Part 13 (2/2)

PLATE 2

THE INDUSTRIOUS 'PRENTICE PERFORMING THE DUTY 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 youngthe 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 ofa melancholy confirmation of this truth Here we see hi the laws both of God andof the people, the meanest of the human species, shoe-blacks, chin to be his companions Their aame 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 felloith the black patch over his eye, who loudly insists on the hat's being fairly rea for an estate The latter could not have more solicitude for the turn of a die which was to determine as 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 to rave, the sculls and bones, those lively and awakening y, 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 ver 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 the backs of fools;” that disgrace and infamy are the natural attendants of the slothful and the scorner; and that there are but little hopes of his alteration, until he is overtaken in his iniquity, by the avenging hand of Omnipotence, and feels with horror and amazement, the unexpected and inevitable approach of death Thus do the obstinate and incorrigible shut their ears against the alar calls of Providence, and sin away even the possibility of salvation

The figures in this print are adaly characteristic

[Illustration: INDUSTRY AND IDLENESS

PLATE 3

THE IDLE 'PRENTICE AT PLAY IN THE CHURCH YARD]

INDUSTRY AND IDLENESS

PLATE IV

THE INDUSTRIOUS 'PRENTICE A FAVOURITE AND INTRUSTED BY HIS MASTER

”Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will s”

Matthew, chap xxv verse 21

The industrious apprentice, by a discreet and steady conduct, attracts the notice of his ly, we behold him here (exquisitely continued fro-house (with a distant view of the loo quills for the shuttles, fro and giving orders, (the general reward of honesty, care, and diligence,) as appears from the delivery of some stuffs by a city porter, fro in the other, we are shown that he has behaved hiiven such proofs of fidelity, as to becoreatest rity of his heart is visible in his face The modesty and tranquillity of his countenance tell us, that though the great trust reposed in hies his duty with such beco diffidence and care, as not to betray any of that pride which attends so great a pro on his shoulder, is a further proof of his estee that he dwells, as it were, in his bosom, and possesses the utmost share of his affection; circumstances that must sweeten even a state of servitude, andimpression on theIndustry taking Time by the fore-lock, is not the least of the beauties in this plate, as it intier of delay, and advises us to make the best use of time, whilst we have it in our power; nor will the position of the gloves, on the flap of the escritoire, be unobserved by a curious exa expressive of that union that subsists between an indulgent -beer nose and pih they have no connexion with the moral of the piece, are a fine caricatura, and show that our author let slip no opportunity of ridiculing the vices and follies of the age, and particularly here, in laying before us the strange infatuation of this class of people, who, because a good deal of labour requires some extraordinary refreshment, will even drink to the deprivation of their reason, and the destruction of their health The surlywith the house-cat for adh introduced to fill up the piece, represents the faithfulness of these anieneral, and is no mean emblem of the honesty and fidelity of the porter

In this print, neither the cat, dog, nor the porter are well drawn, nor is n is carried on by such easy and natural gradations, and the consequent success of an attentive conduct displayed in colours so plain and perspicuous, that these little errors in execution will readily be overlooked

[Illustration: INDUSTRY AND IDLENESS