might have lived both creditably and happy. Let parents then take warning from this, and the many other examples afforded in life, of the harsh treatment exercised by parents towards their daughters, when they unfortunately happen to forfeit their virtue by a false step in the outset of life; and, by choosing the least of two evils, let them endeavour to get the offender married to the person with whom they have been guilty, although they should have to contribute a little to their comfort, in place of driving them to despair, as was the fate of poor Jemina Thoughtless. P 3 THE EFFECTS OF DISSIPATION. THIS Vice is sufficiently detestable in the male, but shocking beyond description in the female sex; and although no rational apology can be found for either, yet, in the male, it may be said to be most excusable, from their continual intercourse with the world and characters of all kinds. With women this is not the case-their domestic life guards them against that promiscuous communication incident to the other sex; so that, if females are led into the immoderate use of spirituous liquors, it must either proceed from natural disposition, or be brought on by some particular cause.— Indeed we do sometimes see women driven to drink by bad usage; at least they fly to drink for relief under their afflictions, although it is but a poor comforter. Others are led to drink by too much indulgence from their husbands, who, from misplaced attachment, make them drink more than becomes their sex; whereby they acquire a bad habit of, and a craving desire for, ardent liquors. But, in whatever way such habit is acquired, it has the most ruinous tendency in regard to society in general; never failing to produce the total derange ment of the guilty person's family matters and happiness, as will be shewn from the following example. FLAVIA was the only surviving daughter of her parents. She was indulged in every thing her heart could desire; nay, they would dote upon her, and nothing she could desire was ever denied her. She was well educated, and kept up in every kind of finery, as to dress; and, in a word, all her wishes were anticipated. It was to be expected that Flavia, after experiencing such attention in her youth, would but ill relish a contrary treatment at an after period; but it so happened that she never experienced any reverse in that way-for she was married to one, who, if possible, paid her even more attention than her parents, and gratified every wish. Thus accustomed from infancy to every species of indulgence, Flavia could not resist the cravings of vitiated appetite, so that she was not long married before she felt a desire for spiritu ous liquors in this even, her too fond husband could not contradict her wishes, had she used it to a moderate degree; but alas, a bad habit when once allowed to take root, is not so easily kept within bounds; and it turned out so with Flavia: for, although she began with moderation, she soon proceeded to extremes, and added to this bad practice a much worse, viz. a desire for other men, until at last she became a notorious prostitute. So long as Flavia kept within bounds, her husband retained her in his family, and left no means untried to reclaim her from her vices; but after she had proceeded to such lengths as there was no hopes of her recovery, he was reluctantly obliged to forbid her his house; so that she continued in her wicked course to the day of her death-a striking example of the melancholy effects of not checking the propensities to dissipation in the outset, and the equally bad effects of too much indulgence of youth, from which it may be said all her after evils flowed; for too much indulgence in childhood never fails to blunt those keen feelings of honour in the human breast, and detain the mind in childish fetters. When Flavia's fate is considered, it must leave a strong impres sion on the mind, to reflect for a moment, that one, who had it so much in her power to be respected and happy in the bosom of her family, should, by her own act and deed, come to so fatal an end; and ought to guard the sex against even the least deviation from the paths of virtue. SOPHIA HEADSTRONG is another instance of the effects of drink, and too much indulgence in her youth. She was descended of genteel parents, received a good educa tion, and besides had a very handsome patrimony; and, had she behaved with propriety, might have been respectably settled in the world. But Sophia was of too violent a temper, and soon got beyond the controul of her mother; for her father died when she was an infant. Sophia began soon to relish the bottle, which never fails to lead to every other vice; and so careless an account did she make of her virtue, that, when very young, she eloped with a drummer, with whom she remained for some time; but as these kind of attachments are not of a solid nature, Sophia was 3 |