y6 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



** penfe you to-morrow ; con'fider, that the chief 

 '' end of our being placed on the Earth is to prac- 

 " tife virtue. 



In the mean time, thofe exceffive heats, raifed 

 out of the bofom of the Ocean, an aflemblage of 

 vapours, which, like a vaft parafol, covered the face 

 of the iiland. The fummits of the mountains col- 

 leded thefe around them, and long furrows of 

 flame, from time to time, ilTaed out of their cloud- 

 capt peaks. Prefently after, tremendous thunder- 

 claps made the woods, the plains, and the valleys, 

 reverberate the noife of their explofions. The rain, 

 in catarads, gufhed down from the Heavens. 

 Foaming torrents precipitated themfelves down the 

 (ides of this mountain ; the bottom of the bafon 

 was transformed into a Sea ; the platform on which 

 the cottages were raifed, into a iittle iiland ; and 

 the entrance into the valley, had become a fluice, 

 out of which rufhed, with awful impetuofity, by 

 the force of the roaring waters, the earth, the trees, 

 and the rocks. 



The whole family, feized with trembling, ad- 

 dreffed their prayer to God, in Madame i^ /a Tour's 

 cottage, the roof of which cracked dreadfully by 

 the fury of the tempeft. Though the door, and the 

 outfide window-fhutters, were clofely barred, every 

 objedt was clearly diftinguiftiable within, through 



the 



