MISEELIANEOUS THOUGHTS, 339 attended at all while the good man Serenus performed his office. Asebion was busy in the disposal of his hat and sword, and sur- veying all the faces of the company, while the blessing of hea- ven was sought on the food. His sister Asebina, a pert young creature of fifteen, was ob- served to employ that minute in drawing off her gloves, adjust- ing her dress, giving herself airs, and preparing for her seat. At the same time there was at the table a pious and elder lady, a near relation of theirs, who with grief observed the careless con- duct of her niece and nephew; and being seated next above Asebina, she had the opportunity to whisper a gentle admonition, " How can you expect, 'niece, a blessing on your meat, who did not so much as lift up a thought to God to ask for it ?" Asebina replied aloud, with an air of assured ignorance, " I know the chaplain did that for us all ?" and this she affected to let all the company know that she received a secret reproof, and despised the reprover. Should it be granted here, that the admonition was a little ill -timed ; yet it is certain the reply was not a little insolent, nor a little irreligious. While we were eating, one of the guests diverted the table with no improper amusements ; he entertained the company with agreeable and facetious discourse, but still within the rules of religion and decency. The dishes being withdrawn, and the table uncovered,. Serenus stood up to conclude his office : Asebina opened her _ snuff-box, and regaled her nose ; but Asebion employed himself with his tooth-pick, and then set himself in an attitude to wait for the Amen, that he might make his honours gracefully to all the table. After dinner the conversation turned upon the subject of saying grace before and after meat. When several of the com- pany had given their thoughts, Serenus acknowledged it was net necessary to offer a solemn and particular petition to heaven on the occasion of every bit of bread that we tasted, or when we drink a glass of wine with a friend ; nor was it expected we should make a social prayer when persons each for themselves took a slight repast in a running manner ; either the general morning devotion is supposed sufficient to recommend such tran- sient actions and occurrences to the divine blessing, or a sudden secret wish, sent up to heaven in silence, might answer such a. purpose in the christian life : But when a whole family sits' down together to make a, regular and stated meal, it was his opinion, that the great God should be solemnly acknow- ledged as, the giver of all the good things we enjoy; and the practice of our Saviour and St. Paul had set us an illustrious example. Asebion had not yet arrived at such impiety, as to pronounce
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