The chief article consisted in the mutual exchange of hearts, which was already fulfilled. What will be the lot of the new married couple? The happiest, I may venture to foretel, that mortals can enjoy upon earth.

12. No pleasures are comparable to those that affect the heart, and there are none, as I have observed before, that affect it with such exquisite delight, as loving and being loved. To this tender union we can never apply the words of Democritus, that the pleasures of love is bus a short epilepsy. He meant without doubt mere sensual pleasure, which has so little in it of the nature of love that a man may enjoy it without loving, and love without ever enjoying it.

13. They will be constant in their love. This I dare also to predict; and I know the reason. Their affection is not founded on the dazzling charms of beauty; they are both the friends of virtue; they love each other on this account. They will therefore, continue to love as long as they are virtuous-and their union itself is a pledge of their perseverance-for nothing so much secures our continuance in the paths of virtue, as to have perpetually before our eyes the example of a person whom we love.

14. Nothing is capable of disturbing their happiness, but those disasters and misfortunes from which their love cannot shelter them. But supposing such a reverse of fortune, would not their fate in this respect be common with the rest of mankind? Those who have never tasted the pleasures of love, are not exempt from the like casualties; and the lover is at least a gainer in regard to those pleasures which constitute no small part of the happiness of life.

15. Besides, even love itself will greatly diminish the sense of their misfortunes. For love has the peculiar property of alleviating the sufferings of two fond hearts, and of rendering their pleasures more exquisite. By this communication of distress, they seem to divide its weight; and on the contrary, by participation, their satisfaction is doubled.

16. As a squadron of horse is with greater difficulty broken thro by the enemy, in proportion to its closeness; so the happy pair resists the attacks of adversity with so much the more strength and success, as they are the more closely united,

1.

CHAP. XIII.

SORROW, PIETY, DEVOTION, FILIAL OBEDIENCE,
STORY OF LA ROCHE.

MORF

[ORE than forty years ago, an English philoso pher, whose works have since been read and admired by all Europe, résided at a little town in France. Some disappointments in his native country had first driven him abroad, and he was afterwards induced to remain there, from having found in his retreat, where the connections even of nation and language were avoided, a perfect seclusion and retirement highly favorable to the developement of abstract subjects, in which he excelled all the writers of his time.

2. Perhaps in the structure of such a mind, the finer and more delicate sensibilities are seldom known to have place; or, if originally implanted there, are in a great measure extinguished by the exertions of intense study and profound investigation.

Our

3. Hence the idea that philosophy and unfeelingness are united, has become proverbial, and in common language, the former word is often used to express the latter. philosopher has been censured by some as deficient in warmth and feeling; but the mildness of his manners has been allowed by all; and it is certain that if he was not easily melted into compassion, it was, at least, not difficult to awaken his benevolence.

4. One morning, while he sat busied in those speculations which afterwards astonished the world, an old female domestic, who served him as a house-keeper, brought him word, that an elderly gentleman and his daughter had arrived in the village, the preceding evening, on their way to some distant country; and that the father had been suddenly seized in the night with a dangerous disorder, which the people of the inn, where they lodged, feared would prove mortal:

5. That she had been sent for as having some knowledge of medicine, the village surgeon being then absent; and that it was truly piteous to see the good old man, who seemed not so much affected by his own distress, as by that which it caused to his daughter.

6. Her master laid aside the volume in his hand, and broke off the chain of ideas, it had inspired. His night gown was exchanged for a coat, and he followed his

governant to the sick man's apartment. It was the best in the little inn where they lay, but a paltry one notwithstanding. Our philosopher was obliged to stoop as he entered it. It was floored with earth, and above were the joists not plaistered, and hung with cobwebs.

7. On a flock bed at one end lay the old man whom he came to visit; at the foot of it sat his daughter. She was dressed in a clean white bed gown; her dark locks hung loosely over it as she bent forward, watching the languid looks of her father. The philosopher and his housekeeper had stood some moments in the room, without the young lady's being sensible of their entering it.

8. Mademoiselle! said the old woman at last, in a soft tone. She turned and shewed one of the finest faces in the world. It was touched, not spoiled with sorrow; and when she perceived a stranger, whom the old woman now introduced to her, a blush at first, and then the gentle ceremonial of native politeness, which the affliction of the time tempered, but did not extinguish, crossed it for a moment, and changed its expression. It was sweetness all, however, and our philosopher felt it strongly.

9. It was not a time for words; he offered his service in a few sincere ones. "Monsieur lies miserably ill here,' said the governant; "if he could possibly be removed any where," "If he could be moved to our house," said her master. He had a spare bed for a friend, and there was a great room unoccupied, next to the governant's.It was contrived accordingly.

10. The scruples of the stranger, who could look scruples, though he could not speak them, were overcome, and the bashful reluctance of his daughter gave way to her belief of its use to her father. The sick man was wrapped in blankets and carried across the street to the English gentleman's. The old woman helped the daughter to nurse him there. The surgeon, who arrived soon after, prescribed a little, and nature did much for him; in a week he was able to thank his benefactor.

11. By that time his host had learned the name and character of his guest. He was a protestant and clergyman of Switzerland called La Roche, a widower, who had lately buried his wife, after a long and lingering illness, for which travelling had been prescribed; and was now returning home after an ineffectual journey, with his only child, the daughter we have mentioned. 2

12. He was a devout man, as became his profession. He possessed devotion in all its warmth; but with none of its asperity; I mean that asperity which men, who are called devout, sometimes indulge. The philosopher, though he felt no devotion, never quarrelled with it in others. His governant joined the old man and his daughter in the prayers and thanksgivings which they put up on his recovery; for she too was a heretic, in the phrase of the village.

13. The philosopher walked out with his long staff and his dog, and left them to their prayers and thanksgivings. "My master," said the old woman, "alas! he is not a christian, but he is the best of unbelievers."—"Not a christian!" exclaimed Mademoiselle La Roche, "yet he saved my father! Heaven bless him for it; I would he were a christian."

14. There is pride in human knowledge, my child," said her father, "which often blinds men to the sublime truths of revelation; hence there are opposers of christianity among men of virtuous lives, as well as among those of dissipated and licentious characters. Nay, sometimes I have known the latter more easily converted to the true faith than the former; because the fume of passion is more easily dissipated than the mist of false theory and delusive speculation." "But this philosopher," said his daughter, alas! my father he shall be a christian before he dies.'" 15. She was interrupted by the arrival of their landlord-He took her hand with an air of kindness-she drew it away from him in silence; threw down her eyes to the ground, and left the room. "I have been thanking God," said the good La Roche," for my recovery." "That is right," replied his landlord. "I should not wish," continued the old man, hesitatingly, "to think otherwise; did I not look up with gratitude to that Being, I should barely be satisfied with my recovery, as a continuation of life, which, it may be, is not a real good."

16. "Alas! I may live to wish I had died; that you had left me to die, sir, instead of kindly relieving me (clasping the philosopher's hand) but when I look on this renovated. being as the gift of the Almighty, I feel a far different sentiment. My heart dilates with gratitude and love to him. It is prepared for doing his will, not as a duty, but as a pleasure; and regards every breach of it, not with disap probation but with horror."

17. "You say right my dear sir," replied the philosopher; "but you are not yet re-established enough to talk much; you must take care of your health, and neither study nor preach for some time. I have been thinking over a scheme that struck me to-day, when you mentioned your intended departure. I was never in Switzerland; I have a great mind to accompany your daughter and you into that country. I will help to take care of you by the road, for as I was your first physician I hold myself responsible for your cure."

18. La Roche's eyes glistened at the proposal; his daughter was called and told of it. She was equally pleased with her father; for they really loved their land lou; not perhaps the less for his infidelity; at least that circumstance mixed a sort of pity with their regard for him. Their souls were not of a mould for harsher feelings -hatred never dwelt with them..

19. They travelled by short stages; for the philosopher was as good as his word, in taking care that the old inan should not be fatigued. The parties had time to be well acquainted with one another, and their friendship was increased by acquaintance. La Roche found a degree of simplicity and gentleness in his companion, which is not always annexed to the character of a learned or a wise man. 20. His daughter, who was prepared to be afraid of him, was equally undeceived. She found in him nothing of that self-importance which superior parts, or great cultivation of them is apt to confer. He talked of every thing but philosophy and religion; he seemed to enjoy every pleasure and amusement of ordinary life, and to be interested in the most common topics of discourse.-When his knowledge or learning at any time appeared, it was delivered with the utmost plainness; and without the least show of dogmatism.

21. On his part he was charmed with the society of the good clergyman and his lovely daughter. He found in them the guiless manners of the earliest times, with the culture and accomplishments of the most refined ones.→ Every better feeling, warm and vivid; every ungentle one, repressed or overcome. He was not addicted to love; but he felt himself happy in being the friend of Made moiselle La Roche; and sometimes envied her father the possession of such a child.