1517

The thirsty earthsoaksup the rainAnd drinks and gaps for drink again;The plants suck in the earth, and areWith constant drinking fresh and fair.

—A. Cowley.

Pleasures are like poppies spread,You seize the flower, its bloom is shed;Or, like the snow-fall in the river,A moment white, then melts forever.

—Burns: Tam O'Shanter.

There is a certain dignity to be kept up in pleasures as well as in business.

The greatest pleasure I know is to do a good action by stealth, and to have it found out by accident.

—Charles Lamb.

To make pleasures pleasant, shorten them.

—Buxton.

Pleasures make folks acquainted with each other, but it takes trials and griefs to make them know each other.

Our sweetest pleasures—oftAre in our memories.

A man would have but little pleasure if he did not sometimes flatter himself.

The most delicate, the most sensible of all pleasures, consist in promoting the pleasures of others.

—La Bruyere.

When the fire in your room goes out, drop your pen, or, if reading, your book, and go out too; If you remain, and continue your work, you may regret it. Many a student in the universities, anxious to get on with his studies, has worked in a cold room and paid the penalty with—Pneumonia, ending sometimes in death.

—Observer.

Modern poets mix much water with their ink.

—Goethe.

Avoid all haste; calmness is an essential ingredient of politeness.

—Alphonse Karr.

A small boy was at a table where his mother was not near to take care of him, and a lady next to him volunteered her services. "Let me cut your steak for you," she said; "if I can cut it the way you like it," she added, with some degree of doubt. "Thank you," the boy responded, accepting her courtesy; "I shall like it the way you cut it, even if you do not cut it the way I like it."

The following beautiful incident is related of the late Prince consort. On one occasion a humble but very worthy man who had befriended the Prince in early life called to see him, and was invited to come to the family table. He began to eat with his knife, as he had always been accustomedto do, and this excited a little quiet merriment among the young people. Prince Albert looked round upon them, as if to say, "Stop that!" and at once began himself to eat with his knife, and continued to do so to the end of the meal. After dinner, one of the children asked him why he did so. The Prince replied: "It is well enough for us to observe the etiquette of the day; but it is far more important to avoid insulting people. I wanted my old friend to enjoy his dinner, which he could not have done had he seen you laughing at him. He is accustomed to use his knife, and it would doubtless be quite difficult for him to use the fork instead."—This was genuine politeness, and the world would be happier if the same feeling were always shown.

Politeness is as natural to delicate natures as perfume is to flowers; it smoothes wrinkles.

Ceremonies are different in every country; but true politeness is everywhere the same.

—Goldsmith.

Dr. Johnson:—"Politics are now nothing more than means of rising in the world. With this sole view do men engage in politics, and their whole conduct proceeds upon it."

—Boswell's Johnson.

Few, save the poor, feel for the poor.

Poor folks' wisdom goes for little.

—Dutch.

He that thinks he can afford to be negligent, is not far from being poor.

—Dr. Johnson.

Poor and content, is rich and rich enough;But riches, is as poor as winter,To him that ever fears he shall be poor.

Speak gently, kindly, to the poor;Let no harsh term be heard;They have enough they must endure,Without an unkind word.

—George W. Hangford.

The poor, the humble, and your dependents, will often be afraid to ask their due from you: be the more mindful of it yourself.

The poor, who envies not the rich, who pities his companions in poverty, and can spare something for him that is still poorer, is, in the realms of humanity, a king of kings.

The man who says, "Let me wait a little, when I have something to spare, I will relieve the poor," will never relieve them.

"And wherefore do the poor complain?"The rich man ask'd of me:"Come, walk abroad with me," I said,"And I will answer thee."'Twas evening, and the frozen streetsWere cheerless to behold;And we were wrapp'd and coated well,And yet we were a-cold.We met an old, bareheaded man,His locks were thin and white;I ask'd him what he did abroadIn that cold winter's night.The cold was keen, indeed, he said—But at home no fire had he;And therefore he had come abroadTo ask for charity.We met a young barefooted child,And she begged loud and bold;I asked her what she did abroadWhen the wind it blew so cold.She said her father was at home,And he lay sick abed;And therefore was it she was sentAbroad to beg for bread.We saw a woman sitting downUpon a stone to rest;She had a baby at her back,And another at her breast.I ask'd her why she loiter'd there,When the night-wind was so chill;She turn'd her head, and bade the childThat scream'd behind, be still—Then told us that her husband served,A soldier, far away;And therefore to her parish sheWas begging back her way.I turn'd me to the rich man then,For silently stood he;"You ask'd me why the poor complainAnd these have answer'd thee!"

"And wherefore do the poor complain?"The rich man ask'd of me:"Come, walk abroad with me," I said,"And I will answer thee."

'Twas evening, and the frozen streetsWere cheerless to behold;And we were wrapp'd and coated well,And yet we were a-cold.

We met an old, bareheaded man,His locks were thin and white;I ask'd him what he did abroadIn that cold winter's night.

The cold was keen, indeed, he said—But at home no fire had he;And therefore he had come abroadTo ask for charity.

We met a young barefooted child,And she begged loud and bold;I asked her what she did abroadWhen the wind it blew so cold.

She said her father was at home,And he lay sick abed;And therefore was it she was sentAbroad to beg for bread.

We saw a woman sitting downUpon a stone to rest;She had a baby at her back,And another at her breast.

I ask'd her why she loiter'd there,When the night-wind was so chill;She turn'd her head, and bade the childThat scream'd behind, be still—

Then told us that her husband served,A soldier, far away;And therefore to her parish sheWas begging back her way.

I turn'd me to the rich man then,For silently stood he;"You ask'd me why the poor complainAnd these have answer'd thee!"

—Old Magazine.

The world caresses the rich, though vulgar and ill-bred, and avoids the poor man of merit in the threadbare coat.

A worthy old Ayrshire farmer had the portraits of himself and his wife painted. When that of her husband, in an elegant frame, was hung over the fireplace, the gudewife remarked in a sly manner: "I think, gudeman, noo that ye've gotten your picture hung up there, we should just put in below't, for a motto, like, 'Aye richt!'"

"Deed may ye, my woman," replied her husband in an equally pawkie tone; "and when ye get yours hung up over the sofa there, we'll just put up anither motto on't, and say, 'Never wrang.'"

Not every man who has an easy place has a soft pillow.

If rich, it is easy enough to conceal our wealth; but, if poor, it is not quite so easy to conceal our poverty. We shall find it less difficult to hide a thousand guineas, than one hole in our coat.

Poverty is the only burden which grows heavier when loved ones help to bear it.

Poverty is in want of much, but avarice of everything.

—Publius Syrus.

A poor man resembles a fiddler, whose music, though liked, is not much praised, because he lives by it; while a gentleman performer, though the most wretched scraper alive, throws the audience into raptures.

The love of power is an instinct of the human heart.

—Tacitus.

Power often goes before talent.

—From the Danish.

When power puts in its plea,The laws are silent.

—Massinger.

A partnership with men in power is never safe.

—Phaedrus.

And (strange to tell) he practised what he preached.

—Armstrong.

Praise is the best diet for us after all.

—Sydney Smith.

Just praise is only a debt, but flattery is a present.

—Johnson.

The love of praise, howe'er concealed by art,Reigns more or less and glows in every heart.

—Dr. E. Young.

Most persons are like Themistocles that never found himself so well contented, as when he heard himself praised.

How could my tongueTake pleasure, and be lavish in thy praise!How could I speak thy nobleness of nature!Thy open, manly heart, thy courage, constancyAnd inborn truth, unknowing to dissemble!Thou art the man in whom my soul delightsIn whom, next heaven, I trust.

Self-Praise.—It is a sign that your reputation is small and sinking, if your own tongue must praise you.

The sweetest of all sounds is,—praise!

No man ever praised two persons equally—and pleased them both.

A zealous divine, who had prayed earnestly that God would teach him the perfect way of truth, was directed in a dream to go to a certain place, where he would find an instructor; when he came to the place, he found a man in ordinary attire, to whom he wished a good morning.

"I never had a bad morning," replied the man. "That is very singular; I wish you may always be as fortunate." "I was never unfortunate," said he. "I hope you may always be as happy," said the divine. "I am never unhappy," said the other. "I wish," said the divine, "that you would explain yourself a little."

"That I will cheerfully do," said the other; "I said that I never had a bad morning, for every morning, even if I am pinched with hunger, I praise God. If it rains, or snows, or hails, whether the day is serene or tempestuous, I am still thankful to God, and therefore I never had a joyless morning. If I am miserable in outward circumstances, and despised, I still praise God; you wished that I might always be fortunate, but I cannot be unfortunate, because nothing befalls me but according to the will of God, and I believe that His will is always good, in whatever He does or permits to be done. You wished me always happy, but I cannot be unhappy, because my will is always resigned to the will of God."

The divine, astonished at the man's answers, asked him whence he came.

"I came from God," he replied. "Where did you find Him?" "Where I left the world.""Where did you leave God?" "With the pure in heart." "What are you?" "I am a king." "Where is your kingdom?" "It is within my bosom. I have learned to rule my appetites and passions, and that is better than to rule any kingdom in the world."

"How were you brought into this happy condition?"

"By secret prayer, spiritual meditation and union with God; nothing below God could satisfy my desires; I have found Him, and in Him I have found Peace and Rest."

—Old Magazine.

"Our Father, in Thy mercyHear our anxious prayer:Keep our loved ones now far absent'Neath Thy care."

A laborer went to work for a wealthy farmer. It was regarded as something of a favor to be employed by him, as he was a prompt and liberal paymaster, and was look'd upon by his neighbors as a very superior farmer. The man remained with him only a few days.

"I'm told you've left farmer P," said a neighbor.

"Yes, I have," was the reply.

"Was the work too hard for you?"

"There was nothing to complain of on that score."

"What then? Were the wages too low?"

"No."

"Why did you leave?"

"There was no roof on the house!" And he went onhis way, leaving the questioner to ponder on the strange answer he had given.

The man's meaning may be found in the saying of an old writer, who affirms that a dwelling in which prayer is not offered up to God daily, is like a house without a roof, in which there cannot be either peace, safety, or comfort.

—Old Magazine.

Prayer in the morning is the key that opens to us the treasures of God's mercies and blessings; in the evening it is the key that shuts us up under his protection and safeguard.

When thou prayest, rather let thy heart be without words, than thy words without heart.

—Bunyan.

"Oh, that mine eyes might closed beTo what concerns me not to see;That deafness might possess mine earTo what concerns me not to hear;That love my tongue might always tieFrom ever speaking foolishly!But what are wishes! Lord, mine eyeOn Thee is fixed. To Thee I cry.Wash, Lord, and purify my heartAnd make it clean in every part;And when 'tis clean, Lord, keep it, too,For that is more than I can do."

—Unknown.

Rev. Thomas Guthrie:—"As an ambassador for Christ, I regard a preacher of the Gospel as filling the most responsible office any mortal can occupy. His pulpit is, in my eyes, loftier than a throne; and of all professions, learned or unlearned, his, though usually in point of wealth the poorest, I esteem the most honorable. That office is one angels themselves might covet."

—From Memoir of Dr. Guthrie.

When the preacher seeks fame he is sure to find folly.

Opinions founded on prejudice are always sustained with the greatest violence.

He who never leaves his country is apt to be full of prejudices.

—Goldoni.

Enjoy the Present.—Our advantages fly away:Gather flowers while ye may.

We cannot change yesterday—that is clear,—Or begin on to-morrow until it is here;So all that is left for you, and me,Is to make to-day as sweet as can be.

Many delight more in giving of presents than in paying their debts.

—Sir Philip Sidney.

People who strive to appear to be what they are not, only succeed in being nothing.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Thou art proud; believest thou thyself to be one of the more exalted beings?

Proud people seldom have friends. In prosperity they know nobody; in adversity nobody knows them.

Never be too much elated.

—From the Latin.

How little do they know of human nature, who imagine, that pride is likely to be subdued by adversity.

—Sir Arthur Helps.

Be unable at all times to forsake your principles.

Mrs. Campbell, a Scotch lady, was recommended as sub-governess to the Princess Charlotte, and the old King George III formed a high opinion of her. She felt reluctantto accept the post, urging her deficiency in the necessary accomplishments. "Madame," said the king, "I hope we can afford to purchase accomplishments, but we cannot buy principles."

What may be dune at ony time, will be dune at nae time.

—Scotch.

Professing, without practising, will never do us any good.

Honor and profit do not always lie in the same sack.

—George Herbert.

Lord Chatham: "I would have inscribed on the curtains of your bed, and the walls of your chamber, this:—If you do not rise early, you can make progress in nothing."

My deeds, and speeches, sir,Are lines drawn from one centre; what I promiseTo do, I'll do.

—Shakespeare.

There is no piety in keeping an unjust promise.

—From the French.

When you have promised to do any good office, the right of the thing promised, hath passed over from you to another; consequently, you will esteem yourself obliged to stand to the performance of your word, though it may be to your own prejudice.

A man who means to keep his promises can't afford to make many.

—Rousseau.

He that gives away his property before death must prepare to suffer.

The minuteness and accuracy of God's program of the ages is often overlooked. There is a singular and striking instance of this in the triumphal entry of our Lord into Jerusalem.[1592:A]The command to go into the village nearby and bring the colt that would be found tied there, was in fulfillment of a prophesy made five hundred years before by Zachariah, 9th chapter, 9th verse:—"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion: shout O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."—That same donkey colt was so essential to the transaction of that day, that the pageant could not have gone on without it.

—Rev. L. W. Irwin.

[1592:A]Mark xi, 2v.

Let those who propose, be willing to perform.

As distant prospects please us, but when near,We find but desert rocks, and fleeting air.

—Sir Sam'l Garth.

Now that I have a sheep and a cow, everybody bids me good morrow.

Prosperity often creates selfishness.

—Thos. D. Brown.

Hard work is still, and always will be, the only road to prosperity.

If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher's stone.

In ascending the hill of prosperity, may we never meet a friend.

Prosperity makes friends;Adversity tries them.

—Publius Syrus.

Prosperity makes some friends, and what is too true, many enemies.

Prosperity in business is not always a sign or proof of the rectitude of one's principles.

It shows a weak mind not to bear prosperity as well as adversity, with moderation.

We are pleased with one who instantly assents to our opinions; but we love a proselyte.

—Sir. A. Helps.

He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is humble. Teach him.

He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep. Wake him.

He who knows, and knows that he knows, is a wise man. Follow him.

Punctuality is one of the characteristics of politeness. He who does not keep his appointments promptly, is hardly fit for the society of gentlemen.

Punctuality begetsConfidenceand Respect.

—From the German.

It is neither polite nor honest to be behind hand when one can just as easily be on time. An artist solicited and obtained permission to paint a portrait of Queen Victoria. The hour and place for the important undertaking were named. Promptly the queen was present; but the artist was not when the hour came. He arrived at length, but too late, for her majesty had departed, leaving a message that she would not return. The queen had kept her promise, but the artist had failed to keep his, and thus lost the rare chance to win both fame and fortune.

—T. J. MacMurray.

Lord Nelson used to say: "I have always been a quarter of an hour before my time, and it has made a man of me."

Horace Mann said:—Unfaithfulness in the keeping of an appointment is an act of dishonesty. You may as well borrow a person's money as his time.

To be unpunctual is sometimes considered a mark of consequence by little great men, but the truly great have always thought differently.

Purposes, like eggs, unless they be hatched into action, will run into decay.

—Smiles.

I can get no remedy against the consumption of the purse: borrowing only lingers and lingers it out, and I find the disease is incurable.

—Shakespeare.

Who has an empty purse must have a sweet tongue.

Not to oversee workmen is to leave them your purse open.

—Franklin.

Quakerwise.—"William, thee knows I never call any bad names; but, William, if the mayor of the city were to come to me and say, 'Joshua, I want thee to find me the biggest liar in the city,' I would come to thee and put my hand on thy shoulder, and say to thee, 'William, the mayor wants to see thee.'"

In Lanarkshire, there lived a sma' laird named Hamilton, who was noted for his eccentricity. On one occasion, a neighbor waited on him, and requested his name as an accommodation to a bill for twenty pounds at three months date, which led to the following characteristic and truly Scottish colloquy:

"Na, na, I canna do that."

"What for no', laird? Ye hae dune the same thing for ithers."

"Ay, ay, Tammas, but there's wheels within wheels ye ken naething aboot; I canna do 't."

"It's a sma' affair to refuse me, laird."

"Weel, ye see, Tammas, if I was to pit my name till't, ye wad get the siller frae the bank, and when the time came round, ye wadna be ready, and I wad hae to pay't; sae then you and me wad quarrel; sae we mae just as weel quarrel the noo, as lang's the siller's in ma pouch."

In all thy quarrels leave open the door of reconciliation.

To quarrel with one person to please another, is to meet what we merit,—the displeasure of both.

—Crete.

He that blows the coals in quarrels he has nothing to do with, has no right to complain if the sparks fly in his face.

If you wish a wise answer you must put a rational question.

The rain is coming down in sheets;It makes me sad to think aboutThe mud that will be in the streetsAnd all the crops and things washed out.

This rain will wash the dirt away,And leave the pavements nice and clean;I needn't use the hose to-dayTo keep the front yard looking green.

My high birth suffocates me. If thou love me, mother, thou wilt not on all occasions quote my high rank; it is those only who have no peculiar good in their own nature who are constantly speaking of their noble birth.

A man who attempts to read all the new publications must do as the fly does—skip.

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