I20 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



" and enjoy myfelf in Her land, in Franconia, my na- 

 ** tive country^ The good humour and thought- 

 " leflhefs of this fellow diverted me exceedingly," 

 continued the Grand Mafter. " To confefs the 

 *' truth, I envied his fituation." 



Wife Nature, in giving fo much force to early- 

 habits, intended that our happinefs fliould depend 

 on thofe, who are moft concerned to promote it, 

 that is, our parents ; for on the afFeâiions which 

 they, at that feafon, infpire, depends the affeélion 

 which we are one day to be called upon to return. 

 But, with us, as foon as the child is born, he is 

 transferred to a mercenary nurfe. The firft bond 

 which Nature intended (liould attach him to his 

 parents, is burft afunder before it is formed. The 

 day will come, perhaps, when he will behold the 

 funeral proceffion of thofe who gave him birth, 

 leave his father's door, with as much indifference 

 as they faw his cradle turned out. He may be re- 

 called home, it is true, at the age when the graces, 

 when innocence, when the neceffity of having an 

 objedt of afFeftion fhould fix him there for ever. 

 But he is permitted to tafte thofe fweetSj only to 

 make him feel, in a little while, the bitternefs of 

 having them taken away from him. He is fent to 

 fchool ; he is put to board far from home. There 

 he is doom.ed to (hed tears which no maternal 

 hand is ever more to wipe away. It is there he is 



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