Richmond Palladium

Hume, the Infidel.

Hume, the celebrated infidel philosopher and author of a History of England, was dining at the house of an intimate friend. After dinner the ladies withdrew, and in the course of conversation, Hume made some assertion which caused a gentleman to observe to him, "If you can advance such sentiments as those, you certainly are what the world gives you credit for being-an infidel."

A little girl, whom the philosopher had often noticed, and with whom he had become a favorite, by bringing her little presents of toys and sweetmeats, happened to be playing about the room unnoticed: she, however had listened to the conversation, and on hearing the above expression, left the room, went to her mother, and asked her, "Mamma, what is an infidel?" "An infidel! my dear," replied her mother; "why should you ask such a question? an infidel is so awful a character; that I hardly know how to answer you." "Oh! do tell me, mamma," returned the child, "I must know what an infidel is." Struck with her eagerness, her mother at length replied, "An infidel is one who believes there is no God, no heaven, no hell, no hereafter."

Some days afterwards, Hume again visited the house of his friend. On being introduced into the parlor he found no one there but his favorite little girl; he went to her and attempted to take her up in his arms to kiss her as he had been used to do: but the child shrunk with horror from his touch, "My dear," said he, "what is the matter? do I hurt you?" "No," she replied, "you do not hurt me, but I cannot kiss you, I cannot play with you." "Why not my dear?" "Because you are an infidel!" "An infidel! what is that?" "One who believes there is no God, no heaven, no hell, no hereafter." "And are you not very sorry for me, my dear?" asked the astonished philosopher. "Yes, indeed, I am sorry!" returned the child, with solemnity: "and I pray to God for you." "Do you indeed? and what do you say?" "I say, Oh God teach this man that thou art!" What a striking illustration of the words of scripture. "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast ordained strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and avenger."-(Ps. VIII. 2.)