Or thus.

Since no one knows what may befall;
'Tis Prudence to be kind to all.

LESSON III. Of the Priest and the Jefter.

A merry jefting Fellow being half drunk, went to the Houfe of a Romish Priest, and asked him to give him a Guinea. Give you a Guinea, fays the Priest: Why furely the Fellow is mad to think I fhould give him fo much Money barely for afking for! Then, faid the Jefter, please to give me a Crown, Sir? Not I indeed, fays the Priest, pray be gone: So I will, fays the Fellow, if you give me but a Shilling. I fhall give you no Shillings neither, faid the Priest. Why then, faid the Fester, pray give me one Farthing only? I will give you Nothing at all, replied the Priest, fo be gone I fay. Pray, Reverend Father, be not angry, fays the fefter, for tho' I ask you for Money, it was only to try you; for it is your Bleffing I want, and hope you will not deny it me. That I will

give thee my Son, faid the Priest, with all my Heart. Come, kneel down, and receive it with Humility. I thank you, Reverend Father, fays the Arch-Wag; but, upon fecond Thoughts, I will not have thy cheap Bleffing; for I find, that if it were worth but one fingle Farthing, thou wouldst not beftow it upon me.

MORA L.

Some Men are willing to part with that, which will fetch them Nothing at all; but cannot be prevailed upon to do a free and generous Allion to help the

LESSON IV. Of the Town in Danger of a Siege.

There was a Town in Danger of being befieged, and it was confulted, which was the belt Way to fortify and strengthen it; and many were the different Opinions of the Town-folks concerning it. A grave skilful Mafon faid, there was Nothing fo strong nor fo good as Stone. A Carpenter faid, that Stone might do pretty well; but in his Opinion good strong Oak was much better. A Currier being prefent, faid, Gentlemen, you may do as you pleafe; but if you have a Mind to have the Town well fortified and fecure, take my Word, there is nothing like Leather.

MORA L.

'Tis too common for Men to confult their own private Ends, tho' a whole Nation fuffers by it. Their own Profit and selfish Views are all they aim at; notwith· Atanding they often undo themselves by betraying and undoing others.

The Same in VERSE.

A Town fear'd a Siege, and held Confultation,
Which was the best Method of Fortification:
A grave skilful Mason gave in his Opinion,
That Nothing but Stone could fecure the Dominion.
A Carpenter faid, tho' that was well spoke,

Yet, 'twas better by far, to defend it with Oak.
A Currier wifer than both thefe together,

[ Leather. Cry'd, try what you please, there's Nothing like

MORA L.

Moft Men will be true to their own private Ends,
Tho' falfe to their Country, Religion, and Friends;
[Profit,
The chief Thing is thought of, and that's their own
Which must be fecured, whatever comes of it:
But while this Self-Love is a Nation's Undoing,
Ev'n they who betray it, oft fink in the Ruin.

TABLE XI.

Contains fome Select LESSONS, both useful and entertaining; by which a YOUTH may fee the natural Order of Life, and arm himself against the common Dangers of Temptation and bad Company.

LESSON I. The Story of the Boys that went intò the Water, inftead of being at School or at Home.

There were several Boys that used to go into the Water, instead of being at School; and they fometimes ftaid fo long after School-Time, that they used to frighten their Parents very much; and tho' they were told of it Time after Time, yet they would frequently go to wash themselves. One Day four of them took it into their Heads to play Truant, and go into the Water. (I think their Names were Smith, Brown, Jones and Robinson.) They had not been in long before Smith was drowned: Brown's Father followed him, and lashed him heartily while he was naked; and Jones and Robinfor ran Home half dreffed, which plainly told. where

where they had been. However, they were both fent to Bed without any Supper, and told very plainly that they fhould be well corrected at School.

By this Time the News of Smith's being drowned had reached their Master's Ear, who went to know the Truth of it; and found Smith's Father and Mother in Tears for the Lofs of him; to whom he gave very good Advice, took his friendly Leave, and went to fee what was become of Brown, Jones and Robinfon, who all hung down their Head's upon feeing their Mafter; but more fo when their Parents defired that he would correct them the next Day; which he promised he would; tho', fays he, (by the bye) it is rather your Duty to do. it than mine; for I cannot answer for Things done out of the School. Do you but keep them in due Order at Home; and depend on it, fays the Ma. fter, I will do my Duty, and keep them in Awe of me at School. But however, says he, as they have been naughty disobedient Boys indeed, and might all have loft their Lives, I fhall chastise them.

Next Day Brown, Jones and Robinson, were fent to School, and in a fhort Time were called up to their Master; and he firft began with Brown. Pray, young Gentleman, fays he, what is the Reafon you go into the Water without the Confent of your Parents, and even when you should be at School?-I won't do fo any more, fays Brown. That is Nothing at all, fays the Mafter, I cannot believe you. Pray can you swim?No Sir, fays Brown. Not fwim do you fay! Why you might have been drowned as well as Smith. -Take him up, fays the Mafter.-So Brown was taken up, and well whipt.

Well, fays he to Jones, can you fwim ?—A little, Sir, faid he.-A little! fays the Master: Why you were in more Danger than Brown, and might have been drowned had you ventured much further. Take him up, fays he.

Now Robinson could fwim very well, and thought, as Brown and Jones were corrected because they could not swim, that he should escape. Well, Robinson, fays the Mafter, can you swim? Yes, Sir, fays he, (very boldly) any where over the River. You can you fay?—Yes, Sir.-Pray then, Sir, fays his Mafter, if you can fwim fo well, what Bufinefs had you in the Water when you fhould have been at School? You don't want to learn to fwim you fay. It is plain then you go in for Idlenefs Sake. Take him up,-take him up, fays he; fo they were all feverely corrected for their Difobedience and Folly.

Having been both an Eye and Ear Witness of several Circumftances in Life, nearly parallel to the following fictitious Narrative, I have added this to the original Copy; and it has been read by feveral eminent Clergymen, private Gentlemen, and School-Mafters, who have very much approved of the fame, as a proper, and fuitable Tale, by Way of Caution and Admonition, both for Parents as well as Children. And if but one Son or Daughter fhould reap Benefit hereby, fo as to regulate their Lives, and behave in fuch a Manner, as may conduce to their own Happiness, the Comfort of their Parents or Friends, and the Good of Society, I fhall be very thankful: But whether it fhould prove fo or not; as it is plain it is wrote to encourage Virtue, and difcourage Vice, and as my chief Aim hereby is to prevent Youth (efpecially in the City of London) from falling a Sacrifice to the common Temptations of Life, and their own unguarded Paffions; I doubt not but it will meet with a kind Reception among the better Sort of People, and fuch as love Morality as it cannot fail (thro' God's Bleffing) to be of fome Service both to Children and Apprentices in general, into whofe Hands it may happen to fall.

Life