her's to humble her companions, Louifa feemed to forget fhe was prefent, and to give up to others the homage addreffed to herfelf. It is true, all this homage flat

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It was foon whispered about, that Louifa's choice was made in her heart, and that Henry would be preferred. The report found its way to me, and I fent for Loufa.

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My good girl,' faid I, I am told that your modefty, your good dispofition, and your tender attentions to your parents, have endeared you to all the village, and make every mother wifh to fee you the wife of her fon.' They are very good to think of me,' anfwered fhe. But, Louifa, fhould you not be pleased to render one of these mothers happy - Next to my own, madam, the whofe welfare I defire the moft is the worthy Auguftina, your tenant's wife. She is to kind to me ! I am very glad of it. And her husband?'madam, what an excellent man?'They have a daughter about your age? Yes, madam, Cecilia; the

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of it,

'Well,' faid my husband to the farmer, is the crop promifing?'It promifes fair,' faid Vincent, but it is fo often deceitful! Sometimes, at the eve of a noble harvest, comes a ftorm, or a fhower of hail, and lays every thing waste. Indeed the poor farmer, after a world of labour, very often reaps but little benefit.'—' However,' replied M. de Verval, price of leafes gets higher, and I hope the one we are going to renew

is my most intimate friend.'-'She ripen it, and render it better. Th has a brother, who, although very truth is, fir,' added Baptist, 'that Vinyoung, is already a deferving man?' cent, before he marries his fon, wants Yes, madam,' very deferving in- to be fure of a new lease. He fees deed '-and at these words two beau- that the rents rife confiderably all over tiful rofes bloomed upon her cheeks. the country, and thinks that you are I am told, Louifa, that he has also going to raife that of your farm. He a very high opinion of you?' I has ill-wishers who will not fail to bid think he has, madam; and I believe over him, and that makes him unit.' But, Louifa, fo much efteem eafy. Vincent ought to know,' at your time of life cannot be far faid M. de Verval, that I am no Jew:' from love? No, madam, it is not And the next day he was convinced far to be fure; and, as foon as our parents will permit us, we are well difpofed to love each other. And are your parents acquainted with your way of thinking? Certainly maCertainly madam; I told it to my mother. I never conceal any thing from her. And he, the very third time we danced together in the court-yard of the caftle, intrusted his fecret to his father! Ah! father,' faid he, throwing his arm round his neck, look at that young woman, fhe will be your daughter-in-law, or you will never have one.' The good father looked at me with a smile, and answered, There is no hurry; wait a few harvests, and we will fee about it.'And what does Sufan think of it?'That I am not rich enough; and that Vincent will expect a fortune for his fon.' You fay, however, that Henry has declared he will have no wife but you?'- Yes; but if his father commands, he must obey, and I myself will make him. Should I not obey my father and mother, if they chofe to difpofe of me!'

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Ah! fir, fpare us, pray! you are juft and good! You have enriched one worthy family; do not ruin another, which has ever ferved you faithfully!'- You mean Baptist, my miller,' faid my husband; and you remind me that his daughter and your fon are fond of each other.”—‹ Yes,’ faid the good farmer; but how can I venture to expofe our children to the misfortune of having children themfelves, when we have nothing certain ? You talk like a good father and a wife man,' replied the count. But, Vincent, if a new leafe for nine years infured you my farm, at the rate of the prefent leafe; and if another, for Louifa's portion, insured it you for nine years more, at the fame rate?'- Moit generous of men,' exclaimed the farmer, difpofe of my fon. The leafe, and the marriagearticles, I will fign together.'

Every thing is fettled,' faid the count to me, on his return. 'I have the promife of both fathers; and, to obtain it, I only promifed what I fhould have done at any rate. I had certainly no inclination to add my

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avarice to that of earth, which already fells its productions fo dearly to the poor farmers. But, fince it is a favour to let them remain in eafy circumftances, I thought I might im prove my farm by making the young couple happy.'

My daughter went inftantly to carry the news to Sufan; but Vincent had been beforehand, with her; and Juliet found the two families affembled at the mill; the two lovers gazing on each other, with the tear of tendernefs and joy standing in their eyes; the fathers fhaking hands, the mothers kiffing each other, and Marcellin alone in a corner, fad and penfive, looking at Cecilia, who leaned her head on Louifa's fhoulder, and did not dare to look at Marcellin..

My daughter was ftruck by this picture, and came and defcribed it to me. Here is another marriage to make up,' faid I, but it does not require fo much hafte; for Marcellin is only feventeen.'

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The next day, Sufan came to throw herself at my feet, and faid to me, after the effufion of her gratitude;Madam, can you believe it? My joy, however great at this moment, is not free from pain. That little wretch Marcellin, is grieved to fee his fifter married before him. If all that is wanting is to be in love, he is, he fays, a thousand times more fo with Cecilia, Henry's fifter, than Henry is with his fifter Louifa. At firft I laughed at him; but he told me, that inftead of laughing, I ought to weep, at feeing the affliction of poor Marcellin, who is fo fond of his father and mother; and then, burfting into tears, he returned to his work.'

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there is no more chearfulness for me. They like to fee me fad; for it is not my fault: I am as much inclined to be gay as any body. But what is it that afflicts you? Why, madam, my fifter is going to be married: every body tries to make her happy; and I am flighted and forgotten; I, who am mils Juliet's foller-brother. Ah! madam, it affects me much to fee my fifter rob me of all your kindnefs! No, Marcellin, you shall have your turn. But you are fo very young. Yes, I am young: fo they are for ever telling me; but must one be old to be married? You know, madam, that I am nine months older than mifs Juliet. And then ask every body if, from morning till night, in the vineyard, at the mill, and every where elfe, I don't work like a man. 'I am not taken for a child, when I handle the fpade, or when I lift a fack of wheat like a feather.' know that you are induftrious, and a great help to your father. My father? Why, he might foon give over work if my mind were but at eafe. If you did but know, madam, how forrow fteals away ftrength! And when I have loft my health and spirits, who will affift my poor father? And my mother! Confider, madam, when her daughter leaves her, she will be all alone, and a flave to the house. Whereas, if she had a young daughterin-law, who would be there like a daughter, fhe would have nothing to do but give her orders: Cecilia, take care of the fheep; Cecilia, cut fome lettuce; Cecilia, carry the milk and cream to the caftle; do this, do that, firft one thing and then another, and Cecilia obedient, kind, and ready to obey her! And I, coming home from work in the evening, and finding an agreeable wife to make me forget my fatigue, who would fay to me:- "Come, my dear, come and reft yourself by my fide."-What happinefs! what a difference! the very thought makes my heart leap within me.' It is Cecilia then, the farmer's daughter, that you would wish

to give your mother as a companion?' Yes, madam, who elfe fhould it be?' I had never heard that you were fond of Cecilia.' Oh! that I can easily believe, Who thinks of me? Who fpeaks in my favour ?'"You made a fecret of it perhaps?'Oh, no, I told it the whole village.' - And does Cecilia feel the fame inclination for you?' The fame! no; but it is beginning. In the first place, every time the fees me pafs by the farm-yard, the gives me a little friendly nod, Where are you going, Marcellin? Where do you come from?'-You will fuppofe, madam, that she does not bestow this favour on every body. And then the name of Marcellin has fo foft and fweet a found in her mouth! You would fay that her lips took a pleasure in pronouncing it. Oh! if love be not come on her as yet, I am fure is not far off. Befides, that's my bufiness. Let her but be mine, and leave the reft to me. I love her fo much, that it would be hard if I fhould not make her love me.' But, Marcellin, Cecilia is two years older than you.'-' So much the better, madam, The will have prudence enough for both. Her father will not easily confent to her taking so young a hufband.' Yes, that's what my mother fays. But if his honcur pleafes, three words would be enough. Madam, if I was in his place, I would fend for the two fathers, and I would fay to my miller :- Baptift, are you fatisfied with your fon Marcellin ?'"Yes, your honour,' would fay my father: the boy promifes to turn out well: he works with a good will, has no vices; knows his duty to his parents, and what a man's duty is to his wife and chidren: the boy would not make a bad husband.'. And you, Vincent,' I would fay, don't you think of marrying your daughter foon? Here's a fon-in-law at hand for you: truck for truck, the boys and the girls, nothing can be fairer; and the two marriages will make but one wedding. What lay you ? Ah! your honour,

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Marcellin is very young.'-Never mind the envious and jealous; youth is not a vice, Marcellin is an honeft lad; he is induftrious, and that is what we want for housekeeping. Hark'ee, Vincent, if you like, I'll do the fame for him I did for Henry; I will grant a leafe for Baptift's and his fon's life of the little effate of the cascade, and your daughter will be as fnug as can be, and the mill will be peopled with a race of little millers.' Why, madam; I would lay a wager that the two fathers would confent, and thank his honour. You plead your cause admirably,' faid I, Go, and depend upon it, I'll fpeak in your favour.' He is in the right,' faid my hufband, when I related this fcene to him: the leafe for life is exactly what I purposed; and I intend that the mill fhall descend as an inheritance. from father to fon. This will be a very eafy way to make two people happy: it will coft me nothing but the wedding dinner. You, madam, will please to provide wedding clothes for the brides; and you, my daughter, when your mother chooses those of Cecilia, recollect that Marcellin was weaned at nine months old.'

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The leafe was figned the xt day; but the celebration of the marriage was deferred for a few days, for a reafon, that was made a mystery of to us all,

At these words the Vicar of the village, who was prefent, wanted to retire; but Olympia ftopped him, and continued her narration.

The two brothers and the two fifters were united at the fame altar, and at the fame hour. The wedding dinner was dreffed at the caftle: we invited the whole village; and the fight of the happiness of the two bridegrooms and the two families was the leaft affecting part of the scene,

This good old man had just given them the nuptial benediction: he fat between the two mothers; their daughters were next to them, and oppofite were the two bridegrooms each by the fide of his father. As

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Loon as every body had taken their places, and we had drawn round the hall table, (for the company was numerous) Vincent arole with ruftic dignity that inspired refpect, and pronounced these words

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My friends, this happy day, which two good fathers have chofen to unite their children, is not only a feftival for the two families, but for the whole village; it is a fellival for us all. It is now fifty years fince our good paftor, this venerable man, our friend, the friend of our fathers, who has feen us almost all born, and who has fince watched over us like a good and faithful thepherd; it is now fifty years fince he came to take charge of his flock; and in the fpace of fo many years he has not let a day pafs without doing good. Arbitrator and conciliator of all the differences of the parish, and of each family, he has appeafed a thousand difputes, and excited none he has put a flop to a thousand law fuits, and never had one in his life: the unfortunate never had a more tender friend to confole, nor the poor a better father to relieve them. In fhort, it is now fifty years that his leffons and his examples teach us to live like friends and honeft men. It is his love for us: it is our love for him, it is this kind of religious and holy alliance, which is renewed to-day; it is to the wedding of the parifh that you are invited. May it it draw down heaven's bleffing upon our children's marriage.'

I cannot exprefs to you how much the whole village and we ourselves

were affected at this fpeech. Let him if poffible live fifty years longer, exclaimed they: the holy man, the worthy and honeft paftor, who never did any thing but good.

Ah, madam! ftop, I beseech you ;' faid he. No, I will tell all. More affected himself than you fee him at prefent, (for this is only a remembrance) the good old man was loft as it were in the expreffion of his humble gratitude. He covered his face-with both his hands, and torrents of tears freamed from his eyes. From time to time he looked up to heaven, either to offer up a tribute of praise, or to recommend his children to its protection.

This unexpected incident made fuch. an impreffion on every mind, that the new married couple forgot themselves. The parents thought no longer of their children. Sufan looked now and then at Louifa; but it was to remark her fenfibility at the triumph of virtue. As for me, my emotions were fo ftrong, that I do not think I ever experienced in my life a moment of more lively or more delightful happinefs; and if the violins had not brought back gaiety and awakened mirth, every one would have retired weeping from the wedding. But the Vicar was the first to drink the health of the brides and bridegrooms, and of the fathers and mothers; nor did he forget ours. Wine exhilarated our fpirits, finging made the scene still more gay and animated, and when we rofe from table a dance completed the revolution.

HISTORY of the SIEGE and DESTRUCTION of JERUSALEM, with Obfervations on Jofephus' Account of that memorable Event. [From the Third Volume of the Abbé Mariti's Travels, just published.]

S the time approached when the city of Jerufalem and the Jews were about to fuffer purifhment for putting to death the Son of God, their affairs became every day worse and warfe. They were already fubjected to Roman governors, who ruled them

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rather as tyrants than administrators; and they had no power left but over the temple and the priesthood, which they obtained as a favour from the emperors.

In the year 66 of the Chriftian æra, and the twelfth of the reign of Nero,

Geflius

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