eyes or ears. But what have I done worthy remembrance ?—Alas, nothing! "I have not the fatisfaction of con 66 templating one good or ufeful action; my habit of diffipation formed a bad example for my dependents and domeftics; and my profufion and expence "have prevented me doing the leaft fer"vice to my fellow-creatures; so that no "one has reafon to lament my fall; nor "have I claims of gratitude on any, to "make them endeavour to reinftate me." "But no perfon will ever be able to say "that of you, Sir," said Charles. "I hope not entirely," replied Mr. Richardfon; "but yet I feel that I am "not clear from blame: the immoderate grief I fuftained for your dear mother's death, and the arrangement of my af"fairs, which in the intermediate time "had fallen into confufion, as all business "muft, in fome measure, that a man does "not fuperintend himself, obliged me, for "a time, to give up the care of you to "Mrs. Bennet; who, perhaps, from a "mistaken . "mistaken indulgence, and to divert pain"ful thought, has given rife to ideas in your youthful bofoms, that make me "ferioufly uneafy.-Man, my dear chil dren, was made for a nobler purpose "than the frivolity of pleasure, and he "debafes the image of his Creator when he "confiders it as the bufinefs of his life." "Sure there is no harm in making our"felves happy and being 'amufed, papa," replied Mary. "Certainly not. If our pleasures are "rational, they are rather praiseworthy "than otherwife: perpetual bufinefs fatigues the mind, injures the health, and might finally endanger life; but mingled with moderate recreation, becomes "in its turn an amusement, as it affords "that diverfity fo neceffary to preserve the .. energy of our tempers. Well-regulated 66. pleasures alfo leave behind them a fatis"faction that renews them whenever we "think on the fubject.” 66 Nay now, papa," faid Mary, flyly, "there indeed I must beg your pardon; "they they rather leave behind them a regret "that they are paft; for when I was go ing to any party of pleasure with Mrs. "Bennet, I was almoft wild with delight; "but when it was over, 1 was fo forry, fo fatigued, and fo dull the next morn ing, that she used to promise to take me "fomewhere to put me in fpirits again." "Was not that a fufficient proof, my. dear girl, that your pleasures were im་ properly regulated ?" replied her father. "Whatever your, amufements were, had << you returned at an early hour, you would "neither have fuffered fatigue nor depref"fion of fpirits, which are ever the confe quence of our natural hours of rest being broken upon.-The frivolities, too, 66 you have expreffed a wifh to fee, when "once past afford no gratification, as you "have truly observed, in the recollection; "whereas, as I before faid, there are plea"fures which diffufe fuch fatisfaction on "the remembrance, that they footh us in "the hour of calamity, cheer the bed of "fickness, and blunt even the pangs of "death." "My My dear father, what are they?" interrupted Charles. "Feed the poor, clothe the naked, and "affift the induftrious to make thofe ex"ertions that may enable them to support "themselves, and, in all probability, help "others." "But these are not pleasures, Sir,” interrupted Charles, "these are duties." "I by no means think it impoffible," anfwered his father, "to blend our duties "and pleasures, fo as to make them infe"parable; for example, it is my duty to fupport and love you; but duty alone "does not influence me; your welfare and happiness is my greatest pleasure; thus you fee my pleasure and duty are blend "ed in one." The children clafped each a hand of their father, and he continued.-"For a "moment we will fuppofe the money you "wish expended to amuse you in trifles, "collected and in your own power, and "that you had ufed it in feeding and "clothing a poor family, who were perish ing with want and cold ;-would you feel "no pleasure in contemplating your work? "would you not reflect that in all proba 66 bility you had preferved them from "death, or which is worse, from shame; "for may not diftrefs fometimes force people to do actions at which their hearts "would recoil, had they the bare means "of existence ?" 66 Indeed, papa," faid Mary," as you 68 represent it, it would be pleasure, for you cannot think how happy I fhould "be to fee little girls that I had fed and "clothed; I fhould be so proud of them, "fhew them to every body, and make "them fo fmart !" 66 1 "There again you would err," interrupted Mr. Richardfon, "it is not making them smart, it is making them de66 cent, clean, comfortable, and warm, that "is neceffary. To make them what you "call fmart, would be in weak minds in 66 fpiring thoughts that might prove inju"rious; for they ought to be taught to be " useful members to fociety, which fine C |
