Thus hand in hand, through life we'll go; And mingle with the dead. While Conscience, like a faithful friend, Little Children brought to Jesus. "Forbid them not."-Embolden'd by his words Shrink, trembling-till their wandering eyes discern NOTES TO CORRESPONDENTS. GRAHAME The favours of GEORGE are received, and we shall endeavour to make room for some of his Admonitions in our next.-We have not lost sight of the Advices of our friendly correspondent H. and his Verses shall be attended to. A little consideration must convince JUVENIS, of the impropriety of expecting French Anecdotes, for translation, in THE POOR MAN'S FIRESIDE COMPANION.-The lines addressed to Mr Gairick may be good, but are not adapted to our Miscellany.-The same may be said of the esteemed favours of G. W. but we hope he will soon be able to favour us with something more to our purpose. The lines communicated by PHILANTHROPIST, cannot be too extensively circulated, but it is a pity he had taken the trouble to copy them, being already in our possession in print.-It is our intention to insert them in a future number, but in our next we shall content ourselves with giving a prose account of the process. We stop the press to say, that the very sensible and judicious paper by L. came too late. HADDINGTON; Printed and Published, MONTHLY, by G. MILLER & SON. Father ABRAHAM stood up, and replied.-If you'd have my advice, THE CHEAP MAGAZINE; STORY OF FATHER ABRAHAM. I HAVE heard, that nothing gives an author so great pleasure as to find his works respectfully quoted by other learned authors. This pleasure I have seldom enjoyed; for though I have been, if I may say it without vanity, an eminent author (of Almanacks) annually now a full quarter of a century, my brother authors in the same way (for what reason I know not) have ever been very sparing in their applauses; and no other author has taken the least notice of me; so that, did not my writings produce me some solid pudding, the great deficiency of praise would have quite discouraged me, I-concluded at length that the people were the best judges of my merit, for they buy my works; and besides, in my rambles, where I am not personally known, I have frequently heard one or other of my adages repeated, with, As poor Richard says," at the end on't. This gave me some satisfaction; as it showed not only that my instructions were regarded, but discovered likewise some respect for my authority: and Lown, that, to encourage the practice of remembering and repeating those wise sentences, I have sometimes quoted myself with great gravity. Judge, then, how much I have been gratified by an in. cident I am going to relate to you. I stopped my horse lately where a great number of people were collected at an auction of merchants' goods. The hour of sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain, clean, ld man with white locks, "Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Won't these heavy taxes uite ruin the country? How shall we be ever able to pay them? What would you advise us to do ?" Father Abraham stood up, and replied,-If you'd have my advice, I'll give it to you in short: " for a word to the wise is enough; and many words won't fill a bushel," as poor Richard says. They joined in desiring him to speak his mind; and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows: Friends (says he) and neighbours, the taxes are indeed very heavy; and if those laid on by the govern. ment were the only ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly; and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us by allowing an abatement. However, let us hearken to good advice, and something may be done for us; "God helps them that help themselves," as poor Richard says in his Almanack. 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 doing of nothing, with that which is spent in idle employments, or amusements that amount to nothing. Sloth, by bringing on di eases, absolutely shortens life. "Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, while the key used is always bright," as poor Richard says. But dost thou love life? then do not squander time, for "that's the stuff life is made of," as poor Richard says. 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," as poor Richard says. "If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be, (as poor Richard says) the greatest prodigality;" since, as he else where tells, "Lost time is never found again; and what we call time enough always proves little enough." Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity. Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy," as poor Richard says; and," he that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him," as we read in poor Richard; who adds, "Drive thy business; let not that drive thee," and Early to bed, and early to rise, Make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times ? We make these times better if we besth ourselves. "Industry needs not wish," as poor Richard says; and, "He that lives upon hope, will die fasting." "There are no gains without pains; then help hands, for I have no lands; or if I have, they are smartly tax. ed;" and, (as poor Richard likewise observes,) "He that hath a trade hath an estate; and he that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honour:" 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, as poor Richard says, " 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, while despair increaseth them," says poor Richard. What tho you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy? "Diligence is the mother of good luck," as poor Richard says; and, "God gives all things to industry; Then plough deep while sluggard's sleep, says poor Dick. Work while it is called to-day; for you know not how much you may be hindered to-morrow; which makes poor Richard say, "One to-day is worth two to-morrows; and further, "Have you somewhat to do to-mor row, do it to-day." If you were a servant, would you not |