When the _Spirit_ of CHRISTIANITY declares "_blessed are the meek,_" every
heart which considers what meekness is, feels the truth of that
blessedness. It may smooth the way, and prevent impediments, which a
different temper raises to temporal felicity: it certainly assures that
Heaven which is _within_: and is a pledge and anticipation of the Heaven
hereafter.
It is pleasing to think on a remark of Mr. GEO. BLOOMFIELD concerning his
Brother when he first went to LONDON. "I have him in my mind's eye a
little Boy; not bigger than Boys generally are at twelve years old. When I
met him and his Mother at the Inn, [Footnote: In Bishopsgate-street.] he
strutted before us, dress'd just as he came from keeping Sheep, Hogs,
&c.... his shoes fill'd full of stumps in the heels. He looking about him,
slip'd up ... his nails were unus'd to a flat pavement. I remember viewing
him as he scamper'd up ... how small he was. Little thought, that little
fatherless Boy would be one day known and esteem'd by the most learned,
the most respected, the wisest and the best men of the Kingdom."
The brotherly overflowing of the heart in this passage I felt when I read
the Letter (dated 27 _March_ last), and cannot deny to others the pleasure
of feeling it.
And those who have shewn themselves the FRIENDS of the FARMER'S BOY must
excuse me if I mention some of them whose liberal and zealous attention
had excited those feelings in the heart of his Brother, and have fill'd
his with sentiments of thankfulness.
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