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NECESSITY OF SOMETHING TO DO.

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go fasting. There are no gains without pains; then help, hands, for I have no lands, or if I have, they are smartly taxed. He that hath a trade, hath an estate; and he that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honour," as Poor Richard says; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious, we shall never starve; for "at the working-man's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter; for Industry pays debts, while Despair increaseth them." What! though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy, Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry. Then, "plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep. Work while it is called to-day, for you know not how much you may be hindered to-morrow," as Poor Richard says; and further, "never leave that till to-morrow which you can do to-day." "Handle your tools without mittens; remember that the cat in gloves catches no mice," as Poor Richard says. It is true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak-handed; but stick to it steadily, and you will see great effects; for "constant dropping wears away stones," and by diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable;" and "little strokes fell great oaks. Methinks I hear some of you say, "Must a man afford himself no leisure?" I will tell you, my friend, what Poor Richard says "Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure; and since you are not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour."-Franklin.

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NECESSITY OF SOMETHING TO DO.

A gentleman was under close confinement in the Bastile for seven years, during which time he amused himself in scattering a few small pins about his chamber, gathering them up again, and placing them in different figures on the arm of a great chair. He often told his friends afterwards, that, unless he had found out this mode of employing himself, he verily believed he should have lost his

senses.

MARQUIS SPINOLA.

"Pray, of what did your brother die ?" said this celebrated general one day to Sir Horace Verc. "He died," replied Vere, "of having nothing to do." " Alas! sir," said Spinola, "that is enough to kill any general of us all."

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which, having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.-Proverbs, vi. 6, 7, 8.

-Pro

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.— verbs, xxii. 29.

Neither did we (says St Paul) eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travel night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us: For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.-2 Thessalonians, iii. 8, 9, 10.

How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower!
In works of labour and of skill
I would be busy too;

For Satan finds some mischief still

For idle hands to do.

In books, or work, or healthful play,
May my first years be passed,
That I may give for every day

A good account at last.-WATTS.

When we read the lives of distinguished men, in any department, we find them almost always celebrated for the amount of labour they could perform. Demosthenes, Julius Cæsar, Henry IV. of France, Lord Bacon, Sir Isaac Newton, Franklin, Washington, Napoleon Bonaparto-different as

GENEROUS SELF-DEVOTION OF A SERVANT.

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her mistresses testified their regard for her in an epitaph which they caused to be put upon one side of the stone. They themselves also dying in the course of a few years, were buried close beside Mary Carryl, and their epitaphs were inscribed on the remaining sides of the stone. Thus were three persons different in rank, but united by kindly service and mutual respect, laid together at last in the grave on a footing of perfect equality.

King George III. had a female servant who had lived so long in his family, and served him so faithfully, that at her death he caused a monument to be erected over her grave near St George's Chapel in Windsor, with an affectionate inscription to her memory.

PLANCUS AND HIS SLAVES.

When Octavius, Lepidus, and Antonius, attained supreme power at Rome, Plancus, who had once been consul, was obliged to fly for his life. His slaves were scized and put to the torture, but refused to discover him. New torments being prepared, Plancus could no longer think of saving himself at the expense of such faithful servants: he came from his hiding-place, and offered to submit to the swords of those sent to take his life. An example so noble, of mutual affection between a master and his slaves, procured a pardon for Plancus, and made all the world say that Plancus only was worthy of so good servants, and they only were worthy of so good a master.

GENEROUS SELF-DEVOTION OF A SERVANT.

In the winter of the year 1776, the Count and Countess Podotsky being on their way from Vienna to Cracow, the wolves, which are very numerous in the Carpathian mountains, and, when the cold is very severe, are more bold and savage than usual, came down in hordes, and pursued the carriage between the towns of Osweik and Zator, the latter of which is only a few leagues from Cracow. Of two servants, one was sent before to bespeak post-horses; the other, whom the count particularly esteemed for his fidelity, sccing the wolves come near and nearer, begged his master to permit him to leave them his horse, by which their rage would

in some measure be satisfied, and they should gain time to reach Zator. The count consented: the servant mounted behind the carriage, and let the horse go, which was seized by the wolves, and torn into a thousand pieces. Meantime the travellers proceeded with all the speed they could, in hopes to reach the town, from which they were not very distant. But the horses were tired, and the wolves, becoming more savage now that they had tasted blood, had almost overtaken the carriage. In this extreme necessity the servant cried out, "There is only one means of deliverance; I will go and meet the wolves, if you will swear to provide as a father for my wife and children. I must perish; but while they fall upon me, you will escape.' Podotsky hesitated to comply; but as there was no prospect of escape for any of the party, he consented, and solemnly vowed that if the man would sacrifice himself for their safety, he would constantly provide for his family. The servant immediately got down, went to meet the wolves, and was devoured! The count reached the gates of Zator, and was saved. He conscientiously kept his word.

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The rich and the poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.-Proverbs, xxii. 2.

Ile that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; but he that honoureth him, hath mercy on the poor.-Proverbs, xiv. 31.

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.— Paul's Epistle to Titus, ii. 9, 10.

And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.-Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, vi. 9.

Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: At his day thou shalt

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give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee.-Deuteronomy, xxiv. 14, 15.

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INDUSTRY.

THE Almighty Creator has made the carth productive of many things necessary for our subsistence and comfort, but scarcely any of these things are to be had in sufficient quantities, or are in a state fit for use, without human labour. Grain must be sown and reaped; metals must be dug from the ground, and fabricated into utensils; flax, wool, and cotton, must be spun and woven. From these and the like operations, arises the wealth both of individuals and of nations. That any one, therefore, may be entitled to have food, or clothing, or any useful thing he desires, he must bear his share in the labours of society, unless he be so weak in body or mind as to be unfit for work, or already have so much wealth, of his own or another's getting, as to require

no more.

When a people do not work, but live only on fruits or wild animals, they are said to be in a savage condition. Such are the American Indians, the Caffres, and the original people of Australia. Their style of living is very miserable; they have no comfortable food or clothing; and, having no store against times of scarcity, they often perish in great numbers from hunger. A savage country rarely supports more than one person for every square mile.

When a people are industrious, they live in a much better style. As they rear and tend cattle and sheep, sow and reap corn, build dwellings for themselves, and bring home the productions of other countries in ships, they enjoy many comforts which the savage never tastes. Generally, a people are well or ill off exactly in proportion to their industry. The Germans, Swiss, French, Dutch, and British, aro the most industrious of all nations; hence their general condition is the best. In their countries, there are from one to three hundred persons for every square mile. We thus

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