I pass'd by his garden and saw the wild brier,
The thorn and the thistle grow broader and higher;
The clothes that hang on him are turning to rags ;
And his money still wastes, till he starves or lie begs.

I made him a visit, still hoping to find

He had took better care for improving his mind : He told me his dreams, talk'd of eating and drinking; But he scarce reads his Bible, and never loves

thinking.

Said I then to my heart, 'Here's a lesson for me,'
That man's but a picture of what I might be ;
But thanks to my friends for their care in my
breeding;

Who taught me betimes to love working and reading.

INNOCENT PLAY.

ABROAD in the meadows, to see the young lambs Run sporting about by the side of their dams, With fleeces so clean and so white;

Or a nest of young doves in a large open cage, When they play all in love, without anger and rage. How much may we learn from the sight!

If we had been ducks, we might dabble in mud,
Or dogs, we might play till it ended in blood;
So foul and so fierce are their natures:
But Thomas and William, and such pretty names,
Should be cleanly and harmless as doves or as lambs,
Those lovely sweet innocent creatures.

Not a thing that we do, nor a word that we say,
Should injure another in jesting or play;

For he's still in earnest that's hurt;

How rude are the boys that throw pebbles and mire! There's none but a madman will fling about fire, And tell you, 'Tis all but in sport.'

THE ROSE.

How fair is the rose! what a beautiful flower!
The glory of April and May!

But the leaves are beginning to fade in an hour,
And they wither and die in a day.

Yet the rose has one powerful virtue to boast,
Above all the flowers of the field:

When its leaves are all dead, and fine colours are
lost,

Still how sweet a perfume it will yield!

So frail is the youth and the beauty of men,

Though they bloom and look gay like the rose : But all our fond care to preserve them is vain; Time kills them as fast as he goes.

Then I'll not be proud of my youth or my beauty,
Since both of them wither and fade:

But gain a good name by well doing my duty;

This will scent, like a rose, when I'm dead.

THE THIEF.

WHY should I deprive my neighbour
Of his goods against his will?
Hands were made for honest labour,
Not to plunder or to steal.

'Tis a foolish self-deceiving
By such tricks to hope for gain:
All that's ever got by thieving

Turns to sorrow, shame, and pain.

Have not Eve and Adam taught us
Their sad profit to compute?
To what dismal state they brought us,
When they stole forbidden fruit?

Oft we see a young beginner
Practise little pilfering ways,
Till grown up a harden'd sinner,

Then the gallows ends his days.

Theft will not be always hidden,
Though we fancy none can spy:
When we take a thing forbidden,
God beholds it with his eye.

Guard my heart, O God of Heaven!
Lest I covet what's not mine;
Lest I steal what is not given,

Guard my heart and hands from sin.

THE ANT, OR EMMET.

THESE emmets, how little they are in our eyes!
We tread them to dust, and a troop of them dies,
Without our regard or concern;

Yet, as wise as we are, if we went to their school,
There's many a sluggard and many a fool,
Some lessons of wisdom might learn.

They don't wear their time out in sleeping or play, But gather up corn in a sunshiny day,

And for winter they lay up their stores: They manage their work in such regular forms, One would think they foresaw all the frosts and the storms,

And so brought their food within doors.

But I have less sense than a poor creeping ant,
If I take not due care for the things I shall want,
Nor provide against dangers in time:
When death or old age shall stare in my face,
What a wretch shall I be in the end of my days,
If I trifle away all their prime!

Now, now, while my strength and my youth are in bloom,

Let me think what will serve me when sickness shall

And pray that my sins be forgiven: [come; Let me read in good books, and believe, and obey; That when death turns me out of this cottage of clay, I may dwell in a palace in Heaven.

GOOD RESOLUTIONS.

THOUGH I am now in younger days, Nor can tell what shall befal me; 'I'll prepare for every place,

Where my growing age shall call me.

Should I e'er be rich or great,
Others shall partake my goodness;
I'll supply the poor with meat,
Never showing scorn or rudeness.

Where I see the blind or lame,

Deaf or dumb, I'll kindly treat them; I deserve to feel the same

If I mock, or hurt, or cheat them.

If I meet with railing tongues,
Why should I return them railing?
Since I best revenge my wrongs,
By my patience never failing.

When I hear them telling Jies,
Talking foolish, cursing, swearing;
First I'll try to make them wise,
Or I'll soon go out of hearing.

What though I be low and mean,
I'll engage the rich to love me,
While I'm modest, neat, and clean ;
And submit when they reprove me.