Ernestus and Fragilis were both the children of Fortune, but rocked in two different cradles. Philosophy and Prudence6 were the nurses of the first, and Vanity and Folly7 lulled8 the second to his repose9. Ernestus was early used to experience the various changes of the air, and accustomed to a regular diet; while Fragilis was treated in a very different manner, being kept in a room where, it was supposed, no rude wind could intrude10 itself; and hurtful delicacies11 were given him, under the idle notion, that strength is to be acquired in proportion to the dainties and excesses of our meals.
Hence it is no wonder if, after a few years had strengthened their limbs and mental faculties12, that there appeared an indisputable difference between the two youths.
Ernestus was all life and gaiety, and soon showed a propensity13 to be at the head of all kinds of mischief14. Though this disposition15 often got him into disgrace with his parents, yet he always showed much contrition16 and sorrow when he really found he had injured any one, and seldom slept after the commission of a boyish crime till he had made ample amends17 to the party injured.
Fragilis had very different passions, and very contrary notions of things. Being accustomed to9 be indulged with whatever he cried for, his ideas soon wandered from real to imaginary wants, and as these could not possibly be gratified, he naturally became peevish18, fretful, and ill-natured. Whenever the mind is affected19, the body must partake of the shock it occasions. Fragilis was weak, rickety, and feeble; and the remedies they applied20 to relieve him only contributed to increase the evil.
As the two little heroes of my history lived in the same neighbourhood, and their parents were nearly equal in point of fortune, they consequently became intimate companions, and frequently visited each other. It was easily to be discovered which of these two children would one day figure most on the busy stage of the world. Ernestus and his lady with pleasure beheld21 in their little son an ample share of spirit and activity, kindness and affability, resolution and integrity. The parents of Fragilis, however, had not the same pleasing prospect22 in their favourite and darling; for he was of a dull and gloomy turn, seldom contented23 with any thing, perpetually wrangling24 with every one about him, and constantly pining after those things which he knew were not to be procured25.
Ernestus made a rapid progress in his literary pursuits, under the tuition of his masters; for his application to his books was equal to the genius nature had bestowed26 on him. On the other hand, Fragilis advanced very slowly in the paths of science;10 for his genius had been spoiled by the pernicious indulgences of his parents in his infant years, and he had been suffered to acquire a habit of indolence, which made the least labour of body or of mind tiresome27 and disgustful.
These circumstances, however, did not seem to interrupt the rising friendship between these two youths, their connections growing stronger as they ripened28 in years. They were joint29 proprietors30 in their kites, their tops, their marbles, and their dumps; though Ernestus was generally the manufacturer of the first and last articles. Indeed, the kites made by Fragilis were always too heavy, and not equally balanced on both sides; consequently they were difficult to be raised into the air, and when there, they had a wavering and unsteady motion; whereas, those made by Ernestus were light and elegant, darted31 into the air like an eagle, and remained there as steady as a hawk32 resting on its wings; his dumps had the elegance33 of medals; and his tops and marbles were so judiciously34 chosen as to claim the admiration35 of all the neighbouring youths.
The time at length arrived, when it is usual for parents to begin to think of sending their children from home, to engage in the busy commerce of the world, and to learn how to provide for themselves. The feathered inhabitants of the woods and groves36 give up every pleasure to that of rearing11 their little brood; but, as soon as they have acquired a proper degree of maturity37, they then drive them from their nests, to form new connections, and to shift for themselves. Man, more helpless than birds, requires the assistance of the parental38 hand, for some years, to rear and cherish him; nor do their cares and anxieties for him cease till life is no more.
Though Ernestus loved his parents with all the affections of a dutiful child, yet he could not help rejoicing at the idea of embarking39 in the bustle40 of the world, and making a figure as a man. On the other hand, Fragilis could not prevail on himself to quit the apron-string of his mother, and engage in the rude clamour of a commercial life, in which so much attention, thought, and industry, are required. Neither could his parents part with their darling, whose constitution they had spoiled, and rendered unfit for business. Ernestus, in a short time after, by his own desire, was placed as a clerk in a merchant's house in London; while Fragilis continued with his parents, to squander41 away his time in destructive scenes of indolence and luxury.
Five years had glided42 away as it were imperceptibly, when Ernestus found himself disengaged from the ties of his clerkship. His person was by this time arrived at the state of manhood, his figure was graceful43 and genteel, and his mind was improved from the polite companies he had engaged in at his leisure hours. As business had ever been12 the first object of his attention, and as he had thereby44 made himself of no small consequence to his late master, the latter, to connect him more closely with his interests, offered Ernestus his daughter in marriage, and a considerable share in the trade of the house. Such a flattering offer could not admit of a moment's hesitation45, especially as a secret passion had long mutually glowed in the bosom46 of each party. They were married, and they were happy.
Soon after this period, a most dreadful inundation47 happened on the sea-coast, on the very spot where the houses and lands of the parents of Ernestus and Fragilis were situated48. Dreadful indeed it was, for it not only washed down their houses, but drowned some hundreds of cattle, and left that as a part of the briny49 ocean, which, but a few hours before, was beautiful meadows and gardens, adorned50 with every thing pleasing to regale51 the appetite, or please the eye.
Deplorable indeed was now the situation of those two families: their houses washed away, their cattle destroyed, and all their fruitful lands, on the produce of which their fortunes depended, were irrecoverably lost, and become of no value. Surely, to support such a situation with any tolerable degree of tranquility of mind, requires more courage and philosophy than generally fall to the lot of imperfect mortals!
After the first transports of terror and affright13 were a little abated52, and calm reason and reflection succeeded the sad emotions of horror and despair, the old Ernestus thus addressed the fair partner of his misfortunes:—
"My dearest Emelia," for that was the name of his amiable53 lady, "in the midst of this terrible misfortune, we have the happiness to reflect, that what has befallen us is not derived54 from any fault of our own, but by the pleasure of Him who gave us every thing, and who has a just right to take what he pleases from us. Though he has taken from us our house and lands, he has still graciously left us our beloved son, who will not fail to console us in our misery55, and who will perhaps help us in our distresses57. Though we are deprived of our fortune, we have the pleasing consolation58 to reflect, that, by bringing him up in the school of Prudence and Industry, we have secured him from sinking under the wreck59 of our present calamity60. Nothing can more contribute to soften61 the calamities62 of good parents, than to reflect that their children are not exposed to partake of their miseries63."
The heart of this amiable spouse64 was, for some time, too full of grief for the misfortune she felt, to give any immediate65 reply: but, at last, recovering her usual spirits and sensibility, she withdrew her head from the bosom of her generous husband, on which it had been for some time tenderly reclined.
"Ah! my beloved partner of happiness and misery," said she, "why am I thus sorrowful and wretched? why do I thus fly in the face of Providence66, for depriving us only of the baubles67 of life? Have I not still left an amiable and tender husband, and a dutiful and beloved son. These are treasures which I still possess—treasures infinitely68 beyond those I have lost—treasures that will support me in the stormy hour of adversity, and enable me to make a mockery and derision of every thing that the cruel hand of fabled69 Fortune can inflict70."
She then caught her husband in her arms, and there fainted, rather through excess of joy than grief. Virtuous71 minds, however they may be distressed72 for a moment, by unforeseen accidents, soon find an inexpressible consolation in the integrity of their hearts.
Such was the character of Ernestus and his lady, that this dreadful calamity was no sooner known, than all the neighbouring gentry73 flocked round them, and seemed to contend with each other for the honour of assisting such distinguished74 characters. What is the empty parade of riches acquired by fraud, rapine, and plunder75, when compared to the heartfelt satisfaction which virtue76 in distress56 must have here felt?
It may reasonably be supposed, that it was not long before this dreadful calamity of these amiable parents reached the ears of young Ernestus. A15 youth, brought up in the wilds of modern extravagance, would have exclaimed, perhaps in bitter terms, on being thus suddenly deprived of a fine patrimonial77 estate; he would, probably, have even arraigned78 the severe hand of Providence, and have dared to utter impieties79 against his omnipotent80 Maker81!
Such was not the conduct of Ernestus. His parents had taken care to give him, not a flighty and frothy, but a rational and manly82 education, the foundation of which was honour, probity83, and virtue; not folly, luxury, and vanity. It is a just proverb, that the first seasoning84 sticks longest by the vessel85, and that those who have been accustomed, in their early days, to tread the paths of Prudence, will seldom, when they grow up, run into those of Folly.
Ernestus received the news of this terrible calamity, just as he and his lady returned from a party of pleasure. It is too often found, that after pleasure comes pain, and never was it more truly verified than in this instance; with this exception, that here the one was not the consequence of the other.
He tenderly embraced his lady, took leave of her for the present, and instantly set out for the fatal scene of ruin, to assist, console, and comfort, his unfortunate parents. What passed between them in the first moments of their meeting, afforded such a scene of tenderness and16 affection, as exceeds the possibility of description to reach: the feelings of the heart, in such a situation, exceed every thing the most lively imagination can fabricate.
Ernestus found his dear parents had taken shelter in the house of an old gentleman, who lived in the neighbourhood, who was immensely rich, and had neither children nor relations living. Here they enjoyed all the consolation and comfort their generous hearts could wish for; nor was the young Ernestus suffered to contribute his mite86 to their aid. "It is enough," said the old gentleman of the house, "that you have lost your patrimony87; but I have riches sufficient, and have no near relation to succeed me. How can I dispose of it better than in cherishing the distressed, and in taking virtue by the hand to raise it above the wrecks88 of fortune?"
In a little time after, this worthy89 old gentleman paid the debt of nature, and left the bulk of his fortune to the parents of Ernestus; who, by this act of generosity90, were become as opulent as ever, and consequently resumed their former figure in the world. The fortune of young Ernestus was every day increasing, from his great success in commerce, till he at length found himself master of a sufficient independency, when he quitted trade; and he and his lady retired91 to the country, where they passed their days under the same roof with their parents, happy in themselves, and diffusing17 happiness to all who lived within the circle of their knowledge.
We could wish here to drop the curtain, and leave the mind filled with those pleasing ideas, which the good fortune of the family of Ernestus must raise in the bosoms92 of the generous and humane—but we must return to the unhappy family of Fragilis.
Young Fragilis, owing to the mistaken manner in which he was brought up, was feeble and enervated93 at that age, in which youths generally grow strong and robust94. Hence it happened, from the sudden inundation of the waters, that it was with great difficulty he could save his life. However, though he escaped the fury of the unrelenting waves, he caught such a cold, that a fever ensued, which, heightened by the fright he had received, proved too much for his weakly constitution to support, and put a period to his existence in a few days.
Trying indeed was the situation of Mr. Fragilis and his lady: in one day, deprived of all their wealth and possessions, and in a few days afterwards of their only son, whom they loved to excess, whom they ruined by false indulgences, and by whom they were reproached for their mistaken conduct in his dying moments. To be reproached by the only object they loved in this world, as being in some distant degree instrumental to his death, was too cutting a consideration18 for them to bear. They felt the wound effectually, it festered in their hearts, and they soon followed their son to his untimely tomb.
Reflect, ye too tender and indulgent parents, how dangerous it is to rear your children in the lap of Luxury and Indolence, since you thereby make them unfit members of the community, frequently a heavy load to themselves, and always a source of anxiety and fear to their mistaken parents. Without health, strength, and vigour95, life is but a burthen; why should then so many parents take such trouble to deprive their children of the three principal blessings96 of this life, which, when once lost, are never known to return?
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1
fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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bask
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| vt.取暖，晒太阳，沐浴于 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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thorny
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| adj.多刺的，棘手的 | |
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licentiousness
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| n.放肆，无法无天 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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lulled
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| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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delicacies
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| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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propensity
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| n.倾向；习性 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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contrition
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| n.悔罪，痛悔 | |
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amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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peevish
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| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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wrangling
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| v.争吵，争论，口角( wrangle的现在分词 ) | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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ripened
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| v.成熟，使熟( ripen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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proprietors
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| n.所有人，业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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judiciously
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| adv.明断地，明智而审慎地 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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maturity
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| n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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parental
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| adj.父母的；父的；母的 | |
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embarking
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| 乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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squander
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| v.浪费，挥霍 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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inundation
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| n.the act or fact of overflowing | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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briny
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| adj.盐水的；很咸的；n.海洋 | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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regale
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| v.取悦，款待 | |
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abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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distresses
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| n.悲痛( distress的名词复数 )；痛苦；贫困；危险 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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calamities
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| n.灾祸，灾难( calamity的名词复数 )；不幸之事 | |
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miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
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spouse
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| n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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baubles
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| n.小玩意( bauble的名词复数 )；华而不实的小件装饰品；无价值的东西；丑角的手杖 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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fabled
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| adj.寓言中的，虚构的 | |
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inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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patrimonial
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| adj.祖传的 | |
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arraigned
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| v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 )；控告；传讯；指责 | |
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impieties
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| n.不敬( impiety的名词复数 )；不孝；不敬的行为；不孝的行为 | |
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80
omnipotent
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| adj.全能的，万能的 | |
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81
maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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82
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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83
probity
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| n.刚直；廉洁，正直 | |
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84
seasoning
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| n.调味；调味料；增添趣味之物 | |
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85
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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86
mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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87
patrimony
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| n.世袭财产，继承物 | |
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88
wrecks
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| n.沉船( wreck的名词复数 )；（事故中）遭严重毁坏的汽车（或飞机等）；（身体或精神上）受到严重损伤的人；状况非常糟糕的车辆（或建筑物等）v.毁坏[毁灭]某物( wreck的第三人称单数 )；使（船舶）失事，使遇难，使下沉 | |
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89
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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90
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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91
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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92
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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93
enervated
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| adj.衰弱的，无力的v.使衰弱，使失去活力( enervate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94
robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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96
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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