beloved children; and they also gave. the worthy Mr. and Mrs. Churchill much unnecessary trouble. Edward Anwyll would frequently be found playing at balls or marbles with one of his father's servants, who waited to attend them in their rambles.

Let us now suppose the whole party sitting round a large table in the book room. Besides those before mentioned, a sensible discreet young woman had been engaged to assist Mrs. Churchill in inspecting the lessons and work of the young ladies.

I have said before, that the young folks were allowed to ask questions,

and

and relate any thing that had occurred to them but in so large a circle, it was necessary to set limits to these questions, and these relations, or they might sometimes take up the time allotted to more improving subjects.

Mrs. Belfield, or Mr. or Mrs. Churchill, when any one asked a proper question, replied to it, or desired one of the young folks; if improper, they merely said so; and a repetition of the question would have been severely punished.

MONDAY

MONDAY MORNING.

MISS ONSLOW, with a grave look. Pray, Miss Belfield, were you not extremely terrified with the thunder, last night? how dreadfully loud it was! I am so afraid of thunder!

ELINOR.

I was not afraid, Miss Onslow, though, no doubt, thunder and lightning are awful. Mamma has kindly taught us that, doing no evil, we have nothing to fear.

MR. CHURCHILL.

If Miss Onslow was as well acquainted as you are with the natural cause for thunder and lightning, she

would

would not be so much terrified at the

noise.

MISS ONSLOW.

Pray, Sir, be kind enough to inform

me.

MR. CHURCHILL.

Lightning is occasioned by the elas, tic matter in the clouds, which encounter each other in the air, and burns instantaneously like gunpowder, accompanied with that awful roll or sound which we call thunder.

LADY SOPHIA.

Oh gracious! so thunder is nothing but sound: well, then I shall never be afraid of what are called thunder-bolts.

MR.

That is a mistaken idea-all the

danger arises from the lightning; and

even that is not dangerous, when at a distance.

LADY SOPHIA.

But, dear Sir, how are we to know when it is near?

MR. CHURCHILL.

By the interval between the flash and the stroke; if the interval is considerable, it is distant, and not dange

rous.

HENRY ANWYLL.

You told me the other day, Sir, when we were out when it lightned,

not