had reason to congratulate themselves on the happy vicissitude which had shown what was practicable by rendering it necessary.

The other case was that of the only son of an industrious grocer, in the town near my uncle's residence. He had a well-established shop of the old-fashioned school, kept in days of yore by old Mr. who had begun the world with five pounds, but had risen to the possession of many thousands; of this, however, no indication ever appeared in the style of the shop, the furniture of the parlour, or the habits of the inmates. The old man was unmarried; his household consisted of a niece, and a shopman, who had formerly been an apprentice. In the course of time, the shopman and the niece made a match, with the consent of the old gentleman, who, on that occasion, took his new nephew into partnership; on the condition, however, that he should not be too proud still to open and shut the shutters, and to sweep the shop, and that his wife should still do the work of the house. Thus they went on for many years, with the addition to the family of one little boy. This child, as soon as he was able, was sent out with goods, and employed in every possible way in the business, perhaps beyond his strength and his years, so as to occasion a feeling of oppression and disgust. Children are naturally active, and they do not take a dislike to work, unless it be injudiciously and oppressively forced upon them. The boy was nine or ten years old, when the old head of the establishment, after toiling as usual, to a late hour on Saturday evening, and while in the act of receiving a penny from a customer, said, "I am very tired," sunk down, and died.

His partner, who now succeeded to the entire charge of the business, followed the same drudging, penurious habits, and endeavoured to drill his son into them. Perhaps the boy was taught by his mother, that there was no need for him to be a slave to the business, like his uncle and his father. Be that as it may, the boy loved play, hated the shop, and had many a severe reprimand and heavy punishment from his father, who insisted on binding him apprentice. Scarcely was he out of his time, when the father died; not so suddenly as the uncle, but after a very short illness; and now the business and the property devolved upon the son. The former he had little inclination to attend to, the latter he had no objection to spend. His mother, an active woman, and withal as indulgent as are most other mothers to an only son, agreed that there was no occasion for him to confine himself so much to business. Two smart shopmen were engaged, and an errand-boy, the widow undertaking to look after them; and the son went about to take his pleasure. This went on a few years, when the mother died, and then the son thought it better to give up business, while he had enough to live upon; for he had the sense to perceive it would go to ruin if left to servants; and he did not intend to confine himself to look after it. Accordingly, at about twenty-five years of age, he disposed of the business, and retired to live upon his fortune. But he had no plan of living, no occupation for his time and energies. He went, he scarcely knew whither, took a house, furnished it, grew tired of it, moved to another neighbourhood, bought another house, sold it; bought carriages, and

never rode in them; books, and never read them; became restless, gloomy, irritable, and wretched, solely for want of something to do. "Thus," said my uncle, "he has gone on year after year, merely to vegetate, and consume the property which his ancestors spent their lives in amassing; and which his is employed in scattering, without enjoyment to himself or advantage to others."

My uncle closed his remarks on the pleasures of industry, and the misery of idleness, by observing, that the happiness of heaven consists in welldirected activity. The servants of God" serve him day and night in his temple," Rev. vii. 15; and this is the wretchedness of hell, the inhabitants have nothing to do. "Observe," said he, "these three things: 1. Always be doing. There is always something to be done, no time to spare, no idle moments; every moment has a duty, and every moment must be accounted for. 2. Do what is right, else activity is but mischief. 3. Act upon right principles, from right motives, and to a right end; act from a sense of duty, a conviction of the value and importance of time and opportunity; cherish a benevolent desire to do good to others; esteem it a high privilege to be useful; and whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, and to the glory of God by him."

"IT'S OF NO USE TO TRY."

66

COME, Samuel," said my cousin Frank, when I was quite a little boy, can you say your lesson? Uncle has ordered the carriage, and we are to start in twenty minutes."

At that time we were spending some months at my uncle's, and taking daily lessons of a clergyman in the neighbourhood. To confess the truth, I had got into a negligent, dilatory habit, (do not let me attempt to throw the blame from myself; but I do think the habit was fostered by the example of my nurse, Mrs. Harris,) and I had been repeatedly blamed by my tutor for coming to him unprepared with my lessons and exercises. Frank made several kind and friendly efforts to correct these failings in me, I hope not altogether without success, though at the time I felt vexed rather than gratified by his endeavours. On the occasion just referred to, my uncle had proposed taking us for a little pleasurable excursion; but as we should not return till late in the evening, he desired us, before we started, to prepare our lessons and exercises for the next morning. As soon as breakfast was over, Frank sat down to his studies, and invited me to do the same. I promised to do so almost directly, but observed there was time enough yet; and away I went and amused myself,

by throwing stones in the lake, and teaching the Newfoundland puppy to fetch them out.

While thus engaged, time passed more rapidly than I was aware, and again I heard Frank's friendly summons, Come, my good fellow, you had better come in, and do what uncle desired you; and then, if any time remains, you can go back and play with Cesar." At length I yielded to his persuasions, and placed myself at the table, with my Latin Delectus before me; but I was hot and tired, and my mind was still running after the puppy; so when Frank again invited me to repeat my lesson, and I carelessly attempted to do so, I peevishly exclaimed, "I cannot learn it, Frank! and it's of no use to try." Frank knew that uncle would be firm to his requirements, so he made another effort to save me from disgrace and disappointment. "I know, Samuel," he said, "exactly how you feel, and I will tell you what I should do. I should first wash my hands and face, to refresh myself from past fatigue, and then give my undivided attention, for a few minutes, to the book. Come, my good fellow, try once more, and I am sure you will succeed." Such sound advice and kind encouragement I could not resist. The refreshing element seemed to charm away my fretfulness and incapacity for application. I resumed my book with good resolution; proceeded upon Frank's well-tried plan, "First study your rule, and then apply it to the case in hand;" and so doing, I soon mastered my difficulty, and accomplished my task. Right glad was I, when the carriage was announced, and uncle inquired whether Samuel had learned his lesson, to hear Frank reply, "Yes, uncle, he knows it perfectly." Thinks