succeed each other according to the varying seasons.9 7. View one of these trees bearing its branches to the ground, and bent under the weight of its excellent fruit, whose color and smell declare the taste. The quantity as well as the quality is astonishing. Methinks that tree says, Learn of me what is the goodness and magnificence of that God who has made me for you. Bless him and unload me. 8. From the fruitful orchard let us turn our attention to the feathered2 tribe. Who has commanded the swallow to come near man, and build her habitations immediately in his view? She uses cement4 and mortar, and makes her whole work so solid as not to be destroyed without some labor. 9. Her bill is her only instrument, and she has no other means of carrying her water, than by wetting her breast, while she expands5 her wings; it is with the dew she sprinkles the mortar, and with this only she dilutes and moistens her masonry, which she afterwards arranges and sets in order with her bill. 10. Who has taught her the knowledge of calculating time so exactly, as to break the shell6 at A the critical moment which they never fail to perform? 11. It is obvious that the design of our great benefactor in uniting in their nature so many rares qualities of which they are not sensible, was to direct our alten. tion to him, and make us sensible of his infinite9 goodness. Think of these things, my young readers and do not fail to read the book of nature. The Importance of a good-Education. Quarry, 8 & stone mine. 2 Inherent, a existing in something else. 3 Ornamental, a decorating. 1. I consider a human soul, without education, like marble in the quarry; which shows none of its inherent2 beauties, until the skill of the polisher fetches out the colors, makes the surface shine, and discovers évery ornamentals cloud, spot, and vein, that runs through the body of it. Education, after the same manner, when it works upon a noble mind, draws out to view every latent4 virtue and perfection, which, without such helps, are never able concealed, hid to make their appearance. 2 If my reader will give me leave to change the allusion so soon upon him, I shall make use of the saine 4 Latent, a den. Illustrate instance to illustrates the force of to explain education, which Aristotle has brought to explain his doctrine of substantial forms, when he tells us that a statues lies hid in a block of marble:7 and that the art of the statuary only clears away the superflouss matter, and removes the rubbish. 3. The figure is in the stone, and the sculptor only finds it. What sculptures as, to a block of marble, education is to a human soul. The philosopher, the saint, or the hero, the wise, the good, or the great man very often lies hid and concealed in a plebeian, which a proper education might have disinterredz and have brought to sight. + Plebeian, 8 one of the lower people. 2 Disinterred, part-taken out of of a a grave. 4. I'am therefore much delighted with reading the accounts of savage nations; and with contemplating those virtues which are wild and uncultivated; to see courage exerting itself in fierceness, resolution in 3 Obstinacy, obstinacy, 3 wisdom in cunning, stubbornness, patience in sullenness and despair. perverseness. 5. Men's passions operate variously, and appear in different kinds of accions, according as they are more or less rectified and swayed by reason. 6. When one hears of negrocs, who upon the death of their mas, ters, or upon changing their ser. vice, hang themselves upon the 4 Rectified. part made right, reformed, improved by re peated distilla tion. 914930A رم next tree, as it sometimes happens 5 Plantations, s the act or prac tice of planting, the places plant ed. 6- Cultivated, meliorated. 7. And what color of excuse part improved, can there be, for the contempt with which we treat this part of our species; that we should not put them upon the common foot of bumanity; that we should only set an insignificant7 fine upon the man who murders them; nay that we should, as much as in us lies, cut them off from the prospects of happiness8 in another world, as well as in this; and deny them that which we look upon as the proper means for attaining it. 8. It is therefore an unspeakable9 blessing, to be born in those parts of the world where wisdom and knowledge flourish; though it must be confessed, there are even in these parts, several poor, uniustructed persons who are but little above the inhabitants of those nations of which I have been here speaking; as those who have had the advantages of a more liberal2 education, 3 rise above one another 7 Insignificant a wanting mean ing, worthless. 8 Happiness good luck, bles sedness. 9 Unspeakable, a not to be expressed. + Inhabitants e persons who re side in a place. 2 Liberal, a bountiful, gen erous 3 Education, s the instruction of children. by several different degrees of perfection.4 9. For, to return to our statue in the block of marble, we see it sometimes only just begun to be chipped, sometimes rough bewn, and but just sketched into a human figure; sometimes we see the man appearing distinctly in all his limbs and features; sometimes we find the figure wrought up to great elegancy ;5 but seldom meet with any to which the hand of a Phidias or a Praxiteles could not give several nice touches and finishings. 4 Perfection, state of being perfect. : 5 Elegancy, s. beauty without grandeur. On Gratitude. 1. There is not a more pleasing exercise of the mind than gratitude. It is accompanied with such inward satisfaction that the duty, is sufficiently rewarded by the performance.2 + Gratitude, duty to benefactors. 2 Performance s. the act of 2. It is not, like the practice of performing. many other virtues, 3 dificult and painful, but attended with so much pleasure that were there no posi- moral goodness tive command which enjoined it, nor any recompence laid up for it hereafter, a generous mind would 3 Virtue, 8: |