Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/36

 12 SKETCHES OF THE

spot of ban^en earth, for bread, and blessing the hour of night which reheved him from toil. Little could the wealthy and great of the land, as they rolled along the highway in splendour, and beheld the young rustic at work in the coarse garb of a labourer, covered with dust and melting in the sun, have suspected that this was the man who was destined not only to humble their pride, but to make the prince himself ti'emble on his dis- tant throne, and to shake the brightest jewels from the British crown. Little, indeed, could he himself have suspected it; for amidst the distresses which tliickened around him at this time, and threatened him not only with obscurity but with famine, no hopes came to cheer the gloom, nor did there remain to him any earthly con- solation, save that which he found in the bosom of his own family. Fortunately for him, there never was a heart which felt this consolation with greater force. No man ever possessed the domestic virtues in a higher de- gi'ee, or enjoyed, more exquisitely, those pure delights which flow from the endearing relations of conjugal life.

Mr. Hemy 's want of agricultural skill, and his uncon- querable aversion to eveiy species of systematic labour, drove him, necessarily, after a trial of two years, to aban- don this pursuit altogether. His next step seems to have been dictated by absolute despair; for, selHngoff his lit- tle possessions, at a sacrifice for cash, he entered, a se- cond time, on the inauspicious business of merchandize. Perhaps, he flattered himself that he would be able to profit by his past experience, and conduct this experi- ment to a more successful issue. But if he did so, he deceived himself He soon found that he had not chang- ed his character, by changing his pursuits. His early habits still continued tohaimt him. The same want of

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