LETTER II.

FROM MISS BIDDY FUDGE, TO MRS.
ELIZABETH

JUST in time for the post, dear, and monstrously busy,

With godly concernments,—and worldly ones, too; Things carnal and spiritual mixed, my dear Lizzy, In this little brain till, bewilder'd and dizzy,

'Twixt heaven and earth, I scarce know what I do.

First, I've been to see all the gay fashions from Town, Which our favourite Miss Gimp for the spring has had down.

Sleeves still worn (which I think is wise), à la

folle,

Charming hats, pou de soie,-though the shape rather

droll.

But you can't think how nicely the caps of tulle lace, With the mentonnieres, look on this poor sinful face; And I mean, if the Lord in his mercy thinks right, To wear one at Mrs. Fitz-wigram's to-night.

The silks are quite heav'nly:-I'm glad, too, to say,
Gimp herself
grows more godly and good every day;
Hath had sweet experience-yea, ev'n doth begin
To turn from the Gentiles, and put away sin,—
And all since her last stock of goods was laid in.
What a blessing one's milliner, careless of pelf,
Should thus "walk in newness" as well as one's self!

So much for the blessings, the comforts of Spirit I've had since we met, and they're more than I merit!— Poor, sinful, weak creature in every respect,

Though ordain'd (God knows why) to be one of th' Elect.

But now for the picture's reverse. You remember

That footman and cook-maid I hired last December;

He, a Baptist Particular,-she, of some sect
Not particular, I fancy, in any respect;

But desirous, poor thing, to be fed with the Word,

And "to wait," as she said, "on Miss Fudge and the

Lord."

Well, my dear, of all men, that Particular Baptist At preaching a sermon, off hand, was the aptest; And, long as he staid, do him justice, more rich in Sweet savours of doctrine, there never was kitchen. He preach'd in the parlour, he preach'd in the hall, He preach'd to the chambermaids, scullions and all. All heard with delight his reprovings of sin,

But above all, the cook-maid;—oh, ne'er would she tire,

Though, in learning to save sinful souls from the fire,

She would oft let the soles she was frying fall in. (God forgive me for punning on points thus of

piety!—

A sad trick I've learn'd in Bob's heathen society.)

But ah! there remains still the worst of my tale; Come, Ast'risks, and help me the sad truth to veil,— Conscious stars, that at ev'n your own secret turn pale!

In short, dear, this preaching and psalm-singing pair, Chosen "vessels of mercy," as I thought they were, Have together this last week eloped; making bold To whip off as much goods as both vessels could hold,Not forgetting some scores of sweet Tracts from my shelves,

Two Family Bibles as large as themselves,

And besides, from the drawer, I neglecting to lock it— My neat "Morning Manna, done up for the pocket."*

#66 Morning Manna, or British Verse-book, neatly done up for the pocket," and chiefly intended to assist the members of the British Verse Association, whose design is, we are told, "to induce the inhabitants of Great Britain and Ireland, to commit one and the same verse of Scripture to memory every morning. Already, it is known, several thousand persons in Scotland,

Was there e'er known a case so distressing, dear Liz?

It has made me quite ill :-and the worst of it is,
When rogues are all pious, 'tis hard to detect
Which rogues are the reprobate, which the elect.
This man “had a call,” he said,—impudent mockery!
What call had he to my linen and crockery?

I'm now, and have been for this week past, in chase Of some godly young couple this pair to replace. The inclosed two announcements have just met my

eyes,

In that ven'rable Monthly where Saints advertise For such temporal comforts as this world supplies ;*

besides tens of thousands in America and Africa, are every morning learning the same verse.

* The Evangelical Magazine.- A few specimens taken at random from the wrapper of this highly esteemed periodical will fully justify the character which Miss Fudge has here given of it. "Wanted, in a pious pawn-broker's family, an active lad as an apprentice." 66 Wanted, as housemaid, a

young female who has been brought to a saving knowledge of the truth." "Wanted immediately, a man of decided piety,