  Sam Sensible’s Account of what he had seen in the Fair; particularly a Description of the Up-and-down, and other Things. IT is strange! but some children will never take advice, and always are running into dangers and difficulties. That silly chit, Wat Wilful, has been riding upon the Up-and-down, and is fallen off, and almost killed. You know what I mean by the Up-and-down? It is a horse in a box, a horse that flies in the air, like that which the ancient poets rode on. And here is poor Wat, and his mother lamenting over him. If he had taken her advice, all had been well; for as he was going to mount, Wat, says she, don’t be so ambitious. Ambitious people generally tumble; and when once down, it is not easy to get up again. Remember what your poor father used to read about Cardinal Wolsey. Farewell, a long farewell to all my greatness! This is the state of man: to-day he puts forth the tender leaves of hope, to-morrow blossoms, and bears his blushing honours thick upon him: The third day comes a frost, a killing frost, and when he thinks, good easy man, full surely his greatness is a ripening, nips his root, and then he falls as I do. I have ventured, like little wanton boys that swim on bladders, these many summers on a sea of glory; but far beyond my depth! My high-blown pride at length broke under me, and now has left me weary, and old with service, to the mercy of a rude stream that must for ever hide me. Vain pomp and glory of the world, I hate ye, I feel my heart new opened. But Wilful would, and so down he tumbled, and lies there a warning to the obstinate and ambitious. Had he taken his mother’s advice, and rode upon the Roundabout, as Dick Stamp and Will Somer did, he might have whipped and spurred for an hour without doing any mischief, or receiving any hurt. But he was a proud and obstinate silly boy. Descant on Time.Now, my young friends, though you have had a treatise on many pleasing and important subjects, yet there is one remains, and that one should not be forgot. Therefore I shall introduce a descant on Time; and this I hope will meet with your approbation; for the sole intent of this little book is to furnish you with such lessons as may improve your understanding, and ripen your judgment. You have just been informed by the poet, that Time is a wonder-worker, and truly it may well be called so. It is an awful revolutionist, for it brings strange things to pass, and occasions innumerable vicissitudes in the world. Though it is continually moving on, yet its advancements are so slow and progressive, that we frequently disregard its course. But, that time is uncertain, and Death may cut you off, even in your youth. Therefore improve the present hour, for you know not what the next day may bring forth. Slow as it seems to be, it steals upon us, and gently leads us from childhood to old age. When we arrive at our three-score years, then we begin to think that time runs on apace, and wish we had employed the fleeting hours to more advantage. Here, my young friends, is the fatal error which thousands experience to their cost; for they pursue their foolish vanities, and never consider that time is given us for the express purpose of preparing for eternity. Let me admonish you to think better, and always bear this truth in your minds. On Learning.It is impossible to enumerate all the advantages which are derived from education, or learning. It qualifies us for every station, and never fails to prove an invaluable ornament to its possessor. But the Dunce appears in a very different light; for he is the scoff of society, and must of necessity drudge through a life of ignorance and slavery. On Business.It is of little consequence what your calling is, provided you fulfil your station with honesty and integrity, for that is the true source of contentment: and if you are satisfied with that state in which God hath placed you, not even kings can desire, or be possessed of more, perhaps not so much; because the higher the station, the greater the cares. On Idleness.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 in doing of nothing, with that which is spent in idle employments or amusements, that amount to nothing. Sloth, by bringing on diseases, absolutely shortens life. “Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, while the used key is always bright.” To a Good Girl.SO, pretty Miss Prudence, you’re come to the Fair, And a very good girl they tell me you are. Here, take this fine orange, this watch, and this knot, You’re welcome, my dear, to all we have got. To a Naughty Girl.SO, pert Mistress Prate-a-Pace, how came you here? There is nobody wants to see you at the Fair. Not an orange, an apple, a cake, or a nut, Will any one give to so saucy a slut. FINIS. |
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