EXCURSIONS ROUND LONDON. 



of domestic society. The feeble and help- 

 less state of children constitutes the bond of 

 society. We may even add, that the nu- 

 merous maladies incident to childhood, 

 powerfully concur to unite families more 

 olosely together: and that, far from accu- 

 sing Nature of cruelty, we ought rather to 



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be thankful for such apparent severity ; 

 since, in proportion to the wants of children, 

 our attachment for them becomes augment- 

 ed. Pity engenders love, and these two 

 sentiments are equally powerful. On the 

 other hand, the sufferings of children, con- 

 joined with their dependant state, serve to 

 generate in their hearts filial piety and grati- 

 tude. Insensible must be the heart of a 

 child who can be forgetful of the authors of 

 his existence, of those who loaded him with 

 benefits, who supplied his wants, who en- 

 lightened his understanding, who watched 

 over him in sickness and in health, and who, 

 in short, seemed to live but for him alone. 

 Thus the child, at first, by a kind of in- 

 stinct 



