verfation: he propofed the alliance to his father; but though it was an advantageous one in point of fortune, and what the old gentleman must have liked extremely, if he had thought of it himfelf, all the reply the fon received was the being knocked down at his feet, for daring to think of marrying before he fpoke of it. All poffible endeavours were used, on the part of the lady's relations, to bring on the match; but in vain. The father, though he owned the fortune greater than he could expect, and the lady's character unexceptionable, would never liften to any overtures, because his fon had dared to think of it without his advice. The period of my worthy, generous, virtuous friend's flavery, was continued two years after this, with additional rigour: he had, foon after the abfolute refufal of the firft offer, met with a lady of great merit, and of confiderable ex pectations, in the hands of a father of much more humanity than his own: he loved her; he raifed a mutual paffion in her breast, and obtained her promife of marrying him; but he never dared to open his lips on the fubject either to his own father, or to her's. Four months fince, he married her; and immediately afterwards brought her to town. He applied to her father for his pardon; and intreated fome fmall portion of her for tune might be fettled on her: the answer was, That she should not have married without his confent; but that, as the families were acquainted, and his expectations were equal to what his daughter might expect, he fhould overlook the disobedience; and, as it was over and irrecoverable, would fettle on her in proportion to whatever his father would do for him. The husband, with great joy, wrote now to his own father. He received for anfwer, that he had difinherited him, and would never look on him again. A thousand entreaties could make no change in his refolution; and the father of the lady, thinking himself fufficiently excufed to the world by the offer he had made, refused to do any thing for them under any other conditions. The event has been dreadful: yet fcarce know how to blame my unhappy friend, even for the greatest of all crimes. He vifited his father a few weeks finces what paffed between them, that guilty wretch can only tell. The youth was found in the morning dead in bed, with a piftol by his pillow; and his diftracted widow is following him. I have no motive for writing this, but that it is true. What ought to be faid of fuch conduct, of fuch confequences of it? ANNETTE, A FAIRY TALE. BY MASTER GEORGE LOUIS LENOX, S the newly-married wife of an A opulent country farmer, in the ever memorable reign of Henry the Great, was ftrolling through the delightful valleys of Vincennes, a stag purfued by the hounds flew for protection to her feet; and, looking in her face with eyes ftreaming in tears, feemed to implore her pity and affiftance. Annette, whose tender and humane difpofition was expreffed in every line of her engaging countenance, raised the poor animal in her delicate arms; and, the hunters now approaching, addressed herfelf to him who feemed the principal, in these words. The poor ftag you are looking for, has flown to me for protection; but, Annette, perceiving the young gentle-beauty; let her be the object of uni man wished to improve this opportunity, made no other reply to his compliment, than a refpectful curtfey; and, haitily ftriking into a grove of poplars, was out of fight in a moment. As foon as the arrived at the farm, fhe was met by her hufband, with looks full of the moft anxious folicit de, her long ftay having alarmed him. Annette excufed her abfence, by her adventure; and, having feen the poor tag taken proper care of, fat down to a light repait: after which the retired to enjoy the united bloffings of Hymen and Morpheus, in the fond arms of her enraptured Beauville. 6 .verfal admiration; powerful from her complished,' interrupted the Fairy; 3 The fun darting his beams through the white curtains of Annette's bed, rouzed them next morning from their innocent flumbers to their different employments. Beauville, with a tender kifs, left his fair bride, to attend the labours of the vintage; while the cares of the dairy and farm demanded the prefence of Annette: but first, with her lap full of acorns, the haftened to that fpot in her garden which she had allotted for the flag. But how great was her furprize, when, instead of her quadruped friend, the beheld a beautiful young lady, of a moft majestic figure, who held in her hand a filver wand! Approach my prefence, faid fhe; and behold, in the ftead of that poor ftag whom your humanity refcued from a painful death, the Fairy Orinda, who longs to convince you of her gratitude and affection: afk, therefore, your reward, and enjoy it to the utmost of my power. For myfelf, gracious lady,' returned Annette, when the had recovered herself a little, I defire nothing; my wishes, are few, and those At length the, wifhed-for time aramply gratified by the bleffings I at rived, and Annette was delivered of a prefent poffefs: but I find, continued girl, whofe dazzling beauty almost stagfhe, with a modest blufh, there will be gered the faith of Beauville with regard others for whofe happiness I ruft pro- to what his wife had told him. Highly vide. Let me therefore intreat, that as the expectations of Annette had been whatever kind intentions you have raifed, and extravagant as her wishes formed in my favour, may be extend- were, the beauty of the little Eloifa exed to my infant. Beauty, wealth, ceeded both. Often would the exclaim power, and virtue, are in my difpofal, when the hung with rapture over her replied the Fairy; chufe wifely, and cradle, or preffed her to her bosom in an be gratified." Oh, Madam ex- extafy of delight If my girl is thus claimed Annette, cafting herfelf at the lovely in infancy, what will the be as feet of Orinda,ince you have given 'fhe grows up, when all the advan the rein to my withes, pardon the fond-tages of education. are added to her nefs of a mother that dictates them. charms! Well might the Fairy proIf my child provesa daughter, endowmife her greatnefs; the throne of Henry her with the inestimable blefling of is hardly worthy of her Beauville, |