The Messenger, notwithstanding he promised to deliver this Letter to Amanda, carry’d it first to his Master, who he imagined would be glad to have an Opportunity of giving it into her Hands himself.  His Master was impatient to know the Success of his Proposal, and therefore broke open the Letter privately to see the Contents.  He was not a little moved at so true a Picture of Virtue in Distress:  But at the same time was infinitely surprized to find his Offers rejected.  However, he resolved not to suppress the Letter, but carefully sealed it up again, and carried it to Amanda.  All his Endeavours to see her were in vain, till she was assured he brought a Letter from her Mother.  He would not part with it, but upon Condition that she should read it without leaving the Room.  While she was perusing it, he fixed his Eyes on her Face with the deepest Attention:  Her Concern gave a new Softness to her Beauty, and when she burst into Tears, he could no longer refrain from bearing a Part of her Sorrow, and telling her, that he too had read the Letter and was resolvd to make Reparation for having been the Occasion of it.  My Reader will not be displeased to see this Second Epistle which he now wrote to Amanda’s Mother.

  MADAM,

I am full of Shame, and will never forgive my self, if I have not your Pardon for what I lately wrote.  It was far from my Intention to add Trouble to the Afflicted; nor could any thing, but my being a Stranger to you, have betray’d me into a Fault, for which, if I live, I shall endeavour to make you amends, as a Son.  You cannot be unhappy while Amanda is your Daughter:  nor shall be, if any thing can prevent it, which is in the power of, MADAM,

  Your most obedient
  Humble Servant——­

This Letter he sent by his Steward, and soon after went up to Town himself, to compleat the generous Act he had now resolved on.  By his Friendship and Assistance Amanda’s Father was quickly in a condition of retrieving his perplex’d Affairs.  To conclude, he Marry’d Amanda, and enjoyd the double Satisfaction of having restored a worthy Family to their former Prosperity, and of making himself happy by an Alliance to their Virtues.

[Footnote 1:  See note on p. 148 [Footnote 1 of No. 39], vol. i.]

* * * * *

No. 376.  Monday, May 12, 1712.  Steele.

  ‘—­Pavone ex Pythagoreo—­’

  Persius.

  Mr. SPECTATOR,

I have observed that the Officer you some time ago appointed as Inspector of Signs, has not done his Duty so well as to give you an Account of very many strange Occurrences in the publick Streets, which are worthy of, but have escaped your Notice.  Among all the Oddnesses which I have ever met with, that which I am now telling you of gave me most Delight.  You must have observed that all the Criers in the Street attract the Attention of the Passengers,