country, which was divided into nine principal parts or districts, each under a different governor; and these again were reduced into endless subdivisions. Some of them we were obliged to decline. It was not a little puzzling to perceive the intricate ramifications of the paths in these parts. Here the natives spoke several dialects,100 which rendered our intercourse with them very perplexing. However, it must be confessed that every step we set in this country was less fatiguing and more interesting. Our course at first lay all up hill; but when we had proceeded to a certain height, the distant country, which is most richly variëgated, opened freely to our view. 8. I do not mean at present to describe that country, or the different stages by which we advanced through its scenery. Suffice it to say, that the journey, though always arduous, has become more and more pleasant every stage; and, though, after years of travel and labor, we are still very far from the Temple of Learning, yet we have found on the way more than enough to make us thankful to the kindness of the friends who first set us on the path, and to induce us to go forward courageously and rejoicingly to the end of the journey. JANE TAYLOR. VI. THE COMPLAINTS OF THE POOR. "AND wherefore do the poor complain?" the rich man asked of me. "Come, walk abroad with me," I said, " and I will answer thee." "T was evening, and the frozen 91 streets were cheerless to behold, And we were wrapt and coated well, and yet we were a-cold. We met an old bareheaded man, his locks were few and white; We met a young barefooted child, and she begged loud and bold; We saw a woman sitting down upon a stone to rest; She had a baby at her back, and another at her breast. I asked her why she loitered there, when the night-wind was so chill, She told us that her husband served, a soldier, far away, "You asked me why the poor complain, and these have answered thee." SOUTHEY. 1. A GOOD proverb is never out of season. A word once uttered can never be recalled. A wise man may appear like a fool in the company of a fool. A goose-quill is more dangerous than a lion's claw. A thousand probabilities will not make one truth. A great man will neither trample on a worm, nor cringe before a king. A jest is no argument, and loud laughter no demonstration. A crown will not cure the headache, nor a golden slipper the gout. Avoid a slander as you would a scorpion. 2. A wager is a fool's argument. A stumble may prevent a fall. A lie begets a lie, till they come to generations. A fault once denied is twice committed. A willing mind makes a light foot. A fool's bolt is soon shot. Be not misled by evil examples never think, "others do it, too." "Bear and forbear" is good philosophy. Better to live well than long. Better to be untaught than to be ill-taught. Books alone can never teach the use of books. Brevity is the soul of wit. By the approval of evil, you become guilty of it. By learning to obey, you will know how to command. By the street of "By-and-by" one arrives at the house of "Never." 3. Begin and end with God. Beauty is the flower, but virtue is the fruit, of life. By entertaining good thoughts, you will keep out evil ones. Between virtue and vice is no middle path. By doing nothing, we learn to do ill. Combat vice in its first attack, and you will come off conqueror. Cunning and treachery often proceed from want of capacity. Cater frugally for the body, if you would feed the mind sumptuously. Choleric men sin in haste and repent at leisure. Common fame is often a common liar. Confine your tongue, lest it confine you. 4. Constant occupation prevents temptation. Credit lost is like a broken looking-glass. Charity should begin at home, but not end there. Covetous men are bad sleepers. Consider each day your last. Curses, like chickens, always come home to roost. Deem every day of your life a leaf in your history. Do good with what thou hast, or it will do thee no good. Defile not thy mouth with impure words. Despise none; despair of none. Diet cures more than the doctor. Dissembled holiness *It will be found a good intellectual exercise for pupils, to question them on the meaning of these proverbs, which the editor has carefully compiled from a great variety of sources. Several explanatory references to the index have been made, as hints to teachers, and to stimulate thought on the part of pupils. is double iniquity. Drunkenness is an egg from which all vices may be hatched. 5. Deliver your words not by number, but by weight. Do nothing you would wish to conceal. Death hath nothing terrible in it but what life has made so. Each day is a new life: regard it, therefore, as an epitome of the whole. Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other. Entertain no thoughts which you would blush at in words. Economy is itself a great income. Fortune often makes a feast, and then takes away the appetite. EI Force 6. Fear not death so much as an evil course of life. Fling him into the Nile, and he will come up with a fish in his mouth. Fortune can take nothing from us but what she gave. Few, that have any merit of their own, envy that of others. witnout forecast is little worth. Gaming finds a man a dupe, and leaves him a knave. Gluttony kills more than the sword. Heaven helps him who helps himself. He is the best gentleman who is the son of his own deserts.83 He who will not be ruled by the rudder must be ruled by the rock. His is a happy memory which forgets nothing so soon as his injuries. He that shows his passion tells his enemy where to hit him. 7. He is a wise man who is willing to receive instructions from all men. He is a mighty man who subdueth his evil inclinations. He is a rich man who is delighted with his lot. He keeps his road well who gets rid of bad company. He is an ill boy that goes, like a top, no longer than he is whipped. He that "will consider of it" takes time to deny you handsomely. Happy he who happy thinks. He who hath good health is young, and he is rich who owes nothing. He that would know what shall be, must consider what has been. Hungry men call the cook lazy. He who sows brambles must not go barefoot. 8. If the counsel be good, no matter who gave it. Industry is Fortune's right hand, and Frugality her left. If you wish a thing done, go; if not, send. If you would enjoy the fruit, pluck not the blossom. It is easy to go afoot when one leads one's horse by the bridle. In a courtry of blind people the one-eyed is king. It is an ill wind that blows nobody good. If God be with us, who can be against us? Keep good company, and be one of the number. Know thyself. Knowledge is the treasure of the mind, and discretion the key to it. Levity in manner leads to laxity in principles. 9. Learning is wealth to the poor, and an ornament to the rich. Let pleasures be ever so innocent, the excess is criminal. Light griefs are loquacious. Less of your courtesy, and more of your coin. Let not the tongue forerun the thought. Lying rides on debt's back. Much coin, much care, much meat, much malady. Men may be pleased with a jester, but they never esteem him. Many soldiers are brave at table, who are cowards in the field. None but the contemptible are apprehensive of contempt. Never speak to deceive, nor listen to betray. Never despair. Never open the door to a little vice, lest a great one should enter too. 10. Out of debt, out of danger. Peace and Honor are the sheaves of Virtue's harvest. Purchase the next world with this: so shalt thou win both. Perspicuity is the garment which good thoughts should wear. Praise a fair day at night. Pride will have a fall. Do not put your finger in the fire, and say it was your fortune. Punishment is lame, but it comes. Ponder again and again on the divine law; for all things are contained therein. Prayer should be the key of the day, and the lock of the night. Rule the appetite, and temper the tongue. Scholarship, without good breeding, is but tiresome pedantry. Say not, "when I have leisure I will study; "lest thou shouldst not have leisure. Show method in thy study, if thou wilt acquire true wisdom. 11. To profane one's lips with unchaste expressions, is like bringing swine into the sanctuary. The loquacity of fools is a lecture to the wise. The offender never pardons. The shortest answer is doing the thing The sting of a reproach is the truth of it. To err is human; to forgive, divine. The best throw of the dice is to throw them away. There are those who despise pride with a greater pride. The perfection of art is to conceal art. The crime, not the scaffold, makes the shame. The hog never looks up to him that thrashes down the acorns. no worse robber than a bad book. The sweetest wine makes the sharpest vinegar. The raven cried to the crow, "Avaunt, blackamoor! The less wit a man has, the less he knows he wants it. The feet of retribution are shod with wool. best way to see divine light is to put out thine own candle. There is The 12. Understanding without wealth is like feet without shoes; wealth without understanding is like shoes without feet. Use soft words and hard arguments. Virtue that parleys is near a surrender. Vows made in storms are too often forgotten in calms. When men speak ill of you, live so that nobody will believe them. Want of punctuality is a species of falsehood. What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the mind. Wherever there is flattery, there is sure to be a fool. Wit is folly unless a wise man has the keeping of it. When the wine is in, the wit is out. 13. What greater torment than the consciousness of having known the will of our Creator and yet disobeyed it! Wine is a 99 turncoat: first a friend, and last an enemy. "Welcome death," quoth the rat, when the trap snapped. When good cheer is lacking, false friends will be packing. Wisdom and virtue go hand in hand. Walk in the way of uprightness, and shun the way of darkness. When a man's coats is threadbare, it is easy to pick a hole in it. Winter discovers what summer conceals. Were98 it not for hope, the heart would break. Who thinks to deceive God, has already deceived himself. 14. A bad workman quarrels with his tools. A creaking door hangs long on its hinges. A fault confessed is half re dressed. An evil lesson is soon learned. Be slow to promise, and quick to perform. Don't measure other people's corn by your bushel. Catch the bear before you sell his skin. Firs deserve, and then desire. He lacks most that longs most. lis liveth long who liveth well. He that reckons without his h must reckon again. In a calm sea every man is a pilot. Isee not to eat, but eat to live. Many go out for wool and cond home shorn. The best physicians are Dr. Diet, Dr. Quiet, aor Dr. Merryman. Man proposes, God disposes. re VIII. THE LIGHT-HOUSE. THE scene was more beautiful far to my eye The murmur rose soft as I silently gazed From the dim distant hill, till the light-house fire blazed No longer the joy of the sailor-boy's breast One moment I looked from the hill's gentle slɔpe, And I thought that the light-house looked lovely as hope, The time is long past, and the scene is afar, Will memory sometimes rekindle the star In life's closing hour, when the trembling soul flies, then may the seraph of mercy arise, Like a star on eternity's ocean! ANON. |