ADVICE.

The worst men often give the best advice.
Our deeds are sometimes better than our thoughts,
_Festus: Sc. A Village Feast_. P.J. BAILEY.

I pray thee cease thy counsel.
Which falls into mine ears as profitless
As water in a sieve.
_Much Ado About Nothing, Act v. Sc. 1_. SHAKESPEARE.

O Life! how pleasant in thy morning.
Young Fancy's rays the hills adorning!
Cold-pausing Caution's lesson scorning,
We frisk away,
Like schoolboys at th' expected warning,
To joy and play.
_Epistle to James Smith_. B. BURNS.

Know when to speake; for many times it brings
Danger to give the best advice to kings.
_Hesperides' Caution in Councell._ R. HEBRICK.

AGE.

I'm growing fonder of my staff;
I'm growing dimmer in the eyes;
I'm growing fainter in my laugh;
I'm growing deeper in my sighs;
I'm growing careless of my dress;
I'm growing frugal of my gold;
I'm growing wise; I'm growing,--yes,--
I'm growing old.
_I'm Growing Old_. J.G. SAXE.

And his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound.
_As You Like It, Act ii. Sc. 7_. SHAKESPEARE.

Time has laid his hand
Upon my heart, gently, not smiting it,
But as a harper lays his open palm
Upon his harp, to deaden its vibrations.
_The Golden Legend, IV_. H.W. LONGFELLOW.

Years steal
Fire from the mind, as vigor from the limb;
And life's enchanted cup but sparkles near the brim.
_Childe Harold, Canto III_. LORD BYRON.

For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees
The inaudible and noiseless foot of Time
Steals ere we can effect them.
_All's Well that Ends Well, Act v. Sc. 3_. SHAKESPEARE.

Strange! that a harp of thousand strings
Should keep in tune so long.
_Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Bk. II_. DR. I. WATTS.

Thus aged men, full loth and slow,
The vanities of life forego,
And count their youthful follies o'er,
Till Memory lends her light no more.
_Rokeby, Canto V_. SIR W. SCOTT.

Though I look old, yet I am strong and lusty;
For in my youth I never did apply
Hot and rebellious liquors in my blood;
Nor did not with unbashful forehead woo
The means of weakness and debility;
Therefore my age is as a lusty winter,
Frosty, but kindly.
_As You Like, It. Act_ ii. _Sc_. 3. SHAKESPEARE.

But grant, the virtues of a temp'rate prime