*

I here fetched a deep Sigh: Alas, faid I, Man was made in vain! How is he given away to Mifery and Mortality! Tortured in Life, and fwallowed up in Death! the Genius being moved with Compaffion towards me, bid me quit fo uncomfortable a Profpect. Look no more, faid he, on Man in the firft Stage of his Exiftence, in his fetting out for Eternity; but caft thine Eyes on that thick Mift, into which the Tide bears the feveral Generations of Mortals that fall into it. I directed my Sight as I was ordered, and (whether or no the good Genius ftrengthened it with any fupernatural Force, or diffipated Part of the Mift, that was before too thick for the Eye to penetrate) I faw the Valley opening at the further End, and spreading forth into an immenfe Ocean, that had a huge Rock of Adamant running through the Midft of it, and dividing it into two equal Parts. The Clouds ftill refted on one Half of it, infomuch that I could difcover nothing in it; but the other appeared to me a vast Ocean planted with innumerable Iflands, that were covered with Fruits and Flowers, and interwoven with a thousand little fhining Seas that

ran

ran among them. I could fee Perfons dressed in glorious Habits, with Garlands upon their Heads, paffing among the Trees, lying down by the Side of Fountains, or refting on Beds of Flowers; and could hear a confufed Harmony of finging Birds, falling Waters, human Voices, and mufical Inftruments: Gladnefs grew upon me on the Discovery of fo delightful a Scene. I wished for the Wings of an Eagle, that I might fly away to thofe happy Seats; but the Genius told me, there was no Paffage to them, except through the Gates of Death, that I faw opening every Moment upon the Bridge. The Islands, faid he, that lie fo fresh and green before thee, and with which the whole Face of the Ocean appear fpotted as far as thou canst fee, are more in Number than the Sands on the SeaShore: There are Millions and Millions of Islands behind thofe which thou here difcovereft, reaching farther than thine Eye, or even thine Imagination, can extend itself. These are the Manfions of good Men after Death, who, according to the Degrees and Kinds of Virtue in which they excelled, are diftributed among these several Lislands, which

abound

abound with Pleafures of different Kinds and Degrees, fuitable to the Minds and Perfections of thofe who are settled in them: Every Ifland is a Paradife, accommodated to its réfpective Inhabitants. Are hot thefe, O Mirxa! Habitations worth contending for? Does Life appear miferable, that gives the Opportunities of earning fuch a Reward? Is Death to be feared, that will convey thee to fo happy an Existence? Think not Man was made in Vain, who has fuch an Eternity referved for him!

I gazed with inexpreffible Pleafute on these happy Islands. At length, faid I, fhew me now, I beseech thee, the Secrets that lie hid under thofe dark Clouds, which cover the Ocean on the other Side of the Rock of Adamant. The Genius making me no Anfwer, I turned about to addrefs myfelf to him a fecond Time, but I found that he had left me. I then turned again to the Vifion, which I had been fo long contemplating; but, inftead of the rolling Tide, the arched Bridge, and the happy Islands, I faw nothing but the long hollow Valley of Bagdat, with Oxen, Sheep, and Camels grazing upon the Sides of it,

OBSER

OBSERVATIONS.

MISS Penelope now refuming her Seat, the Governess thus addreffed her little Pupils. Tho' you are to confider this Tale only as the Flight of a happy Fancy, you are neverthelefs to look on it as a true Picture of the Uncertainty of human Life, which teaches you to reflect how little you ought to feek after thofe Things, which are only momentary and fleeting. Playthings and Gewgaws, for fuch I may venture to call the greater Part of the Pursuits of thofe of your Ages, pall and grow infipid, even the Moment you have obtained them. Purfue, my dear Children, the Paths to Knowledge and Science: These will afford you folid Employments, of which nothing but Death can rob you. You will then live respected, for a fenfible Woman will always command Refpect; and, when the Enemy of Mortality fhall call you hence, as you have lived respected, fo will you die lamented, and Pofterity will mention you to future Generations, as an amiable Example of Virtue and Piety. On the other Hand, the Woman, who foolishly neglects thefe Ad

vantages,

vantages, dies, and it is happy for her if the is forgotten. Waste not your leifure Moments in little party Quarrels, but endeavour to improve each other, and strive to excel, not in the little Arts of Dress, but in the Improvement of the Mind, and in the emula tive Practice of every Virtue.

A profound Silence reigned through the whole Affembly; and it is much to be doubted, had not their Governefs immediately ordered in a Basket of Apples to their Relief, whether they would have thought of choofing Mifs Betfy Thoughtful Orator for the next Night.

THE FOURTH NIGHT.
My kind Schoolfellows,

T

HE little Experience I have had in the World will hardly enable me to fay any Thing of my own Knowledge, and I am forry to find myfelf pitched on to afford this Night's Entertainment; but, as I find no excufe is to be admitted, I will endeavour to repeat, what I have fomewhere read, a