Anecdote. Pulpit Flattery. One of the first acts, performed by the young monarch, George the Third, after his accession to the throne of England, was, to issue an order, prohibiting any of the clergy, who should be called before him, from paying him any compliments in their discourse. His majesty was led to this, from the fulsome adulation which Dr. Thomas Wilson, prebendary of Westminster, thought proper to deliver, in the royal chapel; and for which, instead of thanks, he received a pointed reprimand; his majesty observing, "that he came to hear the praise of God, and not his own." Love. The brightest part of love is its confidence. It is that perfect, that unhesitating reliance, that interchange of every idea and every feeling, that perfect community of the heart's secrets and the mind's thoughts, which binds two beings together more closely, more dearly than the dearest of human ties; more than the vow of passion, or the oath of the altar. It is that confidence which, did we not deny its sway, would give to earthly love a permanence that we find but very seldom in this world. Varieties. 1. Some misfortunes seem to be inevitable; but they generally proceed from our want of judgment, and prudence. 2. Ignorance of the facts, upon which a science is based, precludes much proficiency in that science. 3. Trade, like a restive horse, is not easily managed; where one is carried to the end of a successful journey, many are thrown off by the way. 4. No accident can do harm to virtue; it helps to make it manifest. 5. True faith is a practical principle; it is doing what we understand to be true. 6. It is very difficult to talk and act like a madman, but not like a fool. 7. Rely not on the companions of your pleasure; trust not the associates of your health and prosperity; it is only in the hour of adversity, that we learn the And thought is lost, ere thought can soar so high, sincerity of our friends. 8. The genuine feelEven like past moments-in eternity. This world-is all a fleeting show, There's nothing true-but Heaven! From wave-to wave-we 're driven, When usefulness, and pleasure join, ings of human nature, are always the same; and the language of passion every where understood. 9. Demosthenes said, that action, or delivery, constitutes the beginning, middle and end of oratory. 10. In proportion as a truth is great, and transcending the capacity of the age, it is either rejected, or forgotten. Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love, Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove : O no! it is an ever-fixed mark, That looks on tempests, and is never shaken; It is the star to every wandering bark, [ken. Whose worth's unknown, altho' his height be taLove's not Time's fool, tho' rosy lips and cheeks Within its bending sickle's compass come; Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out e'en to the edge of doom. If this be error, and upon me prov'd, I never writ, nor no man ever lov'd. cal tones of voice, look and gesture, that accom- And to his mates-thus, in derision call'd: O what a rogue and peasant slave am I! What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, Thou look'st a very statue of surprise, The Investigation of Thought. While investigating the nature of thought, we forget that we are thinking: we propose to understand that, which, in the very effort to do so, necessarily becomes the more unintelligible; for while we think that we appreciate the desired end, the power that enables us to do so, is a part of the thing sought, which must remain inexplicable. Since it is impossible to understand the nature of thought by thinking, it is manifest, that every modification of thought, must be quite obscure in its nature; and, for the same reason, in judging of what we call ideas, we must use ideas derived from the same original, while every judgment is only a new modification. Therefore, the only ples, be revealed. Has there been such a revelatrue philosophy of mind, must, as to its princi tion? seeing two nestling birds peck at each other, Anecdote. Brotherly Love. A little boy, inquired of his elder brother, what they were doing. "They are quarreling," was the reply. "No," replied the other, "that cannot be, for they are brothers." VARIETIES. But seven wise men the ancient world did know; If a better system's thine, Impart it freely; or make use of mine. 3. He, who knows the world, will not be too bashful; and he, who knows himself, will never be impudent. 4. To speak all that is true, is the part of fools; to speak more than is true, is the folly of too many. 5. Does a candle give as much light in the day time, as at night? 6. I am not worthy of a friend, if I do not advise him when he is going astray. 7. A bad great man, is a great had man; for the greatness of an evil, makes a man's evil greater. 8. All public vices, are not only crimes, but rules of error; for they are precedents of evil. 9. Toyish airs, please trivial ears; they kiss the fancy, and then betray it. 10. Oh! what bitter pills men swallow, to purchase one false good. Aside the devil turn'd, For envy, yet with jealous leer malign, Ey'd them askance, and to himself thus plain'd: Self-love never yet could look on Truth, FEAR, CAUTION. 484. FEAR is a powerful emotion, excited by expectation of some evil, or apprehension of impending danger; it expresses less apprehension than dread, and this less than ter ror or fright: it excites us to provide for our security on the approach of evil; sometimes settles into deep anxiety, or solicitude: it may be either filial in the good, or slavish in the wicked. See the engraving for its external appearance, and also Terror or Fright. Now, all is hush'd-and still, as death! Whose ancient pillars rear their marble heads, [cold, of silver, which the boy conceiving was to be changed, went for that purpose; but, on his return, not finding his benefactor, he watched several days; at length the gentleman passed that way; when the boy accosted him, and gave him all the change, counting it with great exactness. The nobleman was so pleased with the boy's honesty, that he placed him at school, with the assurance of providing for him afterwards; which he did, and that boy became an ornament to humanity. Etiquette of Stairs. In showing a visitor-up or down stairs, always precede him, or her: there is a common error upon this Isubject, which ought to be corrected. Some persons will suffer you to precede them; even when they hold the light. Gentlemen should always precede ladies, up and down stairs. Etiquette of Riding. The gentleman should keep the lady on the right hand, that she may the more conveniently converse with him, and he may the more readily assist her, in case of accident. Varieties. 1. When you have bought The tombs, and monumental caves of death, look one fine thing, you must buy ten more; so And shoot a chillness to my trembling heart. Amid the chords bewilder'd laid; A sudden trembling-seized on all his limbs, Full fast he flies, and dares not look behind him; Come, old sir,-here's the place-stand still; Anecdote. A nobleman, traveling in Scotland, was asked for alms, in Edinburgh, by a little ragged boy. He told him he had no change; upon which the boy offered to procure it. His lordship finally gave him a piece that your appearance may all be of a piece. 2. Miraculous evidence, is inefficacious for producing any real, or permanent change in one's confirmed religious sentiments; and this is the reason, that no more of the Scribes and Pharisees of old, embraced the christian religion. 3. The great secret, by which happiness is to be realized, is to be contented with our lot, and yet strive to make it better, by abstaining from everything that is evil. 4. Every one is responsible for his own acts: all must be judged according to their deeds. 5. Is it not much easier to blame, than to avoid blame? 6. What is the difference between good and evil? 7. What makes us so discontented with our condition, is the false and exaggerated estimate, we form of the happiness of others. 8. It is much easier to plunge into extravagance, than to reduce our cxpenses; this is pre-eminently true of nations, as well as individuals. 9. Be decisive," or mild, according to circumstances. 10. Suit your conduct to the occasion. As flame ascends, Nature Never did bring forth a man without a man; Spare not, nor spend too much; be this your care--- Let me play the fool the track of its agency shall exceed human sight and calculation. Anecdote. The duke of Orleans, on being appointed regent of France, insisted on the power of purdoning: "I have no objection," said he, "to have my hands tied from doing harm; but I will have them free to do good." Truth. Truth will ever be unpalatable to those, who are determined not to relinquish error, but can never give offence to the honest and well-meaning: for the plain-dealing remonstrances of a friend-differ as widely from the rancor of an enemy, as the friendly probe of a surgeon-from the dagger of an assassin. Varieties. 1. Envy is blind to all good; and the ruling passion of the envious is, to detract from the virtues of others. 2. A good person will have no desire to influence oth ers, any farther than they can see that his course is right. 3. Good fortune, however long continued, is no pledge of future secu With mirth and laughter; so let the wrinkles come, rity. 4. Cases often occur, when a prudent Sleep when he wakes, and creep into the jaundice, And when I ope my lips, let no dog bark! 487. Miscellaneous. 1. It is impossible, to estimate, even an inconsiderable effort to promote right education. 2. It is said, that a stone, thrown into the sea, agitates every drop of water in that vast expanse; so it may be, in regard to the influence we exert on the minds of the young. 3. Who can tell, what may be the effect of a single good principle, deeply fixed in the mind; a single pure and virtuous association strongly riveted, or a single happy turn given to the thoughts and affections of youth? It may spread a salutary and sacred influence over the whole life, and thro' the whole mass of the child's character. Nay more; as the character of others, who are to come after him, may, and probably will depend much on his, the impulse we give cannot cease in him, who first received it, it will go down from one generation to another, widening and deepening, and reaching forth with various modifications, till and dignified confession, or acknowledgment And thereby hangs a tale. When I did hear And then from hour to hour we rot and rot, 488. HORROR-is an excessive degree of fear, or a painful emotion, which makes a person tremble: it is generally composed of fear and hatred, or disgust; the recital of a bloody deed fills one with horror; there are the horrors of war, and the HORROR. horrors of famine, horrible places and horrible Hark! the death-denouncing trumpet-sounds Woman's Love. As the dove will clasp its wings to its side, and cover and conceal the arrow, that is preying on its vitals, so is the nature of woman, to hide from the world the pangs of wounded affection. Anecdote. Swearing nobly Reproved. Prince Henry, son of James II., had a partic ular aversion to the vice of swearing, and profanation of the name of God. When at play, he was never known to use bad words; and on being asked the reason, why he did not swear, as well as others, answered, that he knew no game worthy of an oath. The same answer he gave at a hunting match, when the almost spent stag was killed by a butcher's dog, that was passing along the road; the huntsmen tried to irritate the prince against the butcher, but without succeeding. His highness answered coolly, "True, the dog killed the stag, but the butcher could not help it." They replied, that if his father had been served so, he would have sworn so, as no one could have endured it. "Away," said the prince, "all the pleasure in the world is. not worth an oath." Varieties. 1. A selfish person is never contented, unless he have every thing his own way, and have the best place, and be put first 489. PLOTTING CRUELTY AND HORROR! Mac- in every thing; of course, he is generally un-beth's soliloquy before murdering Duncan. (Start- happy. 2. The mind of man is, of itself, ing.) "Is this a dagger, which I see before me?" opaque, the Divine mind alone, is luminous. (Courage.) "The handle toward my hand? Come, He is the light of both worlds, the natural and let me clutch thee:" (Wonder.) "I have thee not; spiritual. 3. Is it not better to remain in a and yet I see thee still." (Horror.) "Art thou not, state of error, than to understand something fatal vision, sensible to feeling-as to sight? or art of a truth, and then reject it, because we do thou but a dagger of the mind? a false creation, not understand it fully? 4. Guilt was never proceeding from the heat-oppress'd brain?" (Eyes a rational thing; it disturbs and perverts the staring, and fixed to one point.) "I see thee yet, faculties of the mind, and leaves one no longin form as palpable as that which now I draw." er the use of his reason. 5. All evils, in their (Here draws his own, and compares them.) "Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going; and because of the propensity to evil, into which very nature, are contagious, like the plague; such an instrument I was to use. Mine eyes are made the fools of the other senses, or else worth all every one is born; therefore, keep out of the the rest: I see thee still; and on thy blade and dud-infected sphere as much as possible. 6. Is geon, gouts of blood, which was not so before." (Doubting.) "There's no such thing." (Horror.) "It is the bloody business, which informs thus to mine eyes. Now, o'er one-half the world, nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse the curtain'd sleep; now witchcraft-celebrates pale Hecate's offerings; and withered murder, alarmed by his sentinel, the wolf, whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, towards his design-moves like a ghost. Thou sound and firm-set earth, hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear the very stones prate of my whereabout, and take the present horror from the time, which now suits with it. While I threat, he lives-I go, and it is done; the bell invites me. (A bell rings.) Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell, that summons thee to heaven, or to hell. the eye tired with beautiful objects, or the ear with melodious sounds? Love duty, then, and performance will be delightful. 7. Seek only good; thus, pleasure comes unsought. When twilight dews are falling fast, Upon the rosy sea; I,watch that star whose beam so oft Has lighted me to thee; Ah! dost thou gaze at ev'n, Thou'lt yet be mine in heav'n! There's not a flower I see; But brings to mind some hope that's fled, And still I wish that hour was near,. When, friends and foes forgiven, He help'd to bury, whom he help'd to starve. |