And now the farmer daily sees

His charity rewarded;

The vine's reward for patient hope

I have above recorded.

MORAL.

Patience and resignation are sure to meet their reward.

DISCONTENT.

THESE are, says Archbishop Tillotson, beyond comparison, the two greatest evils in this world; a diseased body, and a discontented mind.

The discontented man is ever restless and uneasy, dissatisfied with his station in life, his connections, and almost every circumstance that happens to him. He is continually peevish and fretful, impatient of every injury he receives, and unduly impressed with every disappointment he suffers.

He considers others as happier than himself, and enjoys hardly any of the blessings of providence with a calm and grateful mind. He forms to himself a thousand distressing fears concerning futurity, and makes his condition unhappy, by anticipating the misery he may endure, years to come.

THE PASSIONS.

PASSIONS are strong emotions of the mind, occasioned by the view of approaching good or evil. These emotions are planted in man by Providence, in order to give him activity, and fit him for society. The directing of our passions to improper objects, or suffering them to hurry us away with them, is the great danger in human life.

have it if they could. Such people are alluded to in the following Fable.

A Fox, who having failed to pick,

Though prowling all around the village,
The bones of goose, or duck, or chick,
Was bent on any sort of pillage;

Saw, from a trellis, hanging high,

Some grapes, with purple bloom inviting:
His jaws, with heat and hunger dry,

The luscious fruit would fain be biting.

His carcass, than a weasel's thinner,
Made him for every prize alert;

He thought, though fortune brought no dinner,
'Twas best secure a good dessert.

A tantalizing branch to gain,

With many a spring, and many a bound,
He strove; and finding all in vain,

With this remark he quits the ground:

"Let those who like such trash, devour;—
I'll range elsewhere for better prog;
The worthless grapes, so green and sour,
Are scarcely fit to feed a hog!"

HAPPINESS.

VARIOUS, sincere, and constant are the efforts of men to procure that happiness which the nature of the mind requires; but most seem to be ignorant both of the source and means of genuine felicity.

Religion alone can afford true joy and permanent peace. It is this that inspires fortitude, supports pa

HONESTY. PROVERBS.

47

tience, and by its prospects and promises, throws a cheering ray into the darkest shade of human life. "Where dwells this sovereign bliss? Where doth it grow? Know, mortals, happiness ne'er dwelt below; Look at yon heaven-go seek the blessing there, Be heaven thy aim, thy soul's eternal care; Nothing but God, and God alone, you'll find Can fill a boundless and immortal mind."

HONESTY.

To be punctual in our engagements, and just in our dealings, though it may sometimes seem to be contrary to our present advantage, is always sure in the end to promote our true interests.

A fair and honest course of conduct will always be rewarded by the approbation of our fellow-creatures; and this approbation will naturally be followed by good offices and grateful returns, which will certainly tend to promote and give success to all our undertakings.

It is a maxim worthy of being written in letters of gold, that there is no method so certain of defeating the plots of wicked men against us, as by acting uprightly.

PROVERBS.

"A fool's bolt is soon shot," or silly people speak without reflection. The instruction of this proverb lies in teaching us to govern the tongue with discretion and prudence. It is a lecture which enjoins deliberation, courtesy and affability in company, and fidelity and secrecy in the affairs of life.

"Cut your coat according to your cloth." This proverb

48 PARENTAL AFFECTION.-FLORA'S PARTY.

contains good advice to people of several ranks and degrees, to balance accounts between their expenses and their income, and not to let their vanity lead them into debt.

"As you brew, so shall you bake." This bitter taunt is applicable to such as act inconsiderately in matters of moment, without the precaution of good counsel and good advice.

"Much falls between the cup and the lip," or many things which we expect, we do not realize. This is a cautionary proverb to persons who too confidently depend upon future hopes, unmindful of the contingencies that may intervene.

PARENTAL AFFECTION.

As the vexations which parents receive from their children, hasten the approach of age, and double the force of years, so the comforts which they reap from them are balm to all other sorrows, and repair, in some degree, the injuries of time.

However strong we may suppose the fondness of a father for his children, yet they will find more lively marks of tenderness in the bosom of a mother. There are no ties in nature to compare with those which unite an affectionate mother to her children, when they repay her tenderness with obedience and love.

FLORA'S PARTY.

LADY FLORA gave cards for a party at tea,

To flowers, buds and blossoms of every degree;

So from town and from country they thronged at the call, And strove by their charms to embellish the hall.