Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/293

No. 94] is no manner of Truth in this Prediction : They may, if they please, live in Love and Peace. And I caution his Readers (they are but few, indeed, and so the Matter's the less) not to give themselves any Trouble about observing this imaginary Great Eclipse ; for they may stare till they're blind without seeing the least Sign of it. I might, on this Occasion, return Mr. Jn the Name of Baal's false Prophet he gave me some Years ago in his Wrath, on Account of my Predicting his Reconciliation with the Church of Rome, (tho' he seems now to have given up that Point) but I think such Language between old Men and Scholars unbecoming ; and I leave him to settle the Affair with the Buyers of his Almanack as well as he can, who perhaps will not take it very kindly, that he has done what in him lay (by sending them out to gaze at an invisible Eclipse on the first of April) to make April Fools of them all. His old thread bare Excuse which he repeats Year after Year about the Weather, "That no Man can be infallible therein, by Reason of the many contrary Causes happening at or near the same ume, and the Unconstancy of the Summer Showers and Gusts," &c will hardly serve him in the Affair of Eclipses ; and I know not where he'll get another.

I have made no Alteration in my usual Method, except adding the Rising and Setting of the Planets, and the Lunar Conjunctions. Those who are so disposed, may thereby very readily learn to know the Planets, and distinguish them from each other.

Happy the Man whose Wish and Care
 * A few paternal Acres bound,

Content to breathe his native Air, In his own Ground. Whose Herds with Milk, whose Fields with Bread,
 * Whose Flocks supply him with Attire,

Whose Trees in Summer yield him Shade, In Winter Fire. Blest, who can unconcernedly find
 * Hours, Days and Years slide soft away,