superficial parts of life than the solid and substantial blessings
of it. A girl who has been trained up in this kind of conversation
is in danger of every embroidered coat that comes in her way. A
pair of fringed gloves may be her ruin. In a word, lace and
ribands, silver and gold galloons, with the like glittering gewgaws,
are so many lures to women of weak minds or low educations, and,
when artificially displayed, are able to fetch down the most airy
coquette from the wildest of her flights and rambles.

True happiness is of a retired nature, and an enemy to pomp and
noise; it arises, in the first place, from the enjoyment of one's
self, and, in the next, from the friendship and conversation of a
few select companions; it loves shade and solitude, and naturally
haunts groves and fountains, fields and meadows; in short, it feels
everything it wants within itself, and receives no addition from
multitudes of witnesses and spectators. On the contrary, false
happiness loves to be in a crowd, and to draw the eyes of the world
upon her. She does not receive any satisfaction from the applauses
which she gives herself, but from the admiration she raises in
others. She flourishes in courts and palaces, theatres and
assemblies, and has no existence but when she is looked upon.

Aurelia, though a woman of great quality, delights in the privacy of
a country life, and passes away a great part of her time in her own
walks and gardens. Her husband, who is her bosom friend and
companion in her solitudes, has been in love with her ever since he
knew her. They both abound with good sense, consummate virtue, and
a mutual esteem; and are a perpetual entertainment to one another.
Their family is under so regular an economy, in its hours of
devotion and repast, employment and diversion, that it looks like a