So rashly he ventur'd the loss of his soul,
And mended his practice-by thrice taking toll.
At length he grew bolder and bolder in sin,
And cheating he deeper and deeper got in;
Of Satan, alas! he was quite at the beck,
Where he first took a pound he at length took a
peck.

No church he frequented to pray for his soul, Who wou'd might go thither-so he could take toll.

The Farmer, the Squire, the Parson likewise
Agreed to observe him with still keener eyes;
But the Justice he cheated to such a degree,
That no longer with patience his frauds cou'd he

see;

So he sent him to jail by the Law's just controul,
And a MITTIMUS paid him-for taking of toll.
Come all honest Millers whoever you be,
And listen to counsel that's given by me;
Be content, like fair tradesmen, with moderate
gains,

And look for a lawful reward of your pains;
If 'tis paid you in money be pleas'd on the whole,
And if you take any-take moderate toll.

O! seek not each way to defraud that you can,
Nor cheat in the flour, nor cheat in the bran;
Be honest, and all men will flock to your Mill,
And tho' others want custom, your's ne'er will

stand still.

And when to your MAKER you give up your soul, You'll rejoice that you always-took moderate toll. Z.

PATIENT JOE;

OR THE

NEWCASTLE COLLIER.

HAVE you

heard of a Collier of honest renown,

His name it was Joseph- you better may know
If I tell you he always was call'd Patient JOE.
Whatever betided he thought it was right,
And Providence still he kept ever in sight;
To those who love God, let things turn as they
wou'd

He was certain that all work'd together for good.

He prais'd his Creator whatever befel;

How thankful was Joseph when matters went well? How sincere were his carols of praise for good health,

And how grateful for any increase in his wealth!

In trouble he bow'd him to God's holy will;
How contented was Joseph when matters went ill!
When rich and when poor he alike understood
That all things together were working for good.
If the land was afflicted with war, he declar'd
'Twas a needful correction for sins which he shar'd;
And when merciful Heaven bid slaughter to cease,
How thankful was Joe for the blessings of peace!

When

When taxes ran high, and provisions were dear,
Still Joseph declar'd he had nothing to fear;
It was but a trial he well understood,

From him, who made all work together for good.

Tho' his wife was but sickly, his gettings but small,

A mind so submissive prepar'd him for all;

He liv'd on his gains were they greater or less, And the Giver he ceas'd not each moment to bless,

When another child came he receiv'd him with joy, And Providence bless'd who had sent him a boy; But when the child dy'd-said poor Joe I'm con

tent,

For God had a right to recal what he lent.

It was Joseph's ill-fortune to work in a pit
With some who believ'd that profaneness was wit;
When disasters befel him much pleasure they
shew'd,

And laugh'd and said- Joseph, will this work for good?"

But ever when these wou'd profanely advance That this happen'd by luck, and that happen'd by chance,

Still Joseph insisted no chance cou'd be found, Not a sparrow by accident falls to the ground. Among his companions who work'd in the pit, And made him the butt of their profligate wit, Was idle Tim Jenkins, who drank and who gam'd, Who mock'd at his Bible, and was not asham'd.

One day at the pit his old comrades he found, And they chatted, preparing to go under ground;

Tim

Tim Jenkins, as usual, was turning to jest
Joes notion that all things which happen'd were

best.

As Joe on the ground had unthinkingly laid
His provision for dinner of bacon and bread,
A dog on the watch seiz'd the bread and the meat,
And off with his prey ran with footsteps so fleet.
Now to see the delight that Tim Jenkins exprest!
Is the loss of thy dinner too, Joe, for the best?'
No doubt on't,' said Joe, 'but as I must eat,
'Tis my duty to try to recover my meat.'

So saying he follow'd the dog along round,
While Tim laughing and swearing, went down
under ground;

Poor Joe soon return'd, tho' his bacon was lost, For the dog a good dinner had made at his cost.

When Joseph came back, he expected a sneer, But the face of each Collier spoke horror and fear;

What a narrow escape hast thou had, they all said, The pit is fall'n in, and Tim Jenkins is dead! How sincere was the gratitude Joseph express'd! How warm the compassion which glow'd in his

breast!

Thus events great and small, if aright understood, Will be found to be working together for good.

When my meat, Joseph cry'd, was just now stol'n away,

And I had no prospect of eating to-day,

How coul'd it appear to a short-sighted sinner, That my life woul'd be sav'd by the loss of my dinner ?"

Z.

THE

33

THE

Middle Way's the best.

HERE is one Truth in life (It holds in ev'ry Station) Which I've often told my wife, And now I'll tell the nation. This truth if none did hate Sir; 'Twould set the land at rest; 'Tis-whether in Church or State, Sir, That the middle way's the best.

Now some are stiff Dissenters,

And some are Churchmen strong;
Thus each to differ ventures,
But each is a little wrong:
And thus they part asunder
As far as East and West:

I

say they both do blunder,
For the middle way's the best.
And some they get so Royal
They're thought in Kingly pay:
And some are so disloyal,
They frighten us ev'ry day.
And thus they part asunder,
As far as East and West:
I say they both do blunder,
For the middle way's the best.

The