THE FATHER AND DAUGHTER; A TALE. BY MRS OPIE. 66 Thy sweet reviving smiles might cheer despair, And bid hope blossom in the shades of death." MRS BARBAULD. BOSTON, PUBLISHED BY S. G. GOODRICH. SOLD BY BOWLES AND DEARBORN, BOSTON; G. AND C. CARVILL, MDCCCXXVII. THE FATHER AND DAUGHTER. THE night was dark-the wind blew keenly over the frozen and rugged heath, when Agnes, pressing her moaning child to her bosom, was travelling on foot to her father's habitation. "Would to God I had never left it!" she exclaimed, as home and all its enjoyments rose in fancy to her view. And I think my readers will be ready to join in the exclamation, when they hear the poor wanderer's history. Agnes Fitzhenry was the only child of a respectable merchant in a country town, who, having lost his wife when his daughter was very young, resolved, for her sake, to form no second connexion. To the steady, manly affection of a father, Fitzhenry joined the fond anxieties and endearing attentions of a mother; and his parental care was amply repaid by the love and amiable qualities of Agnes. He was not rich, yet the profits of his trade were such as to enable him to bestow every possible expense on his daughter's education, and to lay up a considerable sum yearly for her future support; whatever else he could spare from his own absolute wants, he expended in procuring comforts and pleasures for her. "What an excellent father that man is!" was the frequent exclamation among his acquaintance-" and what an excellent child he has! well may he be proud of her," was as commonly the answer to it. Nor was this to be wondered at; Agnes united to extreme beauty of face and person, every accomplishment that belongs to her own sex, and a great degree of |