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facts;" yet do I think it necessary to observe, that my wishes, in publishing this little work, are to render instruction agreeable, to point out the real satisfaction a virtuous mind must feel, in the performance of its duties, and how interesting and amiable, docile and affectionate children will always appear.

Had Mrs. Smith continued her

works for the use of young people, this had never made its appearance;

yet

yet I have not the vanity to offer it as a substitute for the productions

of that charming writer. Report tells us she is in happier circumstances than formerly; if so, I heartily rejoice in it: if, on the contrary, her health has sunk under the pressure of misfortune and affliction, I truly sympathize in her sorrows; and would fain (were it within my power) comfort and

console her. I do not presume to

compare

compare this work to Mrs. Smith's "Minor Morals," or to either of her two former works on the same plan; deprived of such books, I only wish that "Domestic Comforts" may be read with pleasure and improvement by some-for is not the weary traveller, when no longer enlivened by the sun,` cheered, even with the paler and less brilliant light of the moon?

DOMESTIC

DOMESTIC COMFORTS.

A VERY few years since, there lived

in Cornwall a family of the name of Belfield, who had formerly been amongst the noblest of this country, as it still was of the most ancient. The widow of a gallant officer, with her large family, were now all that

were

were left, to transmit to posterity a name once so noble, and still so unblemished..

Colonel Belfield had been killed in his country's service; and as soon as his young and lovely widow was so far restored to that health, which had materially suffered from her deep grief for the loss of a beloved and excellent husband, she resolved on quitting London, where she had resided during the Colonel's absence, and on retiring to Belfield House, to superintend the education of her children-she had six.

The eldest of these, Elinor, was, at

the

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