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at no time he departed. One was, that mankind are born to labour; and the other, that God's providence rewards their labour. He was early married, and he loved his wife and children: of which last, he had no less than twenty, all now living. 10. Though in straitened circumstances, he was not on that account less happy. He took care to bring up all his little ones to industry and virtue, and as soon as they were come to years of manhood, wedded them to modest and industrious maidens. 11. It was he, that with a countenance of smiles and satisfaction, led them to the altar. His grand-children, likewise, have been nursed upon his knee; and much the greater part here present know there is not one among them but affords the greatest hopes. 12. On days of rejoicing, he was the first to sound the rural instruments; and his looks, his voice, and gesture, you know, were the signals for universal mirth. 13. You cannot but remember his gaiety, the lively effect of a peaceful mind; and his speeches full of sense and wit: for he had the gift of exercising an ingenious raillery without giving offence. 14. He cherished order, from an internal sense he had of virtue. 15. Whom has he ever refused to serve? 16. When did he shew himself unconcerned at public or private misfortunes? When was he indifferent in his country's cause? 17. His heart was devoted to it; in his conversation he constantly wished for its prosperity.

18. "When age had spent his body, and his legs trembled under him, you have seen him mount to the summit of a hill, and give lessons of experience to

the young husbandman. 19. His memory was the faithful depository of observations, made during the course of fourscore successive years, on the changes of the several seasons. 20. Such a tree planted by his hand, in such a year, recalled to his memory the favour or the wrath of Heaven. 21. He had by heart what other men forgot, the fruitful harvests, the deaths and legacies to the poor. 22. He seemed to be endowed with a prophetic spirit, and when he meditated by the light of the moon, he knew with what seeds to enrich his garden. 23. The evening before his death he said, 'My children, I am drawing near to that Being, who is the author of all good, whom I have always adored, and in whom I trust. 24. To-morrow prune your pear tears, and at the setting of the sun, bury me at the head of my grounds.'

25. "You are now, children, going to place him there, and ought to imitate his example. But, before you inter these white hairs, which have so long attracted respect, behold with reverence his hardened hands; behold the honourable marks of his long labours."

26. The orator then held up one of his cold hands. It had acquired twice the usual size by continual labour, and seemed to be invulnerable to the point of the briar, or the edges of the flint.

27. His children bore him to the grave on three sheaves of corn, and buried him as he had desired, placing on his grave his hedging-bill, his spade, and a ploughshare,

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2. Ma-jes'-tic, a. noble, great, sublime, elevated or lofty.

Pomp, s. grandeur. (Splendour attending persons in high life.) 3. Con-tem-pla-tive, a. studious, thinking with great attention. 5. De-pend-ing, part. relying on trusting to. (Hanging from.) Sa"-tel-lite, s. a secondary planet, which moves round some primary one as its centre.

7. Cir-cum-fe-rence, s. the line including and surrounding any thing. Orbit, s. the line or path described by a planet in its revolution. 11. Stu-pen'-dous, a. prodigious, wonderful, astonishing.

Cre-ate, v. to cause or produce.

13. Im-pe"-tu-ous, a. violent, fierce, furious.

Im-pend'-ing, part. hanging over. (Generally used figuratively,) implying some evil hanging over one's head.

14. Bil-low, s a large, high, swelling, hollow wave.

Ir-re-sis'-ti-ble, a. superior to all resistance or opposition.
Awe, s. a respect mixed with terror, including the ideas of
superior rank, authority, or parts.

17. En-chanting, part. irresistibly delighting.

1. WHENCE Sprung this various face of nature? And see to what stupendous height!

How wonderful is this vast theatre !

Of skill divine, and shining bright.

2. How grand is that prospect which is set before us during the solemn silence and shade of night!

The luminaries of heaven shine forth with majestic pomp, and form a glorious spectacle to the eye. 3. To the contemplative mind they appear still more wonderful, and afford a delightful subject of meditation.

4. Reason comes in aid to the feebleness of sense, and directs the imagination, which, guided by the superior faculty, conceives the planets to be large spheres of similar substances with that of our earth, and to be fitted to the same purposes. 5. It conceives the smaller globes which attend these planets to be similar to the moon; and each of the other stars, with which the heavens are bespangled, to communicate, like the sun, light and heat to the depending satellites, which, by reason of their dis- ', tance, are invisible to mankind.

6. How numerous are these globes! How regular their courses! How many noble, though unknown, purposes may they answer in their respective regions! 7. How large is the circumference of their orbits, and how immense are their distances from this earth. 8. Yet these immense distances do not render them useless to mankind. 9. By their various positions and courses, they distinguish different quarters and regions, both in heaven and earth. 10. They mark out the revolutions of days, months, and years. Hence the certain succession of night and day, and the beautiful variety of returning seasons.

11. But even upon this our earth, though of an inferior size, many stupendous objects strike the imagination. Lofty mountains, continued ranges of hills, vast wilds and deserts, wide and extended

plains, large and rapid streams, present themselves to our view, and create an agreeable astonishment. 12. With still greater agitation do we behold the vast collection of waters in the ocean, which at once satisfies the eye with the boundless prospect, and presents the wonders of the deep to the contemplative mind. 13. Hark! the impetuous winds are raised; the unruly element dashes its furious waves against impending rocks. 14. By its roaring billows, amidst the boisterous tempests, it sets before us an idea of a power irresistible, and fills our minds with awe. 15. But now the winds are hushed; and the violent agitation of the waters ceasing, the storm is changed into a calm, and the smooth and wide surface presents us with the fair image of reigning order and universal peace. 16. Nor is it its greatness alone that strikes us in the prospect of nature. Joined to this magnificence, we observe an exact uniformity, and an endless variety. 17. Hence that enchanting beauty which yields so much pleasure; whether we behold the vast machine at one view, or at greater leisure survey its different parts.

CHAP. II.

A View of the Beauty of Nature.

CONTINUED.

1. Di-ver-si-fied, pret. made different, varied. 2. Ver-dure, s. green colour.

Va'-ri-e-ga-ted, pret. (pro, va'-ri-ga-ted,) streaked or diversified with different colours.

3. Vi"-go-rous, a. full of strength of life.

6. As-su'me, v. to represent. To arrogate or claim what is not

one's due.

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