She daily exercises her benevolence by pitying every misfortune that happens to every family within her circle of notice; she is in hourly terrours lest one should catch cold in the rain, and another be frighted by the high wind.  Her charity she shows by lamenting that so many poor wretches should languish in the streets, and by wondering what the great can think on that they do so little good with such large estates.

Her house is elegant, and her table dainty, though she has little taste of elegance, and is wholly free from vicious luxury; but she comforts herself that nobody can say that her house is dirty, or that her dishes are not well drest.

This, Mr. Idler, I have found, by long experience, to be the character of a good sort of woman, which I have sent you for the information of those by whom a good sort of woman and a good woman, may happen to be used as equivalent terms, and who may suffer by the mistake, like

Your humble servant,

TIM WARNER.

No. 101.  SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1760.

  Carpe hilaris:  fuget heu! non revocanda dies.

Omar, the son of Hussan, had passed seventy-five years in honour and prosperity.  The favour of three successive califs had filled his house with gold and silver; and, whenever he appeared, the benedictions of the people proclaimed his passage.

Terrestrial happiness is of short continuance.  The brightness of the flame is wasting its fuel; the fragrant flower is passing away in its own odours.  The vigour of Omar began to fail, the curls of beauty fell from his head, strength departed from his hands, and agility from his feet.  He gave back to the calif the keys of trust and the seals of secrecy; and sought no other pleasure for the remains of life than the converse of the wise, and the gratitude of the good.

The powers of his mind were yet unimpaired.  His chamber was filled by visitants, eager to catch the dictates of experience, and officious to pay the tribute of admiration.  Caled, the son of the viceroy of Egypt, entered every day early, and retired late.  He was beautiful and eloquent; Omar admired his wit, and loved his docility.  Tell me, said Caled, thou to whose voice nations have listened, and whose wisdom is known to the extremities of Asia, tell me how I may resemble Omar the prudent.  The arts by which you have gained power and preserved it, are to you no longer necessary or useful; impart to me the secret of your conduct, and teach me the plan upon which your wisdom has built your fortune.

Young man, said Omar, it is of little use to form plans of life.  When I took my first survey of the world, in my twentieth year, having considered the various conditions of mankind, in the hour of solitude I said thus to myself, leaning against a cedar which spread its branches over my head:  Seventy years are allowed to man; I have yet fifty remaining:  ten years I will allot to the attainment of knowledge,