Temperance.—Temperance puts wood on the fire, flour in the barrel, meat in the tub, vigor in the body, intelligence in the brain, and spirit in the whole composition of man.
The following anecdote was told by Lord Mansfield, a celebrated English judge. He had turned away his coachman for certain small thefts, and the man begged his lordship to give him a character that he might obtain another place.
“What kind of a character can I give you?” said his lordship.
“Oh, my lord, any character your lordship pleases to give me, I shall most thankfully receive.”
His lordship accordingly sat down and wrote as follows:
“The bearer, John ——, has served me three years in the capacity of coachman. He is an able driver and a sober man. I discharged him because he cheated me. Mansfield.”
John thanked his lordship and went off. A few mornings afterwards, when his lordship was stepping into his coach, a man in a handsome livery made him a low bow. To his surprise, he recognised his late coachman.
“Why, John,” said his lordship, “you seem to have got an excellent place; how could you manage this with the character I gave you?”
“Oh! my lord,” said John, “it was an exceedingly good character; my new master, on reading it, said he observed your lordship recommended me for a good driver and a sober man.” “These,” said he, “are just the qualities I want in a coachman. I observe his lordship adds that he discharged you for cheating him. Hark you, sirrah, I’m a Yorkshireman; I defy you to cheat me.”