Imatges de pàgina
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that ends in empty pockets. Never think then of the hermetical banquet, Glauber's golden afs, or the philofopher's magical gold. By the law of honeft industry, endeavour to be rich if you can, for this fole reason, that it is more bleffed to give than to receive; and if that lies not within your capacity, or means, be content with peace and little. There is more true happiness in daily bread and the poffeffion of the divine and focial virtues, than in tons of gold without holiness and a strong attachment to virtue.

When Mr. Burcot found he had almoft ruined himself, and that he was no longer able to live as he had done, he laid his melancholy cafe before his daughter Azora, and asked her advice, What he should do? To retire immediately, (Azora faid) to this part of Stanemore, which was an unvalued part of his eftate, and bring as many of his tenants as he could perfuade to inhabit this fine tract of land-to fell what remained of his fortune, and with the money procure as many of the neceffaries or comforts of living as could be had: to get in particular fome young tradefmen and their wives by offered rewards in this place; to build cottages for the people; and render the fine caverns in the rock as habitable and pleafing

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pleafing for themselves as art could render them. Here (Azora told her father) we fhall live more happy than we could do, if ftill poffeffed of a fortune to make an appearance in the world. We fhall enjoy by industry and prudence every good thing that rational life can require, and live fecured from the ftrokes of fortune, and the world's contempt. Strangers to vanity and the pleasures of high life, in this delightful retreat, we shall pafs our happy days as in a region of goodnefs, knowledge, and joy; and the predominant bent of our hearts will be to wisdom, and virtue, and to ascend into the realms of perfect day.-Happy advice, (the father of Azora faid) and the thing was immediately done. A colony was quickly established here, and every thing was fettled and ordered in the most advantageous manner. Cattle, inftruments, and grain to fow the land were fent in; cloaths and every material the little repub lic could want were provided, and every hand was as ufeful as we could with. For four years (Azora continued to inform me), we lived in peace and tranquillity, and never once regretted the lofs of our for

tunes.

We were happier far than when we had thousands. Industry, knowledge, and religion, were our employment. The night to come of pain and death gave us no uneafinefs.

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eafinefs. We lived as the chriftians of the two first centuries, and rather longed for than feared that event, which is to remove us to growing brightness for ever and ever. -But a fever came in among us, and swept away my father, and every man of our little republic: feveral women likewise perifhed; but a hundred fouls remained. Ninety-eight women, befides Antonia and Azora. Thefe loved me too well (Azora continued) to abandon me; and as they were happily fituated, and many of them had learned their husband's trades, they agreed and fwore to spend their lives with me here, and be as ferviceable as poffible, without admitting any men to live among us. They are fo in the highest degree: they are all useful and pious as I could with them, and under the heavens there is not a happier fociety of mortals. We have the beft of every thing: all we want, and in reafon could wish for.

A farther account of Azora.

Here Azora ended her relation, and I wondered greatly at what I heard; nor did my admiration leffen when I faw how fhe governed this community, and they employed their time. Her great understanding enlightened and directed them, in the execution of every thing ferviceable and

ingenious;

ingenious; and the lived before their eyes an example of the greatest industry, and the moft exalted piety. They, on the other hand, were as ufeful and religious as poffible, and fo heartily and faithfully dif charged focial duties, in every inftance, that they feemed as one great capacity, and power at work, to promote every conve-, nience and good. Some of them, as I have faid, were at work in the gardens: others in the fields: various trades and occupations were going on within doors and without, and all were employed in ways that beft fubferved the general welfare. In their behaviour, there was nothing wild, infolent, or arch, to be feen: no fwellings of vanity and pride no paffion to disoblige: no intention to offend: but, every one, discreet and calm; good-humoured, and very civil; worthily fuftaining their various relations, and each attentive to her own incumbent dutý. Their labours were but a diversion to them, and they lived in tranquillity and plenty. Their cloathing was coarfe, but very good, clean, and handfome. There was not one ragged or dirty perfon among them; nor any with bad fhoes and stockings. In all refpects, they feemed a moft happy community. Azora ftudied, to the utmost degree, the advantage and happiness of these people: and they, in return, made their

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their duty a vigorous and chearful service. Most of the conveniencies and comforts of life they had within their own little territory; flesh and fish, mutton, kid, and venison; corn for bread, every vegetable; maltdrink, meath, and cyder; all in great plenty, and moft excellent; wool and flax for cloathing; good candles; and wood enough for firing. What things they wanted two of them rid for to the nearest town, and not only purchased fuch goods with the money they got by fale of feveral commodities; especially knit thread stockings and gloves; but always at fuch times brought in some cash to their mistress, and she gave part of it among the people, to buy them little things they fancied.

Ten extraor

As to the ten young women dinary coun- I mentioned, who walked after try girls. Azora when firft I faw her, they were the daughters of fome widows in this little republic, and by her chofen, not only to be her attendants and upper fervants, and to look after her dairy, her bees, her poultry, and her aviary; (which was the fineft I have ever feen, for the variety of birds, and as it was turfed, to avoid the appearance of foulnefs of the floor, and fo large as to give the birds fome freedom of Sight); but, on account of their good un

derstanding,

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