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19. "When you have got your bargain, you may, perhaps, think little of payment; but, as Poor Richard says, Creditors have better memories than debtors; creditors are a superstitious sect; great observers of set days and times.' 20. The day comes round before you are aware, and the demand is made before you are prepared to satisfy it; or, if you bear your debt in mind, the term, which at first seemed so long, will, as it lessens, appear extremely short. 21. Those have a short Lent, who owe money, to be paid at Easter.' At present, perhaps, you may think yourselves in thriving circumstances, and that you can bear a little extravagance without injury, but,

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< For age and want save while you may,

No morning sun lasts a whole day.'

22. "Gain is uncertain: but ever, while you live,

remember that expense is constant and certain; and "It is easier to build two chimnies, than to keep one in fuel,' as Poor Richard says: So, 'Rather go to bed supperless, than rise in debt.'

'Get what you can, and what you get hold,

But do it honestly and fairly—if you get gold.'

23. "This doctrine, my friends, is reason and wisdom; but, after all, do not depend too much upon your own industry, frugality, and prudence, though excellent things; for they might all be blasted without the blessing of heaven; and therefore ask that blessing humbly, and be not uncharitable to those who at present seem to want it, but comfort and

Remember, Job suffered, and was

help them.
afterwards prosperous.

.

24. "And now to conclude, 'Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other,' as Poor Richard says, and scarce in that: for it is true 'We may give advice, but we cannot give conduct.' However, remember this, "They that will not be counselled, cannot be helped ;' and farther, that, 'If you will not hear Reason, she will surely rap your knuckles,' as Poor Richard says."

25. Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue, and the people heard it and approved the doctrine.

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The five following chapters are extracts of letters from a Father to his

Son.

Modesty.

........

Mo"-desty, s. a virtue which includes an humble opinion of one's own abilities, an utter abhorrence of the least appearance of vice, and a fear of doing any thing which either has or may in

cur censure.

1. A'-mi-able, a. lovely, that which is the object of love.

4. Con'-fi-dence, s. firmness, an assuming boldness.

6. Im'-pu-dence, s. want of modesty.

1. Courts, s. pl. superb palaces, appropriated for the meeting of princes and noblemen, or for the administration of justice. (An open space before a house.)

9. Di-vest-ed, pret. deprived.

10. As-su-rance, s. confidence.

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1. I HAVE often told you, my dear boy, that you are too modest. Even the most amiahle virtues, when carried to an extreme, become faulty. 2. You cannot enter into company, or answer the commonest question, without being embarrassed above

measure. 3. This is very distressing to yourself, and to others also. 4. Strive, then, to acquire a little more confidence in yourself, and your manner will, of course, be more free and easy. 5. The best possible way for you to do this, is never to be guilty of any thing, either in your words or actions, that you may have just cause to be ashamed of. 6. But there is a mean in every thing; and I would much rather have you err on the side of modesty than of impudence. 7.I have often told you, that it gives me disgust to see a boy of twelve or thirteen years old, enter a room with as much famillarity as a man who has been bred in courts, and address himself to every one present with a pert and talkative freedom. 8. There is an ingenuous shame, natural to youth, which is extremely amiable. 9. For a boy to be entirely divested of it, is by no means a proof that he is perfectly accomplished, or well-bred, but rather that he is insensible of his defects. 10. Tom Townley is beloved by all; and it is chiefly because he possesses, in a very striking degree, that modest assurance which is equally remote from bashfulness on the one hand, and impudence on the other.

CHAP. VII.
Industry.

In'-dus-try, s. diligence.

2. Ex-tra-or-di-na-ry, a. different from the common course or order. A-bi"-li-ties, s. pl. the faculties or powers of the mind, being ingenuity, cleverness, &c.

E-na-ble, v. to make able.

E"-mi-nence, s. (figuratively,) exaltation or fame. (Loftiness or

height from the ground.)

7. Me-ri-to'-ri-ous, a. deserving reward.

Lau'-da-ble, a. praise-worthy.

Lan-guor, s. faintness arising from want or decay of spirit.
Sa"-lu-ta-ry, a. wholesome, promoting or contributing to health.

1. INDUSTRY is the parent of every excellence. The finest talents would be lost in obscurity, if they were not called forth by study and cultivation. 2. It is a silly notion to suppose that some men are born with such extraordinary abilities, as enable them to arrive at eminence, in any of the liberal arts or sciences, without labour. 3. Wherever you find a man distinguished for any kind of merit, that claims our admiration and respect, inquire how he has passed his time, and you will most assuredly learn, that a great part of his life has been spent in steady application to his favourite pursuits; and that his mind is always active, and in the continued habit of observation and inquiry.

4. We are certainly differently endowed by nature. 5. Some are, beyond a doubt, born with capacities superior to others, or if not born with them, they acquire them, we know not how, with any certainty or precision. 6. But be assured, that whatever gifts nature has bestowed on us, they will be of little value, if they are not cultivated and im proved by industry. 7. Think it, therefore, highly meritorious, to labour in the pursuit of any laudable attainment. 8. Let your prospects, if possible, be proportionate to your ability, and you may ensure yourself success. 9. Nature, also has annexed one of the highest pleasures we can enjoy to the surmounting of difficulties of every kind; but particu

larly those which lie in our way to excellence; and though the constant exertion of the mind be at first attended with weariness and languor, yet habit in study, as well as in the exercise of the body, will soon make it both salutary and pleasing.

CHAP. VIII.

Idleness..

2.2.200.000

1. I' dle-ness, s. aversion to labour, sloth, Bane, s. poison, ruin, destruction.

3. Con-temp-ti-ble, a.. worthy of scorn, unworthy of notice.

7. E-mu-la-ti-on, s. a noble jealousy between persons, whereby they endeavour to surpass each other in virtue and excellence.

11. As-cend'-ing, part. going upwards.

1. IDLENESS is the bane of every thing. 2. It is like the barren soil, on which all labour and cultivation are thrown away. 3. There is nothing mean or contemptible which I should not expect from an idle boy. 4. He is a discredit to his friends, a disgrace to those who have the care of his education, and a burden to himself. 5. Nothing, I am sensible, is so well calculated to correct this vice, as the discipline of a well-regulated school; but I have often been at witness of the trouble and vexation, which two or three lazy inattentive boobies have given their master. 6. Your time is parcelled out, and every hourhas, or ought to have, its proper and stated employment. 7. Every week brings with it a recurrence of the same duties, and the same hours of relaxation; nothing can be better adapted to give you habits of application, or to make them sit easy on

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