52 THE RURAL SOCRATES. 



*' wrong;. but remember, if the event involves us in 

 ^' want and mirery, yoa are anlwerabic for it." 



Such was commonly the parting word of that contra*^ 

 di'flory fpirit which oppofed the invincible conflancy of 

 our philofophcr, who perfifled here in the wiie refolii- 

 tion he had taken. — The inhabitants of the village made 

 it the objcifl of the'ir derifion, and engaged one of their 

 companions to open another tavern, but to their greae 

 detriment ; and many parents, diflreifed with the irre- 

 gniaritics of their Tons, which daily grew worfe and 

 worfe, complained to Kliyogg himfelf of the bad ten- 

 dency of taverns, and that the money fcjuandered there 

 would reduce them to ruin o 



He dlfcovered another caufe injmious to the profpe- 

 rity of families, in the ciiftom of making little prefents 

 to children at chrijlenin^s^ or for fjew-y ear's gifts, — ► 

 *^ Thefe gratuities (faid Kliyogg) habituate them early 

 *' in life to acquifitions by other ways than induflry ; 

 *' which is lowing the feeds of iazinefs, that fource of 

 *' all evils : beiides, preients on thefe occafions, con- 

 *' fifl of unwholefome delicacies, which are at Jeafl {{i- 

 *' perflaous ; or of expenfive toys of no real ufe. People 

 ** are obliged to return thefe civilities to their acquain- 

 " tance ; and, hovv^cver fmall in appearance fuch trifles 

 *' may be, they amount to a fnm in the end of the year, 

 ^' very often burthenfome toa family/' — He made it a 

 rule, therefore, to receive no prefents whatfcever for 

 himfelf or children, from godfathers or relations ; and 

 never to make any, except to real objcds of charity, 

 fuch as perfons whonl age or accident had rendered in- 

 capable of procuring a fubfiilencc. 



He blames all thofe who bcftow alms on midejerving 

 chjeCls ; confidering it as an injury to fociety ; and that 

 thofe who diilribute their wealth in injudicious bene- 

 fa<Slions, render themfelves refponfible for the danger- 

 ous confequences refuiting from them. — Thefe per- 

 fons, fays he, think to pui chafe by their alms, a benc- 



did-ion 



