Thy parents gave thee food, and warm array,
And thine it is their kindness to repay.*
But shouldst thou use them ill when they are old,
Heaven will such conduct in abhorrence hold;
And the same treatment thou to them shalt give,
Will be return'd to thee, if thou shouldst live.†
Lest thou shouldst gain the curse of God take heed,
For see how it still cleaves to Canaan's seed!
It yet remains upon that sooty race,
And may be read in every Negro's face ;—
In their dark skins it still deep rooted lies,
Because their father did his sire despise :
For this the stain upon that people came, 4
And Blacks must still be their peculiar name.
Thy parents, therefore, never dare to slight,
Or with unkindness all their care requite;
Their evil rather with good-will repay,
And for their pardon never cease to pray.
Thus shall the promise be made good to thee,
And peace on earth thy favour'd eyes shall see;
God will preserve thee all thy happy days,
And guide thy feet in wisdom's sacred ways.
DEPORTMENT BECOMING A CHRISTIAN.
N every place to which thou dost resort, Be thy demeanour of a Christian sort;— To all obliging, affable, and right,
As is becoming in a child of light.
Be thou as harmless as the trembling dove,
And as a gentle lamb in meekness prove.
Be thou in all things, like the serpent, wise,
And choose the path where truth and virtue lies.
Then, like a candle in some spacious room,
Thou wilt do good to all who near thee come;
Or, like a star, that gilds the sable night,
Thou shalt be view'd by all men with delight.
In thine apparel study to be neat;
Make choice of what is useful and complete:
Thus dress'd according to thy station go,
And neither be a sloven nor a beau.-
Since conscience is not easy to appease,
Transgress not thou thy company to please;
For sin and death are always close allies,
And make the soul a certain sacrifice.
Pass by the follies of the flippant tongue,
And, rather than be angry, suffer long:
Be always calm, nor give to passion way,
For those who keep their temper win the day.
Boast not thy talents, or what else is thine,
But rather choose to make thy virtues shine;
In works of usefulness do thou increase,
And live with all men in the bonds of peace.
While to thy neighbours thou dost kind appear,
Be to thy promise steady and sincere ;—
In all thy dealings, open, just, and fair,
That nought unworthy be discover'd there.
Thy secret actions always naked lie
To Him who views them with unerring eye,
And will to men, in open day reveal
What guilty minds most gladly would conceal.
If from the plague thou wouldst in earnest run, With equal care bad conversation shun;
For as fresh water by the salt is spoil'd,
The best of morals may be soon defil'd:
When once the river mingles with the main,
Its water never can be sweet again.—
The great Redeemer for thy pattern take,
And Him in all things thy example make;
For all that's perfect may in him be found, 5
While his disciples tread the surest ground:
True pleasures they, and they alone obtain;-
For them "to live is Christ-to die is gain."
RINK not too much, if thou art wise, For little will thy need suffice;
And know that wine is stronger found,
Than those who are for strength renown'd.
This was the cause of Noah's shame,
And kindled Lot's unhallow'd flame;
'Twas wine Benhadad did subdue,
And may a weaker man undo.
Let not thy table be a snare,
But always take especial care,
Lest thou shouldst once from virtue stray,
And for thy ruin pave the way.
With thankful heart from God receive
Such daily food as he may give;
And think how some contented were
With bread and water for their fare!
Beans, and a common sort of peas,
Did Daniel and his fellows please:
The prophets' sons were also fed
On homely food, and barley bread.
Behold the Son of God, content
To dine with Abr'am, near his tent,
On what was only common food,
Though well prepar'd, and truly good.
But few with us are satisfied
To have a table well supplied,
Unless on several cates they dine,
With pastry, and the choicest wine.
Not so our Alfred, call'd the Great,-
How plain the food that he did eat!
Yet he was wise, when coarse his fare,
And few with Alfred could compare.
The elder Cyrus often took
His luncheon near some purling brook,
Whence he the cooling draught might take,
And where his host their thirst could slake.
Thus these to greatness quickly rose,
Became the envy of their foes,
And plac'd the honours of their name
On pedestals of lasting fame.
Through luxury the Romans fell,
And many now their houses sell;
They spend what others strove to save,
And haste to an untimely grave!
But temperance will promote thy health,
And can't be deem'd a foe to wealth:
The heart when pure, the head when cool,
May profit much in wisdom's school;
And thou shalt prosper in thy day,
If virtue mark thy steady way.
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