5. When MALICE foul, or deadly HATE,
Would turn thee on a foe,

And dark, revengeful thirst create,
In horror answer,—No!

6. When sluggish SLEEP, with folded arms,
Would make thee health forego,

(") Rise up at once, resist her charms;
Act out the answer,-No!

7. When AVARICE would, with heartless speed,
Shut out the sight of woe,

And whisper joy from Mammon's greed,
Indignant answer,—No!

8. When filthy LUCRE lifts her hand,
Ungodly gains to show,

Though she should promise all the land,
Be thy prompt answer,—No!

9. When greedy GAIN, or rash EMPRISE,
Would have thee surety go,

Keep Wisdom's words before thine eyes,
And firmly answer,-No!

10. When mad AMBITION would seduce
The right to overthrow,

And turn the selfish passions loose,
mercy answer,- -No!

In

11. When foul CONTEMPT of Holy Writ
Would in thy bosom sow

The wish to be where scorners sit,t

Let Conscience answer, -No!

*Prov., 11th Chap., 15th verse.

1st Psalm, 1st verse.

12. When SIN, indeed, whate'er her style,
Would have thee with her go,

Stay not to hear the Sorceress vile,
But leave her with a-No!

PE RUSE', read; study.

AL LOT TED, assigned.

LESSON XXVI.

ME RID' I AN, noon; mid-day.
GEN' U INE, true; real.
ART FUL, cunning; crafty. [feited.
MIMICK ED, pretended; counter-
PRE $IDE', have sway or rule.
DE MER IT, ill-desert; defect.

RU' BY, precious stone.

PUP PET, little image.

DE TER MINE, decide; find out.
ER' MINE, fine fur-(of the ermine.)
CAP TOR, one who takes a prize.
SCEP TER$, emblems of authority.
CHARY, careful; wary.

MYS' TIC, secret; mysterious.

We have seldom seen any thing so full of wit, truth, and practical wisdom, as this poem inscribed

TO MASTERS ROBERT AND JOHN.

1. TAKE this book, my boys,

Earnestly peruse it;

Much of after lies

In the way ye use it:

Keep it neat and clean;

For, remember, in it,
Every stain that's seen,

Marks a thoughtless minute. ·

2. Life is like a book,

Time is like a printer,

Darting now his look.

Where has gloomed no winter.

DAVIS.

Thus he'll look, and on,

Till each page allotted,

Robert, thee and John,

Printed be or blotted.

3. Youth's a sunny beam,
Dancing o'er a river,
With a flashing gleam,
Then away forever.
Use it while ye may,

Not in childish mourning,—

Not in childish play,

But in useful learning.

4. As your years attain

Life's meridian brightness,

Hourly seek and gain

Genuine politeness:

This lives not in forms,

As too many teach us,—
Not in open arms,

Not in silken speeches,

5. Not in haughty eye,

Not in artful dealing,

Not within the sigh

Of a mimicked feeling:
But its lights preside

Rich in nature's splendor,

Over honest pride,

Gentleness and candor.

6. Slight ye not the soul
For the frame's demerit;
Oft a shattered bowl

Holds a mighty spirit:
Never search a breast
By thy ruby's glances;
Pomp's a puppet guest,
Danced by circumstances.

7. What is good and great,
Sense can soon determine;
Prize it though ye meet,
Or in rags or ermine.
Fortune's truly blind;

Fools may be her captors;
But the wealth of mind
Stands above their scepters.

8. Value not the lips

Swiftest kept in motion;

Fleetly-sailing ships

Draw no depth of ocean:
Snatch the chary gleam,
From the cautious knowing;
For the deepest stream
Scarcely lisps 'tis flowing.

9. Cull from bad and good Every seeming flower,

Store it up as food

For some hungry hour:

Press its every leaf,

And remember, Johnny,
Even weeds the chief

May have drops of honey.

10. Pomp and power alone

Never make a blessing;
Seek not e'en a throne

By one wretch distressing.
Better toil a slave

For the blood-earned penny,

Than be rich, and have

A curse on every guinea.

11. Think, my gentle boys,
Every man a brother!
That's where honor lies,
Nay, but greatness rather:
One's the mystic whole,
Lordly flesh won't know it;
But the kingly soul,

Sees but vice below it.

12. Robert, thoughts like these,

Store you more than money;
Read them not to please,
But to practice, Johnny.
Artless though their dress,
As an infant's dimple,
Truth is none the less

For being truly simple.

QUESTIONS.-1. What did the writer tell Robert and John to do with the book, given them? 2. What use did he tell them to make of Youth?