THE INFLUENCE OF AN EARLY TASTE FOR READING. 281 



was it ever rendered so apparent, that the information and 

 the doctrines contained in the sacred volume perfectly har- 

 monize with the most authentic discoveries, and the sound- 

 est principles of science. 



Questions. — 1. For what have christian nations been remarkable ? 

 2. What is said of the predominance of learning on the side of re- 

 ligion ? 3. To what purpose have discoveries in philosophy been sub- 

 servient ? 4. What is the character of the present period ? 



LESSON 130. 



The Influence of an early Taste for Reading. 



There is, perhaps, nothing that has a greater tendency 

 to decide favourably or unfavourably respecting a man's fu- 

 ture intellect than the question. Whether or not he be im- 

 presaed with an early taste for reading. 



Books are the depository of every thing that is most 

 honourable to man. He that loves reading has every thing 

 within his reach. He has but to desire, and he may pos- 

 sess himself of every species of wisdom to judge, and power 

 to reform. 



The chief point of difference between the man of talent 

 and the man without, consists in the different ways in which 

 their minds are employed during the same interval : they 

 are obliged, we will suppose, to walk from Temple-bar to 

 Hyde-park Corner : the dull man goes straight forward, he 

 has so many furlongs to traverse : he observes whether he 

 meets any of his acquaintance ; he inquires respecting their 

 health and their family ; he glances his eye, perhaps, at the 

 shops as he passes ; he admires, perchance, the fashion of a 

 buckle, and the metal of a tea-urn. If he experience any 

 flights of fancy, they are of a short extent; of the same na- 

 ture as the flights of a forest bird clipped of his wings, and 

 condemned to pass the rest of his life in a farm-yard. 



On the other hand, the man of talent gives full scope to 

 his imagination. Unindebted to the suggestions of sur- 

 rounding objects, his whole soul is employed. He enters into 

 nice calculations ; he digests sagacious reasonings. In, 

 imagination he declaims, or describes, impressed with the* 

 deepest sympathy or elevated to the loftiest rapture. He^i 

 24 * ' 



