II. TO HIGHGATE. 43 



have I listened with rapture to the robin-red- 

 breast, singing* from the hollow of a bush. 

 The notes of this bird, though simple, are 

 yet extremely pleasing ; and the pleasure 

 which we experience from them, s height- 

 ened by the consideration, that all the other 

 songsters of our proves either are mute, or 



O O ' i 



have fied. to cheer with their melodv the in- 



' -* 



habitants of more genial climes. Thus, when 

 only a single friend remains to the unfor- 

 tunate, they cherish him with redoubled af- 

 fection ; and, in the blessing which they still 

 enjoy, forget the desertion of all the rest. 



Here this worthy father ceased to speak, 

 leaving his children to meditate en a sub- 

 ject fraught with so much comfort and satis- 

 faction to tiie human race, and calculated to 

 impress the mind with gratitude and devo- 

 tion toward the invisible Creator of the uni- 

 verse, who, not content with bestowing on 

 us existence, has loaded us with innumera- 

 ble favors. 



Alter a day spent in the most delightful 



manner, 



