UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 43 



of a species of crab, where they frequently collect 

 to the number of forty or fifty, interrupting the 

 motion of its joints, arid spreading like a mantle 

 over its back, or perhaps rising in fantastic orna- 

 ments upon its head, which the crab is unable 

 to remove." 



21**. When I parted from Mrs. P. at Fal- 

 iriouth, my uncle, \vho was much pleased 

 with her kindness to me, made her promise to 

 pay a visit here in some little time. That time 

 has, at last, come. We have her now actually in 

 the house, and I have once more the pleasure of 

 being with a friend who was so kind and lender 

 to me when I left you, my beloved Mamma. 

 How many little circumstances are recalled to 

 my mind by seeing her ! She has just the same 

 quiet composed look that she used to have ; and, 

 though always ready to converse and to impart 

 the information she possesses, yet her counte- 

 nance seldom loses a certain expression of sad- 

 ness. 



She arrived last night, and has promised to 

 stay till after Christmas. I believe a few other 

 friends are to be here also ; but I am no longer 

 such a fool about strangers. 



Many a time, things which you have said to 

 me, and which then I scarcely heeded, return to 

 my mind. How often, for instance, you have 

 told me that we lose much real enjoyment by that 



