Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

taxes the public officers cannot ease or deliver us, by allowing a reduction. However, let us listen to good advice, and something may be done for us; "God helps them that help themselves."

3. It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one-tenth part of their time, to be employed in its service; but idleness taxes many of us much more, if we reckon all that is spent in absolute sloth, or in doing nothing, with that which is spent in idle employments, or in amusements that amount to nothing.

4. Sloth, by bringing on diseases, really shortens life. "Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, while the key often used is always bright. Dost thou love life? then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of."

5. How much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep, forgetting that the "sleeping fox catches no poultry," and that "there will be sleeping enough in the grave." "If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality;" since, as we are told, "Lost time is never found again;" and what we call "time enough," always proves little enough. Let us, then, be up and doing, and doing to the purpose; so, by diligence, shall we do more, with far less trouble.

6. "Sloth makes all things difficult, but

Industry makes all easy;" and he "that rises late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night;" while "Laziness travels so slowly, that Poverty soon overtakes him." "Drive thy business, let not that drive thee;" and "Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."

7. If we are industrious we shall never starve; for "At the working-man's house Hunger looks in, but dares not enter." Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter; for "Industry pays debts, but Despair increases them." 'Diligence is the mother of good luck," and "God gives all things to industry; then plough deep while sluggards sleep, and you will have corn to sell and to keep.'

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

8. Work while it is called to-day, for you know not how much you may be hindered to-morrow. "One to-day is worth two tomorrows;" and further, "Have you somewhat to do to-morrow? do it to-day." "If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should catch you idle? If, then, you are your own master, be ashamed to catch yourself idle.'

[ocr errors]

9. Industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect. "Fly pleasures and they'll follow you; ""The diligent spinner has a large web;" and, "Now I have a sheep and a cow, everybody bids me good morrow." But with our industry we must likewise be steady, and

settled, and careful, and oversee our own affairs with our own eyes, and not trust too much to others; for

"I never saw an oft-removed tree,
Nor yet an oft-removèd family,

That throve so well as those that settled be."

10. "Three removes are as bad as a fire." "Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee.' If you would have your business. done, go; if not, send.'

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

"He that by the plough would thrive,

Himself must either hold or drive."

"The eye of the master will do more work than both his hands." "Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge." "Not to oversee workmen, is to leave them your purse open.

11. "If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself.". "A little neglect may breed great mischief." "For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy;-all for want of care about a horse-shoe nail."

DAILY WORK.

feud, a long-standing quarrel. com-pe-tence, a condition in

which one's income is sufficient
for one's needs.

1. Who lags for dread of daily work,
And his appointed task would shirk,

Commits a folly and a crime:
A soulless slave-

A paltry knave

A clog upon the wheels of time.
With work to do, and store of health,
The man's unworthy to be free,
Who will not give,

That he may live,

His daily toil for daily fee.

2. No! Let us work! We only ask
Reward proportioned to our task:
We have no quarrel with the great ;
No feud with rank-

With mill, or bank

No envy of a lord's estate.
If we can earn sufficient store
To satisfy our daily need,
And can retain,

For age and pain,

A fraction, we are rich indeed.

3. No dread of toil have we or ours,

We know our worth and weigh our powers,
The more we work, the more we win:
Success to trade!

Success to spade!

And to the corn that's coming in!
And joy to him, who o'er his task
Remembers toil is Nature's plan ;
Who, working, thinks-

And never sinks

His independence as a man.

4. Who only asks for humblest wealth,
Enough for competence and health;
And leisure, when his work is done,
To read his book,

By chimney-nook,

Or stroll at setting of the sun.
Who toils as every man should toil,
For fair reward, erect and free:
These are the men-

The best of men

These are the men we mean to be!

A CHILD'S ANSWER.

1. I met a fairy child, whose golden hair around her sunny face in clusters hung; and

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »