at woman； nor let her fall。 Not to leave me one！''Alas！ my husband；' said my wife； 'you seem to want comfort even more than I。 Our distresses are great； but I could bear this and more； if I saw you but easy。 They may take away my children and all the world； if they leave me but you。'
My Son； who was present； endeavoured to moderate our grief； he bade us take comfort； for he hoped that we might still have reason to be thankful。'My child；' cried I； 'look round the world； and see if there be any happiness left me now。 Is not every ray of comfort shut out； while all our bright prospects only lie beyond the grave！''My dear father；' returned he； 'I hope there is still something that will give you an interval of satisfaction； for I have a letter from my brother George''What of him； child；' interrupted I； 'does he know our misery。 I hope my boy is exempt from any part of what his wretched family suffers？''Yes； sir；' returned he； 'he is perfectly gay； chearful； and happy。 His letter brings nothing but good news； he is the favourite of his colonel； who promises to procure him the very next lieutenancy that becomes vacant！'
'And are you sure of all this；' cried my wife； 'are you sure that nothing ill has befallen my boy？''Nothing indeed； madam；' returned my son； 'you shall see the letter； which will give you the highest pleasure； and if any thing can procure you comfort； I am sure that will。' 'But are you sure；' still repeated she； 'that the letter is from himself； and that he is really so happy？' 'Yes； Madam；' replied he； 'it is certainly his； and he will one day be the credit and the support of our family！''Then I thank providence；' cried she； 'that my last letter to him has miscarried。' 'Yes； my dear；' continued she； turning to me； 'I will now confess that though the hand of heaven is sore upon us in other instances； it has been favourable here。 By the last letter I wrote my son； which was in the bitterness of anger； I desired him； upon his mother's blessing； and if he had the heart of a man； to see justice done his father and sister； and avenge our cause。 But thanks be to him that directs all things； it has miscarried； and I am at rest。' 'Woman；' cried I； 'thou hast done very ill； and at another time my reproaches might have been more severe。 Oh！ what a tremendous gulph hast thou escaped； that would have buried both thee and him in endless ruin。 Providence； indeed； has here been kinder to us than we to ourselves。 It has reserved that son to be the father and protector of my children when I shall be away。 How unjustly did I complain of being stript of every comfort； when still I hear that he is happy and insensible of our afflictions； still kept in reserve to support his widowed mother； and to protect his brothers and sisters。 But what sisters has he left； he has no sisters now； they are all gone； robbed from me； and I am undone。''Father；' interrupted my son； 'I beg you will give me leave to read this letter； I know it will please you。' Upon which； with my permission； he read as follows：
Honoured Sir；I have called off my imagination a few moments from the pleasures that surround me； to fix it upon objects that are still more pleasing； the dear little fire…side at home。 My fancy draws that harmless groupe as listening to every line of this with great composure。 I view those faces with delight which never felt the deforming hand of ambition or distress！ But whatever your happiness may be at home； I am sure it will be some addition to it； to hear that I am perfectly pleased with my situation； and every way happy here。
Our regiment is countermanded and is not to leave the kingdom； the colonel； who professes himself my friend； takes me with him to all companies where he is acquainted； and after my first visit I generally find myself received with encreased respect upon repeating it。 I danced last night with Lady G…； and could I forget you know whom； I might be perhaps successful。 But it is my fate still to remember others； while I am myself forgotten by most of my absent friends； and in this number； I fear； Sir； that I must consider you； for I have long expected the pleasure of a letter from home to no purpose。 Olivia and Sophia too； promised to write； but seem to have forgotten me。 Tell them they are two arrant little baggages； and that I am this moment in a most violent passion with them： yet still； I know not how； tho' I want to bluster a little； my heart is respondent only to softer emotions。 Then tell them； sir； that after all； I love them affectionately； and be assured of my ever remaining
Your dutiful son。
'In all our miseries；' cried I； 'what thanks have we not to return； that one at least of our family is exempted from what we suffer。 Heaven be his guard； and keep my boy thus happy to be the supporter of his widowed mother； and the father of these two babes； which is all the patrimony I can now bequeath him。 May he keep their innocence from the temptations of want； and be their conductor in the paths of honour。' I had scarce said these words； when a noise； like that of a tumult； seemed to proceed from the prison below； it died away soon after； and a clanking of fetters was heard along the passage that led to my apartment。 The keeper of the prison entered； holding a man all bloody； wounded and fettered with the heaviest irons。 I looked with compassion on the wretch as he approached me； but with horror when I found it was my own son。'My George！ My George！ and do I find thee thus。 Wounded！ Fettered！ Is this thy happiness！ Is this the manner you return to me！ O that this sight could break my heart at once and let me die！'
'Where； Sir； is your fortitude；' returned my son with an intrepid voice。 'I must suffer； my life is forfeited； and let them take it。'
I tried to restrain my passions for a few minutes in silence； but I thought I should have died with the effort'O my boy； my heart weeps to behold thee thus； and I cannot； cannot help it。 In the moment that I thought thee blest； and prayed for thy safety； to behold thee thus again！ Chained； wounded。 And yet the death of the youthful is happy。 But I am old； a very old man； and have lived to see this day。 To see my children all untimely falling about me； while I continue a wretched survivor in the midst of ruin！ May all the curses that ever sunk a soul fall heavy upon the murderer of my children。 May he live； like me； to see'
'Hold； Sir；' replied my son； 'or I shall blush for thee。 How； Sir； forgetful of your age； your holy calling； thus to arrogate the justice of heaven； and fling those curses upward that must soon descend to crush thy own grey head with destruction！ No； Sir； let it be your care now to fit me for that vile death I must shortly suffer； to arm me with hope and resolution； to give me courage to drink of that bitterness which must shortly be my portion。'
'My child； you must not die： I am sure no offence of thine can deserve so vile a punishment。 My George could never be guilty of any crime to make his ancestors ashamed of him。'
'Mine； Sir；' returned my son； 'is； I fear； an unpardonable one。 When I received my mother's letter from home； I immediately came down； determined to punish the betrayer of our honour； and sent him an order to meet me； which he answered； not in person； but by his dispatching four of his domestics to seize me。 I wounded one who first assaulted me； and I fear desperately； but the rest made me their prisoner。 The coward is determined to put the law in execution against me； the proofs are undeniable； I have sent a challenge； and as I am the first transgressor upon the statute； I see no hopes of pardon。 But you have often charmed me with your lessons of fortitude； let me now； Sir； find them in your example。'
'And； my son； you shall find them。 I am now raised above this world； and all the pleasures it can produce。 From this moment I break from my heart all the ties that held it down to earth； and will prepare to fit us both for eternity。 Yes； my son； I will point out the way； and my soul shall guide yours in the ascent； for we will take our flight together。 I now see and am convinced you can expect no pardon here； and I can only exhort you to seek it at that greatest tribunal where we both shall shortly answer。 But let us not be niggardly in our exhortation； but let all our fellow prisoners have a share： good gaoler let them be permitted to stand here； while I attempt to improve them。' Thus saying； I made an effort to rise from my straw； but wanted strength； and was able only to recline against the wall。 The prisoners assembled according to my direction； for they loved to hear my council； my son and his mother supported me on either side； I looked and saw that none were wanting； and then addressed them with the following exhortation。
CHAPTER 29
The equal dealings of providence demonstrated with regard to the happy and the miserable here below。 That from the nature of pleasure and pain； the wretched must be repaid the balance of their sufferings in the life hereafter
My friends； my children； and fellow sufferers； when I reflect on the distribution of good and evil here below； I find that much has been given man to enjoy； yet still more to suffer。 Though we should examine the whole world； we shall not find one man so happy as to have nothing left to wish for； but we daily see thousands who by suicide shew us they have nothing left to hope。 In this life then it appears that we cannot be entirely blest；
but yet we may be completely miserable！
Why man should thus feel pain； why our wretchedness should be requisite in the formation of universal felicity； why； when all other systems are made perfect by the perfection of their subordinate parts； the great system should require for its perfection； parts that are not only subordinate to others； but imperfect in themselves？ These are questions that never can be explained； and might be useless if known。 On this subject providence has thought fit to elude our curiosity； satisfied with granting us motives to consolation。
In this situation； man has called in the friendly assistance of philosophy； and heaven seeing the incapacity of that to console him； has given him the aid of religion。 The consolations of philosophy are very amusing； but often fallacious。 It tells us that lif