truly respectable members of society, acting well the part allotted to them, and that, a part most of all necessary to the well-being of the whole. They may, from untoward accidents, be rendered objects of our compassion, but they never can of our contempt.

Ch. Indeed, Sir, I am very far from despising them now. But would it not be possible to make them more comfortable than they are at present?

Mr. E. I think it would; and when giving a little from the superfluity of persons in our situation would add so much to the happiness of persons in theirs, I am of opinion that it is unpardonable not to do it. I intend to use my interest to get this poor man the piece of waste land he wants, and he shall have some from my share rather than go without.

Ch. And suppose, Sir, we were to give him some good potatoes to plant it?

Mr. E. We will. Then, you know, we have a fine sow, that never fails to produce a numerous litter twice a year. Suppose we rear one of the next brood to be ready for him as soon as he has got his potatoe-ground into bearing?

Ch. O yes! that will be just the thing. But how is he to build a pigstye?

Mr. E. You may leave that to his own ingenuity! I warrant he can manage such a job as that with the help of a neighbour, at least. Well-I hope both the weaver, and you, will be the better for the acquaintance we have made to-day; and always remember, that man, when fulfilling the duties of his station, be that station what it may, is a worthy object of respect to his fellow-men.

134

ON EMBLEMS.

PRAY, papa, (said Cecilia) what is an emblem? I have met with the word in my lesson to-day, and I do not quite understand it.

An emblem, my dear, (replied he) is a visible image of an invisible thing. C. A visible image of-I can hardly comprehend

P. Well, I will explain it more at length. There are certain notions that we form in our minds without the help of our eyes, or any of our senses. Thus, Virtue, Vice, Honour, Disgrace, Time, Death, and the like, are not sensible objects, but ideas of the understanding.

C. Yes-We cannot feel them or see them, but we can think about them.

P. True. Now it sometimes happens that we wish to represent one of these in a visible form; that is, to offer something to the sight that shall raise

a similar notion in the minds of the beholders. In order to do this, we must take some action or circumstance belonging to it, capable of being expressed by painting or sculpture, and this is called a type or emblem.

C. But how can this be done?

P. I will tell you by an example. You know the Sessions-house where trials are held. It would be easy to write over the door in order to distinguish it, "This is the Sessions-house;" but it is a more ingenious and elegant way of pointing it out, to place upon the building a figure representing the purpose for which it was erected, namely, to distribute justice. For this end the notion of justice is to be personified, that is, changed from an idea of the understanding into one of the sight. A human figure is therefore made, distinguished by tokens which bear a relation to the character of that virtue.

Justice carefully weighs both sides of a cause; she is therefore represented as holding a pair of scales. It is her office to punish crimes; she therefore bears a sword. This is then an emblematical figure, and the sword and scales are emblems.

C. I understand this very well. But why is she blindfolded?

P. To denote her impartiality--that she decides only from the merits of the case, and not from a view of the parties. C. How can she weigh any thing,

though, when her eyes are blinded?

P. Well objected. These are two inconsistent emblems; each proper in itself, but when used together, making a contradictory action. An artist of judgment will therefore drop one of them; and accordingly the best modern figures of Justice have the balance and sword, without the bandage over the eyes.