Cleopatra, or the reformed little tyrant Page 191 HAVING Philadelphia, December, 7th, 1797. AVING been requested to perufe a book, en- WM. ROGERS, D. D. Profeffor of English and Belles Lettres in the University of Pennfylvania. 8 The absurdity of young people's wishes exposed 16 IN one None of the villages in the neighbourhood of the metropolis, lived little Adolphus, who had the misfortune to lofe his mother, before he had reached his eighth year. Notwithstanding his early age, this lofs made a ftrong impreffion on his mind, and evidently affected the natural gaiety of his difpofition. His aunt, the good Mrs. Clarkfon, took him home to her house, in order to remove him from the scene of his affliction, and to prevent his grief adding to the inconfolable forrows of his father. After the ufual time, they left off their mourning; but, though little Adolphus affected cheerfulness, yet his tender heart ftill felt for the lofs of his mother. His father whom he fometimes vifited, could not avoid obferving how little Adolphus endeavoured to conceal his grief; and this confideration made him feel the more for the lofs of his wife, who had given birth to fo promifing a child. This made fuch an impreffion on his mind, that every one forefaw that it would bring on his final diffolution. Poor Adolphus had not been to fee his dear father for fome time; for whenever he propofed it to his aunt, fhe conftantly found fome excufe to put it off. The reafon was, that Mr. Clarkson being fo ill, fhe feared that seeing him in that condition would increase the grief of Adolphus too much, and lay on his heart a load too heavy for him to fupport. In fhort, the lofs of his wife, and his uneafinefs for his fon, put an end to Mr. Clark fon's life on the day before he reached the fiftieth year of his age. The next morning, little Adolphus thus addre ed his aunt:" This is my dear father's birth day, |