Mary Wollstonecraft's Original Stories

personal Defects censured.-A Storm.-The Fear of Death.-The Cottage of honest J

eep were bleating and cattle lowing, the rivulet near them babbled along, while the sound of the distant ocean died away on the ear-or they forgot it, listening to the whistling of the hay-makers, who were returning from the field. They met a whole family who came every year from another county where they could not find constant employment, a

asions: and this lothness to offend, or even to hurt the feelings of another, is an instantaneous spring which actuates my conduct, and makes me kindly affected to every thing that breathes. If I then am so careful not to wound a stranger, what shall I think of your behaviour, Mary? when you laughed at a respectable old woman, who beside her virtues and her age, had been particularly civil to you. I have always seen persons of the weakest understandings, and whose hearts benevolence seldom touched, ridicule bodily infirmities, and accidental defects. They could only relish the inferiour kind of beauty, which I described this morning, and a silly joy has

storm, every creature was running for shelter.-We must, if possible, said Mrs. Mason, reach yon cottage on the cliff, for we shall soon have a violent thunder-storm. They quickened their pace, but the hurricane overtook them. Th

weak understandings. But are you not afraid? cried the trembling Caroline. No, certainly, I am not afraid.-I walk with the same security as when the sun enlivened the prospect-God is still present, and we are safe. Should the flash that passes by us, strike me d

deep. The angry billows rose, and dashed against the shore; an

who lived in it, sent her children for w

there was a large patch. I am glad to see you honest Jack, said Mrs. Mason, come

d sung at the helm. I had always a good heart, no lad fore or aft had a better; when we were at sea, I never was the first to flinch; and on shore I was as merry as the best of them. I married she you see yonder, (lifting

several of our best hands were washed clean overboard-My poor captain! a better never plowed the ocean, he fell overboard too, and it was some time before we missed him; for it was quite dark, except that

hate to be faint-hearted, and certainly we should have got into the channel very soon, if we

ne eye by the lightning, the other had been sore, so that I could hardly call it a peep-hole. Somehow I fell down the hatchway

d; mouldy biscuits, and salt fish. The prison was choke full, and many a morning did we find some honest

I could not clean it, nor had I any plaister. One day I was looking sorrowfully at it, thinking for certain I should lose my precious limb; when, would you believe it? Pompey

eeing my family again; but the weather was still foul. Three days and nights we were in the greatest distress; and the fourth the ship was dashed against these rocks. Oh! if you had heard the crash! The water rushed in-the men screamed, Lord have mercy on us! There was a woman in the ship, and, as I could swim, I tried to save her, and Pompey followed me; but I lost him-poor fellow! I declare I cried like a child when I saw his dead body. However I brought the woman to shore; and assisted some more of my mess-mates; but, standin

ome were produced, they were quickly dressed, and they all eat together. They had a chearful meal, and honest Jack sung some of his seafaring songs, and did all he could to divert them and express his gratitude. Getting up to reach the brown loaf, he limpe

hildren conversed gaily with each other all the way h