Great, indeed, were his disappointment and surprise, when, instead of finding the tree loaded with excellent fruit, he beheld nothing but a few withered leaves, and branches covered with moss. He instantly went to his father, and complained of his partiality in giving him a tree that was worthless and barren, while his brother's produced the most luxuriant fruit; and he thought that his brother should, at least, give him half of his apples. As His father told him, that it was by no means reasonable that the industrious should give up part of their labour to feed the idle. "If your tree," said he, "has produced you nothing, it is but a just reward of your indolence, since you see what the industry of your brother has gained him. Your tree was equally full of blossoms, and grew in the same soil; but you paid no attention to the culture of it. Your brother suffered no visible insects to remain on his tree; but you neglected that caution, and suffered them to eat up the very buds. I cannot bear to see even plants perish through neglect, I must now take this tree from you and give it to your brother, whose care and attention may possibly restore it to its former vigour. The fruit it produces shall be his property, and you must no longer consider yourself as having any right in it. However, you may go to my nursery, and there choose any other you may like better, and try what you can do with it; but if you neglect to take proper care of it, I shall take that also from you, and give it to your brother as a reward for his superior industry and attention." This had the desired effect on William; who clearly perceived the justice and propriety of his father's reasoning, and instantly went into the nursery to choose the most thriving apple-tree he could meet with. His brother Thomas assisting him in the culture of his tree, advised him in what manner to proceed; and William made the best use of his time, and the instructions he received from his brother. He left off all his mischievous tricks, forsook the company of idle boys, applied himself cheerfully to work, and in autumn received the re"ward of his labour, his tree being loaded with fruit. MORAL and PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS, which ought to He is always rich, who considers himself as having enough. The golden rule of happiness is to be moderate in your expectations. It is better to reprove, than to be angry secretly. Diligence, industry, and submission to advice, are material duties of the young. Anger may glance into the breast of a wise man, but it rests only in the bosom of fools. Sincerity and truth are the foundations of all virtue. By others' faults, wise men correct their own. To mourn without measure, is folly; not to mouì'n at all, is insensibility. Truth and error, virtue and vice, are things of an immutable nature. When our vices leave us, we flatter ourselves that we leave them. Let no event or misfortune make a deeper impression on your mind at the time it happens, than it would after the lapse of a year. Do unto others as you would they should do unto you. A man may have a thousand intimate acquaintances, and not a friend among them all. Industry is the parent of every excellence. The finest talents would be lost in obscurity, if they were not called forth by study and cultivation. Idleness is the root of all evil. The acquisition of knowledge is the most honourable occupation of youth. Never expect lawyers to settle disputes; nor justice from the decisions of lawyers. Beware of false reasoning when you are about to inflict an injury which you cannot repair. He can never have a true friend who is often changing his friendships. Virtuous youth gradually produces flourishing manhood, None more impatiently suffer injuries, than those that re most forward in doing them. No revenge is more heroic, than that which torments envy by doing good. Money, like manure, does no good till it is spread. There is no real use in riches, except in the distribution of them. Deference to others is the golden rule of politeness and of morals. Complaisance renders a superior amiable, an equal agreeable, and an inferior acceptable. Excess of ceremony shews want of breeding. That politeness is best which excludes all superfluous formality. By taking revenge of an injury, a man is only even with his enemy; by passing it over, he is superior. No object is more pleasing to the eye, than the sight of a man whom you have obliged. No music is so agreeable to the ear, as the voice of one that owns you for his benefactor. The only benefit to be derived from flattery is, that by hearing what we are not, we may be instructed in what we ought to be. A wise man will desire no more, than that he may get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and live contentedly. A contented mind, and a good conscience, will make a man happy in all conditions." Ingratitude is a crime so shameful, that no man was ever found who would acknowledge himself guilty of it. Truth is born with us; and we do violence to our nature when we shake off our veracity. The character of the person who commends you, is to be considered before you set much value on his praise. A wise man applauds him whom he thinks most virtuous; the rest of the world him who is most powerful or most wealthy. There is more trouble n accumulating the first hundred, than in the next five thousand He who would become rich within a year, is generally a beggar within six months. As to be perfectly just is an attribute of the divine nature; to be so to the utmost of his abilities, is the glory of man. No man was ever cast down with the injuries of fortune; unless he had before suffered himself to be deceived by her favours. Nothing engages more the affections of men, than a polite address, and graceful conversation. A more glorious victory cannot be gained over another man, than to return injury with kindness. Philosophy is only valuable, when it serves as the law of life, and not for purposes of ostentation. There cannot be a greater treachery, than first to raise confidence and then deceive it. It is as great a point of wisdom to hide ignorance, as to discover knowledge. No man hath a thorough taste of prosperity, to whom adversity never happened. Truth is always consistent with itself, and needs no invention to help it out. There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood leads on to fortune. In the career of human life, it is as dangerous to play too forward, as too backward a game. Beware of making a false estimate of your own powers, character, and pretensions. Alie is always troublesome, and sets a man's invention upon the rack, requiring the aid of many more to support it. Fix on that course of life which is the most excellent, and habit will render it the most delightful. A temperate man's pleasures are durable, because they are regular: and his whole life is calm and serene, be-, cause it is innocent. We should take prudent care for the future; but not so as to spoil the enjoyment of the present. It forms no part of wisdom to be miserable to-day, because we may happen to become so to-morrow. Blame not before you have examined the truth; un derstand first, and then rebuke. An angry man who suppresses his opinions, thinks worse than he speaks. It is the infirmity of little minds to be captivated by every appearance, and dazzled with every thing that sparkles. The man who tells nothing, or who tells every thing, will equally have nothing told him. The lips of talkers will be telling such things as appertain not unto them; but the words of such as have understanding are weighed in the balance. The heart of fools is in their mouth, but the tongue of the wise is in his heart. He that is truly polite knows how to contradict with respect, and to please without adulation. The manners of a well-bred man are equally remote from insipid complaisance, and low familiarity. A good word is an easy obligation; but not to speak ill, requires only our silence, and costs us nothing. Wisdom is the grey hairs to a man, and unspotted life is the most venerable old age. Let reason go before every enterprise, and counsel before every action. Most men are friends for their own purposes, and will not abide in the day of trouble. A friend cannot be known in prosperity; and an enemy cannot be hidden in adversity. He who discovereth secrets loseth his credit, and will never secure valuable friendships. Honour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the kindness of thy mother; how canst thou recompense them the things they have done for thee? The latter part of a wise man's life is taken up in curing the prejudices and false opinions he had contracted in the former part. He who tells a lie, is not sensible how great a task he undertakes; for he must be forced to invent twenty more to maintain it The prodigal robs his heir, the miser robs himself. True wisdom consists in the regulation and government of the passions; and not in a technical knowledge of arts and sciences. Some men miss the prize of prosperity by procrastination, and others lose it by impatience and precipitancy, E 5 |