Page 375 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

374 THIRD BOOK 01'
PaEG1NANT, a., teeming; ll of consequence. L. pr gnans. UTIL1ITY, n., use lness. F. utilite. L. utilitas.
CAN10PY, n., a covering over the head. G. konopeion. Tmc'AHAWK, n., an Indian hatchet.
Sauo1DER, v., to quake; to tremble, or shake with fear, horror, or aversion. Ger. schaudern.
CoNTia'uous, a., touching; meeting or joining at the surface or border. L. contiguus.
1. To superintend the movements and operations of such a revolution ; to control during its progress, jealousies, enmities, suspicions, and other con icting passions ; and from their collision, to educe national and individual prosperity, peace, order, liberty, and regular government, required the discernment and masterly contrivance of that Supreme Director and rtist, who unites together the links, and holds in his bands the chain of all human events. Contem­ plating, as much as is allowed to feeble mortals, his divine agency in preparing the means and conduct­ ing the progress of the American revolution, we may presume to say, that heaven impressed a character on the li of Washington, and a temper on his soul, which eminently quali ed him to bear the most con­
spicuous part, and be its principal instrument in ac­ complishing this stupendous work.
2. We trace as r back as to his early youth the evidences of this Providential interposition. Bo in times and circumstances unfavourable to the spirit
_ and exertions of bold enterprise, he however soon devoted himself to useful and active exercises. He disdained the inglorious ease and ignoble pursuits, which fettered or perverted the talents of his young countrymen, inactive, not through choice, but want­ ing objects and encouragement. To deliver Wash­ ington om the danger of contracting similar habits, he was inspired to embrace the hardy discipline of di cult and perilous labours, which added vigour to