UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 97 



the least hurried in the performance of those 

 religious exercises with which every day should 

 begin, and which should be gone through with 

 calmness and leisure before she joins the family 

 circle at breakfast, and before the cares or plea- 

 sures of the day mix with her graver thoughts." 



They spoke to me very kindly on this subject 

 yesterday, and I think and hope that I shall not 

 again shew myself unmindful of their advice. 



I have consulted Caroline about it. I find 

 that she and Mary are always up early, and 

 are seriously engaged for a part of the morning. 



Caroline is indeed an extremely early riser, 

 and she has engaged to rouse me regularly at a 

 reasonable hour. She began this morning, and 

 to encourage me, she read a pretty little poem 

 on early rising. By copying it for Marianne, I 

 shall recollect it the better. 



Good morn, good mornsee the sweet light breaking, 

 .O'er hill and dale to greet thy waking ! 

 The dark grey clouds are flitting away, 

 And the young sun sheds forth a twilight ray ; 

 And an halo of bloom is in the skies, 

 Yet the night of slumber is on thine eyes. 

 The dew lies fresh on the opening flower, 

 And sweetly cool is the youthful hour; 

 And the birds are twittering their tender song 

 The bright and weeping boughs among ; 

 And all seems fresh and with rapture rife, 

 While wakening into conscious life. 

 Oh, rouse thee! rouse thee ! the precious time 

 Is fleeting fast and merrily chime 

 The morning bells ; and the beautiful view 

 Thy touch should, arrest, is fading too I 



K 



