sent to a young prince who came to visit him; among other things, there were five complete suits of raiment." But not only have great princes an abundance of beautiful garments; this is the case with all persons of any rank in society. This subject illustrates a very striking passage in the New Testament; I refer to the parable of the marriagefeast, Matt. xxii. There was a person present who had not on "a wedding garment;" and the king, when he saw him, was much displeased. "Persons making an entertainment, says Doddridge, "sometimes furnished the habits in which the guests were to come, as appears from the Odyssey of Homer. We may therefore conclude, not only from the magnificence of the preparations to which we must suppose the wardrobe of the prince corresponded, but likewise from the following circumstance of the resentment against Р this guest, that a robe was offered, but refused by him. A circumstance which, as a great writer remarks, is admirably suited to the method of God's dealing with us; who indeed rerequires holiness, in order to our receiving the benefits of the Gospel, but is graciously pleased to work it in us by his Holy Spirit; and therefore may justly resent and punish our neglect of so great a favour." I think, father, I like the Scriptures better and better, every time I hear you talk about the eastern customs. I hope you do, Harry; and the reason is plain, -because, I hope, you understand them better. We cannot be expected to feel much interest in that which we do not understand! But how gay and fine the garments are in the east! They are indeed. We should not, however, forget, that it is the mark of a little mind, to be vain of mere outward show. A man is still the same, in whatever raiment he may be clad. Very beautiful garments are often worn by ignorant and worthless persons; and on the contrary, homely apparel may array individuals of the highest virtue and excellence. THRESHING. HAVE you seen the new machine with which they are threshing out the corn which they got in yesterday, Harry? Yes, father; John shewed it me last evening, and he explained how it worked. I was much pleased with it. But you saw many fine pieces of mechanism when you visited your cousin at Manchester, did you not? The perfection of machinery, I think, is at Manchester. Yes, I shall never forget the spinning-jennies. They are indeed exceedingly useful. Do you know whom they were invented by? No, father. You ought to have known this. I have often told you, that the way by which I have acquired much knowledge is, by making inquiries about every thing which I see. Never be afraid of asking questions; artists and workmen are pleased to answer them, because they think you feel an interest in their labours; and thus you gain knowledge very cheaply and very delightfully. James Hargreaves, a carpenter of Blackburn, constructed the first spinning-jenny in 1767; so that now a little girl will work one hundred and twenty spindles. To the indelible disgrace of his age and country, he died in a workhouse at Nottingham. |