wept when ſhe recollected her own ſorrows; the illuſions of youth—the gay expectations that had formerly clipped the wings of time. She turned to the girls—I have been very unfortunate, my young friends; but my griefs are now of a placid kind. Heavy misfortunes have obſcured the ſun I gazed at when firſt I entered life; early attachments have been broken; the death of friends I loved has ſo clouded my days; that neither the beams of proſperity, nor even thoſe of benevolence, can diſſipate the gloom; but I am not loſt in a thick fog. My ſtate of mind rather reſembles the scene before you, it is quiet; I am weaned from the world, but not diſguſted; for I can ſtill do good, and in futurity a ſun will riſe to cheer my heart. Beyond the night of death, I hail the dawn of an eternal day! I mention my ſtate of mind to you, that I may tell you what ſupports me.
The feſtivity within, and the placidity without, led my thoughts naturally to the ſource from whence my comfort ſprings—to the Great Beſtower of every bleſſing.
