BORN for nobler ends! dare to be wife;
'T'is not e'en now too late, affert thy claim;
Rugged the path conducting to the skies,
But the fair prize is an immortal fame.

HOUSEHOLD affairs ought infenfibly to flide along, and reprefent a ftill current without noise or

waves.

CLEARNESS is the rule of fpeaking, as fincerity is the rule of thinking. Too bright fallies of wit, like flashes of lightning, rather dazzle than illuminate.

LESSONS and precepts ought to be gilded and fweetened as we do pills and potions, fo as to take off the difguft of the remedy; for it holds both in virtue and in health, that we love to be inftructed as well as phyfick'd with pleasure.

Verses fent to a young Woman, with a Carnation growing in a Flower-Pot.

WHILE this gay flower attracts thy eager fight,
And gives to every feeling fenfe delight,
Let its beft ufe thy better thoughts employ,
And yield thee profit, while it gives thee joy.
Like thee in beauty's faireft noon it blows,
Flames as the fun, and as the ruby glows;
But time, that fixes every mortal's fate,
Marks its fhort exit, aud uncertain date.
Thus the bright charms of youth and love decay,
As the fine flower that fcents a fummer's day.
Soon will the fpoils of time thy mind engage,
And e'en thy beauty wither into age;
Amid the frolicks of engaging youth,

Be thine the care to hoard the charms of truth:
To mark the moment fancy's pow'rs decay,
And place thy blifs beyond the fleeting day.

A TREE

A TREE that is every year tranfplanted, will never bear fruit; and a mind that is always hurried from its proper station, will fcarce ever do good in any.

SUPPOSING men were to live for ever in this world, it would be hardly poffible to do more towards their establishment here, than they now do.

LIBERALITY fhould have fuch a mixture of prudence, as not to exceed the ability of the giver.

WITH a falfe companion, it is hard to retain innocence; be therefore very cautious in choofing your company.

RESOLVE to speak and act well in company, in oppofition to thofe that do ill; whofe vice fet against thy virtue, will render it the more confpicuous and excellent.

An Elegy written when the Bells were tolling for the Interment of a Corpfe.

HARK! how the folemn peal begins,
And founds the fad alarm;
Forfake, it cries, forfake your fins,
And thun impending harm.

Behold! the corpfe approaching near,.
View there your transient state;
Bestow at least one pious tear,

And with fubmiffion wait.

'Ere long this melancholy scene,

Shall on your hearse attend;

With hafte employ the space between,

To make of God your friend.
Then shall your mind feel sweet repose,
Nor care disturb your rest,

Virtue alone this peace bestows,

And thus rewards the bleft..

SLIGHT

SLIGHT not thofe joys Heaven's bounty doth Purfuing what was never found below;

So many ills in ftormy life abound,

"In Heaven alone true happiness is found."

The Clofe of the Year.

AS rapid rolls the year away,

Down the fwift current of the times,,

A moment let the reader stay,
And mark the moral of my
As rivers glide towards the fea,

rhimes..

And fink and lofe them in the main,,
So man declines-and what is he?

His hope, his wifh, alas, how vain !!
Faft goes the year, but ftill renew'd,
The ball of time knows no decay;
Sure fignal of that greatest good,

We hope in God's eternal day.

(beftow,

YOUR wit may make clear things doubtful; but it is your prudence to make doubtful things clear.

IN converfation, a man of good fenfe will feem to be lefs knowing, to be more obliging, and choose to be on a level with others, rather than opprefs with the fuperiority of his genius.

IT is according to nature, to be merciful; for no man that hath not divested himself of humanity, can be hard-hearted to others, without feeling a pain in himself.

TRUE honour, as defined by Cicero, is the concurrent approbation of good men; fuch only being fit to give true praife, who are themselves praife-worthy.

NOBILITY is to be confidered only as an imaginary distinction, unlefs accompanied with the practice of thofe generous virtues by which it ought to be obtained. Titles of honour, conferred upon fuch as have no perfonal merit to deferve them, are at beft but the royal stamp fet upon base metal.

то

TO PEA CE.

COME, lovely, gentle peace of mind,
With all thy fmiling nymphs around,
Content and innocence combin'd,

With wreath of facred olive crown'd.
Come, thou that lov't the walk at eve,

The banks of murm'ring streams along,,
That lov'ft the crowded court to leave,

And hear the milk-maid's fimple fong;;
That lov't, with contemplation's eye,
The head-long cataract to view,
That foams and thunders from on high,
While echoes oft the found renew;
That lov'ft the dark fequefter'd wood,
Where filence fpreads her brooding wings,
Nor lefs the lake's tranflucent flood,

The mofy grots and bubbling fprings..
With thee, the lamp of wifdom burns,
The guiding light to realms above ;,
With thee, the raptur'd mortal learns
The wonders of celeftial love..
With thee, the poor have endless wealth,
And facred freedom glads the slave ;.

With thee, the fick rejoice in health,

The weak are ftrong, the fearful brave.

O lovely, gentle peace of mind,

Be thou on earth my conftant gueft ;;

With thee, whate'er in life I find,

This pledge of Heav'n fhall make me bleft.

AS no man lives fo happy, but to fome his life would feem unpleasant; fo we find none fo miferable, but one fhall hear of another that would change calamities with him..

HE that is afhamed to be feen in a mean condition would probably be proud of a splendid one..

ENDEAVOUR

ENDEAVOUR to make peace among thy neighbours. It is a worthy and reputable action, and will Bring greater and jufter commendations to thee, and more benefit to those with whom thou conversest, than wit or learning, or any of thofe fo much admired accomplishments.

PREFER folid fenfe to wit; never ftudy to be di verting, without being ufeful; let no jeft intrude upon good manners, nor fay any thing, that may offend modefty.

BE flow in choofing a friend, and flower to change him; courteous to all; intimate with few. Slight no man for his meannefs, nor efteem any for their wealth. and greatness alone.

AN idle body is a kind of monfter in the creation. All nature is bufy about him. How wretched is it to hear people complain, that the day hangs heavy upon them; that they do not know what to do with themfelves. How abfurd are fuch expreffions, among creatures who can apply themselves to the duties of religion and meditation; to the reading of useful books; who may exercise themselves in the purfuits of knowledge and virtue, and every hour of their lives make themselves wifer and better than they were before.

A Contemplation on Night.

WHETHER amid the gloom of night I ftray,.
Or my glad eyes enjoy revolving day,
Still nature's various face informs my fenfe
Of an all-wife, all-powerful Providence.

When the gay fun firft breaks the fhades of night,
And ftrikes the diftant hills with eastern light,
Colour returns, the plains their liv'ry wear,
And a bright verdure clothes the fmiling year;

The