to recall the guileless wanderer, and awaken the tear of contrition. To have offended her parents, though unintentionally, was ever cause to her of sorrow, the deepest her infancy was acquainted with; nor would the smile resume its wonted place upon her cheek, until the reconciliation was ratified by the embrace of love. Yet, amidst the levity natural to childhood, there was a thoughtfulness about her, which betrayed reflection more mature than her years. The calm retreat, and silent shade,' seemed more congenial to her mind, than the crowded haunts of gaiety and pleasure. These, it is true, it was seldom within her reach to visit ; but even when opportunity offered, as it would incidentally, it was evident to the intelligent eye of observation, that there was some other scene more suited to her taste. That scene was the retirement of her hills. There she found something, though she might, possibly, have been unable to define in what it consisted, which coincided with the natural bent of her inclinations.

But Emily's mental endowments were yet superior to the graces of her disposition, or the elegance of her person. Her powers of apprehension were quick almost to intuition. Her memory was remarkably tenacious, and stored with many beautiful sentiments and passages, both in prose and poetry; while her fund of knowledge was thence more rapidly increased, under the daily occasions of improvement which presented themselves in study and meditation. Her ardour in the pursuit of intellectual acquisition required, indeed, as is frequently the case with the grasping eagerness of a young mind inclined to reading, a judicious check: and, in this respect, Emily was highly favoured. Unable, herself, accurately to discriminate, she found, in the piety of a well-informed mother, whom she revered and loved, the precise superintendance of which she stood in need; for, however fair the blossom, or pliant the tendril, they demand, alike, the hand of experience to foster and direct. No propensity to indolence, that

bane of early promise, discovered itself in her character. The gratification of a curiosity, just unfolding itself to the wonders of creation, and the treasures of science, was, meanwhile, a sufficient incentive to advance in the career she had begun. When the motives, by which she was actuated, had felt the purifying influence of the religion of the Redeemer, her inducements to perseverance, if not always so vivid as they might have been previously, at intervals, in the warm sun-shine of an ardent imagination, became more equable and permanent; and the proper occupancy of her time was, thenceforward, a predominant principle in her bosom. That she considered a talent, for which she would one day be called to a severe account; and it was her high endeavour that she might render that account with joy.

Her acquaintance with the history of her own, and other nations, was extensive and accurate; and she was intimately conversant with the politer of the living languages of

Europe, whose peculiar beauties she could duly appreciate. (a) English, however, was her favourite study. She admired its copiousness and energy; and entered deeply into the spirit of our best authors. That predilection for our country which is so general in Switzerland, particularly in the protestant cantons, grew in the breast of Emily like a tree planted in some sheltering recess. And may we not hope that her partiality was rewarded? Yes, gentle reader; thou wilt rejoice to hear it was. If, at the unhappy period in which she lived, we were shut out from the hills of her nativity, the voice of those, who, being dead, yet speak' amongst us, had penetrated to her retreat, and furnished the instructive medi

(a) The borders of the lake of Geneva are well known as a literary retreat. The author of this Tale, while wandering with some young ladies, the daughters of an acquaintance whose country-seat was delightfully situated at a few miles' distance from Geneva, through the groves, which might vie with those of Academus, that surrounded his residence, happening to allude to some of our best writers, among others Milton and Thomson, was agreeably surprized in finding his fair companions familiar with their language and excellencies. VOL. I.

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experienced emotions equally vivid as those, with which they beheld their Emily; for, often, when bearing their offspring in remembrance at the mercy-seat, had she afforded them the sweet anticipation, that she was destined one day to be the brightest jewel of their hope. Yet, there was a worm at the root of their enjoyment; and the tear of apprehension would silently blend itself with the note of gratitude and praise. A secret misgiving would involuntarily intrude upon the thought that rested over her; and they trembled, lest the heavenly exotic should be found but a transient resident on earth's unkindly soil.

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He, whose mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him,' had indeed numbered her of his family, and • marked her for his own.' His propitious smile had long attended her lowly and unobtrusive path. As a lily, nourished by the dews of his benediction, she had grown beneath his care, and cast forth her roots as Lebanon' and, if she had not hitherto made such advances in the hidden life, as others