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24 Juvenile Letters.

whole length, ſix or eight feet out of water, till I ſaw it. One had nearly leaped on board our packet; and the Captain told us there had been many inſtances of their actually jumping on board; in which caſes, paſſengers ſometimes had been very much hurt. This exerciſe ſeemed to be their ſport, towards ſunſetting, while it was calm. Perhaps, as an author expreſſes it, "Theſe fiſhes dumbly mean the praiſe of God."

From Newcaſtle, paſſengers proceed by land, in ſtages, to the head of Cheſapeak Bay, where they take paſſage again by water for Baltimore. We went on board a very commodious packet, with a number of agreeable paſſengers; and I was as much delighted as ever with the proſpect. As we paſſed the wide mouth of the Suſquehannah, the veſſel was prodigiouſly toſſed, on account of the wind's being in oppoſition to the current. This proved a little more than amuſement to some of the passengers. Cheſapeak Bay is two hundred and ſeventy miles in length.

Baltimore is larger than Boſton, and very pleaſantly ſituated. We put up an excellent

Juvenile Letters. 25

tavern, where there is a great reſort of ſtrangers, and the beſt attendance. Yeſterday, being Sunday, we went to Church, and heard good preaching from theſe words of our Lord, "Suffer little children to come unto me." The ſermon was preparatory to catechiſing, which took place immediately after the ſervice was over. This exerciſe I was the more deſirous of attending, as I had never ſeen children catechiſed in the Church in ſo public a manner. I really thought it was a beautiful ſight. A few ſentences of the ſermon I noted down, as correctly as I could; and now inſert them in my letter, not doubting but they will be acceptable to you.

After pronouncing the text, the preacher ſaid, "Let children obſerve this. Theſe were "the words of Chriſt. As kindly would he
"have received you, ye dear children, who
"hear this; as kindly will he ſtill receive you,
"if you go to him with penitence, and aſk
"his bleſſing in humble and earnesſt prayer.
"Though you ſee not Chriſt, he sees and
"hears you. He is now preſent with you,
"to

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-29 12:27:18 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-29 10:28:06 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-29 14:21:16 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-29 14:23:32 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-29 14:02:27