it was given; in the elegant pursuits of a gentleman, and the benevolent gratifications of a charitable heart. His first care was to introduce him among a set of wild bucks, who led him into various expences, and often introduced the dice. They allowed him to win for some time, that he might acquire a relish for play, and then they put forth all their knowledge and skill, and stripped him of the skin with the wool. Bevil, to keep up the farce, never played, though he shared the profits of the plan.

At last, in the utmost distress, the young baronet applied to his friend Bevil for advice. "To what a situation," said he, " has my folly brought me; I have not only lost all my ready money, but I have played upon credit, til I am afraid I have lost that also. I dare not apply to my uncle; I should be ashamed to confess my weakness; and a false account of my situation, I cannot condescend to give. To whom shall I fly for help?"

Bevil said that he was unacquainted with the modes of procedure in raising money; he knew that many young gentlemen did raise money while they were minors, but he thought that it was dishonourable to those who borrowed, and to those who lent. Yet, he continued, "What is to be done? It saves a youth from being exposed to

his connexions, and to the world; and enables him to disentangle himself from difficulties, with which perhaps his friends would leave him to struggle, even if application were made to them."

Enquire, Bevil," said Sir Ferdinand; "let me not appear so fallen among my associates as to have no resource."

Bevil said he was unknown to that class of men, who live upon the needy and inexperienced, but he would endeavour to find them out.

He applied to Mr. Shears, an usurious man, who had acquired immense wealth by every dirty means which could add a guinea to his hoard. Without one motive to accumulate, but the desire of gain, he sprang on the distressed, and fattened on their miseries. He promised to advance a sum of money, provided an annuity on Sir Ferdinand's life could be properly secured: and he took care that the annuity should be large enough to indemnify him for a present which he made to Bevil for bringing him such an advantageous job.

The instant Sir Ferdinand received the money, he discharged his debts, and would have quitted town; but the gang to which Bevil belonged, unwilling to lose such a rich dupe, laughed at his prudence, and called him a coward who was afraid

of a hood-winked old woman; and with many ridiculous appellations and impertinent sarcasms provoked him to try his luck once more. Again he was unsuccessful, and again he begged his friend Bevil to procure the money. Another application was made to another infamous money-lender, and a large sum was again raised by annuity; and Bevil received another present for making the bargain.

The infatuated youth ventured again to throw the dice; and was a third time stripped of all. In this aggravated distress he vented his repentant grief to Bevil, and swore that if he would now assist him, he would never throw the dice again while he lived. Bevil raised many difficulties, and kept the unhappy youth a long time in suspense, in order to enhance the value of what he meant to propose. The share he had had of the money Sir Ferdinand lost, and the two presents he had received from the usurers, amounted to a good round sum; and this he offered to lend him upon the same terms he had borrowed before." It is not," said he," to gain by the distress of my friend, that I make this offer, but to save him from the disgrace of being so frequently exposed."

The youth was overpowered by this generous proof of friendship, closed eagerly with the pro

posal, and saying that his whole life should be employed in endeavouring to prove his gratitude; he discharged his debts, and set out for the country, in spite of all the attempts of his spoilers to keep him among them.

He had not long been in retirement, when his vexation, shame, and remorse occasioned a violent feyer, which in the space of ten days brought him to the tomb of his ancestors, six weeks before he came of age.

He died a melancholy example of the mischiefs arising from imprudent friendships, and the sorrow of a generous mind for the unwary folly which led to destruction.

His worthless annuitants were thus deprived of the wages of their iniquity before they had received one payment.

He was succeeded in his title and estates by his brother, a boy who was born four months after the death of his father, whose youth quite destroyed all the hopes of Sir Ferdinand's plunderers.

THE HAUNTED CASTLE.

It is a very common thing in the country, to report that mansions are haunted. Indeed there is hardly an ancient seat, particularly among those whose large bounds are more extensive than their present owners can occupy, which has not the misfortune to be so stigmatized. Some are said to be haunted by uncouth noises: while others have flitting shades, which glide nightly through the chambers and goblins and hobgoblins enjoy unmolested the privilege of molesting heir after heir in his inheritance. How many stories have I heard from men, women, and children in the country, about night tripping, or night flying elves and how many simple souls have I known, who would not at certain hours, on certain nights, go into certain places. It is true that their ghostship's possession of the places they seize upon, and their appearances with bows and