Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

of our poor family? Muft not the regret of our parents be exceffive, at having placed fo great a difference between fifters who are fo perfectly equal? Alas! we muft perish from diftrefs: for it would not be in my power even to scrawl a fuppliant petition for relief, having been obliged to employ the hand of another in tranfcribing the request which I have now the honour to prefer to you.

Condefcend, Sirs, to make my parents fenfible of the injuftice of an exclufive tenderness, and of the neceffity of diftri buting their care and affection among all their children equally.

I am, with a profound refpect,

SIRS,

Your obedient fervant,

THE LEFT HAND.

THE

THE

HANDSOME AND DEFORMED LEG.

THERE are two forts of people in the world, who, with equal degrees of health and wealth, and the other comforts of life, become, the one happy, and the other miferable. This arifes very much from the different views in which they confider things, perfons, and events; and the effect of thofe different views their own minds.

upon

In whatever fituation men can be placed, they may find conveniences and inconveniences: in whatever company, they may find perfons and converfation more or less pleafing: at whatever table, they may meet with meats and drinks of better and worse taste, dishes better and worfe

C 3

worfe dreffed: in whatever climate, they will find good and bad weather: under whatever government, they may find good and bad laws, and good and bad adminiftration of thofe laws in whatever poem, or work of genius, they may fee faults and beauties: in almost every face, and every person, they may difcover fine features and defects, good and bad qualities.

Under these circumstances, the two forts of people above mentioned fix their attention, those who are difpofed to be happy, on the conveniences of things, the pleasant parts of converfation, the well dreffed dishes, the goodness of the wines, the fine weather, &c. and enjoy all with cheerfulness. Those who are to be unhappy, think and fpeak only of the contraries. Hence they are continually discontented themselves, and, by their remarks, four the pleasures of fociety; offend perfonally many people, and make them

felves

felves every where difagreeable. If this turn of mind was founded in nature, fuch unhappy perfons would be the more to be pitied. But as the difpofition to criticife, and to be difgufted, is, perhaps, taken up originally by imitation, and is, unawares, grown into a habit, which, though at present ftrong, may neverthelefs be cured, when those who have it are convinced of its bad effects on their felicity; I hope this little admonition may be of service to them, and put them on changing a habit, which, though in the exercise it is chiefly an act of imagination, yet has ferious confequences in life, as it brings on real griefs and misfortunes. For as many are offended by, and nobody loves, this fort of people; no one fhews them more than the most common civility and respect, and scarcely that; and this frequently puts them out of humour, and draws them into disputes

[blocks in formation]

and contentions. If they aim at obtaining fome advantage in rank or fortune, nobody wishes them fuccefs, or will stir a ftep, or fpeak a word to favour their pretenfions. Ifthey incur public cenfure or difgrace, no one will defend or excufe, and many join to aggravate their misconduct, and render them completely odious, If thefe people will not change this bad habit, and condefcend to be pleased with what is pleafing, without fretting themselves and others about the contraries, it is good for others to avoid an acquaintance with them; which is always difagreeable, and fometimes very inconvenient, efpecially when one finds onefelf entangled in their quarrels.

An old philofophical friend of mine was grown, from experience, very cautious in this particular, and carefully avoided any intimacy with fuch people. He had, like other philofophers, a ther

mometer

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »