( 14 )
father endured for the death of a ſon, which (illegible text) wife ſuſtained for the loſs of her huſband, and (illegible text) all thoſe minor ties of conſanguinity, and ⟨friendſhip⟩ which were, at this unhappy and awful period (illegible text) generally diſolved.
When we conſider how very ſoon the gay ⟨purſuits⟩ and flattering appearances of life are ⟨deſigned⟩; how uncertain are our poſſeſſions, and (illegible text) ſubject to hopes, and how embittered by ⟨disappointments⟩, are our purſuits; it is ſomewhat ⟨extraordinary⟩, that we ſhould be ſo much attached (illegible text) the world, ſhould entruſt the ſun-fſine of our d(illegible text) and without ſuſpicion of a change, to every cl(illegible text) ſhould commit our preſent happineſs to the inſt(illegible text)lity of climate, to the viciſſitudes of cold and ⟨heat⟩, to the terrors of the tempeſt, or the peſtil(illegible text) dangers of the calm:-it is aſtoniſhing, I again ⟨repeat⟩, that we ſhould repoſe all our comforts, (illegible text) all our expectations, upon a world ſo full of mo(illegible text)cation, diſappointment, and affliction; when (illegible text) muſt be conſcious that we muſt ſo ſoon leave (illegible text) world and all its empty deluſions behind. ⟨When⟩ we look around, and ſee people who thought ⟨themſelves⟩ above the reach of want, and reclining, a(illegible text) a long apprenticefhip of patient industry and ⟨perſevering⟩ toil, upon the lap of late-earned ⟨independentcy⟩ and honeſt repoſe; when we ſee them (illegible text) the fruits of exertions thus made, and of ⟨comforts⟩ thus enjoyed, in one fatal and deſtructive (illegible text) our,—w(illegible text) an awful leſſon does this reflection awaken in (illegible text) minds! and how much does it not warn us ⟨against⟩ building upon a foundation ſo very ⟨precarious⟩ ⟨at⟩ beſt, and at the beſt deceitful! But then to (illegible text) them reduced to this ſituation, and ſtruggling ⟨with⟩ infirmities, without the vigour of youth, or (illegible text) exertions of manhood—without ſhelter from weather, protection from power, or meat
