3 



him, or the chuckle of transport with which he 

 replies to the fond arts of parental endearment. 



But other faculties of a still less equivocal 

 nature are quickly developed. Curiosity, and a 

 desire of possessing, are among the first propen- 

 sities which strongly move the infant mind ; and 

 these, while they prove the powerful hold that 

 external nature takes of the young affections, 

 appear evidently to be implanted as the means 

 of calling the mental and bodily powers into 

 vigorous action, and of preparing the tender 

 child, by a salutary discipline, for the sterner 

 employments of manhood. 



It is edifying to observe how these two prin- 

 ciples operate in producing this salutary result. 

 The love of possessing extends the eager arm, 

 and teaches the hand tenaciously to grasp, and 

 the eye to guide it surely and directly ; while 

 curiosity employs all the senses, assisted by the 

 judgment, in a minute and unwearied examina- 

 tion of the objects possessed, until their various 

 sensible qualities are ascertained and treasured 

 among the stores of memory. Hence, along 

 with the first rude ideas of property, a fund of 

 useful information is acquired, always accumu- 

 lating and becoming more important ; and as 

 infancy passes into boyhood, and boyhood into 

 youth, imagination, gaining strength, lends its 

 enchanting power to give intensity to the mental 

 energy, and shedding over every new discovery 

 the warmth of its colouring, kindles and fosters 

 the Love of Nature in the susceptible heart. 



