My young readers will from hence learn, that God always affifts thofe who put their trust in him. It is on him we must rely on every occafion, and he will not defert us, provided we ourselves alfo try to furmount difficulties by patience and induftry.

HAIL, lovely pow'r! whose bofom heaves a figh
When fancy paints the fcene of deep diftrefs;
Whofe tears fpontan'ous chryftalize the eye,
When rigid fate denies the pow'r to blefs.

Not all the Sweets Arabia's gales convey
From flow'ry meads, can with that figh compare :
Not dew-drops glitt'ring in the morning ray,
Seem ne'er fo beaut'ous as that falling tear.

Teach me to foothe the helpless orphan's grief!
With timely aid the widow's woes affuage;
To mis'ry's moving cries to yield relief,

And be the fure refource of drooping age.

So when the verdant fpring of youth fhall fade, And finking nature owns the dread decay, Some foul congenial then may lend its aid, And gild the clofe of life's eventful day.

LEONORA AND ADOLPHUS.

A YOUNG widow lady, whofe name was Le

nox, had two children equally deferving the affections of a parent, which however, were unequally fhared. Adolphus was the favourite, which Leonora very early began to difcover, and confequently felt no fmall fhare of uneafinefs on the occafion; but she was prudent enough to conceal her forrow.

Leonora, though not remarkably handfome, had a mind that made ample amends for the want of

beauty: but her brother was a little Cupid, on whom Mrs. Lenox lavished all her kiffes and careffes. It is no wonder that the fervants, to gain the favour of their mistress, were very attentive to humour him in all his whimfies. Leonora, on the other hand, was confequently flighted by every one in the houfe; and, fo far from wishing to study her humour, they fcarcely treated her with common civility.

Finding herfelf frequently alone and neglected, and taken little notice of by any one, fhe would privately fhed a torrent of tears; but she always took care, that not the leaft mark of difcontent fhould efeape her in the prefence of any one. Her conftant attention to the obfervance of her duty, her mildnefs, and endeavours to convince her mother, her mind was fuperior to her face, had no effect; for beauty alone attracts the attention of thofe, who examine no further than external `appearances.

Mrs. Lenox, who was continually chiding Leonora, and expecting from her perfections far beyond the reach of thofe more advanced in years, at laft fell fick. Adolphus feemed very forry for his mother's illness; but Leonora, with the softest looks and moft languishing countenance, fancied fhe perceived in her mother an abatement of her accustomed rigour towards her, and far furpaffed her brother in her attention to her parent.

She

endeavoured to supply her flightest wants, exerted all her penetration to difcover them, that she might even spare her the pain of asking for any thing. So long as her mother's illness had the least appearance of danger, fhe never quitted her pillow, and neither threats nor commands could prevail on her to take the leaft repofe.

Mrs. Lenox, however at length recovered, which afforded inexpreffible pleasure to the amiable Leonora ; but she foon experienced a renewal of her misfortunes, as her mother began to treat her with her ufual feverity and indifference.

As Mrs. Lenox was one day talking to her children on the pain fhe had suffered during her illnefs, and was praising them for the anxiety they had fhewn on her account, fhe defired them to afk of her whatever they thought would be the most pleafing to them, and they should certainly be indulged in it, provided their demands were not unreasonable.

First addreffing herfelf to Adolphus, the defired to know what he would choofe ; and his defire was to have a cane and a watch, which his mother promifed he should have next morning. "And pray, Leonora, faid Mrs. Lenox, what is your wifh?"Me, mamma, me? (anfwered she trembling) if

you do but love me, I have nothing else to with for "That is not an anfwer; replied her mother, you fhall have your recompence likewise, mifs; therefore fpeak your wish instantly."

However accuftomed Leonora might have been to this fevere tone, yet fhe felt it on this occafion more fenfibly than ever she had before. She threw herfelf at her mother's feet, looked up to her with eyes fwimming in tears, and instantly hiding her face with both her hands, lifped out thefe words: "Only give me two kiffes, fuch as you give my brother."

What heart could fail to relent at thefe words? Mrs. Lenox felt all the tender fentiments of a pa rent arife in her heart, and taking her up in her arms, fhe clafped her to her breast, and loaded her with kiffes. The fweet Leonora, who now, for the first time received her mother's careffes, gave way to the effufion of her joy and love; the kiffed her cheeks, her eyes, her breafts, and her hands; Adolphus, who loved his fifter, mixed his embraces with hers. Thus all had a fhare in this fcene of unexpected happiness.

The affection, which Mrs. Lenox had fo long withheld from Leonora, fhe now repaid with intereft, and her daughter returned it with the most dutiful attention. Adolphus, fo far from being jealous at this change of his mother's affection for