The Young Gentleman and Ladys Monitor, and English Teachers Assistant | Page 8

the same time; the one took her by the
hand to convey her to _Elysium_; the other caught hold of her to carry

her away to Erebus.
28. But Rhadamanthus observing an ingenuous modesty in her
countenance and behaviour, bid them both let her loose, and set her
aside for a re-examination when he was more at leisure. An old woman,
of a proud and sour look, presented herself next at the bar, and being
asked what she had been doing? Truly, says she, I lived three score and
ten years in a very wicked world, and was so angry at the behaviour of
a parcel of young flirts, that I past most of my last years in condemning
the follies of the times.
29. I was every day blaming the silly conduct of people about me, in
order to deter those I conversed with from falling into the like errors
and miscarriages. Very well, says _Rhadamanthus_, but did you keep
the same watchful eye over your own actions? Why truly, says she, I
was so taken up with publishing the faults of others, that I had no time
to consider my own.
30. Madam, says _Rhadamanthus_, be pleased to file off to the left, and
make room for the venerable matron that stands behind you. Old
gentlewoman, says he, I think you are fourscore? You have heard the
question, what have you been doing so long in the world? Ah! sir, says
she, I have been doing what I should not have done, but I had made a
firm resolution to have changed my life, if I had not been snatched off
by an untimely end.
31. Madam, says he, you will please to follow your leader, and spying
another of the same age, interrogated her in the same form. To which
the matron replied, I have been the wife of a husband who was as dear
to me in his old age as in his youth. I have been a mother, and very
happy in my children, whom I endeavoured to bring up in every thing
that is good.
32. My eldest son is blest by the poor, and beloved by every one that
knows him. I lived within my own family, and left it much more
wealthy than I found it. _Rhadamanthus_, who knew the value of the
old lady smiled upon her in such a manner, that the keeper of
_Elysium_, who knew his office, reached out his hand to her. He no
sooner touched her but her wrinkles vanished, her eyes sparkled, her
cheeks glowed with blushes, and she appeared in full bloom and
beauty.
33. A young woman observing that this officer, who conducted the

happy to _Elysium_, was so great a _beautifier_, longed to be in his
hands, so that, pressing through the croud, she was the next that
appeared at the bar, and being asked what she had been doing the five
and twenty years that she had passed in the world, I have endeavoured,
says she, ever since I came to the years of discretion, to make myself
lovely, and gain admirers.
34. In order to do it I past my time in bottling up Maydew, inventing
white-washes, mixing colours, cutting out patches, consulting my glass,
suiting my complexion, tearing off my tucker, sinking my
stays--_Rhadamanthus_, without hearing her out, gave the sign to take
her off. Upon the approach of the keeper of Erebus her colour faded,
her face was puckered up with wrinkles, and her whole person lost in
deformity.
35. I was then surprised with a distant sound of a whole troop of
females that came forward laughing, singing, and dancing. I was very
desirous to know the reception they would meet with, and withal was
very apprehensive that Rhadamanthus would spoil their mirth; but at
their nearer approach the noise grew so very great that it awakened me.
36. Employment of time is a subject that, from its importance, deserves
your best attention. Most young gentlemen have a great deal of time
before them, and one hour well employed, in the early part of life, is
more valuable and will be of greater use to you, than perhaps four and
twenty, some years to come.
37. What ever time you can steal from company and from the study of
the world (I say company, for a knowledge of life is best learned in
various companies) employ it in serious reading. Take up some
valuable book, and continue the reading of that book till you have got
through it; never burden your mind with more than one thing at a time:
and in reading this book do not run it over superficially, but read every
passage twice over, at least do not pass on to a second till you
thoroughly