IX.

Fathers "a troublesome and peevish race,”

(As they are called by every darling boy), Labour to bring those pleasures to disgrace,

Themselves no more can possibly enjoy;

All aged gentlemen who sons have got,
Would have their sons be-what themselves were not.

X.

And apt in anxious kindness to abound,

Suspecting Youth and Nature will resist,
They deal in soft compulsion, and are found
Undutifully closish in the fist.

One thing they freely give, and in a trice
Abundance of it too,-I mean-Advice.

XI.

Tom's father was not singular, and so
He called him to his study, and began
To tell the youngster what he had to do,
To be a good, great, very happy man:
(Tom to the lecture which the Sire would make,
Went like a bear or martyr to the stake.)

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XII.

My Son," said he, your's is a dangerous age,

. It knows not how temptation to withstand,

But my experience and reflections sage,

And dear-bought wisdom, all you may command." "Thank ye, Dear Sir," cried Tom, and with a laugh, He mutter'd, "I could be content with half."

XIII.

The Sire proceeded to instruct his heir,

How in the busy world to rise and shine;
"of wild excess take care,

"Be sure," said he,

Beware of gaming, and beware of wine;
But more than all the evils that perplex,
Be on your guard against the other sex."

XIV.

"All pleasures are but vanity; though sad

This truth, 'twas told by Israel's wisest king;" "But not," thought Tom, "till Solomon had had Among such vanities a pretty fling.

I, at the risk of being soundly chid,

Will seek for wisdom as that monarch did."

XV.

The father then proceeded to declaim,
With equal kindness, dignity, and truth,
About the misery, the want, the shame,

Which grow on mad extravagance in youth,
And many maxims gave, a little trite
Perhaps, but excellent to teach "the right."

XVI.

Still on and on he went, for when a man
Begins to dole out wisdom, there's no end.
And long as flippantly his clapper ran,

As if he thought the stripling would attend.
Tom, with his dog engaged, at times yawn'd out,
"By all means, " "true Sir," "certainly," " no doubt."

XVII.

And other words, becoming as sincere,

While thus his thoughts ran-"When the sermon ends,

Old Squaretoes shall not find me tarrying here,

I'll hasten to my Covent-Garden friends. Confound his prosing! If it stop not soon, Louisa will have quitted the saloon."