the dressing room of a young lady, just come from school. Before I was well fixed in the destined spot, she came to survey me, and, with a look of such complacency and good will, as I had not seen for many a day. I was now presently initiated in all the mysteries of the toilet: O, what an endless variety of laces, jewels, silks, and ribbons; pins, combs, cushions, and curlingirons; washes, essences, powders, and patches, were daily spread before me! If I had been heretofore almost tired with the sight of my good old mistress' everlasting lustring, I really felt still more so with this profusion of ornament and preparation. I was, indeed, favoured with my fair mistress' constant attentions: they were so unremitting as perfectly to astonish me, after being so long accustomed to comparative neglect. Never did she enter her room, on the most hasty errand, without just vouchsafing me a kind glance; and at leisure hours I was indulged with much longer visits. Indeed, to confess the truth, I was sometimes quite surprised at their length; but I don't mean to tell tales. During the hour of dressing, when I was more professionally engaged with her, there was, I could perceive, nothing in the room-in the house-nay, I believe, nothing in the world, of so much importance in her estimation as myself. But I have frequently remarked, with concern, the different aspect with which she would regard me at those times, and when she returned at night from the evening's engagements. However late it was, or however fatigued she might be, still I was sure of a greeting as soon as she entered; but instead of the bright, blooming face I had seen a few hours before, it was generally pale and haggard, and not unfrequently bearing a strong expression of disappointment or chagrin. My mistress would frequently bring a crowd of her young companions into her apartment; and it was amusing to see how they would each in turn come to pay their respects to me. What varied features and ex pressions in the course of a few minutes I had thus an opportunity of observing! upon which I used to make my own quiet reflections. In this manner I continued some years in the service of my mistress, without any material alteration taking place either in her or in me: but, at length, I began to perceive that her aspect towards me was considerably changed, especially when I compared it with my first recollections of her. She now appeared to regard me with somewhat less complacency; and would frequently survey me with a mingled expression of displeasure and suspicion, as though some change had taken place in me, though I am sure it was no fault of mine; indeed, I could never reflect upon myself for a moment: with regard to my conduct towards any of my owners, I have ever been a faithful servant; nor have I once, in the course of my whole life, given a false answer to any one I have had to do with. I am, by nature, 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 a substitute 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. My new station was, in some respects, 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 morning 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 pretty, 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 better 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 I never, on the other hand, witnessed that expression of secret satisfaction, or anxious inquiry, 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 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 and dressing table used to be scattered in all directions, after the grand operation 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 mis tress 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 now 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 physiog 0 |