Mary Wollstonecraft's Original Stories

n of a Mansion-house in Ruins.-

ired them to be ready at a precise time. Mary in particular had a trick of putting everything off till the last moment, and then she did but half do it, or left it undone. This indole

ioned to her early in the morning, the finest part of the evening slipped away whilst she was f

red with ivy or moss, and a number of fungusses grew about their large roots. The grass was long, and remaining undisturbed, save when the wind swept across it, was of course pathless. Here the mower never whet his scythe, nor did the haymakers mix their songs with the hoarse croaking of the rooks. A spacious basin, on the margin of which water plants grew with wild luxuriance, was overspread with slime; and afforded a shelter for toads and adders. In many places were heaped the ruins of ornamental

dren, who clung about her, to tell you the history of the last inhabitant; but,

reason; I mean, the present emotion governed him.-He had not any strength or consistency of character; one moment he enjoyed a pleasure, and the next felt the pangs of r

would do the act of charity. The next morning some company came to breakfast with him, and took him with them to view some fine pictures. In the evening he went to a concert; the day following he was tired, and laid in bed till

shine in any one he should have chosen. His friends were offended, and at last allowed him to languish in a g

or other light up, and animate his conduct. He paid his debts, and gave him a sum of money sufficient to enable him to prepare for a voyage to the East Indies, where Charl

ce of fifteen years, he acquired a much larger fortune than he had even hoped for, and

gratitude.-The thought pleased him, and that was sufficient to divert him for some months; but accidentally hearing that his friend had been very unsuccessful in trade, this information made him wish to hasten his return to his native country. Still a procrastinating spirit p

rived in England, he came here, and was so childishly eager to have his house fitted up

ownley, who, hastening to it, only found his dead body there; for he died the day before. On the table was lying, amidst some other scraps of paper, a let

ed my heart-I thought I knew your's, and that my latter days might still have been made comfortable in

ngrateful wretch that ever burdened the earth! He then knocked his clinched fist against his forehead, looked wildly round the dreary apartment, and exclaimed in a cho

pondency. Indulging it to excess, he neglected to enquire after his friend's

lligence which he procured aggravated his dis

combat with poverty; to escape from it, she married an old rake whom she detested. He was ill-humoured, and his vicious habits rendered him a most dreadful companion. She tried in vain to please him, and banish the sorrow that bent her down, and made wea

she marry,

the grief that did not break her heart, disturbed he

nformed her countenance to trace anguish on it-the trembling light soon disappeared-wild fancy flushed in her eyes, and animated her incessant rant. She sung several verses of

nguish would not tear my heart! The fortune which he had intended for her could not restore her reason;

person to attend her, and guard her from the dangers she wished to encounter. Every day he visited her, the sight of her would almost have unhinged a sound mind-How could he bear it, when his conscience reproached

and as the title to this part could not be prove

child, and remember that you must attend to trifles; do all the good you can the present day, nay hour, if you would keep your conscience clear. This circum