Yesterday was the birth-day of Lady Grandison. Charles was up an hour earlier than usual, and when I awoke I found him, for we sleep together, busy, praying to God for his dear mother; we read some chapters in the New Testament, and then Charles dressed himself in his new clothes. You perhaps may wonder at this; but I will tell you how it was. About a month ago Charles and Edward had each a new summer suit, and were allowed to choose the colour themselves. Edward wore his as soon as it came home; but Charles said that he would keep his till some holiday, and this was the holiday he fixed on. He was soon dressed, and we joined Emilia, who stood ready at our chamber door waiting for us. We hastened to the breakfast parlour. Charles was the first to congratulate his mother on this occasion; Emilia followed him, and gave her a purse, she had privately net: Charles, I forgot to mention, had plucked a nosegay of his finest flowers. I in like manner discharged my duty as well as I could, at least with a sincere heart, for I love my benefactors. Edward came into the room soon after; but he approached Lady Grandison in a careless manner, and seemed to be thinking of something else. We all received some presents—mine was a microscope, the thing of all others I wished for; how kind it was of Lady Grandison to think of my wishes. You will be pleased with it, and I will instruct Annette, she shall see the wonders I have admired. WILLIAM. LETTER XV. WILLIAM _to his_ MOTHER. I have here new pleasures every day, dear mother; your William is now become a gardener. Will you help me, said Charles, the day before yesterday? and if you like it, I will lay out my garden in another manner. It is now full of flowers; but it affords me not sufficient employment: I would wish to change a part of it at least into a kitchen-garden. My answer was ready. We accordingly went each with a small spade to work, and quickly dug up the whole garden. The next day we made a small bed for the flowers, and ranged them in due order. We rose very early to work, before the sun was intolerably warm; the gardener gave us some seeds which are proper to sow this month. Now we only desire to see them come up, and intend carefully to weed them. How pleasant it will be, to see the plants shoot out of the ground! I have seen many wonderful things every day of my life without observing them; but Dr. Bartlett and Charles have taught me to see God in a tree, a flower, a worm; we converse about them. I will relate a conversation we had yesterday. Charles has an aviary, he is very fond of his birds; we had done our work in the garden, and took a walk with Emilia. CHARLES. Excuse me, I must leave you a moment; I recollect that I have not taken care of my birds. We both desired to accompany him. WILLIAM.