course.

Fine clothes and costly jewels glitter, perhaps, in some part of the glass; but how can they adorn faces grown wan with inward care, or give gracefulness to those who must always have the air of inferiority when they happen to meet the eye of their unpaid tradesmen, whose families are starving on their account?

MISS TALBOT.

TRUTH NOT TO BE TOLD AT ALL TIMES;

OR,

THE MORAL ENCHANTER.

In those days when magicians were rife on earth, doubtless very delightful times, for even now the mere relation of the wonders which were then common retains a spell, and a potent charm against the ennui of a long winter's evening,—in those days there lived an enchanter, who must himself have been bewitched, being possessed not only of the wish of curing, but by the hope of being able to cure mankind of their foibles, vanities, and follies, by means of the resources of his art. Many were the astonishing proofs which he is reported to have given of his skill; some of them, indeed, so astonishing as to be incredible even to those who are not startled at the utmost licentiousness of fiction, or all the wonders of fairy land. One instance of what he is said to have thus effected will convince the reader that his repute was not greater than it merited to be. Almaforatati-for such was the

imposingly sonorous name of our philosophic magician-almost endued of itself with necromantic power-had discovered that the female tongue generally acquires an additional and very formidable impetus after marriage; and that the musical tones of a maiden's voice frequently become shrill and discordant from the same cause: in short, he discovered that another magician, of of a very capricious temper, and named Gegamos, took a malignant pleasure in frequently transforming the most beautiful nymphs, angels, and goddesses, into shrews and scolds; a more lamentable metamorphosis than any recorded in that delightful romance, written by the Ariosto of antiquity. Against these most diabolical transformations, the benevolent Almaforatati contrived a potent talisman; but, unfortunately for posterity, the secret of this talisman was confided to a woman; and, therefore, as the sex are as little celebrated for their retention of secrets, as they are for their retention of tongue, I presume that it has long since been lost. Reader, art thou married? Should such happen to be the case, thou wilt appreciate the benevolence of Almaforatati as it deserves.-It is not my intention, however, to record all that this humane enchanter did for the improvement and amelioration of mankind; since, excellent as he was, and excellent as his history could not fail to be when written by myself, it might be somewhat prolix-I will not employ that ominous word tedious. For the present, therefore, I shall confine myself to the relation of one of those many cures which he * Ovid.

effected by the judicious employment of his necromantic skill.

There was, among others, whom he attempted to bring to reason a certain Biribissi: this person was afflicted with a most inconvenient and ugly disorder, which was a perpetual source of embarrassment to himself and others; for the poor man was determined, on every occasion, to speak his mind, and to manifest by his actions his thorough contempt for what he termed the sophisticated and artificial forms of society. This he frequently did, to the utter disregard of the feelings of every one else. Almaforatati considered him, therefore, as a very fit object of compassion; and resolved to remove, if possible, so desperate a folly: and what can be more egregiously so, than an undisguised exposure of one's sentiments on every occasion, and that too in the most wanton and gratuitous manner. In order to accomplish this laudable purpose, Almaforatati transported Biribissi to an enchanted domain; where, upon his arrival, he proceeded towards a spacious edifice, on which was an inscription, purporting that it was the "Palace of unsophisticated Sincerity;" and that, within its walls, no restriction was imposed upon either words or actions. Biribissi was enraptured at this discovery, and immediately entered, hoping to be able, for once, not only to speak truth himself, without offending others, but likewise to hear it from them. After passing through many noble and magnificent halls, where there was no one either to receive or welcome him, he found himself in a splendid saloon, filled with a numerous company.

The din and confusion which prevailed here tended, in some degree, to dispel the pleasure he had experienced in contemplating the splendour of the other apartments, and in anticipating the enjoyment arising from a complete rejection of those eternal insincerities which are a stain upon social intercourse. Having entered, he found that each individual was acting with as little restraint as if he were completely alone. Some were gesticulating before the large mirrors that adorned the walls, and throwing themselves into strange attitudes, and each expressed aloud his unqualified admiration of his own person. Others, who held manuscripts in their hands, were extolling the beauties of their own composition, and appeared to be lost in ecstasy at the contemplation of their own genius. Some were dancing, but all singly; some singing; others talking aloud to themselves, and expressing, very unreservedly, their opinions of the rest of the company every one, in short, was manifesting his perfect disregard of all form or restraint.

At first, Biribissi was delighted at what he considered to be liberty, ingenuousness, candour, and a love of veracity; in a short time, however, he was disgusted at their extravagance, particularly as they did not scruple to make certain observations on his person, which, notwithstanding his enthusiasm for sincerity, he could very well have spared; the more so, as his features and countenance were not altogether formed to call forth expressions of admiration. So irritated, indeed, did he at length become, in consequence of some comments on his figure, very candidly offered to him, that he aimed a blow at the com

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mentator himself, for the purpose of convincing him, not logically, but manually, of the exceeding bad taste of his critique, and how little it was relished. But, lo! no sooner had he struck him, than the whole scene vanished, and he found himself in the presence of Almaforatati, who expressed his admiration of his vehemence, by a countenance not of the sternest cast for a magician. Biribissi," exclaimed he, “ you appear to be somewhat disturbed. How! has any thing occurred within the Palace of Sincerity, that could possibly excite your displeasure?" But the astonished, the indignant, the abashed Biribissi replied not. "Well," continued Almaforatati," unless all my science has forsaken me, I may venture to predict that, henceforward your unqualified admiration of unqualified sincerity will be considerably diminished-will be less fervent, less romantic. The lesson you have just received, and the scene you have just been witnessing, must convince you that the forms against which you exclaim as being incompatible with liberty, as abridging, and they undoubtedly do abridge, the freedom of each individual, are precisely that which preserves social intercourse, and polishes down its asperities, rendering it less harsh, and less likely to wound the tenderness of self-love. The insincerity which you so much decry, is but that decent veil, without which truth itself disgusts; while the candour you have hitherto affected to admire, is but too often a mere disguise, beneath which may be detected obstinacy, rudeness, and selfishness."

ANONYMOUS.