Page:Honest debtor, or, The virtuous man struggling with, rising superior to, and overcoming misfortune (2).pdf/19

19 trary, was a girl of a tender and placid dis- position, equally partaking of the ardour of her father's soul, and of the sedateness of rea- son. She is handsome. You have seen her; but she is so little vain of her beauty, that she hears it spoken of without blushing, or embarrassment, as she would the beauty of another. " We may be proud," said she, “ of what we have acquired ourselves; and modesty is necessary to conceal such pride, or to keep it within bounds. But where is the merit or the glory in having one's eyes or mouth made in such and such man- ner? And why should we think ourselves obliged to blush at the praise of what the caprice of nature has conferred upon us, without any merit of our own? This single trait may give you an idea of the disposition of Justina; which though more strongly cha- racterized and determined than that of Ad- rienne, exhibited the same candour and the same charms. ' This estimable girl paid as much atten- tion to my words as her father, and at each trait that marked the integrity of Salvary, his strong sensibilty. his firmness under mis- fortune, I perceived them look at each other, and thrill with that sweet delight which vir- tue ever excites in the breasts of all her vo- taries. But the father became impreceptib- ly more thoughtful, and the daughter more affected.