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equally averse to flattery, and detraction; and this I may say for myself, that I am incapable of misrepresentation. It was with mingled sensations of contempt and compassion, that I witnessed the efforts my mistress now made, in endeavouring to force me to yield the same satisfaction to her as I had done upon our first acquaintance. Perhaps, in my confidential situation, it would be scarcely honourable to disclose all I saw; suffice it then to hint, that to my candid temper, it was painful to be obliged to connive at that borrowed bloom, which, after all was substituted for that of nature; time, too, greatly baffled even these expedients, and threatened to render them wholly ineffectual. Many a cross and reproachful look had I now to endure; which, however, I took patiently, being always remarkably smooth and even in my temper. Well remembering how sadly time had spoiled the face of my poor old mistress, I dreaded the consequences if my present owner should experience, by and by, as rough treatment from him; and I believe she dreaded it too; but these apprehensions were needless. Time is not seldom arrested in the midst of his occupations : and it was so in this instance. I was one day greatly shocked, by beholding my poor mistress stretched out in a remote part of the room, arrayed in very different ornaments to those I had been used to see her wear; she was so much altered that I scarcely knew her; but for this she could not now reproach me; I watched her thus for a few days, as she lay before me, as cold and motionless as myself; but she was soon conveyed away; and I, shortly afterwards, was engaged in the service of another mistress.

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My new station was, in some respect, very similar to my last; that is I was again placed in a young lady's apartment, where I did not doubt but I should be called to witness the same appearances and operations as before but in this I was mistaken. The first circumstance that made me suspect my new mistress differed from my late one, was, that when she first entered her chamber after my arrival, I observed that she remained there for a considerable time, and at last went out again without taking the least notice of me: this surprised me exceedingly. The first time I had a full view of her, was the next morn. ing as soon as she arose, when she came and spent a few minutes in my company, adjusting a neat morning dress, and combing out some pret ty, simple ringlets upon her fair forehead. It was not such a fine formed face, as I remember my last mistress' was, when I first entered her service; but having by this time, from the nature of my studies, acquired considerable skill in physiognomy, I confess it pleased me much bet ter and although I soon found I should meet with much less attention here, than I had lately been accustomed to, I was now too old, and knew too well how to estimate those attentions, to feel at all mortified at the neglect. The visits my new mistress paid me, were very regular; about thrice in the day she used to avail herself for a short time of my services; and while on these occasions I never remember to have received a cross or discontented look from her, so 1 never, on the other hand, witnessed that expression of secret satisfaction, or anxious inqui

ry, which I had often heretofore had occasion to remark.

My mistress spent much time alone in her chamber; but it was rarely indeed, that she took any notice of me, except at those times when I was really wanted. I have known her sit many a time, for two or three hours, working or reading at the table over which I hung, without once lifting up her head to look at me; though I could see her all the time. I have observed her light figure pass and repass twenty times before me, without her once glancing at me as she went by. Thus we lived together very good friends; neither of us making any unreasonable demands upon the other. Time, as usual, passed away: but I was particularly struck in observing the different effect of his operations on the countenance of my present possessor, and that of my last. There was, of course, in a few years some visible alteration: but although the bloom of youth began to fade, there was nothing less of sweetness, cheerfulness, and contentment in her expression. She retained the same placid smile, the same unclouded brow, the same mildness in her eye, (though it was somewhat less sparkling,) as when it first beamed upon me ten years before.

I saw here but a few fine things and little variety; except such as the changing seasons, and a moderate attention to changing fashions occasioned but then, I was never annoyed, as I had been in my last place, with that heterogeneous mixture of fragments of littered finery, with which the room arid dressing table used to be scattered in all directions, after the grand opera

tion was over; and which lay full in my view for hours, till my mistress' return at night, or more often till the next morning. All here was neat and orderly; which to me was a very great accommodation; having acquired, in early life, from the orderly habits of my poor old mistress, such a love of neatness, that any thing untidy was particularly offensive to me. I became, as you may easily imagine, much attached to my present employer, and wished for nothing better than to pass the remainder of my days in her service: but herein I was disappointed.

One morning early, she appeared before me, surrounded by several fair attendants, and devoted to me a little more time and attention than was usual with her. I shall never forget the expression of her countenance, as she stood arrayed all in white, and gave me one more pensive look, which I little thought, at the time, would be the last I should ever receive from her; but so it was. There was a great bustle in the house that morning, (whatever was the reason,) and I saw my fair mistress no more!

Ever since, I have continued in quiet possession of her deserted chamber; which is only occasionally visited by other parts of the family: sometimes my dear mistress' favourite cat will steal in, as though in quest of her; leap up upon the table, purr, and sweep her long tail across my face; then catching a glimpse of me, jump down again, and run out as though she was frightened. I feel that I am now getting old, and almost beyond further service. I have an ugly crack, occasioned by the careless stroke of a broom, all across my left corner; my coat is

very much worn in several places; even my new frame is tarnished and old fashioned; so that I cannot expect any new employment.

Having now, therefore, nothing to reflect on but the past scenes of my life, I have amused myself, with giving you this account of them. I said I had made physiognomy my study, and that I have acquired some skill in this interesting science. The result of my observations will, at least, be deemed impartial, when I say, that I am generally least pleased with the character of those faces, which appear the most so with mine. And I have seen occasion so far to alter the opinions of my inexperienced youth, that, for those who pass the least time with me, and treat me with little consideration, I conceive the highest esteem; and their aspect generally produces the most pleasing reflections.

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THIS beautiful passage of Scripture sounds very familiarly to us. It is one of those texts so frequently quoted, and so often referred to, that much of its effect is lost upon us unless we meditate upon it closely, and take pains to enter into its meaning. Let us endeavour to do so on the present occasion; by considering the passage,— first, as the declaration of God himself;-secondly, as that of Solomon.

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