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8. When Adrian visited his garden, the next morning, all the flowers which he had planted, hung their heads, like so many mourners, and, as he plainly saw, were in a dying state. He replaced them with others, from his father's garden; but, on visiting them the next morning, he found them perishing like the former.

9. This was a matter of great vexation to Adrian, who consequently soon became disgusted with this kind of business, and gave it up as an unprofitable gain. Hence his piece of ground soon became a wilderness of weeds and thistles.

10. As he was looking into his brother's garden about the middle of summer, he saw something of a red colour hanging near the ground, which, on examination, he found to be strawberries of a delicious flavour. "Ah! (said he) I should have planted strawberries in my garden.'

11. Some time afterwards as he was walking again in his brother's garden, he saw little berries of a milk white colour, which hung down in clusters from the branches of a bush. Upon examination, he found they were currants, which even the sight of was a feast. "Ah! (said he) I should have planted currants in my garden."

12. The gardener then observed to him that it was his own fault that his garden was not as productive as his brother's." Never for the future, (said Rufus,) despise the instruction and assistance of any one, since you will find by experience, that two heads are better than one.

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DISSIPATION THE CERTAIN ROAD TO RUIN.

1. A young man whose name was Humphries, was a bad contriver, but an excellent workman. Nothing ran in his head so much as the wish to become a master, but he had not money enough to gratify that wish.

2. A merchant, however, who was well acquainted with his industry, lent him an hundred pounds, in order that he might open shop in a proper manner. It will from hence naturally follow that Humphries thought himself one of the happiest men in the world. He supposed his warehouse already filled with goods, he reckoned how many customers would croud to buy them, and what would be his profits thereon.

3. In the midst of these extravagant flights of fancy, he perceived an alehouse. "Come, (said he on entering it,) I will indulge myself with spending one six-pence of this money.

4. He hesitated, however, some few moments, about calling for punch, which was his favourite liquor, as his conscience loudly told him, that his time for enjoyment ought to be a some distance, and not till he had paid his friend the money he had borrowed; that it would not be honest in him, at present, to spend a farthing of that money but in absolute necessaries.

5. With these just ideas, he was nearly leaving the alehouse; but thinking, on the other hand, that if he spent a six-pence of this money, be should still have an hundred pounds all but

that six-pence; that such a sum was fully sufficient to set him up in trade; and that a single half hour's industry would amply make amends for such a trifling pleasure; he turned back and called for his punch.

6. The first glass banished all his former qualms, little thinking, that such a conduct would, by insensible degrees, open the way to ruin. The next day he recollected the pleasures of the former glass, and found it easy to reconcile his conscience to the spending of another six-pence. He knew he should still have an hundred pounds left all but one shilling.

7. The love of liquor had, at last, completely conquered him, and every succeeding day he constantly returned to his favorite alehouse, and gradually increased his quantity, till he spent two shillings and six-pence, at each sitting. Here he seemed to make a stand, and every. time he went, he consoled himself with saying, that he was spending only half a crown, and that he need not fear but that he should have enough to carry on his trade.

8. By this delusive way of reasoning, he silenced the prudent whispers of conscience, which would sometimes, in spite even of liquor, break in upon him, and remind him, that the proper use of money consisted in prudently ap plying every part of it to advantageous purpo

ses.

9. Thus you see how the human mind is led into destructive extravagances. Industry had no longer any charms to allur him, being blindly persuaded, that the money he had borrowed

would prove an inexhaustible resource for all his extravagance.

10. He was, however, at last convinced, and his conviction suddenly fell upon him like a clap of thunder, that he could not recover the effects of his dissipation, and that his generous benefactor would have little inclination to lend another hundred pounds to a man, who had so shamefully abused his kindness in the first instance.

11. Entirely overcome with shame and confusion, he gave himself up to hard drinking, which only served to accelerate his ruin. At last the fatal moment arrived, when quite disgusted with the thought of industry, and becoming an object of horror to himself, life grew insu portable, and scenes of poverty, desolation and remorse, presented themselves to his mind.

12. Overtaken by despair he fled from his country, and joined a gang of smugglers, which at that time infested every town and village on the coast. Heaven, however, did not permit such iniquities to have a long reign; for a disgraceful death soon put a period to the existence of this unhappy wretch.

13. Alas! had he listened to the first dictates of reason, and been wrought upon by the reproaches of his conscience, he might have been easy and happy in his situation, and have comfortably enjoyed the repose of a reputable old age, instead of coming to that deplorable end which is the certain reward of vice and folly.

THE COVETOUS BOY.

1. Young Samuel was the only son of a capital merchant, and was tenderly beloved by his father. He had many agreeable qualities, his countenance was pleasing, and his friends would have been very fond of him, if he had not shown, upon every occasion, a covetous propensity, that eclipsed all his accomplishments.

2. This disposition made him wish for every thing which he saw others possessed of, and even carried him to so great a length, that he would not share among his playmates any thing he had, or even let them see it.

3. It was with little Samuel, as it generally is with every body else, that he lost more than he gained by his avarice. If any body gave him any sweetmeats, he would get into some private corner of the house, and there swallow them, for fear some of his acquaintances should want part of them.

4. His father, in order to cure him of this greedy disposition, used while he was feasting in private, to give a double portion to his companions. He perceived this, and therefore left off hiding himself; but he no sooner fixed his eyes on any nicety, than he appeared ready to devour it at once, and pursued the hand of those that held it, as a vulture does its prey.

5. If Samuel had a pleasing toy of any kind, he would never show it, but conceal himself in the enjoyment of it, without ever being happy.

6. If he had any sort of fruit, he would not

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