received from her friend, which gave an account that her
father had been lately stript of every thing by an execution. The lover,
who with some difficulty found out the cause of her grief, took this
occasion to make her a proposal. It is impossible to express Amanda's
confusion when she found his pretentions were not honourable.

7. She was now deserted of all hopes, and had no power to speak; but
rushing from him in the utmost disturbance, locked herself up in her
chamber. He immediately dispatched a messenger to her father with the
following letter.

8. SIR,

'I have heard of your misfortune, and have offered your daughter, if she
will live with me, to settle on her four hundred pounds a year, and to
lay down the sum for which you are now distressed. I will be so
ingenuous as to tell you, that I do not intend marriage; but if you are
wise, you will use your authority with her not to be too nice, when she
has an opportunity of serving you and your family, and of making herself
happy.

'_I am_, &c.'

9. This letter came to the hands of Amanda's mother: she opened and read
it with great surprise and concern. She did not think it proper to
explain herself to the messenger; but desiring him to call again the
next morning, she wrote to her daughter as follows:

10. _Dearest Child_,

'Your father and I have just now received a letter from a gentleman who
pretends love to you, with a proposal that insults our misfortunes, and
would throw us to a lower degree of misery than any thing which is come
upon us. How could this barbarous man think that the tenderest of
parents would be tempted to supply their wants, by giving up the best of
children to infamy and ruin! It is a mean and cruel artifice to make
this proposal at a time when he thinks our necessities must compel us to
any thing; but we will not eat the bread of shame; and therefore we
charge thee not to think of us, but to avoid the snare which is laid for
thy virtue. Beware of pitying us: it is not so bad as you have perhaps
been told. All things will yet be well, and I shall write my child
better news.

'I have been interrupted. I know not how I was moved to say things would
mend. As I was going on, I was startled by the noise of one that knocked
at the door, and had brought us an unexpected supply of a debt which had
long been owing. Oh! I will now tell thee all. It is some days I have
lived almost without support, having conveyed what little money I could
r