ded to come and pass a month with them very shortly.

Susan and Maria were girls of thirteen and fourteen years of age: but their cousin was grown up. They had never seen her, but they had often heard their mamma say, that she was a very amiable and sensible young woman, therefore they were very impatient for her coming, and, indeed, thought of little besides from this time to that of her arrival.

Susan Newton was a gentle, affectionate girl; her manners were refined, and her temper sweet and obliging. Maria was lively and talkative; she liked very much to be noticed by strangers; and she had a foolish idea that whatever she said or did before others, they were observing her and thinking of her;-a mistake which always arises from persons' thinking too much of themselves. Maria was also very apt to feel jealous of her sister, having a great desire that people should love her the best: and the very first thought that sprung up in her little selfish heart, when she heard of her cousin's coming, was, that she hoped she would love her better than her sister Such thoughts look very frightful set down in black and white; and yet they do not appear at all more so than they really are when concealed from every eye in some dark crevice of the heart. Maria accordingly began, from that instant, contriving what she could do to ingratiate herself in

her cousin's favor; and worse than that, how she could make herself appear more amiable and agreeable than Susan; whereas Susan, in the simplicity of her heart, thought only of the pleasure she should enjoy in her cousin's company.

On the day appointed, Mrs. Newton set off in the little pony-chaise which she kept, to meet her niece at the neighboring town; for the stagecoach did not come within five miles of their retired village. Susan and Maria remained at home; and before their mother could well have reached the town to which she was going, their impatience made them imagine it was time for her to return. Accordingly they placed themselves in the bow window that looked towards the road, in order that they might catch the first glimpse of the chaise. Susan, indeed, was wise enough to take her work, so that the time did not seem so extremely tedious to her as it did to Maria, who expressed her uneasiness from time to time, by exclaiming, "What a while they are!"-"I begin to be afraid that cousin is not come!". "How I wish they would come!”—and the like. Every gig, cart, wagon, or wheelbarrow that was heard at a distance, Maria felt sure was it. But Susan wisely suspended her opinion till they came within sight. At last-that is, just about the time that might have been expected the gray pony made its appearance, and presently stopped, with their guest, before the gate. Maria, by this

time, had wrought herself into such an agitation, that her cheeks were all in crimson glow; and she made two or three blunders in the sentence which she had prepared for the first greeting. So that Susan, who had made no preparation at all, and only said, "How d'ye do, cousin?" appeared on this occasion to the most advantage. Miss Newton kissed them both affectionately; but not being in good health she was greatly fatigued by her journey, and could not therefore take much notice of either of them that evening. Maria remarked several times, "how very sorry she was her cousin was so poorly." But Susan, who perceived it was fatiguing to her to reply, said nothing about it; only she set a footstool for her to rest her feet upon, and gently placed one of the sofa pillows at the back of her chair; and when she smiled and said, "Thank you love,' Maria wished she had thought of it, and said, "Ah, that is right; I am sure cousin must want something to lean upon. How I do hope she will be better to-morrow."

She was better the next day; and soon rendered herself so agreeable to the young folks, by her amiable manners and intelligent conversation, that they were both delighted with their relation. Susan soon felt a tender affection for her, and Maria an increased desire to win her regard. For this purpose, she employed several means which proved her to be very unskilful in the cul

ture of true affection. For instance, she would go to her cousin several times in a day, and throwing her arms round her neck, kiss her repeatedly, till it became really troublesome: then she would say, "Dear cousin, how I love you! I don't think you know half how much I love you;" and other things of the same kind:-things which are all very well, occasionally, when they are the genuine and spontaneous expressions of affection; but when employed as mere professions to gain favor, which is oftener the case, they are exceedingly troublesome and disagreeable.

Susan's love was expressed in a different way. She showed her respect for her cousin by listening attentively to her conversation; and her affection, chiefly by thinking of, and doing little things, which she thought might promote her comfort or convenience. Maria, indeed, was very officious in waiting upon her; but as her object in so doing was not so much to accommodate her cousin as to show her own attentions, she often made mistakes, and gave more trouble than she rendered service. She had also a very unpleasant way of saying flattering things, which always means, that persons wish to be flattered in return. "Dear cousin,' she would say, "how I do admire the color of your hair!" or "how sweetly cousin sings!"— or, "how I do wish I could write such a nice hand as cousin!" But Susan very properly thought, it would be a liberty in a girl of her age

to make such remarks; she was content to make them to herself, and to endeavor to imitate her cousin's excellences.

During the whole time of Miss Newton's visit, Maria was so anxious to be in her company, that she neglected her usual business, and did not apply properly to any thing; while Susan went regularly about her usual studies; and besides that, knowing that her mamma wished to enjoy as much of her niece's company as possible, she undertook many little domestic offices that she was unaccustomed to, in order that her mother might have the more leisure. Thus she was often absent from the parlor for a long time; at which Maria secretly both rejoiced and wondered; for she considered that her sister's absence afforded her a capital opportunity of recommending herself. Very often she would remain in the room, or follow her mother and cousin about the garden, when they would both rather have dispensed with her company, that they might have some private conversation. Thus it is that forward, pushing persons ever defeat their own purposes. It was particularly observable, that Susan's assiduities were not confined to an individual whom she wished to please: her mother, her sister, and every one who needed them, were attended to, with as much alacrity as her cousin; while Maria neglected every body else, in order to lavish her attentions and services upon one.