pose; which, without incurring either guilt or disgrace, will enable them, each for himself, to foretel with considerable accuracy, what they may have to expect in future life.

To prevent disappointment, I here candidly confess, that I do not pretend to enable them to divine the amount of their fortunes,--what connexions they may form,in what parts they may reside,--nor at what period they will die nor do I regret this; nor need they; since these are circumstances which it is better for us not to know beforehand: but, with regard to things of still greater importance than these, such as the degree of success and of happiness they may reasonably expect in their undertakings and situations in the world, they will find the proposed method may be depended on.

I shall, then, suppose myself to be consulted by a number of young persons, wishing to be initiated in my secret; but they will not find me commencing my instructions with any mystical ceremony, nor pronouncing any unintelligible charm. I do not even wish to examine the palms of their hands; although I may perhaps take the liberty to notice the expression of their faces; all I require is, some insight into their present characters and past conduct.

Suppose one of them, for instance, should appear to be a lad of an indolent inactive disposition; to whom learning and exertion, whether of body or mind, was always irksome and burdensome, performed as a task, and by compulsion; he is looking forward anxiously to the time when coercion will cease, and when he shall be free from the necessity of exertion.--In this case, I do not hesitate to shake my knowing head, and in the technical language of my profession to pronounce bad luck to him. I need not ask, nor can I guess, what may be his line of business, nor what the extent of his capital; but I can foretell, with great confidence, that he will

be neither successful, respectable, nor happy. That when restraints are removed, and he is thrown upon himself, life will be burdensome to him; and that it will, very probably, end in poverty and disgrace.

:

I shall suppose my next applicant to be a gay young lady, desirous of knowing how soon she shall be her own mistress, and how large her fortune will be; as she is in want of a thousand things that she is not allowed to purchase she is very partial to jewels and laces, and to all that is showy and expensive; and wishes extremely to be able to gratify her desires. Here again, I could augur no good; so many husbands and fathers have been ruined by expensive wives and daughters, for " as poor Richard says, silks and satins put out the kitchen fire," that what could I see in her destiny but bills and bailiffs, a husband in prison, children in want, and herself in indigence?

Another approaches with his pockets stuffed with gingerbread, and his hands full of macaroons; he professes himself to be so fond of good things that he spends the greater part of his pocket money at the pastrycook's; his parents allow him to partake of every dish that comes on table, and to stuff as long as he pleases; and he owns that he considers dinner-time the best part of the day. I need not feel this young gentleman's pulse in order to predict to him an impaired constitution, and an early decay of his mental powers. Complicated disease, and premature old age are the invariable rewards of indulgence. These habits will increase with his years: a listless, burdensome life, and early death is his probable destiny.

The next applicant appears with a frowning brow, and a discontented, clouded aspect: his temper is sullen and obstinate, or fretful and irritable: he wishes to know if any thing agreeable will ever befall him, for at present he has known only unhappiness. Alas! nothing but

46

EVERY MAN HIS OWN FORTUNE-TELLER.

66

unhappiness can I predict to him. He may gr and prosper in the world, but he will ever Meshech;" his family will dread, and his nei dislike him; and his gold, if he has it, will never p that ease and content which is the reward of goo only.

Another inquirer I shall suppose to be an son, who has ever rewarded his parent's care a ness with neglect, disrespect and disobedience on this case, I can pronounce with a greater d certainty than on any of the preceding. Som never appear to meet their proper punishment world; but it is a common remark, founded observation, that unkindness to parents, above crimes, reaps its reward even here. This youth he becomes a parent, will be taught by refractor lious children the anguish he has inflicted on parent. A rebellious son, an ungrateful daught expect in due time to become an unhappy fathe spised mother.

Another informs me he has had a religious ed and that he is in a great degree aware of the im of religion, and of the value of his soul; more intends before long to give it the attention it de but hitherto he has delayed to do so, from time hoping it would be less difficult at some futur than it appears now; so that, at present, he from being truly religious, as he was when first to think upon the subject. Now it requires little to foresee the probable consequences of this ten solemnly warn him that the same indisposition hitherto prevailed, will, unless strongly counterac tinue and increase; while he is intending and pu his heart will grow harder and harder, until it wi be said of him, "Cut it down, why cumbere ground?"

I fear I shall be regarded as a gloomy prognosticator; but I dare not depart from the rules of my art, which are founded on universal experience, and on the established laws of cause and effect. However, lest I be thought too discouraging, I am happy to proclaim, that these destinies are, by no means, at present, to be considered as unchangeable. On the contrary, if the indolent should be roused by a dread of the consequences awaiting his disposition, to become active and industrious, the extravagant, moderate and frugal,-the indulgent, self-denying and abstemious, the ill-tempered, mild and amiable, the undutiful, affectionate and tractable, and if the procrastinator resolve at once, that he will serve the Lord,-then it is obvious, that all my dark predictions will be immediately reversed.

He

For instance; let us suppose an inquirer of a different description to any of the foregoing. A modest, ingenuous youth now approaches, wishing to know what encouragement he may expect in his exertions. confesses that he is not gifted with superior talents, and therefore does not hope to arrive at any distinguished eminence. It appears, however, that he early acquired habits of attention and industry; that he has courage and perseverance to press forward in his undertakings, in spite of difficulties, till he has conquered them; that although his real wants are amply supplied, he has been trained in frugality and self-denial; therefore his wishes are few and moderate, so that he has always his mite to spare for the poor and the destitute. He cannot boast of rich or powerful patrons, but his temper is sweet, and his manners obliging, by which he obtains the good will of his neighbours; moreover, he is a good son and a kind brother; and having been taught that "the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord," he has already found"His ways to be pleasantness, and his paths peace." Now, without presuming to guess whether

this will be a rich man, I hesitate not to pronounce him a happy one he may encounter difficulties, and pass through trials, but "his bread will be given him, and his water will be sure;" especially "that bread which he casts upon the waters will return" to him, when it is wanted, though "after many days." It is besides this, more than probable, that he will eventually be successful even in his temporal affairs; that he will be "blessed in his basket and his store;" rear an affectionate family ; be beloved by his friends, and respected by all; finally, he will die in peace, and at last "enter into the joy of his Lord."

It is not unusual for fortune-tellers to predict the day of death; and although, as I said, I make no such pretensions, it may yet be expected that I should not be totally silent on the subject. And while they who presume to do so are miserable deceivers, I can with the most absolute certainty foretell what it is much more important to know, namely, that "it is appointed unto all men once to die;" the day and hour is indeed unknown: and yet each one may, for himself, look forward to a period not very distant, when he may be quite certain that he shall have reached his "long home." To know that we must die one day, is a far more interesting fact, than to know what day; and this is a circumstance which, surely, we may all foretell for ourselves.

Is it not strange, that the grandest event of our existence, that part of our fortunes which it is of infinitely greater consequence we should foreknow than whether we are to be princes or beggars,--we should so seldom inquire about, although it is more easily ascertained than any question respecting our temporal affairs ?--I mean, whether we are are going to heaven or hell! Now to know this, we have only to ask whether or not we are Christians if conscience allows us humbly to hope that we are so, in the scriptural sense of the word, then we

: