Ere his poor mind, with every deed alarm'd,
By wit was settled, and by vice was charm'd.

For Abel enter'd in his bold career,

Like boys on ice, with pleasure and with fear;
Lingering, yet longing for the joy, he went,
Repenting now, now dreading to repent:
With awkward pace, and with himself at war,
Far gone, yet frighten'd that he went so far;
Oft for his efforts he'd solicit praise,

And then proceed with blunders and delays:
young more aptly passion's calls pursue,

The

But age

and weakness start at scenes so new, And tremble, when they've done, for all they dared to do.

At length example Abel's dread removed, With small concern he sought the joys he loved; Not resting here, he claim'd his share of fame, And first their votary, then their wit became ; His jest was bitter and his satire bold, When he his tales of formal brethren told; What time with pious neighbours he discuss'd, Their boasted treasure and their boundless trust: "Such were our dreams," the jovial elder cried ; "Awake and live," his youthful friends replied.

Now the gay Clerk a modest drab despised,
And clad him smartly as his friends advised;
So fine a coat upon his back he threw,
That not an alley-boy old Abel knew ;

Broad polish'd buttons blazed that coat upon,
And just beneath the watch's trinkets shone,-
A splendid watch, that pointed out the time,
To fly from business and make free with crime:
The crimson waistcoat and the silken hose
Rank'd the lean man among the Borough beaux :
His raven hair he cropp'd with fierce disdain,
And light elastic locks encased his brain:
More pliant pupil who could hope to find,
So deck'd in person and so changed in mind?

When Abel walked the streets, with pleasant mien He met his friends, delighted to be seen;

And when he rode along the public way,
No beau so gaudy, and no youth so gay.

His pious sister, now an ancient maid, For Abel fearing, first in secret pray'd; Then thus in love and scorn her notions she convey'd:

"Alas! my brother! can I see thee pace "Hoodwink'd to hell, and not lament thy case, "Nor stretch my feeble hand to stop thy headlong race?

"Lo! thou art bound; a slave in Satan's chain, "The righteous Abel turn'd the wretched Cain; "His brother's blood against the murderer cried, "Against thee thine, unhappy suicide!

"Are all our pious nights and peaceful days, "Our evening readings and our morning praise,

"Our spirits' comfort in the trials sent,

"Our hearts' rejoicings in the blessings lent,

"All that o'er grief a cheering influence shed, "Are these for ever and for ever fled?

"When, in the years gone by, the trying years, "When faith and hope had strife with wants and fears,

"Thy nerves have trembled till thou couldst not eat (Dress'd by this hand) thy mess of simple

meat ;

"When, grieved by fastings, gall'd by fates severe, "Slow pass'd the days of the successless year; "Still in these gloomy hours, my brother then "Had glorious views, unseen by prosperous men : “And when thy heart has felt its wish denied, "What gracious texts hast thou to grief applied; "Till thou hast enter'd in thine humble bed,

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By lofty hopes and heavenly musings fed; "Then I have seen thy lively looks express "The spirit's comforts in the man's distress.

"Then didst thou cry, exulting, 'Yes, 'tis fit, "'Tis meet and right, my heart! that we submit:' "And wilt thou, Abel, thy new pleasures weigh

Against such triumphs?-Oh! repent and pray.

"What are thy pleasures?-with the gay to sit, "And thy poor brain torment for awkward wit; "All thy good thoughts (thou hat'st them) to restrain,

"And give a wicked pleasure to the vain ;'

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Thy long, lean frame by fashion to attire,

"That lads may laugh and wantons may admire;

"To raise the mirth of boys, and not to see, "Unhappy maniac! that they laugh at thee.

"These boyish follies, which alone the boy "Can idly act or gracefully enjoy,

"Add new reproaches to thy fallen state,

"And make men scorn what they would only hate.

"What pains, my brother, dost thou take to

prove

"A taste for follies which thou canst not love! "Why do thy stiffening limbs the steed bestride"That lads may laugh to see thou canst not ride? "And why (I feel the crimson tinge my cheek) "Dost thou by night in Diamond-Alley sneak?

"Farewell! the parish will thy sister keep, "Where she in peace shall pray and sing and sleep, "Save when for thee she mourns, thou wicked, wandering sheep!

"When youth is fallen, there's hope the young may rise,

"But fallen age for ever hopeless lies;

"Torn up by storms, and placed in earth once more, "The younger tree may sun and soil restore; "But when the old and sapless trunk lies low, "No care or soil can former life bestow; "Reserved for burning is the worthless tree"And what, O Abel! is reserved for thee?"

These angry words our hero deeply felt, Though hard his heart, and indisposed to melt!

To gain relief he took a glass the more,
And then went on as careless as before;
Thenceforth, uncheck'd, amusements he partook,
And (save his ledger) saw no decent book;
Him found the Merchant punctual at his task,
And that perform'd, he'd nothing more to ask;
He cared not how old Abel play'd the fool,
No master he, beyond the hours of school:
Thus they proceeding, had their wine and joke,
Till merchant Dixon felt a warning stroke,
And, after struggling half a gloomy week,
Left his poor Clerk another friend to seek.

Alas! the son, who led the saint astray,
Forgot the man whose follies made him gay;
He cared no more for Abel in his need,
Than Abel cared about his hackney steed;
He now, alas! had all his earnings spent,
And thus was left to languish and repent;
No school nor clerkship found he in the place,
Now lost to fortune, as before to grace.

For town-relief the grieving man applied, And begg'd with tears what some with scorn denied ; Others look'd down upon the glowing vest, And frowning, ask'd him at what price he dress'd? Happy for him his country's laws are mild, They must support him, though they still reviled ; Grieved, abject, scorn'd, insulted, and betray'd, Of God unmindful, and of man afraid,

No more he talk'd; 'twas pain,'t was shame to speak, His heart was sinking, and his frame was weak.