_Mercury_ and a _Carpenter_.
A _Carpenter_ dropt his Ax into a River, and put up a Prayer to _Mercury_
to help him to’t again. _Mercury_ Div’d for’t, and brought him up a
Golden One: but That was not it, the Fellow said: And so he Plung’d a
Second Time, and Fetch’d up Another, of Silver. He said That was not
it neither. He try’d once again, and then Up comes an Ax with a Wooden
Handle, which the _Carpenter_ said, was the very Tool that he had Lost.
Well! (says _Mercury_) thou art so Just a Poor Wretch, that I’ll give
thee All three now for thy Honesty. This Story was got into Every body’s
Mouth, and the Rumour being Spread, it came into a Knave’s Head to Try
the Same Experiment over again. And so away goes, He, and Down he Sits,
Sniv’ling and Yelping upon the Bank of a River, that he had Dropt his
Ax into the Water there. _Mercury_ that was at hand it seems, heard his
Lamentation, and Dipping once again for his Ax, as he had done for the
Other; up he brings him a Golden Ax, and Asks the Fellow if That were it.
Yes, Yes, says he, This is it. Oh thou Impudent Sot, cries _Mercury_; to
think of putting Tricks upon Him that sees through the very Heart of thee.
The MORAL.
_The Great Searcher of our Hearts is not to be Impos’d upon, but he will
take his Own Time either to Reward or Punish._