And begged of him, when next he wrote

A fable or a tale about

Him, he would make him, out of pity,
Say something sensible and witty.

"What! sense and wit to come from you!"
Said Æsop-"that will never do:
People would say in such a case,

That I with you had then changed place;
That you the moralist became,

And I the Ass, or near the same."

MORAL.

By this let modern CRITICS know,
When they puff up poor writers so,
The reading public is most quick

To discover the poor, unworthy trick;
And its condemning voice will fall
On authors, critics,-asses all!

THE MOTHERLESS DAUGHTERS.

A TALE-IN THREE CHAPTERS.

warmth, a generosity, a chivalrous courage and polished courtesy, united with a fund of general information, that rendered them agreeable companions and steadfast friends. The father of our heroine was the acknowledged leader of the little society which we have just described. He was a lawyer of brilliant talents and large practice. So lucrative was his profession, that its profits, when combined with a considerable hereditary estate, enabled him to support a splendid style of living. Unlike most of those around him, Mr. Howard possessed great energy. Although by no means fond of drudgery, he knew well that permanent success could not be ensured in any occupation without patient toil. When business claimed his attention, he threw himself into it with an ardor of purpose, a quickness and vigor of intellect, that soon made him master of all its details, as well as of the general principles necessary to its thorough comprehension and judicious management. He was both a sound lawyer and an eloquent advocate. But his hours of relaxation were devoted to pleasure; he loved his wine, and still more his game of whist. Yet he never became a sot or a gambler; his being one of those rare instances, in which men stand

Eliza Howard was born in a small village of all their lives on the brink of a precipice without Eastern Virginia. The situation of this village falling into the abyss beneath. This circumstance was so advantageous, that a more enterprising fortunate for himself, unhappily rendered his population might have made it a thriving commer- influence over his friends more pernicious. Among cial town. It was on one of those noble streams the young men of the neighborhood, his word was which flow into the Chesapeake, and give the tide-law, his conduct the standard of morality. Many water region of the Old Dominion almost unri- of them pursued the same pleasures, without his valled natural facilities of navigation. But its citi-power of avoiding ruinous excess. They frequentzens did not belong to that hardy, ingenious, inde-ed his house, they were dazzled by his wit, they fatigable race, who in a more northern portion of imbibed his opinions on all subjects; they drank our country have made their barren fields blossom his wine and played his cards, until all that was like the rose, and have reared cities which are fast dangerous in his sentiments and conduct had poiadvancing to an equality with the proudest capitals soned the minds and corrupted the principles of of the Old World. The good people of vil- his deluded admirers. He was an open scoffer at lage were of an entirely different stamp. They religion; but he had always behaved with the strictwere remarkably hospitable, entertaining their est honor in his transactions, and set the highest guests with a warmth and elegance of manner value on a spotless reputation. His example thus which made them feel doubly welcome; but they were too much devoted to social indulgence, excessively idle and extravagant. The natural consequence of such habits was, that while gaiety reigned in the interior of their houses, their exterior often wore a decaying and desolate appearance. Their streets, from the utter stagnation of business- His wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Howard, was a comlike activity, were quiet, except when the listless plete contrast to her husband in opinions, princisilence was broken by the shouts of noisy revellers. ples and disposition. She was one of those angeThese rioters, in their hours of sobriety, strolled lic characters, who retain just enough of human about in a dress studiously adapted to the reigning frailty to remind us that "the trail of the serpent" mode, yet worn in a careless and slovenly manner, is over every thing of earthly origin. Her emiand with an air of haughtiness and nonchalance. nently beautiful person was only an emblem of the Attending little to their private affairs, they dis- superior moral beauty that dwelt within her pure cussed political topics with great heat, and always and tender bosom. The current of Mr. Howard's gave emphasis to their praises or denunciations passions, which would occasionally have been fretby a profusion of hearty oaths. Yet, in spite of ted into turbulence by the petty contradictions of these striking faults, these idlers often possessed a an ordinary wife, flowed on undisturbed by the

served to recommend infidelity to many who had not the pride, self-control and love of character, which secured Mr. Howard from its frequent consequences. He resembled an Upas tree, that blasts every thing around it, while itself remains green and flourishing.

quiet smoothness of her temper. When injured or chambers of that mansion, although they contained insulted, he sought revenge with a fury that nothing a child who claimed all a parent's affection and could daunt and nought but her influence appease. more than usual parental care. Eliza was one of When from bad luck at the gaming-table, or any the loveliest children on whom the eye or the heart similar cause of irritation, he returned home in ill- of parent ever doated. Her profile was perfect; humor, it invariably gave way before the magic her mouth beautifully formed, and remarkably pleainfluence of her smiles and caresses. So passion- sant in its expression in short, she resembled her ate was his admiration, so ardent his affection, and sainted mother, until you ascended to the eyes and so profound his veneration for her character, that brow, which were her father's. Mrs. Howard's he frequently alleged her example among other ar- skin was transparent, her eyes of the deepest and guments against the doctrine of universal de- clearest blue, her eyebrows most delicately pencilpravity. The strength of her religious faith was led. Mr. Howard's complexion was darker, and evinced by those works of love and charity which his eyes very black: always bright in their expres none but ministering angels like herself can per-sion, they glowed with intense brilliancy when he form. In the midst of a dissipated and giddy cir- was excited by passion or intellectual exertion. cle, she pursued the even tenor of her way, un- Their child united some of the striking peculiariseduced by the blandishments of pleasure and ties of both parents. The different parts of her unmoved by the sneers of scoffing profligates, face seemed to be an absolute contradiction, so Wherever a head was laid low in misfortune, hers marked was the contrast between the dark keen was the first hand to raise it and pour the balm of eye and somewhat stern brow, and the sweet inconsolation into the wounds of the sufferer. The nocent smile that played around her childish lips. most debauched and insolent were awed into in- The same inconsistences displayed themselves in voluntary respect by the quiet dignity of her mien her temper and conduct. Her demeanor was ustand stainless purity of her conduct. Mr. Howard, ally quiet and her general feelings kind, while her although prone to ridicule the credulity of believers, attachments were always warm in the extreme. loved his wife too well to weaken the foundation She had already displayed a premature quickness on which she evidently rested her hopes of present and vigor of intellect that astonished her instrucand future happiness. On this subject they were ters. But, in spite of the care of a mother, who usually silent in each other's society, except when tenderly fostered her better qualities, darker shades her affectionate anxiety for his spiritual welfare, in her character were even then visible to those forced from her a mild but earnest entreaty to ex-who had opportunities of close observation. When amine this all-important question with the care she conceived herself injured or affronted her and candor that must lead a mind like his to con- eagerness for revenge was actually furious. Hers viction. To such overtures he seldom replied; was not the evanescent passion which we often see being equally unwilling to promise compliance, or pass like an April cloud over the sunny courte to wound her sensibility by refusal. The only nance of childhood. It frequently left a gloom on child of the pair whose characters we have at- her brow, and a dislike in her heart as violent as it tempted to delineate, is the subject of the present was lasting. Her mother was not slow to discover narrative. They had been long married before the these germs of evil in her darling child. This joyful event of her birth, which Mrs. Howard sur- added another to the pangs which were often 13vived only seven years. Her death was a severe flicted on her delicate sensibility by observing the blow to Mr. Howard, whose career had hitherto same traits in the temper and conduct of her basbeen of one uninterrupted prosperity and enjoyment. band. She applied herself with all the energy f His wife was his idol, and he felt her loss with a good which we often observe in the softest and severity proportioned to the strength of his attach-most shrinking females, to eradicate, or if that ment. Sympathy for him, and an unfeigned reve- were impossible, to soften this harsh and unfeminize rence for her virtues, cast a temporary gloom over disposition. Neither the mildness of her own temthe gay circle of which they had long been the per, nor the unsurpassed warmth of her materna. two principal ornaments. The poor of the vicinity affection, ever deterred her from those measures of lamented her as a benefactress whose place could persuasion and coercion which were indispensabie never be supplied. But it is the nature of all grief to for securing so all-important an object. This jud be gradually softened by time, and a brief period will cious management was producing its natural effees suffice to relieve the followers of pleasure from the on Eliza, when the untimely death of Mrs. Howpresence of so unwelcome a spectre. In the engage-ard prevented its complete success. The loss of a ments of business, the pleasures of the convivial mother's care must always be severely felt; but i board and the excitements of the gaming-table, even was fatal to the character and happiness of this Mr. Howard soon contrived to dull that keen sense beautiful and promising orphan. Her remaining of bereavement, which would long have haunted him parent was indeed warmly attached to her, and in the retirement of his own mansion. He usually possessed all the advantages of wealth, intellige ace avoided a long stay in the silent and melancholy and high-standing. But his affection led him rath

excellent, are fitted to form the manners and principles of a young female, destined to move in a refined circle. The precepts and advice of these respectable domestics, tinctured as they are with the coarseness of their condition, have but slight effect

er to an injudicious indulgence of her foibles, than to the use of those correctives which his lost wife had esteemed essential to the formation of her daughter's character. His wealth enabled him the more readily to purchase every costly bauble that would please her fancy, or gratify her vanity. His in comparison with the more potent influence of the perverted moral and religious sentiments rendered young slaves, who must be the playmates and comhim a dangerous instructer. But these unfavora- panions of the children allowed to come in contact ble circumstances were less pernicious than his fre- with their vulgar natures. Suffice it to say, that quent absences and consequent neglect. It has this association was most pernicious to our heroine. been mentioned, that as soon as decency would Those moody fits of passion which alarmed the permit, he had striven to drown his grief at the loss anxious fears of her mother, had now been indulged of his wife in business and the so-called pleasures so long without restraint that they sometimes asof dissipation. To some this conduct may appear sumed an appearance of alarming violence. Acinconsistent with real affection. But Mr. Howard customed to tyrannize over every one around her, perhaps agreed with a distinguished American phi- except during the few hours which she spent at losopher and statesman, in doubting the utility of school, she could bear no opposition to her will, grief in the human economy, and therefore con- no restraint on the gratification of her capricious sidered himself authorized in using any means to desires. Her countenance and deportment indibanish so unwelcome and useless a companion. cated a contempt for the opinions and indifference To him the pure fountain of religious consolation to the comforts of others, that would have been was sealed his natural temperament rendered him painfully obvious to any but a father blinded by incapable of even affecting philosophical stoicism. affection. The brilliancy of her beauty, the quickHis only resource was that incessant activity of ness of her apprehension, and above all the uniform mind and body which left no leisure for the intru- warmth of the reception which she gave him, when sion of painful recollections. While he was seek- he occasionally visited home, made him overlook ing abroad the forgetfulness of his own sorrows, blemishes which the eye of a parent is ever the he unwisely left his orphan child to the mercy of last to detect in the temper and conduct of a child. servants. Several of Mrs. Howard's female friends His trusted domestics, although they had been ofhad voluntarily offered to take charge of her orphan ten annoyed by their young mistress's wayward daughter. But, with the weak fondness so common vehemence, partly from attachment to her, and in parents, he refused to sacrifice the gratification of partly from fear of his resentment, were unwilling enjoying her society in those brief intervals during to communicate their fears and troubles to Mr. which he remained in his own house. In every part Howard. But four years spent in this dangerous of the world, but more especially in the southern manner aggravated the natural faults of her dispoportion of the United States, parents are compelled to sition to such a degree, that they at last forced contend with no more pernicious influence in the themselves on the reluctant observation of her ineducation of their children than the corrupting ex-dulgent father. About this period, Eliza being ample of servants. Children, instead of being now eleven years old, he took her with him to the disgusted with the coarse vices and manners of metropolis, whither he was occasionally carried by slaves, as the Lacedemonian youth are said to have legal business, and where he had a brother residing. been with the drunkenness of their Helotes, are This brother was also a lawyer, and had attained a more usually familiarized and reconciled to what still higher eminence in his profession than the may be at first offensive. All the vigilance of pa- father of Eliza. His time was divided between rental authority is often inadequate to the counter-the labor necessary to the maintenance of his great action of this corrupting tendency. But when pa- reputation for ability and eloquence, and the eager rental superintendence is withdrawn, and the for-pursuit of pleasure. He was the elder brother, mation of the pliant mind is left entirely to domes- had inherited a good estate, and during a long and tics, the moral taint can scarcely ever be eradi- successful practice had received fees to an imcated. It, would, however, be injustice to Mr. | mense amount. But the carelessness and profuHoward, to suppose that he was at all aware of the sion which often characterize men who are in dangers to which he was thus exposing his beloved the receipt of large sums from intellectual exertion, child. He had seen the same carelessness prac- had entirely prevented him from accumulation. tised in his father's family, and had never reflected His recklessness at the gaming-table had also conon the important consequences which might flow tributed to keep him in pecuniary difficulties, in from negligence apparently so trivial. Besides, spite of an income that would have enabled a prusome of his older domestics bore so high a charac-dent man in a few years to amass a large fortune. ter, that he thought their presence and example To add to his embarrassments, he had a large would render the residence of his daughter under family, whose fashionable extravagance drained his roof entirely safe. But no servants, however his purse of the few dollars that might have been

left in it by his own imprudence. At the time world has been long continued, he entertained litwhen his younger brother brought Eliza to Rich- tle respect for the moral qualities of the female mond his situation was becoming critical, and he sex. It is true, that he almost worshipped beauty was in constant dread of immediate bankruptcy. when set off by intellectual superiority; but he Notwithstanding the general similarity of tastes knew little from either experience or observation, and habits between the two Howards, the father of of those pure and warm affections of woman's heart Eliza was in some respects a better man than the that are the only perennial sources of domestic metropolitan lawyer. The former had never known happiness. These sentiments made him almost as the want of money, and had therefore never been blind as her father to the faults of Eliza. With a subjected to the fearful ordeal of necessity occa-hope that constant intercourse would lead to an atsioned by habits of profusion. He had been al-tachment and union between his niece and son, he ways above the temptation to pecuniary meannesses. proposed to her father that Eliza should reside in The elder brother, who had commenced his career his family, and be sent to a celebrated school which with an equally delicate sense of honor, had per- had been recently established in Richmond. This mitted his principles to be gradually undermined by proposition was readily acquiesced in by her father, the pressure of debts, which his extravagance who had been for some time aware that his own equally prevented him from avoiding or paying. house was not a suitable residence for a girl of his A magnificent style of living was considered by daughter's age, and had already determined, after both his family and himself, as indispensable to the many struggles with his fondness, to place her in maintenance of their dignity. This ostentation, some situation better adapted to the formation of and his own habits of dissipation, proved too weigh- her mind and manners. It therefore required no ty a burden for even his large revenue to support. persuasion to induce the acceptance of so eligible His necessities soon threw him into the hands of an offer from a near relative, moving in the best Shylocks, who, if they did not, like their great society, and living in the same town with a female prototype, demand the pound of flesh, were rapidly school which stood high in public estimation. taking from him the means of show and pleasure The little Eliza, accordingly, became a boarder in which were equally near his heart. The meshes her uncle's family and a pupil of the before-mentioned of these usurers were just closing around their fashionable seminary. This school was one of the victim, when the arrival of his brother suggested many which have been the ton in Richmond for a to him the means of extrication. Concealing from year or two, and when the gloss of novelty has wora his relative the real extent of his difficulties, he off have sunk into obscurity and contempt. Its prinasked a loan, which he said would completely re- cipal came from New England, and was by courlieve him from debt. Being thus enabled to silence tesy called a gentleman. Those who knew him the most clamorous of his creditors, he conceived well, would have felt themselves at a loss to point a plan which he hoped would ultimately afford him out the qualities that entitled him to that honorable a permanent resource. He had an only son, of appellation. about eighteen, to whom, with the prejudice in favor of the first-born then retained by some persons born under the regal government, he intended to leave nearly his whole estate; hoping to dispose avocations which he had pursued and successively of his daughter's at a high price in the matrimonial abandoned. He at last adopted that of teacher, for market. Instead of being able to gratify this wish, which he was utterly unfitted, because he had reahe had immediate ruin staring him in the face. son to hope that it would prove a good speculation But it now occurred to him, that if he could unite in Virginia. The real proficiency of his pupils was his son with his brother's daughter, who was likely with him a subordinate consideration; but he was to be the heiress of his whole fortune, he might ex- anxious to keep up appearances, which are unfortutricate himself from his embarrassment and secure nately too easily maintained by a system of fraud a suitable establishment for the intended represen- and parade. Some of my readers may be distative of his house. His favored son was not every posed to wonder, how the intelligent and refined thing, either in mind or person, which his parental citizens of our metropolis could be induced to trust vanity would have desired; but he knew that a their children, and more especially their daughters, finished education, constant association with fine to the tuition of such a person as I have described. society, and above all the possession of wealth, To such we can only say, that they manifest but would hide his natural deficiencies from general little acquaintance with the power of impudence observation. His admiration of the personal at- on the one hand, and the extent of parental neghtractions, sprightliness and energetic conversation gence on the other. of his niece, served to confirm the old man in a But although this worthy had at first succeeded scheme which was at first based on a mere calcula- in establishing a flourishing school, by means of extion of interest. Like many men whose principles travagant recommendations prepared by some of his are loose, and whose intercourse with the dissipated good friends at the north, and by the splendid dis

He was of low origin, ignorant, coarse and vulgar. His principles were entirely on a par with his deportment; money, the god of his idolatry, had been his sole object in the various

plays of precocious talent and acquirement which|cism in irreligion. This destructive spirit, then were made at his first examinations, yet those who so prevalent in France, had passed over in a somehad been credulous enough to place daughters in what mitigated form into the United States. The his house, were soon convinced of his utter unfit-infection had taken unusually strong hold on Mr. ness for so precious a charge. Eliza Howard, for- Howard, and the unfortunate girl who had been tunately, if any thing can be called fortunate in her placed under his roof could have had no more danmelancholy career, did not enjoy the advantages of gerous companion. The poisonous plant of infisuch a domestication. Attending his school during delity which had sprung up in her unoccupied the day, she mastered in a very short time, and mind, grew rapidly to maturity under his fostering without any apparent effort, the slight tasks which care. were assigned by her ignorant instructer. The To make the matter worse, the practice of his leisure thus placed at her command, both at school family was by no means calculated to counteract and at her uncle's, were spent in whatever manner the tendency of these pernicious opinions. They her fancy dictated, unchecked by the interference lived in a continued round of gaiety and dissipation. of either relative or teacher. But hers was not a To the shame of our metropolis be it spoken, that mind which could be satisfied with the ordinary at that period, the fair sex had given into not only baubles of childhood. Far better would it have the frivolities of London and Paris, but even been, if she could have remained satisfied with those some of their vices. Not satisfied with carrying follies that would have ceased to please with the the elegant amusements of the theatre and ballprudence of advancing years. Her intellect was room to an excess entirely incompatible with doof a high order, and the inquisitive spirit manifested mestic regularity, some of the ladies had resortby her at an early age astonishing. She showed ed to the dangerous fascination of the gaming-table. a premature fondness for moral and theological dis-Eliza was a constant attendant at the theatre, spendcussions, and a determined incredulity in regard to ing the hours which should have been devoted to every thing which could not be made level to her own capacity. This natural penchant was greatly increased by the example and conversation of the guests whom she saw both at her father's and uncle's. Her uncle, like his younger brother, was a free-thinker, and a great admirer of French philosophy, French people, and all those wild notions, moral and political, which had been set afloat by the French revolution. These sentiments may appear inconsistent with the practical aristocracy which we have ascribed to the elder Mr. Howard. But in truth, his was and is a very ordinary case. The loudest advocates of theoretical equality, are frequently the haughtiest of aristocrats in their personal habits. Such at least was the character off by all the charms of eloquent declamation, of Eliza's uncle, unless professional or some other plausible reasoning and fine acting; it is difficult interest induced him to stoop. Universal equality, to calculate the influence which may be exerted on universal freedom from the chains of political and a spectator whose principles are unsettled. He religious thraldom, formed favorite themes for his may soon learn not merely to palliate, but to justify colloquial eloquence. On these he frequently di- the indulgence of some of the darkest passions that lated in the presence of the young Eliza, whose ever rend the human bosom. It is not to be wonear eagerly drank in and whose memory tena- dered at therefore, if a poor girl, whom death had ciously retained his arguments. His library was robbed of her only moral guide, should have yieldwell filled with fictions as well as more serious works, ed to seductions which better fortified minds have whose ingenious sophistries supported his own per- not always been able to resist. Her bold and indenicious sentiments. The young Eliza devoured pendent habits of thinking proved a snare to her these both at home and at school-where no re- here, as they did in the study of a false but spestraint was put on her inclinations-with an avidity cious philosophy. When at private parties, she which astonished while it delighted the old gen- was often led from a love of strong excitement, tleman. A desire to propagate their opinions is as well as from the influence of example, to make not, as has been asserted, an universal feeling with one of the card-parties then so common among a persons whose minds are clouded by doubts on the certain set of her acquaintance. She soon acsubject of religion. There are among them those quired extraordinary skill at the game, and was a who would not, if they could, shake the foundation great favorite with the old gentlemen who occaon which the faith of others rests. But there are sionally played with her. Her extraordinary beauty, others, who seem inspired with a species of fanati- the vehement eloquence of her language and the

more useful study in the excitement and criticism of the drama. She was not one of those idlers, who frequent the boxes of a play-house as a mere fashionable resort, without knowing or caring anything about the merits of the piece or the performers. She had a heart that could deeply feel the emotions excited by the tragedian, and a head too prone to be misled by the sophistries which he often puts into the mouth of daring criminals. When a master of the tragic art, succeeds in working up one of strong feeling and excitable imagination to a warm sympathy with characters who are led by great temptation to the commission of atrocious acts, and when the force of that temptation is set