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For the Lady's Miscellany.

POVERTY.

Poverty, though too frequently the consequence of indolence or mistaken pride and though too frequently the object of ridicule, is often the result of a virtue which stamps the victim with honor. It is only in poverty that virtue can be fairly tried, because the incitements to vice are then most nu

Such, be it known to him, must be the opinion entertained of himself should he proceed to mock mis fortune. Let him further inquire of his own conscience whether he would be proof against the rewards. which vice is ever offering to the extremely needy: it is much to be feared, his heart will charge him with a readiness to supply his wants by a departure from virtue, and that he must discover how far he is removed, in a moral view, below those, who, in the ravings of conceit, are supposed to be his inferiors.-The praise of a bad man is but censure in disguise, and he, who values it, ranks himself with the giver why then, by evil conduct merit the applause of bad men, for none else will applause. They cannot screen their OWN evil doings: better than making proselyte to their ways, and never will approve the manners of those whose lives would be a mortifying commentary on their own. It follows, from all this, that nope but the depraved or viciously inclined will ever merit or receive the countenance of the wicked; while the good portion of mankind are ever selecting objects worthy their admination and their good offices. A practical lesson on these principles may be often observed. The virtuous youth, whe is seen aiding, regretting or consoling the poor, distressed, or

merous and pressing. Hunger and the cries of a starving family are almost beyond the endurance of the philosopher; the dunning calls of creditors are equally insufferable to the man of honor; yet they may be both virtuous although the one should be unable to support his his family; the other, to pay debts; and the unthinking satirist, who ridicules either only be cause he is poor, reflects not that this poverty may from a conclusive evidence of virtue, and that he is also liable to become poor, without perhaps its redounding equally to his honor. Let the punster, before he indulges his criminal passions, suppose himself reduced to the state of those who are marked as objects of his intended ridicule; let hin suppose his fortune gone, himself surrounded by a family depending on him for subsistence, a roublesome creditor wearing the rapper by his repeated knocks; let him suppose his evils aggravat-needy; forms one side of the piced by the taunting scoffs of some ture the reverse represents the untutored stripling. What would naughty child who banters distress

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he think of this wanton mimic?and mocks the feelings of the suf

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1 Three ninths of ludicious lan-instructive and not unfrequently ilguage, three sixths of assistance.

2 Four fifths of one of the chief halls in London ejecting a letter, three fifths of a fruit that grows on bushes, and a consonant.

lustrative of the characters of men and of nations. For this reason I am inclined to believe that a treatise upon this subject, or rather a collection of the numerous sayings,

3 A ward denoting a small that are always in the mouths of number.

4 Three sevenths of the reverse of Slavery, two fourths of a heavy fusible metal, two fourths of the

men, together with an account of their origin, would be not only cuious, but an highly acceptable undertaking, and meet with a good

Latin of fire, one fourth of sacred.share of encouragement from a 5 A workman who builds with stone.

6 The Christian pame of an expert Archa in time of Richaid 1st and a Serpentiae letter.

7 Three sixths of an Eminent kingdom in Asia, and four sevenths of a male cousin.

8 Three tenths of a populous town in England famous for the manufactory of hardware, and a numercial letter.

great proportion of our country

men.

I send you two accounts of this description, one of the word 'Yankee' extracted from Gordons history of the revolution; the other of that famous saying 'Hobsons choice' taken from the spectator.

'Yankee was a cant favorite word of farmer Jonathan Hastings of Cambrige (Mass) about 1713.

horses. He lived in Cambrige; & observing that the scholars rid hard, his manner was to keep a large stable of horses, with boots, bridles and whips, to furnish the gentleman at once, without going from College to College to borrow as they have done since the death of this worthy man I say Mr. Hobson kept a stable of 40 good cattle, always ready and fit for travelling; but when a man came for a horse, he was led into the stable, where there was a great choice, but he obliged him to take the horse which stood next to the stable door; so that every custom

Two aged ministers who were at the Colledge in that town have told me, they remembered it to have been then in use among the students but had no recollection of it before that period. The inventor used it to express excellency. A Yankee good horse or Yankee cider, were an excellent good horse and excellent cider. The udents used to hire horses of him; their intercourse with him, and his use of the term upon all occasions led them to adopt it, & they gave him the name of Yankee Jon. He was a worthy honest man, but no conjuror. his would Bot escape the notice of the colle-er was alike well served, accordgiates. Yankee probably became abye-word among them to express a weak, simple, awkward person; was carried from the college with them when they left it and was in that way circulated and established through the country, till fron is currency in New England it was at length taken up, and unjustly applied to the New Englanders in common as a term of reproach.'

Mr. Tobias Hobson, from whom we have the expression• Hobsons choice,' was a very honorable man for I shall ever call the man so, who gets an estate honestly. Mr. Tobias Hobson was a carrier, and being a man of great abilities and invention, and one who saw where there might good pro Et arise though the duller men overlooked it; this ingenius man was the first in this Island (Great Britain) who let out hackuey

ing to his chance; and every horse ridden with the same justice; from whence it became a proverb when what ought to be your clection, was forced upon you to say Hob. sons choice.

SELECTED,

T. F.

From the FREEMASON'S
MAGAZINE.

PATHETIC LETTER.

FROM A DESERTED WIFE TO A
FAITHLESS HUSBAND.

My dear Husband,

I who had expected your return from with painful anxiety, who had counted the slow hours which parted you from me-think how I was shocked at learning you would return no more, and that

you
had settled with a mistress in
a distant state. It was for your
sake that I lamented. You went
against my earnest entreaties: but
it was with a desire, which I tho't

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fine girl, has been working a pair of ruffles for you: and as she sits by my side often repeats with a sigh, "when will my dear papa return?" The others are constant

sincere, to provide a genteel mainly asking me the same question:

and little Henry, as soon as he began to talk, learned to lísp, in the first syllables he uttered, "when will papa come home?" Sweet

tenance for our little ones, whom you said you could not bear to see brought up in the evils of poverty. I might now lament the disappointment in not sbaring the rich-fellow, he is now sitting on his stool

es which I hear you have amassed; but I scorn it. What are riches compared to the delight of sincere affection? I deplore the loss of your love. I deplore the frailty which has involved you in error, and which will, I am sure, (as such mistaken conduct must) terminate in misery.

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But I mean not to remonstrate. It is, alas! too late. I only write to acquaint you with the health, & some other circumstances of myself and those little cues, whom you once loved.

The house you left me in could not be supported without expence, which the little sum you left behind, could not well supply. I have relinquished it, and have retired to a neat little cottage, thirty miles from town. We make no pretentions to elegance, but we live in great neatness, and by strict economy, supply our moderate wants, with as much comfort as our desolate situation will allow. Your presence, my love, would make the little cottage a palace..

by my side, and, as he sees me drop a tear, asks me why I weep, for papa will come home soon.→ He and his two brothers are fre quently riding on your walkingcane, and take particular delight in it because it is papa's.

I do assure you, I never open my lips to them on the cause of your absence. But I cannot prevail upon myself to bid them cease to ask when you will return, tho' the question frequently extorts a tear, (which I hide in a smile,) and wrings my soul, while I suffer in silence,

I have taught them to mention you in their morning and evening prayers with the greatest ardor of affection; aud they always add of themselves, a petition for your speedy return.

I spend my time in giving them the little instruction I am able. I cannot afford to place them at any eminent school, and do not choose they should acquire meanness and vulgarity at a low one. As to English-they read alter

Poor Emily, who has grown a nately, three hours every morning,

the mest celebrated poets & prose writers; and they can write though not an elegant, yet a very plain & legible hand.

Do not, my dear, imagine that the employment is irksome. It affords me a sweet consolation in your absence. Indeed if it were not for the little ones, I am afraid I should not support it.

I think it will be a satisfaction to you to hear, that by retrenching our expences, we are enabled to pay for every thing we buy, and though poor, we are not unhappy from the want of any necessary.

Pardon my interrupting you. I mean to give you satisfaction. Though I am deeply i jured by your error, I am not resentful. I wish you all the happiness you are capable of.

And am,

Your once-loved, and still
Affectionate

VARIETY

ORIGINAL AND SELECTED

For the Lady's Miscellany.

PAT'S ECONOMY.
Says Murphy to Pat, as they wander'd
one day,

Have you been to visit Wurtmuller's
Danae ;

A fine painted lady,quite naked,my dear,
And twenty-five cents they ax you to
see her.'

Others may do as they please,' exelaimed Pat;

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LADY'S MISCELLANY

NEW-YORK, April 4, 1812. "Be it our task, To note the passing tidings of the timeta

We this day commence the essay of

- on Slavery' To the free A.. merican, it's existence, within the Unit ed States, is matter of serious considera. tion, nor do we know of any difference of opinion except as to the mode and time most proper for restoring the unfortunate African and his descendants to those natural rights, which nothing but power, founded in injustice, could at. tempt to abrogate or presume to deny, The cruel ingenuity, which originated a system so forcibly commented on by our correspondent, was of a date prior to the institution of our form of government, and has been, ever since, the object of gradual amelioration. The subject is not connected with party politics, and is, on that account, as well as its moral ten

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