r o 
/ 
FALSE GRIEF. 
To eftimate things as they really are, is a lefTon few ever 
learn. Incidents of this kind generally give occafion to fatyr 
or ridicule ; but, tho’ it is not generally thought, thofe who 
grieve for imaginary evils, are much oftner objeds of pity, 
than contempt : for whatever the object is, the concern fhould 
be proportioned to the fuffering. A wife man may fhed tears, 
in measure, for the death of his fon. And a young lady we 
fee Will weep for the elopement of her monkey. We may 
fympathize with the one, becaufe he ads according to nature ; 
and be forry for the other, becaufe fhe forfakes her reafon. 
There is a certain meafure of grief due to real misfortunes, 
that adds a luftre to the brighteft eyes, which have moll power 
to charm, when bathed in tears ; and from the knowledge of 
this truth arifes the counterfeit paflion of grief, fometimes 
pradifed by the deceitful part of your fex. Sorrow, confined 
within its proper bounds, is one of the nobleft paflions of the 
foul ; it is one of thofe fenfations which leads men to relieve 
like heaven. Rain in feafon nourifties the earth, and generous 
tears refrefh thofe for whom they are fhed. But whilfb fuch 
forrow dignifies humanity, what fhall we fay, when the fame 
external marks of afflidion appear for trivial things ? We muft 
mourn that rational beings, fubjed to fo many real calamities, 
can ad fo irrationally as to waffe their grief, and torment 
themfelves for objeds of fo little value. 
You muft not pretend to triumph over this poor girl ; it 
may be your turn, or mine, e’er long, to be vexed for trifles. 
Nothing 
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