^O STUDIES OF NATURE. 



fîpated the anguifli of Madame de la Tour : fhc 

 embraced Paul and Virginia^ and faid to them, with 

 a look of fatisfaftion, " My dear children, you 

 " are the caufe of my tears, but you are alfo the 

 ** fource of all the happinefs I enjoy : Oh, my 

 '* children, misfortune attacks me only from afar, 

 *' felicity is ever around me.'* Paul and rirginia 

 did not comprehend what fiie faid, but as foon as 

 they faw that fhe was compofed, they fmiled, and 

 careffed her. Thus was peace reftored, and the 

 pad fcene was only like a ftormy cloud in the 

 midft of Summer. 



The good difpofitions of thefe children were un- 

 folding themfelves from day to day. One Sunday, 

 about fun-rife, their mothers having gone to the 

 iirft; mafs, at the church of Pamplemouffts, a fugi- 

 tive negro-woman made her appearance, under the 

 bananas which furrounded their plantation. She 

 was as meagre as a ikeleton, and without a bit of 

 clothing, except a fhred of tattered canvas about 

 her loins. She threw herfelf at Firginias feet, 

 who was preparing the family-breakfaft, and thus 

 addreffed her : " My dear young lady, take pity 

 *' on a miferable runaway Have: for more than 

 " a month pad, 1 have been wandering about 

 " thefe mountains, half dead with famine, and 

 '^ frequently purfued by the huntfmen and their 



** dogs. 



