VI

REFLECTIONS ON

churlish denial of social enjoyment, does not always bespeak amind bent on high and noble pursuits. On the other hand,perpetually to flutter in the giddy whirlpool of fashion, everto hold a listening ear to the summons of pleasure, is to keep themind continually unstrung, and to loose the tention and springthat urges genius into action, that is the foundation of generousdetermination, the prompter of noble deeds.

Rest is what is commonly sought after by retirement, and in amistaken idea of that state of mind and body, many persons quitbusiness and retire into the country, with intention of havingnothing seriously to engage them; the children run afterbutterflies, and gather flowers, their parents saunter about,admiring their infantine frolics, and the beauties of nature theyso eagerly solicit. When roused with something more of ani-mation, they angle, they ride, they shoot; but a well-a-day!they soon experience the necessity of more serious occupationto drive away ennui and apathy ; soon they find that

“ Absence of occupation is not reft,”

and that

“ A mind quite vacant is a mind distress’d.”

Such pastime will do for recreation, but is not substantial enoughfor employ.

It is not by the idle and the thoughtless that retirement can besaid to be enjoyed ; it can be only truly relished by persons whofind delight in the continual and steady pursuit of information;who follow pleasing rational recreation for the advantage of theUnderstanding ; and it will ever be found that the villa requiresto be supplied with more food for the mind than the mansionin town : in the latter case we are greatly assisted by the exer-tions of others in our behalf, in the former we must be indebted

0