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2. This was the fituation of Haman. Ad- Entitled. vanced over all the other princes and fervants of the king, he thought himself entitled to their reverence and refpect; but Mordecai tewed lowed. not, nor did him reverence.

reverence.

m

3. This fingle circumftance, ftrange as it borgi? may appear to thofe, who are unaccustomed fufficient. to receive the homage of others, was fufficient to disturb the repofe, and excite in the mind of the rich and much honored Haman, an infatiable defire of revenge.

4. But fuch were his vain ideas of honor, that he fcorned to lay hands on Mordecai alone,his death heefteemed an infufficient atonement for the affront offered to his dignity.

excite. infatiable?

infufficient.

5. When, therefore, he was informed of extenfive? Mordecai's people, he fought the deftruction of all the Jews, who refided in the extenfive

ate-?

dominions of Ahafuerus. O Haman! what indifcrimin were your thoughts? what great advantage could you expect to derive from this indif criminate flaughter? Could it appeafe your appease? wrath, give quiet to your flumbers, or display the glory of your power?

6. No, furely, your heart must have recoiled at the inhuman tranfaction, and your midnight hours would have been disturbed with the fight of thofe innocent victims, you had facrificed to fatiate your revenge.

7. But, fortunately for the Jews, your intentions were discovered, your wickednefs turned upon your own head, and yourself and family hung on the fame gallows you had prepared for Mordecai.

recoiled?

victims ?

fatiate ?

intentions.

pi&ure.
value.

8. This is a picture, not of Haman's character only, but of many other vain mortals, who know not the true value of wealth and honor. Very few, indeed,in the career of ambition, fummit. are able to obtain the fummit of their wishes,

career?

9. Theftatefman,whofe measures have been. fatefman? crowned

Fruitless?

obtain.

exclaims.

valiantly.

obftinate?

capitulate?

sempel.

extenfive?

purfuit. incomplete.

diffipate?

luxuries.

vicious?

appetites.

limate?

entitle.

crowned with fuccefs, at the fight of oppofition, or, at least, after a few fruitless attempts to obtain a favourite meafure, retires in difcentent, recounts to his family and friends the glory of his actions, the fervices he has rendered to his Country, and to fum up the whole, exclaims in the language of our text," Yet all this availeth me nothing.

10. The general, who has valiantly led his armies to victory, and obtained conqueft after conqueft, is feldom fatisfied. Some obftinate city refufes to capitulate, and if his ingenuity and the strength of his forces prove infufficient, as is often the cafe, to compel it to fubmiffion, in the rage of difappointed ambition, a rage which would willingly facrifice every foul in the city, even the mother and her helpless offfpring, he fays to himfelf, "Tho, I have conquered many cities, provinces and kingdoms, and the fame of my arms has been as extenfive as the globe," Yet all this availeth me nothing," fo long as this one city remains unconquered."

11. Thus, likewife, in the purfuit of wealth, we will admit that a man has obtained as much as his heart can defire. Still his happinefs is incomplete. He reflects that he muft foon leave his wealth, and to whom? To his children, who will diffipate it in luxuries, and the gratification of their vicious paffions and appetites. Judge for yourself, whether this man has not reafon to complain, "Yet all this availeth me nothing.

12. Reader reflect feriously on the above obfervations, and if you are the poffeffor of wealth, or have been honored by your coun try, learn to eftimate their real worth. Think not they will entitle you to respect, but confider them as the gift of Providence, put into your hands, for the purpofe of doing good to your fellow men,

Pay

Envy?

indulge

13. Pay no attention to the fnarlings of envy, indulge no revengeful paffions but do your duty faithfully, and tho more than one Mordecai bow not, nor do you reverence," you will have no reafon to fay with Haman," Yet all this a- reveneful. vaileth me nothing."

Addrefs of a Mafter to his Scholars,

on the

Ufefulness of Learning.

MY YOUNG PUPILS,

ITHOUT

1. W for learning, without you feel am

you have an inclination

Ambitious.

devoted?

diverfions?

bitious to be as forward as any in your clafs,
all my endeavours to inftruct you, will be
vain and useless. The youth, whofe mind
is devoted to plays and diverfions, and who
ftudies his leffons merely from a fear of cor- ftudies.
rection, will learn but little, and the little he
learns, will foon be forgotten."

laudable?

2. I hope, however, that I fhall never be compelling. driven to the painful neceffity, of compelling. you, by correction, to attend to your studies. It will be much more agreeable to me, much more to my credit, as a faithful instructor, and much more to your honor, as scholars, to have you attend to your ftudies, from a love of learning, and a laudable ambition to excel each other, in those branches of literature to which your attention may, from time to time, be directed.

ambition

excel.

3. At prefent you are unacquainted with contempt? the world, and do not foresee the advantages

you will hereafter derive from a thorough arithmetic. knowledge of the English language, a com

petent fkill in Arithmetic, and from being handsome. able to write a plain and handfome hand.

To point out the advantages to be derived derived?

c

from

Object?

feels.

expert?

wrefiler.

excelling.

noticed.

often.

trifling..

gratifies ?

fail.

arrive?

hvelihood.

immenfe?

embarraff ments?

liable?

from the above branches of learning, is the object of the following obfervations.

4. You are all poffeffed of fome kind of ambition. In your amufements, one feels a pride that he is the fwifteft runner, another, that he is the moft expert wrestler, and another, that he can fling a ftone the farthest, or beft hit the mark.

5. And why are you pleased with excelling in thefe little amufements? Because, it is. natural to youth, as well as men, to be pleafed with fuperiority, because, there is a delight in being noticed, and often spoken of with praife.

6. But, to be a swift runner, or an expert wreftler, are objects of fmall importance: if, therefore, excelling in these trifling amusements, affords you pleasure, or gratifies your pride, how much more grateful and pleasing. muft it be, to excel your mates, in writing. reading, and arithmetic, which are objects of importance, and will never fail of affording pleafure, and of adding to your profperity, usefulness, and refpectability in the world.

7. The number of your days at moft is but fmall, and the time will fhortly arrive, when you must act, and provide for your felves. None of you know where you may hereafter live, or what bufinefs you may fol low for a livelihood, but, wherever you live,. or whatever bufinefs you purfue, learning will be of immenfe advantage.

8. Such is the difpofition of mankind, fo ready are many of them to take the advan tage of the raw and inexperienced, that the youth, who is left without learning, to act and provide for himself, will meet with many impofitions? difficulties, feel many embarraments and be liable to a thoufand impofitions, to which

thofe

thofe, who are poffeffed of a good common. fubje&ed? school education, will not be fubjected..

profit.

arrive?:

9. In every Town, County, and State in offices.. America, are offices of honor and profit, which fonie of you, as you arrive to the age of manhood, will be called upon to fill. Moft of thefe offices require men, who are able to read well, to write a fair hand, and who understand the use of figures. Those of you, who pay attention to your books, who not only learn to read, but to understand what you read, who learn the rules of Arithmetic, and understand how to apply them in prac tice, will be the ones moit likely to be promoted..

10. At prefent, I am happy to fee you infpired with a laudable ambition to excel each other in learning. Will you not have the fame ambition, hereafter, as it refpects your rank and fituation in the world? If you should, let me inform you, that a diligent improvement of your prefent opportunity for. learning, is the only way, in which you can expect promotion in fociety..

11. The youth, who is inattentive to his books, and regards not the leffons and admonitions of his inftructor, is feldom, afterwards, refpected. He is confidered, as a dull, ftupid blockhead, and unqalified for the exercife of any profitable, or ufeful employ

ment.

12. Would you, therefore, wifh, when arrived to manhood, to be confidered as worthy members of fociety, would you with to be promoted to offices of honor, or profit, would you wifh for the efteem of mankind, and the fmiles and approbation of your God, learn to love your books, and be ambitious to excel your mates, not fo much in your plays and diverfions, as in learning..

You

fair.

figures.

arithmetic. prometed? ·

laudable?

excel.

pomotion ? :

diligent..

leffons..

admonitions? :

unqualified."

fleem.

approbation? ~

ambitious.

diverfions ?

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