greatly the advantage of swiftness of foot, and were eager in pursuit, very few of the fugitives escaped; and those who fell into the enemy's hands were treated with a cruelty of which there are not many examples even in the country.

2. Two of the Indians came up with a young officer, and attacked him with great fury; as they were armed with a kind of battle-ax, which they call a tomahawk, be had no hopes of escape, and thought only of selling his life as dearly as he could; but just at this time another Indian came up, who seemed to be advanced in years, and was armed with a bow and arrows. The old man instantly drew his bow; but after having taken his aim at the officer, he suddenly dropped the point of his arrow, and interposed between him and his pursuers, who were about to cut him in pieces-they retired with respect.

3. The old man then took the officer by the hand, soothed him into confidence by caresses, and, having conducted him to his hut, treated him with a kindness which did honour to his profession. He made him less a slave than a companion, taught him the language of the country, and instructed him in the rude arts that are practised by the inhabitants. They lived together in the most cordial amity; and the young officer found nothing to regret, but that sometimes the old man fixed his eyes upon him, and, having regarded him for some minutes, with a steady and silent attention, burst into tears.

4. In the mean time the spring returned; and the Indians having recourse to their arms, again took the field. The old man, who was still vigorous, and well able to bear the fatigues of war, set out with them, and accompanied by his prisoner. They marched above two hundred leagues across the forest, and came at length to a plain where the Britith forces were encamped. The old man showed his prisoner the tents at a distance, at the same time remarking his countenance with the most diligent attention.

5. "There," says he, "are your countrymen; there is the enemy who wait to give you battle. Remember that I have saved thy life, that I have taught thee to construct a canoe, and to arm thyself with a bow and arrows; tourprise the beaver in the forest, to wield the tomahawk,

and to scalp the enemy. What wast thou when I first took thee to my hut? Thy hands were those of an infant; they were fit neither to procure thee sustenance nor safety. Thy soul was in utter darkness; thou wast ignorant of every thing; and thou owest every thing to Wilt thou then go over to thy nation, and take up the hatchet against us?

me.

6. The officer replied: "I would rather lose my own life, than take away that of my deliverer." The Indian then bending down his head, and covering his face with both his hands, stood sometime silent; then looking earnestly at his prisoner, he said, in a voice that was at once softened by tenderness and grief, "hast thou a father?"-"My father," said the young man, "was alive when I left my country."-"Alas," said the Indian, "how wretched must he be !" He paused a moment, and then added, "Dost thou know that I have been a father? I am a father no more. I saw my son fall in battle; he fought at my side; I saw him expire! but he died like a man. He was covered with wounds when he fell dead at my feet; but I have revenged him !"

7. He pronounced these words with the utmost vehemence; his body shook with universal tremor; and he was almost stifled with sighs that he would not suffer to escape him. There was a keen restlessness in his eye; but no tear would flow to his relief. At length he became calm by degrees, and turning towards the east, where the sun was then rising, "Dost thou see," said he to the young officer, "the beauty of that sky, which sparkles with prevailing day? and hast thou pleasure in the sight."-"Yes," replied the young officer, "I have pleasure in the beauty of so fine a sky."-"I have none !" said the Indian, and his tears then found their way.

8. A few minutes after, he showed the young man a tree in full bloom. "Dost thou see that beautiful tree ?" says he; "and dost thou look upon it with pleasure ?". "Yes," replied the officer "I do look with pleasure upon that beautiful tree."-"I have pleasure in looking upon it no more," said the Indian hastily; and immediately added, "Go, return to thy countrymen, that thy father may still have pleasure when he sees the sun rise in the morning, and the trees blossom in the spring."

CHAPTER XVI.'

TRUE PLEASURE.

1. THE man whose heart is replete with pure and un affected piety, who looks upon the great Creator of the universe, in that just, and amiable light, which all his works reflect upon him, cannot fail of tasting the sublimest pleasure, in contemplating the stupendous and innumerable effects of his infinite goodness.

2. Whether he looks abroad on the moral or natural world, his reflections must still be attended with delight; and the sense of his own unworthiness, so far from lessening, will increase his pleasure, while it places the forbearing kindness and indulgence of his Creator in a still more interesting point of view.

3. Here his mind may dwell upon the present, look back to the past, or stretch forward into futurity, with equal satisfaction; and the more he indulges contemplation, the higher will his delight arise. Such a disposition as this seems to be the most secure foundation, on which the fabric of true pleasure can be built.

4. Next to the veneration of the Supreme Being, the love of human kind seems to be the most promising source of pleasure. It is a never failing one to him, who, possessed of this principle, enjoys all the power of indulging his benevolence; who makes the superiority of his for tune, his knowledge, or his power, subservient to the wants of his fellow-creatures.

5. It is true there are few whose power or fortune is so adequate to the wants of mankind, as to render them capable of performing acts of universal beneficence; but a spirit of universal beneficence may be possessed by all; and the bounteous Author of Nature has not proportioned the pleasure to the greatness of the effect, but to the greatness of the cause.

6. The contemplation of the beauties of the universe, the cordial enjoyments of friendship, the tender delights of love, and the rational pleasures of religion, are open to all; and each of them seems capable of giving real happiThese being the only foundations, from which true pleasure springs, it isno wonder that many should be

ness.

compelled to say they have not found it; and still cry out, "Who will show us any good?" They seek it in every way but the right way; they want a heart for devotion, humanity, and love, and a taste for what is truly beautiful and admirable.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE WISDOM OF PROVIDENCE DISPLAYED IN THE SEASONS.

1. IN contemplating on the various scenes of life, the vicissitudes of the seasons, the perfect regularity, order, and harmony of nature, we cannot but be filled with wonder and admiration, at the consummate wisdom and beneficence of the all wise and gracious Creator. His consummate wisdom and goodness have made the various seasons of the year perfectly consonant to the refined feelings of man, and peculiarly adapted them to the universal preservation of nature.

2. Dreary winter is past; its severe cold is mitigated; the returning zephyrs dissolve the fleecy snow, and unlock the frozen streams, which overflow the extensive meadows, and enrich the teeming earth. At length, the rapid streams begin to glide gently within their banks; the spacious meadows soon receive their usual verdure, and the whole face of nature assumes a cheerful aspect. By the refreshing showers, and vivifying power of the genial sun, we behold the rapid and amazing progress of vegetation.

3. What is more pleasing to the eye, or grateful to the imagination, than the agreeable and delightsome return of spring? The beauties of nature at once expel the gloomy cares of a dreary winter. The benign influence of the sun gives a brisk circulation to the animal fluids, and happily tends to promote the propagation of animated nature. In the spring we behold the buds putting forth their blossoms; in summer we meet the charming prospect of enamelled fields, which promise a rich profusion of autumnal fruits.

4. These delightful scenes afford to man a pleasing anticipation of enjoying the bounties of Providence, cheer him in adversity, and support him under the various mis

fortunes incident to human life. In the spring, when we behold plants and flowers peeping out of the ground, reviving, and flourishing at the approach of the vernal sun; when we behold the seed, which the laborious husbandman casts into the earth, starting into life, and rising into beauty, from the remainder of that which perished in the preceding autumn, we are filled with the most pleasing sensations of the universal reanimation of nature.

5. The warm and invigorating sun produces myriads of insects, which have been lifeless through the hoary frosts of winter The herds go forth to graze ontheverdant plains. The numerous flocks quit their folds, with their young, to feed on the distant mountains. The matin lark, and all the charming choir, whom nature wakes to cheerfulness and love, tune their melodious voices to hail the welcome return of spring. The busy bee flies over the fields and extracts the liquid sweets from every flower.

6. How pleasing! how wonderful! how delightful are the scenes presented to our view! The spring of the year is strikingly emblematical of that grand and universal resurrection, which shall commence at the final consummation of all things. May its beauties therefore raise our affections to those superior regions of bliss, into which the truly virtuous shall then enter, and forever enjoy an unfading and eternal spring.

CHAPTER XVIII.

AN INDIAN KING'S ADVICE TO HIS SON.

1. MY son, said the expiring monarch, the angel of death is now approaching, and in a few moments a breathless corpse will be all that remains of the once powerful Kalabad. Remember, therefore, my son, that thou must now govern this mighty empire alone. Remember, O youthful monarch of Indostan, that thy example will influence multitudes of people; it will constitute either their happiness or misery.

2. If thou art careful to direct thy paths by the precepts of reason, and to listen to the dictates of conscience ; if thou art indefatigable in punishing oppressors, and those who wallow in wickedness, and careful to encourage virtue and merit, wherever they are found; then shall