But ah ! oppreffion drove me from my cot,
My cattle died, and blighted was my corn.
My daughter, once the comfort of my age,
Lur'd by a villain, left her native home,
Is now abandon'd on the world's wide stage,
And doom'd in fcanty poverty to roam.
My tender wife, fweet foother of my care,
With anguish felt the fore calamity,
Fell, ling'ring fell, a victim to defpair,

And left the world, and wretchedness, to me.
Pity the forrows of a poor old man,

Whofe trembling limbs have led him to your door, Whofe days are dwindled to the fhorteft fpan,

Oh! give relief, and Heav'n will bless your ftore."

EVERY thing overdone, is liable to fufpicion. Innocence, in women, wants not the aid of oftentation ; like integrity in men, it refts in its own consciousness.

A S cheerfulness is the most natural effect of real goodnefs, it is alfo its moft powerful recommendation. Wifdom is never fo attractive, as when the fmiles.

as

SHE that cannot " weep with them that weep," well as "rejoice with them that rejoice," is a stranger to one of the fweetest sources of enjoyment, no less than to one of the nobleft leffons of Chriftianity. Those are the happiest difpofitions, which are the best.

THERE is not any thing more contemptible, or more to be pitied, than that turn of mind, which, finding no entertainment in itself, none at home, none in books, none in rational converfation, nor in the intercourses of real friendship, nor in ingenious works of any kind, is continually feeking to stifle reflection in a tumult of pleasures, and to divert wearinefs in a crowd..

FEMALE modefty is often filent; female decorum is never bold. Both forbid a young woman to lead the converfation;

converfation; and true religion dreads every thing that might look oftentatious. The most prudent course you can purfue, is to affociate, as much as poffible, with those that from real principle love the shade.

IF thou wouldeft bear thy neighbour's faults, caft thine eye upon thine own.

THE truly humble man, fuffers quietly, and patiently, internal troubles; and he is the man that makes great way in a little time, like one that fails be fore the wind.

PERFECTION does not confift in teaching the truth, but in doing it, because he is neither the greatest faint, nor the wifest man, that knows the truth moft, but he that practises it.

WHEN a young woman behaves to her parents in a manner particularly tender and refpectful, from principle as well as nature, there is nothing good or gentle, that may not be expected from her, in whatever condition fhe is placed.

The unknown World-On hearing a Passing Bell.

HARK, my gay friend, that folemn toll Speaks the departure of a foul.

'Tis gone-that's all we know, not where,
Or how the unbody'd foul does fare.

In that myfterious world none knows,
But God alone to whom it goes;
To whom departed fouls return
To take their doom, to fmile or mourn.
Oh! by what glimm'ring light we view,
The unknown world we're haft'ning to.
Swift flies the foul-perhaps 'tis gone
A thousand leagues beyond the fun;
Or twice ten thousand more thrice told,
Ere the forfaken clay is cold.

And yet who knows, if friends we lov'd,

Tho'

Tho' dead, may be fo far remov'd,
Only this veil of flesh between,
Perhaps they watch us, though unfeen.
Whilft we their lofs lamenting say,
They're out of hearing far away,
Guardians to us, perhaps they're near,
Conceal'd in vehicles of air,

And yet no notices they give,

Nor tell us how or where they live.
Tho' confcious, while with us below,
How much themselves defir'd to know,
As if bound up by folemn fate,
To keep this fecret of their ftate;
To tell their joys or pains to none,
That man might live by faith alone.
Well, let my Sov'reign, if he please,
Lock up his marvellous decrees;
Why should I wish him to reveal
What he thinks proper to conceal ?
It is enough that I believe

Heav'n's brighter than I can conceive ;
And he that makes it all his care

To ferve God here, fhall fee him there.
But oh! what worlds fhall I furvey,
The moment that I leave this clay;
How fudden the furprize-how new-
Let it, my God! be happy too!

FROM the confideration of God, as he is in himself power, wifdom, goodnefs, beauty and felicity itself, children must be often excited and stirred up to the defire of esteeming him, of praifing him, of honouring him as he deferves, and of pleafing him in every thing. They must be made to understand, that this is the principal end for which we are fent into the world, namely, to efteem, honour, and praife God, without ceafing, by the continual defires and elevations of our hearts to him; and that, fince this is the employment of angels, by being exercised in it, we become their companions in this world,

world, and even fellow-citizens of Heaven with them, by imitating those divine spirits.

SINCE both the imagination and the memory, are faculties which have the most ftrength, and moft activity in children, it would be well to cultivate them from the very beginning, that we may communicate unto them as much knowledge of the things of their falvation, as is poffible, and as they are capable of receiving.

SILENCE is neceffary on many occafions, but you muft always be fincere and courteous: You ought to retain fome thoughts, but difguife none.

AND, from the pray'r of want, and plaint of woe,
O! never, never, turn away thine ear;

Forlorn, in this bleak wilderness below,

Ah! what were man, fhould Heav'n refuse to hear? To others do (the law is not fevere)

What to thyfelf thou witheft to be done; Forgive thy foes, and love thy parents dear,

And friends and native land; nor thofe alone,
All human weal and woe learn thou to make thine own.

TRUE dignity is his, whofe tranquil mind
Virtue has rais'd above the things below,

Who ev'ry hope and fear to Heav'n refign'd,

Shrinks not, though adverse winds may keenly blow.

WE fhould be cautious and circumfpect in all our ways, and watchful over ourselves, living in the fear of God all the day long, that we fin not against him.

LET us all endeavour to be fpiritually minded, and fet our affections on things above; fubdue our paffions, be peaceable and loving, meek, courteous, modeft, teachable and governable, not wife in our own conceit, not wilful or stubborn.

WE

WE must be contented with our prefent condition, not murmuring or repining at it, or either ambitiously or covetously feeking one more high or plentiful; neither fretting and vexing our own fouls, nor envying others; but leaving freely all things to God's disposal, and fubmitting chearfully to his providence.

MAY we wifely improve every talent that God has given us; doing as much good as we can with every thing, both to ourselves and others. We must shun floth and idlenefs, vain paftimes, and fuperfluous recreations, coftly vanities, unprofitable studies and employ

ments.

IN the evening reason with thyself and say, how have I spent this day? Am I better than I was yesterday? Have I overcome any vice? and hath God's grace been effectual in me? if it has, then let my foul rejoice exceedingly, and afcribe to her Lord the glory of her good actions.

THE heart is the fountain, and our words are the ftreams; and if the fountain be muddy, the streams proceeding from it cannot be clear.

BE my ambition only to excel

In the bleft art, "the art of living well:"
Who this attains, bids fin and forrow ceafe,
With hope looks Heav'n-ward, and shall die in peace.

ON A WATCH.

WHILE this gay toy attracts thy fight,
Thy reafon let it warn ;

And feize, my dear, that rapid time,
That never must return.

If idly loft, no art or care

The bleffing can restore ;

And Heav'n requires a ftrict account
For ev'ry mispent hour,

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