PITY FOR POOR AFRICANS.

Video meliora proboque
Deteriora fequor-

Ï own I am shock'd at the purchase of flaves,
And fear those who buy them and sell them are knares;
What I hear of their hardships, their cortures, and

groans,
Is almost enough to draw pity from stones.

I pity them greatly, but I must be mum,
For how could we do without sugar and rum?
Especially fugar, so needful we fee?
What, give up our deserts, our coffee, and tea !

Besides, if we do, the French, Dutch, and Danes,
Will heartily thank us, no doubt, for our pains;
If we do not buy the poor creatures, they will,
And tortures and groans will be multiplied ftill.

If foreigners likewise would give up the trade,
Much more in behalf of your wish might be said ;
But, while they get riches by purchasing blacks,
Pray tell me why we may not also

go snacks?

Your scruples and arguments bring to my mind
A story fo pát, you may think it is coin'd,
On purpose to answer you, out of ту

mint ; But, I can assure you, I saw it in print.

A youngster at school, more sedate than the rest,
Had once his integrity put to the test;

His comrades had plotted an orchard to rob, * And ask'd him to go and assist in the job.

He was shock’d, sir, like you, and answer'd "Oh no! What! rob our good neighbour! I pray you, don't go Besides the man's poor, his orchard's his bread, Then think of his children, for they must be fed."

46 You speak very fine, and you

look

very grave, But apples we want, and apples we'll have;

will
go
with
us, you

Thall have a share.
If not, you shall have neither apple nor pear.”

If you

They spoke, and Tom ponder’d_“I see they will go:
Poor man! what a pity to injure him so !
Poor man! I would save him his fruit if I cou'd,
But staying behind will do him no good.

" If the matter depended alone upon me,
His apples might hang till they dropt from the tree;
But, since they will take them, I think I'll go too,
He will lose none by me, though I get a few."

His scruples thus silenc'd, Tom felt more at ease, And went with his comrades the apples to seize; He blam'd and protested, but join'd in the plan ; He shar'd in the plunder, but pity'd the man.

THE END.

6. Caw, Printer, Libberton-Wynd, Edinburgh.

P. 169

P. 37. Sloves tener at treathe in England. hip. 43. Endandarth all the dust I love ce al 18. 39. Variety's the very stree of life, that geThat seinaltale ito

all to dealerta

(cal P.67 Reilea ticesie twix.co P. 85. 9 mmen at tcast one harc thi huda

<<

wiering That sur but most intrat Pilihan they cormon and cont con P150 war's a Gama, lechiedy lecze Thuiz zubimec to schon

Kings wonebret alapat, ppi $2.3.2

bir tconcerah I-sett tom os torpedofieisdem, ens. The incon Isolitanate, and core tegned to coast a