Page:Letter-writer (1).pdf/7

 The Letter. Writer. 7 would chooſe to affociate: though, after all, it is never failing good ſign to me of prudence and rtue in a young man, when his ſeniors chooſe his company, and're delights in their. Let your endeavours therefore be, at all alven-, res to confort yourſelf with men of fobriety, ubod fenſe, and virtue; for the proverb is an uner- og one that ſays, A man is known by he coin- any he keeps If ſuch men you can single ht, while you improve by their converſation, you li ben fit by their advice. And be ſure renemier he thing, that tho' you muſt be frank and need vd in delivering your ſentiments, when occaſi- hs offers : yet, what you be much readier to hear an to' ſpeak; for to this purpoſe it has been ſigai- cantly obferved, that nature has given a ma. two Ers, and but one tongue Lay in therefore, by pervation and modeft fine, fuch a ſtore of eas, that you mar, at their ime of life, make no arie figure th-n they do, and endeavour to bene- your elf rather by other p'ople's ils than your How mitit thole young men expoſe them- v 3 to the centenpt an Iridicule of heir ſeniors, ho hainz fecn little or nething of the world, are ontinually the tag on by op n mouths and clof- I ears, all poili ility of intceton ; and making in the principal end of converſation, which is aprovement ? A filent young man makes, general- , a wile od one, and never fails of being refpect- by the beſt and moſt prudent men; wh, there- r, you conie among ftrangers, hear every one eak efore you deliver your own ſenziments ; by his means you will juege o the merit and ca- cities of your company, and avoid expoſing your- 1, as I have known many do, by ſhooting cut wty and inconſiderable bolts which they would have been glad to recal; when, perhaps, a ſilent genius