THE RURAL SOCRATES. ' tti 



adopted, formerly overwhelmed him. He is now fo 

 well confirmed in his principles that nothing can fliake 

 them. — The youngcft cf his children died not long 

 iince, of a malignant fever, in the eighth year of his act;, 

 KliyojTg had a fingnlar affevflion for him, becaufe from 

 his infancy he had (hewn a very peculiar tafle for agri- 

 culture ; all his plays being only fo many imitations of 

 ploughing, manuring, and other agricultural v^orks. 

 The diforder had thrown the child into a delirium v^hich 

 never quitted him ; and in his r?imblings he ahvays 

 conceived himfelf to be in the fields at v»^ork. His 

 mother thought thefe not the proper objc6ls of contem- 

 plation for a dying perfon ; and wifhed to prepare him 

 for death, by reading the forms of prayer adapted to 

 the occafion. '' Of what ufe is this,, (faid Kliyogg,) 

 *"' when the poor child is not in a condition to compre- 

 *' Jiend any of thefe things : Pray for yourfelf only ; 

 '^ fmce (lowering his tone of voice,) reading aloud can 

 *' have no other effed: than to diflurb our dear pa- 

 '' tient." — '^ But what if he (liould die, (faid tb.e moth- 

 '^ er,) without our. having prayed v.'ith him :'* — '-''• \^ 

 '« he dies, (faid Kliyogg,) he will die in his calling, 

 '* fince his whole thoughts are bent upon agricultj;re ; 

 " and fee how tranquil he is wilh it ; while your Y'^zy-, 

 *' ing aloud, I repeat, will only difturb this tranqaillity, 

 '^ Pray yourfelf to God in filence, that he will deign to 

 *' receive him into his favor, if fuch is his will." — 

 ^' But what v/ill people fay, if we neglccr thefe 

 *' things r"— '' It does not concern us, what people will 

 '* fay, when the quefiion is only what is right ; snd I 

 *' fee no u(e in repeating to a child who is out of his 

 '' mind, things which he cannot comprehend, I am 

 " perfuaded on tlie contrary, that it would be unpar- 

 '^ donable to rifque diilurbing the fcienitv of our 

 *' child in the lalh n^oments of his life ; antl I defiie 

 " you would be contented, at prefenr, with recom- 

 ^' mending him to God 'divA his divine providence.'"' — 

 Saying this, he took l;er book and (hut it ; adhering thuif 



a I v/ ays 



