FAIR Maid! who comes so oft this way,
Your fruit of me to buy!
In guerdon of your kindness, pray!
Before my fruit you try,-
Give ear to what I have to say,
For I would service do
To such as buy of me to-day,
Good customers like you!
And well its nature know;
As that of ev'ry herb and root,
That in the garden grow;-
And this I've found, and heard it too
From all who fruit have grown,-
''However fine and fresh to view,
The good, keep best alone.''
No rotten pear, however flight
The token of decay,
But soon as e'er it meets the sight,
It should be thrown away:
For be the damage e'er so small,
In little time, I've known
THe taint will often spread to all,
From that one pear alone.
I've had of Jargonels a lot,
As found as fruit could be,
All from one apple take the rot,
And prove sad loss to me.
Nor is there fruit that ever grew,
When spoil'd in any part,
But soon spoils all that's near it too,
So take these truths to heart:
A tainted grape the bunch may spoi;
A mildew'd ear, the corn in shock;
A scabby sheep, with rot and boil,
Infect and kill the finest flock.
Hence, maiden, I would have you know
The ill that evil contact brings
To all the finest fruits that grow,
And fairest maids, like other things.
Seek only all that's good to learn;
Thine ears from evil counsel turn;-
For all the more the fruit is fair,
The greater is its need of care.
GIUCCIARDINI, in his Book entitled ''Hours of Recreation,'' says that it is a
singular and sure way to acquire a knowledge of the inner nature and
character of a person, if one diligently observes the kind of society he most
frequently keeps:
For two of a kind, whate'er they be,
Are forthwith certain to agree,
as Cicero said formerly when speaking of Cato: because Nature always inclines to its
like; and hence, specially applicable to the foregoing subject is the Spanish proverb:
Di me con quien iras
Dizir te he lo que haras.
Tell me, with whom thou goest,
And I'll thee what thou doest.
To shun evil company is therefore one of the most important things to be
impressed on the mind of the youth of both sexes; and the extent of mischiet
which it leads to, may be well inferred from the writings of David, a man after
God's heart, and of Solomon, the wisest of kings; both of whom gave this subject
chapter of his Proverbs, coincide with the sense expressed in the Proverbs of all
nations, as may herein be seen:
HE that handles pitch shall foul his fingers.
HANDELT gy't peck,
Gy krygt een fleck.
BREBIS rogneuse.
Fait l'autre tigneuse.
ONE rotten sheepe wille marre a whole flocke.
LA mancana podrida
Pierde a su compannia.
UNICA prava pecus inficit omne pecus.
Dum spectant laesos oculi, laeduntur et ipsi. -OVID.
-GREX totus in agris
Unius scabie cadit, et porrigine porci:
Uvaque conspectâ livorum ducit ab uvâ. -JUVENAI, Sat. 2.
WER unter den Wölfen ist, muss mit ihnen heulen.
Ein reudig Schaf macht die ganze Heerde reudig.
EIN schurft schaep maeckt'er veel.
Die by de kreupelen woont, leert hincken.
Vuyle gronden bederven de Kabels.
DIE met den goeden omme gaet,
En acht ick noyt myn leven quaet.
FLAMR goes to heav'n. from whence it once did come,
Bids earth adue, and what it hath therefrom.
The snuffe to ashes, smoake turnes into ayre;
Light beaty's gone, which sometime was so faire;
When Death hath giv'n his last and fatall blow,
Our soule to Heaven, our Earth to earth doth goe;
Riches and honours, which it once did love,
The Soule now lothes; and seekes to dwell above:
Learne Mortals, all false pleasures to contemne,
And treasures, which the soule must once condemne:
Seeke rather for the graces of the minde,
Which you your convoy to the Heaven will finde.
FARLIE'S Emblems.
ONE ROTTEN APPLE INFECTS ALL IN THE BASKET
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