grieve that a new child is born among the immortals, a new
member added to their society?

"We are spirits. That bodies should be lent us, while
they can afford us pleasure, assist us in acquiring knowledge,
or in doing good to our fellow creatures, is a kind and be-
nevolent act of God. When they become unfit for these
purposes, and afford us pain instead of pleasure, instead of an
aid become an incumbrance, and answer none of the inten-
tions for which they were given, it is equally kind and benevo-
lent that a way is provided by which we may get rid of them.
Death is that way. We ourselves, in some cases, prudently
choose a partial death. A mangled painful limb which cannot
be restored we willingly cut off. He who plucks out a tooth
parts with it freely, since the pain goes with it; and he who
quits the whole body, parts at once with all pains and possi-
bilities of pains and diseases in which it was liable to or capable
of making him suffer.

"Our friend and we were invited abroad on a party of
pleasure, which is to last for ever. His chair was ready first,
and he is gone before us. We could not all conveniently start
together; and why should you and I be grieved at this, since
we are so soon to follow, and know where to find him? Adieu."

OLD QUAKER MEETING-HOUSE, PHILADELPHIA. (WHERE FRANKLIN
WENT TO SLEEP.)
Southwest corner of Second and Market streets. Court-house in the middle
of the street. After an old lithograph.

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