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The pleasure which effects the human mind with the most lively and transporting touches, is the sense that we act in the eye of infinite wisdom, power and goodness, that will crown our virtuous endeavors here, and happiness hereafter, large as our desires, and lasting as our immortal souls; without this the highest state of life is insipid, and with it, the lowest is a paradise.

CHAP. V.

HONORABLE age is not that which standeth in

length of time, nor which is measured by number of years; but wisdom is the gray hair unto man, and an unspotted life is old age.

Wickedness condemned by her own witness, is very timorous, and being pressed with conscience, always forecasteth evil things; for fear is nothing else, but a betraying of the succors which reason offereth.

A rich man, beginning to fall, is held up by his friends; but a poor man, being down, is thrust away by his friends. When a rich man is fallen, he hath many helpers; he speaketh things not to be spoken, and yet men justify him ; the poor man slipt, and they rebuked him; he spoke wisely and could have no place. When a rich man speaketh, every man holdeth his tongue, and lo! what he sayeth they extol to the clouds; but if a poor man speaks, they say, What fellow is this?

Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have fallen by the tongue. Well is he that is defended from it, and hath passed through the venom thereof; who hath not drawn the yoke. thereof, nor been bound to her bonds; for the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are bands of brass; the death thereof is an evil death.

My son, blemish not thy good deeds, neither use uncom fortable words when thou givest any thing. Shall not the dew assuage the heat? So is the word better than a gift.— Lo, is not a word better than a gift? But both are with a gracious man.

Blame not before thou hast examined the truth; understand first and then rebuke.

If thou wouldest get a friend, rove him first, and be not hasty to credit him; for some men are friends for their own occasions, and will not abide in the day of trouble.

Forsake not an old friend, for the new is not comparable to him; a new friend is as new wine; when it is old thou shalt drink it with pleasure.

A friend cannot be known in prosperity; and an enemy cannot be hidden in adversity.

Admonish thy friend; it may be he hath not done it; and if he hath, that he should do it no more. Admonish thy friend; it may be he hath not said it; or if he hath, that he should speak it not again. Admonish a friend; for many times it is a slander; and believe not every tale. There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart; and who is he that hath not offended with his tongue?

Whoso discovereth secrets, loseth his credit, and shall never find a friend to his mind.

Honor thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother. How canst thou recompence them the things which they have done for thee?

There is nothing of so much worth as a mind well instructed.

The lips of talkers will be telling such things as pertain not unto them; but the words of such as have understandng are weighed in the balance. The heart of fools is in their mouth, but the tongue of the wise is in their heart. To labor, and to be contented with what a man hath, is 3 Sweet life.

Be not confident even in a plain way.

Be in peace with many; nevertheless, have but one councellor of a thousand.

Let reason go before every enterprise, and counsel, be

fore

every

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action.

CHAP. VI.

HE latter part of a wise man's life is taken up in curing follies, prejudices, and faise opinions he had contracted in the former.

Censure is a tax a man pays to the public for being eminent.

Very few men, properly speaking, live at present, but are providing to live another time.

B

Party is the madness of many-for the gain of a few. To endeavor to work upon the vulgar with fine sense, is like attempting to hew blocks of marble with a razor. Superstition is the spleen of the soul.

He who tells a lie is not sensible how great a task he undertakes; for he must be forced to invent twenty more to maintain that one.

Some people will never learn any thing; for this reason, because they understand every thing too soon.

Whilst an author is yet living, we estimate his powers by the worst performance; when he is dead, we rate them by his best.

Men are grateful, in the same degree that they are resentful.

Young men are subtle arguers; the cloke of honor covers all their faults, as that of passion, all their follies. Economy is no disgrace; it is better living on a little, than out living a great deal.

Next to the satisfaction I receive in the prosperity of an honest man, I am best pleased with the confusion of a rascal. What is often termed shyness, is nothing more than reGined sense, and an indifference to common observations.

To endeavor all one's days to fortify our minds with learning and philosophy, is to spend so much in armor, that one has nothing left to defend.

Deference often shrinks and withers as much upon the approach of intimacy, as the sensitive plant does upon the 1ouch of one's finger.

Modesty makes large amends for the pain it gives to the persons who possess it, by the partiality it excites in their favor.

The difference there is betwixt honor and honesty seems to be chiefly in the motive. The honest man does that from duty, which the man of honor does for the sake of character. A liar begins with making falsehood appear like truth and ends with making truth itself appear like falsehood.

Virtue should be considered as a part of taste; and we should as much avoid deceit, or sinister meaning in discourse, as we should puns, bad language or false grammar. The higher character a person supports, the more he should regard his minutest actions.

years ago, I lost here twelve thousand livers. Perrin listened with attention. What search made you for them? said he. It was not in my power, replied the stranger, to make any search. I was hurrying to Port l'Orient to embark for the Indies, for the vessel was ready to sail.

9. Next morning Perrin showed to his guests his house, his garden, his cattle and mentioned the produce of his fields. "All these are your property," addressing the gen tleman who had lost the bag; "the money fell into my hands; I purchased this farm with it; the farm is yours. The vicar has an instrument which secures your property, though I had died without seeing you." The stranger read the instrument with emotion. He looked on Perrin, Lucetta, and the children.

10. Where am I? cried he-and what do I hear? What virtue in people so low! Have you any other land but this farm? No, replied Perrin-but you will have occasion for a tenant, and I hope you will allow me to remain here.Your honesty deserves a better recompense, answered the stranger. My success in trade has been great, and I have forgot my loss. You are well entitled to this little fortune, keep it as your own.

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11. What man in the world would have acted like Perrin? Perrin and Lucetta shed tears of affection and joy. My dear children," said he, "kiss the hand of your benefactor. Lucetta, this farm now belongs to us, and we can How enjoy it without anxiety or remorse." Thus was honesty rewarded; let those who desire the reward, practice the virtue.

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CHAP. XI.

CHARACTER OF A YOUNG LADY.

OPHIA is not a beauty, but in her presence, beauties are discontented with themselves. At first she scarcely appears pretty; but the more she is beheld, the more agreeable she appears. She gains when others icse, and what she gains she never loses. She is equalled by none in a sweet expression of countenance; and without dazzling beholders, she interests them.

2. She loves dress, and is a good judge of it; despises finery, but dresses with peculiar grace, mixing a simplicity. with elegance. Ignorant she is of what colors are in fashjon; but knows well what quits her complexion. She cor

ers her beauties; but so slightly or rather artfully, as to give play to the imagination. She prepares herself for managing a family of her own, by managing that of her father.

3. Cookery is familiar to her, with the price and quality of provisions; and she is a ready accountant. Her chief view, however, is to serve her mother and lighten her cares. She holds cleanliness and neetness to be indispensable in a woman; and that a slattern is disgusting, especially if beautiful.

4. The attention given to externals, does not make her overlook her more material duties. Sophia's understanding is solid without being profound. Her sensibility is too great for a perfect equality of temper; but her sweetness renders that inequality harmless. A harsh word does not make her angry; but her heart swells, and she retires to disburden it by weeping.

5. Recalled by her father and mother, she comes at the instant, wiping her eyes and appearing cheerful. She suffers with patience any wrong done her; but is impatient to repair any wrong she has done, and does it so cordially as to make it appear meritorious. If she happens to disoblige a companion, her joy and caresses, when restored to favor, shew the burden that lay upon her good heart.

6. The love of virtue is Sophia's ruling passion. She loves it, because no other thing is so lovely: She loves it because it is the glory of the female sex: She loves it as the only road to happiness, misery being the sure attendant of a woman without virtue. She loves it, as dear to her respectable father and tender mother. These sentiments inspire her with a degree of enthusiasm, that elevates her soul, and subdues every irregular appetite.

7. Of the absent she never talks but with circumspection, of her female acquaintance especially. She has remarked, that what renders women prone to detraction, is talking of their own sex ; and that they are more equitable with respect to the men. Sophia therefore never talks of women, but to express the good she knows of them: Of others she says nothing.

8. Without much knowledge of the world, she is attentive, obliging, and graceful in all she does. A good disposition does much more for her than art does for others. She possesses a degree of politeness which, void of ceremony, proceeds from a desire to please, and which consequently neyer fails to please,

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