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LESSON XXX.

The Beauties of Creation.

THE Earth is assigned us for a dwelling; the skies are stretched over us like a magnificent canopy, dyed in the purest azure, and beautified sometimes with pictures of floating silver, and at other times with coverings of reflected crimson; the grass is spread under us as a spacious carpet, wove with silken threads of green, and damasked with flowers of every hue; the sun, like a golden lamp, is hung out in the ethereal vault, and pours his effulgence all the day to enlighten our paths; when night approaches, the moon takes up the friendly office, and the stars are kindled into twinkling myriads, to cheer the darkness with their milder lustre, nor disturb our repose by too intense a glare; the clouds act the part of a shifting screen, and defend us, by their seasonable interposition, from the scorching beams of summer; may we not also regard them as the great watering pots of the globe, which, wafted on the wings of the wind, disperse their moisture evenly through the universal garden, and fructify by their showers whatever our hand plants; the fields are our exhaustless granary, and the ocean is our vast reservoir; the animals open their strength to dispatch our business, resign their clothing to replenish our wardrobe, and surrender their very lives to provide for our tables; in short, every element is a storehouse of conveniences, every season brings us the choicest productions, and all nature is our caterer; and what is a most endearing recommendation of these favours, they are all as lovely as they are useful; all is clad in beauty's fairest robe, and regulated by proportion's nicest rule. The whole scene exhibits a fund of pleasure to the imagination, at the same time that it more than supplies our wants.

The beauties of creation are far beyond the refinements of art, the pageantry of theatres, the glitterings of assemblies, or the ornaments of palaces. If we properly inspect the stately volume of the creation, every leaf is a wide plain, every line a flowing brook, and every period as a lofty mountain. In the works of creation, we scarcely know which to admire most, their endless variety or their beautiful simplicity, and, above all, their perfect execution. All human performances, the more they are scanned the more imperfect they appear; but the works of nature have stood the test of the most minute investigation for near 6000 years, and appear more and more beautiful.

LESSON XXXI.

What is proper to be observed in Conversation.

THE conversation of most men is disagreeable, not so much for want of wit and learning, as of prudence and good breeding. We should talk very little of ourselves; it would be as imprudent to discover our faults, as ridiculous to praise ourselves; our private and domestic affairs are no less improper to be introduced into conversation; what does it concern the company how many horses you keep, or whether your servant is more knave or fool. Never speak to gratify any particular vanity or passion of your own, but with a design to inform or divert the company. A man who aims at one of these, is always easy in his discourse, and he is not commonly out of humour if interrupted. A prudent person will avoid speaking of any science he is famous for, or indeed of any of the abstract sciences; the former looks like praising ourselves,

or taking advantage of the inferior knowledge of the company; the latter is not proper, because, in a mixed assembly especially, very few persons can join in the conversation, and the rest are not therefore improved or entertained. Nothing is more silly than the pleasure some people take in speaking their minds, for under this pretence any thing slanderous or rude may be spoken, and many persons injured. We may also add, that it is a fault to speak proverbs, especially in order to decide every thing in conversation.

As to the art of pleasing, besides what has been said, it may be truly observed that a modest person seldom fails to gain the good will of those he converses with. To be able to tell a story, or to relate an anecdote in a short and striking manner, is also very agreeable in conversation. As to wit (when properly used,) it is certainly very pleasing, but good-sense and good-humour, though not such shining accomplishments, are more useful in conversation.

LESSON XXXII.

The Progress of the Passions.

THE passions usurp the separate command of the successive periods of life. To the happiness of our first years nothing more seems necessary than freedom from restraint, but soon afterwards the love of toys and diversions engages our minds, and then the sunshine quickens us to play and the shade invites us to sleep. When we approach towards manhood, the simplicity of natural amusements passes away in some degree, and art and contrivance must improve our pleasure, besides what we receive

from the natural drawings of affection to the other sex. After this the attention is transferred from pleasure to business and interest, in which perhaps pleasure is included, though diffused in a wider extent, and protracted through new gradations. Now prudence begins to exert its influence, and wealth, power, or fame, are the principal objects. At length fame is observed to be uncertain, and power to be dangerous; the man whose vigour and alacrity begin to forsake him, by degrees contracts his designs and becomes parsimonious. If religion does not engage the heart at the declining period, avarice is generally the last passion of those lives of which the first part has been squandered in pleasure, and the second in care or ambition. When any passion has passed the bounds which nature prescribes, it counteracts its own purpose; thus too much rage hinders the warrior from circumspection, too much eagerness of profit hurts the credit of the trader, and too much ardour takes away from the lover that easiness of address that pleases so much.

LESSON XXXIII.

The Importance of Politeness.

AS it is necessary to possess learning and virtue to gain the esteem of mankind, so it is equally necessary to be polite, in order to render us agreeable in conversation and common life. Great talents are above the generality of the world, but all are in some measure judges of civility, affability, and an agreeable address and manner, because they feel the good effects of them. Good sense in many cases must determine good breeding, for what would be civil at one time and to one person, would be rude at

another time and to another person; but there are, however, some general rules of good breeding, as, for example, to answer only yes or no to any person, without adding sir, madam, &c. is very rude, and it is equally so not to give proper attention and a civil answer when spoken to. To take the uppermost place in a room, or to seize immediately on what you please at table, is also extremely rude. The first thing in company is a quick and unobserved attention, whereby we take notice of all in the room, and their looks, motions, and words, so as to judge what is the most proper behaviour. The next thing is to pay a respectful attention to every one, according to their rank or respectability. A well-bred person will take care to answer with complaisance, to place himself at the lower end of the table, unless bid to go up higher, to drink to the lady of the house first, and then to the master; he will not eat awkwardly, nor sit while others stand, but do every thing in an easy good-tempered manner. Good breeding is equally inconsistent with a stiff formality, an impertinent forwardness, and an awkward bashfulness. We are apt to show too little attention to every body, and too much contempt to many, without considering that there are no persons so insignificant but may some time or other, or in something or other, have it in their power to be of use to us, but they certainly will not if we have once shewn them contempt; injuries are often forgiven, but contempt very seldom. We should never mortify and depress people by shewing our superiority over them in any thing. A constant attention to please is a most necessary ingredient in the art of pleasing. We should never expose the weaknesses and infirmities of others, either to divert the company, or to shew our own superiority; we may get the laugh on our side, but we shall make enemies by it. Many little things conspire to form the art of pleasing; a look, a gesture, an attitude, a tone

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