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THE PASSIONS.

I

These, by leading the mind insensibly to the contemplationof agreeable objects, help to dispel the gloom which misfor-tunes cast over it. They make time seem less tedious, andhave many other happy effects.

Many, when overwhelmed with grief, betake themselvesto drinking. This is making the cure worse than the dis-ease. It seldom fails to end in the ruin of fortune, character,and constitution.

LO VE .

Love is perhaps the strongest of all the passions : at least,when it becomes violent, it is less subject to the control eitherof the understanding or will than any of the rest. Fear,anger, and several other passions, are necessary for the pre-servation of the individual, but love is necessary for the con-tinuation of the species itself. It was therefore proper thatthis passion should be deeply rooted in the human breast.

Though love be a strong passion, it is seldom so rapid inits progress as several of the others. Few persons fall des-perately in love all at once. We would therefore adviseevery one, before he tampers with this passion, to considerwell the probability of his being able to obtain the object ofhis love. When that is not likely, he should avoid everyoccasion of increasing it. He ought immediately to fly thecompany of the beloved object ; to apply his mind attentivelyto business or study ; to take every kind of amusement ; and,above all, to endeavor, if possible, to find another objectwhich may engage his affections, and which it may be in hispower to obtain.

When love becomes a disease, it is not easily cured. Itsconsequences, in this case, are often so violent, that even thepossession of the beloved object will not always remove them.It is therefore of the greatest importance early to guardagainst its influence ; but when the passion has already takentoo deep hold of the mind to admit of being eradicated, thebeloved object ought if possible to be obtained ; nor shouldthis be deferred for every trifling cause. Those who havethe disposal of young persons in marriage are too ready totrifle with the passion of love; such, for the most sordid con-siderations, frequently sacrifice the future health, peace orhappiness of those committed to their care.*

* Even the conduct of parents themselves in the disposal of theirchildren in marriage is often very blamable. An advantageous