, I advised her to postpone it, till it
came to her turn to favour us with the history of her life, when
it would appear in its proper order. The first number fell to the
share of miss Villiers, whose joy at drawing what we called the_
first prize, _was tempered with shame at appearing as the first
historian in the company. She wished she had not been the very
first:--she had passed all her life in a retired village, and
had nothing to relate of herself that could give the least
entertainment:--she had not the least idea in the world where
to begin.

"Begin," said I, "with your name, for that at present is unknown
to us. Tell us the first thing you can remember; relate whatever
happened to make a great impression on you when you were very
young, and if you find you can connect your story till your
arrival here to-day, I am sure we shall listen to you with
pleasure; and if you like to break off, and only treat us with a
part of your history, we will excuse you, with many thanks for the
amusement which you have afforded us; and the lady who has drawn
the second number will, I hope, take her turn with the same
indulgence, to relate either all, or any part of the events of
her life, as best pleases her own fancy, or as she finds she can
manage it with the most ease to herself."--Encouraged by this
offer of indulgence, miss Villiers began.

If in my report of her story, or in any which follow, I shall
appear to make her or you speak an older language than it seems
probable that you should use, speaking in your own words, it must
be remembered, that what is very proper and becoming when spoken,
requires to be arranged with some little difference before it can
be set down in writing. Little inaccuracies must be pared away,
and the whole must assume a more formal and correct appearance. My
own way of thinking, I am sensible, will too often intrude itself,
but I have endeavoured to preserve, as exactly as I could, your
own words, and your own peculiarities of style and manner, and to
approve myself

Your faithful historiographer,
as well as true friend,

M.B.

I

ELIZABETH VILLIERS

(_By Mary Lamb_)

My father is the curate of a village church, about five miles
from Amwell. I was born in the parsonage-house, which joins the
church-yard. The first thing I can remember w