104 PLEASURES OF AN ACTIVE LIFE. 



of small inconveniences. She often tells us, that the 

 secret of being happy is, to be satisfied with the pre- 

 sent, and to leave the disposal of the future with 

 full confidence to the Supreme Ruler of the universe : 

 for over anxiety destroys the health, and inca- 

 pacitates us for duties that require our immediate 

 attention. Every day opens to her a new scene of 

 activity and usefulness ; of course, she is never teased 

 ■with that languor of mind well known amongst 

 fashionable loungers by the name of ennui. Her 

 time is divided between acts of benevolence, the 

 cultivation of her mind, and social pleasures. She 

 has found a few select friends, even in this retired 

 situation, that vary and enliven our enjoyments: 

 amongst these, the Palmers are our greatest inti- 

 mates. We seldom pass a week without spending 

 an evening together ; not in the formal style of visit- 

 ing, but in that familiar way that gives full scope 

 to conversation. At our last meeting, part of your 

 letter was read aloud ; and I am desired to return 

 our general thanks for the amusement it afforded us. 

 Every one of us was affected by the story of Mons. 



R , to whom the friendship of a dog must have 



been a consolation when all the world had abandon- 

 ed him. " He must have been a very faithful crea- 

 ture indeed," said Laura Palmer, a most engaging 

 little girl of ten years old, " and I should have 



