m Vi-cis-si-tude, vi-sis'-e-tåde. Change, succession o Van-i-ty, van'-ê-tè. Emptiness, petty pride p Sal-u-ta-ry, sål'-lù-tá-rẻ. Wholesome, safe Un-sat-is-fac-to-ry, an-såt-tis-fak'-tar-e. Not satisfactory r Fa-tal, fa-tål. Destructive, inevitable s Wor-thy, war'-the. Deserving, valuable ✰ Re-course, re-korse. Application for help, access y Pro-pen-si-ty, pro-pen'-se-té. Inclination, proneness SECTION X. Whence arises the misery of this present world? is not owing to our cloudy atmosphere, a our changing seasons, and inclement b skies. It is not owing to the debility c of our bodies, or to the unequal distribution of the goods of fortune. Amidst all disadvantages of this kind. a pure, a steadfast, and enlightened mind, possessed of strong virtue, could enjoy itself in peace, and smile at the impotent d assaults of fortune and the elements. It is within ourselves that misery has fixed its seat. Our disordered hearts, our guilty passions, our violent prejudices, and misplaced desires, are the instruments of the trouble which we endure. These sharpen the darts which adversity e would otherwise point in vain against us. While the vain and the licentious ƒ are revelling g in the midst of extravagance and riot, how little do they think of those scenes of sore distress which are passing at that moment throughout the world; multitudes struggling for a poor sub sistence, to support the wife and children whom they love, and who look up to them with eager eyes for that bread, which they can hardly procure; multi udes groaning under sickness in desolate h cottages, untended and unmourned; many, apparently in a better situation of life, pining away in secret with concealed griefs; families weeping over the beloved friends whom they have lost. or in all the bitterness of anguish, bidding those who are just expiring the last adieu. Never adventure on too near an approach to what is evil. Familiarize not yourselves with it, in the slightest instances, without fear. Listen with reverence, to every reprehension k of conscience; and preserve the most quick and accurate sensibility to right and wrong. If ever your moral impressions begin to decay, and your natural abhorrence of guilt to lessen, you have ground to dread that the ruin of virtue is fastapproaching. By disappointments and trials the violence of our passions is tamed, and our minds are formed to sobriety and reflection. In the varieties of life, occasioned by the vicissitudes m of worldly fortune, we are inured n to habits both of the active and the suffering virtues How much soever we complain of the vanity o of the world, facts plainly show, that if its vanity were less. it could not answer the purpose of salutary p discipline. Unsatisfactory q as it is, its pleasures are still too apt to corrupt our hearts How fatal r then must the consequences have been had it yielded us more complete enjoyment? If, with all its troubles, we are in danger of being too much attached to it, how entirely would it have seduced our affections, if no troubles had been mingled with its pleasures? In seasons of distress or difficulty, to abandon ourselves to dejection, carries no mark of a great or worthy s mind. Instead of sinking under trouble, and declaring "that his soul is weary of life." it becomes a wise and a good man, in the evil day, with firmness to main ain his post: to bear up against the storm; to have recourse t to those advantages which, in the worst of times, are always left to integrity u and virtue; and never to give up the hope that better days may yet arise. How many young persons have at first set out in the world with excellent dispositions of heart; generous, charitable, humane; kind to their friends, and amiable v among all with whom they had intercourse. w And yet, how often have we seen all those fair appearances unhappily blasted in the progress of life, merely through the influence of loose and corrupting pleasures: and those very persons, who promised once to be blessings to the world. sunk down, in the end, to be the burden and nuisance of society! The most common propensity y of mankind, is, to store futurity with whatever is agreeable to them; especially in those periods of life, when imagination is lively, and hope is ardent z Looking forward to the year now beginning, they are ready to promise themselves much, from the foundations of prosperity which they have laid; from the friendships and connections which they have secured; and from the plans of conduct which they have formed. Alas! how deceitfu do all these dreams of happiness often prove! while many are saying in secret to their hearts, "To-morrow shall be as this day, and more abundant," we are obliged in return to say to them; "Boast not yourselves of to-morrow; for you know not what a day may bring forth!" CHAPTER II. NARRATIVE PIECES. a Di-o-nys-i-us, di-ò-nish'-ẻ-ás. b Dam-o-cles, dâm-mo-klez. c Spe-cious, spe'-shas. Showy, plausible d Com-pli-ment, kom'-plé-mént. An act of civility, to flatter e Ban-quet, bånk'-kwet. A feast ƒ So-fa so'-fá. A splendid seat covered with carpets g Em-broi-der-y, ém-broè'-dár-é. Variegated needle work j Chap-let, tshåp'-lét. A garland, or wreath k Ex-quis-ite, éks' -kwe-zit. Excellent, consummate m Vi-and, vi'-and. Food, meat dressed n Gar-land, går-land. A wreath of flowers o Treas-ure, trêzh'-ùre. Wealth hoarded, to hoard SECTION I-NO RANK OR POSSESSIONS CAN MAKE THE GUILTY MIND HAPPY. 1. DIONYSIUS, a the tyrant of Sicily, was far from being happy, though he possessed great riches, and all the pleasures which wealth and power could procure Damocles, b one of his flatterers, deceived by those specious c appearances of happiness, took occasion to compliment d him on the extent of his power his treasures, and royal magnificence: and deciared that no monarch had ever been greater or happier than Dionysius. 2 Hast thou a mind. Damocles," says the king, "to taste this happiness; and to know, by experience, what the enjoyments are, of which thou hast so high an idea?" Damocles, with joy, accepted the offer. The king ordered that a royal banquet e should be prepared, and a gilded sofa, f covered with rich embroidery. g placed for his favorite. Sideboards, load ed with gold and silver plate of immense value, were arranged in the apartment. 3 Pages h of extraordinary beauty were ordered to attend his table, and to obey his commands with the utmost readiness, and the most profound submission Fragrant ointments, chaplets j of flowers, and rich perfumes, were added to the entertainment. The table was loaded with the most exquise k delicacies of every kind. Damocles, intoxicated with pleasure fancied himself amongst superior beings. 4. But in the midst of all this happiness, as he lay indulging himself in state he sees let down from the ceiling, exa tly over his head, a glittering sword hung by a single hair. The sight of impending / destruction put a speedy end to his joy and revelling. The pomp of his attendance, the glitter of the carved plate, and the delicacy of the viands m ceased to afford him any pleasure. 5. He dreads to stretch forth his hand to the table. He throws off his garland n of roses He hastens to remove from his dangerous situation, and earnestly entreats the king to restore him to his former humble condition. having no desire to enjoy any longer a happiness so terrible. 6 By this device, Dionysius intimated to Damocles, how miserable he was in the midst of all his treasures: o and in po-session of all the honours and enjoyments which royalty could bestow. a Jo-ram, jo'-ram. b Ben-ha-dad, bễn hà'-dad. cl-dol-a-ter, i-dol'-lå-tår. One who worships images f Pro-phet-ick, pro-fét'-tik. Foreseeing or foretelling CICERO, h In-dig-na-tion, in-dig-na-shan. Anger mingled with disgust j Je-ho-a-haz, jé-ho'--ház. k Trans-form, trans-form'. To change form, to be changed In-i-qui-ty, In-ik'-kwe-tè, Injustice, wickedness, crime SECTION II.- -CHANGE OF EXTERNAL CONDITION IS OFTEN AD VERSE TO VIRTUE. 1. In the days of Joram, a king of Israel, flourished the prophet Elisha. His character was so eminent, and his fame so widely spread, that Benhaded. 6 the king of Syria, though an idolater c sent to consult him, concerning the issue d of a distemper which threatened his life. The messenger employed on this occasion was Hazael e who appears to have been one of the princes or chief men of the Syrian court. 2. Charged with rich gifts from the king he presents himself before the prophet; and accosts him in terms of the highest respect. During the conference which they held together, Elisha fixed his eyes steadfastly on the countenance of Hazael; and discerning by a prophetickƒ spirit his future tyranny g and cruelty, he could not contain himself from bursting into a flood of tears. 3. When Hazael, in surprise. inquired into the cause of this sudden emotion, the prophet plainly informed him of the crimes and barbarities, which he foresaw that he would afterwards commit. The soul of Hazael abhorred, at this time, thoughts of cruelty. Uncorrupted as yet by ambition or greatness. his indignation h rose at being thought capable of the savage actions which the prophet had mentioned; and, with much wrath he replies, "But what? is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?" 4 Elisha makes no return. but to point out a remarkable change, which was to take place in his condition; The Lord hath shown me, that thou shalt be king over Syria " In course of time, all that had been predicted i came to pass. Hazael ascended the throne, and ambition took possession of his heart. "He smote the children of israel in all their coasts. He opposed them during all the days of king Jeboahaz:"j and, from what is left on record of his actions, he plainly appears to have proved what the prophet foresaw him to be, a man of violence cruelty, and blood 5 In this passage of history an object is presented, which deserves our serious attention. We behold a man who in one stat of life, could not look upon certa n crimes without surprise and horror; who knew so little of himself as to believe it impossible for him ever to be concerned in committing them; that same man, by a change of condition, and an unguarded state of mind. transformed k in all his sentiments; and as he rose in greatness, rising also in guilt; till at last he completed that whole character of iniquity which he once detested a A-has-u-e-rus, à-házh-¿-è ́-rus. c Ha-man, ha'-mån. d Servile, sér-vil. Slavish, mean e Hom-age, hom'-àje. Service, respect f Pros-trate, pros-tråte. To fall down in adoration h Mor-de-cai, mor'-de-ká 2 Rev-er-ence, rév'-ér-énse. To venerate, veneration k De-cree, de-krée'. An edict, a law Z Sub-mis-sion, sub-mish-an. Resignation, obedience m t-most, at'-inost. Extreme, the most that can be p Ze-resh, ze'-rẻsh. 7 Pre-am-ble, pre'-ám-bl. Introduction Se-quel, é'-kwal. Succeeding part s Prone, prone. Inclined to, bending downward BLAIR. SECTION II, HAMAN; OR. THE MISERY OF PRIDE. 1. AHASUERUS, a who is supposed to be the prince known among the Greek historians by the name of Artaxerxes, 6 had |