THE RURAL S0CRATE5, j^ 



fqon faid to him witlj a tone of fricndfhip and franknefi,, 

 *' I perceive, my dear Kliyogg, it is impofllblc to rank 

 '' you too high in one's elleem. You have infpired mc 

 ,*' in a moment with the mod iincere and uncommfon 

 *' affedlion : and as you have feveral fons, truft me 

 «> with one of them, and I will make his fortune in the 

 ** army/' — '^ I am infinitely obliged, Sir, replied Kli- 

 •* yogg, for your kind intentions j and feel for you aU 

 V the refpe<rt and regard that an officer of your rank, 

 t" and what is more, of your underftanding and probity, 

 " *' deferves. But pardon my freedom ; I cannot anfwer 

 *' to my confcience to part voluntarily wi^ any of my 

 *' children before they have attained the ag6 whenrea- 

 ^' Ton is mature. God has blefl me with children that 

 '' I might educate them to his glory, and ufe all my cn- 

 ** deavors to render them happy : and I mean, through 

 *Vthe mediation and affiRance of his Holy Spirit, not to 

 *' fail in this facred duty." — '' Your manner of think- 

 '' ing (faid my friend) is laudable ; but I w^ould be 

 *' as confcientious in thefe articles as yourfelf ? I un- 

 f dertake to acquit myfelf as your reprefentative, 

 " with all the pundluality and fidelity of which I am 

 " capable,"—'^ I believe you (faid Kliyogg) but they 

 '' are my children, and 1 lland bound In a pcrfonal ob- 

 ** ligation to be accountable for ihem to Providence ; 

 *' which I cannot, without a crime, difpenfe myfelf > 

 '' from, or confide to another. The duties, Sir, 

 *' conneded with your employment, will not admit 

 " of your beflov/ing the attention which my fon may 

 *' require ; and with what facility will not a young 

 *' man fufFer himfelf to be drawn into the allurements 

 *' of vice, when he falls into bad company !— Do yoU 

 *' think, interrupted my friend, that there are no men 

 '' of honor and virtue in the fervice I Only allow them 

 '^ as much probity and religion as any other profeiiion.^*= 

 " —I am fully peiTuaded it abounds in both, and have 

 " too ftriking an example before me, not to be convin- 

 ^^ ccd of it y yet is my ion dvvays to meet with fuch ; 



** may 



