Read it through once

My father, who had been uniformly fortunate in his beginning and unfortunate by his own temper, had a singular turn for reading and contemplation: his library was the repose of his mind. Among his books were many useful and instructive volumes; he loved history and theology, and often entertained us with anecdotes of ancient times, and the lives of good men. His conversation was seasoned with such maxims as were drawn from the study of moral writings; and, though sometimes too severe in his censure, he always aimed at doing good.