_Jupiter_ and a _Farmer_.
_Jupiter_ had a Farm a long time upon his hand, for want of a Tenant to
come up to his Price, ’till a Bold Fellow at last was content to Take
it, upon Condition that he himself might have the Ordering of the Air
and the Seasons, as he thought fit. So _Jupiter_ Covenanted with him,
that it should be Hot or Cold, Wet or Dry, Calm or Windy, as the Tenant
should Direct. In Conclusion, this Man had effectually a Climate of his
own, that his very next Neighbours felt nothing of: And it was well they
did not; for when they had a Plentiful Harvest and Vintage, the Farmer
himself had hardly any Corn or Grass upon his Ground. He took other
Measures the Year following, which (as it fell out) prov’d the more
Unkindly of the Two. He held on however, till he was upon the very Point
of Breaking; and when it came to that once, he was e’en glad to Petition
_Jupiter_ to Release him of his Bargain; for he was now Convinc’d that
Providence knows Better what is good for us, then we know what is good
for our Selves.
The MORAL.
_We should do well to make it One Petition in our_ Litany, _that in many
Cases Heaven would be so Gracious to us, as not to hear our Prayers; for
we are otherwise in Danger to be undone by our own wish_.