untoward events which often croffed her benevolent schemes. "I have been taught to confider the power of beftowing happiness as the most glo"rious prerogative which wealth could "enjoy. Have the means by which "I pursued this end been ill selected, or am I particularly unfuccefsful in "choofing fit fubjects for my design ?" The philofophy of one-and-twenty is not remarkably profound; the views of life are then too highly coloured to admit of the "yellow leaf," which "fober autumn" gradually introduces; and the error then prevalent even in the bestregulated minds is, that the scenes in which themselves are actors furnish exemptions to received rules as to the maxims by which they are to be governed, or the forrows and difappointments which they are to encounter. Difpaffionate experience would have taught taught lady Monteith, that the very circumstances of the villager's complaints argued comparative comfort. Pining poverty, deep affliction, and hopeless mifery, would have adopted themes for lamentation widely different from the fuperior convenience of gaffer Campbell's house, the impertinence of dame Brown, the fufpicious finery of Margery Bruce, or even the remembrance of four-crout and crowdy, which haunted the "auld" Highlander. Her liberal mind would then have added to the certain fatisfaction of a pure intention the exhilarating enjoyment of that moderate fuccefs to which all fublunary schemes can alone afpire; and she would have judged of the happiness of her colony, as one of our critics has obferved of the forrows of paftoral: "That it is a fufficient re"commendation of any ftate, when they "have no greater miferies to deplore." A full A full conviction of that depreffing but infallible truth, that all the good of this world must be blended with evil, would also have preferved lady Monteith from the mortifications to which her love of distinction and univerfal applause likewife expofed her. Against the shafts which, in fpite of repeated obligations, low envy and petty detraction fometimes aimed at her character, sweetness of temper and conscious fuperiority opposed an inadequate defence. Lady Monteith's letters to her dear Lucy have contained a gentle complaint against ingratitude and the hardships of her own lot; for though anxiously folicitous to oblige and conciliate her neighbours and acquaintance, fhe often found her well-meant endeavours mistaken, or repaid by dif like and difcontent. If Mifs Evans did not always feel the force of her friend's complaints, it must not not be ascribed to the diminution of her affection, nor to a want of fympathy. I have already obferved, that her mind was of a stronger caft; it was, befide, more intimately acquainted with real calamity. CHAP. XX. When thy laft breath, ere nature funk to reft, PLEASURES OF MEMORY. THE reader will remember that I left Mrs. Evans ftruggling with the violence. of a cruel disease, whose reiterated attack feemed to leave little hope of the preservation of her valuable life. She endured her allotted miferies with exemplary patience, and after her fufferings had almoft taught her difconfolate friends to wish for her deliverance, fhe meekly clofed a well-fpent life, bequeathing the invaluable legacy of her virtues to her beloved daughter. When lady Monteith received the painful tidings, he was in hourly expectation |
