not desire to confine you to any particular sum; you are now arrived to an age, when it becomes absolutely necessary for you to be well acquainted with the value of money; your profession likewise requires it, and it is well known, that prudence and sobriety in youth, naturally lead to regularity of conduct in more advanced years. Virtue insures respect; and, as I well know that all manner of precepts are useless where the inclinations are vicious, I have left the affair mentioned in your letter entirely to your own discretion; and as the inclosed order is unlimited, I doubt not but prudence will direct you how to proceed. I am, dear child, your affectionate father. LETTER XIII.-From a Young Tradesman lately entered into business, to his Father, asking his consent to marry. Honored Sir, You know that it is now above a year since I entered into business for myself, and finding it daily increasing, I am obliged to look out for a partner; I mean, a wife. There is a very worthy family in this neighborhood, with whom I have been some time acquainted. They are in good circumstances, and have a daughter, an amiable young woman, greatly esteemed by all who know her: I have paid my addresses to her, and likewise obtained her parents' consent, on condition that it was agreeable to you. I would not do any thing of that nature without your consent: but I hope that, upon the strictest inquiry, you will find her such a person, that you will not have any objection to a match so advantageous. I shall, on every occasion, endeavor to act with the greatest prudence, consistent with the rules you were pleased to prescribe for my conduct. Her parents are to pay me five hundred dollars on the day of marriage, if the event should happen to take place; and as they have no other children, the whole of their property becomes ours at their death. In whatever light you are pleased to consider this, I shall abide by your direction, and you. answer in the mean time is impatiently expected by, Your obedient Son. LETTER XIV.-The Father's Answer. My dear Son, I RECEIVED your letter, and my reason for not answer ing it sooner is, that it being an affair of great importance I was willing to proceed therein with the greatest caution I wrote to Mr. Johnson, my particular friend, desiring him to inquire concerning the family you desired to be allied with, and I am glad to hear that his account does not differ from your own. I hope you do not think that I would desire to see you one moment unhappy. Your reasons for entering into the marriage state are every way satisfactory, and I am glad to hear that the person on whom you have placed your affections is so deserving. When you have fixed the wedding day, I will come to town to be present at the ceremony hope you will continue to attend to your business with e same diligence you have hitherto done; and if you should live to an old age, you then will be able to retire from trade with honor both to yourself and family. I am, your affectionate father. LETTER XV.-From a Young Woman, just gone to servince in Boston, to her Mother in the Country. Honored Mother, It is now a month that I have been at Mr. Wilson's, and am very well pleased with my place. My master and mistress are both worthy people, and greatly respected by all their neighbors. At my first coming here, I thought every thing strange, and wondered to see such multitudes of people in the streets; but what I suffer most from is, the remembrance of yours and my father's kindness; but I begin to be more reconciled to my state, as I know you are not able to support me at home. I return you a thousand thanks for the kind advices you were so good to give me at parting, and I shall endeavor to practise them as long as I live. Let me hear from you as often as you have an opportunity. So, with my duty to you and my father, and kind love to all friends I ever remain, your dutiful daughter. LETTER XVI.-The Mother's Answer. My dear Child, I AM glad to hear that you have got into so worthy a family. You know we never should have parted with you had it not been for your good. If you continue virtuous and obliging, all the family will love and esteem you. Keep yourself employed as much as you can, and be always ready to assist your fellow-servants. Never speak ill of any per son, but when you hear a bad story, try to soften it as much as you can do not repeat it again, but let it slip out of your mind as soon as possible. I am in great hopes that all the family are kind to you, from the good character I have heard of them. If you have any time to spare from business, hope you will spend it in reading your Bible, and such book of piety as you may have access to. I pray for you daily and there is nothing I desire more than my dear child's happiness. Remember that the more faithful you are in the dis charge of your duty as a servant, the better you will prosper if you live to have a family of your own. Your father desires his blessing, and your brothers and sisters their kind love to you. Heaven bless you, my dear child! and continue you to be a blessing to us all, particularly to Your dear mother. LETTER XVII.-From a Brother at home, to his Sister abroad on a visit, complaining of her not writing. Dear Sister, I MUST acquaint you how unkind it is taken by every one here, that we so seldom hear from you; my mother, ir particular, is not a little displeased, and says, that you are a very idle girl; my aunt is of the same opinion, and none but myself endeavors to excuse you; but I beg that you will give me that trouble no more, and, for the future, take care to deserve no rebuke, which you may easily do by writing soon and often. You are very sensible how dear you are to us all; think then with yourself, whether it be right to omit giv ing us the only satisfaction that absence affords to real friends, which is often to hear from one another. and compli Our best respects to Mr. and Mrs. ments to all friends. From your very affectionate brother. LETTER XVIII.-The Sister's Answer. Dear Brother, I WILL not set about finding excuses, but own my fault, and thank you for your kind reproof, and, in return, I promise you never to be guilty of the like again. I write this immediately on receipt of yours; I beg mamma's pardon, which you, I know, can procure; as also my aunt's, on this my promise of amendment. I hope you will continue to excuse all my little omissions; and be assured, I am never so forgetful of myself as to neglect my duty designedly. I shall certainly write to mamma by next post: this is just going, which obliges me to conclude, with my duty to my mamma, and sincere respects to all friends. Your ever affectionate sister. LFITER XIX.-From a Daughter to her Mother, by way of excuse for having neglected to write to her. Honored Mother, THOUGH the agreeable news of your health and welfare, which was brought me last night by the hands of my uncle's man Robin, gives me inexpressible pleasure; yet I arı very much concerned, that my too long silence should have given you so much uneasiness as I understand it has. I can assure you, Madam, that my neglect in that particular was in nowise owing to any want of filial duty or respect, but to hurry of business (if I may be allowed to call it so), occasioned by a visit from Mrs. Brilliant, and her pretty niece, Miss Charlotte, who are exceeding good company, and whom our family are proud of entertaining in the most elegant manner. I am not insensible, however, that neither this plea, nor any other business, of whatsoever importance, can justly acquit me for not writing oftener to a parent so tender and indulgent as yourself: but as the case now stands, I know no other way of making atonement, than by a sincere promise of a more strict observance of my duty for the future. If, therefore, Madam, you will favor me so far as to forgive this first transgression, you may depend on my word, it shall never more be repeated by, honored Madam, Your most dutiful daughter. LETTER XX. From a Young Apprentice to his Father, to let him know how he likes his place, and goes on. Honored Sir, I KNOW it will be a great satisfaction to you and my dear mother, to hear that I go on very happily in business; and my master, seeing my diligence, puts me forward, and encourages me in such a manner, that I have great delight in it; and I hope I shall answer in time your good wishes and expectations, and the indulgence which you have always shown me. There is such good order in the family, as well on my mistress' part as my master's, that every servant knows his duty, and does it with pleasure. So much even. ness, sedateness, and regularity, is observed in all they enjoin or expect, that it is impossible but it should be so. My master is an honest, worthy man; everybody speaks well of him. My mistress is a cheerful, sweet-tempered woman, and rather heals breaches than widens them. And the children, after such examples, behave to us all like own brothers and sisters. Who can but love such a family? I wish, when i N shall please God to put me in such a station, that I may carry myself just as my master does; and if I should ever marry, have just such a wife as my mistress: and then, by God's blessing, I shall be as they are; and as you, Sir, and my dear mother, have always been. If any thing can make me happier than I am, or continue to me my present felicity, it will be the continuance of yours, and my good mother's rayers, for Honored Sir, your dutiful son. LETTER XXI.-From an Elder Brother in the country to his Younger Brother put an Apprentice in Philadelphia. Dear Brother, I AM very glad to hear you are pleased with the new situation into which the care of your friends has put you, but I would have you pleased, not with the novelty of it, but with the real advantage. It is natural for you to be glad that you are under less restraint than you were; for a master has neither occasion nor inclination to watch a youth so much as his parents. But if you are not careful, this, although it now gives you a childish satisfaction, may, in the end, betray you into mischief; nay, to your ruin. Though your father is not in sight, dear brother, act always as if you were in his presence; and be assured, that what would not offend him, will never displease anybody. You have more sense, (I have often told you so,) than most persons at your time. Now is the opportunity to make a good use of it; and take this for certain, every right step you enter upon now, will be a comfort to you for your life. I would have your reason, as well as your fancy, pleased with your new situation, and then you will act as becomes you. Consider, brother, that the state of life that charms you so at this time, will bring you to independence and affluence; that you will, by behaving as you ought now, become master of a house and family, and have every thing about you at your own command, and have apprentices as well as servants to wait upon you. The master with whom you are placed, was some years ago in your situation; and what should hinder you from being hereafter in his? All that is required is patience and industry; and these, brother, are very cheap articles, with which to purchase so comfortable a condition. Your master, I am told, had nothing to begin the world withal. In that he was worse off than you; for if you behave well, there are those who will set you up in a handsome manner. So you have sufficient inducements to be good, |