PROVERBS.-PHILANTHROPY. The kindred sigh conveys a strange relief Less are the woes, and lighter are the cares PROVERBS. A BURTHEN Which one chooses is not felt. A man is a lion in his own cause. A new broom sweeps clean. As ye mak' your bed, sae ye maun ly down Every man is the architect of his own fortune 207 PHILANTHROPY. PHILANTHROPY is a great and benevolent, a kind, ge. nerous disposition of soul, which, soaring above nar row and selfish views, and dark and malevolent passions, takes pleasure in the happiness and prosperity of mankind. No private views, nor selfish motives, nor personal resentments, can induce it to sacrifice the great interests of mankind to its own, or to violate the sacred obligations which bind society together. Justice and truth, fidelity and integrity, humanity and compassion are weighty considerations, infinitely paramount to every private satisfaction, and could it invariably regulate the world by its dictates, it would soon become a kind of celestial habitation, where every mean, selfish, and malevolent passion would cease to exist. 208 OBSTINACY.-LOVE OF COUNTRY. OBSTINACY. OBSTINACY is a pertinacious and stubborn perseverance in any opinion, or course of action, we have once adopted, however absurd and destructive in its consequences. This unhappy error often arises from a strong desire of appearing consistent, and a shame of acknowledging ourselves to be wrong. It is one of those vices which mislead us with a semblance of virtue; its common foundation is pride. Pride and self-sufficiency cheat us through life, and we become dupes to our own blindness, in supposing that others do not see our weakness, because we our. selves refuse to acknowledge it. In short, truth, and nothing but truth, is what we ought obstinately to adhere to; for if we are obstinately attached to error, as sure as truth and falsehood are different things, our misfortunes in life will be in exact proportion to our obstinacy. LOVE OF COUNTRY. THE Abbé de Lille relates of an Indian, who, amid the splendor of Paris, beholding a banana tree in the Jardin des Plantes, bathed it with tears, and seemed for a moment to be transported to his own land. The Ethiopian imagines that God made his sands and deserts, while angels only were employed in forming the rest of the world. The Maltese, insulated on a rock, distinguish their island by the appellation of "The Flower of the World." The Javanese have such an affection for the place TO A CHILD.-TO A LADY. 209 of their nativity, that no advantages can induce them, the agricultural tribes in particular, to quit the tombs of their fathers. The Norwegians, proud of their barren summits, inscribe upon their rix dollars, "spirit, loyalty, valor, and whatever is honorable, let the world learn among the rocks of Norway." The Caribbees esteem their country a paradise, and themselves alone entitled to the name of men. TO A CHILD ON HIS BIRTH-DAY. With the cowslip-cups where the fairies dwell; For love bids it welcome, the love which hath smiled Watching thy footsteps, and guarding thy bed, Happy and bright is thy natal-day. LINES TO A YOUNG LADY READING THE BIBLE. OH! thus let every hour of life afford Deeds worthy for your conscience to record; Duties performed, time zealously employed, Talents improved, and happiness enjoyed · 210 LIGHTS AND SHADES.-ARTIFICE. Errors corrected, sins and failings mourned, Blessings received, and grateful praise returned. LIGHTS AND SHADES. THE gloomiest day has gleams of light; The gloomiest soul is not all gloom; The saddest heart is not all sadness; And sweetly o'er the darkest gloom, There shines some lingering beam of gladness. Despair is never quite despair; Nor life, nor death the future closes ; And round the shadowy brow of care, Will Hope and Fancy twine their roses. ARTIFICE. THE most innocent dissimulation is never without disadvantages; whether criminal or not, artifice is always dangerous, and almost invariably productive of misery. The best and soundest policy is, in no case to employ artifice, or to practise the slightest deception, but to be, in every circumstance of life, upright and sincere This is the natural system of virtuous minds, and superiority of talents and of understanding is alone sufficient to lead to its adoption. THE BLANK BOOK AND PRINTED BOOK. 211 THE BLANK BOOK AND PRINTED BOOK. A FABLE. A BLANK book and a printed book were placed by the side of each other on a shelf. The blank book was often pulled out, and as often shut again with a bang, and put up with an air of vexation by those who had opened it, and sometimes with the remark, "O, there is nothing in this." But the printed book, as soon as it was opened, and glanced at, was applauded with, "This will just do." It was allowed a place near the fire,-introduced into company with sociable parlor guests,-taken out as a companion for a walk with some of the ladies, when they rambled the fields, or strolled into the pleasure grounds, and the garden,-indulged with lying on their laps in the bower, and sometimes it went out visiting, and was brought home again, much praised for the pleasure its company had afforded. One day, when returned for a short time to its place on the shelf, the blank book inquired, what it was that gave the printed book so many privileges. "You are often taken down, and admired," said the blank book, "and you go out visiting with the gentlemen and ladies, while I remain here neglected, and as dull as one of the dark days before Christmas. I think I am as big as you, as old as you,-as well dressed as you, and as much by right one of the family as you; what then makes people neglect me, and always desire your society?" "Neither of the things you mention," said |