membrance days long past, and the juvenile fociety of those who are now no more, is an awful operation of the human mind; and, while it speaks loudly the truth of St Paul's observation, that "the fashion of this world "paffeth away," imperceptibly leads to a train of thinking that might here be out of place, though it is neither unpleasing nor unfuitable to the character of a rational being, who hath been taught and accustomed to confider himself as an immortal part of the creation. I am, &c. : No 95 N° 95. SATURDAY, April 4. 1780. To the AUTHOR of the MIRROR. SIR, A S you have, by several of your publications, given proof that you do not think the occurrences of domestic life unworthy your attention, I shall, without further preface, address you on a subject full as deserving of it as any yet offered to your consideration. It is now above four years fince I became the wife of a gentleman, my equal in rank and fortune; and, what was more material, of a difpofition and turn of mind every way suitable to mine. His estate lies at a confiderable distance from the capital; but, as it is situated in an agreeable neighbourhood, and as we have both a taste for reading, and Mr B. is not averse to rural employments, we spent our time as happily as poffible, till about half a year ago, that my ill stars directed me to renew my acquaintance with a young lady, who had been my companion at school, and who who now came on a visit to a relation who li ved at no great distance from our house. Before I proceed in my story, I must beg a candid confideration of it. From the introduction to the disagreeable part of it, you will be apt to imagine that I am one of those selftormentors justly ridiculed by the ingenious author of the Jealous Wife. No fuch thing, Mr MIRROR: my husband's attention to other women never gave me the flightest uneafiness. Convinced of his attachment, satisfied with his treatment of me, I never expected him to be blind to the charms of a beautiful woman, or insensible of the merit of an agreeable one; nor had I the mistaken policy of imany wives, of never fuffering a tolerable female to enter my doors, or of courting the intimacy of fome tall elderly maiden, that I might gain by the comparison. No, Sir! I depended wholly upon my unremitting attention to please Mr B. for the continuance of his attachment. Nor can I in the least reproach myself with giving cause for the abatement I too plainly perceive in it. But to return to my story. I was much pleased at seeing my old school-fellow: We had been parted many years, and I found the wild lively romp improved into an elegant wo man. She still, however, retained a good deal of the heedless manner that marked her childish days; and, though she has an excellent understanding, she never feemed to make use of it in the regulation of her conduct or behaviour. She expressed herself much pleased at finding me so happily fettled: Mr B. appeared to her a most amiable man, and my children (particularly my little Bess) the faid were angels. Her attention to them, I own, endeared her to me very much; though, indeed, Mr MIRROR, no one can help loving them, for they are charming children. Her good-humoured playful ways made the little creatures doat on her. At my return from walking, I have frequently found her on her knees on the floor, building card-houses for their entertainment. Mr B. has observed to me, on those occafions, how amiable it was in a young admired woman, who had spent her life in the ufual round of folly and diffipation, to preferve fuch natural and right feelings. He generally concluded his observations with faying, that he believed the would make a most excellent wife. I, for a long time, agreed with him in opinion, and used to tell VOL. III. her her before his face, the fine things Mr B. faid of her. She received them in a rattling goodhumoured way, insisting that her conduct in the married state would depend on her hufband's; for she declared that she did not find in herself that exalted turn of mind to love virtue for its own fake, and she believed she would make but an indifferent wife to half the men in the world. Such conversation generally produced an argument between her and Mr B. which, as it was carried on with spirit and temper, had no other effect than making them still more pleased with one another. If she found the argument growing ferious, she would call over the children, and, putting them on their father's knee, defire them to kiss him into good humour, which never failed having the effect; or, if the faid a flippant thing to him, with which he seemed half offended, she used to take his hand, and smile so sweetly in his face, it was impoffible for him to continue displeased with her; and, generally, a kiss and a game of billiards fealed their reconciliation. I own to you, I began not to relish her behaviour; yet it seemed so unpremeditated, and so perfectly corresponding with her general character, that |