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An Epistle, or New-year's Gift, to a young Merchant in Perth, January 1st 1751.
This small Propine that I have penn'd
A new year's gift to you I send;
In hopes it will accepted be,
From one that has regard for thee.
A new year's gift to you I send;
In hopes it will accepted be,
From one that has regard for thee.
What counsel here I do suggest,
Altho' it be not well express'd,
You'll pardon; for I had not time
To write good numbers, sense or rhyme.
Altho' it be not well express'd,
You'll pardon; for I had not time
To write good numbers, sense or rhyme.
Look round the world, my lad, and see,
If providence befriends not thee:
See thousands of as high a birth
Slaves unto toil, and low as earth;
While you sit easy, clean and neat,
And feed upon the best of meat;
Have company of ev'ry sort,
To which you will to make resort.
If providence befriends not thee:
See thousands of as high a birth
Slaves unto toil, and low as earth;
While you sit easy, clean and neat,
And feed upon the best of meat;
Have company of ev'ry sort,
To which you will to make resort.
But be advis'd to have a care,
The worst of company forbear:
Bad company corrupts a youth;
Beware thereof, and cleave to truth.
The worst of company forbear:
Bad company corrupts a youth;
Beware thereof, and cleave to truth.
Consider what Almighty Jove
Has done for you, and learn to love
Him for his goodness unto thee,
And follow after piety
Lay something up, for fear old age
With you shall happen to engage:
Wait on your business, and spend
Conform each day as you have gain'd.
Has done for you, and learn to love
Him for his goodness unto thee,
And follow after piety
Lay something up, for fear old age
With you shall happen to engage:
Wait on your business, and spend
Conform each day as you have gain'd.
Keep two diurnals, and each night
Look o'er them both if they be right;
I mean, what progress you have made
Both towards heav'n, and in your trade.
Look o'er them both if they be right;
I mean, what progress you have made
Both towards heav'n, and in your trade.
If at old age you don't arrive,
You may have children four or five,
And leave them tender, young and bare,
If of your trade you take not care.
You may have children four or five,
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If of your trade you take not care.
Beware of pride; let not your gain
Puff up your mind, and make you vain:
Nor at your loss dejected be;
Remember all's but vanity.
Suppress each carnal appetite,
And never set your heart's delight
On pleasures that are momentary;
For all things here are transitory.
And cherish ev'ry pious thought
You by God's Spirit have been taught;
For pleasures that come from above
You'll find the most substantial prove.
Puff up your mind, and make you vain:
Nor at your loss dejected be;
Remember all's but vanity.
Suppress each carnal appetite,
And never set your heart's delight
On pleasures that are momentary;
For all things here are transitory.
And cherish ev'ry pious thought
You by God's Spirit have been taught;
For pleasures that come from above
You'll find the most substantial prove.
If you incline to take a wife,
An helper meet for you thro' life,
Seek first direction from above,
Where, and on whom to fix your love,
And be advis'd good heed to take,
Wed not a wife for money's sake;
For love of pelf comes from the devil,
It causeth much mischief and evil:
Let not a Beauty tempt thy choice,
Nor yet a wanton charming voice;
For these may draw you in a snare,
Therefore, my friend, pray have a care:
Not the externals of a woman
Should be admir'd, tho' these are common;
But seek for one, till her you find
That has her beauties in her mind.
An helper meet for you thro' life,
Seek first direction from above,
Where, and on whom to fix your love,
And be advis'd good heed to take,
Wed not a wife for money's sake;
For love of pelf comes from the devil,
It causeth much mischief and evil:
Let not a Beauty tempt thy choice,
Nor yet a wanton charming voice;
For these may draw you in a snare,
Therefore, my friend, pray have a care:
Not the externals of a woman
Should be admir'd, tho' these are common;
But seek for one, till her you find
That has her beauties in her mind.
Farewel, my lad; I you commend
To him that's able to defend
Both you and me from evils all,
That any ways can us besal.
To him that's able to defend
Both you and me from evils all,
That any ways can us besal.
I am, Yours, &c. ALEX. NICOL.
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POSTSCRIPT.
If any time you have to spare,
Unto booksellers shops repair,
Where you your choice of books will find,
By which you may improve your mind;
And what you fancy take away,
And for each night what's custom pay:
No time nor cost can better be
Spent, than in dead men's company.
Unto booksellers shops repair,
Where you your choice of books will find,
By which you may improve your mind;
And what you fancy take away,
And for each night what's custom pay:
No time nor cost can better be
Spent, than in dead men's company.
Take care what books you chuse to read,
So that they alter not your creed;
For books of heresies delude,
And do more evil far than good.
So that they alter not your creed;
For books of heresies delude,
And do more evil far than good.
But innocent diversions may
Sometimes perhaps come in your way;
Take part thereof, not to excess,
They will your spirits much refresh.
Sometimes perhaps come in your way;
Take part thereof, not to excess,
They will your spirits much refresh.
A. N.
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