The Squire and the Husbandman.

"Around me creatures all present

"The look of plenty and content;

"The grass fresh clothes the new-cropp'd vale,
"Nor doth the scented lily fail;
"The herbage with abundance fills
"The cattle of a thousand hills;
"The sparrow finds his daily food,

"And all the beasts that rove the wood.
“Shall 1 then, now encourage fear,
"Who have been fed from year to year?
"Ah no!with comfort I resign

My all to Providence benign.

""Tis true, my children shall not find

ic

Large portions left by me behind;

"But they have hands, and have been led
"By diligence to earn their bread.
"That Goodness which hath me supply'd,
"Will equally for them provide.'
"Thus me and mine I think secure-

་

"We neither wretched are, nor poor;

"But perfect happiness to prove,
"I turn my better thoughts above."

"Ah! now," said Solus, "I perceive
"You have found out the art to live,
"Nor can the humbling truth deny,
"That you are happier får, than I."

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Making both ends meet.

MAKING BOTH ENDS MEET.

A PRACTICAL LESSON.

THE scheme has oft been try'd, but try'd in vain,
One single end by adverse ways to gain,
Or, which doth equal ignorance betray,
To reach two ends by one unbending way;
Unthought-of obstacles those hopes defeat,
And neither ends, nor ways, together meet.
A conscience pure, a conduct void of shame,
Are ev'ry honest man's unwearied aim ;
But worldly int'rest holds a golden bribe,
And lures another way the venal tribe;
Thus God, or Mammon, always reigns alone,
And holds the heart an undivided throne.

To be content, and feel a tranquil mind,
Is all the wise expect on earth to find;
But mad ambition climbs the mountain peak,
To find repose where howl the tempests bleak.
To give enjoyment free from wild excess,
Is Wisdom's path of peace and pleasantness.
'Tis there the humble walk, and prove the way
Still shining more and more, to perfect day;
There, taste and see, whate'er is good below,
Yet view before them brighter prospects glow.

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20

Making both ends meet.

But earthly pleasure lures the fool to stray
Where dance the wanton, and where rove the gay;
Here flock the millions chasing false delight,
Nor once suspect the dangers out of sight.
Thus, diff'rent ways to diff'rent objects run,
And none shall find them terminate in one.

To make our means and wishes equal bear,
Prudence enjoins economy, and care.

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With this sure rule she guards from direful seeues→→→
"To make our wishes wait upon our means.".
But, ah! this rule how few can understand,
Or bring to practice with a steady hand!
Folly decoys, and Pride all rank confounds,
And Fashion drives beyond the sober bounds;
Here rich and poor in one delusion blend,
Live but to squander, and but gain to spend ;
Profusion soon exhausts the deepest purse,
And e'en the poor find waste their greatest curse. 40
Thus all around the woful proof repeat,
That people seldom can make both ends meet.
To teach his boys this art, an hoary sage,
Their minds by emblems labour'd to engage;
He lopp'd a tree, and as they round him stood,.
He gave to each a band to tie the wood;
They stretch'd the twisted twigs along the ground,
And pil'd a faggot ready to be bound,

Making both ends meet.

Then round the sticks the withies strove to twine, But vain their art, or strength to make them join ; They pull'd, and press'd, and tugg'd with might and heat,

But could not make both ends together meet.

"Stop," said the sire, "here be this lesson told, "Seek not to grasp beyond what you can hold ; "Pine not to gain beyond what you can use, "Lest all you seek, and all you had, you lose. "Here you have heap'd up sticks, at length you

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find,

Beyond the reach of these short twigs to bind; "And could you bind them, here they must remain "Your feeble limbs could not their weight sus

tain. "These heavy logs, that brushwood cast aside; "A lighter load may then with ease be tied.

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"Thus pride and folly put away with care, "And you the loads of life may bind and bear; Though short your means, yet living not too fast, "You may, make both ends wisely meet at last. "Behold yon rafters rising to a point"They spread below, but form above a joint; "Thus o'er the barn a roof is firmly bound, "To bear the storms, and keep the building

sound.

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Making both ends meet.

"So, let your views and actions always tend "Towards one centre of an honest end; "Then, tho' the tempest rage with outward din, "All shall be dry, and safe, and snug within; "A single aim shall life's best plan complete, “And make both ends at last with honour meet.

"You see this cart-road winding round the lanes, "And this small footpath o'er the fields and plains; Through this or that should we resolve to roam, "Each leads us safely to our happy home;

"But yonder track could we for ever rove,

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"We should not reach the home, nor friends we

love.

"Time must unfold what scenes your steps await;

"I can but counsel, not controul your fate. "You may be prosper'd, and aspire to ride ; "Then, must the beaten road your progress guide; "You may be poor, yet with a cheerful mind,

The humble footpath most delightful find; 1 "There, flow'ry meads, and rising crops survey, And walk at least, the best, and shortest way. 90 "Thus through life's journey as you onward go, "Or walk or ride, or trav'lling fast or slow, "Still keep the homeward track, lest wand'ring wide,

"You find no rest, nor refuge where to hide :