PHILE

HILEMON, after a tedious courtship, obtained Ifmena: The match was no fooner concluded upon, than a fon to raise their family was the wish of them both; but Ifmena prudently concealed her defire, whilft Philemon was dinning every body's ears with his. Parents, relations, and neighbours, crouded upon the new couple on the wedding-day, to teftify their wishes for a fon; and the mamma's and aunts could hardly ftay till the next day to have the nativity calculated. Pleasure promotes the defires of Philemon and Ifmena, and at length improves them into hope; and fymptoms, however uncertain, which feem to confirm it, are enquired into with inconceivable joy; nine months are an intolerable time to ftay for this dear fon, defigned for fuch exalted views; hitherto all is well, and the fond pair reconcile reafon with their duties, and religion with their pleasure. This fon, the fupreme with of his parents, at length comes into the world, and after all this wifhing, is no fooner born, than unnaturally banished from his father's houfe; however, being weaned, he returns again and now, what fort of a governefs may little mafter have got? why Sufan, a fervant born upon the 'fquire's eitate, a creature of madam's, who, by her address in amours, has made fhift to turn her jacket into a gown; a Sylvia taken upon the recommendation of a falfe friend, who, it is not improbable, might fwear for her abilities as to children.

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how wonderfully muft he improve in fuch hands! Having entered his eighth year, he is taken from her, with his poor mind prepoffeffed by trafh, bugbears, and fpectres, and his memory stuffed with idle ftories; the best of ir is, he has been taught to lifp his prayers: And it must be owned, he is not much to feek in knowing his right hand from his left; kiffes it too, fmartly, by way of thanks, and bows moft refpectfully to the ground. A notable beginning in the education of a child, who, in his parents ideas, is to fill the chief employments of the state l But the fequel is to rectify all the errors of the beginning. His age now requires a tutor; among the multitude of indigent scholars, four candidates offer themfelves, and according to the laudable cuftom, he is the man, who rates his talents the loweft: A worthlefs creature, the whole of whofe merit is in his band; who, fo far from being verfed in reflexion and reasoning, can perhaps fcarcely read at all. Well, but fuch an one will be no great expence, and fuits with the difpofition of Philemon and Ifmena; him they commit their fon, and whilst the blockhead makes learning a trade to himfelf, his injudicious management makes it a torture to his pupil. Without taste of their beauties, or kill to vary the scene, he fets the youth's mind against the fciences; he darkens his reafon, fhackles his understanding, and aukwardly labours to transfufe into him his own ignorance, itupidity and prejudices. Thus

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