OF A CHRISTIAN.]

INDUSTRY AND IDLENESS.

PLATE III.

THE IDLE 'PRENTICE AT PLAY IN THE CHURCH-YARD DURING DIVINE SERVICE.

"Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of
fools."

Proverbs, chap. xix. verse 29.

As a contrast to the preceding plate, of the industrious young man
performing the duties of a Christian, is this, representing the idle
'prentice at play in the church-yard during divine service. As an
observance of religion is allowed to be the foundation of virtue, so a
neglect of religious duties has ever been acknowledged the forerunner of
every wickedness; the confession of malefactors at the place of
execution being a melancholy confirmation of this truth. Here we see
him, while others are intent on the holy service, transgressing the laws
both of God and man, gambling on a tomb-stone with the off-scouring of
the people, the meanest of the human species, shoe-blacks,
chimney-sweepers, &c. for none but such would deign to be his
companions. Their amusement seems to be the favourite old English game
of hustle-cap, and our idle and unprincipled youth is endeavouring to
cheat, by concealing some of the half-pence under the broad brim of his
hat. This is perceived by the shoe-black, and warmly resented by the
fellow with the black patch over his eye, who loudly insists on the
hat's being fairly removed. The eager anxiety which marks these mean
gamblers, is equal to that of two peers playing for an estate. The
latter could not have more solicitude for the turn of a die which was to
determine who was the proprietor of ten thousand acres, than is
displayed in the countenance of young Idle. Indeed, so callous is his
heart, so wilfully blind is he to every thing tending to his future
welfare, that the tombs, those standing monuments of mortality, cannot
move him: even the new-dug grave, the sculls and bones, those lively and
awakening monitors, cannot rouse him from his sinful lethargy, open his
eyes, or pierce his heart with the least reflection; so hardened is he
with vice, and so intent on the pursuit of his evil course. The hand of
the boy, employed upon his head, and that of the shoe-black, in his
bosom, are expressive of filth and vermin; and show that our hero is
within a step of being overspread with the beggarly contagion. His
obstinate continuance in his course, until awakened by the blows of the
watchful beadle, point out to us, that "stripes are prepared for