2 Sist. My mother said nothing to me but what I like very well, and am very willing to comply with.

2 Bro. 1 am very glad to hear you say so, I wish we were all of the same mind.

2 Sist. I hope we shall. I think what she proposes is so rational, and the reasons of it so unanswerably good, that I see no room to object against it in the least; nor do I see any thing designed in it at all, but what is for our good.

2 Bro. I am perfectly of your opinion, and am glad to find you of mine. But here is my sister Mary, quite of different sentiments from us all.

1 Sist. And with a great deal of reason, for I have not been treated with the same kindness as you have been treated with.

2 Sist. Wherein, pray?

I Sist. Why, I suppose my mother has not been in your chamber, and rifled your closet, and taken all your choice books, and your plays, and your songs, and your novels, &c. and carried them away, and thrown them into the fire.

2 Sist. No, no, my dear; for what my mother said to me was so affecting, so fully convincing, and so unanswerable, that I immediately fetched them all down myself, and put them into the fire with my own hands, before her face.

I Sist. A pretty, complying easy fool! I warrant she kissed thee, and called thee dear child, and cried over thec for thy pains. Did she not, my dear?

2 Sist. I am ashamed to hear you talk so of my mother, sister. Sure you han't lost your manners and duty, as well as respect and religion. Sister, I beseech you what is the matter with you?

1 Sist. And have you really burnt all your plays to please

a humour?

2 Sist. Inder humour. I world: and

fit to be do

1 Sist. A fine child! and are not you a deal the wiser for it? Do you not repent it already?

2 Sist. No, sister: so far from repenting it, that I never did any thing in my life that gave me more satisfaction; and if it were to do again, I should now do it with ten times the pleasure I did it then; and if God give me grace to keep my resolution, I never design to see a play, or read a play more.

1 Sist. Pretty child! thoroughly reformed at once! this is a mighty sudden conversion, and may hold accordingly, I suppose, as most such hasty things do.

2 Sist. It will hold, I hope, longer than your obstinacy against L

1 Sast. We has as good reasons, I may think so

too.

2 Sist. I simal date that with you hereafter, when you have heard the same seasons for it that I have heard.

1 Sist. Well, our same, pray let's have a few of your reasons just now, f on can spare them. Pray, what harm is there in seeing a seating a play? Is there any sufficient mischief in them to just or burning them, and to jus tify mother's using me about them as she has done?

2 Sist. In the first place, aster, the time we have before us, compared to the eternity hat is to be prepared for, s so little and so short, that, I use possible to employ it setter, there is none to spare for at has ittle got ne as a play.

1 Sist. I have eated a great deal good from a
2 Sist. But migrave earned more hom he sero-

tures?

1 Sist. It may

2 Sist. You are e

1 Sist. W

Dist

for the sake of the good part; nor can any one justify it, that the good part is such, or so great, that so much hazard should be run for it.

1 Sist. Very well; so you are afraid you should be in every thing that is right, more especially in every thing that is for my own good, and, most of all, where my duty to God joins with it. If you think it below you to do so, I am tempted when you go to the play; I suppose that is because you are so tempting yourself.

2 Sist. No, sister, I am in no more danger, I hope, than another; but sure, if I am to pray to God, as in the Lord's prayer-" Lead me not into temptation," I must not lead myself into it.

1 Sist. And is this all you have to say for throwing the best collection of plays the whole town had into the fire?

2 Sist. I have many more reasons which I shall bestow on you, when you have answered these. But there is one more which I will bestow upon you now, which you may give an answer to before the rest, if you please, viz. that it is my mother's desire and resolution that I should do so; and that she declares it is against her conscience to permit me the use of these things as formerly, and therefore desires, and in one kind commands, that I should do thus: and I am bid in the scriptures many ways to obey :-" Chil dren obey your parents in all things," &c.

1 Sist. That is the best reason you have given yet.

2 Sist. I think not, neither; for the other reasons are better, as they are drawn from the nature and authority of God, and this but from the authority of my mother; which, though it is great, and ought to be very prevalent with me, and ever shall be so, yet not quite equal, or up to the authority of him that made us all: nor will my mother think hard that I say so.

2 Bro. Sister, indeed I think my sister Betty has fully answered you there.

1 Sist. Yes, yes, you are two fine new converts.

2 Bro. Which I hope we shall never be ashamed of.

1 Sist. Well, and pray what said you to her about going to the park on Sundays? Had you nothing to say about that?

2 Sist. Yes, yes, my mother showed her dislike of it, and said it was a plain violation of the commands of God. I mused a little while about it; and being convinced that it was so, I presently resolved never to go any more.

1 Sist. So, and you had not a box on the ear then, as 1 bad?

2 Sist. I gave my mother no occasion for that, sister, as I understand you did.

1 Sist. No, no, you are a mighty good obedient thing.

2 Sist. I am not ashamed to own, that I obey my mother, and am willing to do so in every thing, especially sorry for it. I cannot follow you in that example; for the scripture says expressly—“ Children, obey your parents in all things," much more where the command of God, and the command of our parents concur together, as it does in this

case.

1 Sist. You preach nicely, sister. You shall marry a parson; and, when you turn Quaker, you shall be a speaking sister.

2 Sist. Any thing rather than a rebel to God and my parents;-break the commandments of the first, and abuse the tenderness of the last.

1 Sist. You are mighty mannerly to your sister.

2 Sist. Much more to you than you to my mother. 1 love my sister very well; but I know neither brother nor sister when they rise up against my mother, and that such a mother as our's is; who, I must tell you, sister, deserves other things at your hands: and, unless you behave better, you will find the whole family against you, as well as 1; for every body says you treated my mother rudely. The very servants speak of it with abhorrence, and of you with contempt. Every body must despise you, if you carry it so to your mother,

G

1 Sist. With all my heart. If every body despises me, I'll despise every body, and so I'll be even with you all. 2 Sist. You'll soon be tired of that.

1 Sist. If I am, I bear my affliction with patience.

2 Sist. You are like to be a martyr in the worst cause that ever a saint suffered in: no doubt but you will suffer for conscience sake. Two excellent points in divinity you maintain, viz. contempt of God, and rebellion against your parents. I wonder what evil spirit is your instructor.

1 Sist. You are very pert, madam, and show abundance of affection and respect.

2 Sist. I follow your example still, sister; but I'll be very honest to you. I'll never have respect nor affection to you, nor any body that shall carry it to my mother as you have done. I would not load you, nor add to your sorrows, but no body in this house can do otherwise, who have such a father and such a mother as we have.

1 Sist. I have no sorrow about it, and I am resolved I will have none.

2 Sist. I think the best way to deal with you is to leave you, your crime will be your sufficient punishment. But ⚫ I must tell you, before I go, which I should have told you at first, that my business was not to visit you now, but to call you to my father and mother, who want to speak with you in the parlour, and where, I suppose, you will hear more of it.

1 Sist. I will not go.

2 Sist. As you please, sister, for that; I have delivered my message.

1 Sist. And you may carry that for an answer.

2 Sist. No, sister, I'll have no hand in your misfortunes: besides, I believe here comes another messenger from them.

[A servant comes up stairs, and tells the eldest lady that her father and mother wait to speak with her.]

1 Sist. I am indisposed, tell my mother, I cannot come, I am upon the bed.