As the good old man was stepping out of his carriage, his foot slipped, and he fell with great force on the ground. While I assisted him to rise, I turned my eyes on my cousin, whom I saw endeavouring in vain to smother a laugh; at last he was obliged to run into the house to give way to it, out of our hearing. I felt that I was red with anger; nothing displeases me more than to hear any one laugh at an accident. I have often heard people say they cannot help it, but in my opinion it is a great proof of insensibility. The most ludicrous accident never makes me smile when I see a fellow-creature, or even an animal, in pain. I could not forbear communicating my sentiments to my cousin as soon as we were alone. CHARLES. I have often heard you say you loved and esteemed Dr. Bartlett. JAMES. Yes; why do you doubt it? CHARLES. And yet when you saw him fall, not knowing whether he had hurt himself, you began to laugh, and flew into the house without making any inquiries. JAMES. It is not in my power to avoid laughing when I see any one fall in a ridiculous manner; when the Doctor’s wig fell off, he looked so droll—I cannot help laughing, even now, when I think of it. CHARLES. You can avoid laughing if you will; you have a good heart, I have seen you feel compassion. JAMES. No, it is not want of compassion; and yet it is true I cannot keep myself from laughing: I wish I knew the reason. CHARLES. Let us try to find it out. Suppose you saw a man without an arm or a leg, who did every thing in an awkward laughable manner, yet an inclination to laugh would be instantly restrained by fear of offending an unfortunate fellow-creature: but let the hat fly off on one side, and the wig on the other, and then you instantly laugh, without remembering a leg or an arm may soon be broken. JAMES. I believe you are right. CHARLES. It is best, then, to fix your attention on the severe pain a person may suffer, and then your involuntary laughter would subside into pity. JAMES. I fear this will not help me much. CHARLES. You fear, then, that your heart is not good. JAMES. No, not so neither, for I declare to you, I was very sorry when I saw Dr. Bartlett had hurt himself, and then I had no inclination to laugh. CHARLES.