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tunity offered, he never failed to avail himself of it, whether to do so were right or wrong, in season or out of season; he would deny himself no enjoyment then; by which means he is denied every enjoyment now.

9. So improvident are the indulgent, even in scorning the very things that are most valued by them!

10. Smith was apprenticed to an honest trade, and he wanted not ability to become more than ordinarily expert in it.

11. But whenever his master's back was turned, he thought it more agreeable to sit by the fire with his fellow-apprentices, to crack a pocket full of nuts, to play a game of whist, to read a dirty novel, or even to sit resting his head on his hands over the bench, than to go on with his work.

12. Thus, at the end of seven years, he left his master with an imperfect knowledge of his business, an indifferent character, and, worse than all, desultory and idle habits.

13. Now, if he had but so far denied himself while he was an apprentice, as to have applied diligently to his business, he might have earned money enough as a journeyman to procure him all those comforts and enjoyments of which he was so fond.

14. But instead of this, he was obliged to get work at low wages, when and where he could 1; so that he was poor, though he hated poverty, and

he that was so fond of dainty fare had many a scanty meal.

15. Smith was fond of company, and had, amongst his other partialities, a strong love of praise. He would not deny himself, when any opportunity afforded, the pitiful pleasure of seeking for a compliment, and of saying those little things to his own advantage, which always proved, in fact, to be to his own disadvantage.

16. Thus, amongst the most severe denials to which his want of self-denial exposed him, were the perpetual mortifications which vanity is sure

to encounter.

17. Instead of being admired, Smith was ridiculed and pitied by his most discerning acquaintance; and as he was poor, they took no pains to conceal their contempt.

18. Having, as before hinted, read a great many worthless novels during his apprenticeship, his indolent mind was often occupied in the injurious habit of castle building.

19. There was no handsome and gallant chevalier in old romance, no elegant and accomplished hero of modern tale, with whom this meagre, thread-bare, and dirty journeyman, would not at times identify himself.

20. "Who knows," he would often think, "but I may one day happen to have good luck; some do, and why should not I?" Those persons have always the highest expectations from luck, who are least disposed to make use of their cunning."

21. The many hours in every week that poor Smith sat dreaming over his hopes and his wishes for prosperity, would have done a great deal, well employed, to help him out of adversity.

22. But it was much easier, he thought, to sit still and wish for wealth and honour, than to work hard for competence and credit. At any rate, he would not, or, as he thought, he could not deny himself this unprofitable amusement.

23. Besides, he knew very well that the utmost diligence in his business would do no more than enable him to live with credit and comfort in his present rank of life; and that did not at all meet the ideas of one who was so familiar with great names, and high life, as are all readers of silly novels; so he preferred to wait for the incalculably small chances of fortune, rather than to accept the certain rewards of industry.

24. Every one who loves pleasure, knows how indispensable health is to the enjoyment of it; yet those who most value their ease, are generally the least careful in preserving it. Little acts of indulgence commonly introduce strong habits of intemperance.

25. Thus, Smith quickly lost one of the great advantages of honest poverty, health. Surely it must have been a great denial to one who was so fond of pleasure, to be always in pain! He had better have denied himself.

26. It would not have been an easy thing to have persuaded Smith, in his youth, to commence

a life or austerity, and submit to the rigours of a monastic rule.

27. Yet it may well be questioned whether the hardships, denials, and mortifications to which his want of self-denial exposed him, were not less tolerable than those he would in that case have endured.

28. But how many people live in comfort and credit, who yet are little practised in the art of self-denial! If indulgence always reduced one to wretchedness and contempt, there would be nothing to be said for it.

29. Nor is there any thing to be said for it, although the degrees of outward misery to which it subjects individuals are various.

30. It is a true remark of Dr. Johnson's, that, "in proportion as we consult our ease, we depart from happiness;" yes, in exact proportion. It is not necessary to be dirty, ragged, hungry, solitary, and despised, in order to be uncomfortable.

31. A man, reclining on the softest couch, in the most splendid apartments in the world, surrounded with obsequious attendants, and pampered with every delicacy, may be nearly as devoid of comfort as poor Smith in his miserable house.

32. If, then, the indulgent and the pleasureloving, had but a little more forethought and consideration, they would become self-denying out of mere selfishness; from conviction, that the practice of self-denial would tend to their happiness.

33. How happy are they, who, from better motives than their own immediate gratification, have learned to take up daily the light cross; to bring every thought, word, and action, into captivity and holy obedience; and who thus reap the large benefit of present comfort and satisfaction, with the good hope of an eternal reward!

LESSON LX.

ALFRED AND DORINDA.

1. MR. BUCKINGHAM, one fine summer day, having promised his two children, Alfred and Dorinda, to treat them with a walk in a fine garden, a little way out of town, went up into his dressing room to prepare himself, leaving the two children in the parlour.

2. Alfred was so delighted with the thoughts of the pleasure he should receive from his walk, that he jumped about the room, without thinking of any evil consequences that could happen.

3. Unluckily the skirt of his coat brushed against a very valuable flower, which his father was rearing with great care, and which he had unfortunately just removed from before the window, in order to screen it from the scorching heat of the sun.

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